Stranger Danger

Strangely, the terrifying flames avoided Yu Hongfeng alone. They did not harm a hair on his person.

Yu Hongfeng was standing right next to Yu Hongluan.

Right now, Yu Hongluan's hair and eye color had turned completely scarlet. Fire was flowing throughout her body and weaving all sorts of profound divine runes, and running furiously beneath her feet like the sea. She looked regal, noble, powerful, and imposing like an empress.

Legend had it that the blood of the Ancient-class Stranger, the Scarlet Luan, ran in the veins of the Yu Clan of Floating Island. Combined with the "The Profound Chapter of Scarlet Luan Morphing Into a Phoenix" handed down within the family, and the practitioner could morph into the Scarlet Luan Phoenix at the adept level. They would be able to command all types of fire, scorch heaven and earth, boil lake and sea, and even gain the ability to resurrect from fire, effectively becoming undying and unkillable.

It was a supreme martial art that could take a practitioner all the way to the Sage-stage and one of the main reasons the Yu Clan was able to carve out a foothold in the Profound Alliance.

Obviously, Yu Hongluan had not practiced the "The Profound Chapter of Scarlet Luan Morphing Into a Phoenix" to the adept level yet. Even so, few had reached her level even considering the entire history of the Yu Clan.

This was why anyone below the Trueman or Grandmaster stage was as helpless as chickens and dogs, ants and moths before her luan flames.

It was at this moment wisps of green light burst out of the luan flames. A tree sprouted amidst the flames and grew to thirty meters tall in just the blink of an eye.

The tree was smooth as a mirror and penta-colored. Its canopy was multi-layered like a dhvaja[1], and its leaves were covered in jewels and pearls like white jade veluriyam. Dotted with mysterious penta-colored light, the tree shone brightly, mysteriously and stately.

It was the Jewel Tree Prince's true body, the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder. It was also the origin of the title.

The jade veluriyam leaves on the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder shook, and the jewels and pearls jingled against each other to produce a profound Buddhist sound that gradually overwhelmed the soft cries of the luan bird. The penta-colored light was also driving back the scorching fire and scattering it.

Over time, the fire, heat, and luan cries surrounding the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder were completely gone. All that was left was the light that illuminated everything like a kingdom of god.

The Strangers who were on the brink of death hurriedly ducked into that domain. Their injuries began healing at a rapid rate.

It was at this moment a chuckle rang. "Not bad. You're much stronger than your father."

Yu Hongluan began walking over from the fire. At first, the wall of fire slowly parted to both sides. Then, it merged behind her back and formed a pillar that was over thousands, maybe tens of thousands of meters tall. Inside the flame, a scarlet luan was flying and emanating with devastating, destructive power.

"But just like your father, you will die in my hands as well."

Yu Hongluan crossed her arms and gave the Jewel Tree Prince a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Although Yu Hongluan looked almost puny compared to the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder, her presence wasn't inferior to his in the slightest. In fact, she was the more oppressive one of the two of them.

"How are you not poisoned?"

The Five Jewel Tree of Wonder swayed, and the penta-colored light took the face of Jewel Tree Prince. He stared at Yu Hongluan and questioned her.

Yu Hongluan teased, "Why don't you venture a guess?"

Jewel Tree Prince stopped pursuing that line of questioning and asked coldly, "Do you think you've already won, Yu Hongluan?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Yu Hongluan waved. "My men have already surrounded the entire Emerald Garden, and you are no match for me either. What do you possibly have that could turn the tables against me?"

"Hahaha!" Jewel Tree Prince laughed until his jewels and pearls jingled, and profound lights danced. "I always consider the worst case scenario first before I do anything. Hence, I have prepared a backup plan."

"Not only will you not kill me, you will escort me away like a gracious host. This, I promise."

"Oh? A backup plan, you say?"

Yu Hongluan rubbed her chin. "Let me guess. Would your so-called backup plan happen to be the identity of the traitor who told you about the Kunlun Pearl?"

Jewel Tree Prince's pupils contracted when he heard this.

"Looks like I got it right." Yu Hongluan chuckled. "You're planning to order the traitor to sneakily take control of the Kun Pearl and threaten me with the existence of Floating Island and all the lives living on it, right?"

"How did you know?" Jewel Tree Prince exclaimed in shock and fear. He felt as if things had once again strayed from his control.

"Hah! You Rakshasas always use the same tactic. I had you all figured out a long time ago."

Yu Hongluan scoffed. "Wanna guess if your backup plan will still work?"

A moment of silence later, Jewel Tree Prince shook his head. "I think not."

"Correct! What a smart boy you are!" Yu Hongluan jeered. "Let me tell you something. I was already prepared long before I came here. Anyone who tries to intrude the location of the Kun Pearl while I'm gone are all treated as suspects and apprehended."

"Therefore, that traitor is probably in custody right now."

Jewel Tree Prince sighed. "You got me good, Fairy Hongluan!"

"What can I do?" Yu Hongluan shrugged. "I guess I'm just the fated bane of you and your father."

"Anyway, let's cut the chatter short and send you on your way, shall we?"

Yu Hongluan stepped forward, and the pillar of fire behind her surged and flowed into her body. The next moment, she abruptly swelled and transformed into a massive luan whose wings were big enough to blot out the sky itself.

Fire began raining from the sky. The profound light of the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder grew dimmer as the rain of fire impacted against it. The divine domain it created was rapidly shrinking as well.

"Argh!"

The next moment, the Strangers being protected by the Five Jewel Tree of Wonder let out bloodcurdling screams, and scarlet flames burst out of their bodies. They burned into ash in just the blink of an eye.

Jewel Tree Prince himself was beginning to wither under the blazing assault. His jade veluriyam leaves began wilting, and his jade and pearls were melting.

"Wait!"

It was at this moment Jewel Tree Prince called out.

Yu Hongluan didn't stop her attack. She just asked smilingly, "What's wrong? Do you want to give me your last words or something?"

"I'm willing to surrender, Yu Hongluan!" Jewel Tree Prince said.

"Hmm?" Yu Hongluan's movements stiffened for an instant. "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly the first time." "I said, I'm willing to surrender!"

Jewel Tree Prince said loudly, "A living Rakshasa prince is more valuable than a dead one, don't you think?"

Yu Hongluan frowned in puzzlement. "Jewel Tree Prince, one of the thirteen princes of Rakshasa, is offering to surrender to humanity? Do you think I'm stupid?" That was what she said, but her movements ceased completely.

"What's so strange about it? You humans have cowards who would do anything to live. Us Strangers are no different."

Jewel Tree Prince did not feel ashamed despite calling himself a coward. "I am not the stupid, mindless Strangers that populate most of Rakshasa. I am born with intelligence and wisdom far surpassing that of my peers. Naturally, I know my priorities and the pros and cons of any situation like the back of my hand."

"Of course, the biggest reason I'm doing this is simple: I'm scared of dying! I want to live!"

"Er..." Yu Hongluan was speechless for a moment.

"I know many important secrets and plans of the Rakshasa. I know the identities of many Strangers and human traitors lurking in the Profound Alliance as well."

Before Yu Hongluan could say anything in response, Jewel Tree Prince continued, "If you let me live, then I will tell you everything. My intel will greatly benefit humanity."

1. The Sanskrit term for a banner or a flag. Flags are featured in the iconography, mythology, and architecture of Indian religions.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhvaja☜