Chapter 117: Fracture

Just a moment ago, those two strange chains were not on her ankles. What on earth was happening?

Qu Yiqiu stared at the silver chains dragging along the ground. She turned and stubbornly tried to take a step forward, but her feet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; she could barely move an inch.

Xiao Yan sensed her struggle and asked curiously, "How did these two chains end up wrapped around your ankles, Master?"

Qu Yiqiu panted as she pulled her foot back. "I have no idea... What is going on? Where is this place?"

In her frustration, she tried to sever the chains, but the golden blade she unleashed felt as if it had struck her own body, leaving a stinging, crimson mark on her chest.

Qu Yiqiu hurried to open her robes to check. Just then, Su Xichen happened to turn back, caught a glimpse of her hem, and immediately flashed away.

"A bloody gash has actually appeared on the skin of my chest!" Qu Yiqiu pulled her robes shut in surprise, her eyes dropping to the silver chains. The golden blade she had swung at the chains moments ago had hit her instead.

Xiao Yan had just caught a glimpse of Su Xichen’s robe before he turned and left, leaving no time to warn Qu Yiqiu. Hearing her cry of pain, Xiao Yan said, "This place is bizarre and operates under its own rules. Master, try retreating back into the cell; perhaps the chains will lose their weight."

Qu Yiqiu frowned slightly and followed Xiao Yan’s advice, returning to the cold, dark cell. She crouched down and felt around her feet, but there was no sign of the silver chains.

"What does this mean? Am I a prisoner now?" Qu Yiqiu looked at the four square walls, which were chillingly suffocating.

Xiao Yan pondered in silence for a long time before saying, "Master, it seems that Peak Master Su does not have any chains on him."

Qu Yiqiu was stunned. A dark thought crossed her mind: "Do you think Su Xichen might have secretly slipped these two chains onto my ankles?"

Xiao Yan was silent for a moment before replying with utmost calm, "Master, that is unlikely. Given his strength, he has no need for such tricks."

Qu Yiqiu fell silent. How could she have come up with such a bizarre notion when even Xiao Yan could see the logic? If Su Xichen truly wanted to deal with her, he wouldn't need to go through such trouble. A flick of his finger would be enough to reduce her to ashes.

Qu Yiqiu slumped on the ground, boredly drawing circles on the floor with her finger. "Do you think Su Xichen can really find a way out? Have I wasted a storage bag for nothing?" Although her storage bag was merely decorative and contained nothing of importance.

Xiao Yan’s eyes grew hazy at the mention of this, and he shook his head. "I do not know."

"Sigh!" Qu Yiqiu let out a sigh. Suddenly, the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire in her dantian gave a playful leap, reminding her of another method.

"Perhaps I can try using the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire!" Qu Yiqiu stood up with delight, turned her back, and summoned the spiritual fire.

It appeared like a brilliantly colored bird, dancing playfully in Qu Yiqiu’s hand.

"Oh, this spiritual fire seems different from before," Xiao Yan noted, only just observing the change in the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire.

Qu Yiqiu smiled. "Indeed, it must have leveled up."

With a smile, she urged the spiritual fire in her palm and strode out of the dark-walled cell. The moment she crossed the threshold, the two silver chains reappeared around her fair ankles. They felt even heavier than before.

Qu Yiqiu frowned. As she pushed the spiritual fire in her palm to its peak intensity, the will of an Immortal Phoenix flashed through her mind.

*Hiss, hiss, hiss—*

The Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire spread its wings, tightly enveloping the silver chains and emitting a harsh, clashing sound. Qu Yiqiu felt a surge of joy. Was the spiritual fire actually working?

*Clang!* The Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire let out a shrill cry. The situation turned abruptly; the fire retracted its wings and leaped sharply into mid-air, staring at the unscathed silver chains.

Qu Yiqiu’s joy faded. Could even the number one spiritual fire on the Myriad Fire Rankings fail to sever these two silver chains?

Suddenly, in the moment of Qu Yiqiu’s disappointment, the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire in mid-air spat out a ball of intense hellfire from its beak. Upon contact with the silver chains, it erupted into a shower of massive sparks.

The scene before Qu Yiqiu turned a blazing red, casting a glow upon her fair, jade-like face.

*Clang, clang, clang—* Joyful chirps reached Qu Yiqiu’s ears.

As the scorching flames faded, the two silver chains were revealed, still intact. The smile that had begun to form on Qu Yiqiu’s lips faded back away.

"Wait, there is an extra crack on these chains!"

Her pupils dilated as she stared unblinkingly at the point where the two chains were locked together.

"Indeed, there is a hairline fracture, barely visible," Xiao Yan remarked in wonder.

A smile finally blossomed on Qu Yiqiu’s face. "There is hope!"

The Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire had originally disdained working for her, but the fact that these small silver chains had blocked its attack had enraged it, causing it to exhaust all its strength to unleash a newly mastered ultimate technique. Feeling the admiration radiating from Qu Yiqiu, it felt immensely proud and smug.

"I didn't raise you for nothing!" Qu Yiqiu was grinning from ear to ear.

"Master, should we tell Su Xichen about this?" Xiao Yan asked suddenly.

Qu Yiqiu’s smile froze. She scoffed, "Su Xichen’s attitude is truly atrocious. He took my storage bag while I was in distress; who knows what he’s planning? If he manages to find a way out in a few days, I might consider whether to tell him!"

Seeing her filled with resentment, Xiao Yan wisely kept his mouth shut.

Qu Yiqiu looked around, set up a few restrictions around herself, and continued to command the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire to burn through the silver chains. Little did she know, as Xiao Yan watched her actions, he was silently sighing to himself. These restrictions would only stop an honest person, not a villain.

Days passed one by one. Fortunately, Qu Yiqiu never lacked for fasting pills, so she could stay at the entrance of the cell without fearing hunger. The two silver chains on her ankles were also on the verge of breaking.

Xiao Yan monitored the direction in which Su Xichen had left from within her sea of consciousness, but since the day Qu Yiqiu had awakened, he hadn't caught a glimpse of him again.

"I wonder if he has found a way out?" Qu Yiqiu looked at the exhausted Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire and couldn't help but mutter to herself. It was a nuisance when a spiritual fire was too clever, always trying to resist its master’s decisions. However, making the fire spit hellfire day and night to burn the chains was indeed asking for too much overtime!

Qu Yiqiu caught the occasional resentful glance from the Dark Purple Sparrow Phoenix Fire and felt a twinge of guilt. After all, a spiritual fire’s power was not infinite.

Xiao Yan shook his head, a foreboding thought in his heart. "Master, I think that once you break free from these chains, you should go find Su Xichen and ask for a clear explanation. This place gives me a terrifying feeling."

Qu Yiqiu was slightly startled. "You have a point. A prison infested with demonic creatures is truly too dangerous!"

Now was not the time to dwell on minor conflicts; finding a way to leave this bizarre place was the priority.

Xiao Yan nodded, relieved. His master was broad-minded and possessed unfathomable strength; she would surely lead the Yin-Ming Realm to greater heights!