Yellow Court Daoist

"I killed Qu Han, the son of Xuan Yan. Xuan Yan will surely investigate."

"Tracing it to Jinlan City will not be difficult."

"Then, via the parents of Xu Mi, it leads to the Lishui Sect, and from Xu Mi, it involves Qing Peak and subsequently exposes Qingyu and me."

"Instead of waiting passively and adding endless troubles and complications, it is better to take the initiative to strike first, killing the three from Impermanence Island - Xuan Yan, Li Gou, and Fei Huo. It will surely disrupt the situation and sever all connections."

While preparing to kill Qu Han, Lu Qingfeng never intended to spare Xuan Yan, Li Gou, and Fei Huo.

Back then.

The three led troops to the Illusion Wave Sea; Lu Qingfeng's cultivation was weak, unable to kill them. Now, with his significantly improved cultivation, these three Golden Core Experts would be as easy to kill as turning his hands.

Taking advantage of this situation, it's apt to get rid of them.

However—

"Qing Peak and Qingyu are still inexperienced in cultivation, it is not suitable to use our real identities for this mission, better to act under the identity of the 'Fiery Fire Wanderer.'"

Qing Peak and Qingyu already knew about this identity of Lu Qingfeng.

Xu Mi, willing to self-destruct rather than hurt Qing Peak, revealing this identity to her was of no harm. Not to mention that Xu Mi would likely not reveal this matter, even if it was indeed revealed, with Lu Qingfeng's current strength, there were ways to ensure the protection of Qing Peak and Qingyu.

There was no worry about identity exposure.

This mission was to act as the 'Fiery Fire Wanderer,' mainly for convenience and also to avoid the many troubles of identity exposure.

Exposure could be allowed.

But it was unnecessary.

With a thought, Lu Qingfeng's Water Merging Daoist Robe instantly transformed into a black robe.

His appearance, attire, and aura changed—should Xuan Yan and his group see him, they would recognize him as the Fiery Fire Wanderer who had heavily injured Fei Huo back in the Illusion Wave Sea, causing them and their brothers to return in utter defeat!

…

Impermanence Island.

This place was located 40,000 li west of the Annihilation Divine Sect's mountain gate, Duan Kong Water Dock. Named for its unpredictable weather, it became famous for the cultivation of the three Golden Core Experts, Li Gou, Xuan Yan, and Fei Huo, from the Annihilation Divine Sect.

This day.

Within Impermanence Island.

Li Gou, Xuan Yan, and Fei Huo were sitting cross-legged.

Fei Huo was in the middle, surrounded by flames.

Li Gou and Xuan Yan were on either side, mana surging intensely within them, each carried his own mystery, flowing around Fei Huo, who had his eyes tightly shut, a pained expression making him look fierce.

Fifty-two years had passed since their defeat at the Illusion Wave Sea.

Back then.

Fei Huo's fortunate path was blocked; Lu Qingfeng had infused him with the Dutian Demon Flames at his heart, nearly causing his death. Fortunately, Li Gou and Xuan Yan rescued him in time and saved his life.

The Demon Flames rampaged, but had not yet affected Fei Huo's Golden Core or Divine Soul. As long as the Demon Flames were expelled and he rested for a hundred years, his life was not in danger.

But indeed, this was a top-tier technique of the Demon Dao.

Domineering and chilling.

Just the removal of the Demon Flames was a hurdle.

Fei Huo continuously expelled the Demon Flames with the help of Li Gou and Xuan Yan for over fifty years, and until this day, he was one half-hour away from completely removing the Demon Flames.

Afterward, he must rest in peace for a hundred years before fully recovering.

The delay cost them over a hundred and fifty years, a truly great price.

Li Gou and Xuan Yan concentrated intently.

Suddenly—

"Hmm?!"

Xuan Yan's brows furrowed slightly, a sudden premonition.

Crack!

The crisp sound of jade breaking reached his ears, momentarily distracting Xuan Yan.

Whoosh!

With this distraction, the flames on Fei Huo immediately intensified.

"Second brother!"

"Don't be distracted!"

Li Gou sternly spoke, and Xuan Yan immediately gathered his thoughts, daring not to let his mind wander.

Thus.

A moment later, taking into account the time before, they had cultivated for a total of three hours. As beads of sweat rolled down from their brows and just when the flames on Fei Huo flickered, turning dim eventually—

Li Gou, seeing this, could not help but laugh, "Finally, the Demon Flames are removed."

"These Demon Flames are domineering; truly rare in a lifetime!"

Fei Huo opened his eyes, a look of relief evident. He was grateful that the Demon Flames had not reached his Golden Core and Divine Soul; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to remove them, and he could have even perished.

"The Fiery Fire Wanderer!"

"In the coming days, we must crush his bones to dust and scatter them to quell the hatred in my heart!"

Thinking back on the humiliation of past years, and considering the fifty-two years of suffering, Fei Huo's heart filled with immense hatred, and his intent to kill surged.

"The Fiery Fire Wanderer is very powerful; we must not rush this."

Li Gou shook his head.

Back then, the three brothers had gathered three thousand Armored Soldiers to confront him but had been repelled by the Fiery Fire Wanderer. To even have a slim chance to kill the Fiery Fire Wanderer, the nineteen Daoist Soldier teams from the Annihilation Divine Sect must act together, and the Nine Great Golden Core Experts must join forces.

Just the three of them—

"Difficult!"

Li Gou's voice was low and not optimistic.

Suddenly—

Li Gou then looked up at Xuan Yan, who had been silent, "Why were you distracted just then?"

The removal of the Demon Flames was dangerous.

Xuan Yan had been distracted earlier, nearly causing years of bitter cultivation to be ruined. Now afterwards, Li Gou asked.

Fei Huo also turned to look at Xuan Yan, who seemed a bit off.

Seeing Xuan Yan's face dark and shifting between blue and red tones—

With a wave of his sleeve, a piece of jade broke into eight pieces on the ground.

"This is—"

Li Gou and Fei Huo saw it, puzzled for a moment.

Xuan Yan's eyes filled with a murderous aura, coldly said, "This is Qu Han's life token."

"Qu Han's nephew's life token?!"

Upon hearing the news, both Li Gou and Fei Huo gasped in shock, finally understanding why Qingyu had been so distracted in that critical moment just before. The life medallion was arduously crafted. Qingyu, loving his son dearly, had deliberately sought out the materials and requested Ancestor Ku Yuan to refine it for Qu Han. Once the medallion shattered, it signified that Qu Han had encountered great disaster outside.

"Uncle Qu Han is in danger; you should have told me earlier, brother."

"The Demon Flames within me can be removed at any time, but Uncle Qu Han is your only son!"

Fei Huo said urgently.

He knew how much Qingyu cherished and doted on Qu Han. In his youth, Qu Han had not only reached the Solid Pill Expert level but had also derived the Seven Emotions Technique from the Separation and Reunion Mysterious Light—a unique Magic Gate.

Even after advancing to Solid Pill, his cultivation progressed rapidly.

He was highly regarded as the tenth Golden Core Expert of the Annihilation Divine Sect, and even the sect's strongest, Ancestor Ku Yuan, held him in high esteem.

Now, due to his injuries, Qingyu was delayed in mounting a rescue.

It seemed likely to affect their brotherly bond.

Qingyu's face showed a trace of malevolence, and shaking his head, he said, "The medallion broke into eight pieces, signifying the destruction of both body and Divine Soul. Even if I had rushed there immediately, it would have been futile."

Upon hearing this, Li Gou and Fei Huo looked to the ground.

Indeed.

The medallion was shattered into eight pieces.

"Send someone to investigate!"

"If we find out who killed nephew Qu Han, I, the youngest, will be the first to skin him to apologize to you, brother!"

Fei Huo's face bore a fleeting fierceness as he spoke bitterly.

"How dare they kill my son!"

"I will make them wish they were dead!"

Qingyu's voice was chillingly cold, evidently overwhelmed with grief and rage.

Only Li Gou remained clear-headed: "Qu Han also possesses the capabilities of a Solid Pill Realm, and his mastery of the Seven Emotions Technique is extraordinary. Even facing a Golden Core Expert, if he couldn't win, using the Seven Emotions Banner to tangle and escape for help wouldn't be difficult. But —"

He kept these thoughts to himself, unspoken.

However, Li Gou was deeply worried about the strength of whoever had managed to kill Qu Han.

At that moment.

Outside Impermanence Island.

A thunderous roar enveloped the area, carrying a chilling tone.

Li Gou and the others listened intently, their expressions suddenly changing.

"Li Gou!"

"Qingyu!"

"Fei Huo!"

"I am Fiery Fire, here to avenge the past!"

Outside Impermanence Island.

A black-robed cultivator, with robes billowing, his voice echoing across a thousand miles around Impermanence Island, descended with booming Fiery Fire. Mid-air, a Demon God resembling a beast-headed, human-bodied figure draped in red scales, adorned with Fire Snakes in its ears and treading on a Fire Dragon, burst forth from his body.

It was none other than the Zhu Rong Demon God.

The Zhu Rong Demon God arranged twelve Du Tian Fierce Fire Divine Flags around him.

As the flags fell, an Immortal Array rose.

As Li Gou and the others soared into the sky, the Array instantaneously enveloped them.

"Fiery Fire Demon!"

"How dare you cause trouble on my Impermanence Island!?"

Fei Huo, his voice preceding his arrival, howled into the heavens. He had just removed the Demon Flames from his body, and just moments earlier had boasted about seeking revenge on Fiery Fire Wanderer.

To his shock, their actual enemy had now appeared right at their doorstep.

Both alarmed and furious.

Hovering in mid-air, he saw twelve Big Flags covering the sky like a dome in all directions, with a Flame Demon God enveloping the area further afield, and a cultivator in a black robe—whom he detested deeply—was indeed the Fiery Fire Wanderer.

Before he could take another look.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The encompassing Fiery Fire Formation thunderously activated, generating swathes of flames covering everything all around.

The twelve banners, with Wind and Cloud Talismans painted on their surfaces and flames flickering at their corners, burst forth with thunderous, fierce fiery strikes as they unfurled.

Fei Huo propelled himself highest, bearing the brunt of the attack as fierce fiery strikes surged towards him, engulfing him instantly.

"Not good!"

Fei Huo was terribly alarmed.

Feeling the overwhelming force of the array, Fei Huo had no time to react angrily and was barely holding the Mahayana Double Hooks in his hands to fend off the pervasive Fiery Fire.

Li Gou and Qingyu followed behind, also swept into the formation and each struggling for defense.

"Futile efforts!"

Lu Qingfeng, having ascended to Core Formation, and twice stepping into the Primordial Spirit Realm within "Primordial," had vastly increased his realm. Now his strength was more than ten times stronger than fifty-two years ago.

The strength of the Zhu Rong Demon God he summoned was more than tenfold mightier.

And further enhanced by being nurtured for fifty-two years under the Zhu Rong Demon God in the Sixth Rank Magic Artifact among the twelve Du Tian Fierce Fire Divine Flags.

With several enhancements.

Certainly, no mere Golden Core Experts could stand against them.

In an instant, the three were overwhelmed and could barely defend with no chance to counter. Fei Huo, just having his Demon Flames removed and still injured, was the first to falter—

"Big brother, second brother, save me!"

As the sky-high Fiery Fire struck down, it swept away the Magic Artifact in Fei Huo's hands, shattering all his Mana and swirling his body into the Fiery Fire. In panic, he bellowed for help.

"Third brother!"

But Li Gou and Qingyu, unable to fend for themselves in the formation, were completely immobilized to help.

"No!"

The next moment.

Fiery fire surged vehemently, and Fei Huo's terrified screams came through.

Then, abruptly, the screams ceased, and the faces of Li Gou and Qingyu changed, "Fiery Fire Demon, this place is merely forty thousand miles away from the gates of our Annihilation Divine Sect. Our sect's experts will soon arrive, how dare you be so bold!?"

Anger roared from within the Fiery Fire Immortal Array.

Fierce yet revealing a hint of fear.

Lu Qingfeng, outside, with an unchanging expression, responded, "Good, it saves me a trip!"