Chapter 240: Chapter 240: The Village Chief's Decision

Wuwu—

Fang Yan's neck was tightly gripped by Lu Jing's iron‑clamp‑like, immovable hand, emitting a muffled whimper.

"Is this even worthy of being called divine fire?"

Lu Jing stared at him coldly and calmly said, "Let you see what real divine fire looks like."

In the next instant.

A surging wave of heat erupted suddenly from Lu Jing's body.

The flames were not red like Fang Yan's, but a viscous pale gold.

Fang Yan, closest to Lu Jing, felt as if standing at the rim of an erupting volcano.

Within the crater, magma that could destroy heaven and earth was brewing, ready to engulf him at any moment.

"Wuwu!"

Fang Yan twisted his body continuously, trying to break free from Lu Jing's hand.

But the next moment, the world before his eyes turned crimson, his whole body began to burn, and the pain lasted only a brief instant before vanishing.

Because his nerves were completely destroyed, he lost the ability to feel pain.

Lu Jing released his grip, letting the flames on Fang Yan's body turn him into black charcoal.

As his Universal Breathing Method advanced, the temperature of the fire breath rose by more than one tier.

Fang Yan, whose strength was far from exhausted, could not withstand it.

Lu Jing casually flicked his hand, and the charred meat clinging to it fell to the ground, scorching one black pit after another.

After finishing this, Lu Jing scanned the remaining members of the World Martial Hall on the field.

He walked toward them with a smile.

As his figure passed, two fallen Martial Hall members ignited on their own, quickly turning into human‑shaped charcoal.

From the posture of the charcoal one could vaguely see the struggle of pain they endured in life, like demons from hell.

The few remaining conscious people had their pupils contract sharply, their bodies and minds shrouded by a massive terror.

Fang Yan is dead!

His companions are dead too!

Killed effortlessly by a boy who looked only eighteen or nineteen...

This can no longer be explained by ordinary logic.

"Monster, this must be a monster!"

A World Martial Hall member who had been feigning death on the ground could no longer hold on, stood up and ran toward the distance.

But after only a few steps, he was surrounded by rushing villagers.

"The rest is yours to handle."

Lu Jing stretched lazily and headed straight into the village.

He left behind a group of villagers too shocked to speak.

The vast village entrance, crowded with people, formed a stark contrast to the quiet surroundings.

Only the murmuring of a distant stream and the chirping of birds could be heard.

Lei Hao and the Village Chief supported each other, standing dumbfounded.

Li Xixi's mouth was agape, saliva nearly spilling out.

Earlier, Lu Jing's speed had already shocked everyone, but when he smashed a flame dragon with a single punch...

That shock was instantly magnified several times, leaving minds blank and stripping away the ability to think.

Who would have thought Lu Jing is also a fire Talent Endowed?

And with less than a Master Realm Blood Qi, he could hard‑hit Grand Master Realm Fang Yan—what a terrifying Martial Way talent!

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't dare believe such a prodigious boy existed in this world.

Zhang Yujie stared wide-eyed, murmuring, "His name is Lu Jing... that name sounds so familiar."

Her mind raced, yet she couldn't recall any fire Talent Endowed named Lu Jing.

She only remembered that this year's martial exam featured a teenage prodigy who killed an opponent with Master Realm strength in a mock battle, and the media glorified him.

But compared with the boy before them, it was like night and day.

What prodigy doesn't even have the right to fetch his shoes.

"Is everyone alright?"

The Village Chief was the first to regain composure, slowly supporting Lei Hao to the villagers and asking, "Is anyone injured, how are the pillars?"

The crowd, as if waking from a dream, rushed forward to help the wounded.

"Village chief, we're fine, just a few minor injuries."

"The pillar's condition has stabilized, no serious damage."

"Village chief, that's all thanks to that boy..."

The Village Chief nodded, "If that boy hadn't intervened this time, our Lei Village would have..."

Lei Village, courtyard.

Lu Jing and Lei Hao's family gathered around the fire, gnawing on ribs, while Li Xixi and Zhang Yujie sat nearby.

Li Xixi had lost her earlier enthusiasm; upon seeing Lu Jing, she could barely even greet him.

The boy's impact was so great that her mind still buzzed.

"Lu Jing, thank you for stepping in this time," Lei Hao looked at Lu Jing with sincere eyes, "My life, Lei Hao, is yours now."

Lu Jing waved his hand, "I don't want your life; I'm just very interested in your village."

"Interested in our village?"

Lei Hao gave a slight start, his expression somewhat bewildered.

"Yes, to be frank, I came for Thunder Pond."

Lu Jing nodded, directly admitting his purpose.

Lei Hao and the village chief exchanged a glance, their looks complex with shock and bewilderment.

After hesitating for a while, the village chief seemed to have made a decision, he fiercely puffed on his water pipe, saying: "Stay here tonight; tomorrow morning I'll take you to a place."

"Okay."

Lu Jing's eyes lit up, and he agreed.

The clouds in the sky dispersed, the moon rose high, bright and gentle.

Moonlight fell on the ground, casting mottled shadows.

In a guest room, Lu Jing lay on the large bunk.

A stove fire burned in the room, making the small space especially warm.

Bang bang bang!

A knocking sounded.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Li Xixi and Zhang Yujie walked in.

"Lu Jing, we've already gotten in touch with the people from the travel group..."

Li Xixi said, "They said you need to personally call to report your safety."

"Hmm, I know."

Lu Jing pulled out his phone and saw a string of missed calls.

He immediately called back.

"Is this Lu Jing? You haven't run into any trouble, have you?"

The phone connected instantly, and the female tour guide's anxious, worried voice came from the other end.

"It's fine, it's fine, sorry—I got lost on the way."

Lu Jing sheepishly explained, "We're all fine now; the travel group doesn't need to wait for me; tomorrow morning I'll just go down the mountain myself."

"Alright, you guys—you almost scared me to death!"

The female tour guide's voice trembled with tears.

"Sorry, sorry..."

Li Xixi and Zhang Yujie watched Lu Jing apologetically comforting the tour guide, feeling it somewhat unreal.

This gentle, warm youth seemed utterly unrelated to the fire-system Talent Endowed who had killed someone in three steps this afternoon.

After hanging up, Lu Jing looked at the two women who had not left.

Smiling, he said, "What's up? Anything else?"