King Dharmacakra closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the warrior mentioned by King Kong Xiang.“What does that swordsman have to do with that young man?”King Kong Xiang shook his head. “I don’t know what their connection is. But one thing’s certain—the technique that young man just used was the Sky-Rending Sword Technique, one of the most powerful arts ever created by the Flame God Warrior.” He then turned his gaze toward Fang Yun, who now stood facing Northern Venom.“That technique cannot be resisted by any force,” he continued.“Are you saying that young man is…?”“I don’t know. But there’s something you must understand—inside his body dwells that terrifying Fire Element Spirit. So I suggest you don’t provoke him.”King Dharmacakra nodded slowly. “We’d better end this battle. He was the one who incited me to attack your kingdom,” he said, pointing toward Northern Venom.“I’ve realized that, Dharmacakra. Of course he’s the one who deceived you! You’ve surely learned your lesson

Slowly, the tornado of wind and water sucked in everything nearby. Small trees were uprooted down to their roots. Rocks and dry grass were lifted and spun so violently that the two combatants inside the maelstrom could no longer be seen.Unable to float like Northern Venom, Fang Yun used the flying debris as footholds. Wind-steps combined with the Quiet Wind technique helped him move swiftly within the vortex.The battle inside the swirling funnel produced repeated explosions and flashes that lanced outward from the eye of the storm. Even though Northern Venom could float, that did not automatically give him the advantage. Fang Yun’s skill at using airborne objects as stepping stones and leverage for his strikes allowed him to match Northern Venom’s blistering speed. Before long—without either of them noticing—it was already hundreds of exchanges.Unnoticed by both, the diameter of the wind-and-water vortex kept widening. Anything nearby was sucked in. Even large trees were torn from

Meanwhile, at Mount Huazhuo, Qian Hui grew restless. She felt a dreadful premonition about her adopted son. Quickly, she mounted her chariot, and in a blink, she arrived at Xuo Village, where the sealed gate to Wentira stood at the mountain’s base.Because of the divine seal, Qian Hui couldn’t enter the city. Her anger flared, and her fury was so immense that Fei Hung inside the city could sense it.“Your Majesty,” Fei Hung suddenly said, “I can feel Her Highness approaching—but the gate’s seal is blocking her path.”“Go and escort her in!” King Kong Xiang commanded. “But once she enters, will we still be able to leave?”“We can still exit, Your Majesty,” Fei Hung replied.King Kong Xiang chuckled. “I just don’t want to be trapped here forever. Freedom outside suits me better.”King Dharmacakra forced a bitter smile at the remark.Fei Hung bowed and vanished instantly, reappearing at the sealed gate. When he opened it, his eyes widened—the forest beyond Xuo Village had been nearly raz

Moments later, except for Zhao Wen, everyone in the room widened their eyes in shock—their gazes fixed on Fang Yun, whose entire body was suddenly engulfed in black flames.Strangely, the dark fire didn’t burn anything around him. Yet, everyone in the chamber could feel the suffocating heat radiating through the air.“That’s the fire-element spirit beast I told you about earlier,” King Kong Xiang whispered to King Dharmacakra.“Terrifying! If that black fire ever touched our bodies, we’d be reduced to ashes in seconds,” King Dharmacakra muttered, his eyes never blinking as he watched Fang Yun surrounded by those flames.“That’s why I wouldn’t dare provoke that young man,” King Kong Xiang replied with a faint chuckle.For a long while, the room fell into absolute silence. No one dared make a sound, afraid to disturb Fang Yun’s meditation.Meanwhile, outside the city, the Water Core Machete was found lodged deep within a massive tree nearly five hundred meters away from where Fang Yun h

After the two men handed over the baby in the basket, Lung Yang raised it high above his head.“Tonight, I offer the soul of this child to you, O Lord of Darkness. Grant us eternal life in this world, just as you live in eternity!”Jiayi let out a sinister giggle as she took a large knife from where it hung on the wall. The lantern’s dim light glinted off its blade.“My faithful followers!” Lung Yang’s voice grew louder. “You too shall live forever after my wife and I receive immortality from our Dark Lord. And once this final ritual on the eve of the full moon is complete, you may celebrate to your hearts’ content—choose your partners and indulge in your desires!”“Woooo… woooo!”The shouts of the soul-bound villagers shattered the stillness of the night. Their voices rose in a wild chorus, like a celebration of madness.Jiayi handed the large knife to Lung Yang, while her other hand reached for the basket that held the infant.“Jiayi,” Lung Yang said, chuckling as he pinched her wri