Chapter 1353: Chapter 1354: Sect Master Li, Truly a Divine Being!
“Sect Master Li, what is the meaning of this…”
A few Saint Realm experts were utterly dumbfounded, their eyes nearly bulging out. The flames that they had exhausted all their power to destroy had been so effortlessly subdued by Li Xiaobai?
Is this reasonable?
“Basic operation, don’t overthink it!”
Li Xiaobai took a casual drag from his Huazi cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and spoke indifferently.
The flames were originally his, and reclaiming them was merely a matter of convenience. Not a shred of effort was required. These flames had been burning beneath the Blood Pool of the Blood Demon Sect for a considerable time before being taken by Xueshenzi, who obviously discovered some secrets within and conducted an elaborate ritual upgrade. The resulting power was now extraordinary.
At the moment he reclaimed them, the numbers on his system interface began to fluctuate.
[Hellfire (Divine Level Skill) Current Initial Burning Range: Thousand Miles Raid (Power between Semi-Saint and Saint Realm levels)]
The best way to cultivate Hellfire was through the “weed-cutting” model—spread it out among top experts who would nurture it of their own accord, then recover it when the time comes. A once-and-for-all approach!
“What a pity! If only Xueshenzi had nurtured it a little longer, achieving Saint Realm level power might have been feasible!”
Li Xiaobai felt a pang of regret in his heart, though he could understand. Hellfire was essentially an insatiable pit, a Gluttonous Beast, whose advancement resources only grew increasingly voracious. Not even Xueshenzi would want to bankrupt himself just to cultivate this flame. Thus, he had released it into the Central Origin Realm, intending for it to devour the major sects and achieve advancement in the process.
Too bad this ignorant fool didn’t realize that Hellfire had always belonged to Li Xiaobai!
“Any other concerns?”
“No… none whatsoever!”
The crowd, their faces blank and their gazes vacant, instinctively shook their heads in response.
“In that case, this Peak Master is off to support the other continents. I’m heading out!”
Li Xiaobai nodded, stepping onto his golden chariot, which turned into a streak of brilliance and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
The people of the Southern Continent watched in astonishment. How much time had passed? The last time they had met, he was merely a younger disciple with Half-Saint cultivation. Now, in the blink of an eye, he had achieved such stunning progress. That sword light from earlier, or devouring the pitch-black flames outright—both had left them feeling an immense sense of threat. Undoubtedly, this Master of the List of Villains had reached a strength and cultivation level equal to theirs—perhaps even surpassing them. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would have never believed it in their lifetimes!
A quarter-hour later.
Western Continent, within Buddha Country, Great Thunderclap Temple. A mass of black flames, as dark as ink, roared fiercely. Wuyuzi and a group of high-ranking Buddhist monks had been locked away in the Buddhist Pagoda. Without any masters present, the sect’s disciples descended into chaos. Nobody knew where these strange black flames had come from, nor how to deal with them. Any attempt involving Magic Treasures or Cultivation Techniques would simply be absorbed by the flames. They seemed utterly unextinguishable, a terror unlike any other.
Fortunately, the situation hadn’t turned dire. By the time Li Xiaobai arrived, only the Great Thunderclap Temple had been swallowed up. In its place remained barren, lifeless land. The monks had already evacuated, and there were no human casualties for now.
However, for reasons unknown, the black flames covering the surface had disappeared completely.
“What happened?”
Li Xiaobai approached a monk with his question.
“Moments ago, those flames suddenly surged underground as if being absorbed by something. None of us dared to venture near!”
The monk replied honestly.
Li Xiaobai pondered for a moment. It must have been those clones hiding deep underground who had intervened. Clones made by the System, possessing one-tenth of his power, were naturally capable of claiming Hellfire.
He surveyed the Great Thunderclap Temple’s vicinity. It had been completely cleansed by the flames, leaving nothing behind. Sighing inwardly, he focused on the System Chat Room.
[Li Xiaobai: Was it one of you brothers who retrieved the Hellfire?]
[Paratrooper One Li Xiaobai: Yes!]
[Li Xiaobai: I’ve now reached Saint Realm cultivation, and most secrets of the Central Origin Realm I’ve uncovered. Surely now you can tell me what exactly the unknown terrifying entity is?]
[…]
No response. The clone, who had just responded, vanished without a trace, remaining utterly silent.
Li Xiaobai found himself at a loss. At this point, what else could they possibly keep hidden? He knew practically everything he needed. These clones were perhaps overly cautious.
Since he knew the Southern Continent’s Hellfire had been retrieved by his clones, lingering further would be unnecessary. He pinched a talisman in his hand, vanished amid a flash of golden light, and reappeared near the Northern Continent Ice Dragon Island’s coastal port.
As soon as he set foot on the Northern Continent, the scene before him left him utterly stunned. Overhead, black flames surged across the void, vast and unrelenting. The next instant, they vanished completely. Just as he was regaining his composure, the flames reappeared, sweeping across the sky once more before disappearing again.
With each disappearance, an elderly man wielding a cane emerged in the area previously engulfed by Hellfire. Once the elderly man disappeared, the black flames returned once again.
“This is…”
“Second Elder’s Great Teleportation Divine Skill!”
Li Xiaobai felt a twinge of amazement. This old man was using such methods to control the growth of Hellfire, continuously swapping locations with the black flames through rapid, frequent teleportations. The speed and frequency were dizzyingly fast, switching places three to four times within a blink. The flames scarcely had time to burn or absorb anything before being transported away.
“This old man is quite the iron-willed character; isn’t he a bit afraid of exhausting himself to death?!”
Li Xiaobai watched in shock. He had never imagined anyone battling Hellfire in such a manner.
“Senior, this Peak Master is here. Let the flames be—I’ll take care of it!”
“Young one, these flames are extraordinarily wicked. They devour everything to grow. They aren’t something you or I can handle. Even Mountain Protection Arrays can be burned away. Any technique or approach would only serve as its nourishment. No water in this world can extinguish it, nor container hold it!”
Second Elder’s sharp voice rang out, continuing to rapidly deploy his Great Teleportation Divine Skill. He had lost count of how many times he had used this technique.
These flames were wicked beyond measure, utterly unlike anything belonging to this realm!
“No problem!”
Li Xiaobai, watching the rhythmic flashes of Second Elder and the flames in the void, found the scene mildly absurd. He stepped onto his golden chariot, which transformed into a streak of brilliance and charged directly into the black flames. In an instant, the sprawling black flames evaporated into nothingness.
The skies regained their calm. Over Ice Dragon Island, the oppressive aura of terror had entirely vanished, as though the black flames had never existed!
“You…”
Second Elder was too stunned for words. He hadn’t even begun his next teleportation exchange, yet the flames had vanished completely!
What sort of power and cultivation was required for such mastery?
The young surpass the old with great audacity!
“One must look at a youth with fresh eyes every three days. Sect Master Li—truly a divine being!”