Cultivation Surges, Armament Awakens!

The figure wrapped in crimson flames sank deeper and deeper into the sea of magma!

As the throbbing in his heart grew stronger.

Xiao Yan seemed to understand the source of that agitation.

The depth of his descent increased.

The surrounding magma gradually shifted from red to a cyan hue.

The temperature rose higher and higher, the scales of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake peeling off in the magma, revealing raw, bloody flesh.

It could barely hold on and had no choice but to stop.

But by now, Xiao Yan had already sensed the location of that pure fire-type energy.

No longer needing the Fire Spirit Snake, Xiao Yan suddenly burst forth with Dou Qi, his descent speed instantly accelerating!

A spark of the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame ignited at his fingertips, guiding him forward at breakneck speed.

Until the outline of a circular stone platform, dozens of meters in diameter, emerged in his vision.

Old Yao's phantom suddenly solidified:

"The scent of the Green Lotus Core Flame!"

The stone platform hovered within the magma vortex, forcing back the magma for a hundred zhang in all directions into a ring of fire.

At the center of the platform, a massive green lotus, about three zhang in diameter, bloomed quietly.

Its twelve petals shimmered with a jade-like luster.

In the heart of the lotus, a jade-colored lotus seat, two to three chi across, glowed with cyan light.

But the center of that lotus seat, where the Strange Fire should have been enshrined, was now completely empty!

Only a single seven-colored snake scale remained, gleaming with an eerie purple light.

Xiao Yan stepped onto the platform and walked straight toward the lotus seat.

Old Yao's expression turned grave:

"Judging from the energy fluctuations of this green lotus, it has been gestating for at least a thousand years."

"By all logic, a Strange Fire should have been born here."

"But boy, don't lose heart."

"The path of cultivation is inherently difficult; success or failure is still uncertain..."

Old Yao snapped back to reality:

He feared that his disciple, who had searched so hard all this way, would end up with nothing.

A surge of indignation rose in him, and he prepared to offer words of comfort.

But when he turned his head, he was stunned, and the comforting words died in his throat.

There stood Xiao Yan, leaning lightly against the massive green lotus.

Fiddling with a seven-colored snake scale in his hand.

There was not a trace of regret on his face; instead, a faint smile hung there:

"Teacher, don't jump to conclusions so quickly."

"Who said we're going back empty-handed?"

"Isn't this a clue?"

"The scent of a high-tier snake-type magical beast."

The moment Old Yao's phantom touched the snake scale, he had already deduced the result:

"A snake scale like this—in the Tagor Desert, there's probably only one person who could have it."

"Moreover, this scale shows traces of transformation."

"According to what Hai Bodong said, Medusa reached Peak Dou Huang a long time ago."

"Could she be trying to forcibly devour a Strange Fire to evolve her bloodline?"

Having reached this speculation, Old Yao regained his composed demeanor.

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Teacher, aren't you worried she might succeed in devouring the Strange Fire and evolve?"

The moment Xiao Yan spoke, Old Yao let out a scoff:

"Devour a Strange Fire? It's not that simple."

"The Snake People Clan has no high-tier alchemists, so they can't take high-tier pills to assist in subduing a Strange Fire."

"Thus, they can only forcibly devour it."

"And forcibly devouring a Strange Fire—even a high-tier Dou Zong could perish body and soul with the slightest misstep."

"She's just a Peak Dou Huang, even if her magical beast body is tough and her bloodline noble."

"Forcibly devouring a Strange Fire has a ninety-nine percent chance of failure."

"Whether he can even keep his life is uncertain, let alone advancing his bloodline."

"Once she fails and dies, we'll charge straight into the Snake People Clan."

"Taking the Strange Fire will be as easy as turning over a hand."

Xiao Yan nodded:

"Teacher, let's set aside the matter of the Strange Fire for now."

"The purity and concentration of fire-element energy here are too high."

"I feel a tremor in my constitution. Once I provoke it, I might awaken another ability."

Old Yao's eyes lit up, casting aside the Strange Fire matter:

He knew full well the terror of Xiao Yan's constitution—with his current cultivation, he couldn't even begin to unleash it.

And this time, it might be another phased awakening:

"Go ahead and do it. I'll guard you!"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, walked to the center of the green lotus, closed his eyes, and sat cross-legged.

His palm pressed lightly against the lotus root, and gilded patterns spread along his arm across his entire body:

In an instant:

"Boom!"

The world's energy suddenly erupted into chaos!

The Kirin Heaven Devouring Art within him spun wildly!

The fire-element energy accumulated by the green lotus for a thousand years turned into a Crimson Gold Torrent, surging through his meridians.

The power slumbering deep within was awakened!

Dou Qi condensed in an instant:

Five-star Dou Ling

Six-star

Seven-star!

The roar of surging cultivation echoed, cracking the stone platform's surface with fissures.

The raging fire-element energy gathered madly, forming a spectacular hundred-meter energy vortex!

"ROAR!!!"

From deep within the magma came the roar of a kirin, and a hundred-meter phantom emerged behind Xiao Yan!

Crimson Armor began to solidify from his chest outward, scales clashing with the sound of gold and jade.

A Crimson Fire Emblem was set into the helmet at his brow, and Flowing Fire Plumes extended from his shoulder guards!

Every armor pattern flowed with Liquid Flame.

Leg plates emerged one by one, each gleaming like the Crimson Fire Scales of a kirin!

A wild, ancient aura descended abruptly!

"What is this...?"

"What!?"

Old Yao's voice trembled slightly. Even after roaming the continent for centuries!

He had never seen such a sight, let alone heard of it!

Having fully condensed his armor, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes.

Crimson pupils flickered with red light!

He flicked a finger, and the fingertip in Armament State grazed the stone platform.

Where it touched, the stone instantly vaporized, melting a ten-zhang trench.

With a thought, Four Fire Wings spread from his back, expanding to seven zhang!

A single flap stirred magma surges beneath.

At this moment, he seemed to embody the origin of all flames, every move resonating with energy.

In Armament State, he could even briefly elevate his cultivation!

Unleashing power far beyond his normal limits!

"Four-star Dou King."

Feeling the surging power within, Xiao Yan suddenly punched toward the sky above!

"BOOM!"

The fist wind transformed into a crimson kirin charging upward, blasting a well dozens of zhang in diameter through a kilometer of molten rock!

"So this is... Armament?"

Examining himself closely, he realized the armor he now wore was nothing like before—no longer brimming with a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic.

Instead, it was a fusion of ancient and modern, domineering and awe-inspiring!

Yet it didn't feel out of place.

With a flap of his Four Wings, he plunged into the lava in an instant.

In the span of a breath, he burst through the surface of the Lava Lake!

A surging momentum swept across the surroundings!

On the rocky cliff, Hai Bodong's Ice Wings snapped open instantly.

Frost Armor coalesced around his body.

He stared at the armored youth, whose form was wreathed in flowing Liquid Flame.

Behind him, four wings flailed wildly, fire elemental energy dancing and swirling around him.

He was like the sovereign of this molten world!

The instincts of a Dou Emperor screamed warnings...

At this moment, Xiao Yan reminded him of the faint sensation he'd once felt facing Medusa the Queen.

Nearby:

Qing Lin curled up in Xiao Yi Xian's arms, sneaking glances at Xiao Yan.

Her eyes brimmed with adoration.

Xiao Yi Xian also turned her gaze toward him, her look tender.

Yet ripples stirred in her heart:

He's grown stronger again, as always.

I wonder when I'll finally be able to help him.

Only Hai Bodong stared at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with sheer shock.

There was even a hint of bewilderment:

You've got to be kidding me?

Damn it, not even two hours have passed!

When he went down, I could easily handle him. Now that he's come up, I feel a lethal threat!?

What kind of human is this!?