Chapter 580

Chapter 580: Defying Life and Death

The attacks within the ink-black space pushed them to their absolute limits. Even the slightest increase in intensity would’ve shattered them instantly.

Two fiery beams suddenly shot from the beast’s eyes, surpassing the earlier assaults. Contact with these dark green flames meant certain incineration – even Ye Yun and Murong Wuqing’s toughened bodies couldn’t withstand such fury.

Flames engulfed their surroundings, leaving no escape. Direct confrontation became their only option.

Ye Yun’s face tightened. He knew blocking these flames outright seemed impossible.

Ding Qian’s sharp cry pierced the chaos. Blue light erupted from her body as a small bell materialized in her palm, its rapid chimes echoing urgently.

Layers of rippling blue Glowing Screens formed before them like watery barriers.

Crackles filled the air as flames battered the blue shields. The defensive layers crumbled faster than they could regenerate, flames breaching their defenses within moments.

Murong Wuqing swung his sword in practiced arcs, creating hundreds of protective sword blossoms. The fiery assault shattered his defense in two breaths.

Both cultivators paled, realizing their miscalculation of the flames’ power. Before they could deploy other treasures, frost suddenly spread across the battlefield.

An ice wall erupted before them, trapping flickering fire lights within its azure depths.

The frozen barrier exploded with thunderous force, scattering blue shards. Remaining flames struck Ye Yun and Murong Wuqing who shielded Ding Qian.

Ye Yun staggered as blistering force punched through his defenses. Stone-melting heat arrowed toward his chest, threatening his five internal organs.

Gritting his teeth, he channeled all true qi and exotic spiritual energy into a protective cluster. The sizzle of burning flesh echoed as he neutralized the invasive force.

Retreating several steps, he stared at the dark green-flamed beast. A mere ocular attack possessed such might – what Golden Core disciple could endure this?

Murong Wuqing fared slightly better, having diverted the flames to his right limbs. Though not fatal, the injuries halved his combat capacity.

Ding Qian stood frozen. Without her companions’ protection, she’d have faced death and spirit dissolution instantly. Their cultivation levels astonished her – they’d withstood a Fifth Level Nascent Soul strike.

The first layer of the Saint’s Secret Vault proved lethally beyond Golden Core disciples’ capabilities. Their earlier determination wavered as they caught their breath.

Retreat felt bitter yet unavoidable. The flame-wreathed beast stood motionless, ignoring them unless provoked. Trapped in indecision, the trio remained still, battered bodies mirroring their troubled minds.

At this moment, Ye Yun and Murong Wuqing were both moderately injured. If they charged again, they might risk instant death and disappearance of the spirit. The two sat cross-legged, holding spirit stones while healing their wounds.

Ding Qian watched anxiously, her gaze darting between the beast and the corridor behind them. She feared both unexpected visitors and another attack from the creature.

Ye Yun’s Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique required no conscious activation. The mystical power automatically circulated as he sat, mending his injuries.

"Old man, what’s your take? What’s this beast’s origin? Why’s it so strong?"

The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice answered: "The beast itself isn’t formidable. Its power comes from the Dark Lotus Demon Fire it commands – a flame unique to the Demon Race. Unexpected to find it here."

Ye Yun startled: "Then this Secret Vault truly belongs to a powerful demon?"

The Ancestor paused: "Yet I sense no demon energy. Instead, my artifact’s aura grows stronger. I can nearly pinpoint its location now."

Ye Yun frowned. "Must we pass through this beast’s territory?"

"Exactly," the Ancestor confirmed. "Beyond lies my artifact. I suspect this beast guards it – though I never imagined my millennium-old treasure would be hoarded by some expert with beastly sentries."

"Wait! Something’s wrong!" The Ancestor suddenly exclaimed.

Ye Yun blinked. "What?"

Excitement tinged the Ancestor’s voice: "This vault was created over a millennium ago. No beast could survive that long here, regardless of its creator’s power."

Understanding dawned on Ye Yun. "Brother Jian, you mean this beast is weak? Or…"

"My theory?" The Ancestor drawled. "This isn’t a real beast, but an ethereal figure from an array. The true threat is the Dark Lotus Demon Fire emitted by this Phantom Beast."

Ye Yun hesitated. "But the fire’s real enough. Neither Murong Wuqing nor I can withstand it."

The Ancestor chuckled. "Dark Lotus Demon Fire ranks among the Ten Heavenly Flames. No vault creator could stockpile much. Since you passed the first trial, others must too. How many flames would they need for multiple checkpoints?"

Ye Yun inhaled sharply. After long silence, he murmured: "You mean… this Phantom Beast might have only one flame left? What we see now is just an empty shell?"

"Highly possible," the Ancestor affirmed. "But the risk remains yours to take."

Ye Yun sat motionless, deep in thought.

Abruptly he stood, eyes gleaming as he stared at the dark green flame-wrapped Phantom Beast. The ten zhang tall creature loomed like a hill even while crouching.

"Ye Yun, your injuries?" Ding Qian asked worriedly.

"Nearly healed," he waved dismissively.

Ding Qian gaped. Half an hour’s meditation? His legendary physical prowess proved true.

Murong Wuqing still glowed with healing energy, mist swirling around him. His right-side wounds had closed but needed more time.

Suddenly Ye Yun strode forward – one zhang in a single step, teetering at the territory’s edge.

The dormant beast snapped alert, eyes blazing fierce light. A clear warning: advance and burn.

Ye Yun stood firm, face impassive.

"Ye Yun! Stop!" Ding Qian screamed.

"Retreat! We can’t survive those flames!" Murong Wuqing urged, breaking meditation.

Ignoring them, Ye Yun studied the dark green inferno. Then – he stepped across the boundary.

The beast suddenly stood up, roaring with fiery eyes flickering as if ready to unleash another Dark Lotus Demon Fire.

Ye Yun stopped and glanced at it.

Surprisingly, the beast didn’t attack immediately but growled lowly, as if warning Ye Yun.

“Ye Yun, get back here!” Ding Qian shouted. The beast’s strength was overwhelming—flames were just one of its weapons. A single claw could flatten him if he got too close.

“Ye Yun, be cautious.” Murong Wuqing spoke quietly, sensing something unusual. He knew Ye Yun wasn’t reckless. This guy always planned before acting.

If Ye Yun stepped into the beast’s territory, he must have a plan. Even if attacked, he likely had an escape.

Murong Wuqing also noticed the beast wouldn’t attack unless provoked. As long as Ye Yun retreated in time, he might survive.

Ye Yun suddenly grinned and took another step forward.

Roar!

The flaming beast couldn’t tolerate this. To it, the human’s audacity deserved punishment.

The beast leaped, its massive body covering over ten zhang midair. Fiery claws lunged straight at Ye Yun.

“Watch out!”

Ding Qian and Murong Wuqing yelled together. The strike looked unstoppable—even Murong Wuqing couldn’t block it, and Ye Yun was weaker.

But shockingly, Ye Yun didn’t retreat. Instead, he dashed forward.

Thunder boomed as lightning flashed.

Ye Yun unleashed the Illusory Thunderlight Escape, aiming to slip past the beast during its attack.

Yet the beast was too swift. Its mountain-like body plummeted, claws nearly scraping Ye Yun.

An icy light flashed around Ye Yun as the Ice Spirit Barrier formed instantly, colliding with the claws.

Crack!

The barrier shattered but stalled the beast briefly.

That split second let Ye Yun push his speed to the limit. He became a bolt of lightning, slipping past the beast and landing ten zhang away.

Without looking back, he darted another thirty zhang beyond the beast.

Did he make it?

Murong Wuqing and Ding Qian gaped at Ye Yun in the distance, stunned.

The beast landed, snorted at Ye Yun’s distant figure, then settled down to watch the pair in the corridor.

Clearly, Ye Yun had passed its test.

“Ye Yun, are you hurt?” Ding Qian asked. Since leaving the hall together, she’d warmed to him, forgetting the feud between Demon Suppression Peak and Absolute Heart Peak.

Ye Yun shook his head. “I’m fine. My speed saved me—that claw would’ve crushed me otherwise.”

“That movement technique’s interesting. Simple-looking, yet so fast,” Ding Qian remarked, relieved.

“It’s called Illusory Thunderlight Escape, a family secret. You need Thunder Spirit Qi to master it. Wuqing knows,” Ye Yun explained.

“True. Many sects have similar techniques, but few achieve such speed,” Murong Wuqing nodded, understanding Ye Yun’s hint.

“Ye Yun, check for a passage or the first layer’s array eye! Break it so we can follow!” Ding Qian urged.

Ye Yun scanned the area but finally shook his head. “Nothing here except a dark opening to the second layer. No array eye in sight.”

Ding Qian furrowed her brows. If they couldn’t break the array, how could they pass the beasts’ defenses?

Murong Wuqing also stared at Ye Yun, remaining silent for a long moment.

Ye Yun shouted, "Brother Wuqing, Sister Ding, if you have fast movement techniques, you might do the same and dash through the beasts’ territory."

Ding Qian blinked. "Impossible! It didn’t spit flames before, so you got through. If it shoots that dark green fire again, who could resist? We’d turn to ashes instantly."

Murong Wuqing frowned, studying the beast. "This creature isn’t too fast. There’s a chance, but that flame’s too strong. No telling if it’ll reappear."

Ye Yun shrugged. "It didn’t use flames when I crossed earlier. Maybe there’s a cooldown between breaths. You could try."

Try? Not everyone had Ye Yun’s guts to charge blindly. If they failed the first layer’s challenge, the real danger lay in that pitch-black space where most Golden Core disciples would meet death and spirit dissolution.

Surviving that meant safety. Couldn’t they feel the abundant spiritual energy here, stronger than outside? Worst case, they could wait until the array broke or the Secret Vault closed, triggering teleportation.

But facing this beast meant risking everything – something Ding Qian couldn’t stomach.

Humans find courage in desperation, but safety breeds caution. Ding Qian had used up her bravery in the dark void, and the beast’s first attack shattered what remained.

Murong Wuqing hesitated too. The beast’s power shocked him, especially the Dark Lotus Demon Fire that nearly killed him despite his strong body. His right shoulder and leg still throbbed from their narrow escape.

Ye Yun’s theory about attack intervals made sense – the beast hadn’t flamed during his Illusory Thunderlight Escape. But no guarantees. Even flame-less, crossing wasn’t certain.

Murong Wuqing wavered between rushing the second layer’s advantage and fearing even a glancing strike’s damage.

Ye Yun kept quiet about the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s advice – mere guesses others wouldn’t trust. When he’d dashed through earlier, he’d barely blocked the claws with Ice Spirit Barrier. What if the beast wasn’t some illusion but a real millennium-old creature? Beasts could live that long, especially at Nascent Soul stage.

Now hinged on courage. If flames came, death. If not, Murong Wuqing’s cultivation gave him a fighting chance. Ding Qian’s odds looked grim.

"Let’s wait here," Ding Qian urged, courage spent. The dark void and beast’s assault had broken her. She’d rather wait for array failure or vault closure.

Murong Wuqing stood motionless, brow knotted, eyes flashing with internal conflict.

Half an hour passed.

Suddenly, Murong Wuqing stepped toward the beast.

"Don’t!" Ding Qian cried.

Murong Wuqing answered calmly, "Waiting here wouldn’t be me. I’ll risk ten deaths for this chance."

Power erupted around him – this was the true Murong Wuqing, the cultivation-driven warrior!

Ye Yun’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Would he show such courage without the Ancestor’s guidance? He couldn’t say.

Murong Wuqing blurred into a remnant shadow streaking toward Ye Yun.

The flaming beast roared at this new challenger, rising mountain-like to swat the human.

As Murong Wuqing neared, monstrous claws smashed down with Fifth Level Nascent Soul force – a deathblow if landed.

Commitment made, Murong Wuqing didn’t falter. His shadow-form accelerated.

BOOM!

Claws cratered the ground, stone fragments flying. A figure shot toward Ye Yun at terrifying speed.

Ye Yun’s palm snapped out, catching Murong Wuqing as overwhelming force slammed into him. Blood surged in his throat as he staggered back ten steps.

Murong Wuqing lay pale, blood-trickled, but eyes steel-steady.

"Made it?" he whispered.

Ye Yun nodded. "You did."