Chapter 321: Child of the Earth
Chapter 321: Child of the Earth
Bone Messenger said, “Fortune favors the bold. If the Divine Flame of the Nine Heavens could be claimed so easily, it would’ve been taken millennia ago. Why would it remain here until now?”
“The flame’s fame is justified. But merging with it isn’t the only way to claim it.”
A man in splendid attire spoke with authority, his voice brimming with confidence.
Bone Messenger narrowed his eyes. “You must be Qian Chuan, the Child of the Earth from the Shanhua Alliance.”
The man’s presence was striking, spiritual patterns swirling around him like shifting mountains and rivers, radiating a mysterious aura.
Qian Chuan gave a mesmerizing smile. “Sharp eyes, Bone Messenger. I’m flattered you recognized me.”
Bone Messenger’s frown deepened. “Rumors say the Shanhua Alliance has bred an unparalleled genius—the Child of the Earth, blessed with fortune, unmatched talent, and achievements surpassing peers. They claim you’ll overpower the Three Saints and Four Peerless, etching your name in history. To think we’d meet here.”
Lian Yunsheng cut in, “The Child of the Earth, feared by all. They say you were born covered in spiritual patterns, bearing a natural Diagram of Mountains and Rivers. The alliance hid you away until now?”
Qian Chuan chuckled. “Not hidden—just focused on cultivation. I left seclusion days ago and came to observe.”
Bone Messenger sneered, “With your famed luck, why not test your fate here?”
Qian Chuan waved a hand. “Patience. Shouldn’t we first learn about the others?”
Only twelve remained nearby: Caiyun, Bone Messenger, Qian Chuan, Lian Yunsheng, and six strangers.
Lian Yunsheng pointed at a pale-robed man in his thirties. “That one’s the Evil Yin Scholar from the Yin Corpse Evil Sect.”
The man in white bowed mockingly. “Well spotted, ‘family leader’.”
Bone Messenger’s gaze shifted to a burly, bearded man. “The Divine Power Vajra of the Overlapping Mountain Sect.”
“Aye, that’s me!” The man’s voice boomed like thunder.
Qian Chuan eyed the remaining four. “One among them is renowned. Care to guess?”
When Bone Messenger and Lian Yunsheng stayed silent, Qian Chuan gestured to a petite girl no older than twelve. “This is Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers. Heard of her?”
“Her?!” Both men stiffened in recognition.
Lian Yunsheng forced a warm smile. “Who knew this desolate place would gather so many legends?”
Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers shrugged. “We’re mere shadows compared to the Child of the Earth.”
The Evil Yin Scholar smirked. “But lately, all talk revolves around that upstart from Lou Ri City.”
Divine Power Vajra grunted. “Cheng Lingyu. Used others to humiliate the Divine Martial Sect and Heavenly Palace—now the whole world knows his name.”
Qian Chuan looked puzzled and asked, “Who is Cheng Lingyu? I’ve never heard anyone mention him before.”
Caiyun was also surprised by the news and listened intently.
Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers said, “It’s already spread widely. In the ancient ruins… deep in the Blood Moon Wasteland… Cheng Lingyu stole the spotlight by using Thousand Snow to slaughter dozens of Spirit Masters from the Divine Martial Sect and Heavenly Palace…”
Bone Messenger gasped, “Dozens of Spirit Masters? Are you certain?”
Caiyun felt a surge of excitement, thinking, *He’s impressive, but his charm with women is troublesome. First Yu Wuchen, now Thousand Snow. How will he handle this?*
Qian Chuan grew silent. His concern wasn’t Cheng Lingyu, but Thousand Snow—the woman of unparalleled grace who overshadowed everyone.
At midnight, torrential rain struck, lit by crimson lightning like the end of the world.
Pellet-sized fire rain fell fiercely, morphing into swarms of fire crows upon nearing the ground, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
The experts cursed and raised defenses but were swiftly engulfed.
A fiery bird with five-colored plumage flew from Caiyun, resembling a one-legged Fire Crane. A five-colored flame crowned its head as it devoured the crows, seeming pleased.
By the shore, Qian Chuan’s brilliance manifested shifting mountains and rivers. Fire crows touching his aura dissolved into landscapes, enhancing his power.
Bone Messenger’s Nether Flames swirled as black smoke, devouring crows and amplifying his aura.
Lian Yunsheng, Evil Yin Scholar, Divine Power Vajra, and Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers unleashed extraordinary phenomena, weathering the assault.
Others fared worse. Soon, screams echoed as experts fell.
After half an hour, only seven remained: Caiyun, Qian Chuan, Bone Messenger, Lian Yunsheng, Evil Yin Scholar, Divine Power Vajra, and Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers. Five had perished.
On Fire Island, the Phoenix soared tirelessly, radiant.
When the rain stopped, Divine Power Vajra charged onto the island, aiming to seize the Divine Flame of the Nine Heavens—a legendary Fortuitous Encounter.
Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers and Evil Yin Scholar followed, forming a triangle around the flame.
The Phoenix descended first onto Divine Power Vajra, becoming a nine-colored flame that pierced his body.
He trembled violently, features twisted, as runes flared across his flesh to resist the flame’s invasion.
The Divine Flame erupted from him, circling his head as the Phoenix, then struck again.
Divine Power Vajra stood firm, meeting it with gritted resolve.
“Ah—!”
His agonized scream shook the earth. Though his Physical Body endured, flames erupted from his pores, tempering him further.
The Phoenix hovered above, seemingly approving.
Weakened but determined, Divine Power Vajra faced the flame’s third strike. Flames burst from his meridians, devouring his Life essence.
Roaring, he clung to life until the flame withdrew.
He collapsed, then leaped up and fled toward the sea.
The Phoenix ignored him, turning to Evil Yin Scholar and Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers.
It dove toward Evil Yin Scholar like one testing garments—indifferent, unhurried.
Eerie yin flames shrouded the scholar as he resisted.
With a bang, the Evil Yin Scholar’s robes disintegrated as the Divine Flame of the Nine Heavens ignited his yin flames, annihilating them completely.
A glimmer flashed as the Divine Flame of the Nine Heavens surged upward, morphing into a resplendent Phoenix that hovered above his head.
The Evil Yin Scholar’s face whitened, his eyes darting nervously while his body stiffened with palpable terror.
The divine flame plunged downward for another assault.
With a furious roar, the Evil Yin Scholar summoned a high-grade spirit artifact – a porcelain jar emitting formidable devouring power from its mouth, attempting to swallow the Divine Flame.
The Phoenix dissolved into flames and entered the jar, to everyone’s shock.
Overjoyed, the Evil Yin Scholar tried retrieving the jar but found himself under attack from Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers.
Bone Messenger and Lian Yunsheng immediately ascended to Fire Island, joining the frenzied competition for the Divine Flame.
Caiyun observed from afar while Qian Chuan maintained his composure, utterly unfazed.
The Four Top Experts clashed violently over the jar in a brutal confrontation.
Bone Messenger dominated the fight with his peak Realm of Six Levels of Blood Martial Arts, effortlessly suppressing both the Evil Yin Scholar and Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers.
Lian Yunsheng displayed remarkable prowess, skillfully avoiding direct clashes with Bone Messenger while maintaining his defensive position.
During the struggle, the high-grade spirit artifact abruptly exploded, incinerated by the Divine Flame.
The Evil Yin Scholar emitted a furious roar – his precious high-grade spirit artifact had been utterly destroyed by the celestial flames.
In a flash of firelight, the Phoenix reformed from flames and penetrated the Evil Yin Scholar’s body, engulfing him in divine fire that repelled all others.
Piercing screams echoed across Fire Island as the Evil Yin Scholar fought vainly against the invading flames. His yin-aligned cultivation and heritage directly clashed with the Divine Flame, ensuring his fiery demise.
Witnessing this, a dark shadow crossed Bone Messenger’s pallid face.
Lian Yunsheng became wreathed in flames that transformed into crackling divine lightning, thunderous booms shaking the sky.
Silver light gleamed at Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers’ fingertips as she summoned high-grade spirit artifacts of supremely yang nature, radiating allure toward the Divine Flame.
The Phoenix circled briefly before plunging into the woman’s body.
Divine flames erupted with catastrophic power.
Thousand-Handed Flying Flowers’ petite frame convulsed violently, her seven orifices emitting flames as she failed to endure the onslaught.
After moments of struggle, the Phoenix tore free and soared skyward.
The woman screamed and fled without hesitation from the lethal battleground.
Startled, Bone Messenger vanished with a swish, leaving only Lian Yunsheng standing firm on Fire Island, his ardent gaze fixed on the hovering Phoenix awaiting descent.