Chapter 258: A Favorite Quote from Tian Huo Zun-zhe: "Huh?"
The crimson magma churned violently. Moments later, under Xiao Yuan's expectant gaze, a swarm of red silhouettes surged forward like a school of fish. Each of their bloodthirsty stares and mouths full of sharp teeth made Xiao Yuan tremble with excitement—these were all cultivation resources!
With a flick of his wrist, he retracted the Six Qi into his body. The dense dark-gold flame around him transformed from its fish-like form into a suit of flame armor that tightly adhered to his body. The Flame Lizardmen rushed in at extreme speed—an average person wouldn't have been able to escape.
But Xiao Yuan… hadn't intended to run at all.
In just a few blinks, over a hundred red figures surrounded him in a sphere-like formation. Their eyes gleamed with savagery and locked onto the crimson orb in Xiao Yuan's hand.
Under their greedy stares, Xiao Yuan calmly rinsed the orb in magma, then stored it in his spatial ring.
These creatures had clearly been drawn by the death cries of the lizard he'd just slain. Still, Xiao Yuan remained cautious. He knew there had to be even stronger Flame Lizardmen nearby, so he needed to end things quickly.
Noticing the dark-gold flame armor on his body, the Flame Lizardmen hesitated. Their intelligence wasn't high, but they could tell this fire wasn't something to provoke lightly.
Thus, they simply surrounded him and didn't charge.
Xiao Yuan stood coldly, unmoved.
He was waiting for them to lose their minds and charge blindly. That would be the best time to strike.
Sure enough, these creatures were not patient. Soon, the tension broke. Their eyes turned blood-red, and with screeching cries, they burst from the magma and attacked Xiao Yuan at lightning speed.
Facing the swarm, Xiao Yuan remained confident and composed. His palms slashed out like blades, the sharp palm winds coated in dark-gold flame. The intense heat churned the magma, sending ripples outward, striking the red figures with precision.
These creatures, though numerous and capable of manipulating magma, were still no match for Xiao Yuan. An average peak Dou Wang trapped by them would be overwhelmed. But for him, it was no threat. Each strike pierced a lizardman's heart—within just a few minutes, nearly twenty had fallen.
"Screeee!"
As more lizardmen died, the others began to realize just how dangerous this human was. Still, they didn't flee. Their piercing cries echoed, summoning reinforcements.
That's enough.
Seeing more approaching, Xiao Yuan stopped attacking. His hands began forming seals at blinding speed.
Falling Fire Burns the Sky.
Dark-gold flames flared in his eyes. In the next moment, the flames surged from his body, dyeing the surrounding magma the same shade.
This was a new technique he had created during the past half month, based on the Xuan-tier technique Falling Fire Burn, modified using fire control methods from Demon Flame Valley. Its rank had reached low-tier Earth class, but with Heavenly Flame augmentation, its power exceeded that of many mid-tier Earth techniques.
The temperature of the magma spiked. Some Flame Lizardmen tried to flee but quickly discovered the magma had become so viscous it was impossible to move quickly—like hitting a solid wall.
Xiao Yuan had manipulated the local fire energy density, altering the magma's properties using his soul power to create a non-Newtonian fluid.
Today, no one was escaping.
Among the new wave of red figures, one stood out—a massive lizardman. Even Xiao Yuan felt a bit of pressure from it. It was well beyond the others, at the peak of Dou Huang, maybe even half a step into Dou Zong.
But Xiao Yuan… was already Dou Zong.
He slowly raised his hand—and clenched his fist.
BOOM!
The dark-gold flames exploded violently, instantly engulfing them all.
After all, this was an Earth-rank technique performed by a Dou Zong. Even with a wide area of effect, it wasn't something these lesser creatures could endure.
As the sea of fire cleared, countless crimson orbs floated in the air.
Xiao Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
He was rich!
A rough estimate—over a thousand!
His soul power surged out and swept all the red orbs into his spatial ring.
So satisfying.
"You brat, don't get too excited. If a Dou Zun-level enemy shows up later, you're dead."
Suddenly, an aged voice rang out beside Xiao Yuan's ear.
Hm?
Getting impatient, are we?
Xiao Yuan looked toward the transparent dome below, raising an eyebrow.
"A cunning brat indeed. Seems you already noticed my existence."
The voice rang out again.
Xiao Yuan smirked and descended without hesitation, entering the glowing barrier with ease.
As he entered, the surrounding magma trembled briefly, and the light dome vanished completely.
Not long after Xiao Yuan vanished, several blood-red figures with powerful auras shot into the area, arriving too late. They could only stare furiously at where the barrier had been, howling in frustration, but powerless.
They were Dou Zong-level, but had little control over spatial power—so breaking Tian Huo Zun-zhe's formation was impossible.
With a few more furious roars, they turned and reluctantly left.
Peace returned, and the area showed no trace that anything had happened.
The moment he crossed into the barrier, the crimson view disappeared, replaced by soft, white light. Xiao Yuan steadied himself and scanned the area cautiously before resting his gaze on the floating skeleton at the center.
"Why not show yourself, Senior?"
He cupped his hands toward the skeletal figure with a smile.
As he spoke, he glanced at the formless flame atop the skeleton.
It was the Fallen Heart Flame—about the size of a human head. Its heat was modest, clearly still in its infancy.
Suddenly, a dazzling white light burst from the skeleton, startling Xiao Yuan. He instinctively stepped back, only to find himself completely frozen in place.
Such powerful spatial force! Xiao Yuan's expression shifted, but he quickly calmed. He stared at the light, which slowly took shape into a translucent, aged figure.
The apparition wore white robes, had snow-white hair and beard, and bore a calm face. His eyes glinted faintly, and just his presence brought a deep pressure that weighed on Xiao Yuan's heart.
"I sensed the Fallen Heart Flame's aura and sent out a guide. Never thought I'd attract a little demon star like you."
The old specter glanced at Xiao Yuan and spoke with a trace of bitterness.
"Senior, that's not playing fair, is it?"
Xiao Yuan sneered.
"Hehe, you're too strong. I'm no match. I had to lock you down before negotiating. In my current state, if you'd attacked, I wouldn't have lasted a second," the old phantom said with a grin.
"Where do you get that kind of confidence?"
Xiao Yuan smiled, then activated the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Change. Four Heavenly Flames fused into dark-gold fire, erupting from his body. His golden-red bloodline power flared, and a terrifying pressure shattered the spatial lock. Even the barrier shook.
"What the hell?!"
Seeing Xiao Yuan's power, and the ancient pattern faintly forming on his forehead, the elder was shocked. No wonder this kid was so strong at such a young age—he was from one of the ancient imperial clans?
But even so… how had he broken the spatial lock with just Four-Star Dou Zong strength?
Tian Huo Zun-zhe began to panic.
"Relax. I'm not from the Soul Hall. I don't care about your soul. If you'd like, we can talk about getting you out of here… and reviving you."
Xiao Yuan retracted his aura and smiled kindly.
Being seen through so directly, Tian Huo Zun-zhe sighed in embarrassment. "You're sharp. I knew I didn't misjudge you. It's just that in my condition, I had to prioritize self-preservation. Don't hold it against me, alright? We can negotiate!"
The old man rubbed his hands awkwardly.
"Hehe. May I have your name, Senior?"
Xiao Yuan asked with a smile.
Hearing that, the old man straightened proudly, stroked his beard, and declared, "I am Yao Tian Huo. Some call me Tian Huo Zun-zhe!"
"Oh? So you're the famous Tian Huo Senior. I've heard so much!"
Xiao Yuan cupped his hands again.
"Bah! You've 'heard' my ass! I've been dead for who knows how long—what nonsense are you spouting?" Tian Huo Zun-zhe grumbled.
"Just giving you face, that's all."
Xiao Yuan shrugged, smiling.
"Whatever. You'll reach Dou Zun eventually. I'm a dead Dou Zun—these days even a Dou Ling could probably kill me. Hard to expect respect, huh?"
He waved dismissively, a hint of loneliness in his eyes.
"That's not true. With your spatial power alone, anyone below Dou Zong wouldn't stand a chance."
This time, Xiao Yuan didn't flatter—he struck truthfully.
"Wasn't it you?!"
Tian Huo Zun-zhe gritted his teeth, pointing at him.
"Whatever. You know any alchemist who can help me get my body back?"
He slumped, voice low.
"That'd be me."
Xiao Yuan answered immediately.
"Bullshit!"
Tian Huo Zun-zhe rolled his eyes.
Xiao Yuan raised his hand. Five streams of Dou Qi, each a different color, emerged from his fingertips.
"Huh???"
Tian Huo Zun-zhe's eyes bulged. He floated over like the Monkey King trapped under the Buddha's palm, scrutinizing the five colored streams.
"You're no ordinary kid…"
He blinked, starting to believe—at least a little.
At the very least, this kid could get him out of here.
"Looks like you're interested in the Fallen Heart Flame?"
Tian Huo Zun-zhe asked after a pause.
"Yes, but it can only help recover your soul. To revive you… one infant flame won't cut it. Given your strength, I'd need a peak Dou Zong's skeleton, plus at least a tier-seven pill. Possibly even tier-eight if we want lasting results."
Xiao Yuan didn't sugarcoat it.
Hearing that, Tian Huo Zun-zhe was deeply impressed.
This boy either was a skilled alchemist—or knew someone who was.
"The flame you used earlier—also a Heavenly Flame? The color and heat weren't far off from the Nine Nether Golden Flame. But it wasn't on the Heavenly Flame Ranking… a new one?"
"Not new. A fusion."
Xiao Yuan didn't worry. Even if this was a former Dou Zun, he wasn't a threat now.
Raising his hand, the dark-gold flame rose, then split into four distinct Heavenly Flames.
"Wait, what?!"
Tian Huo Zun-zhe's worldview was being turned upside down.
He only recognized the Yin-Yang Flame. The other three? Completely unfamiliar.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1