The three men from the Demon Flame Valley stared blankly at the deep azure flame shield in Xiao Yan’s palm, and within it, a scarlet flame. Hearing Xiao Yan’s mocking words, their hearts felt heavy, and a strange flush quickly spread across their faces. In a puff of air, three gushes of fresh blood spewed almost simultaneously from their mouths.
The Celestial Fire Phoenix was formed by the combined Dou Qi of the three men, and since it contained their own essential blood, they shared a faint sense of connection with it. But as the deep azure flame shield formed, that last trace of connection vanished utterly from their hearts… Of course, what disappeared along with it was the pure Dou Qi they had cultivated for so many years…
With the disappearance of this Dou Qi, it meant that the strength of these three had plummeted to a miserable level. Such consequences… Gasp, breathless, red hair now streaked with white, Dialect’s already aged face appeared even more decrepit. He trembled as he wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth, eyes filled with resentment as he glared at Xiao Yan, who was hovering in the sky with fluttering fire wings. Yet, still, he didn’t give up. Clenching his teeth, he altered the hand seals, but no matter how hard Dialect tried to reestablish the connection with the Celestial Fire Phoenix, there was not a single flicker of response. That seemingly insignificant flame shield was like an unbreakable prison, severing any connection to the living fire phoenix…
“Damn you, let the Life-generating Flame out!” An elder from the Demon Flame Valley, feeling the growing weakness in his body, eyes turned blood-red as he shouted fiercely at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan’s gaze was indifferent as he looked at the visibly weakened Dialect trio, as if regarding fools. Did they really think they were playing a game? After trapping the Life-generating Flame, Xiao Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Without the Life-generating Flame, the three were no longer a threat; their rapidly declining strength made them unable to resist him anymore. This Life-generating Flame was practically handed to Xiao Yan on a silver platter. If they had just used their Dou Qi to tie down Xiao Yan, besides using some high-consuming Dou Techniques, he would have found it difficult to defeat them, and even if he did, he would likely suffer significant losses. Where would he have the leisure to capture the three and their Life-generating Flame so easily?
Dialect took a few deep breaths, his resentful gaze gradually fading. Looking up at Xiao Yan, he smiled, “Heh, the Gate Master’s unique flame is indeed unparalleled. It seems we three old fogeys were a bit too arrogant. The Life-generating Flame was formed from our combined Dou Qi. Even if you’ve trapped it, it’s useless. The best you can do is wait for it to disappear on its own. How about this? If the Gate Master returns it to us, I, the Elder of the Demon Flame Valley, promise that we will leave immediately and never touch the Bodhi Metabolism again. How about it?”
Xiao Yan gazed at Dialect’s smiling, yet aged face, and gave a slight chuckle. He slowly shook his head, “Elder Dialect, we are all rational people. Please, don’t say such childish things. I wouldn’t believe for a moment that you will leave if I return the Life-generating Flame. And, to be frank, does it really matter if you leave or not right now?”
As Xiao Yan’s words rang in Dialect’s ears, his smile froze. A vein pulsed on his forehead, and after a moment, he could no longer contain his anger, roaring, “Then what do you want? What else can you do with the Life-generating Flame besides watch it dissipate? What do you want? Just come out and say it!”
It wasn’t surprising that Dialect was so agitated. He knew very well that losing the Life-generating Flame was a sign of his decline—it meant he would be reduced from a half-footstep into the Battle Sect realm to a mere ordinary Battle Emperor. Moreover, due to the loss of his own essence blood, he would suffer a permanent wound, possibly forever stuck in the Battle Emperor realm, which, for an ambitious person like him, was a terrifying torment…
But Dialect’s agitation was futile. Xiao Yan was no philanthropist, and he knew being kind to such people was to be cruel to himself. Most in the Dark Corner Region carry a hidden blade, ready to stab anyone at any time. As a top-notch figure among them, Dialect’s blade was sharper. If he regained the Life-generating Flame, he would certainly not leave as promised but team up with the other two elders to hunt Xiao Yan again. And, learning from past mistakes, they would not use their flames against Xiao Yan this time but engage in a straight Dou Qi battle, forcing Xiao Yan to pay a far greater price—something Xiao Yan, with his vast experience, couldn’t afford to let happen.
“I’m sorry. The Life-generating Flame is quite useful to me. So, returning it… Well, Elder Dialect shouldn’t think about it.” Xiao Yan lightly waved the flame shield in his hand, looked at Dialect, and laughed, shaking his head.
Hearing this, Dialect’s face became thoroughly grim. He gave Xiao Yan a resentful look and, without further ado, punched his chest viciously, spraying a fresh stream of blood onto his palms. The blood-soaked hands emitted an eerie luster. Moving his hands, he formed another strange seal.
“Seal!” With a low shout, Dialect’s voice caused the slowly flowing scarlet flame within the shield to suddenly ignite, burning wildly, as if desperately trying to break through the shield.
“Stubborn fool!” Sensing the change in the flame shield, coldness flashed in Xiao Yan’s eyes. With a disdainful snort, he snapped his fingers, sending a formless flame toward the deep azure shield, enveloping it in another layer of fiery protection.
As the Fallen Heart Flame solidified the outer membrane, the fleeting connection Dialect felt by self-inflicting injury vanished. The Life-generating Flame within the shield once again stilled. Defeated again, Dialect’s face turned ashen, and a chill spread through his body.
Glaring icily at Dialect, Xiao Yan opened his mouth, tossing the flame shield in like a candy, and swallowed it whole. Watching Xiao Yan’s insane action, Dialect’s three companions’ mouths quivered. The human body is the most vulnerable place, even for a Battle Sect. If something invaded it, the outcome would be grim. Yet, Xiao Yan had swallowed the destructive flame!
“You… You madman, how dare you eat the flame!?” The three were shocked, while Xiao Yan gave a warm, hot burp and smiled. Though his body was the softest place, it was protected by the Lotus Ground Heart Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, and even the Bone Spirit Cold Flame left by the Medicine Elder. Under the protection of these three flames, Xiao Yan was unusually safe.
In this situation, Xiao Yan naturally couldn’t try to control the flame right then, so he decided to store it in his body, preventing it from quickly dissipating in the air. Storing the flame, Xiao Yan turned to Dialect’s three companions, his black eyes gleaming with cold intent. Though they were weakened, he wouldn’t let them go. Following the rule of extermination, he wouldn’t leave behind future troubles.
“Second, Third, kill him!” Sensing the icy killing intent in Xiao Yan’s eyes, Dialect shivered, shouting fiercely. Hearing Dialect’s roar, the two remaining elders, whose strength had dropped to two or three stars, gritted their teeth and attacked Xiao Yan. As the two elders charged forward, Dialect quickly retreated, his gaze full of venom aimed at Xiao Yan.
Casually looking at the charging Demon Flame Valley elders, Xiao Yan raised his sleeve, and in an instant, a volcano-like emerald flame column erupted! Hearing the intense heat wave from behind, Dialect’s heart pounded, but he didn’t look back. Vibrating his Dou Qi wings fiercely, he fled toward the forest edge.
“Second, Third, I will avenge you! Once I alert the Valley Lord, I will make that bastard pay in blood! And the Xiao Sect, I will raze it to the ground!” Dialect yelled as he ran, his bitter and vengeful voice carried by the wind.
“Silence!” As soon as the words left his lips, Dialect’s fleeing figure froze. The excruciating pain in his chest made him suffocate. He gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and saw a white hand covered in bright green flames piercing through his chest.
The scorching flame evaporated the blood, and as Dialect’s eyes rolled back, he finally saw a young, emotionless face, lingering with a bit of hatred, before his eyes closed.
“If you worked together, even I wouldn’t waste energy to deal with you now. Too bad… You miscalculated, old man…” As Dialect’s eyes closed, a faint voice whispered gently in his ear.
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