Within the Marshal’s Residence of Cicheng! “The forces from all sides have been arranged. In five days, they will reach Yuncheng and commence the general offensive,” Chaliven stated in a low voice.

“Mm.” Moluo Aotian nodded slightly. “How is the list of members selected for the Fire Dragon Array coming along?”

“Two thousand mages whose strength has reached the Red Moon level have been selected,” Chaliven reported.

“Have them assemble in the city square,” Lanling commanded. “Before we depart, the Red-Robed Priests of the Church must conduct live combat drills in coordination with the army’s Red Moon Mages.”

“Yes!” Chaliven respectfully withdrew from the Marshal’s Residence.

“Finally, I get to witness the terrifying might of the legendary forbidden spell, the Fire Dragon’s Aura,” Moluo Aotian sounded somewhat excited, yet a trace of worry crossed his face. “Are you absolutely certain that testing the Fire Dragon’s Aura within Cicheng is safe?”

“Rest assured,” Lanling replied. “Although the power of the Fire Dragon’s Aura is immense, its intensity can be modulated by controlling the amplification strength of the Fire Dragon Heart.” Lanling continued, “I have practiced this in the Church for a long time and can now control it proficiently. The rest depends on whether the legion’s Red Moon Mages can gather sufficient magic in concert with the Red-Robed Priests. Although the process is somewhat complex, the priests accompanying the troops this time are all highly skilled mages; with their assistance, it should not be an issue.”

“Very well, let the live drills commence as soon as possible,” Moluo Aotian urged, excitement clear in his tone. “Only through the practiced execution of the Fire Dragon’s Aura can we truly be absolutely foolproof.”

Everyone present was filled with immense anticipation; each one longed to witness the formidable power of the Fire Dragon’s Aura.

The morning sun pierced through the thin mist, spilling light onto the earth. Through the cracks, a few coin-sized glints of brightness penetrated the dark, ruined space.

A slight warmth began to permeate the chilling atmosphere.

Reluctantly, yet with a lingering sense of comfort, I emerged from my makeshift bed, peering towards the wide-open square beyond the gap. The patrol teams were still busily moving back and forth, as were large carriages transporting unknown goods.

It seemed the unloading of the fleet wouldn't be completed before daylight ended. As I thought this, I rummaged through my spatial pouch, pulling out a towel, toothbrush, and the like. Half-dozing, while brushing my teeth, I secretly calculated whether I should venture out early tonight for reconnaissance.

Halt! Thump-thump!

Suddenly, a rhythmic, brisk marching sound rapidly approached the ruins. Judging by the numbers, there must have been at least two thousand people. Following them came waves of potent Dou Qi fluctuations, intermingled with thick magical and Taoist energy readings. Among these two thousand, at least nine individuals possessed astonishingly high levels of power.

I had only ever sensed such terrifying power emanating from Ji Du and Luo Jiang.

Ah! Have I been discovered? Startled, I scrambled to the edge of the gap, cautiously peering out.

The sight that greeted me was enough to make my heart leap into my throat.

On the square, less than a hundred meters from the ruins, a large formation was perfectly arrayed—at least two thousand people in total. Even from this distance, I could vaguely discern that they were clad entirely in mage attire, their equipment suggesting cultivation at the very peak of the Red Moon realm.

What truly shocked me, however, were the ten Red-Robed Moluo Priests standing before the large formation. Beside the formation stood several Demon-Heaven Warriors clad in Demon-Heaven Armor.

I didn't need to see their faces; the sheer aura radiating from them was detectable through the innate sense unique to Grandmaster-level experts.

But the most conspicuous figure was a mage in a blue robe, holding a staff. Among everyone present, his cultivation was clearly the highest, evident from the dense surge of magical power emanating from him, almost completely eclipsing the auras of everyone else.

Even from this distance, I could feel the potent waves of magic and Dou Qi swirling around them.

Heavens, what are they planning? Gathering in the square so early with such a massive deployment. However, one thing I felt certain of was that my presence remained undiscovered; otherwise, they would have simply rushed over to capture or kill me directly, rather than staging such an elaborate gathering.

But what their purpose was, I couldn't grasp. Helpless, I cautiously suppressed my breath, cocking my ear, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Unfortunately, the distance to the drill site was too great; I couldn't hear a single word.

“High Priest, all mages of the Aotian Legion reaching peak Red Moon cultivation have assembled,” Huang Sha, the hall commander of the Blood-Losing White Fox, reported loudly.

“Form the Hexagram Array,” Lanling commanded in a deep voice.

“Yes!” Huang Sha immediately roared, “Begin forming ranks in the Hexagram Array formation now.”

“Yes!” The response was a chorus of synchronized shouts. The more than two thousand individuals, previously standing in a square formation, rapidly changed positions. In moments, a massive Hexagram Array materialized on the square. This level of coordinated formation drew a nod of satisfaction from High Priest Lanling observing nearby.

“Enter the array,” Lanling commanded, stepping directly into the center of the Hexagram Array. Accompanying him were four Red-Robed Priests, while six other Red-Robed Priests positioned themselves in the centers of the six smaller square formations surrounding the main Hexagram Array.

What trickery were they up to? I was still completely bewildered seeing this, but when my eyes focused on the staff held by the blue-robed mage entering the formation, I gasped in shock. The staff’s design was overwhelmingly familiar—wasn’t that the Soul-Devouring Staff, the super-weapon that mages in Legend dreamed of?

My God, who is this person, to wield the veritable treasure of the Demon-Sealing Empire?

What shocked me even more was the second object the blue-robed mage held in his right hand, roughly the size of a basketball. The top featured a hook-like ring, while the bottom was a perfectly rounded disc-shaped jar made of what looked like white jade. At the center of the jar, a fierce, blazing fire seemed to pulse continuously.

A deep, resonant magical fluctuation flowed forth with the pulsing flames, as if alive, sending out wave after wave of magical energy.

Ah! This object looks even more familiar—it is identical to the Fire Dragon Heart from Legend!

The Soul-Devouring Staff, the Fire Dragon Heart—Heavens, what is going on? Why are these two artifacts appearing together here?

I was stunned speechless. What were they intending? Although I had never seen these two items in person, I had long heard the legends surrounding the Soul-Devouring Staff.

That was the customary weapon of the founding monarch of the Demon-Sealing Empire; its power was beyond ordinary comprehension.

And the other item, the Fire Dragon Heart, was an even more formidable treasure. Back in the time of the Divine Dragon Empire, the Three Dragon Guards, in pursuit of realizing the ultimate Hero Combination Skill with their respective heroes, infiltrated the underground Fire Dragon Temple to challenge the Fire Dragon Patriarch. The Three Dragon Guards ultimately succeeded in defeating the Patriarch, though they couldn't kill him, forcing him deeper into the earth.

The Three Dragon Guards became the strongest warriors in the history of the Mafa Continent. In their battle against the Fire Dragon Patriarch, they not only grasped terrifying Combination Skills but also brought back nine jars filled with the Patriarch’s blood.

These nine jars are what became known as the Fire Dragon Hearts, passed down through the ages. Containing the blood of the Fire Dragon Patriarch, the Fire Dragon Heart granted an extremely terrifying amplification effect to magic, Taoist arts, and Dou Qi.

The extraordinarily gifted Three Dragon Guards, in the heat of battle, devised three major Combination Skills with their heroes: Soul-Breaking Slash, Fire Dragon’s Aura, and Soul-Devouring Swamp. However, not everyone possessed the unique genius of the Three Dragon Guards to break past their natural limits and unleash humanity’s full potential. But, by possessing a Fire Dragon Heart, a Phoenix Sky Warrior reaching a certain cultivation level could also unlock immense potential to execute powerful Hero Combination Skills.

For millennia after the passing of the Three Dragon Guards, the Divine Dragon Empire, possessing the Fire Dragon Hearts, stood unchallenged, dominating the continent.

It could be said that the existence of the Fire Dragon Heart was one of the greatest safeguards for all Mafa humans. Sadly, during the Phoenix Sky War, the Fire Dragon Hearts vanished, and it wasn't until three thousand years ago that one was finally located.

This one Fire Dragon Heart became the treasured artifact of the subsequent Moluo Church. A Soul-Devouring Staff and a Fire Dragon Heart—one held by the Demon-Sealing royalty, the other by the Moluo Church. When faced with a life-or-death crisis, these two super-artifacts would unite to unleash a terrifying forbidden spell: the Fire Dragon’s Aura.

In my mind, all the legends concerning the Soul-Devouring Staff and the Fire Dragon Heart flashed by rapidly.

After all, these things were clearly documented in the Ranger’s Manual.

Are they about to unleash the Fire Dragon’s Aura? In an instant, I was stunned by my own terrifying deduction. There was no other explanation for why these two super-artifacts would be present simultaneously. If they intended to deploy the Fire Dragon’s Aura, their most direct target had to be Yuncheng.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but tremble. If they truly managed to activate the Fire Dragon’s Aura and attack Yuncheng, Jinyao and Feng Qingtian, who was being detained there by Jinyao, would undoubtedly face certain doom.

How powerful the Fire Dragon’s Aura was, I hadn't seen, but the legend stated that once successfully cast, the area within a ten-mile radius would be reduced to ash, with absolutely no living creatures remaining.

Damn it, what should I do now? I was pacing around like an ant on a hot griddle, unable to devise any feasible plan.

There were several Demon-Heaven Warriors stationed outside. If I exposed myself, I was guaranteed to meet my death. Although I prided myself on my speed, against Demon-Heaven Warriors, my speed was utterly insufficient.

And remaining here, who knew what would happen next?

The colossal Hexagram Array began to move slowly. Meanwhile, the blue-robed High Priest stared intently at the pile of ruins where I was hidden, seemingly calculating something.

Under his direction, the Hexagram Array slowly retreated, stopping when it was over seven hundred meters away.

Then, a long, complex chant drifted over. Although I couldn't decipher their words, the intensifying magical fluctuations around me made it clear that a massive amount of magic was already being gathered within the small five-hundred-square-foot area. Even the Demon-Heaven Warriors who had been guarding nearby looked visibly panicked, retreating far back before finally halting, still shaken.

The long chant grew increasingly urgent, as if hysterically pleading and summoning something. Even I, who was not proficient in magic, was stunned into place by the sheer magnitude of the phenomenon.

In that moment, a terrifying thought flashed through my mind.

Were they conducting a test of magical power, and the target they selected for this test was precisely the pile of ruins where I was concealed?

The more I considered it, the more plausible it seemed. This was the former Grand Temple of the Holy Word Church. Although only shattered ruins remained, given the centuries-long feud between the two great Churches, using these ruins to vent their hatred was certainly not beyond possibility.

Ah! It can’t be! What terrible luck have I stumbled into for such a disastrous event to befall me? I had congratulated myself yesterday for finding a safe little hideout, only to find I had dug my own grave.

Though I knew I possessed the rare Demon-Devouring Physique, they were about to unleash the terrifying forbidden spell, the Fire Dragon’s Aura. I couldn't imagine how I could possibly survive such a dreadful magical assault.

But now was clearly not the time to flee. The mere presence of the surrounding Demon-Heaven Warriors was enough to give me a major headache. While I believed my speed was astonishing, I also knew that against Demon-Heaven Warriors, my speed was utterly negligible. I recalled fighting tooth and nail just to keep up with Ji Du’s pace, and I was clear that Ji Du hadn't even pushed his speed to its limit then; otherwise, I wouldn't have even seen his silhouette. That was the gap—the vast, unbridgeable difference between the Grandmaster level and the Demon-Heaven level.

What should I do? Should I just sit here and wait for death? My brain spun at an unprecedented speed, yet I could not conceive of a way to escape the present predicament.

This cursed heaven is playing with me! With the situation as it is, rushing out means certain death. I had no choice but to stake everything on a gamble: whether my Demon-Devouring Physique could withstand the attack of the Fire Dragon’s Aura.

Moluo Aotian, along with Chaliven and the other generals stationed in Cicheng, watched the scene unfolding with tense scrutiny.

The massive Hexagram Array began emitting dazzling, multicolored light. Within the six smaller square formations, each Red-Robed High Priest maintained a grave expression.

Intense magical fluctuations swirled around them like rapidly spinning vortexes, converging towards them. The Red-Robed High Priests carefully guided this powerful magical energy along a specific trajectory, directing it toward the core of the Fire Dragon Array formed by High Priest Lanling and the four accompanying Red-Robed Priests.

Inside the array, Lanling held the staff in one hand and cradled the Fire Dragon Heart in the other, rapidly chanting a long incantation.

Bursts of golden-red light instantly expanded outward, eventually enveloping the entire Hexagram Array of over two thousand practitioners.

“Ah! It’s the Fire Dragon Barrier!” Moluo Aotian exclaimed excitedly, witnessing the sight.

“This is the Fire Dragon Barrier,” Chaliven confirmed, equally astonished. The most critical weakness of casting the Fire Dragon’s Aura was the considerable time required, which was the most vulnerable window for the spell to be interrupted or destroyed. To compensate for this flaw, the Moluo Church and the Demon-Sealing Imperial Family had spent centuries attempting to improve this magic, eventually devising a method to channel the powerful magical fluctuations preceding the Fire Dragon’s Aura along a specific operational trajectory, thereby forming a strong, constant magical barrier.

This was the resulting Fire Dragon Barrier. Under these conditions, any enemy wishing to harm the mages inside the barrier would first have to break through the barrier’s defense to reach the formation.

However, accomplishing this was far from easy; one needed at least Grandmaster-level strength to tear open the defenses of the Fire Dragon Barrier and penetrate to the core.

The light of the massive barrier grew brighter and brighter!

Roar! “Fire Dragon’s Aura!” Following Lanling’s earth-shattering roar.

A colossal fire dragon shot up from the very center of the Hexagram Array, soaring into the sky. Almost instantly, the surrounding Fire Dragon Barrier seemed to respond to the massive dragon's call, transforming into streams of golden-red light that shot towards the immense dragon hovering in the mid-air.

The coiling dragon’s form suddenly expanded significantly. From a distance, its length alone measured over two hundred meters.

Almost the moment the barrier dissolved, all the mages within the Hexagram Array turned deathly pale, collapsing onto the ground, utterly drained.

And Lanling looked utterly disheveled! But at this moment, no one paid them any mind; they stared tensely at the colossal, spiraling fire dragon in the sky.

Whoosh! Roar! As if having accumulated sufficient energy, the massive fire dragon instantly shot high into the sky!

Intense, violently twisting ripples of tearing immediately manifested in the heavens, stunning everyone present.

What level of terrifying magical power was required to rip and distort space like that? Innumerable twisted ripples, like blooming crimson clouds, rushed wildly toward the position of the fire dragon, as if the sky itself had transformed into a raging sea of fire. Within this inferno, the gigantic fire dragon roared in fury, churning the void, before suddenly diving down, slamming directly into the pile of ruins on the ground.

Bang! Rumble! With a brief, muffled roar, the fire dragon finally struck the ruins below. In an instant, rings of fiery light waves exploded outward.

The entire world was plunged into a terrifying silence. Everyone could only feel a faint ringing and vibration in their eardrums, and all they could see was a blank expanse of fire-red.

The air seemed completely consumed by combustion, leaving behind only a suffocating heat and dizziness, as if trapped inside a gigantic, fiery furnace.

Keep in mind, those present were a full seven hundred meters away from the explosion's epicenter, yet even they were left dumbfounded by the sheer terror of the magical fluctuation.

Heavens, what kind of power is this? Can humanity truly wield such a force?

Flames erupted like a series of exploding suns, recklessly spewing brilliant flashes of firelight.

But at that precise moment, a dazzling beam of blue light suddenly shot out like an electric current! Like a blue lightning bolt splitting the sky, it sped out from the midst of the violently churning sea of fire.

Ah! What is that! Lanling’s face was etched with horror; he could barely believe his own eyes!