Undying Life

Chapter 205: Fire Burns the Giant Deer Hall

After Nian Youyou finished speaking, Crown Prince Han Jue frowned. Was his method really unworkable? How could water catch fire? This was certainly the best method. In the Five Elements, water and fire are opposites, incompatible with each other. If water and fire could convert into one another, it would break the natural laws, the rules of heaven and earth, which is simply impossible.

Seeing Crown Prince Han Jue frustrated, King Ju Lu's eyes lit up. As expected, there was no solution. How could there be a solution?

"Crown Prince Han Jue, Princess Qianyou, even the craftsman who created this painting couldn't achieve it. It's likely to be extremely difficult, not something one can think of on the spot. You are not restricted; whenever you come up with a method, you are welcome to come to my Giant Deer Manor and take Nian Youyou away at any time," King Ju Lu said confidently.

Hearing King Ju Lu's words, Zhong Shan smiled faintly. He finally understood King Ju Lu's plan. You can come anytime? Indeed, if you don't succeed today, both parties will surely rack their brains. But by the time they come up with another 'feasible' method, Nian Youyou will have already become someone else's slave. A woman who longs to be freed becomes someone else's slave. This emotional entanglement would undoubtedly cast a shadow on even Princess Qianyou's state of mind.

"Does this mean Youyou will be forever trapped in the painting?" Nian Youyou showed a sorrowful expression.

"Don't worry, Miss Nian Youyou, I will find a way," Crown Prince Han Jue immediately said.

Indeed, Crown Prince Han Jue fell into the trap. When he eventually comes up with a 'feasible' method and returns to the Giant Deer Manor, he will find out that Nian Youyou has already been taken away by Princess Qianyou. Whether it's true or not, as long as King Ju Lu says so, it must be true.

"Turning water into fire is not difficult. It happens to be within the expertise of my advisor, Mr. Zhong Shan, who specializes in this area," Princess Qianyou suddenly smiled.

King Ju Lu's previously triumphant smile froze. Again with your expertise? Specializing in turning water into fire? Nonsense, how is it that every difficult task is within your expertise?

Simultaneously, all eyes turned to Zhong Shan. Turning water into fire? How could that be possible? Nian Youyou, on the other hand, looked at Zhong Shan with bright eyes, a flash of surprise and playfulness in her gaze.

"Zhong Shan? Can you really make water turn into fire?" Nian Youyou immediately asked Zhong Shan.

Opposite, Crown Prince Han Jue frowned, looking at Zhong Shan with disbelief.

"Can I give it a try?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Of course," Nian Youyou immediately said.

Zhong Shan glanced at Princess Qianyou, who nodded. Only then did Zhong Shan walk away from the dining table and toward the center of the hall.

Inside the hall, everyone watched Zhong Shan in the center. Could this person really achieve this? Water and fire are opposites; how could they convert into each other?

King Ju Lu squinted at Princess Qianyou. Without a certain level of confidence, Princess Qianyou wouldn't allow this person to try. Could it really burn? If it turns into fire, wouldn't that ruin his plan?

Zhong Shan walked to the painting and gently touched the pool of water on the ground. A rectangular pool of water in the painting. He grabbed it lightly and confirmed that it was indeed the most ordinary water.

Everyone watched Zhong Shan in the center. This person, though little-known, could make a name for himself if he succeeded in converting water and fire through this battle. If he failed, he would become a laughingstock.

"Miss Nian Youyou, what is your cultivation level?" Zhong Shan directly asked.

"Around Nascent Soul stage," Nian Youyou replied.

Since seeing Ah Da and Ah Er hiding their cultivation, Zhong Shan was skeptical of what people outwardly displayed. At least those who used certain secret techniques to create anomalies in their cultivation couldn't show their true levels. Zhong Shan asked this merely to gauge the extent of Nian Youyou's capabilities.

"Can you control the world within this painting?" Zhong Shan asked.

"I am the spirit of the painting, so naturally, I can control it," Nian Youyou said.

Zhong Shan nodded. This was crucial for his next steps.

"Well then, I need you to follow my instructions precisely," Zhong Shan said, his voice calm but filled with authority.

Nian Youyou nodded, her curiosity piqued by what Zhong Shan might ask her to do.

Zhong Shan's Ingenious Solution

Zhong Shan's expression became serious as he looked at the pool of water. He knew that to ignite the water, he needed a technique that transcended ordinary means. This was not about conventional chemistry or physical laws; it was about understanding and manipulating the deeper principles of the Five Elements and their interactions.

"Miss Nian Youyou, I will need you to manipulate the energy within the painting to its maximum extent. Align the water's energy with the principles of extreme Yin," Zhong Shan said.

"Extreme Yin?" Nian Youyou asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Yes, water in its natural state is already associated with Yin energy. But to make it burn, we need to transform it into a state of extreme Yin, where it paradoxically contains the seed of its opposite, extreme Yang. This is an advanced concept in the study of the Five Elements," Zhong Shan explained.

Nian Youyou nodded, still somewhat puzzled but willing to follow Zhong Shan's instructions.

"Start by focusing your energy on the water, enhancing its Yin properties as much as possible," Zhong Shan instructed.

As Nian Youyou began to concentrate, a cold, palpable aura emanated from the pool of water, its surface now shimmering with a faint, eerie light. The water started to exude a profound sense of cold, far beyond its natural state.

"Good. Now, while maintaining that energy, introduce a controlled burst of Yang energy. This will not be a literal flame but rather an energetic transformation that causes a reaction," Zhong Shan said, his voice steady and guiding.

Nian Youyou focused intently, her brow furrowed in concentration. Slowly, a faint wisp of steam began to rise from the water, not from heat, but from the energetic transformation taking place within the water itself. The onlookers, including Crown Prince Han Jue and King Ju Lu, watched in astonishment as the water, cold as ice, began to exhibit characteristics of fire.

"Now, apply a small spark of your own energy to ignite the reaction," Zhong Shan said.

Nian Youyou, her face pale from the effort, flicked her fingers, and a tiny, almost imperceptible spark of light flew from her hand to the pool of water. There was a brief moment of silence, and then the water erupted into a gentle, ethereal flame, a fire that danced atop the water's surface without consuming it, a miraculous sight that defied the conventional laws of nature.

The Astonished Audience

The hall fell into a stunned silence, the impossible scene unfolding before their eyes. The water, now enveloped in a ghostly flame, burned steadily, illuminating the hall with a mystical glow. The flames were not consuming the water but coexisting with it in a delicate, paradoxical balance of Yin and Yang.

King Ju Lu's face turned from surprise to disbelief, and finally to resignation. His meticulously laid plan had been effortlessly shattered by Zhong Shan's unconventional approach. Princess Qianyou, her expression calm and composed, gave Zhong Shan an approving nod, acknowledging his brilliance.

Crown Prince Han Jue stood in stunned silence, his earlier confidence and skepticism now replaced by a begrudging respect for Zhong Shan's ingenuity. He had never seen such a profound application of the Five Elements theory, something that turned the very fabric of their understanding of nature on its head.

Nian Youyou, her face glowing with relief and gratitude, looked at Zhong Shan with a newfound admiration. Her long captivity within the painting was finally over, thanks to Zhong Shan's unprecedented solution.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhong Shan," Nian Youyou said, her voice filled with emotion.

"It was my pleasure, Miss Nian Youyou," Zhong Shan replied, his tone calm and humble.

As the ethereal flames continued to dance atop the water, the hall, once filled with doubt and skepticism, now echoed with the quiet awe of those who had witnessed the impossible.

"Since that's the case, it will be much easier," Zhong Shan nodded and said with a calm demeanor.

"Much easier?" Nian Youyou cast a scrutinizing glance at Zhong Shan, her eyes full of skepticism.

"Indeed. All I need to do is transform water into another state, and it will ignite instantly," Zhong Shan replied with a smile.

"Ice? Water? Mist? Vapor?" Nian Youyou furrowed her brows in confusion. None of these forms of water could catch fire.

With a slight smile, Zhong Shan asked, "Great Deer King, might I inquire if there is any gold, copper, or iron available in the palace?"

"Yes, but what do you need them for?" the Great Deer King responded, puzzled.

"Just a fist-sized piece of each will suffice," Zhong Shan said, not offering further explanation.

Soon, a few attendants brought gold, copper, and iron. Everyone looked at Zhong Shan with curiosity, except Princess Qian You, who smiled knowingly. She remembered how Zhong Shan had confidently solved a difficult problem involving threading a needle through an ant during their last encounter.

Examining the three metals, Zhong Shan turned to Nian Youyou and said, "Please, make the copper and iron into strips and the gold into a fine thread."

"Huh?" Nian Youyou was slightly confused but complied. With a flick of her wrist, she molded the metals into the shapes Zhong Shan had described.

Zhong Shan then tied the gold thread to the ends of the copper and iron strips and placed the metal strips into the pool of water.

"Nian Youyou, watch closely. When bubbles start to form on the iron and copper strips, separate them to opposite sides," Zhong Shan instructed.

"Huh? Are you trying to heat the water and turn it into vapor?" Nian Youyou asked curiously. Vapor couldn't ignite into flames, she thought.

"Just do as I say," Zhong Shan replied.

In front of everyone, a faint spark of electricity flickered between Zhong Shan's fingers. The electricity traveled along the gold thread, and soon bubbles began to form on the copper and iron strips. Under Nian Youyou's control, the bubbles quickly separated to opposite sides of the pool.

"Did you see my actions clearly?" Zhong Shan asked directly.

"Yes," Nian Youyou nodded, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion. It was just an electrical current. Could it be that Zhong Shan was proficient in lightning spells as well?

"Can you do it?" Zhong Shan asked again.

"Of course," Nian Youyou replied, perplexed.

"Then it's your turn!" Zhong Shan handed the gold thread to Nian Youyou without a hint of hesitation or concern for her feelings.

Nian Youyou, somewhat bewildered, took the thread. It wasn't a difficult task, and everyone present could see exactly how it was done.

"Remember, the bubbles must not touch each other. Collect them separately and compress them into liquid form without letting them contact the pool water," Zhong Shan instructed.

For a Nascent Soul stage cultivator like Nian Youyou, this task was exceedingly simple.

"What are we doing?" Nian Youyou asked, intrigued.

"Transform all the water into these two types of bubbles, compress them, and you'll understand. I haven't added anything else," Zhong Shan said with a smile.

After speaking, Zhong Shan returned to the dining table, leaving Nian Youyou alone to continue the electrical process under the watchful and concerned eyes of the others.

Nian Youyou's skill was undeniable. It wasn't long before she had converted all the water into two types of gas, and compressed them into liquids—one blue and the other white.

Everyone frowned slightly as they observed the transformation.

"It's ready. Remove the iron and copper strips, and let the two compressed liquids touch. That will ignite the fire," Zhong Shan said.

Upon hearing Zhong Shan's instructions, everyone felt a bit odd, even Nian Youyou.

Throwing the copper strip, iron strip, and gold thread aside, Nian Youyou conjured a small flame in front of her. The flame was cast into the pool, and the two liquids within began to interact.

"Ah Da, protect our dining table," Zhong Shan instructed calmly.

"Huh? Yes, sir!" Ah Da responded immediately, forming a protective shield in front of Princess Qian You, Zhong Shan, and Ah Er, as if preparing for some impending danger.

While everyone watched in bewilderment, the blue and white liquids touched the flame.

"Boom～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

The pool below the painting exploded with a thunderous roar the moment the three elements met. Flames surged skyward, and a massive gust of air blasted in all directions.

It burned. A towering inferno erupted, shooting straight up and tearing off the roof of the Great Deer Palace. The violent wind blew in every direction, toppling tables and sending dishes flying, splattering food across the faces of the startled guests.

A superheated current, a terrifying gale, surged outward from the center of the hall like a raging storm. Only a few high-level cultivators had managed to form protective barriers in time—those aligned with Crown Prince Han Jue, the Great Deer King, and Zhong Shan's group, who had prepared in advance.

Ah Da and Ah Er stared in disbelief. How could this be? The water burned? No, it exploded! No, it turned into fire? What was happening? Why did it ignite, and why did it explode?

No one understood, except Zhong Shan. Everyone else, wide-eyed, watched the raging flames in shock. Nian Youyou did nothing to stop it. Although no one was hurt and she could have extinguished the fire with a wave of her hand, she didn't. She just stood there, eyes wide with astonishment and wonder.

Princess Qian You took a deep breath, looking at Zhong Shan with immense satisfaction. Water turning into fire—this teacher was truly omnipotent! Could it be that Zhong Shan had discovered this on his own?

Of course, if Princess Qian You had asked, Zhong Shan would have said that back in his world, many people knew this—it was common knowledge for anyone who had attended high school. This was electrolysis: water composed of oxygen and hydrogen, which, when subjected to an electrical current, separated into its gaseous components. Although he couldn't build a generator, he could certainly generate electricity with magic. Creating a current with spells was easy, especially since he didn't have to do it himself.

Compressed oxygen turned into a blue liquid, and compressed hydrogen turned into a white liquid. Thus, the water was transformed into hydrogen and oxygen. When hydrogen met a flame, it ignited. The compressed hydrogen, encountering the oxidizing oxygen, combusted violently and exploded.

The scene was one of utter chaos. Zhong Shan's actions had caused a tremendous upheaval. Anyone hearing about this would be astounded. The first time he dined at the Great Deer Palace, he turned the place upside down, blowing off the roof, overturning tables, and knocking officials off their feet. He left a massive hole in the palace, making it impossible for anyone to leave unscathed.

But Zhong Shan's situation was unique—so unique that even if the Great Deer King was angry, he had no outlet for his frustration!

The painting had burned. Truly burned. The officials, who had been knocked down, scrambled to their feet, adjusting their hats and swallowing hard as they stared at Zhong Shan. They wondered if it had all been a dream. Water had turned into fire, a great blaze, a burning inferno!