Above the azure sky, a gigantic gray-brown firebird flapped its wings as it hovered in the air. Waves of searing heat radiated from within its body, causing the air in this region to become distorted and unreal. Each time this so-called “Starry Sky Fire Phoenix” flapped its wings, there would be a slight tremor in the space around it. The scorching winds roared through the heavens, making people sweat profusely as if they were in a desert…
When the huge gray-brown firebird appeared, the faces of Dialect, Nalan Yanran, and Nalan Jie turned visibly pale. Their auras also rapidly weakened, clearly indicating that the summoning of this immensely destructive “Starry Sky Fire Phoenix” had consumed nearly half of their strength.
However, although their complexions were pale, the ruthless expression on Dialect’s face only intensified. He laughed mockingly at Xiao Yan, who was in the center, and said, “Master Xiao, what do you think of our ‘Starry Sky Fire Phoenix’? Can it match your Heavenly Fire?”
Glancing at the elderly face filled with ruthlessness and pride, Xiao Yan’s mouth curled up slightly, speaking dismissively, “Is this your final move?”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s relaxed tone, Elder Dialect’s eyes twitched, and a sinister smile spread across his lips. “Perhaps after Master Xiao feels the might of my ‘Starry Sky Fire Phoenix,’ he will change his tune.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Elder Dialect’s face darkened, and a cold command emerged from his lips. His hand seal then changed slightly.
Following the shift in his hand seals, the huge gray-brown Fire Phoenix circling in the sky let out a sharp cry. A tangible wave of scorching sound spread out, causing the forest below to undulate like ocean waves.
The cry fell, and the gray-brown Fire Phoenix’s wings fiercely flapped, creating a continuous whistling sound. Countless gray flames shot out from the bird’s body, engulfing the sky as they rushed towards Xiao Yan.
The piercing wind of the flaming feathers roared in the sky, and the scorching temperature was like small, hot pebbles erupting from a volcano, hot and destructive. The flaming feathers rapidly amplified in Xiao Yan’s black pupils, but just as they were about two fathoms away, a deep emerald flame suddenly flashed in his eyes.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The feathers descended from the sky, and just as they entered within two fathoms of Xiao Yan, a deep emerald flame barrier mysteriously appeared. Any feather that entered this flame barrier saw its gray-brown flames extinguish quickly, like doused water. As the flames died, the fighting spirit transformed into feathers also quietly dissolved, vanishing into nothingness.
Outside the flame barrier, the feathers poured down like a torrential rain, while inside, Xiao Yan slowly placed his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed on the giant gray-brown Fire Phoenix above. This phoenix, which almost completely consumed the fighting spirits of Dialect, Nalan Yanran, and Nalan Jie, indeed had a terrifyingly high temperature, very close to the Blue Lotus Heart Flame. However, no matter how close, it was not real Heavenly Fire!
Heavenly Fires are mostly formed between heaven and earth, compressed and accumulated over countless ages, evolving to possess destructive power. This destructive and chaotic nature is the essence of time, and it is extremely difficult for humans to create an equivalent force artificially. Even though it might not be entirely impossible, for Dialect and his companions, it was completely out of reach. Without that destructive and chaotic nature, even the most powerful flames would never become Heavenly Fire…
A lion deprived of its ferocity could not make the beasts tremble. For Dialect and his companions, their lifelong aspiration was to elevate this so-called “Transformation Fire” to the level of Heavenly Fire. But they did not understand that the truly terrifying aspect of Heavenly Fire was not just the extreme temperature; it was the destructive power that could burn everything. Using this false Heavenly Fire to defeat Xiao Yan, who possessed two genuine Heavenly Fires, was nothing but a ridiculous dream.
In the sky, the countless gray burning feathers finally disintegrated, and when Dialect and his companions saw Xiao Yan, unscathed, inside the flame barrier, a look of iron-green indignation crept onto their faces.
“If your Transformation Fire is only this… I’m quite disappointed,” Xiao Yan stood within the flame barrier, his eyes slightly narrowing, casting a glance at Dialect and his companions, and spoke coolly.
Elder Dialect’s face twisted with fury, and a hint of savagery appeared. Ignoring Xiao Yan, he turned to the other two elder magicians of the Demon Fire Valley and growled, “Offer the Fire!”
Hearing Dialect’s growl, the two elders’ faces changed, and they bit their tongues, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood. The blood did not dissipate but instead condensed into several droplets, spinning tirelessly before them. The expulsion of the blood further weakened the two elders, already in a weakened state, as the blood was not ordinary but the vital essence blood containing their purest fighting spirit.
“Shush!”
Seeing this, Dialect also bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and then directed it, combining the three pools of blood into a fist-sized, deep brown blood ball.
“Go!” With a wave of his sleeve, the blood darted out and entered the massive Fire Phoenix.
As the blood merged, the gray-brown Fire Phoenix, spreading its wings, instantly froze. A strange bloody color seeped out from its body, turning the once gray-brown bird into an eerie crimson. Along with the color change, a rich, bloody scent diffused from its body, tinting the sky slightly red. The Fire Phoenix’s aura now was several times stronger than before, and, due to the essence blood of Dialect and his companions, it seemed to have developed a faint spark of intelligence.
“Kill him!” Dialect’s eyes glowed scarlet as he gazed at the newly transformed Fire Phoenix. With a malevolent sneer, he pointed at Xiao Yan and roared, “Go!”
With Dialect’s command, the crimson Fire Phoenix’s hollow eyes glowed blood-red, and an ear-splitting eagle cry resonated in the sky. It then retracted its massive body, like a giant spear, spinning crazily before shooting out with a whoosh toward Xiao Yan.
The speed of the Fire Phoenix was terrifying, almost tearing through space itself. In a flash, it appeared two fathoms away from Xiao Yan, its sharp beak gleaming with intense crimson flames, exuding an ominous aura.
Sensing the Fire Phoenix’s incredible speed, Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed with gravity. The Demon Fire Valley indeed had remarkable means to boost artificial flames to such an extent. Acting swiftly, Xiao Yan moved his hand seals, and the flame barrier enveloping him swelled into a vast emerald fire net, catching the charging Fire Phoenix in its embrace.
As soon as the Fire Phoenix was restrained, it struggled violently, its crimson flames surging forth, continuously scorching the emerald fire net. Despite the obstructive barrier, the sharp, sword-like beak still aimed for Xiao Yan’s head.
“Stop!” Seeing the sharp beak rapidly enlarging in his dark eyes, Xiao Yan’s gaze hardened, and he bellowed, “Halts!”
With his command, the emerald fire net shone brightly, tightening and wrapping around the struggling Fire Phoenix in a series of creaking sounds. Catching his breath, Xiao Yan looked at the sharp beak mere inches from his forehead, wiped the cold sweat, and smirked at Dialect’s direction. Changing his hand seal, he barked, “Condense!”
As the word “condense” was spoken, the emerald fire net spewed out a continuous stream of deep emerald flames. When these flames touched the Fire Phoenix, it writhed in apparent pain. The strange crimson flames, under the onslaught of the emerald fires, began to dim.
Seeing the weakening crimson flames, Xiao Yan took another breath, concentrating his energy, and unleashed the full power of the Blue Lotus Heart Flame, all directed at the Fire Phoenix.
“Squeal! Squeal!”
Under the intense erosion of the Blue Lotus Heart Flame, the Fire Phoenix writhed like a wounded hen, emitting shrill, piercing cries.
“Leader, hurry and recall the Fire Phoenix! That boy’s Heavenly Fire is too fearsome!” Seeing the change, one of the Demon Fire Valley Elders shouted. They were in a telepathic link with the Fire Phoenix and knew the dire situation it faced.
Dialect’s face, already pale, turned paler, realizing that using the Fire Phoenix against Xiao Yan had been a mistake. The power of Heavenly Fire was far beyond his expectations.
“Recall!” Realizing this, Dialect, without hesitation, changed his hand seals and commanded urgently.
As Dialect’s command fell, the Fire Phoenix in the net ceased its struggles, dissolving into countless glowing flame points, pouring out of the gaps in the net like bees leaving their hive.
“Same trick, thinking it can work twice? Today, I’ll take your Transformation Fire!” Seeing this, Xiao Yan smirked and flicked his fingers. The space in the net twisted, and invisible flames surged out, driving the fleeing crimson flames back.
As the flames returned, the emerald fire net rapidly contracted, condensing into a fist-sized emerald flame barrier, containing a mass of crimson flames. Inside, the scene resembled a caged bird.
The emerald flame barrier floated slowly above Xiao Yan’s palm, and he scanned the crimson flames within, then turned to Dialect and his companions, smiling. “Thank you for your generous gift. I won’t refuse such a grand offering…”
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