Chapter 214: Flame God Reappears! The Might of Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence!
Just as Qin Zhuangxu's figure reached Jiang Yuan, the black saber in his hand carried the might to destroy heaven and earth as it fiercely chopped down.
The instant the blade swung, terrifying dark Saber Qi and pure dark elements intertwined, transforming into a several-zhang-long black blade radiance.
Wherever the blade radiance passed, the air was completely torn apart, emitting a piercing shrieking sound, and even spatial micro-cracks appeared, as if it were about to be crushed by this overbearing energy.
Carrying an extreme sense of oppression, the black blade radiance instantly enveloped Jiang Yuan's entire body, and even light was swallowed by this dark energy, making Jiang Yuan's figure appear small and fragile beneath the blade radiance.
The next second, the black saber fiercely chopped onto the Void before Jiang Yuan, with no earth-shattering collision sound, only a strange silence at first.
Immediately following that, rumble!
A deafening loud sound exploded, and a terrifying explosive shock wave took the chopping point as its center, instantly sweeping in all directions.
Wherever the shock wave passed, the ground was forcefully blasted into a crater dozens of zhang deep, with gravel and soil blasted into mid-air, scattering like meteors all over the sky.
The surrounding trees were snapped at the waist, their branches turned to dust, and even the Class Holders watching from afar were blown away by the shock wave, spitting blood with pale complexions.
The thick, un-dissolvable black energy gushed out like a tide, instantly submerging Jiang Yuan's figure.
That terrifying Saber Qi tinged with dark energy completely swallowed and annihilated even the Spiritual Qi in the air wherever it passed, leaving only a dead, silent black halo shrouding the entire explosion zone.
The energy between heaven and earth violently churned, wild winds howled, dust flew everywhere, and the originally clear sky was obscured by the black energy, turning dim and lightless, as if the apocalypse had arrived.
This power far exceeded the full-strength strike of an ordinary Eighth-turn Emperor Rank, enough to easily destroy a small-to-medium-sized city!
Even a Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert would need to concentrate and be on guard to barely resist it.
"Not good!"
As for Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi who was in the battlefield, the moment he sensed Qin Zhuangxu's killing intent, his heart tightened. Reacting extremely quickly, his figure moved, transforming into a stream of light as he rushed toward the center of the explosion, attempting to step in and save Jiang Yuan.
Dense golden Spiritual Qi lingered around his body, and his hands quickly formed incantations. One golden barrier after another materialized before him, forcefully breaking through the obstruction of the explosion shock wave as he staggered into the center of the explosion enveloped by black energy.
"It's over, this has become a huge deal!"
But the moment he steadied his footing and his gaze swept across the center of the explosion, his pupils suddenly constricted, and an incredulous expression appeared on his face.
At the spot where Jiang Yuan originally stood, only a patch of chaotic residual energy remained at this moment.
Black and golden energies intertwined and entangled, running rampant everywhere.
There was not a shred of Jiang Yuan's figure to be seen, no bloodstains, and no Divine Soul fluctuations.
Not even a scrap of clothing was left behind, as if Jiang Yuan had never appeared in this world at all.
Come to think of it, that was only natural.
Let alone that Jiang Yuan was merely a Second-Rank Class Holder.
Even if a Seventh-Rank Saint-level Class Holder were here,
facing the furious, unreserved, and fully erupted strike of an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak Expert, they would likewise have zero power to resist.
They would only be completely annihilated by this terrifying energy, making it hard even for their Divine Soulto survive.
Even Lin Xuanzi, a Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank tutor, never imagined that the situation would develop to this stage.
In his view, this was originally just a "minor squabble" among students.
Either Jiang Yuan would swallow his loss, get bullied by Xiao Junnuo and the others, back down, and hand over some benefits.
Or Jiang Yuan would successfully counterattack, deterring Xiao Junnuo and the three of them, and the matter would thus be settled.
But no matter which it was, it belonged to fellow disciples' clashes permitted within the academy, counting at most as private fighting going too far, needing only slight punishment.
Yet Qin Zhuangxu's rash intervention caused the development of the situation to completely derail, entering another extreme that completely exceeded everyone's expectations.
Lin Xuanzi's heart was filled with shock and anger. He never expected things to develop to this extent, and the main reasons were twofold.
First, Jiang Yuan's personality was actually so unyielding; facing the coercion and killing intent of an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Class Holder, he did not retreat in the slightest.
Even placed in a desperate situation, he had never compromised by half a fraction, and even provoked Qin Zhuangxu with actions and words!
Second, Qin Zhuangxu, as the Combat Department Head of Nanjiang Academy and a high-tier tutor of the academy, actually disregarded his identity, using his seniority to bully the young and oppressing others with his power.
What was even more excessive was that he actually dared to truly deal a fatal blow to a newcomer.
And it was Jiang Yuan, who had just won the Federal Unified Examination Grand Champion and received focused attention from the Federation and the academy.
Lin Xuanzi knew clearly in his heart that once this matter spread, I'm afraid the entire Federation would be shaken by it.
By then, Qin Zhuangxu would inevitably suffer heavy punishment from the Federation, and the Qin Family's reputation would also plummet, completely falling to become a laughingstock in the Federation's cultivation world.
As for Nanjiang Academy, its millennium-accumulated reputation would also suffer fatal damage.
After all, within the academy, a top Genius of the Federal Grand Champion level was actually slain in public by a high-tier tutor of the academy.
If this were to spread, who would still dare to choose Nanjiang Academy?
After all, even a Federal Grand Champion could be easily killed by an academy tutor, so for other ordinary students, was there any way to survive within the academy?
Although Nanjiang Academy's survival environment was relatively cruel in the past and struggles among students frequently occurred, those who met with accidents were mostly ordinary students.
At least it had never involved top geniuses of the Federal Grand Champion tier.
Coupled with Nanjiang Academy's immense influence in the Federation, it had always deliberately controlled the public opinion orientation.
For top factions like the Qin Family, even if they did bad things in secret, they would desperately conceal and smooth over the traces, and such public killings that could not be covered up rarely happened.
Yet today, Qin Zhuangxu fiercely slaughtered Jiang Yuan in full view of the public, and the matter could no longer be covered up.
Once exposed, it would inevitably implicate multiple factions.
Not only the three top families of Nanjiang—the Xiao Family, the Qin Family, and the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce—but also the Combat Academy faction they belonged to behind the scenes.
As well as Nanjiang Academy itself, it would even ripple out to the Nanjiang provincial authorities, triggering a massive storm with various factions playing games against each other.
By then, Nanjiang's landscape would probably change because of this.
You must know that although Nanjiang Academy was one of the Five Great Academies of the Federation, there were still several top colleges right behind it constantly coveting the position of the Five Great Academies.
If this matter was not handled well, I'm afraid Nanjiang Academy would go downhill because of it.
Ultimately being surpassed by other colleges and losing the title of the Five Great Academies was not an impossible thing.
"Qin Zhuangxu, you've brought a huge catastrophe upon yourself!"
The golden elements around Lin Xuanzi violently churned, his expression extremely furious, and his voice bone-chillingly cold, carrying thick reproach and worry.
"Do you know who it is you killed?"
"He is the Unified Examination Grand Champion, a top Genius heavily cultivated by the Federation!"
"By slaying him in public, you will not only ruin yourself and ruin the Qin Family, but also drag the entire Nanjiang Academy down with you!"
Lin Xuanzi stared closely at the other party.
At this time, Qin Zhuangxu stood at the edge of the crater in the center of the explosion, the dark energy around him gradually receding, and his crimson eyes also recovering a bit of clarity.
After calming down, looking at the chaotic scene before him and feeling the anger on Lin Xuanzi's body, a trace of lingering fear inevitably arose in his heart.
Just now, his anger had clouded his judgment, thinking only of avenging Xiao Junnuo and the three of them and establishing prestige for the Qin Family, while forgetting Jiang Yuan's special status, forgetting the academy's rules, and even forgetting the potential consequences this matter could trigger.
But matters had reached this point, and regret was of no use whatsoever.
Qin Zhuangxu took a deep breath, suppressing the lingering fear in his heart, and raised his eyes to look at Lin Xuanzi. His tone remained tough, carrying a trace of reckless determination.
"He dared to insult my Qin Family and dared to slay the direct descendants of the Xiao, Shen, and Su families—this is his end!"
"Today's matter, I alone bear what I have done; it has nothing to do with the academy, and even less to do with the Qin Family!"
Although he said that, a trace of panic flashed across the depths of Qin Zhuangxu's eyes.
He knew clearly in his heart that this matter could by no means be settled with a single sentence of his "bearing it alone"; the Qin Family and Nanjiang Academy would ultimately still be implicated.
"At worst, I'll just go to the Chaotic Demon Realm and kill demons and monsters for a hundred years!"
Qin Zhuangxu's tone returned to calmness, as if where he was heading was not a nine-deaths-and-one-life desperate situation, but an ordinary trial.
Qin Zhuangxu's seemingly impulsive behavior had actually been thoroughly calculated in his heart long ago.
With the Qin Family's influence and connections in Nanjiang Province and even the Federation, preserving his life was by no means a difficult task.
After all, the matter had already happened, and the rice was already cooked. No matter how high Jiang Yuan's value or how great his potential was, in his eyes, he was just a dead person.
A dead person posed no further threat, nor was it worth the Qin Family paying an excessive price to compensate.
Yet he, Qin Zhuangxu, was a solid Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak Expert.
His overall strength was unfathomable, and whether in combat power or strategic value, he was far beyond what a Second-Rank newcomer could compare to.
For such a High-Tier Expert, even if he committed a towering crime, the Federation and the academy would never easily execute him.
After all, the Human Race was in the critical period of a standoff with the Abyssal Demon Race.
High-Tier Experts were already scarce to begin with; rather than slaying an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank, it was better to maximize their value.
Exiling him to the Chaotic Demon Realm to perform meritorious service to atone for his crimes.
The Chaotic Demon Realm was the foremost main battlefield where the Human Race and the Abyssal Demon Race fought, and could also be said to be a special Cultivation Realm formed by the largest spatial rift where the real world and the Demon Realm intersected!
Situated at the border of the Federation and multiple countries, it directly connected to the abyss rifts, shrouded year-round in dense Demonic Qi energy and dark blood qi.
Ravines crisscrossed there, Demonic Qi surged to the heavens, and countless atrocious Abyssal Demon Raceinhabited it.
Ranging from low-tier demon soldiers to high-tier demon emperors and Demon Emperors, and occasionally even Demon Ancestor-tier existences appearing, it was extremely dangerous.
Class Holders heading there, whether they were Experts volunteering themselves, armies guarding the border, or criminals atoning for crimes, were basically facing nine deaths and a single life.
For someone like Qin Zhuangxu who committed a grave mistake and possessed a high-tier Cultivation Realm, exiling him to serve for a hundred years in the Chaotic Demon Realm was the default disposal method of the Federation.
As for whether he could return alive after the hundred-year term expired, it entirely depended on personal fortune.
The mortality rate of the Chaotic Demon Realm was shockingly high, with the annual mortality rate exceeding twenty percent.
In other words, for every five people who went there, one would fall at the hands of the Demon Race each year.
Even so, the Federation and many powerful human nations would still dispatch large numbers of troops and Experts every year to guard it, on one hand to resist the invasion of the Demon Race and protect the territory of the Human Race.
On the other hand, it was also to allow those criminals atoning for crimes and Experts eager to make a breakthrough quickly to exert their value in life-and-death sharpening.
This was also the fundamental reason why Qin Zhuangxu was so "emboldened."
What's more, Qin Zhuangxu had absolute confidence in his own strength.
He was already an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak, only a step away from stepping into the Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank.
As long as he could successfully survive in the Chaotic Demon Realm, relying on the tempering of countless life-and-death battles, within a hundred years, he would definitely be able to break through the shackles and be promoted to a Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert.
By that time, today's matter would have long since passed, and no one would mention it again.
Whether he returned to Nanjiang Academy to take office or entered the core institution of Nanjiang City to hold power, it would by no means be a difficult task.
After all, Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank Class Holders were top Experts of the Human Race.
Wherever placed, they were worth any faction trying their best to win over, and past faults would naturally be written off with a single stroke.
"You really... Oh well!"
Lin Xuanzi's tone was filled with helplessness and pity.
Looking at Qin Zhuangxu's confident appearance, the reprimand on the tip of his tongue was forcefully swallowed back, because no amount of scolding could reverse the fact.
How could he not know Qin Zhuangxu's thoughts? But matters had reached this point, and saying more was of no use.
This struggle was destined from the very beginning to be a multi-loss situation with not a single winner.
As the Federal Unified Examination Grand Champion, Jiang Yuan had displayed a once-in-a-millennium talent at a young age.
He should have opened his legendary path in Nanjiang Academy, with a promising future, becoming a backbone force for the Federation to resist the Demon Race.
Yet now he was slain on the spot by Qin Zhuangxu, and the Federation had thereby lost a future top Expert.
Although Qin Zhuangxu could save his life, he had to go to the Chaotic Demon Realm to serve for a hundred years, and whether he could return alive remained an unknown.
As for the Qin Family, in order to save him, they would inevitably have to cede a large amount of benefits to the Federation and the academy.
The Qin Family's reputation would also plummet because of this, suffering a severe vitality injury.
As for the most innocent Nanjiang Academy, it had clearly just recruited a peerless monstrous talent, only for him to be personally slain by its own tutor in the blink of an eye.
Losing both talent and destroying a millennium-inherited reputation, wanting to attract top geniuses to come again in the future would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
"Prepare yourself to head to the Chaotic Demon Realm!"
Lin Xuanzi heaved a heavy sigh, staring helplessly at Qin Zhuangxu with a heavy tone.
As an Order Faction Elder, his duty was to uphold the academy's rules and bring Qin Zhuangxu, who had committed a grave crime, to justice.
But Qin Zhuangxu had no intention of fleeing in fear of punishment at this moment, even proactively pleading guilty and accepting punishment, so Lin Xuanzi naturally would not rashly make a move.
Moreover, Qin Zhuangxu was not a loner; the Qin Familybehind him was deeply rooted in Nanjiang, and even if he could slay Qin Zhuangxu, the Qin Family would never let the matter rest, which would only trigger an even bigger storm by then.
Lin Xuanzi knew clearly in his heart that Qin Zhuangxu was also a smart person.
Not only could he not run, but he instead had to proactively bear all the faults, controlling the impact of the matter on himself as much as possible to avoid implicating the entire Qin Family.
After all, as long as the Qin Family was still around, they could rely on their own influence and connections to use their influence in secret to save him and protect him.
But if the Qin Family collapsed because of this matter and Qin Zhuangxu lost his backing, he would only die faster.
Let alone serving a hundred-year sentence in the Chaotic Demon Realm, he probably wouldn't even be able to extricate himself right now.
"Of course, I'll set off today!"
Qin Zhuangxu had obviously figured out the stakes involved long ago, his tone plain and without a single ripple, as if he had long since prepared to face death, yet deep down his eyes hid a trace of certainty about the future.
He firmly believed that he would definitely be able to return alive from the Chaotic Demon Realm; after all, the Qin Family likewise had no small amount of influence over there.
At that time, he would still be that lofty person in power of the Qin Family.
"Wanting to leave, did you ask for my permission!"
But at this moment, a cold and majestic voice suddenly exploded in mid-air.
Like rolling thunder, it shook the eardrums of everyone present until they buzzed, and even the gravel on the ground trembled slightly.
Everyone was startled, subconsciously raising their heads and casting their gazes uniformly toward mid-air.
They saw that I don't know when, a crimson-gold majestic figure was already standing in mid-air, burning all over with roaring crimson-gold flames, and a boundless auraradiating from their entire body that looked down upon the world, resembling a deity personally descending.
Even Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi involuntarily frowned, his expression turning solemn.
"Who is this?"
Within the crowd, someone was the first to break the silence, their voice carrying thinly veiled astonishment as they stared intently at the crimson-gold figure in midair, their face full of bewilderment.
"From the look of it, he seems to be the Master Jiang Yuantook in the mortal world. I heard he's called 'Flame God'!"
Someone well-informed cried out in a low voice, their tone filled with surprise, instantly drawing the attention of those around them.
"Flame God? I think I've heard of him!"
"It seems that some time ago, he rescued the Blazing Sun Battle Team and others in Dongque City, personally killed a mother Gu of the Myriad Beast Soul Devouring Emperor, and even saved the long-missing North Sea Spear Emperor. His strength is unfathomable!"
"Tsk tsk, what a surprise!"
"Jiang Yuan has just 'died', and his Master has already come looking for trouble. It seems there's a good show to watch again!"
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"No matter what, this is an internal matter of our Nanjiang Academy. That Flame God is an outsider after all, what right does he have to meddle?"
"Besides, don't forget what place this is! This is Nanjiang Academy!"
Amidst their shock, the murmurs of the onlookers rose one after another, each holding different opinions and wearing varied expressions.
"Even if Qin Zhuangxu committed a grave mistake, he should be punished by the academy and the Federation, not managed by the Flame God!"
"Also, why is this Flame God inside the academy?"
"The academy is heavily guarded, could he be illegally trespassing?"
"You guys say, since the Flame God is present, could Jiang Yuan not be dead?"
"I heard this Flame God is quite powerful; perhaps the moment of the explosion, he rescued Jiang Yuan away!"
"That is indeed a possibility!"
"What kind of damn possibility is that!"
"Even Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi couldn't save Jiang Yuan. No matter how powerful that Flame God is, how could he possibly save him? That was a full-strength strike from an Eighth-turn Emperor RankPeak expert, leaving absolutely no room for a buffer!"
Although the discussions continued nonstop, everyone knew in their hearts that an even greater storm was approaching, and they instinctively stepped back, moving away from this place of right and wrong for fear of being implicated.
After all, neither the Flame God nor Qin Zhuangxu was someone they could afford to provoke.
Furthermore, the terrifying energy burst out by Qin Zhuangxu just now, coupled with the sudden appearance of the Flame God as an "uninvited guest", had long alarmed the many experts inside Nanjiang Academy.
In the distant sky, streaks of light pierced through the firmament like falling stars, speeding toward the open space at the villa's entrance with astonishing velocity, arriving at the scene in the blink of an eye.
At the lead was a middle-aged man dressed in cyan brocade robes. He had handsome features and a gentle demeanor, yet carried his own superior majesty. Surrounding his body was a dense Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank aura, even more profound than that of Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi.
He was none other than the dean of the Order Academy, a true top brass figure of Nanjiang Academy.
Behind him followed a team of Law enforcement officers wearing black standard armor engraved with elemental spell runes. Each of them exuded a piercing aura, with cultivation levels no lower than Seventh-Rank Saint-level.
The head of the Law enforcement team was an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank expert, radiating a cold, killing aura. His gaze swept across the entire audience with unquestionable majesty.
Besides them, dozens of figures stood suspended in midair around the perimeter.
There were white-haired old men, men in the prime of their lives, and graceful women; all of them were high-ranking instructors of Nanjiang Academy.
Among them were no lack of Seventh-Turn Saints and Eighth-turn Emperor Rank experts.
There were even a few Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Experts of the same level as Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi, their bodies surging with boundless aura as they stared solemnly at the Flame God in midair with varied expressions.
As for whether there were even more terrifying experts secretly paying attention to this farce within the deeper Secret Realm of the academy, no one knew.
Nanjiang Academy had a thousand-year Inheritance and a profound Foundation; no one knew how many unknown trump cards and experts were still hidden deep within the academy.
In just a short moment, in the midair around the battlefield, there were a total of over a hundred high-ranking experts standing suspended, large and small.
They densely surrounded the Flame God, forming an invisible encirclement. Their auras intertwined to create an extremely terrifying oppressive force, making even the air feel as though it had congealed.
After all, this was the stronghold of Nanjiang Academy, a Holy Land in the hearts of countless spellcasters, and the number of high-ranking experts was as numerous as hairs on an ox.
Now that a storm concerning the academy's face and rules had erupted, it naturally attracted the attention of numerous experts.
Yet, as an "uninvited guest", the Flame God showed not the slightest fear facing the encirclement of over a hundred high-ranking experts.
The crimson-gold flames around his body burned increasingly fierce, intricate patterns looming faintly within the blazing fire. Not only did his aura fail to retract, but it grew increasingly overbearing.
His eyes, flickering with crimson-gold brilliance, were like two scorching suns. His majestic and overbearing gaze shot straight toward Qin Zhuangxu on the ground, his tone cold and without the slightest ripple, yet carrying a heart-palpitating killing intent.
"I know you! Flame God, Jiang Yuan's Master!"
Upon seeing this, not only did Qin Zhuangxu show no trace of fear, but he raised his head, directly meeting the gaze of the Flame God in midair. A disdainful arc curled at the corner of his mouth as he slowly spoke.
"But you illegally trespassing into Nanjiang Academy is already a fault! If you dare to injure someone within Nanjiang Academy, do you really think Nanjiang Academyhas no one left?"
Pausing for a moment, he heightened his tone, carrying a hint of confidence and provocation.
Qin Zhuangxu truly did not fear him in his heart.
Even though he was currently a sinner under suspension, he had not yet been stripped of his position; after all, he was still the Combat Department Head of Nanjiang Academy and one of their own people.
Secondly, he himself was an Eighth-turn Emperor RankPeak expert with formidable strength, naturally not fearing the Flame God.
After all, in the Federation's official data database, the Flame God's combat power was marked as only eight-star, which was virtually identical to his.
Furthermore, when the Qin Family originally planned to target Jiang Yuan, they had already investigated Jiang Yuan's background thoroughly, and even his Master, the Flame God, had not been spared.
It was precisely because they had figured out the Flame God's strength and determined that he was insufficient to threaten the Qin Family that they dared to unscrupulously make a move against Jiang Yuan, wanting to seize that Mythic-grade Profession Inheritance.
They never expected that the situation would completely spiral out of control. Not only did Jiang Yuan not die, but he also drew out the Flame God, and even alarmed the vice principal of south border academy and numerous high-ranking experts, far exceeding everyone's expectations.
"Your Excellency Flame God, matters have come to this; why not sit down, calm down, and properly negotiate!"
Seeing this, Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi felt his heart tighten. He hurriedly stepped forward, cupping his fists toward the Flame God in midair, and earnestly acted as a peacemaker.
He certainly did not want an Emperor-level or even Emperor Rank duel to break out here.
Once a war started, whether the Flame God was harmed, Qin Zhuangxu was killed, or academy experts were injured, it would benefit no one and only add insult to injury to Nanjiang Academy's reputation.
Furthermore, although the Flame God was not a person of Nanjiang Academy, he had deep connections in Dongque City and was an expert recognized by the Federation officials, giving him a special status.
If both Master and disciple Jiang Yuan and the Flame Goddied in Nanjiang Academy, Dongque City would certainly not let the matter rest, and the Federation would inevitably forcefully intervene to investigate the incident.
By then, Nanjiang Academy would inevitably fall into even greater trouble.
Moreover, Qin Zhuangxu was an old-timer of Nanjiang Academy after all. He had extremely strong influence within the academy, wide connections, and friends and Clan scattered across all departments of the academy.
If a war broke out right now, the academy experts present would, both emotionally and rationally, help Qin Zhuangxu first and deal with the Flame God together.
Therefore, although he seemed to be smoothing things over, he was actually considering things for the Flame God, not wanting him to fall into a helpless and isolated plight.
"This person is utterly arrogant, injured my disciple, and insulted my face. Negotiate?"
At this moment, Jiang Yuan, who had transformed into the "Flame God", let out a cold snort.
"Today you will definitely die, I said so!"
Jiang Yuan's tone was filled with disdain and killing intent, directly ignoring Imperial Tutor Lin Xuanzi's persuasion for peace. His gaze locked tightly onto Qin Zhuangxu, word by word, cold and firm.
Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence!
Before his voice fell, Jiang Yuan no longer hesitated. The crimson-gold flames around his body instantly surged, countless crimson-gold flame light spots bursting out from the flames to converge into a world-destroying torrent of fire.
In an instant, the aura around his body instantly climbed to the extreme. Ten-million-fold special effects were fully activated, and the terrifying oppressive might of the fire-type supreme Forbidden Spell instantly swept the entire audience!
Once Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence was unleashed, all things would be burned to ashes, and even space could be scorched away to nothingness!
As the Forbidden Spell descended, the crimson-gold flames around Jiang Yuan suddenly transformed, shedding their original scorching luster and turning into a deep dark red.
That flame had not the slightest bit of temperature, yet it emitted a heart-palpitating aura of deathly silence. It was precisely the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire derived from the supreme Law of fire.
The next second, the dark red Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire erupted with a roar, no longer confined to Jiang Yuan's surroundings, sweeping outward like a tidal wave and instantly spreading across the high altitude of the entire Nanjiang Academy.
The originally clear firmament was completely enveloped by the dark red flames, eclipsing the sun and moon, draining color from heaven and earth.
The entire heaven and earth turned into a dead, dark red expanse. Violent winds howled, the Void trembled, and the air was filled with a suffocating end-of-days aura, just like the arrival of an apocalypse.
Even the distant mountains and buildings were illuminated hideously and terrifyingly by the dark red firelight.
Wherever the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire passed, whether it was floating dust, flowing airflow, high-altitude clouds, or energy particles in the air, they were instantly driven into extinction without leaving a trace, as if those things had never existed in this heaven and earth.
On the battlefield, the dark energy and Saber Qi that were previously rampaging and lingering instantly returned to nothingness upon touching the extinction fire.
The surrounding rubble and dust also completely vanished without a trace the moment the flames swept past.
Between heaven and earth, there remained only boundless dark red flames and that heart-palpitating Law coercion.
That terrifying Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire, like a Ferocious Beast that had locked onto its prey, carried a world-destroying might as it swept directly toward Qin Zhuangxu.
Qin Zhuangxu's face instantly turned as pale as paper, the disdain and certainty in his heart instantly replaced by extreme fear.
He finally realized how naive his previous thoughts had been!
He thought that with his own Eighth-turn Emperor RankPeak strength, he could fight even facing the Flame God.
But at this moment, facing this Law fire that surpassed all things, he couldn't even breed a shred of resistance, left only with endless despair.
"No! Impossible! This isn't true!"
Qin Zhuangxu howled out loud, his body trembling uncontrollably, utterly devoid of his previous poise and arrogance.
He turned and fled, pushing his physique to the extreme as he transformed into a pitch-black streak of light, wanting to escape the shroud of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire.
Yet no matter how fast he fled, those dark red flames were like tarsal maggots, closely following behind him all the while.
Growing closer and closer to him, that deathly silent aurahad already enveloped his entire body, making him stiff all over and slowing down the speed at which he circulated his energy by a fraction.
In his anxious state, Qin Zhuangxu abruptly pulled out several life-saving trump cards from his inventory space!
As an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank expert, he naturally possessed many life-saving abilities.
A defensive jade pendant exuding dense golden light—that was a supreme treasure passed down by the Qin Family for a thousand years, capable of blocking a full-strength strike from a Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert.
A bottle of dark red vital blood, which was his natal blood condensed over a century of effort, could instantly burst out several times his combat power.
There was also a black shield covered in defensive runes, capable of forming a sturdy barrier to resist all attacks...
Without hesitation, he crushed the defensive jade pendant. The pendant instantly transformed into a golden light barrier, wrapping his entire person within. The golden light was dazzling, and runes flowed, seeming indestructible.
Immediately afterward, he drank the natal blood, and the aura around his body surged instantly. His original Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak cultivation briefly broke through to the Early Stage of Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank.
On the pitch-black long saber, dark elements surged wildly, and the Saber Qi swelled several times over.
Finally, he raised the black shield, blocking it in front of him, and drove the runes with all his might to form a heavy dark barrier, layering defense upon defense, purely to block the attack of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire.
Yet all of this appeared so pale and powerless in front of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire.
With a gentle touch of the dark red flames, the golden light barrier shattered instantly without the slightest obstruction, as if it had never existed.
The black defensive barrier dissolved instantly upon touching the flames, its runes shattering inch by inch without even stirring a single ripple.
The surging aura on Qin Zhuangxu's body was instantly suppressed by the Heaven-Burning Extinction Law. The power brought by his natal blood receded like a tide, and his cultivation instantly dropped back to the Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak, even growing weaker than before.
"Why?! Why on earth is this?!"
Qin Zhuangxu howled in despair, his eyes filled with unwillingness and fear. He couldn't figure out why, having exhausted everything and pulled out all his life-saving trump cards, he still couldn't block it.
He finally understood that the terror of the Flame God far exceeded what was stated in the Federation database!
Especially this Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence!
It was by no means an ordinary fire-type Forbidden Spell, but a true fire-type supreme Forbidden Spell—a forbidden art of the Law of ultimate extinction capable of obliterating all existence.
If it were anywhere else, when the Flame God released this Forbidden Spell, perhaps no one would have easily recognized it.
But this was Nanjiang Academy, gathering countless high-ranking mage experts, among whom were no lack of Emperor-rank instructors proficient in the Law of fire.
The moment the Flame God cast Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence, the moment that oppressive might of the extinction Law swept across the entire audience, many high-ranking experts instantly changed expressions drastically.
At a single glance, they recognized the origin and terror of this Forbidden Spell, their eyes filled with panic and disbelief.
Originally, among the experts present, quite a few had good relations with Qin Zhuangxu or had received favors from the Qin Family. The instant the Flame God made his move, they had already prepared to step in and block him, energy surging around their bodies, ready to join the battle at any moment.
But when they clearly saw the appearance of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire and felt that terrifying might surpassing all Laws.
All thoughts instantly dissipated, replaced by extreme fear.
They hastily reined in their auras, flashed, and escaped into the Void, terrified of being implicated by this Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire, without even a shred of hesitation.
They knew clearly that once touched by this flame, the outcome awaiting them would only be returning to nothingness and perishing from the world.
This heaven-shaking commotion not only made the experts present back down one after another, but it also drew out even more and stronger experts from within Nanjiang Academy.
Of the over a hundred high-ranking experts originally suspended in midair, only a sparse few remained at this moment, all of whom were Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Experts.
Including the strongest Dean of the Order Academy, everyone's expressions were solemn as they instinctively stepped back, not daring to approach within half a step.
At the same time.
Deep within Nanjiang Academy, one more majestic auraafter another soared into the sky.
Countless streaks of light pierced through the firmament, speeding toward the open space at the villa's entrance with astonishing velocity, arriving at the scene in the blink of an eye.
AI Model: gemini-3.5-flash
Even more shocking was that as the power of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire continued to spread, Nanjiang Academy's city-protecting array, which had been passed down for thousands of years, was actually passively triggered and activated by this terrifying power of Law!
Above the entire Nanjiang Academy, massive golden runes emerged one after another, intertwining and weaving together to form a colossal golden barrier that enveloped the entire academy.
The runes flowed, emitting a dense defensive power, attempting to resist the spread of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire.
Yet even so, under the pressure of the flames, the golden barrier trembled slightly, and fine cracks appeared on its surface, as if it could shatter at any moment.
Meanwhile, the vice principal of south border academy, Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal, had long since been completely startled by this shocking commotion.
He personally led a group of top Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Experts, rushing over with majestic auras and expressions of utmost solemnity.
Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal's robes fluttered loudly as his gaze locked onto the dark red flames in midair, his eyes filled with shock and wariness.
As a Peak Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert, he had seen countless powerful Forbidden Spells, but he had never witnessed such a terrifying fire-element Forbidden Spell.
The pressure of that extinction Law even made him feel a slight threat of death.
Behind him, over a dozen Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Experts stood in neat alignment, each with a solemn expression, their energy surging at full power as they prepared to strike at any moment, yet none dared to step forward lightly.
They all knew the terror of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire; acting rashly would only mean throwing their lives away in vain.
Furthermore, in the deepest Secret Realm of Nanjiang Academy, several even more terrifying and profound auras faintly emerged.
Those auras far surpassed the Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank, carrying an ancient and majestic pressure. They belonged to several Old Ancestor-level experts of Nanjiang Academy who had been living in seclusion for many years.
They did not show themselves, merely observing this earth-shaking duel from the shadows, complex light flickering in their eyes as they contemplated in silence.
Just as the numerous experts arrived one after another with varying expressions, the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire finally caught up with Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
The dark red flames landed gently on his body. Without any violent explosion, scorching heat, or even a single sound, Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head's body began to turn transparent and dissipate at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The despair and unwillingness on his face instantly froze.
Immediately after, along with his body, his Divine Soul!
Even the pitch-black long saber in his hand, his armor, and everything else had the very Foundation of their existence stripped away under the power of the extinction fire's Law, turning to nothingness bit by bit.
Within just a few breaths, the once-overbearing Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head, an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak expert who held the position of Combat Department Head of Nanjiang Academy, completely vanished from this world.
Not a single trace was left behind, as if he had never existed in this world.
That dark aura that had once filled countless people with awe, that pitch-black long saber that had slain countless powerful enemies, and the black shield capable of resisting the attacks of an Emperor Rank Expert—all of them returned to silence and were completely erased under the effect of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire.
Meanwhile, Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor, who was closest to Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head, was already frozen stiff with fear. His face was as pale as paper, cold sweat poured from his body, and he had almost lost his soul.
In order to persuade Flame God just now, he had not been very far from Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
The aftershocks of the spreading Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire had grazed the corner of his robes as they swept past.
That aura of dead silence instantly enveloped him, making him feel an unprecedented threat of death.
At that moment, Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor even thought he was doomed to die.
He knew that if those flames had come even a fraction closer, his end as a Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank instructor would probably not have been any better than Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head's.
This was the closest Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor had come to death since his promotion to a Ninth-Turn Emperor Rankinstructor.
It was also the first time he realized that in the face of absolute Law power, even a High-Tier Expert was still so small and so fragile.
He subconsciously retreated, his legs trembling slightly. The look in his eyes as he stared at the red-gold figure in midair was no longer earnest like before, but filled only with deep fear and awe.
He finally understood that Flame God's strength had long since surpassed his comprehension, and there were even faint signs that it had exceeded Nanjiang Academy's control.
Between heaven and earth.
The Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire gradually retracted, the dark red glow slowly faded, and the aura of dead silence in the world dissipated with it.
Only the golden runes of the city-protecting array continued to flow and tremble slightly in midair, telling of the terror of the Forbidden Spell just now.
At this moment, Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal took a step forward. As the vice principal of the academy, he had to stand up now.
Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal's Peak Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank aura slowly settled. His gaze swept across the area, finally landing on Flame God in midair.
But before he could speak, several figures stepped forward from the crowd. They were all core experts of the Xiao, Qin, and Zhou families, and also trusted aides of Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
"Your Excellency Flame God, although Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head got what he deserved, this is Nanjiang Academy. You intruded without permission and even executed a high-ranking instructor of our academy in public. You must give us an explanation for this matter."
One of them, a white-haired old man who was a Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert of the Xiao Family and held the position of vice dean of the Combat Academy, had a cold aura around him. His eyes were filled with killing intent as he barked at Flame God.
"Impudent! You, an outsider, dare to run wild in Nanjiang Academy and slay our Qin Family's Combat Department Head! Today, if we do not grind your bones to dust and scatter your ashes, it will be impossible to appease the hatred in my heart!"
Another Qin Family expert spoke out in anger.
"Oh?"
Flame God's gaze immediately shifted to that member of the Qin Family.
Upon feeling the killing intent emanating from Flame God's crimson eyes, that person was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Disregarding the eyes of the crowd, he directly dodged behind Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal and the dean of the Order Academy.
"Everyone, please calm down."
Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor, an Elder of the Order Faction, hurriedly stepped forward to persuade them, his tone helpless. "This matter is not as simple as it seems on the surface. We must first clarify the causes and consequences before making a decision."
"Xuanzi, you tell us!"
Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal glanced at Flame God. After thinking it over repeatedly, he did not make the decision to go to war with Flame God.
After all, the terrifying power of the fire-element Forbidden Spell, Burning Heaven Ash Path: Myriad Fires Return to Silence, was still fresh in his mind.
Furthermore, after Flame God killed Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head, he made no further moves to attack.
This meant there was room for negotiation and communication between the two sides.
Fighting was not the only way to resolve the issue!
"Yes, Vice Principal!"
Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor said respectfully.
Immediately, he recounted the entire sequence of events, in full detail, to the academy executives and experts present.
Starting from how Xiao Junnuo and the other two, relying on their Clan's influence, bullied the newly enrolled Jiang Yuan at the villa entrance to demand his Mythic-grade Profession Inheritance, only to be counter-killed by Jiang Yuan, with only their heads remaining in the end.
To how Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head, upon learning of his son Qin Hao's tragic death, was consumed by rage and disregarded the academy's rules, using his superior strength to bully the weak and ruthlessly attacking Jiang Yuan, who was merely a Second-Rank.
And finally, Flame God's appearance to avenge his disciple, furiously unleashing the supreme fire-element Forbidden Spell to slay Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor spoke at a steady pace and with clear logic, explaining every single detail. He did not conceal any details, including how Xiao Junnuo's group had initiated the provocation and how Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head had held absolutely nothing back when he attacked.
Hearing this, the experts present showed various expressions, and discussions broke out once more. The tone of those who had originally leaned toward holding Flame God accountable gradually softened.
They finally understood that the root of this storm was not Flame God's unauthorized intrusion, but rather that Xiao Junnuo and the other two had provoked first, followed by Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head's disregard for human life.
"So that's how it is. It was actually Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head who first broke the academy's rules, using his Eighth-turn Emperor Rank status to ruthlessly attack a freshman."
A neutral Ninth-Turn Emperor Rank instructor sighed softly, his tone complex. "Although Your Excellency Flame God's actions were somewhat inappropriate, it was to protect his disciple's safety. Any Master would probably have done the same."
"Even so, he did kill someone in public at Nanjiang Academy after all. If we do not hold him accountable, where will Nanjiang Academy's dignity be if other outsiders trespass and slay our people in the future?"
The white-haired Elder of the Xiao Family remained unwilling to back down, his tone firm. "Furthermore, Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head was an Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak expert, a backbone of our Nanjiang Academy. To have him slain just like that is a heavy loss. We absolutely cannot let this slide!"
"Hold him accountable? How?"
Another Ninth-turn Emperor Rank Expert frowned, his tone carrying a hint of wariness as his gaze subconsciously swept over Flame God. "We all witnessed Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head's end. Who can withstand the terror of that Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire? Even if all of us join forces, we might not be able to take down Flame God, and if a Forbidden Spell is unleashed, it will only cause even greater casualties."
These words instantly struck a chord with everyone's concerns.
Indeed!
Flame God could easily unleash a supreme fire-element Forbidden Spell that ignored all defenses, instantly erasing even the Eighth-turn Emperor Rank Peak Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
Even though the experts present all possessed Emperor-level cultivation, none had absolute confidence in taking him down.
Once a battle began, whether Flame God died or not remained unknown, but they would definitely suffer casualties.
Even more terrifyingly, this was Nanjiang Academy, home to countless teachers and students.
Everyone knew in their hearts that when Flame Godunleashed the Forbidden Spell just now, he had clearly controlled its range on purpose, only slaying Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head without affecting the surrounding students, teachers, or buildings.
But if a great war was truly triggered and Flame Godstopped holding back, once the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire went out of control, it would be enough to destroy the entire Nanjiang Academy.
Even with numerous experts blocking him, and even with the city-protecting array active, there would inevitably be countless casualties among innocent teachers and students.
When that time came, Nanjiang Academy would truly be doomed beyond redemption.
More importantly, the deed was done and Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head was already dead. No matter how they retaliated against Flame God, it would not bring Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head back to life, but would instead plunge Nanjiang Academy into an even greater crisis.
Just like when Jiang Yuan was 'killed' by Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head, even though Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor and the academy high-level executives were furious, they could only prioritize dealing with the aftermath rather than immediately fighting to the death with Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
Intervening during an emergency and retaliating after the fact were, after all, two completely different things.
When Flame God acted against Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head just now, it wasn't that the academy's many experts didn't want to stop him.
They were simply forced back by the terror of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire, not daring to step forward rashly for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Now that Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head was dead, the matter had temporarily come to a close. Triggering a great war now would bring more harm than good.
Therefore, the only ones who truly wanted to take action against Flame God for revenge were the core figures of the Xiao, Qin, and Zhou families.
And they merely wanted to borrow the power of the academy to avenge their own families.
Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. His face was solemn as his gaze slowly swept across the field.
Ultimately, he asked a soul-searching question, his tone carrying a hint of urgency and regret.
"I want to ask, where is Jiang Yuan now? Is he actually dead or not?"
These words instantly drew everyone's attention.
Indeed, Jiang Yuan was the 'fuse' for everything that happened today.
If Jiang Yuan were truly dead, then this storm would be an absolute tragedy.
If Jiang Yuan were still alive, then there might still be room for turnaround.
Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal had watched Jiang Yuan's Federal Unified Examination matches from start to finish, and highly valued this exceptionally talented junior, Jiang Yuan.
He had long known that there were unspoken rules within the academy of the strong preying on the weak and bullying freshmen.
It was just that these rules had been passed down for thousands of years and were difficult to change in a short time.
Moreover, the reason Nanjiang Academy was able to firmly secure its place among the Federation's Five Great Academies was that these brutal competition rules played a crucial role.
But he had never expected that someone would dare to be so bold.
On the very second day after Jiang Yuan entered Nanjiang Academy, someone actually stretched their evil claws toward this Federal Unified Examination overall champion.
And the one who did it was actually the academy's Combat Department Head, Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head.
Even if Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal, as the vice principal, wanted to protect Jiang Yuan, it was too late.
Not to mention that Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal was not present; even Lin Xuanzi, Imperial Tutor, who was on the scene, had no chance to save him because Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head struck too quickly and ruthlessly.
In Chu Wenxuan, Vice Principal's heart, neither Xiao Junnuo and his companions nor Qin Zhuangxu, Combat Department Head were anywhere near as important as Jiang Yuan.
After all, at such a young age, Jiang Yuan had already displayed a talent seen only once in a thousand years.
He even had a higher probability of becoming a god than any of the experts present, including himself.
His future was promising; if he could grow smoothly, he would definitely become a top combat asset for the Federation to resist the Demon Race.
In addition, he also felt a deep sense of wariness in his heart.
For Flame God to cultivation a disciple like Jiang Yuan, his own strength had to be unfathomable.
Just that single move of the Heaven-Burning Extinction Fire was enough to deter all the High-Tier Experts present.
If Flame God did not possess such terrifying strength, he would probably have been besieged and killed by the experts of Nanjiang Academy by now.
"Thank you for your concern, but my disciple is naturally safe and sound!"
Flame God's cold and majestic voice slowly drifted down. His eyes, gleaming with red-gold brilliance, slowly turned toward the nearby villa, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible trace of warmth.
Everyone subconsciously followed his gaze, only to see a familiar figure standing tall on the roof of the villa.
It was indeed Jiang Yuan.
His expression was normal, his clothes were neat, and not a single trace of his previous distress or injury could be seen. His aura was stable, without the slightest fluctuation.
It was as if the thrilling battle just now and those crises on the line of life and death had nothing to do with him at all.
Standing beside Jiang Yuan were Lin Muxue and the others. They were also safe and sound, their expressions calm, clearly having been properly protected by Jiang Yuan.
Even more striking was that beneath Jiang Yuan's feet, he was stepping on three frozen heads.
The ice was crystal clear, and the distorted faces could be faintly seen through it.
They were precisely the only remaining heads of Xiao Junnuo and the other two.