Chapter 217: Eternally Imprinted in a Woman’s Heart

The terrifying battle that had filled people’s hearts with dread had finally ended.

The figure of the Fenghuang, one of the Ten凶 Beasts, had also vanished, and the suffocating pressure that had covered the Flame Hell like a shroud dissipated in an instant.

Several streaks of light tore through the void, and a group of figures floated down gracefully.

These people were from the Xuanjian Sect.

They had all witnessed what had just occurred, and it was impossible for them not to feel shocked. The appearance of the Fenghuang, one of the Ten凶 Beasts, had already astounded them, but the sudden vortex that emerged in the sky left them even more astonished.

The aura from that vortex did not belong to Dongling Continent, nor did it resemble any known force. It was simply too overwhelming, so powerful that it left them with no will to resist at all.

Xuan Yun frowned deeply, gazing at the now-calm Flame Hell. Her heart, however, could not settle.

As an elder of the Xuanjian Sect and a high-level Grand Heaven cultivator, her strength was formidable, though not the absolute peak on Dongling Continent. Yet the pressure from earlier had made her feel the breath of death itself.

It felt as though, if the mysterious vortex had turned its gaze upon her, she would have perished in the blink of an eye.

She had to report this back to the sect immediately. This was the first time in Dongling’s history that such an event had occurred.

A mysterious force not belonging to Dongling had appeared, and it had manifested in the Flame Hell. Perhaps its purpose was connected to this ancient凶 beast.

Just then, a sudden sound erupted from the previously calm Flame Hell.

Xuan Yun’s expression changed instantly, and she became alert to her surroundings. But when she saw the figure ahead, her face lit up with joy.

“Yunxian, you’re alright?” Xuan Yun hurried forward.

The younger disciples around her also smiled slightly. For a moment, they had truly believed Yunxian might have perished here.

Xuanyunxian’s expression was somewhat dazed, as if she had suffered a great shock. Her slightly bewildered eyes scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something.

But gradually… a trace of disappointment appeared on her face.

“I’m fine,” Xuanyunxian shook her head.

At this moment, her mind was filled with the final image from just moments ago—the face of that man and the last words he had spoken.

When the torrent of flame had poured down upon him, her heart had clenched. And when she saw him, with his last ounce of strength, block the cave entrance with a massive stone, her heart had felt as if it had been suffocated.

She had never imagined she could feel this way.

“Yunxian, I’m glad you’re safe. This place is too strange—we must leave quickly,” Xuan Yun noticed Yunxian’s odd expression and assumed it was due to the shock of what had just happened.

At this moment, not only Yunxian, but even she herself still felt lingering fear in her heart.

Xuanyunxian glanced around, her eyes flickering with emotion. Finally, she nodded, though her stunningly beautiful face bore a faint trace of sorrow.

At the mid-mountain slope.

The Fourteen Desert Bandits had been captured by Lei Hengfeng and his group. When the commotion in the Flame Hell had occurred, Lei Hengfeng and his companions had followed closely behind and coincidentally encountered the Fourteen Desert Bandits. Lei Hengfeng naturally held deep hatred for these fourteen individuals, and with overwhelming strength, he had crushed them decisively.

Now, the Fourteen Desert Bandits knelt on the ground with their heads bowed, their faces full of bitterness.

Their leader was missing, and they had been defeated pathetically. Judging from the expressions of their captors, it seemed they might not be spared.

“What are you doing?” Xuan Yun asked as she passed by.

“Senior Xuan, these are the ones who ambushed us. Their leader is the one who harmed Brother Liu,” Lei Hengfeng replied.

Xuan Yun looked at the Fourteen Desert Bandits and slightly frowned. “Too much killing intent—kill them, to prevent them from bringing calamity to the world.”

“Yes,” Lei Hengfeng nodded, but just as he was about to act, Xuanyunxian spoke up.

“Let them go,” Xuanyunxian said calmly.

Lei Hengfeng hesitated. “This…”

Xuanyunxian gave a slight humph, her expression showing displeasure.

Lei Hengfeng was greatly startled and quickly replied, “Yes.”

But he couldn’t understand why Senior Yunxian wanted to release this group of scoundrels.

“You leader has already perished. Disperse and leave,” Xuanyunxian said. She could naturally see that these Fourteen Desert Bandits were all filled with malevolence, and likely had countless deaths on their hands. But their leader had sacrificed himself to save her. The least she could do now was this.

“What…?” Sandu Long couldn’t believe his ears, but he could tell the woman wasn’t lying. Eventually, he sighed and nodded to his brothers before leaving.

“Yunxian, why did you do that?” Xuan Yun asked in confusion.

“Senior sister, in the Flame Hell, if not for their leader, I would already be dead,” Xuanyunxian replied quietly, though her eyes continued to flicker with an unusual light.

Xuan Yun looked at Yunxian and finally asked no more.

…

At this moment, deep within the torrent of flame, Lin Fan ignored the blazing fire and continued to dive deeper. He hadn’t expected the “Indestructible Demon Body” to be this powerful—was this what it meant to be impervious to fire and water?

The torrent of flame washing over his body could only be converted into a trickle of experience. Although the gains weren’t significant, to Lin Fan, this place was still an excellent spot for leveling up.

He had thought about the Celestial Crucible before, but it was simply unbearable. Training within the Celestial Crucible was akin to cutting one’s flesh. That kind of pain was something he never wanted to endure unless his life depended on it.

But here, in this torrent of flame, it was so comfortable—like soaking in a hot spring.

Lin Fan’s physical body was already incredibly strong. For an ordinary Grand Heaven cultivator, diving into the torrent wouldn’t be a problem, but it would require a vast amount of true energy to sustain.

After all, a physical body as monstrous as Lin Fan’s was extremely rare.

At this moment, Lin Fan noticed a flickering red light below, as if something was quietly lying there.

A trace of joy flickered in Lin Fan’s eyes. He immediately gathered his strength and swam downward with all his might.

His purpose in coming to the Flame Hell was to search for treasures marked on the “Seven Sage Treasure Map.” The Flame Hell was vast, and the map had not marked any specific coordinates.

It seemed he would have to stay here for a while.

Earlier, that giant hand had clearly reached toward the river, but was stopped by the Fenghuang. There must be something valuable below.

As Lin Fan continued to descend, he suddenly noticed that the torrent of flame seemed to be cut off by something. Before he could react, his body plunged heavily downward.

Lifting his head, Lin Fan saw a glowing barrier overhead, separating the torrent of flame. The raging flames flowed along the barrier’s surface, not a single drop managing to pass through.

Marvelous. Truly marvelous.

Lin Fan carefully examined his surroundings. It felt just like solid ground, with no sense of pressure at all.

Looking at himself, still naked from the waist down, Lin Fan took out a piece of clothing from his bag and dressed himself before continuing forward to explore this mysterious place.