The Demonic Dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of flame that instantly incinerated the fiends lunging toward it, reducing them to ash. Sensing the sheer power of the Dragon’s fire, one of the twelve white bones suddenly erupted in crimson light. A deep, rumbling sound resonated through the grand formation, causing Ye Jingyu, already tucked away in the formation's core, to frown deeply.

The words of the individual who had taught him the Twelve Heaven-Witch Extinction Array suddenly echoed in his mind. Without a second thought, the Celestial Venerable Blade materialized in his hand, and with a decisive motion, he drew it sharply across his wrist.

A spurt of blood shot out, immediately absorbed by the bone glowing with that intense crimson light. As the blood sank in, the carvings upon the bone became startlingly clear.

It depicted a monstrous being: a colossal creature with a beast's head and a human body, clad in scarlet scales, adorned with fire serpents at its ears, and stepping upon a fire dragon. As Ye Jingyu’s vital essence flooded into it, ancient runes began to drift off the bone, and the eyes of the colossal beast image started to glow with a predatory red.

"Roar…" A thunderous bellow escaped the apparition. As the red light coalesced, a spectral image slowly materialized from the void—a being cloaked in red scales, fire serpents crowning its ears, and a fire dragon beneath its feet. It was an exact duplicate of the carved beast.

Though only a phantom, this projection towered several zhang high, radiating an oppressive, searing heat. Even the Demonic Dragon paused mid-motion, momentarily stunned by the sheer aura of this manifested spirit.

Ye Jingyu, meanwhile, gasped for breath, his chest heaving. To summon this entity, he had sacrificed nearly one-third of his core vital blood.

The Twelve Heaven-Witch Extinction Array was truly not meant for ordinary individuals. He already possessed the Chi You Banner, yet the cost was this immense. Without the Banner, wouldn't summoning even the phantom of a Demon God utterly drain him dry?

Feeling the formidable power emanating from the projection, the Demonic Dragon dared not move rashly. Furthermore, the grand formation was wreathed in swirling mist, occasionally spitting out smaller imps, making it impossible for the Dragon to pinpoint Ye Jingyu’s location.

The manifested giant also appeared disinclined to attack; it merely surveyed its surroundings with intense curiosity. The illusory fire dragon beneath its feet and the spectral serpents on its ears began to inhale and exhale rhythmically, greedily absorbing the dense fire elemental energy saturating the cavern.

Suddenly, the phantom seemed to detect something. Its pair of scarlet eyes fixed directly upon the clear patch of ground in the center of the lake, and a distinct expression of delight crossed its face.

"Ao..." As if sensing the projection’s gaze, the fire dragon beneath the phantom’s feet let out a true draconic cry and immediately surged toward that open patch of ground.

At this moment, the Demonic Dragon, which had been holding its position with extreme caution, saw its face contort in horror. That spot was where its Master lay dormant. His Master had not yet fully awakened; how could he allow an outsider to defile the area? Though confused as to why this projection possessed such astonishing power, the Dragon shot toward the clearing instantly.

The Demonic Dragon moved with terrifying speed, its massive form closing the distance to the phantom in an instant. It opened its cavernous maw and spat a plume of searing flame.

"Begone..." A roar erupted from the phantom’s mouth, like clashing thunder. Simultaneously, it thrust out a hand. What had been a spectral appendage instantly solidified into a palm wreathed in pure flame, slamming down with crushing force upon the Dragon’s back, shattering its body into pieces.

The two fire dragons under the phantom’s feet then frantically lunged at the ruined corpse, their massive jaws swallowing the Demonic Dragon’s essence and soul completely.

Ye Jingyu’s heart jolted. This Demon God was this powerful? A mere phantom had shattered a Demonic Dragon that was clearly at least a Grade Five entity with a single slap. How devastating would it be if it achieved full materialization?

Despite sensing the phantom’s terrifying might, no joy registered on Ye Jingyu’s face. To manifest this projection, he had expended a third of his irreplaceable vital essence—a resource that diminished with every use, and whose replenishment was an unknown prospect.

Though the phantom had casually delivered that single blow, that strike had drained half of his remaining strength. Another strike or two, and he would be reduced to a dried husk without any external interference.

What frustrated him most, however, was the fact that the phantom possessed its own consciousness, entirely outside of his control.

The phantom seemed utterly oblivious to Ye Jingyu’s concerns, its massive body already crashing down onto the clear patch of ground. It manifested a giant fist and drove it straight toward the earth.

"Boom..." A colossal concussion shook the earth as the fist pulverized the ground, sending a column of red light blasting toward the heavens. From the debris of the impact, a Golden Core, roughly the size of a fist, shot upward.

The moment the phantom threw its punch, the remaining energy within Ye Jingyu was utterly depleted. His eyes rolled back, and he nearly blacked out. But as he fought to steady himself and force his eyes open, he saw the fiery red Golden Core soaring high above.

Seeing the Core, relentlessly radiating crimson light that pierced the sky, Ye Jingyu’s eyes finally shone with pure avarice.

"This... this... this is actually a Fire Spirit Pearl? A Fire Spirit Pearl that requires tens of thousands of years to condense in a place of absolute fire deprivation? It can contain all flames, absorb all flames—the innate supreme treasure of the fire attribute! This is a genuine primordial object! Any practitioner of fire-attribute cultivation who possessed this Pearl would see their cultivation speed increase by at least a hundredfold. Moreover, the Fire Spirit Pearl is already a congenital magical artifact; it requires no special refinement to exert tremendous power. If I could possess it, Ye Jingyu felt he could even stand against a Venerable-grade expert. Though he still didn't know how the phantom discovered the Fire Spirit Pearl buried beneath that clearing, or why it drained half his power without permission, he was now ecstatic. But just as this realization dawned, a tremendous roar erupted from the depths of the lake—a sound of pure, enraged fury, as if a sleeping demon had been violently awakened. Hearing that sound, Ye Jingyu knew the powerful entity slumbering below was stirring. His heart tightened with dread. His own energy was utterly spent; controlling the Twelve Heaven-Witch Extinction Array was now a struggle. How could he possibly withstand an attack from that colossal being? As he pondered whether to flee immediately or secure the Fire Spirit Pearl first, the massive phantom snatched the Pearl and prepared to swallow it whole. Simultaneously, a blinding pillar of fire erupted from the lake’s surface, tearing into the sky.

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