Ch. 1374 - The Flame of Zhurong Devours All

“Senior, I ask that you lend us your strength, to kill a few people,” said the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign.

The Huo Heavenly Clan’s Primal Ancestral Flame had long since developed sentience. It resided upon the Five-Elements God-Lotus and had formed a pact with the clan. Thus, in times of great peril, it would lend its power to aid them.

“Oh? You’ve run into opponents even you can’t handle?” the Primal Ancestral Flame chuckled. “It seems they’re troublesome indeed.”

Its fiery gaze swept across the battlefield, and gradually its tone grew serious. “Ancient Demons.”

It uttered the word with a rare solemnity.

“In those ancient times, when I was but a tiny spark born of heaven and earth, I heard the legends of the Demon Race. They once ruled over this world. But their Infernal Lord sought to defy the heavens, and that glorious empire was lost forever. The Ancient Demons… have fallen far indeed.”

Having existed for untold ages, few things could still stir the Primal Ancestral Flame. Yet the Demon Race was one of them, for that race had once reshaped the entire world. In the long history of the Nine Heavens, such feats were exceedingly rare.

“Senior, now that our Huo Heavenly Clan stands united with the Heavenly Court, what need have we to fear Ancient Demons?” said the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign with defiance.

“Of course,” the Primal Ancestral Flame laughed. “This is the Heavenly Court’s era. The Demon Race now lives with its tail between its legs.”

“A mere wisp of fire dares to boast so loudly?” roared Red-Blade Bull Demon. “Even if my Lord fell, he was still one who dared to challenge the heavens. You, an insignificant spirit bound to a lotus, may strut for now, but when my kind returns, you’ll be nothing more than a dog wagging its tail for mercy.”

At that, the fiery face twisted in anger. “It seems today, I’ll have to exterminate some Ancient Demons.”

“Who exterminates whom is far from decided,” Celestial Devourer replied sharply.

“Everyone else, guard the flanks!” the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign barked. His gaze locked on Xu Zimo. “Infernal Lord, do you dare fight me one-on-one?”

“To deal with the likes of you, my Lord need not act,” Paimon growled, stepping forward.

“Stand down, Paimon,” Xu Zimo ordered with a wave of his hand.

Then his voice spread across the entire Huo estate, calm yet resounding. “Children of the Huo Heavenly Clan, prepare coffins for your ancestor.”

His eyes fell on the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign. “Tell me, have you made peace with death?”

“Hmph. Once I slay you, Infernal Lord, my Huo Heavenly Clan will be immortalized in glory,” the Saint Sovereign retorted.

“Senior, aid me!” he cried.

Behind him, the flames of the Golden Crow burned brighter, their heat spreading across the eight wildernesses.

“Very well!” the Primal Ancestral Flame roared in response.

Its essence transformed into a torrent of flame, merging into the Saint Sovereign’s True Fate.

The golden crow within him shrieked sharply as golden and crimson flames intertwined, its form becoming almost alive.

“These flames are too weak,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head.

If the opponent had wielded another element, Xu Zimo might have been cautious without invoking the previous Infernal Lord’s power. But against fire, he had nothing to fear.

For he possessed the legacy of the Ancient Fire God, Zhurong.

The Flame of Zhurong, one of the mightiest flames in existence, could consume all other fires.

When the Ancient Gods sought enlightenment, Zhurong had perfected his path through fire. The Huo Heavenly Clan’s mastery was impressive, yet compared to the Radiant Court? Compared to the Ancient Fire God himself? It was laughably small.

The cry of the golden crow resounded through the heavens, its radiant wings blazing like twin suns. The Golden Crow Saint Sovereign himself glowed with golden brilliance, his body like a living inferno.

“Go!” he roared.

Above, the enormous golden crow swooped down upon Xu Zimo, its power so fierce that the heavens seemed to melt in its wake.

Yet Xu Zimo only smiled faintly.

In his hand, the Flame of Zhurong flickered restlessly, as though impatient to feed.

“Go on, eat your fill,” Xu Zimo murmured with a grin.

The divine flame shot forward.

When the two fires met, the cataclysmic explosion everyone expected never came.

Instead, the Flame of Zhurong clung to the golden crow like a living parasite.

The crow itself was formed entirely of flame, its body a manifestation of fire. But as the Zhurong flame touched it, it seemed as though the godfire was burning the very essence of the golden crow’s fire.

Sensing mortal danger, the golden crow shrieked in panic, thrashing its wings wildly across the sky in a desperate attempt to shake off the devouring flame.

“What is that?” someone muttered in shock.

“What kind of sorcery is this?”

“Sorcery?” Xu Zimo scoffed. “You’ve likely never seen a true flame before. The fire of your Huo Heavenly Clan is nothing more than a petty trick. You dare call yourselves the masters of fire? You’ve mistaken your flickering farts for the fire of heaven.”

“Impossible!” cried the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign, staggering backward. “My Golden Crow Fire, fused with the Primal Ancestral Flame, should rival even the Radiant Court itself! How could it be consumed?”

But in the sky above, the golden crow’s struggles grew weaker and weaker, until finally, it was devoured entirely.

The Flame of Zhurong, still unsatisfied, pulsed once before returning lazily to Xu Zimo’s palm.

“Could that truly be…the legendary flame of the Fire God, Zhurong?”

The Inferno Crucible Envoy, who had appeared unnoticed, stared in astonishment.

“Has word reached the Radiant Court?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Rest assured,” she replied. “The Radiant Court is enraged. It won’t be long before they descend upon this place.” Her gaze, however, remained fixed on the flame in his hand. “You’ve inherited the Fire God’s legacy?”

“You people of the Radiant Court are well-informed,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile.

“Of course. Our ancestor was once the Fire God’s...” She stopped herself abruptly, realizing what she was about to reveal. Her expression shifted, and she said instead, “You’re quite fortunate.”

“You asked me before about the Ancient Gods,” Xu Zimo said. “Are you perhaps searching for all their inheritances?”

“Let’s deal with the current situation first,” he added before she could answer.

High above, the Golden Crow Saint Sovereign’s expression twisted in disbelief.

He still couldn’t accept that his ultimate attack had been so easily neutralized.

“This golden crow is yours,” Xu Zimo said coldly, raising his hand. “So I’ll return it to you.”

He tossed the Flame of Zhurong forward.

In midair, the divine flame transformed once again into the form of a golden crow, lunging at the Saint Sovereign.

“Damn you!” the Saint Sovereign bellowed.

He poured every ounce of power into his right fist, striking the fiery bird head-on and shattering it in an explosion of sparks.

But as the flames scattered, he froze, staring at his own hand.

His fist was burning.

That was impossible.

He had cultivated fire his entire life. Fire should have been as natural to him as water to a fish.

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