"That old man does have some reputation in our Xuyang Commandery." Someone interjected from the side, "His name is Wang Yun! He's a rather powerful master from Fanwu City in our Xuyang Commandery.
However... within Fanwu City, he only ranks among the top few.
To think he can now clash with experts from the Earth Ranking—I never expected Old Wang to have hidden such strength." "Only ranked near the top in Fanwu City? But he can contend with Commander Ji Hong and Elder Qi Yan of the Shanshui Sect in Qingzhou.
That’s already close to the Earth Ranking." The other martial artists listening sighed in awe. A martial artist who couldn't even claim the top spot in a small city—his strength was truly remarkable.
Logically, he should be considered at best a decent first-rate martial artist. "He hid himself deeply!" Many people secretly etched the name 'Wang Yun' into their memories.
From this day forward, the great name of Wang Yun would spread rapidly. The Black and White Elders joined forces against Teng Qingshan, while Ji Hong, the silver-haired old man 'Wang Yun,' and that sinister woman 'Qi Yan' fought fiercely amongst themselves.
... No one present paid attention to the magma lake.
Gurgle~~~ Bubbles occasionally surfaced, radiating heat. This sight was commonplace.
Deep within the scorching magma flow of the lake, a colossal entity lay hidden at the bottom. The magma flowed slowly, yet the terrifying heat could not harm this massive creature in the slightest.
Its body towered over two zhang high and stretched four to five zhang long, complete with a terrifying tail over two zhang in length. It was the Scarlet Scale Beast!
The Scarlet Scale Beast was inherently a fire-elemental demon beast. Its very core boiled with the power of fire!
Once it swallowed the 'Crimson Fire Spirit Fruit' and underwent another transformation, it would be able to spew flames whose power would surpass that of this magma flow, easily melting metal and forging iron. Even Xiantian experts would regard it with deep apprehension.
As for the magma flow, the Scarlet Scale Beast absolutely adored the intense heat. Since its infancy, it had been nurtured in such a scorching environment.
Resting at the bottom of the magma flow was, to it, akin to bathing. The extreme heat had no effect whatsoever.
At the bottom of the magma stream, it could even open its eyes! The transparent membrane covering its pupils could easily withstand such high temperatures.
Unlike human eyes, they could adapt to the heat and see clearly in the darkness as if it were broad daylight. It was lying in wait!
As a demon beast, its hearing was also terrifyingly acute. Its pair of ears clearly perceived the sound of weapons clashing above, and it could even discern the location of every individual based on the sound.
... No one knew the Scarlet Scale Beast was hiding at the bottom of the magma lake; Teng Qingshan and his five companions were still locked in combat.
"This Teng Qingshan's spear technique is truly formidable. Even with Old White assisting me, we can't make headway against him." Elder Black and Elder White exchanged glances, unable to conceal the shock in their hearts.
Although they ranked sixty-ninth and seventieth respectively on the Earth Ranking, they were still Earth Ranking experts, and they were fighting in a confined space. "My identity cannot be exposed!" The silver-haired old man 'Wang Yun' dodged a slash from Qi Yan.
"I spent nearly a year studying Wang Yun's habits, movements, and smiles to completely replace him and live comfortably under his guise! If my 'Wang Yun' identity is exposed, Wei Wuya will surely come after me!
I might as well entertain myself with these youngsters for a while longer." Wang Yun wielded a long saber with broad, sweeping movements that carried immense power. Just as the six masters were locked in mutual combat— "Boom!" The slow, steady flow of the magma river suddenly erupted!
Magma sprayed everywhere, causing even the masters standing near the lake's edge to cry out and evade, yet a small amount of magma still splashed over. Where the searing liquid landed, clothes instantly ignited, and skin and muscle were scorched.
The unfortunate martial artists struck cried out in agony. "Ah!" "Hiss—" There was a scent of cooked meat, but they were relatively fortunate, suffering only minor injuries.
The six figures on the black boulder, however, were disastrously affected! "What is that!" All six were greatly alarmed.
Faced with the splashing magma, the six masters swiftly dodged. But immediately afterward, they saw a massive head breach the surface of the magma lake.
That head alone was nearly eight feet (two meters) long; such a terrifying cranium was taller than an average adult male. "Scarlet Scale Beast!" Teng Qingshan’s expression shifted.
"Scarlet Scale Beast!" A chorus of gasps rose from the distance. No one had expected a Scarlet Scale Beast to be hiding at the bottom of the magma lake.
As soon as the massive demon beast surfaced, its huge eyes, glowing like scarlet lanterns, fixed upon the six individuals. Its immense mouth opened— Whoosh!
A torrent of magma shot out like an arrow toward the six people on the black boulder. "This Scarlet Scale Beast can actually inhale magma?
And spit it out?" Teng Qingshan was astonished. The Scarlet Scale Beast was already accustomed to the extreme heat, capable of protecting even its fragile eyeballs, let alone its mouth and throat.
The spewed magma spread in a fan shape, engulfing the entire black boulder. The six masters leaped up simultaneously.
"Boom!" The Scarlet Scale Beast's entire colossal body burst forth from the magma flow, its form—over two zhang high and four to five zhang long—resembling a small mountain, causing the distant martial artists to cry out in shock. The demon beast’s terrifying maw gaped open, aiming directly for the expert from Qingzhou, the only woman among the six, 'Qi Yan.' Qi Yan's scarred face contorted in terror.
She roared, swinging her curved saber toward the attacking Scarlet Scale Beast. The beast slightly evaded the blow.
Clang! The curved saber struck the beast's scale armor on its forehead, leaving only a pale mark on the dense plating.
The Scarlet Scale Beast took the opportunity to clamp down on 'Qi Yan' with its mouth. "Crunch!" Its interlocking, saw-like sharp teeth bit down, cleaving Qi Yan instantly in two.
One half of her body dropped back into the magma lake, dissolving into ash, while the other half was swallowed directly by the Scarlet Scale Beast. This sight struck terror into nearly every martial artist present!
Qi Yan perished in the first exchange! Whoosh!
The five individuals who had leaped up, including Teng Qingshan, were now descending. Precisely as they landed, losing their leverage for momentum— "Whoosh!" The gigantic body of the Scarlet Scale Beast slammed down upon the five!
It must be remembered that the entire black boulder was only a little over one zhang wide, yet the Scarlet Scale Beast was over two zhang tall and four to five zhang long—a behemoth. Its pounce felt like a small mountain crushing down on the five, and the beast's forelegs, tipped with razor-sharp claws, raked toward them!
It dared not swipe at Teng Qingshan! In its view, Teng Qingshan was the most threatening among the five humans before it!
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" The claw blades on its talons were like four sharp knives stabbing simultaneously, aimed respectively at Commander Ji Hong and Elder White. "Clang!" "Clang!" "Ah—" The pounce of the colossal Scarlet Scale Beast sent the five masters flying, slamming them backward.
Commander Ji Hong and Elder White, who bore the brunt of the claw attacks, suffered worse fates. Ji Hong's long saber was knocked away, and his right arm was shredded into pieces, blood spraying everywhere.
Elder White's left leg was ripped clean off. "Get away!" "Scram!" The other three launched fierce counter-attacks.
Elder Black, as he was thrown back, violently thrust his sword into the scale armor. Alas, it didn't even scratch the surface.
Teng Qingshan and the silver-haired old man 'Wang Yun' launched powerful strikes! "Boom!" Teng Qingshan's Samsara Spear whistled piercingly through the air with a chilling sound, slamming toward the Scarlet Scale Beast.
As it neared the beast, its power instantly surged! Thump!
And the silver-haired old man 'Wang Yun's' war saber tore through the air, cleaving down onto the Scarlet Scale Beast's body. "Roar~~~" The Scarlet Scale Beast roared in pain, its massive body sent tumbling by the impact.
The attacks from Teng Qingshan and the silver-haired old man 'Wang Yun' had wounded it. "Good kid." The silver-haired old man glanced at Teng Qingshan.
Since the others were further away, and Teng Qingshan's move unleashed its greatest power in the final instant—the duration was too short for those in the distance to discern or accurately judge the spear's true might. However, the silver-haired old man could judge it.
"In this world, among Houtian experts, this Teng Qingshan can at least rank in the top twenty," the silver-haired old man mused internally. The beast tumbled after being struck by the pair.
The impact force of the pounce, combined with the recoil, sent both Teng Qingshan and the silver-haired old man flying toward the lake shore. Among the five who were knocked back, Teng Qingshan, the silver-haired old man, and Elder Black were somewhat prepared; they could use the recoil to fly completely to the magma lake's edge.
But Elder White and Ji Hong were grievously injured. They were projected backward toward the shore, but before they traveled far, they began to plummet.
"Old Bai!" Elder Black screamed tragically, forced to watch as Elder White, with one leg gone, struggled powerlessly before finally falling into the magma, engulfed in flames! "Commander!" Guan Lü and the group on the shore cried out in alarm.
"Commander!" Teng Qingshan's face also darkened. Elder White's fate was tragic, but Ji Hong was in a similarly dire situation!
"Am I going to die just like this?" Ji Hong was falling backward, helpless. He could even feel a wave of heat approaching from behind.
"Commander!" A loud shout echoed next to Ji Hong's ear. Ji Hong turned his head to look.
He saw the shadow of a spear flashing towards him, striking him like hitting a sandbag—this spear shadow smacked into Ji Hong's abdomen— Whoosh! Ji Hong was sent soaring, flung all the way to the distant shore of the magma lake.
Upon landing, Ji Hong ignored his relief and stared at Teng Qingshan above the lake: "Qingshan!" "Qingshan!" Guan Lü was also shocked. Many people on the shore watched Teng Qingshan: some in shock, some admiring, and some filled with schadenfreude...
After striking Ji Hong, Teng Qingshan, subjected to the recoil force, was slowly pushed back in the opposite direction toward the black boulder. This recoil was insufficient.
Teng Qingshan began to drop when he was still three zhang away from the black boulder—and below him lay the searing magma! "Qingshan!" Teng Qihu shouted anxiously.
"Lord Commander!" The Black Armored Army soldiers cried out urgently. Teng Qingshan abruptly spun around, facing the black boulder.
Then, with a smile, he violently swung the Samsara Spear, smashing it straight down into the magma below! Thump!
The flat, diamond-shaped spearhead struck the magma surface, generating a powerful counter-force that propelled Teng Qingshan upward, like a soaring eagle, back toward the black stone in the center of the magma lake. Near the black stone, the colossal head of the Scarlet Scale Beast emerged from the magma, its cold, red pupils fixed on the flying Teng Qingshan.