Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

Chapter 367: The Emergence of Demon Flame

Seeing the mystical rune glowing on Yuan Cang's forehead, Lin Langtian recognized it immediately and frowned.

It was a Spirit Mark.

Lin Langtian was not entirely unfamiliar with Spirit Marks. Not only did he have memories from the original storyline, but Su Rou had also acquired a Spirit Mark during the Hundred Dynasty Battle. Even Lin Langtian himself couldn't help but envy these powerful items.

A Spirit Mark could only be condensed upon the death of an incredibly powerful cultivator, containing a fraction of their immense energy from life. While Spirit Marks held no intelligence, they instinctively sought the person with whom they resonated most. Su Rou's Spirit Mark, for instance, was perfectly compatible with her. Although it was possible to seize a Spirit Mark by force, using it without compatibility could never achieve the mark's full potential.

Although Spirit Marks could not compare to the powers of reincarnated beings, they provided a considerable advantage. In addition to accelerating the bearer's cultivation, Spirit Marks could also be activated in dire situations, temporarily boosting one's strength to survive against formidable enemies.

Thus, the surge in Yuan Cang's power was clearly the result of activating his Spirit Mark. With his current Minor Profound Realm strength, Yuan Cang could use this power to rival even a fully advanced Profound Realm master.

"Unbelievable. Senior Brother Yuan Cang possesses a Spirit Mark—truly worthy of being the sect master's direct disciple," one disciple on the mountain peak muttered, his face full of envy.

Everyone present understood the rarity of a Spirit Mark. Although the crowd envied Yuan Cang's power, no one found it surprising that he, as the sect master's disciple, would possess such an asset.

"It's over for him. Yuan Cang's using the Spirit Mark," Ling Zhen sneered. "With the Spirit Mark's enhancement, he could even contend with the division heads. Lin Langtian has no chance."

"An overconfident fool," Lei Qian agreed, smirking coldly. "Does he think he can simply challenge the Three Princes? Today, he'll learn the hard way what true power is."

"Of course, Senior Brother Yuan, how impressive—you truly have an eye for treasure," Lin Langtian remarked, his voice steady as he looked at the glowing rune on Yuan Cang's forehead.

Spirit Marks were not only extremely rare but also incredibly powerful. In the original timeline, Lin Dong had only defeated Yuan Cang's Spirit Mark-enhanced power thanks to the Desolation Pearl from the Great Desolate Tablet, a divine artifact ranked third among ancient relics. Without such a powerful item, Yuan Sect might have defeated Dao Sect entirely during the Sect Competition.

"Junior Brother Lin, if you know what's good for you, surrender now. Join me, and I will forgive your past offenses," Yuan Cang said, brushing the dust from his torn robe. Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, he wore an overbearing look of superiority.

Lin Langtian's eyes glinted coldly as he replied with a mocking smile, "My answer remains the same. If you submit to me, Senior Brother, I promise to treat you fairly…"

But before he could finish, his gaze hardened, and he sprang backward.

Swish!

As he dodged, the air before him warped, and Yuan Cang's figure suddenly shot forth. His iron sword, sharp with deadly energy, pierced toward Lin Langtian's throat at lightning speed.

Yuan Cang's speed was faster than before. Lin Langtian couldn't dodge in time, so he raised his crossed arms, blocking his throat.

Clang!

The iron sword collided with Lin Langtian's black-and-red gauntlets, sending sparks flying. Though his gauntlets absorbed the blow, a thin trickle of blood seeped out—Yuan Cang's Spirit Mark-enhanced power was enough to cut through Lin Langtian's flame armor.

Lin Langtian quickly leaped backward, glancing at the scratch on his gauntlet. The wound stung, but it wasn't serious; thanks to his improved Black Flame Body, Yuan Cang's sword hadn't done as much damage as it could have.

"Let's see how many of my strikes you can withstand," Yuan Cang taunted, wiping the blood from his sword with a smirk. His eyes narrowed with malice as he shot forward again.

Lin Langtian quickly extended his fiery Scarlet Wings from his back, speeding up his retreat.

Swish!

As Lin Langtian retreated, a massive sword beam slashed where he had just been, and Yuan Cang closed in, his attacks blanketing the area. In the air above, one attacked, the other dodged. Against the empowered Yuan Cang, Lin Langtian was struggling to keep up, and the momentum shifted clearly in Yuan Cang's favor.

Seeing Yuan Cang's upper hand, the Three Princes' faction cheered. Many pointed and sneered at Lin Langtian's allies in the Flame Division, their taunts making the Flame Division disciples flush with anger.

"Junior Brother Lin, is running away all you know how to do? Where's all that bravado from before?" Yuan Cang called out after another missed strike, his tone full of scorn.

Lin Langtian replied coolly, "Speed is also part of strength. If you're so strong, why did you retreat when I fought back?"

"Sharp tongue," Yuan Cang growled, his face darkening. The memory of Lin Langtian overpowering him briefly with raw physical strength stung, and he scowled coldly.

"In that case, let me show you that all your talk is meaningless before true power!" Yuan Cang declared, his voice thick with menace. He formed a hand seal, and a torrent of energy surged out from his body, transforming into a towering, hundred-foot energy figure behind him that radiated an overwhelming aura.

"This is…"

In the stands, the division heads, including Fen Cang, watched the enormous shadow forming over Yuan Cang's head with serious expressions.

"What powerful technique," sighed Liu You, the Water Division Head. "As expected of Yuan Sect's greatest art, the Yuan Emperor Manual. It's remarkable that Nephew Yuan Cang has already mastered it to this extent. And with the Spirit Mark's added power… even I would likely suffer serious injuries if I tried to withstand this attack."

"Haha, Nephew Yuan Cang is the personal disciple of the sect master Tian Yuanzi," scoffed Shi Dong, the Earth Division Head. "Lin Langtian was foolish to think he could ever challenge someone of that status."

Hearing this, the high-ranking members of Yuan Sect, including Fen Cang, the head of the Fire Division, all nodded in agreement. Even these division heads felt the pressure of Yuan Cang's strength, which had clearly surpassed the level of the younger generation. Lin Langtian, despite his talents, couldn't possibly measure up.

In the battlefield, Yuan Cang exhaled slowly, the mystical rune on his forehead flashing with an intense light as the Spirit Mark poured its power into him. His face twisted with cold arrogance, and with a commanding gesture, his voice echoed over the mountaintop.

"Yuan Emperor Manual, Yuan Emperor's Body!"

As Yuan Cang's chilling voice rang out, he raised two fingers in a sword-like stance and slashed them through the air.

Boom!

At that moment, the immense shadow behind him lifted its massive hand, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy that swept across the heavens, crackling with incredible destructive power.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The air seemed to implode under the force of the attack, and deafening booms echoed across the sky. Even the residual waves of power radiating from the giant shadow sent chills down the spines of Ninth Nirvana Realm experts. A direct hit from this attack would devastate even a Profound Realm master.

Yuan Cang's gaze sharpened with fierce intent. He extended his hand toward Lin Langtian, clenching it tightly.

Crunch!

As his hand clenched, the energy in the air seemed to compress and break apart. The enormous shadow's crimson eyes locked onto Lin Langtian, while the fierce flow of Yuan energy formed barriers around him, sealing off any possible escape route.

With Lin Langtian's retreat blocked, the colossal Yuan Emperor shadow took a single step forward and unleashed a mighty palm strike.

Boom! Boom!

The ground shook violently under the power of the attack, and the earth itself caved in by dozens of meters. A jagged fissure, nearly a hundred meters wide, appeared, stretching toward Lin Langtian like a writhing earth dragon.

The power of this strike was enough to shatter mountains!

The terrifying aura of the attack left the entire audience in stunned silence. Even Ling Zhen, Lei Qian, and the other Seven Division Commanders had tense expressions. Some of the weaker disciples turned pale, horrified by the sheer might of the technique. Few among even the division vice-heads would dare to face such a blow directly.

"What a terrifying power…" Lin Langtian looked up at the massive shadow's palm, feeling the suffocating danger in the air. He understood that despite his formidable physical strength, a direct hit from this attack would seriously injure him.

"So even my escape is sealed off…"

Glancing around, he noted the swirling barriers of Yuan energy hemming him in.

"If that's the case… I suppose it's time to use my trump card."

Lin Langtian murmured softly, a smile tugging at his lips. Suddenly, black demonic flames ignited in his eyes.

In an instant, a thick black mist began to seep from his body, its dark energy filling the air with an eerie hum. The mist spread outward, even causing the space around him to emit faint wails of despair.

As the dark mist billowed, Lin Langtian raised his head, his pupils now burning with the Demon Flame. His eyes held an unusual mix of coldness and intense heat, an unsettling combination.

Boom!

With his demonic gaze now fully unleashed, Lin Langtian's aura exploded, rapidly growing in intensity. In a flash, he stomped on the ground, unleashing a surge of black Demon Flame that expanded outward like lightning.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Wherever the Demon Flame touched, the lush vegetation on the mountaintop withered at a frightening rate. Even the ground itself seemed to drain of life, leaving nothing but dead, barren land.

Contrary to expectations, the flame was not scorching hot but instead icy cold, devoid of any trace of life. Its eerie energy hinted at an intent to obliterate everything in its path.

In mere seconds, the mountains surrounding them transformed into a wasteland of dark flames. Lin Langtian, standing at its center, appeared as a demonic deity of destruction, surrounded by an aura of raw, unyielding power.

"What is that…?"

Horrified gazes fell upon the scene, and soon someone's shocked voice broke the silence: "It's the Chaos Demon Flame!"

Only the legendary Chaos Demon Flame could emit such an overwhelming, malevolent aura, a power so absolute that it seemed to erase life itself. Its presence sent chills through the entire audience.

As they stared in awe, dark waves of flame surged from Lin Langtian's body, forming a powerful shroud around him. Even the division heads watching from afar were shaken by the menacing energy.

"So… it's the Chaos Demon Flame…"

In the distance, Yuan Cang's eyes widened at the sight, his pupils constricting as he took a deep breath to steady himself.

Now, at last, he understood why Lin Langtian dared to challenge him. This was the reason—Lin Langtian had mastered the Chaos Demon Flame.

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