A small, seemingly inconspicuous mass of flame, its glow far from dazzling, merely peculiar in shape—like churning molten rock.
This was… the Molten Rock Fire!
Lin Feng had thrown this newly acquired Extraordinary Fire as a weapon!
"POP!!"
A soft sound echoed as the small flame struck the beast's head and burst apart.
What happened next left everyone utterly dumbfounded…
"ROOOOOAR!!!"
An agonized, ear-piercing shriek tore through the air. The beast suddenly struggled with unprecedented frenzy!
Where the small flame had exploded on its head, the fire spread with unimaginable speed, instantly engulfing its entire body!
"Sssss…"
Immediately, a chorus of sickening hissing sounds emanated from the burning beast. Wisps of greenish smoke began to rise from its body, and the pungent stench of charred flesh filled the air...
The beast thrashed and rolled wildly, its aura surging to terrifying new heights, its movements a blur. Yet, the dark red flames clung to it like viscous sludge, impossible to shake off no matter how violently it writhed.
Completely enveloped in flames, the beast looked monstrously terrifying. The fire resembled flowing lava, creating the horrifying illusion that it was covered in molten rock.
"ROAR!!"
With a deafening bellow, the beast abruptly ceased its struggles. Within the curtain of fire, a single crimson eye fixed itself hatefully on Lin Feng. Then, it gathered its strength and lunged, a blazing juggernaut hurling itself towards him!!
"BOOOOOOM!!!"
Yet, just as it leaped into the air, a world-shattering explosion ripped through the plaza. It was like a balloon stretched far beyond its limit. The massive, flaming beast simply... detonated.
Its body fragmented into countless pieces. But not a single shred of flesh or bone fell to the ground. In the instant of explosion, every fragment incinerated instantly. From the air showered only fiery rain and a drift of fine ash...
......
…
Exactly as the demon beast met its end, outside Qingyun City, in a remote cave.
The previously dim cavern pulsed with a deep crimson glow. The air was thick with concentrated fire-elemental spiritual energy, swirling in a visible vortex of red energy around a figure seated at its center.
This figure was the beast's 'master' – the mysterious young man who had nearly crossed paths with Lin Feng in the Seven Peaks Forest. At this moment, a powerful aura radiated from him, steadily intensifying. Anyone experienced would recognize the signs: he was advancing his cultivation, and had reached the critical final stage.
"Pfft!!"
Suddenly, without warning, the young man's face blanched. He spat out a mouthful of bright red blood!
"BUMPF!"
Instantly, the swirling fire energy around him went chaotic, churning violently before rapidly dissipating into the air. The potent aura emanating from his body plummeted dramatically in the same heartbeat.
"RAAAAAAH!!!"
Confusion flickered briefly in the young man's eyes, then his features contorted into a mask of pure fury as he unleashed a roar of utter disbelief and rage.
"My Ink Lion Beast... is dead?! Impossible!!"
He stared towards the cave entrance in disbelief. To the left stood a figure cloaked entirely in black robes, motionless as a statue. To the right, where his Ink Lion Beast should have been standing guard protecting his breakthrough, there was nothing but emptiness!
"It lost control again?! Damn it all!!" Comprehension dawned swiftly. The beast had disobeyed his command to guard him, had ventured out... and somehow been slain! Worse, it had died during the most critical moment of his advancement! The strand of his soul bound within the beast had been severed, the ensuing backlash shattering his impending breakthrough!
"How?!" Spittle flew from his lips. "In a backwater place like this?! Who could possibly kill my Ink Lion Beast?!"
His face twisted, radiating murderous intent. Rage consumed him – rage at the beast's disobedience, rage at its destruction, but above all, supreme fury at the ruin of his own ascension!
"Whoever you are..." he hissed, the venom in his voice palpable. "You killed my beast puppet... ruined my breakthrough... I will see you SUFFER A THOUSAND DEATHS!!"
......
"..."
Back in Qingyun City.
Lin Feng stood frozen, momentarily stunned. The beast had erupted into ash right before his eyes, extinguishing the panic that had spurred him to retreat mere moments before.
Flecks of fiery rain drifted down. As a few embers neared him, he snapped back to awareness. His right hand flicked out. The falling sparks halted impossibly in mid-air before him, then obediently changed course, swirling into his palm. Not just those sparks – every single glowing fragment scattered around the plaza seemed to answer his call, streaking back to coalesce upon his outstretched right hand.
Countless motes of fire gathered, condensing back into a single mass no larger than an egg. Its color was a deep, dark crimson, pulsating like a globule of living magma.
The Molten Rock Fire.
Gazing at the Extraordinary Fire cradled in his palm, exhilaration surged through Lin Feng. Its devastating power thrilled him.
Extraordinary Fires weren't just supreme tools for alchemy and artifact forging; they were also formidable weapons. He'd used it experimentally, ready to deploy his final trump card, the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman, if it failed. The outcome, however, wildly surpassed his expectations. This fire had obliterated a beast he'd struggled against for so long, in a single, terrifying display.
Such overwhelming force filled Lin Feng with fierce joy. Even if it proved unusable for crafting, this Extraordinary Fire was now a devastating combat asset – a deadly new ace up his sleeve.
"Extraordinary Fire!!"
Nearby, the others were slowly emerging from their shock. Lei Ze stared at the small orb of flame in Lin Feng's hand, understanding dawning, his expression shifting to profound astonishment.
"He really possesses one!!"
For Changgong Linglan and others who knew Lin Feng's 'background', their shock mingled with a certain knowing acceptance. They had no clue that Lin Feng had acquired this Molten Rock Fire only moments ago.
"Lin Feng!"
"Boss Lin! Are you alright?"
The voices of Zheng Kai, Yao Wangtian, and the others reached him. Lin Feng snapped out of his contemplation. A slight clench of his right fist, and the Extraordinary Fire vanished back into his body. With another wave of his hand, the recalled flying sword disappeared as well. He turned to face the group gathering around him.
Meeting their concerned gazes, Lin Feng offered a reassuring smile. "Heh, don't worry. I'm fine."
"Big Bro, you were amazing!! Hahaha! I knew you could take that beast down!" Zhang Fangzhou gushed, his eyes shining with unabashed admiration.
"Lin Feng," Zheng Kai asked, his voice thick with disbelief, "What you used just now... was that truly an Extraordinary Fire?"
"Yes," Lin Feng nodded. "An Extraordinary Fire." He instinctively glanced at Changgong Xiaojing, finding her staring back at him with intense, probing eyes.
"Father!!"
Kou Tingting's cry cut through the momentary calm. She had spotted Kou Xuyun and the other clan leaders approaching from a distance. She immediately sprinted towards them, reminding Zheng Kai and Changgong Xiaojing. They too hurried after her.
Each rushed to their respective father's side, offering support. Among the three clan leaders, only Changgong Linglan seemed relatively lightly injured. Zheng Changqing and Kou Xuyun bore serious wounds, though life-saving pills had stabilized them. Recovery would take time, but the danger had passed.
"Masters, are you alright?" Lin Feng approached Changgong Linglan and the others, his tone respectful and concerned.
"Nothing life-threatening," Changgong Linglan replied with a weary but genuine smile. "Lin Feng, we owe you our lives this time."
Lin Feng waved off the praise modestly. "You Masters fought hard and weakened it significantly first. I merely seized the opportunity. I just got lucky."
Changgong Linglan shook his head, his smile deepening. "No need for modesty. Without your intervention, even if we had prevailed, the cost would have been unimaginable. You are the hero today."