Chapter 167

Luo Changfeng and Xiao Muyu also reacted, though filled with doubt and worry, they knew they could not linger here. One on the left, one on the right, they shielded Shi Ran, whose breath was unsteady but eyes sharp, preparing to break through to the rear.

"Want to leave? Leave behind the Nirvana Feather and this girl!" Chixuan reacted, roaring angrily, disregarding Yan Jin's obstruction, personally leading two trusted elders out of the light gate, charging toward Lingxiao! He would not let this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity slip from his grasp!

The battle escalated again! Chixuan struck in fury, his power earth-shattering, the entire Heart of Molten Fire seeming to tremble beneath his wrath.

Lingxiao showed no fear, advancing to meet him, clashing with Chixuan. The duel of two top-tier experts sent shockwaves that turned mountains and rivers pale, magma coiling backward.

Luo Changfeng and Xiao Muyu guarded Shi Ran, fighting while retreating, attempting to return along the original path. But disciples of the Chixuan lineage continually obstructed them from outside, and more fire spirit sprites in the environment were agitated, swarming in, making their breakout path extraordinarily difficult.

Shi Ran endured the excruciating pain of her internal powers merging, her left eye flashing with demonic light as a finger-wind containing annihilation and demonic aura shot out, piercing a gold-core disciple attacking from the flank, who instantly turned to flying ash, unable even to cry out! Her right eye flickered with pale flames; wherever her gaze fell, incoming fire spirit sprites, as if encountering their bane, wailed and dissipated!

Her newly gained power proved extremely effective against the fire spirits here and cultivators practicing fire-based techniques!

Yet using this power again destabilized her internal balance. The Nirvana Feather's light in her bosom flashed rapidly, straining to maintain that fragile equilibrium.

Just as they were about to be re-encircled in dire peril—

"Roar——!"

A bellow like that of an ancient primordial beast erupted from the deepest depths of the Heart of Molten Fire! This roar contained supreme majesty and violent fury, shaking the entire space, causing even the Extinction Flame on the altar to pause slightly!

Immediately after, within the distant soaring fire pillar, a colossal figure slowly rose! It was a serpent whose entire body was composed of crimson-gold magma, bearing a single horn on its head, faint claw shadows visible beneath its belly, its entire form burning with near-white terrifying flames! Its eyes were like two diminished suns, now angrily fixed upon the altar and light gate's direction!

"It... it is the ancient fire spirit guarding the Extinction Flame—Chihuang Dragon Serpent! It has been awakened!" an elder of the Flame Heaven Valley cried out in shock, his face filled with fear.

The Chihuang Dragon Serpent, born alongside the Extinction Flame, is a powerful existence of unfathomable strength, normally slumbering in the deepest part of the Heart of Molten Fire, now clearly awakened by the successive battles and fluctuations of the Extinction Flame!

The giant serpent opened its maw, unleashing a white destructive breath over ten zhang in diameter, like heavenly punishment, indiscriminately bombarding toward the altar and light gate! Where it passed, space twisted, all things turned to ash!

Whether the Flame Heaven Valley crowd or Lingxiao, Shi Ran, and company, facing this heaven-and-earth-destroying attack, all appeared infinitesimally small!

Life and death hung in an instant!

The destructive breath poured down like a heavenly river, carrying scorching white light that would burn all things, instantly engulfing everyone's vision. The air ionized, emitting a piercing crackling sound, space itself beginning to twist and rupture under this force. This was an attack far beyond Nascent Soul level, the heavenly wrath of an ancient fire spirit guarding its origin!

The brunt fell upon the battle group near the light gate.

"Resist together!" Chixuan exclaimed in horror, no longer caring to seize Shi Ran, joining Yan Jin and the elders of both sides, setting aside past grudges under survival instinct, madly channeling their full spiritual power, unleashing their strongest defensive treasures. Layers of flame barriers, molten lava shields, and crimson talisman scrolls flared up, attempting to block this destructive flood.

Lingxiao's pupils contracted sharply; without hesitation, he abandoned his opponent, his form becoming a streak of light retreating to stand before Shi Ran and the others. His hands flew rapidly, his vast spiritual power pouring out unreservedly, a massive ice crystal shield wall, solid beyond compare and etched with countless profound ice patterns, instantly condensed, firmly shielding the four behind it. The chill on the shield was so intense that even the surrounding scorching air condensed into frostflakes.

"Boom—!!"

The white breath violently struck the joint defense erected by the Flame Heaven Valley crowd. Almost instantly, the outermost layers of defense shattered like paper, vanishing. Treasures wailed, spiritual light scattered, several gold-core disciples vaporized without even a chance to cry out. Nascent Soul elders spurted blood, the weaker among them instantly severely wounded and feeble. The joint defense circle shrank drastically, teetering on collapse.

Next, the edge of the breath fiercely swept across Lingxiao's condensed ice crystal shield wall.

"Crack—hiss——!"

Extreme cold and extreme heat collided again in their fiercest clash. The ice shield melted at visible speed, steaming up mists of white vapor, the sharp cracking sound unceasing. Lingxiao's face turned pale, a trace of blood trickling from his mouth, but his eyes remained sharp as blades, his spiritual power surging madly, desperately maintaining the shield against total collapse. Luo Changfeng and Xiao Muyu also poured their full spiritual power into Lingxiao, jointly supporting him.

Shi Ran watched her master's slightly trembling back, saw him hard-extinguishing this heaven-and-earth-destroying blow to protect her; her left demonic light and right pale flame surged simultaneously! The internal balance of her three forces, just achieved in peril, was stimulated by the external life-or-death crisis and driven by her strong will, actually beginning to merge at an unprecedented speed!

The Nirvana Feather burst forth with unprecedented seven-colored divine light, no longer a gentle soothing, but carrying a sacred purifying and protective power, forcibly blending the turbulent demonic aura and domineering Extinction Flame together. The red thread on her wrist blazed scorching hot, the sensation and summons from the Demon Abyss growing clearer, as if providing some mysterious coordinate and guidance for this fusion.

"I cannot... burden my master again!" she cried inwardly, forcibly raising her hand, the dark-gold blood-colored energy mixed with pale flames, containing that strange balancing power, covering her palm, she slammed it hard onto the ice shield behind Lingxiao!

"Ran'er must not!" Lingxiao sensed her movement, shouted urgently to stop, but it was already too late.

A strange occurrence happened. That force, fused with demonic aura, the Extinction Flame's origin, and a trace of Extinction Flame, did not clash with Lingxiao's ice spiritual power, but instead acted like a peculiar "adhesive" and "buffer layer," coating the inner side of the ice shield. When the Chihuang Dragon Serpent's breath struck, this fusion force actually began actively devouring and decomposing the "Extinction"-related portion of that destructive energy!

Though relative to the entire breath, Shi Ran absorbed only a drop in the ocean, this subtle change suddenly eased the pressure on the ice shield by a thread! It was this thread's difference that allowed Lingxiao to catch his breath, the shield's collapse trend forcibly halted!

"What?!" Chixuan, Yan Jin, and others also noticed the anomaly here, seeing Shi Ran actually absorb and neutralize the Dragon Serpent's breath power, all were horrified. This had completely surpassed their comprehension!

The Chihuang Dragon Serpent seemed to sense this "little worm's" abnormality, its sun-like giant eyes turning, directing more attention toward Shi Ran's direction. It felt the homologous yet altered Extinction aura, and a Demon Abyss scent it loathed.

The first breath finally passed. The area near the light gate was now a mess, the molten ground plowed into bottomless gullies, the Flame Heaven Valley side suffered heavy losses, gold-core disciples nearly all dead or wounded, Nascent Soul elders each bearing injuries, their breath feeble. Though Lingxiao's group barely held on through combined effort and Shi Ran's strange ability, Lingxiao's spiritual power consumption was enormous, Shi Ran even more so from forcibly devouring the breath energy, her internal balance again violently turbulent, her face as pale as paper, had Xiao Muyu not timely supported her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Meanwhile, on the altar, that cluster of "Extinction Flame," due to the Dragon Serpent's appearance and attack, seemed to have become even more unstable, flames flickering violently, emitting an increasingly terrifying aura.

"Roar!" The Chihuang Dragon Serpent let out an even more furious bellow, clearly dissatisfied that its strike failed to utterly eliminate the intruders. Its massive body slowly undulated, churning the Heart of Molten Fire into an uproar, clearly gathering for a second attack. And this time, its target appeared locked onto Shi Ran!

"Not good! That beast has set its sights on Ran'er!" Lingxiao instantly discerned the Dragon Serpent's intent, his face extremely solemn.

"Valley Master! No more hesitation! We must immediately stabilize the Extinction Flame, or we will all die here!" Chixuan seized the moment to roar, his gaze toward Shi Ran growing more fervent and greedy, "This girl is the key! Only she and the Nirvana Feather can touch and guide the Extinction Flame! Now that the Dragon Serpent is drawn, this is our only chance!"

Yan Jin looked at the heavy casualties among his disciples, then at the Extinction Flame that might erupt at any moment and the tiger-eyed Chihuang Dragon Serpent, struggle evident on his face. Finally, he gritted his teeth: "Chixuan, you hold back the Dragon Serpent! I will lead people to assist that girl in approaching the altar, attempting to stabilize the fire seed! This is the only path to survival!"

At this point, what righteousness, what scruples, in the face of sect survival and present desperation, all appeared pale and powerless. Yan Jin chose the most realistic, possibly most dangerous path.

"Good!" Chixuan's eyes flashed with a glint of triumph; as long as he could get Shi Ran to touch the Extinction Flame, he would have a chance to seize initiative in the later struggle. He immediately led the remaining combat-ready trusted elders, actively advancing toward the slowly approaching Chihuang Dragon Serpent, various powerful fire-system dao laws smashing toward the serpent like fireworks, attempting to draw its attention.

"Junior Friend!" Yan Jin then brought two other supporting elders, quickly approaching Lingxiao's group, his gaze complex as he regarded Shi Ran, supported by Xiao Muyu, "The situation is urgent, you surely understand. If the Extinction Flame erupts, no one can survive. Your internal power seems able to resonate with it, plus the Nirvana Feather, there may be a slim chance to stabilize it. Please help my Flame Heaven Valley overcome this calamity; I will be deeply grateful, and afterward, surely reward you handsomely, and guarantee your safety!"

Lingxiao stood before Shi Ran, coldly gazing at Yan Jin: "Valley Master, speaking of guaranteeing safety now—doesn't that seem laughable? If not for your Flame Heaven Valley's internal strife, how could we have come to this?"

Yan Jin wore a bitter expression: "Dao Friend Lingxiao, the past is our Flame Heaven Valley's fault. But now, only by joining forces do we have a sliver of hope. This girl's condition, I fear, cannot hold out much longer? Perhaps the core of the Extinction Flame holds the opportunity to balance her internal power!"

Lingxiao fell silent, he knew Yan Jin spoke the truth. Shi Ran's dangerous internal balance was extremely unstable, could collapse again at any moment. And the Extinction Flame, as origin, might truly contain the solution, though the process would inevitably be near-certain death.

"Master..." Shi Ran weakly spoke, she lifted her pale face, left demonic light and right pale flame still alternating in flicker, "What he said... might be correct. I feel... that fire core, something is calling to me... not just destruction, but... rebirth." Her internal demonic power, Extinction origin, and even the red thread, all pointed toward the altar's center. That was crisis, and also currently the only path she could see to resolve her own predicament.

Lingxiao saw his disciple's resolute gaze, knowing she had made her choice. He drew a deep breath, and in a low voice to Yan Jin said: "I can let her try, but you must exert your utmost to protect her completely! If she comes to any harm, I, Lingxiao, will make Flame Heaven Valley pay the price!" The icy killing intent in his words made even strong ones like Yan Jin feel a chill in their hearts.

"One word, set!" Yan Jin solemnly pledged.

At this moment, a cry of misery came from the other side. One of Chixuan's trusted elders was swept by the Chihuang Dragon Serpent's tail, instantly turned to charcoal. Chixuan himself was in a sorry state, roaring: "Yan Jin! Quick! We cannot hold on much longer!"

"Go!" Yan Jin low-voiced, he and the two elders forming a triangular formation, shielding Lingxiao, Shi Ran, Luo Changfeng, and Xiao Muyu in the center, becoming a streak of light, bearing the Dragon Serpent's pressure and energy turbulence, forcibly charging toward the altar within the light gate!

The Chihuang Dragon Serpent detected the main target entering its "holy land," utterly enraged, disregarding Chixuan's attacks, its maw opening again, destructive breath gathering force!

"Block it!" Chixuan's eyes nearly burst, despite damage, he produced an ancient plain crimson token, which unfurled in the wind into a flame mountain peak, pressing down upon the serpent! This is one of Flame Heaven Valley's sect-protecting treasures, immense power, but consumption equally staggering.

The serpent was briefly obstructed by the flame mountain peak, its breath eruption delayed slightly.

It was this brief gap that Yan Jin's group, shielding Shi Ran, had already passed through the light gate and stepped onto the ancient altar!

Upon entering the altar's range, that strange aura between creation and annihilation instantly intensified a hundredfold! Besides Shi Ran, everyone felt their spiritual power operation become extremely difficult, souls trembling, as if they would at any moment be assimilated and annihilated by this invisible aura. Those Flame Heaven Valley elders' faces turned white, needing to fully circulate their cultivation methods just to resist.

Shi Ran, however, felt as if returning to the womb. External pressure seemed to lessen, but her internal conflict suddenly intensified! The Extinction Flame was near, its attraction so strong it nearly made her lose control. The Nirvana Feather in her bosom violently trembled, seven-colored rosy light enveloping her entire body, fiercely guarding her mind.

At the altar's center, that flame of indescribable color burned silently, only a few dozen zhang away. At this distance, they could even see the fire seed's core, where a pale white rune, like a beating heart, continuously shifting form—this was the "Primal Fire Seed"!

"Junior Friend, quick! Use your origin power and the Nirvana Feather, attempt to communicate with the fire seed, guide its power to settle calmly!" Yan Jin urged anxiously, while he and the two elders, Lingxiao, Luo Changfeng, and Xiao Muyu laid layer upon layer of defense, resisting the increasingly frantic assaults of the Chihuang Dragon Serpent outside the altar and the natural erosive force of the Extinction Flame.