Chapter 14: Flame Skeleton, Slapped to Death with One Palm!

Boom—!

After walking out of the hut, the fire skeleton raised its right hand without a word, using its mental power to mobilize the fire element within its body, condensing a fireball the size of a washbasin, and threw it at Su Hao.

This fireball was extremely hot; even more than a meter above the ground, it ignited the weeds on the ground, and everywhere it passed, blazing flames erupted.

Seeing the residual heat from the fireball ignite the weeds on the ground, Su Hao realized that this fireball contained terrifying heat.

If this fireball were allowed to strike him, even his stone armor would likely be damaged.

"Roar!"

Just as Su Hao was about to dodge, Da Xiong Mao let out an angry roar, kicking up a gust of wind and darting out from beside him.

Boom—!

As if it hadn't seen the scorching fireball, Da Xiong Mao lunged straight at it, allowing the fireball to smash into its body.

Then, a scene that even shocked Su Hao unfolded.

Only to see the fireball explode violently upon hitting Da Xiong Mao, releasing flames hot enough to melt steel, engulfing its entire body.

Yet, under such intense heat, Da Xiong Mao was completely unharmed—not a single hair was scorched.

This is just too damn meaty!!!

Su Hao was stunned; if he had chosen to confront Da Xiong Mao head‑on when they first met, the outcome would likely have been Da Xiong Mao stubbornly resisting the scorching of the Blood Flame Technique, then being slapped away by a single palm.

But soon, a bright smile appeared on Su Hao's face.

Picking up such a powerful Da Xiong Mao for free just feels great!

Just as Su Hao was secretly pleased, Da Xiong Mao had already passed through the flames produced by the fireball's explosion and arrived before the fire skeleton.

It stood upright on its two legs, leaned forward, exerted all its strength, and slammed down a mighty palm.

With a 'bang,' the fire skeleton that had just appeared and fired only a single fireball less than ten seconds ago was slapped apart by Da Xiong Mao, and the flames on its body gradually died out.

This skeleton could control flames, clearly a supernormal being, yet Da Xiong Mao killed it instantly; the result once again left Su Hao slightly stunned.

One can only say it lives up to being the future demon king—this wave is a bloody profit! Profit through the roof!!

"Roar!"

Da Xiong Mao gave a low growl, bit into a stalk of purple gold bamboo, and raised its eyebrows at Su Hao, the meaning unmistakable.

See? I'm awesome—you'd better grow me more purple gold bamboo from now on~

"Purple gold bamboo, I've got plenty—rest easy!"

Su Hao chuckled lightly, saying he would definitely plant a patch of purple gold bamboo for Da Xiong Mao sooner or later, otherwise his conscience wouldn't rest.

Hmm… if the purple gold bamboo seeds can germinate normally after synthesis, perhaps we could even provide you with higher‑grade purple gold bamboo!

Su Hao stroked his chin, glanced at the cheering Da Xiong Mao, walked to the fire skeleton's corpse, and used the Item Refining Technique.

"Hiss—!"

"My mental power is barely holding up!"

Today I've used the Blood Flame Technique twice, refined a small patch of purple gold bamboo, a mutant chameleon, a jade‑green poisonous snake, and now I'm refining a first‑rank monster again.

Su Hao felt his mental power draining, causing a stabbing pain in his head and his vision to dim slightly.

"Phew! Next time I've got to take it easy."

Su Hao took a deep breath and quickly adjusted his condition.

Today, only because Da Xiong Mao was beside him did he dare to use his abilities so recklessly.

If he were alone, after exploring the mountain where Da Xiong Mao lived, he would simply return to the shelter to rest and would never detour to this hut.

Not long after, as the blood light wrapping the skeleton faded, only a black skull and a cluster of red flame remained on the ground.

【Eternal Flame】

Rank: First Rank

Effect: Turns an ordinary skeleton into the core of a flame skeleton, automatically absorbing fire elements from the air to form a cluster of eternal flame.

……

"Eternal flame? That could be used to build a fireplace."

Su Hao gave a slight nod; if this flame were used as a supernormal material for building a fireplace, at least he wouldn't need to add firewood to it in the future.

Using it to synthesize the Blood Flame Technique is also a good option; it should raise the technique's temperature and extend its burn time.

But soon, Su Hao rejected this plan.

The Blood Flame Technique already consumes a lot; if he synthesized it again, with his current mental state, using a new skill once would likely exhaust him.

If the synthesis worked too well, his mental power might not be enough to use a skill even once, and that mix‑up could become a big problem.

Moreover, the Blood Flame Technique's effect is already quite good; there's no need to synthesize it for now.

So Su Hao prioritized using this flame to build a fireplace, or else to synthesize weapons or armor.

Afterward, Su Hao turned his gaze to the skull beside the flame.

【Flame Skeleton's Skull】

Rank: First Rank

Effect: The hardest part of the flame skeleton's body; in the hands of a skilled craftsman, it can be forged into armor with decent defense and also grant some fire resistance.

……

"If we fused this skull with stone armor, wouldn't we get a supernormal armor?"

Su Hao's eyes flickered, and his heart quickened involuntarily.

A supernormal being's strength is determined by two factors.

One is internal factors: the supernormal being's own supernormal sequence and the skills they have learned; different sequences and skills create huge differences in strength.

For example, Su Hao's Flesh Controller is far stronger than a Blood Mage, belonging to Tier 1 or even Tier 0.

Likewise, the Blood Flame Technique is far more mysterious and powerful than most skills.

So Su Hao's current strength, among First Rank Transcendents, is also considered a top-tier existence.

Another factor is external, namely the Transcendent items one possesses.

Even if two Transcendents of the same rank fight, if one wears Transcendent armor, the one who ultimately wins is definitely the person with that Transcendent armor.

In his previous life, Su Hao had heard that the Dwarves, relying on a large number of Transcendent devices, had a record of surpassing one or two ranks and overwhelmingly slaying enemies.

Su Hao's own Transcendent rank and skills are already formidable; if he could also wear a full set of Transcendent equipment, he could definitely walk sideways in the outer region of the Dark Forest!

Alas! Only three synthesis attempts per day is still too few!

Su Hao shook his head regretfully; as the materials on his person increased, the three synthesis chances gradually seemed insufficient.

The materials needed for synthesis going forward include contaminated blood, chameleon skin, azure jade venom sac, purple-gold bamboo seeds, flaming skeleton's skull, etc.; tomorrow's three synthesis chances will not be enough.

Fortunately, after proficiency increases, the number of daily synthesis attempts can be increased; it's just unknown how many syntheses are needed for proficiency to rise from beginner to adept.

Afterward, Su Hao stored the skull and flame in his Storage Bag, entered the small wooden hut, hoping to gain some other harvest inside.