"To obtain what one truly desires, one must possess strength to match it."
Xiao Yan's figure flickered like lightning as he moved—appearing instantly behind the Flame of Living Beings.
This sudden action caught the sentient flame completely off guard. In that instant, a torrent of immense power surged into her body.
That power, wild as crashing waves, flooded through her limbs and bones in an instant.
The Flame of Living Beings gasped softly, her face flushing a deep, enticing red as if her body had momentarily slipped from her control.
Spreading his arms slightly, Xiao Yan guided her movements, helping her raise her hands outward before channeling the circulation of her inner energy.
Under his guidance, that energy rolled and surged like a living tide, flowing faster and faster, building toward a crescendo.
The Flame of Living Beings was astonished. This method of guiding power was strange and intricate—yet it felt perfectly suited to her, as if designed for her very existence. Every surge of energy moved through her channels in harmony, smooth and exhilarating.
When the energy reached its absolute peak, Xiao Yan's palms thrust forward in unison—striking with precision.
The Flame of Living Beings' delicate form trembled; her arms, drawn by an unseen force, extended as though embracing an invisible sphere.
In that moment, the energy within her gushed forth like a mighty river, condensing rapidly into a translucent, emerald-green orb that pulsed with powerful vitality.
With a sharp cry, she thrust her palms forward, launching the crystalline sphere like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. It streaked through the air, leaving a brilliant emerald trail as it shot straight toward the core of the Windfury Dragon Flame.
Midair, the sphere exploded with a resounding boom, transforming into countless writhing vines that slithered like living dragons—nimble, unpredictable, and filled with life.
The vines twined and coiled in the air, releasing an overwhelming life aura that left all who witnessed it in awe.
Yue Mei and Hua She'er stared blankly—they had encountered this mysterious flame-being before.
Though she was elegant and regal in appearance, her actual strength had not seemed remarkable.
The same vine technique she had once used had barely lasted a few breaths against the Windfury Dragon Flame's blazing tornado.
Now, seeing her reuse it—even with a slightly different prelude—they doubted it would fare any better.
The Windfury Dragon Flame howled like a living storm; its fiery whirlwinds shredded the oncoming vines on contact.
With a thunderous blast, the vines disintegrated, scattering into countless glowing green leaves that fluttered across the sky.
Seeing this, Yue Mei and Hua She'er were stunned. "It's even weaker than before!" they cried.
After all, the previous vines had at least managed to pierce the outer layers of the flame for a short time.
But just as the Windfury Dragon Flame was about to surge forward again, those scattered leaves suddenly halted in midair—as if summoned by an unseen will. They whirled rapidly, forming a massive rotating barrier before the roaring firestorm.
That barrier shimmered like a wall of living jade, sturdy and unyielding, blocking the Windfury Dragon Flame's advance with astonishing resilience.
Within the spinning shield, countless leaves gleamed with vibrant emerald light. Each leaf seemed to carry a mysterious art of deflection and redirection—absorbing impact and returning it harmlessly to the world.
Though the Windfury Dragon Flame's power was immense, each time its fiery force struck the green leaves, that strength was scattered and diminished—barely a tenth of it truly landing.
Both Yue Mei and Hua She'er were dumbfounded—but none more so than the Flame of Living Beings herself, astonished by the method Xiao Yan had taught her.
Though she was ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, her contained energy was far less than those above her—and compared to the fourteenth-ranked Windfury Dragon Flame, the gap was enormous.
Yet, using Xiao Yan's guidance, she had actually stopped its advance!
Xiao Yan's mastery of battle skills was extraordinary. Having fought countless battles across the Jia Ma Empire and beyond, every strike he made now carried the refinement of experience—turning the ordinary into the miraculous.
Though the Flame of Living Beings' current strength was frail, her energy was incredibly pure.
If she could use it wisely, she might just stand against the Windfury Dragon Flame long enough to escape.
Her slender fingers flicked in rapid succession, controlling the energy within her. Behind the spinning wall of leaves, the glow began to coalesce—slowly forming the shape of a longbow.
The bow was entirely woven from leaves, radiating a faint aura of life.
As it solidified, a single arrow followed—a leaf-formed bolt shining with dazzling emerald light, pulsing with the vitality of the world itself.
The arrow shot forth like lightning, hurtling straight toward the raging core of the Windfury Dragon Flame.
The moment it struck—
Boom!
A deafening roar split the air, shaking the very atmosphere.
The Windfury Dragon Flame staggered, its cyclone slowing, faltering—then coming to a complete stop.
As the fiery whirlwind dispersed, its true form was revealed: a vast ocean of flame. At its center glowed a blinding sphere of light, roaring with energy like a dragon's cry.
This was the core of the Windfury Dragon Flame—and the true target of the Flame of Living Beings' assault.
The leaf-arrow shattered into countless fragments that fluttered around the core like tiny emerald spirits.
These fragments intertwined, forming luminous chains of energy that glowed brilliantly, wrapping tightly around the core and sealing its fiery essence.
Bound by those energy chains, the Windfury Dragon Flame's power could no longer surge outward.
The terrifying firestorm vanished, leaving behind only an egg-sized orb of energy. Yue Mei and Hua She'er turned to Xiao Yan in shock—the impossible had happened before their eyes.
The same techniques as before—but under Xiao Yan's guidance, their effect had been utterly transformed.
"I can't hold it much longer…" beads of sweat appeared on the Flame of Living Beings' smooth forehead. That one attack had nearly drained all her energy; she could restrain the Windfury Dragon Flame for only a few breaths more.
"Then feel the difference for yourself," Xiao Yan said calmly. With that, he shot forward, passing by her and flying straight toward the sealed fire core.
He reached out with his bare hand and grasped the blazing crimson sphere. His eyes brightened with satisfaction—this was a gift beyond expectation.
For most, a Heavenly Flame was a violent, uncontrollable thing. For alchemists, it was a sacred and rare treasure.
But for Xiao Yan—it was something even greater.
It was a catalyst of ascension!
Sensing the immense power within the Windfury Dragon Flame, Xiao Yan opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.
"Ah!" Yue Mei gasped in shock, her eyes wide. That was the very core of a flame powerful enough to burn her and Hua She'er to ashes—and Xiao Yan had devoured it outright!
If Yao Lao were here, even he would have been stunned speechless by Xiao Yan's audacity!
(End of Chapter)
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