The Flamingos, which had remained watching from their spot, sensed the shift in the air’s magic, seemingly understanding the terrifying power of the spell being cast. Instantly, the calls emanating from their beaks quickened in tempo.

The fire elements that had been swirling around the Flamingos began to rotate rapidly, coalescing behind them into a massive ring of flame stretching dozens of meters long and nearly ten meters wide. Under the direction of the two birds, this colossal fiery circle hurtled towards Mohan and Bai Ling.

As time passed, the magical density of the fire elements within the immense ring grew ever thicker, and the flames surrounding the circle became more dazzling, suddenly bathing the sky above Mohan and his companions in a crimson glow.

In the wake of this massive fiery ring, even the black trees—which possessed significant fire resistance—began to emit wisps of black smoke under the influence of the immense heat. Notably, the flames of the great circle did not directly touch these trees; mere exposure to the scorching energy radiating from the ring’s periphery caused this reaction.

Mohan recalled using a fifth-level Fire Dragon's Wrath to directly burn those very trees before, yet failing to ignite them. To see them now smoking just from the fringe heat of this fire ring suggested the temperature within was utterly staggering.

Even Mohan and the others, still tens of meters away from the flames, clearly felt the ambient heat reaching an unbearable level, as if their entire bodies had been plunged into a furnace.

However, before the massive fire ring could close in, Mohan had already begun to invoke a defensive spell.

Just as the ring approached, a large-scale Water Magic Barrier materialized around Mohan and Bai Ling—a shimmering, pale blue curtain of light spanning three meters.

This instantly shielded them, freeing them from the deadly, high temperatures. At that moment, the giant fire ring, under the Flamingos’ control, finally slammed down onto the ground. Immediately, the black trees of the Death Forest began to crackle and explode under the effect of the massive ring’s magic.

Clearly, the temperature inside the colossal fire circle vastly exceeded the breaking point of the black timber.

Subsequently, unable to endure the immense heat, every black tree in the path of the flames instantly burst into furious combustion.

Due to the fire ring’s shape, looking from a distance revealed that the burning trees completely encircled Mohan and Bai Ling, forming a vast, circular perimeter.

Upon touching down, this colossal fire ring began to shrink steadily.

In just a few moments, its diameter had nearly halved from its original dozens of meters, bringing the innermost layer of flame less than twenty meters from Mohan and his companion.

Mohan could even see the black dead leaves, accumulated beneath the floor of the Death Forest for untold years, beginning to ignite under the terrifying heat.

Observing this scene, Mohan rapidly cycled through every fire spell stored in his memory. He concluded that, short of the absolute highest-tier forbidden curses, no fire magic he knew possessed the power or energy to match this terrifying fiery ring.

At this juncture, Bai Ling’s spell seemed to enter its crucial phase. Her incantation noticeably slowed, but her complexion grew increasingly pale. As a mage, Mohan knew this was the body’s natural reaction to massive magical drain—a state typically reserved for spells cast far beyond a mage’s normal capabilities. Bai Ling’s current spell clearly fell into that category.

Mohan could gauge Bai Ling’s casting speed; her chant was growing agonizingly slow, yet every magical syllable she uttered caused the ambient magical elements to move violently, entirely unaffected by the dense external fire elements.

“Four great elements, lend me the strength of your hearts, forge an eternal oath, from the beginning of the void to the end of chaos.”

Each line of the spell, clearly articulated by Bai Ling, sent ripples through the massive elements in the air, compelling them to gather around her in constant motion, adhering to a fixed pattern.

These magical elements behaved like immovable stones in a sea of fire; no matter how concentrated the surrounding fire elements were, or how frenzied their energy became, they moved swiftly within their own space, strictly obeying Bai Ling’s magical command.

Mohan understood that the Water Magic Barrier he had placed around himself and Bai Ling, while considered high-tier in water-based protective magic, certainly lacked the necessary energy reserves to withstand an attack approaching forbidden-curse level.

Indeed, before the terrifying flames of the fire ring even fully reached the pale blue light curtain, Mohan’s barrier began to shake violently. As the flames crept closer, Mohan saw the blue shield visibly thinning, appearing on the verge of rupture. Without looking, he knew the external temperature must be astounding; otherwise, this high-level water protection would not be so fragile.

Fortunately, Mohan had anticipated this outcome. With a flash of white light from both hands, the Holy Sword of Light in his grasp transformed into a wand entirely red—the Saint Dragon Staff, the highest-grade magical weapon in Mohan’s collection, the very item bestowed upon him by Mo Xiuyi.

The last time Mohan had deployed the Saint Dragon Staff, its formidable power had allowed him to unleash a forbidden curse, defeating the mysterious Dark Mage and his tens of thousands of skeletal warriors. Now, facing two Flamingos, both having reached the level of Sacred Beasts, Mohan reasoned that the strength of a single Flamingo was likely not far behind that Dark Mage.

Facing two of them, Mohan dared not be careless, hence his decision to use the Saint Dragon Staff to temporarily boost his own magical strength, buying Bai Ling more time.

Mohan raised the Saint Dragon Staff and began to chant swiftly: “Shining glory, grant this helpless soul your shelter; all foreign evils shall vanish into nothingness, under the guard of your great radiance, all power shall be nullified. Appear—Holy Light Barrier!”

Mohan was now casting the ultimate protective spell in Light Magic: the Holy Light Barrier. At his current level, casting this was no challenge, and its defensive capability was easily comparable to one personally cast by the Pope of Light.

This was also the protective barrier Mohan was most proficient with among all his defensive spells, the one in which he held the greatest confidence. The Holy Light Barrier had previously required even a Death General of Sword Saint caliber considerable effort to breach. Moreover, the version Mohan was casting now was significantly more potent than the one deployed back in Tianlong City.

An intense, dazzling white light instantly flared around Mohan and his companion.

Though the scope of the Holy Light Barrier was modest, the sheer brilliance of its light signaled a clear step up from the previous water barrier, indicating that Mohan’s magical proficiency had improved considerably under Bai Ling’s guidance.

As for the prior Water Barrier, under the pressure of the Flamingos’ immense fire ring, it could no longer sustain the high temperatures when the flames were only about five meters away. It instantly shattered, dissipating into plumes of white vapor.

However, these flames were immediately halted by the Holy Light Barrier Mohan had erected.

This Holy Light Barrier proved vastly more robust than the preceding water defense. The terrifying outer flames had virtually no effect upon meeting it; only a layer of white radiance flowed over the barrier’s exterior.

The flames posed no real threat upon encountering this white glow, and Mohan felt a measure of relief. If even the Holy Light Barrier could not repel these terrible flames, he would have been utterly helpless.

The two Flamingos clearly sensed that their fire magic was meeting tenacious resistance and could no longer pose an effective threat to Mohan. At this moment, both birds let out loud cries, then each spat a small, golden pellet forward, hurtling it into the massive circle of fire engulfing Mohan.

Mohan’s heart tightened. Although he didn't know what the pellets were, he surmised they represented the condensed essence of these two Sacred Beasts. Generally, Sacred Beasts would not easily expel their essence unless forced to temporarily amplify an attack, which inevitably compromised their own strength.

In this world of the strong preying on the weak, any reduction in power meant vulnerability to stronger rivals. Thus, Sacred Beasts rarely deployed this inherent vital energy unless facing an existential threat; they would use any opportunity to flee first.

Yet, these two Flamingos were discarding their essence without hesitation at this critical juncture. The situation seemed momentarily favorable for them. Though they couldn't breach Mohan’s Holy Light Barrier immediately, given enough time, Mohan’s mana reserves would certainly deplete before those of two Sacred Beasts. Eventually, Mohan would be the first to run dry.

However, the Flamingos were clearly aware they lacked infinite time. Bai Ling’s magic was approaching completion; even the Holy Light Barrier could not fully contain the seven-colored light emanating from her spell, with slivers of magical luminescence stubbornly piercing through.

The Flamingos were evidently highly wary of Bai Ling’s magic. Seeing her spell nearing conclusion, they discarded caution, releasing a portion of their vital essence to intensify the fire ring’s power, determined to break Mohan’s defensive barrier before Bai Ling finished casting.

As expected, upon contact with the massive, burning fire circle, the golden pellets caused an immediate transformation in the roaring flames. The intense red fire, after absorbing the essence, suddenly shrank in volume.

Moreover, the red flames began a slow metamorphosis, gradually shifting to a pale blue hue—yet their destructive power increased manifold.

The black trees that were still burning instantly turned to ash upon encountering these blue flames, disintegrating into powder before they could even fully burn. These were trees impervious to fifth-level magic, yet before the blue flames, they were like flammable cotton.

In an instant, all the trees surrounding Mohan were reduced to ash, clearing a vast perimeter around him.

Inside the Holy Light Barrier, Mohan felt a surge of internal despair. These flames now contained the vital essence of two Sacred Beasts; even the mighty Holy Light Barrier faced a perilous situation.

The previously stable Holy Light Barrier began to emit bursts of white light under attack from the blue flames. The ambient white glow that had previously coated the barrier’s exterior had long since been vaporized by the intensely hot white fire. Now, the blue flames were directly impinging upon the barrier’s core structure.

The entire Holy Light Barrier pulsed brilliantly under the assault of this perverted flame, indicating its defensive energy had reached its absolute limit. Yet, the flames, like Hellfire, relentlessly consumed the barrier’s magical energy.

Mohan, who was maintaining the barrier, felt his mana being sucked into the Holy Light Barrier like flowing water, yet it seemed insufficient to keep pace with the fire’s rate of consumption.

The light of the entire Holy Light Barrier began to dim gradually.

Mohan was currently only at the peak of a beginner Saint Magus, not even having reached the intermediate tier. Confronting two ancient Sacred Beasts simultaneously had clearly exceeded the limits of his strength. The glow of the Holy Light Barrier grew dimmer, and the barrier itself began to warp and distort unnervingly, clearly signaling imminent collapse.

Mohan was frantic, yet utterly helpless. This Holy Light Barrier was the strongest defensive spell he knew. Furthermore, all his mana was currently channeled into its maintenance. If he tried to cast another defensive spell, he would have to temporarily withdraw mana support from the barrier.

However, given the barrier's current state, withdrawing support would likely cause it to shatter instantly. Mohan had no spare energy to cast anything else, forcing him to stand there and endure desperately. The situation worsened rapidly; if this continued, Mohan and Bai Ling would be reduced to ash before Bai Ling’s spell was complete.

If Mohan were alone, he might have a chance to escape the flames’ radius using his Dou Qi. After all, however great the flames’ power, they possessed a finite area of effect. If he exerted his full strength to flee, he stood a decent chance of escaping the blue flames’ influence before the Holy Light Barrier broke.

But now, with Bai Ling casting beside him, he could not leave freely. If Mohan fled, Bai Ling would instantly perish. Bai Ling had saved him more than once; Mohan certainly could not abandon her—that wouldn't be Mohan.

Thus, despite the dire crisis, Mohan entertained no thought of escape. He could only continue to pour his mana frantically into the Holy Light Barrier, hoping to hold out just long enough for Bai Ling’s spell to conclude. Under these circumstances, his mana depletion rate was terrifyingly fast.

In mere moments, Mohan felt more than half his mana drained. Yet, Bai Ling’s spell was still incomplete, and her chanting grew slower, with perhaps a full minute passing between each syllable. He had no idea when her spell would end, and though anxious, Mohan could do nothing.