In past lifetimes, the Crimson Flame boiled the sea, taking more than a dozen years to completely incinerate the Congyun Sea.
Yet now, the Ink Flame had descended for less than half a day, and it had already brought the entire Congyun Sea to a rolling boil.
Billowing steam continuously surged upward, forming dense mist like floating clouds above the sea.
At this rate, in just a few days, the Congyun Sea would be completely dried up!
The difference between the Crimson Flame and the Ink Flame was evident at a glance.
“But compared to Ink Death’s terrifying power that can obliterate everything, it’s still somewhat lacking,” Li Fan observed the churning, boiling sea below, contemplating silently.
Just then, Immortal Lord Hongxi had already flown back.
“The earth veins!”
Without further words, he swiftly formed a series of complex hand seals, activating the Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation.
Li Fan immediately noticed that the outermost edges of this web were already tainted black!
Suddenly, realization dawned upon him.
The Ink Flame had been utilizing the vast, ceaselessly flowing earth veins scattered throughout the Congyun Sea, rapidly transmitting its scorching heat to every corner of the sea.
“No wonder it never showed itself. Not only is its martial strength on another level, but even its intelligence has evolved?”
“Extract the earth veins and force it to reveal itself!” Immortal Lord Hongxi’s face flashed with a ruthless glint as he commanded coldly.
The earth veins are the very foundation of the land. If they were damaged, the terrain of the entire region would be upheaved, potentially leading to unpredictable and eerie changes. It might even become completely uninhabitable for cultivators.
This was an absolute last resort. Even if they survived the calamity, they would not escape the punishment of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
But at this moment, having already committed the act of “slaughtering their own kin,” the cultivators no longer cared about such consequences.
The Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation, originally linked to various earth vein nodes, was now reversed—starting to extract power directly from the earth veins.
Hummm…
Before long, a strange sound echoed in everyone’s ears.
It was as if the earth itself was toppling, mountains fracturing apart.
The already boiling sea grew even more violent. The Congyun Sea surged with monstrous waves, and dark storm clouds gathered from an unknown source, rolling in from the sky.
The howling wind roared, the ocean trembled.
Before the overwhelming might of heaven and earth, every cultivator in Congyun City turned pale as death, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
However, infused with the yellowish earth vein power, the protective formation of Congyun City became even more solid and unyielding. Amidst the world-shaking destruction, it stood firm like an unshakable fortress in a storm, offering a sliver of hope to the cultivators.
The waves grew even fiercer.
As the surface of the Congyun Sea continued to recede, parts of the shallow seabed began to emerge.
But unlike a normal seabed covered in sediment, this one was entirely shrouded in a layer of an unknown black substance.
It was as if the rocks had been completely incinerated to ash.
“Even if we survive this disaster, it’ll take at least several decades—maybe even centuries—for the Congyun Sea to recover.”
Many cultivators, witnessing the scene, sighed in lament.
Yet, seeing that the Ink Flame had still not revealed itself, Immortal Lord Hongxi hardened his resolve completely.
“Continue—do not stop!”
The rumbling sound of the seabed fracturing echoed as the Heavenly Origin Transformation Formation continued operating at full power.
Boom!
It seemed to have reached a critical threshold, as fiery magma suddenly erupted from the ocean floor.
Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, volcanic flames burst forth across the entire Congyun Sea, with lava shooting toward the sky.
A thousand fiery dragons soared, scorching the heavens and earth.
Amid the distorted air, a figure half-red and half-black silently emerged beneath Congyun City.
“So, you’ve finally come out?”
A flash of killing intent and greed flickered in Immortal Lord Hongxi’s eyes before his figure vanished.
In the next moment, he transformed into a continuous mountain range, encircling the entity at the center.
“That is…”
“Crimson Flame! The Spirit of Heaven and Earth, Crimson Flame!”
Witnessing the evolved form of Crimson Flame, the cultivators were all thrown into a frenzy.
Even though they had already seen its terrifying power—capable of incinerating the sea with a mere gesture—it did nothing to quell their burning desire.
“So it wasn’t a meteor catastrophe, but rather the descent of the Spirit of Heaven and Earth!”
“Indeed! This is a great opportunity!”
“Sacrificing the Spirit of Heaven and Earth can grant us an instant breakthrough to Dao Integration!”
Within just a few breaths, the cultivators were consumed by greed. Some began rallying others to hunt down Crimson Flame together.
Others, having completely lost their minds, rushed toward Crimson Flame like moths to a flame.
As expected, before they could even approach, they were reduced to ashes by the intense heat.
“It’s still Crimson Flame, not Ink Flame?”
Li Fan paid no heed to their deaths, instead fixating on the half-red, half-black mutated Crimson Flame, lost in thought.
His clone felt the same surge of greed.
However, unlike in previous lifetimes, where the mere sight of Crimson Flame nearly made him lose his sanity, this time was different.
Without consciously activating the Xuanhuang Immortal Heart Mantra, the greed from his clone dissipated on its own.
Like snow melting into water, it only caused faint ripples, leaving no real impact on him.
“Immortal techniques are truly extraordinary. Not only does my main body remain clear-minded, but even a clone thousands of miles away is unwavering.”
Li Fan sighed inwardly.
Still, to avoid exposing himself, he feigned being deeply captivated by the Spirit of Heaven and Earth, struggling to restrain himself.
His eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulging, his body rigid.
He wanted to see—where did Immortal Lord Hongxi find the courage to face Crimson Flame alone?
After all, in the previous life, even a weakened version of Crimson Flame had been too powerful. Hongxi and several other Soul Transformation cultivators together were no match for it.
Let alone this black-red version in this life.
Without some secret weapon, Immortal Lord Hongxi would surely be instantly annihilated.
But clearly, Hongxi was not a reckless fool.
Under Li Fan’s watchful gaze, Hongxi flew toward Crimson Flame.
A towering mountain range materialized, momentarily trapping Crimson Flame. At the same time, Hongxi raised a small rectangular mirror and aimed it at Crimson Flame!
“That is…”
Li Fan’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Xuantian Sealing the Spirit!” Hongxi roared.
A radiant blue light shot forth from the mirror, striking Crimson Flame directly.
As if struck by a powerful gust of wind, Crimson Flame’s translucent body flickered unsteadily.
Yet despite its overwhelming might just moments ago, it was utterly powerless against this blue light!
As though inherently restrained, a look of astonishment appeared on Crimson Flame’s face, and its body froze instantly!
A look of ecstasy surged onto Hongxi’s face.
“This is bad!”
Li Fan’s heart sank.
“Could it be that in this life, Hongxi will actually succeed in Dao Integration so easily?”
He hadn’t expected that after returning from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters, Immortal Lord Hongxi would wield such a terrifying weapon—the Xuantian Sealing Spirit.
And in the face of this technique, the Spirit of Heaven and Earth was unbelievably feeble!