On a pitch-black, stormy night, a torrential downpour battered the mountain forest. The fierce wind carried a whistling sound, stirring up a cacophony in the woods. Occasionally, a thunderclap would roar from the sky, its colossal boom echoing incessantly through the mountains. Above the ominous, black sky, silver serpents flickered, the hissing sounds unceasing, and the dazzling silver light periodically illuminated the dark forest like daylight.
In the midst of the steep cliffs, an aged figure stood with hands clasped behind his back atop a sharp mountain rock. His weathered face was expressionless, staring at the lightning and thunder in the sky. His slightly hunched body resembled an ancient pine, standing firmly on the cliff, exuding a calm and immovable presence. However, if one observed carefully, they would notice that whenever the elder’s gaze glanced at the nearby cave, whose entrance was concealed by broken stones, his eagle-like hand would involuntarily clench, only to relax after a moment.
The elder stood silently amidst the lightning, not uttering a word, merely gazing upward. Occasionally, his gaze would shift to the cave, but it would only linger briefly before moving away, as if he feared disturbing the youth inside.
As the night slowly passed, the forest was mercilessly ravaged by the lightning. When the darkness gradually receded, a faint ray of dawn broke through the eastern horizon. The entire forest, battered and scarred, lay exposed. A round sun slowly rose in the east, casting a gentle, warm light upon the earth, bringing some vitality and energy to the beleaguered forest.
Standing on the mountain rock, Pharmacist Elder turned his head slightly to watch the rising sun, then glanced again at the cave, still silent and unresponsive. His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, clenched tightly. His eyes twitched slightly, and he took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, trying to calm himself. But the anxiety in his heart made it difficult to regain his usual composure.
His somewhat bony fingers tapped lightly on his arm, and as time passed, the cave remained silent. The rhythmic tapping became increasingly erratic, reflecting his chaotic state of mind.
The rising sun had now traversed half the sky. The once warm sunlight had become slightly scorching, and the Pharmacist Elder’s impatience grew. After waiting a moment longer, his fingers abruptly stopped, and his cloudy eyes emitted a fierce gleam. Clearly, after a night of waiting, he no longer intended to continue this aimless vigil.
As his fingers halted, a robust, powerful aura slowly rose from his body. The imposing pressure caused several flying beasts in the sky to scream in terror and flee, their fear palpable.
Just as the Pharmacist Elder was about to force his way into the cave, the first sign of movement finally appeared. “Boom!” A fierce burst of energy erupted from within the cave, only to be intercepted by the mountain walls. Instantly, large cracks spread across the rock face. Standing on the mountain rock, the Pharmacist Elder watched the cracks form, his tense face relaxing slightly. Since there was movement, the person inside must still be safe.
Shortly after, more intense energy waves followed, and under their impact, the sturdy mountain walls began to crumble. “What’s going on?” Gazing at the collapsing cave, the Pharmacist Elder furrowed his brows, murmuring in confusion.
“Boom!” Just as he pondered, a thunderous explosion, akin to the night’s fury, erupted from the cave. With this new energy wave, the already collapsing cave caved in further, boulders crashing down, transforming the cave into a pile of rubble.
Seeing this, the Pharmacist Elder’s face changed, and he leaped towards the collapsing cave. As he neared the debris, a green flame suddenly burst forth from the rubble, rapidly melting the massive rocks into lava.
Hovering in mid-air, the Pharmacist Elder forcefully stopped and dodged the raging green flames, his face filled with gravity and confusion as he stared into the dark cave.
“Ahh!” A piercing, hoarse scream, like that of a wounded beast, roared from the cave. An even more terrifying green flame swept out, burning everything in its path into liquid.
“It’s happening…” Hearing the pained scream, the Pharmacist Elder’s face darkened, and he cursed softly. Covering himself in white bone-spirit cold fire, he forced his way through the green flames, entering the devastated cave.
Landing, he quickly scanned the interior, his gaze settling on a young man kneeling on the ground, pounding the stone floor with his fists. Xiao Yan’s clothes were nearly burned away, and though his skin showed numerous blood marks, they were mostly minor injuries.
Sensing the Pharmacist Elder’s presence, Xiao Yan struggled to raise his head. His once energetic face was now deathly pale, his twisted features frightening. Blood trickled from his lips, and more seeped from his gums as he clenched his teeth. The hard rock beneath him was cracked like a spider web from his fists.
Scanning Xiao Yan’s contorted face, the Pharmician Elder’s dry skin twitched. It was unimaginable pain that could reduce the self-controlled and resilient Xiao Yan to such a state. “Give up on that damned thing!” Seeing Xiao Yan’s pallor, the Pharmacist Elder’s heart chilled, and he shouted urgently. He hadn’t expected the “Burning Decree” to cause such torment when devouring the strange fire.
“It’s… okay… I can still endure!” Xiao Yan’s eyes blazed, and he gritted his teeth, his words muffled. He pounded the stone again, and the boulder exploded.
His bloody fists trembled, and Xiao Yan clutched a sharp edge of a rock, cutting his hand. Blood flowed, staining the stone a bright red.
“Enough!” Seeing Xiao Yan’s bloodied hands, the Pharmacist Elder’s face darkened, and he roared, stomping his foot and launching himself at Xiao Yan.
“Boom!” As the Pharmacist Elder charged, Xiao Yan’s body convulsed, and a vast sea of green flames erupted from him, enveloping the Pharmacist Elder.
“Ahh!” The green flames seemed to burst from Xiao Yan’s pores, causing excruciating pain as his muscles, bones, and cells were scorched. He collided with the rock, but the green flames, though causing immense pain, also protected him from severe injury.
More green flames shot from Xiao Yan, making him appear like a living flamethrower. The sight was daunting.
“The ‘Blue Lotus Earth Core Flame’ is too strong. Xiao Yan, with his Fighter’s strength, cannot consume it. We must suppress it! Damn it, I can only use the strange fire, but that’s like adding fuel to the fire!”
As he pondered, a low hiss echoed in the cave. A seven-colored shadow darted from Xiao Yan’s sleeve, and its eyes, gazing at the green flames, lit up with an unknown light.
The Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python swiftly circled Xiao Yan, then opened its mouth, unleashing a terrifying suction force. The green flames surrounding Xiao Yan were pulled into the python’s belly.
More and more green flames were swallowed, and the flames on Xiao Yan’s body gradually diminished. After a while, the last wisp of green flame left his body.
With the last green flame gone, Xiao Yan’s body convulsed violently, and he collapsed, exhausted, onto the cold stone. Lying there, he looked up at the excited, circling Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, a faint smile spreading across his face. His eyes quivered, and soon, his vision faded to darkness.
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