Chapter 2233 — A Debt of Gratitude Repaid
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
A searing flame, more ferocious than any before it, burst from Wei Zhao's right fist and took the shape of a magnificent fire dragon. The violent fire coalesced in midair into a blazing sphere and hurtled toward the stone wall of the cave.
Yet no sooner had Wei Zhao unleashed this strike than a twinge of guilt pricked at his conscience. He knew the power of the first four stances of the Wildfire Fist all too well, and now that he had loosed this one, he reckoned the cave wall of the Great Fire Lion would likely be blasted into a gaping crater.
"Whoosh..." The Great Fire Lion lunged straight at it. The moment it opened its jaws, the great fireball Wei Zhao had conjured was swallowed whole into its belly, as though it had just enjoyed a hearty meal, deeply satisfied.
"That works too?" Wei Zhao withdrew his stance and stared at the Great Fire Lion in astonishment.
"To me, that's energy!" said the Great Fire Lion.
"Energy..." A wry smile flickered at the corner of Wei Zhao's mouth. "This thing can be used as energy?"
"It can. With this energy, plus what I've stored up before, I estimate I can finish crafting one more Fireflow Divine Pellet by the time you descend the mountain," said the Great Fire Lion. "Though to be honest, that you could unleash the fifth stance of the Wildfire Fist in such a short time—you really are a genius the likes of which I see perhaps once in a thousand years..."
"A genius, am I..." Wei Zhao smiled bitterly. Whether he was truly a genius, he could not say for certain, but the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art and the "martial technique" that accompanied it were, without question, a genius's heart method and a genius's martial art!
"At the very least, I have never heard of anyone able to unleash a new martial technique in such a brief span of time," said the Great Fire Lion.
"I'm heading up the mountain tomorrow. How do I use this Fireflow Divine Pellet?" Wei Zhao asked.
"Just hold it in your hand, and then—like so—unleash it together with the fifth stance of the Wildfire Fist." The Great Fire Lion explained how the Fireflow Divine Pellet was to be used. "I had thought you would stay a while longer, but you have already unleashed the fifth stance of the Wildfire Fist. So I won't urge you to linger. Take care of yourself in all things!"
"My thanks!" Wei Zhao said from the bottom of his heart. The Great Fire Lion had not only given him three Fireflow Divine Pellets, but Wei Zhao's greatest gain had been that martial arts manual of the Wildfire Fist! So it turned out this martial art had thirty stances, not twenty.
"No need for thanks. For your lifesaving kindness to the Little Fire Lion, our Fire Lion clan will remember it forever. Should you ever have need, you may come find us in the Wulonghaote Mountains at any time," said the Great Fire Lion.
"Once the Fireflow Divine Pellets are used up, may I come get more?" Wei Zhao's heart stirred at the Great Fire Lion's words.
"You may!" The Great Fire Lion nodded without hesitation. "Though I'm afraid I can only craft one more this year. Come back this time next year, and I can provide you at least three more!"
Wei Zhao had not expected the Great Fire Lion to be so mindful of kindness and eager to repay it, and he was moved at heart. By any reasonable account, Wei Zhao had helped the Little Fire Lion, yet at the critical moment the Great Fire Lion had also helped him deal with the Fifth Protector. And on top of that, it had gifted him three Fireflow Divine Pellets and a manual of the Wildfire Fist—this debt of gratitude far exceeded what Wei Zhao had given!
All Wei Zhao had done was heal the Little Fire Lion's wounds when it was hurt. The Great Fire Lion's magnanimity surpassed anything Wei Zhao could have imagined!
It seemed the Fire Lion clan truly believed that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.