Daqin Zhentiansi

When the spatial fluctuations subsided, Zhang Yuan and Zhuque found themselves in a completely different region.

The sky was a somber, leaden gray, and the air was thick with the scents of sulfur, blood, and a frenzied psychic energy.

The earth was a dark crimson, covered with jagged cracks, and flowing with rivers of viscous, blood-like lava.

In the distance, jagged mountain peaks twisted like demonic claws, and faint sounds of roars and battles could be heard.

There is no profound vitality like Zhenyue Mountain, nor the thunderous majesty of Canglong Mountain; there is only a wild, chaotic landscape filled with primitive violence.

Suzaku hovered in the air, gazing at this land that seemed cursed. A complex expression appeared on her beautiful face, a mixture of disgust, pity, and a deep sorrow.

Her clear voice sounded somewhat low at this moment, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

"This place... is called 'Burning Bone Wasteland'. The 'Hellfire Qiongqi' clan dwells here."

She paused, then turned her gaze to Zhang Yuan, her complex expression growing even more intense.

"However... although they are infamous and possess immense power, and are regarded as primordial beasts by all races... the violence and chaos flowing deep within their bloodline are not innate."

The Vermilion Bird's voice carried a profound weight that seemed to pierce through eternity:

"They...were also close relatives of the auspicious mythical beast that guarded Nanli—'Zhu Yan'."

"It was the Heavenly Palace that corrupted their origins and distorted their will with the 'Heart-Burning Demon Flame,' forcing them into their current ferocious state, where they only know how to destroy."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan's gaze suddenly sharpened, and the perception of his Chaotic God-Demon Body silently spread out, penetrating the turbulent surface aura and probing into the depths of this Bone-Burning Wasteland.

He did sense something amiss. Deep within the chaotic and violent aura of the beasts, there seemed to be a hidden, suppressed, distorted, yet still stubbornly struggling ancient, sacred, and furious source of fire.

"Let's go take a look." Zhang Yuan said, and with a swift movement, he transformed into a streak of light.

The Vermilion Bird vanished from its spot, and then the space was suddenly shattered by golden flames.

In a short while, Zhang Yuan and Zhu Que appeared a thousand miles away.

Settling in the wilderness, the wind of the scorching wasteland carries the pungent smell of sulfur and the sweet, pungent smell of blood, like thousands of red-hot steel needles piercing the exposed skin.

Beneath their feet lay cracked, dark red earth, with thick, blood-like magma flowing deep within the fissures, and waves of heat rising up that distorted their vision.

The sky was a murky, leaden gray, as if soaked in endless ashes and resentment, pressing heavily on this cursed land.

Zhang Yuan stood side by side with Zhu Que, their black robes and gold-red cloaks remaining perfectly still in the scorching wind.

The dark gold runes of the Chaos God and Demon Body flowed silently across Zhang Yuan's body, while the Vermilion Bird naturally emitted eternal true flames that purified the high temperature, keeping out the invading foul aura.

"Roar--!!!"

A deafening roar, mixed with the mournful cries of the dying, came from afar, tearing apart the deathly silence of the wasteland.

Looking in the direction of the sound, a hellish scene was unfolding several miles away.

Several enormous beasts, resembling winged tigers, were covered in ferocious dark red scales, from which viscous, seemingly living dark red demonic flames spewed forth.

They are the rulers of this wasteland, and also its prisoners—the Hellfire Qiongqi!
They were frantically attacking a small group of tan-colored figures.

They were a group of rock-armored lizards, now covered in blood, their sturdy rock armor riddled with cracks.

Back to back, they formed a shaky, earthen-yellow shield of light, desperately resisting the burning of the demonic flames and the tearing of the Qiongqi's sharp claws.

The largest earth lizard leader, half of its body charred black, with one forepaw twisted and broken, was being fiercely protected in the center by its companions, its eyes filled with desperate cries.

"Lieyan—! Open your eyes and look! I am Yanshan!"

"Three hundred years ago, our two races guarded the Molten Canyon together and drank the nectar from the earth's core! Now, you've been devoured by this demonic flame, and you dare to raise your claws against your old friend?!"

The leading Qiongqi, Lieyan, had its ferocious armor, almost solidified with demonic flames, churning violently, its aura so tyrannical that it distorted space.

When those chaotic, crimson eyes heard the word "rock mountain," a barely perceptible tremor flickered, as if an instinct suppressed by the demonic flames was struggling.

But this struggle was fleeting, immediately swallowed up by an even more violent ferocity.

"Roar--"

It let out a pained roar that was difficult to understand, completely ignoring the light shield's obstruction and its heart-wrenching cries.

Enormous claws, wreathed in dark red demonic fire that seemed capable of scorching the soul, tore through the air with a ferocious intent that could destroy everything, and viciously clawed at the head of the Earth Lizard Leader, Rock Mountain!

With this claw strike, the last defense will surely be shattered along with the head!
"stop!"

In the Vermilion Bird's golden-red eyes, anger and reluctance intertwined.

She didn't even glance at the earth lizard leader; her gaze pierced through the demonic flames, locking onto Lieyan's soul essence, which was twisted by pain.

A perfectly condensed crimson-gold halo, only about ten feet in diameter, swept silently across the battlefield!

"Oh!"

The giant claw that was determined to win seemed to have crashed into an invisible divine mountain. Its massive body was violently thrown back several steps by an overwhelming force, and its demonic flame armor fluctuated violently, emitting a piercing shriek.

The dying lizard leader was pushed aside by a gentle force, temporarily escaping the shadow of death.

"The poison of the Heavenly Palace is not a reason for you to slaughter the weak."

The Vermilion Bird's voice, carrying a chilling coldness, pierced through the roar of the demonic flames and entered the chaotic sea of ​​consciousness of the Crack Flame.

However, the Vermilion Bird's assistance and the divine beast's pressure not only failed to deter Lieyan, but were like boiling oil poured into a raging fire!

"Roar—!!!"

Lieyan let out a deafening roar, a mixture of pain and rage!

Its scarlet eyes were instantly consumed by endless madness, and the demonic flames on its body surged several times over as if doused with boiling oil, transforming into a blazing dark red torch!
The ancient suppressive force originating from the Vermilion Bird bloodline not only failed to awaken a trace of its clarity, but instead, like a sharp knife, pierced its already fragile soul essence, which had been scorched day and night by the demonic flames, instantly detonating and amplifying that pain!
The extreme pain completely overwhelmed his last shred of reason!
Lieyan suddenly turned his head, his blood-red giant eyes, burning with flames of chaos and destruction, locked onto the seemingly most "unremarkable" black figure beside Zhuque—Zhang Yuan!
It was him! It must be this lowly human who's behind this!

Tear him to pieces!
Use his flesh and soul to extinguish this heart-wrenching pain!

Lieyan has completely fallen into demonic possession!

Ignoring the heavily injured Earth Lizard and the majestic Vermilion Bird, its massive body transformed into a dark red demonic flame meteor that tore through space, carrying a terrifying aura that could burn everything and erode the soul, and rushed straight towards Zhang Yuan with the force of a thunderbolt!

With its sharp claws reaching forward, the entwined demonic fire twisted and deformed, condensing into several venomous pythons of demonic flames that would devour anyone they sought!
"Beware! This fiend has become possessed by a demon, its ferocity has increased tenfold!"

The surviving ground lizards witnessed this scene and let out terrified screams.

Zhang Yuan remained completely still.

Faced with the terrifying demonic flames that would terrify even ordinary Saint Realm cultivators, he didn't even flinch in the slightest.

Only within his body, the dark gold runes of the Chaos God and Demon Body instantly shone brightly!
The faint blue dragon and thunder patterns on his body surface appeared, and the fleeting phantom of the Qin Dynasty's mountains and rivers floated beneath his feet!

Without dodging or avoiding, his single arm, like a pillar supporting the sky, met the attack head-on!
"BOOM—!!!"

Claws clashed violently with the arm!
A piercing sound of energy tearing apart rang out simultaneously with a dull, heart-stopping sound of flesh colliding!

The raging demonic flames, as if alive, frantically coiled around and eroded Zhang Yuan's arm.

The power, strong enough to burn iron and corrode souls and bones, made a hissing sound, like a branding iron being plunged into water, when it touched the skin flowing with dark gold runes!

The chaotic runes acted like the strongest dam, firmly holding back the demonic flames; the Great Qin Heavenly Dao Will, which was as solid as stars within his body, suddenly activated, forcibly decomposing and annihilating the vicious flames that tried to penetrate!
The moment they made contact, Zhang Yuan's vast divine sense, like the most precise probe, pierced through the raging demonic flames and chaotic will on Lie Yan's body, reaching the depths of his soul!
He "saw" it!
It was a purgatory filled with and scorched by boundless dark red flames!

Lieyan's soul was as if it were being roasted on a demonic flame, emitting a silent, mournful wail, every inch of its soul body enduring the excruciating pain of being torn apart and melted!

Deep within this destructive flame, a tiny, almost extinguished spark of Zhu Yan fire, yet exuding an ancient and auspicious aura, was tightly bound and suppressed by countless filthy chains of demonic flame, emitting a faint, mournful cry of grief and resentment!

This Heart-Burning Demon Flame is indeed a maggot clinging to the bone!
It is not only a poison that burns the body, but also a curse that devours the soul, twisting the will and obliterating the essence!

Zhang Yuan frowned almost imperceptibly.

Not for their own safety, but for this imposed, deep-seated pain.

"Oh!"

The burst of pure physical power forced the demon-possessed Lieyan to retreat repeatedly, his massive body staggering and his demonic flames churning violently.

This backlash was like adding fuel to the fire, completely igniting the demonic flames into a frenzy!

"Roar--!!!"

Lieyan's eyes were blood-red, and its chaotic aura was like a boiling volcano. It no longer held back and recklessly unleashed its power!

The demonic flames around him surged wildly, rapidly condensing and compressing before its gigantic maw!
A destructive fireball, the size of a head, dark red in color, with viscous, blood-like magma patterns flowing across its surface, instantly took shape!
Inside the fireball, it seemed as if countless pained and distorted faces were silently screaming, emitting terrifying waves that could incinerate all life!
This is the core of the demonic flame that embodies all its madness and pain at this moment!

"Run!" the lizard cried out in despair.

Zhang Yuan remained unmoved.

Faced with the fiery ball of demonic flames that could instantly vaporize a small mountain crashing down on him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward!
The power of the Chaos God-Demon Body erupted completely in his right arm, his five fingers forming claws, and the dark golden light instantly solidified into a tangible form, as if he were about to crush the void!
With an unparalleled momentum that could shatter the void and destroy all laws, it fiercely grabbed at the destructive core that roared towards it!
"break!"

A deep, yet thunderous shout!
Ignoring the intense heat that could incinerate divine weapons and the malevolent intent that eroded the soul, Zhang Yuan's palm forcefully plunged into the core of the boiling demonic fireball!
"Sizzle—Boom!"

The chaotic true essence and the raging demonic flames collided and annihilated at the core!
The blinding light instantly engulfed Zhang Yuan's arm!
The raging energy turbulence surged wildly in all directions like a runaway behemoth, whipping up a storm of lava and rubble!

Before everyone's horrified eyes, the demonic fireball radiating an aura of destruction was actually crushed and torn apart by Zhang Yuan's hand, which was inserted into its core!

With a deafening roar, the raging demonic flames burst open like a punctured abscess, scattering into a shower of sparks across the sky!
However, right in the center of this chaotic energy explosion, Zhang Yuan's right palm, which was inserted into the fire core, suddenly clenched!
The chaotic runes in his palm spun rapidly, forming a miniature vortex that devoured everything!

An incredibly powerful suction force erupted, forcibly binding and compressing the small, dark red flame at the center of the explosion—the purest, most violent flame containing the core essence of demonic flames!
No matter how fiercely the flames struggled and leaped, they were like Sun Wukong trapped in the palm of Buddha's hand, unable to break free even a fraction!
In the end, it was forcibly compressed into a wisp of dark red demonic flame, only three inches high, yet condensed like liquid blood diamond, constantly leaping and struggling, and was firmly imprisoned in Zhang Yuan's palm!
The core essence of the demonic flame was forcibly stripped away, as if the spine of the Fiery Blaze had been removed!
"Waaah..."

A low, painful sob, filled with immense emptiness, was squeezed out from the depths of Lieyan's throat.

Its mountain-like body collapsed with a roar, crashing heavily onto the scorching ground and kicking up a large amount of lava ash.

The originally raging demonic flames on his body instantly dimmed and became chaotic, like a candle flickering in the wind.

The excruciating pain and the madness that overwhelmed its mind receded rapidly like the tide, leaving behind only a dizzying sensation that nearly tore its soul apart and a blank, bewildered void.

As it struggled, using its last bit of strength to barely lift its heavy head, the crimson, chaotic beastly eyes lost their blood color, revealing their original amber-colored pupils, filled with confusion and immense shock.

Its gaze first fell on the dark figure in front of it—the human youth, whose aura was as deep as an ancient well, and whose palm was imprisoning its pure primordial demonic flame. The flame danced wildly in his palm, but could not break free even a little.

Then, its gaze moved with difficulty and finally landed on the dark figure beside the golden-red figure that radiated eternal flames and was majestic and beautiful.

An ancient memory and instinctive awe, originating from the deepest part of his bloodline, suppressed by the demonic flames and sealed away for countless years, erupted like a dormant volcano!
"The Vermilion Bird... Venerable One?!"

Lieyan's voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper rubbing, each syllable carrying an unbelievable tremor and a huge sense of bewilderment after surviving a catastrophe.

Its massive head drooped slightly as it struggled to lower its body.

"Is it you...?"

Its gaze shifted back and forth between Zhuque and Zhang Yuan, the immense shock rendering it almost unable to think.

Why would Venerable Vermilion Bird appear in this forgotten purgatory with such a terrifying human?

Lieyan lowered his head deeply, his massive body trembling slightly from weakness and awe: "I have offended the Venerable One and the Lord just now, Lieyan... I deserve to die ten thousand times! The demonic flames are devouring my heart, I am powerless to control my own body... I beg the Venerable One and the Lord... to move to my clan's ancestral land!"

It struggled to its feet and let out a low, complex growl at the Qiongqi herd behind it.

The Qiongqi beasts exchanged bewildered glances, but under Lie Yan's piercing gaze, they all retracted their claws and teeth, emitting low, ambiguous whimpers, and slowly parted to make way for a path leading deeper into the wasteland. (End of Chapter)