Chapter 554: The Might of the Flames

As Ye Xuan spoke, he transmitted a Heart Method to Jiuchen.

His tone was calm, but his brow furrowed slightly. ’The Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill... Because of its unique nature, the Profound Domain has long listed it as one of the continent’s ten great forbidden medicines. Its recipe is a top secret, and the Alchemists in the world today who can concoct it are extremely rare. At the very least, there shouldn’t be any in the Dream Realm Plain. So where did Duan Tianlang get the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill in his possession?’

While he was lost in thought, Jiuchen quickly began to cultivate the Heart Method Ye Xuan had taught him. In just a moment, the corrosive blood energy that had been spreading through his body was suppressed, and the bloody glow on his face gradually faded.

This filled him with a delighted surprise. He glanced covertly at Ye Xuan, his heart reeling in shock.

’Even Elder Yao and Dong Boson, the heads of the academy’s Alchemy and Soul Refining Elements, couldn’t see through Duan Tianlang’s technique, yet Ye Xuan, a mere student, figured it out.’ The revelation was a tremendous shock to him.

"This kid..." Duan Tianlang’s expression twisted, becoming utterly savage. ’To be honest, I don’t even know the origin of the Pill I took. But its effect is just as Ye Xuan said—it only lasts for half an hour.’

He didn’t understand how Ye Xuan knew all this.

A sense of foreboding flickered through Duan Tianlang’s mind. His eyes, which had cleared slightly, turned crimson once more. He snarled, "So what if it only lasts for half an hour? That’s more than enough time to deal with you."

"ROAR!"

After saying this, he let out a beast-like roar and charged forward again.

The effects of the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill would only last for half an hour. He had to finish off Jiuchen and the others within that time.

Jiuchen sneered. "Finish us off in half an hour? Duan Tianlang, you’re dreaming."

Amid furious roars, the two clashed wildly.

RUMBLE!

Deafening booms continuously echoed from the sky as two streams of energy, one black and one red, repeatedly collided in the void. Every strike stirred the winds and clouds and shook the very earth.

SPLAT! SPLAT!

During the clash, large swathes of bloody light rained down on Santafe City below.

A continuous SIZZLE of corrosion filled the air. After being spattered by the bloody light, the buildings of Santafe City began to corrode and crumble, emitting plumes of black smoke and a rotten stench.

Some of the bloody light even landed on the Martial Artists in Santafe City. Piercing screams rang out as these Martial Artists began to melt like pure white snow. In an instant, they, along with their steel armor, dissolved into puddles of pus, leaving nothing behind.

The fate of some of the stronger Martial Artists was even more tragic. One Tier Six Peak Martial Artist, using some unknown Secret Technique, tried to stop the erosion of the blood energy. But he failed. He could only watch helplessly as his own body melted and rotted away bit by bit. He rolled on the ground, wailing in agony, but in the end, he could not escape his fate of being reduced to a puddle of pus.

The piercing screams instantly turned Santafe City into a living hell.

"Run, get out of here!"

"Leave this place!"

The remaining Martial Artists all watched this scene in terror, scrambling to retreat and get away from Jiuchen and Duan Tianlang’s battle zone.

BOOM!

In the sky, Jiuchen and Duan Tianlang exchanged more than a dozen moves in a flash. After a violent explosion, Jiuchen was sent flying back in a wretched state. His hair was disheveled, and the black and red lights on his body flickered unsteadily. He had clearly suffered significant internal injuries.

Duan Tianlang, in contrast, showed no signs of injury aside from a slightly unstable aura.

The hearts of Elder Yao and Elder Dong sank. ’Jiuchen isn’t a match for Duan Tianlang? This is dangerous.’

Duan Tianlang was triumphant, laughing wildly. "I told you, half an hour is more than enough to finish you all."

BOOM!

He activated the large, blood-red seal and suppressed Jiuchen with it, sending him flying and coughing up blood.

"Jiuchen, are you alright?"

Everyone rushed over and asked worriedly.

Jiuchen’s face was grim. "Duan Tianlang’s strength has increased too much after taking that Pill. He’s on par with me now. The key issue is that the corrosive power of his blood light is too strong. I have to constantly circulate the Heart Method to prevent the blood light from invading my body. Otherwise, I’ll lose even faster. As it is, I can barely even hold a stalemate."

Right now, Jiuchen and Duan Tianlang were evenly matched in strength, but one was fighting recklessly while the other had to be cautious. Naturally, the outcome would be different.

"Is all that whispering going to help? Are you discussing how you’re going to die? Hahaha!"

Duan Tianlang laughed wantonly as the blood-red seal pressed down again and again. Jiuchen could only use the Fallen Blade in his hand to block it repeatedly. Although he managed to hold on for the moment, each impact made his internal organs tremble, and wisps of blood-colored power continuously eroded his defenses.

If not for the Heart Method Ye Xuan had taught him, he would have been defeated long ago. But even with the Heart Method to resist the blood light, he could only struggle to hold on. If this dragged on, he would still lose.

"Serves them right for sending these guys from Gale Light Academy to capture us. Now they’re just waiting to die!"

"I bet they never expected Vice Sect Master Duan to have a move like this."

"To be honest, I didn’t know Vice Sect Master Duan had this kind of trick up his sleeve either. For a second there, I really thought we were done for."

Zhou Zhanlun and the others, who had previously been panicked like stray dogs, were now quite relaxed. They stood one by one behind Duan Tianlang, staring down coldly with mocking smiles on their faces.

Among them, Crazy Battle’s savage eyes were fixed on Ye Xuan, like those of a cold, venomous snake, filled with spite and hatred.

It was a bone-deep hatred that would not rest until death.

The repeated bombardments forced Jiuchen to retreat again and again, his condition worsening with each blow.

"Young Master Ye, if this goes on, Jiuchen won’t last much longer. Is there any other way?"

Elder Yao and Elder Dong were tense, but they were powerless to help. They could only look anxiously toward Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan’s gaze was profound. He said in a low voice, "There is one way."

The two asked in unison, "What is it?"

"Fire."

Ye Xuan said seriously, "The blood light formed by the combination of the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill and a Martial Soul has astonishing corrosive properties. Profound Power of any attribute has a hard time resisting it. However, the power of fire has a certain inhibitory effect on it. While it’s not a true counter, it can greatly reduce the corrosive power of the blood light."

"Fire?"

Hearing this, Elder Yao immediately said urgently, "Young Master Ye, why didn’t you say so sooner? As an Alchemist, I’m quite skilled with fire."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shot into the sky. His hands continuously formed a series of Hand Skills. Streams of Profound Fire condensed before him, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into a massive sea of fire that enveloped Duan Tianlang.

BOOM!

The relentless flames burned, colliding with the blood light released by Duan Tianlang, actually forcing the blood light to retreat.

Elder Yao was ecstatic when he saw this. "It’s working!"

He immediately stopped holding back, pushing his Profound Power to its absolute limit. Vast swathes of flame continuously erupted from his body.

"Damn it."

Duan Tianlang’s face turned ashen. He could feel his blood light being continuously suppressed by Elder Yao’s flames.

"What a nuisance. You forced my hand."

A vicious glint flashed in Duan Tianlang’s eyes. With a low HUM, the furious roar of a Blood Beast echoed from within his body. The blood light, which had been receding, suddenly surged in power.

KABOOM!

The terrifying blood light swept out, completely scattering the flames Elder Yao had released. Elder Yao grunted, his face paled, and he was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

A stream of blood light shot swiftly toward Elder Yao. At the critical moment, Jiuchen arrived just in time to save him.

"How could this be..." Elder Yao’s face was pale as he looked at Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Elder Yao, your flames are too weak. Duan Tianlang himself is at the Tier Seven Third Layer. Combined with the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill, the power of his blood light is already infinitely close to the Tier Eight level. Unless it’s a Tier Eight flame, it’s difficult to have any significant effect on him."

The faces of Elder Yao and the others turned ashen.

"Damn you! You all deserve to die! Today, you will all die! Not a single one of you will live!"

Duan Tianlang was wreathed in a dense blood aura, looking as if he had transformed into a blood demon as he roared in fury.

Just as Ye Xuan had said, his Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill had massive side effects. Once taken, after half an hour, his Martial Soul would regress by an entire level, and the difficulty of his next advancement would be infinitely increased.

Not only that, but the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill could also damage a Martial Artist’s Profound Vein at its very source. In a mild case, the Profound Vein would be damaged; in a severe case, one would become a cripple.

Originally, Duan Tianlang had been suppressing the medicinal properties of the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill, trying to reduce its side effects. But Elder Yao’s earlier actions had forced him to unleash the pill’s full power.

This had caused his Profound Vein to suffer incredibly severe trauma. Duan Tianlang could predict that once the effects of the Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill wore off, not only would his cultivation instantly drop by a level, but he would also find it nearly impossible to ever step into the Martial Emperor Realm again in his lifetime.

The thought filled Duan Tianlang with boundless fury.

"AAAAAHHH, YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!"

With a furious roar, a monstrous wave of blood light surged toward Ye Xuan and the others.

A look of determination flashed across Jiuchen’s face. He shielded Ye Xuan and the others behind him, wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, and said with a grave gaze, "All of you, stay behind me. Be careful."

A black radiance shone from the Fallen Blade in his hand. It was clear he intended to defend Ye Xuan and the others to the death.

A resigned look flickered in Ye Xuan’s eyes. He quietly transmitted a message into Jiuchen’s ear.

Jiuchen froze, turning back in shock. "You... what did you say?"

Ye Xuan’s expression didn’t change, but a sharp light suddenly burst from his eyes. The moment the blood light descended, he shouted, "Now!"

As his voice fell, a crack instantly opened between his eyebrows, and an ethereal, crimson flame shot out from within.