Azure light flickered within Liu Xi's eyes as azure flames emerged eerily from around him, flooding outward like a tidal wave of fire that covered the heavens.
The flames churned violently as the vague outline of a serpent's head began to form within them. Endless streams of azure fire poured from the serpent's mouth, driving the emergence of its long, massive body until it was fully shaped.
Moments later, a gigantic serpent composed entirely of azure fire loomed in the sky. Its body was tightly condensed, each scale lifelike and sharp as though forged from crystal. There was no wild explosion of power, yet the aura it emitted made even the heavens tremble—a suffocating, destructive pressure that sent chills through anyone who felt it.
Fang Yan froze, his eyes locked on the massive serpent. That faint, oppressive energy seeped into his heart, freezing his blood. "So this… is the true power of a Heavenly Flame…" he murmured in disbelief.
When he turned back to his own creation—the so-called Starry Sky Fire Phoenix that he and his subordinates had conjured—it suddenly looked laughably crude, a painted imitation before a masterpiece. His confidence wavered.
Gritting his teeth, Fang Yan's face twisted with rage. "Not enough. Then we'll burn our blood!" he roared.
The two elders beside him—the Second and Third Elders of Demon Flame Valley—turned pale, but without hesitation, they bit their tongues hard. Mouthfuls of blood burst from their lips, condensing midair into several bright crimson drops brimming with life essence. Their auras dimmed almost instantly.
Fang Yan followed suit, spitting out his own blood before drawing their essence together with a sweep of his finger. The three streams merged into a gray-brown sphere of blood that pulsed with violent energy.
"Go!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Fang Yan sent the bloody sphere flying into the body of the giant phoenix. Instantly, its vast wings stiffened mid-air, and a blood-red glow spread from within, staining the grayish flames that formed its body. Within moments, the entire Fire Phoenix was dyed a deep, sinister red. Its aura turned savage and chaotic, and the temperature of the valley surged sharply, making even the space around it quiver.
"Hahaha! So what if it's a Heavenly Flame? My Transmuted Flame isn't weaker! Kill him!"
Cackling madly, Fang Yan pointed toward Liu Xi.
The blood-red phoenix let out a piercing cry. Its enormous body suddenly tightened, wings folding sharply before it shot forward like a bolt of blood-colored lightning. The sound of tearing air exploded across the valley. In the blink of an eye, its sharp beak, wreathed in blazing fire, was less than ten feet from Liu Xi's chest.
But Liu Xi didn't even flinch. He calmly raised a finger and said, "Go. Swallow it."
Above him, the massive azure serpent lunged like a thunderbolt, opening its vast maw wide. The phoenix's enormous head plunged straight inside, its beak sinking down the serpent's throat. The serpent's body coiled in a blur, wrapping tightly around the Fire Phoenix's flaming form. The blood-colored flames that covered the phoenix flared wildly but couldn't harm the serpent in the slightest.
A faint smile curved Liu Xi's lips as his gaze shifted toward Fang Yan. "Thank you, First Elder Fang, for the fine bird," he said softly. "I'll accept your gift. Nine Nether Ghost Flame Technique—devour!"
The Starry Sky Fire Phoenix was powerful, especially after the blood-burning ritual, but against Liu Xi's Heavenly Flame, it was doomed. The Nine Nether Ghost Flame Technique specialized in domination over all other fires—no ordinary flame could resist it.
Suddenly, a horrifying suction force erupted from the serpent's mouth. The phoenix's blood-red flames were drawn inward in torrents, swallowed into the serpent's body along with the phoenix itself, which began to shrink rapidly as it struggled.
"Damn it! What did you do?" Fang Yan shouted in horror as he felt the energy of his flame being devoured.
"First Elder! Don't worry about that—if we don't recall the flame now, it'll be completely consumed!" the Second Elder gasped, his face drained of all color. The three of them could feel the connection to their combined Transmuted Flame weakening at an alarming rate.
"Fine!" Fang Yan gritted his teeth, forming a rapid seal with his hands to recall the Starry Sky Fire Phoenix.
But Liu Xi sensed the phoenix's energy beginning to disperse and sneered. "You think you can run now? Not a chance. Devour it all!"
The azure serpent's eyes flared like twin suns. Its body tightened, and the suction force doubled, instantly swallowing the phoenix—head, wings, and all—into its belly.
The serpent's midsection bulged grotesquely as the phoenix's energy raged within, but its scaly body held firm without a crack. Within seconds, the bulge shrank again as the phoenix's power dissolved into countless motes of red firelight, absorbed entirely by the serpent's body.
A wet coughing sound echoed across the battlefield—Fang Yan and the two elders spat blood simultaneously. Their faces went deathly pale, eyes dull with disbelief. The connection between them and the Starry Sky Fire Phoenix was gone. Their life force and Dou Qi, once fused into the flame, had been utterly devoured.
Their Transmuted Flame was gone. Their cultivation was crippled.
"You… what did you do to our flame?!" Fang Yan rasped, trembling as he pointed at Liu Xi.
Liu Xi didn't even bother to reply. He simply looked up at the massive serpent, now darker and more refined, its aura heavy and dense like a mountain. Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.
Then, lowering his gaze, he extended a single finger toward Fang Yan. "The dead don't need answers. I'll make it quick. Go."
With a thunderous roar, the azure serpent lashed its tail and vanished in a flash of light. A colossal beam of azure fire descended upon Fang Yan and his two elders before they could even scream.
In the next instant, they were gone—nothing but ashes.
The serpent returned to Liu Xi's side, dissolving into azure flame before merging seamlessly into his body. He closed his eyes briefly, feeling the surge of refined power coursing within him. A faint smile curved his lips. "Compared to when I first subdued it, the strength of the Green Lotus Core Flame now rivals the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
Just then, a soft voice called out behind him. "Young Master, are you all right?"
Liu Xi opened his eyes slowly. A faint glimmer of azure fire flickered within them. "I'm fine," he said with a light laugh. "And it seems fortune favored us this time."
Moments later, Su Qian and Zi Yan descended nearby, their faces still carrying traces of battle. All of Demon Flame Valley's experts above the Dou Wang level had been slain. Elder Qin Xuan had already led a squad deeper into the valley to hunt down any survivors.
Though the valley still housed many ordinary disciples, none above the rank of Da Dou Shi would live.
Su Qian chuckled as he approached. "Elder Liu Xi, you've truly opened my eyes. That Starry Sky Fire Phoenix would've taken me quite some effort to handle, yet you crushed it as if it were nothing."
Liu Xi shook his head modestly. "The Heavenly Flame simply restrained it too well. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome indeed."
Turning to Zi Yan, he gestured with a small smile. "Zi Yan, see if you can find where their treasure vault is hidden."
Zi Yan grinned, puffing her chest proudly. "Heh, leave it to me!"
Closing her eyes, she stood still for a few moments. Then her eyelids fluttered open, excitement gleaming within. "Found it, big brother. This way!"
With that, her small figure darted off toward the depths of Demon Flame Valley. Liu Xi, Su Qian, and Xiao Yixian exchanged glances before swiftly following after her.
(End of Chapter)
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