Chapter 90: Courage

The avalanche covered the forest under a blanket of snow, but was quickly melted away by the lava below.

The molten lava only grew stronger. Mountains trembled and fell over, creating more avalanches. Black smoke filled the air. If this went on, the entire Northlands could be in trouble. And so many people were still entering the border from the south...

Aji's face dimmed. "Why is this suddenly happening? Could it be the doings of the imperial court?"

"I'm afraid even the Grand Master can't manipulate the power of nature at will. Also, this is not ordinary lava."

"Did lava come in ordinary and unordinary forms?"

"There is a famous overseas island named Thunder fire with nothing but a giant mountain reaching into the sky. The tip of the mountain regularly erupts lava redder than blood. It's said that the lava is made from hell fire and can burn anything in this world." Aji listened in awe.

"Where did you hear that from?"

"The sea." He stopped talking and carried Aji forward riding the wind. He was very fast, much faster than Aji could fly on her own. The cold wind blew at her face and she lowered her head. She saw his legs then looked up again at his excessively beautiful face.

"I heard you used to have a very beautiful tail, that's why Princess Shunde wanted to capture you." Changyi ignored her.

"Princess Shunde is such a bastard," Aji continued.

"How many people has she ruined?" Changyi responded this time.

"So she will definitely pay the price."

They flew along the burning fissure for a while then stopped in mid air. Below them was what used to be a mountain spring. It now gurgled bright red like blood, looking terrifying to the extreme. And what was even more terrifying was that the residential border sat just over a hill. An eruption here would likely destroy the city.

Some of the lava seeped into the ground, while others flowed through and cut trails. All of the surrounding snow had been scorched clean, leaving the side of the mountain black.

"How can it be this bad?" Aji was visibly concerned.

"No one here ever noticed it before?"

"It must have appeared only a short while ago. This place may belong to the same mountain range as Thunder fire, just because it's been dormant. Go back to the city and find Kongming. Tell him to evacuate everyone, and use demons and demon masters for help."

"Where to?" Aji felt very stressed.

"Further north is unbearably cold. Demon masters and demons can maybe endure it, but how will ordinary people handle it? Plus there are so many people, the food supply will hardly last half a month. And heading south will also be hopeless. The court might be weak, but they can still easily kill your citizens on the run."

Aji completely forgot that she wanted to flee from him. Changyi glanced at her and said, "I didn't say to move out permanently. It's just going to be temporary."

"Temporary?" Aji looked at him.

"What are you going to do?" Then she pretty much guessed it.

"You want to hold off this lava? Then have people return to the city afterwards?" Changyi did not deny it. Aji looked at Changyi with wide eyes and shook her head. "Are you crazy?" she shouted.

"You said even the Grand Master cannot manipulate the power of nature, who are you to stop it?"

"I will set up a barrier and keep the lava from entering the city."

"Easier said than done! You think you alone can protect everyone from this natural disaster, you..." The lava below suddenly exploded with a loud boom and scattered in all directions.

Changyi lifted his hands and formed a barrier out of ice and snow in front of them, blocking the lava heading in their direction.

His power centered around the water element, so the snowy mountains and fields here were most conveniently at his disposal.

The snow continuously gathered and built onto the barrier, growing it into a massive wall that made him look so small in comparison.

"Go."

Aji bit her lip and headed for the Demon Terrace without further delay. She flew over the city and saw many residents gathered onto the streets. They had felt the earth tremble and saw the volcanic eruptions from here, and watched in awe as a gigantic snow wall formed.

Only one man in a black robe stood in the air between the wind and snow. Aji looked back at Changyi then quickened her pace and entered the Demon Terrace. The guards tried to stop her, but she blocked them with ease.

"Your lord has sent me here! Where is Kongming?" Just then, a loud rumbling came from the mountains. The lava had collided with the wall of snow and left a giant black mark, but it did not break through. Aji grew even more anxious.

"Where is Kongming?"

"What's the ruckus?" Kongming stepped out from a side hall. Aji immediately walked over to him.

"The mountains erupted outside the border! The jiaoren is out there alone keeping the lava from raining into the city. He wants you to immediately get some people and help evacuate everyone."

"Erupted? He's fighting it alone?!" Aji did not have time to explain.

"He has no choice, but obviously he can't hold on very long. Find me a hundred men who know water magic and we will go help him." Before the monk could respond, a soldier next to him stepped forth and said, "I know water magic! I would like to help!"

"I know water magic too!"

"Me too, please assign me!" Aji looked around and saw the people stepping forward consisted of both demons and demon masters. She felt incredibly excited. The two sides held generations of hatred and grudge toward one another. Even though Aji had no memories of it, she somehow felt like this collaboration was something she had yearned for a thousand times.

This was so good. No rivalry, no deceit, no identity, and no race. Just a common goal. Aji nodded. "Gather enough people here and we will all go together."