Chapter 639

Chapter 639: Fire Lotus

"I’ve dealt with the first one. Though slow, it’s decent progress. These Fire Spirits’ Fire Spirit Qi fluctuates at the Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage. Clearly, he hides his true strength from outsiders. What should I do next?" Wan Xue watched excitedly as Ye Yun finished slaying the remaining two Fire Spirits, her mind already scheming to manipulate him.

Had Ye Yun known her thoughts, he’d have scoffed like the Ancestor of the Sword Path. What did ants know of a dragon’s mind? A woman barely at the Nascent Soul stage meant nothing. Even a group of such cultivators would perish in moments if he willed it.

Though not one for suspicion, caution was wise. Throughout history, loyal ministers endured trials to secure their heirs’ futures, while traitors met poisoned cups regardless of merit.

"Done at last?" The Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled as Ye Yun adjusted his depleted true qi and spiritual power. "Why not use Born as a Sword from the start? Now you’ve wasted energy fighting three Sixth Level Nascent Soul Fire Spirits. How will you handle what’s next?"

"Using Born as a Sword wouldn’t hone my skills. Besides, I promised five Fire Crystals. Time for wider slaughter." Ye Yun gripped the warm Fire Crystals, sensing the lively Fire Spirit Qi within him. "Absorption seems similar to Immortal Spirit Stones. Let’s see their effect."

"With such praise, they must be potent. Your Fire Spirit Qi remains robust—let me test them!" The Ancestor eyed the crystals in Ye Yun’s hand.

"Try if you can." Ye Yun channeled Fire Spirit Qi into the three crystals. Warm energy flooded his meridians. Suppressing the euphoria, he muttered, "True spiritual treasures. Hundreds of these might push my Fire Spirit Qi to Nascent Soul levels."

"Raw power alone won’t suffice. Try the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique if your body endures. It might bridge the gap." The Ancestor sensed the devouring Fire Spirit Qi within Ye Yun, confirming the crystals’ high value.

"Worth a hundred low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones each—not bad." The Ancestor watched Ye Yun tuck away two crystals.

"Indeed. If Medicine King Valley’s mass-converting them, we’ll profit from the chaos. My stock could multiply." Sheathing the Purple Shadow Divine Sword, Ye Yun called coldly, "Done here. Come out."

"Y-yes!" Wan Xue scurried forward, awestruck by the sword scars littering the volcanic rock. The lingering true qi dwarfed her own—clouds to mud.

"This scheming girl will bite you if unchecked." The Ancestor warned as Wan Xue fawned over Ye Yun.

"Her using me as a tool? Laughable."

"Then dispose of her swiftly or drive her off before she complicates matters." The Ancestor spoke gravely despite Ye Yun’s indifference.

"Complications? Best settle her payment fast." Ye Yun approached the volcanic wall, eyeing a weed. "Ancestor, what’s this? Surviving countless fire surges?"

"A Fire Spirit Herb—worthless weed with trace spirit power. Any seasoned cultivator ignores them. They die after a few firewaves." The Ancestor huffed at the gray plant in Ye Yun’s spirit vision.

"Why nurture this trash? It’ll leech your Immortal Spirit Stones!" He facepalmed as Ye Yun gently uprooted the herb. "Cold to women but tender with weeds—were you a plant in past life?"

"They don’t betray. That’s enough."

Walking the lower Extreme Southern Fire Domain alone, Ye Yun smiled faintly. Wan Xue trailed uneasily, clutching her Fire Crystal.

"One Fire Spirit ahead, two left. I’ll suppress three." The Ancestor’s Soul Power crushed the simple-minded spirits. The Purple Shadow Divine Sword split into three arcs, cleaving boulders effortlessly.

"Bountiful harvest!" Wan Xue collected six Fire Crystals, pocketing two. "Senior, these four are yours!" She fluttered her black tresses, exuding innocence. Ye Yun remained unmoved.

"Five Fire Crystals delivered. The area’s cleared. Leave." His voice held winter’s edge.

"Y-you jest, Senior…" Wan Xue forced a smile, trembling.

"Does this look like jesting?" Murderous intent flashed in Ye Yun’s glacial stare.

"Just letting her go?" The Ancestor chuckled as Ye Yun teleported away via spatial laws.

"Should’ve happened sooner." Ye Yun trudged a barren wasteland, coordinates unset.

"Ten Fire Crystals… too few." He frowned at a freshly harvested crystal.

"If she didn’t lie, a Fire Spirit Lord must’ve rallied them." The Ancestor gleefully pressed, "Raid their nest—faster than picking them off!"

"Two peak Fire Spirit Kings already strain me. Marching to their lair’s suicide."

Walking along the desolate path amidst the pungent sulfur fumes, Ye Yun closed his eyes in concentration. The Purple Shadow Divine Sword emitted a faint glow as a layer of icy energy gradually enveloped his body, shielding him from harm.

"Why are there traces of battle here?" The Ancestor of the Sword Path observed the massive palm imprint suddenly visible on the volcanic stone wall. In the distance, dazzling light pulsed as if contesting over some treasure, yet Ye Yun paid no heed and continued walking leisurely.

Though appearing carefree, Ye Yun’s footsteps followed the earth’s natural rhythms under the Ancestor’s guidance. Caution remained essential in the lower volcanic regions of the Extreme Southern Fire Domain, where any misstep could prove fatal.

Deeper into the volcanic depths, the Fire Spirits grew increasingly powerful, eventually reaching those at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage. Fortunately, these entities appeared singly at great intervals, allowing Ye Yun to proceed without excessive fear.

Spotting the black palm imprint ahead, Ye Yun studied the residual true qi to assess its creator’s cultivation level. Before he could finish, the ground trembled and his waist-mounted sword twitched. Pressing the blade still, he advanced cautiously.

At the volcano’s fiery core, surging Fire Spirit Qi surrounded the slowly blooming Seven-leaf Fire Lotus. Spatial distortions rippled through magma like water rings. Ye Yun’s gaze fell upon an elegant figure repeatedly striking the lotus’ protective stone casing.

"Jun Ruolan? Why is she here?" Ye Yun stared at the crimson-clad woman leaping gracefully through toxic fumes, her cold nobility undiminished by the hostile environment. Their last meeting had concluded with her invitation to Moon Goddess Palace, left unfulfilled until this unexpected reunion in Xumi Treasure.

"Moon Goddess Shattering Fist!" Jun Ruolan exhaled softly before clenching her glowing fists. Transcendent spiritual power erupted, the fist technique’s might tearing through space itself.

"Success!" Jun Ruolan’s icy beauty softened slightly as the Fire Lotus drifted toward her. But in sudden transformation, the treasure veered sharply towards Ye Yun at doubled speed.

"Fortune favors you," remarked the Ancestor. Though easily tracking the lotus’ trajectory himself, he knew his host could only react instinctively. Unlike Du Jianyin who sought deadly duels, this girl’s relationship with Ye Yun held subtler nuances he chose not to reveal.

"What belongs to Jun Ruolan shall not be touched!" she roared. The Seven-leaf Fire Lotus plunged into Ye Yun’s chest before he could react, violent Fire Spirit Qi erupting within him. Glancing at the black palm imprint, he desperately channeled true qi to suppress the rampaging energy.

"Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique – refine!" Sweat poured down Ye Yun’s face as he fought for control. Facing Jun Ruolan now would be disastrous – her Third Level Nascent Soul cultivation and indestructible fists could challenge peak experts, surpassing even Du Jianyin’s threat.

"Wretched luck meeting her here." Half-opening one eye while containing the unstable energy, Ye Yun grimaced at his predicament.

"Reveal yourself and face annihilation!" Jun Ruolan’s voice echoed as surrounding magma bubbled ominously. She vanished after her threat, avoiding the impending eruption.

"That woman’s patience runs deep," Ye Yun muttered weakly, observing lunar radiance amidst churning lava. The moonlight suddenly expanded, erupting through magma torrents. Jun Ruolan stood impervious beneath the molten rain, moonlight transforming deadly droplets into harmless water.

"You escaped this time." Dark Energy swirled around Jun Ruolan’s pale hand as she moved sluggishly, the technique clearly straining her. "I’ll await at the volcanic crater."

After maintaining the dark energy for an incense stick’s burning time, she clenched her fist. The gathered demonic power shattered instantly, struggling shadows dissolving into lunar spirituality under her merciless will.

"Attempt rebellion if you dare." Jun Ruolan coldly watched her bleeding palm heal under moonlight. With a disdainful snort, her spiritual power surged anew.

“Moon Goddess Shattering Fist, break through!”

Brilliant moonlight erupted skyward as though the Moon Goddess had personally descended. The unstoppable radiant fist emitted blinding lunar radiance matching the blazing sun’s glory. Bathed in this glow, Jun Ruolan stamped her foot, releasing torrential true qi that instantly turned her into a remnant shadow darting toward the gap torn open by her attack.

“Violent woman.” Ye Yun muttered through gritted teeth, nearly losing control of his cultivation as he watched her.

“Mind yourself first, boy. Who knows if you’re blessed or cursed – that Seven-leaf Fire Lotus containing millennia of Fire Spirit Qi chose to sacrifice itself for your advancement.”

The Ancestor of the Sword Path snorted when he saw Ye Yun still teasing others. A wisp of soul power separated from his consciousness, guiding Ye Yun’s turbulent Fire Spirit Qi. Sword energy surged as the laws of the Sword Path manifested, forcibly suppressing the chaotic energy within Ye Yun.

“Hah! Clearly good fortune! How could I disparage such heavenly materials and earthly treasures that willingly aid me?”

After steadying his breath, Ye Yun narrowed his eyes. That woman’s strike had been terrifying – even if he blocked it, he wouldn’t escape unharmed.

“Just a homemade technique. Reach the Nascent Soul stage and combine it with your spiritual energy-infused Born as a Sword, and she’ll cease being a concern.” The Ancestor chuckled.

“True, but Jun Ruolan’s strength remains undeniable. She’ll be a major threat in the final struggle.” Ye Yun sighed, circulating true qi through his meridians. Detecting no flaws, he summoned a primordial barrier using surrounding Fire Spirit Qi to repel the encroaching magma.

“Finally able to use the slow realm of the reverse time array.”

Time seemed to freeze. Ye Yun opened his eyes to see molten rock suspended mid-flow. Smirking, he produced an Immortal Spirit Stone and began absorbing its spiritual power.

Upon finishing absorption, Ye Yun stood and lamented aloud, “Such vast Fire Spirit Qi, yet you severed it with One Sword. How stingy.”

Within his consciousness, the Ancestor toyed with a river of flame shedding crimson sparks – each a cluster of Fire Spirit power. “Don’t accuse me of hoarding. Unused Fire Spirit Qi would’ve wasted away. I’m preserving it through the reverse time array – show some gratitude.”

“The slow realm’s marvels are clear, but what of the fast realm?”

Examining the Stagnation Stone’s engraved symbols, Ye Yun frowned. The Ancestor scoffed, “Abandon this folly. Without reaching the Heavenly Immortal realm, you’ll never decipher these. These heavenly materials demand profound understanding of cosmic laws – beyond your lifetime’s study.”

Manipulating the Fire Spirit river, the Ancestor added, “Even in my prime, deciphering this would’ve required full dedication. Now? Forget it.”

“Time to leave. Who knows how long this unstable array will hold?” As the slow realm’s control wavered, Ye Yun touched the sword scar on his Purple Shadow Divine Sword and pushed gently.

BOOM

Amidst billowing ash, spatial laws activated. White light enveloped Ye Yun as he vanished.

Freed from the reverse time array’s influence, magma crashed forward like tidal waves. The dormant volcano of the Extreme Southern Fire Domain erupted violently.

“Erupting now of all times?” Within the Medicine King Alliance, an earth-robed figure floating above a black cauldron opened crimson eyes. Spiritual energy flooded into the Qianshou Ding until flames roared, restoring his pupils to black.

“Yao Feng, investigate. Using this top-grade spiritual weapon demands no disturbances.”

The floating figure sent mental intent to the smirking yellow-clad man beside him. “Ugh, more errands?” Yao Feng scratched his head. “Yao Hongchen, why not handle it yourself? A Seventh Level Nascent Soul wielding top-quality Immortal artifacts could easily suppress this.”

“Foolishness.” Yao Hongchen’s frosty gaze didn’t leave the cauldron. “Delaying this refinement? Guess who the Valley Master would punish?”

“Right, right. Every awakening brings me trouble.” Yao Feng grinned, hands behind his head. “I’ll curb the Fire Spirit riots. But remember – you owe me!”

"Got it. Your bargaining skills have never fallen behind," Yao Hongchen said gently.

"Since it’s come to this, I’ll have to collect my payment then," Yao Feng declared triumphantly upon her agreement.

"Cease your idle chatter. Now that matters stand thus, suppress them swiftly before the Fire Spirits multiply beyond control." Her icy tone cut through the air. Turning away from the smug Yao Feng, she closed her eyes once more. Surging true qi poured into Qianshou Ding, making its flames roar skyward as if to pierce the clouds.

"Crystal Fire Core Pill… Will he even succeed?" Yao Feng glanced at the roaring flames before departing. Meanwhile, Yao Hongchen’s crimson eyes glowed with unnatural intensity, watching his retreating back with a faint smile curling her lips.

"Fellow Daoists! These Fire Spirits run rampant in Extreme Southern Fire Domain. As cultivators, how can we tolerate such insolence? Let us form Slaying Spirit Alliance and purge these beasts together!" The booming proclamation reached every nearby faction.

"Agreed!" came the thunderous response.

Ye Yun observed from afar, eyes narrowed.

As a seventh-level Golden Core wandering cultivator, he drew no attention. He ignored the posturing crowd, mind occupied by his overflowing Fire Spirit Qi. He almost wished he could share his surplus.

A dark shadow suddenly materialized before him. The figure vanished after flashing him a lingering smile. Cold dread gripped Ye Yun’s heart. "Did you see that?" he demanded of Ancestor of the Sword Path.

"What nonsense? Some man smiled at you. Lasted ages – thought you were daydreaming. If you’re confessing peculiar tastes…"

Before the ancestor finished, white light enveloped Ye Yun as he teleported, desperately scanning for the yellow-clad man.

Finding nothing, Ye Yun clenched his fists. "Impressive illusion. Held me captive longer than I care to admit."

"Ah, so that’s why you froze staring at that lad! Thought you’d taken a fancy," Ancestor chuckled, then pointed at distant volcanoes. "There’s your jester. At seventh-level Golden Core, you’re prime teasing material."

"Better this than worse outcomes." The Purple Shadow Divine Sword flashed at Ye Yun’s waist. Sword arcs shot across the sky like divine rainbows, striking the dark shadow on the volcano. Nascent Soul stage experts gaped at the Golden Core youth’s display.

None dared speak. The furious youth’s humiliation radiated palpable heat. Such sword energy from seventh-level Golden Core? Only an extraordinary genius from hidden sects could manage. Best avoided.

The shadow stared incredulously at incoming Sword Energy. His careless joke had backfired spectacularly. Scratching his head, he flicked a finger. An enormous cauldron materialized overhead to block the assault.

"Seems I pranked the wrong man," Yao Feng sighed as Ye Yun teleported beside him, face stormy. "Spatial laws and Sword Path? You’re not just troublesome – you’re catastrophically troublesome."

"No apology for nearly killing me? Had I been weaker, we wouldn’t be talking." Ye Yun swung his sword again. Sword arcs whistled past Yao Feng’s ears, shearing green locks in their wake.

"Must we fight?" Though confident in illusions, Yao Feng dreaded facing this enigma. At sixth-level Nascent Soul stage, he couldn’t pierce Ye Yun’s cultivation level. The youth must be seventh-level Nascent Soul expert with peerless concealment arts.

"Urgent matters call me. While dueling appeals, I’ll apologize. Cease fire before Spirit creatures claim Extreme Southern Fire Domain’s treasures." Yao Feng forced a smile through furrowed brows.

"Think words vanish like farts? Actions demand consequences." Ye Yun raised his sword as Yao Feng facepalmed.

BOOM!

Deafening Dragon Chant shook the air. The blade carried faint spatial dragon egg essence – a power Ye Yun used sparingly, wary of backlash.

"Marvelous luck obtaining spatial dragon egg! Explains your spatial law mastery. Absorb its Dragon Soul and you’d soar. But why would swordmaster hoard spatial treasure? Moon Goddess Palace would pay fortunes." Yao Feng studied Ye Yun’s stony face. "Don’t glare so! The illusion overextended, but you’re unharmed."

"Unharmed? Had I fallen, you’d not spare glance. Only my strength permits this conversation."

Yao Feng gaped, speechless.

"Born as a Sword!"

Purple Shadow Divine Sword unleashed dozens of sword intents. Yao Feng huddled behind his massive cauldron, praying to outlast the assault.

"He likely meant no harm, but lessons are due," Ancestor observed. Knowing Ye Yun’s temperament – unprovoked until threatened – that momentary vulnerability must have stung.

"Lesson he’ll receive. Should he perish, so be it."

Ye Yun nodded grimly. The floating cauldron’s defenses astonished him. Its resilience defied belief – breaching it seemed near impossible.

“How about we call a truce for now? I have urgent matters to attend to, but let’s battle again another day when I can fight without restraint. What do you say?” Yao Feng’s voice echoed bitterly from within the giant cauldron that loomed like a green mountain before Ye Yun. Countless Nascent Soul cultivators below stared in disbelief—how could a seventh-level Golden Core junior force Yao Feng, a Sixth Level Nascent Soul expert, to yield?

“What just happened? How is that junior so powerful?”

“That cauldron made my mid-grade Immortal artifact tremble! Could it be… a top-quality Immortal artifact?”

“Is he Yao Feng from Medicine King Valley?”

The crowd buzzed with shock. Yao Feng’s colossal cauldron and Ye Yun’s Purple Shadow Divine Sword, radiating torrents of Sword Energy, shattered the calm of the trading grounds like spring thunder.

“An illusion specialist, but an amateur. Had he used ancient wood spirits and century-old Crying Ring Grass, you might not have broken free so quickly,” remarked the Ancestor of the Sword Path, eyeing the green cauldron blocking Ye Yun’s strikes. “A top-quality Immortal artifact for alchemy! The refining flames are mediocre, but its craftsmanship and stored heavenly materials are impressive.”

“Heavenly materials, you say?” Ye Yun’s lips curved faintly as he coldly addressed Yao Feng. “I’ll spare you today. But I happen to lack cultivation resources. Since I’ve no time to gather them myself…”

“Disaster! I’ve met a shameless bandit,” Yao Feng groaned inwardly. Peering at his dwindling spiritual treasures inside the cauldron, he muttered, “Don’t blame me—blame this brute or Yao Hongchen! She’s the one forcing me into drudgery. Farewell, my precious hoard…”

When Yao Feng delayed, Ye Yun raised his sword. Thunder Spirit Qi surged as a lightning-fast strike left a deep gash on the cauldron. The Nascent Soul cultivators shuddered—how could a casual slash damage a top-quality Immortal artifact?

“Fine! I yield! I, Yao Feng, honor my word!” the alchemist yelped.

“I could slaughter you like livestock,” Ye Yun said icily.

“Naturally! Naturally!” Yao Feng forced a smile.

“Using thunder against wood? I expected you to roast him with fire and brew a grand elixir,” the Ancestor chuckled, eyeing the dented cauldron.

“Had he provoked me further, I might have,” Ye Yun replied. Sheathing his sword, spatial laws enveloped him in white light, teleporting him near the erupting volcano.

Inside the cauldron, Yao Feng winced at the lingering sword mark. Even a top-grade artifact couldn’t withstand Ye Yun’s Born as a Sword. A few more strikes would’ve shattered it.

The cauldron shot toward the volcano, its speed rivaling a Fourth Level Nascent Soul’s. Yet against Ye Yun’s lightning-quick Sword Path, escape was impossible—thunder overpowered wood, leaving Yao Feng no retreat.

“Take these, and we’re even!” Yao Feng tossed two glowing Soul Grasses. Their wood spirit power rippled through the fiery air, unmistakably precious.

“Two Soul Grasses! Boy, attack him again!” the Ancestor urged.

“One extortion suffices,” Ye Yun said coolly. “Push further, and he’ll fight desperately.”

“Pitiful. That alchemist hoards heavenly treasures while you’ve a dragon egg stripped of its soul, a one-use Stagnation Stone, and a sacrificed Seven-leaf Fire Lotus that failed to remake you,” the Ancestor sighed.

Ye Yun gazed at the churning magma. Danger beckoned, yet something called him to delve deeper.

“You aimed to suppress this eruption,” he said to Yao Feng. “Give me three more soul-nourishing treasures, and I’ll aid you.”

“Vulture! I’ve only five Soul Grasses! Two more, take it or leave it! If you hadn’t interfered, my Flame Sphere would’ve subdued these Fire Spirits already!”

“Three.”

“Insatiable leech!” Yao Feng spat. “Fine! But blame the Fire Spirit King hordes and whatever lurks below!” He hurled three more grasses. “This wouldn’t have cost me five if you hadn’t damaged my Green Leaf Immortal Cauldron!”

“Self-inflicted misery,” Ye Yun remarked as Yao Feng seethed.

"Sigh, can’t control my playful nature. Don’t blame me—I’m just a scholar of illusions. Why must I always handle these tedious tasks?" Yao Feng shot a glare. Under Ye Yun’s watchful eyes, the small cauldron in his hands expanded again. A green flame rose from its depths, engulfing the red pearl he held.

"Ye Yun, stay wary of that boy. The Deceptive Array he cast earlier wasn’t ordinary—it likely mixed mind-controlling drugs. Had you not awakened instantly, you’d have become a mindless puppet like those Nascent Soul stage cultivators." The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice rang sharply as Ye Yun scanned their surroundings. When Ye Yun turned back, Yao Feng was wholly focused on channeling the Suppressing Fire Pearl, ignoring him completely.

"Why hide so thoroughly? What’s his goal?" Ye Yun trusted the Ancestor’s judgment without question. Knowing the Ancestor’s vast experience, he pondered Yao Feng’s motives.

"Did those Nascent Soul stage cultivators I saw earlier become his puppets?" Ye Yun asked suddenly.

"Precisely. The drug powder he scattered during your clash—though invisible—reveals itself when burned," the Ancestor replied coldly, observing Yao Feng. Earlier, his soul power had detected the Nascent Soul cultivators’ minds slipping from their control. If Yao Feng failed to manage the situation, they’d become final weapons against the Fire Spirits.

"Medicine King Valley truly shows no mercy," Ye Yun seethed, burning the name into his memory.

These major sects schemed in shadows while parading as righteous. Their true nature differed little from demonic cults—only their power commanded fear.

"Save these thoughts for later. Our path is clear now." Ye Yun gazed into the distant magma, where a summoning pull grew fiercer, resonating with his past. Meanwhile, the Fire Spirit Qi river suppressed by the Ancestor’s sword intent now pulsed crimson, illuminating the endless darkness around him.

"Tsk. Seems a treasure deeper within requires the Seven-leaf Fire Lotus," the Ancestor remarked, following Ye Yun’s gaze. He flicked a finger, and his soul power quelled the restless Fire Spirit Qi again. His eyes then fell on Yao Feng, weighing when to eliminate him.

Mind control disgusted the Ancestor, but Ye Yun remained indifferent. Had Yao Feng’s illusions not threatened him, even the Ancestor’s urging wouldn’t sway Ye Yun to act rashly.

Seeing Yao Feng wholly absorbed, Ye Yun seized the chance. The Purple Shadow Divine Sword gleamed in his grip as Ice Spirit Qi coalesced in his palm. A frosty spike shot toward Yao Feng with a smirk.

*Crack!*

The ice shattered into droplets before reaching Yao Feng. A Fire Spirit materialized—its aura blazing at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage.

Ye Yun stood firm. Yao Feng’s schemes could wait—he’d vowed to protect him first.

"Ice Spirit Divine Palm!"

Fire and ice clashed. Ye Yun’s Ice Spirit Qi swirled like tangible frost. A Fire Spirit King emerged beside him, radiating equal might.

"End this swiftly. If that thing awakens deep below, you’ll gain nothing here but the Seven-leaf Fire Lotus," the Ancestor warned, eyeing the magma’s heart. Crimson flames churned like an ancient dragon’s breath, capable of melting all. A hidden aura pulsed there—a treasure rivaling the Stagnation Stone, possibly stronger, its destructive power enough to erase everything for miles.

"Three hours remain. After defeating these twenty-seven Fire Spirit Kings, we enter the magma."

The Fire Spirit Qi’s pressure thickened. Even without the Ancestor’s warning, Ye Yun felt a colossal gaze upon him. The suffocating weight forced Yao Feng’s eyes open—green irises flickering with madness mid-ritual.

"Thundercloud Lightning Sword, Third Level Divine Thunder Annihilation!"

Thunder Spirit energy whirled in Ye Yun’s palms, lightning crackling as his reserves dwindled. A thunderbolt roared forth, scattering among the Fire Spirit Kings with blinding fury.

As Ye Yun gasped, Yao Feng’s cauldron erupted. Verdant flames soared, carrying a crimson pearl that radiated dominion over fire. Bathed in red light, Yao Feng smirked. From the magma’s depths, a dragon’s roar shook the earth.