Fire Phoenix Burns the Heavens, Nirvana True Fire

While Bing'er and the Extreme Cold Ice Luan were locked in fierce battle, a different scene unfolded near an active volcanic crater on the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The air here shimmered with scorching heat, and the ground was covered in dark red volcanic rock. The smell of sulfur hung heavily in the air. Molten lava flowed slowly within the crater, occasionally bubbling violently.

Yan'er stood at the edge of the crater, her fiery red battle dress fluttering in the heat waves. Her ruby-like eyes were fixed on the churning lava below. Her Ultimate Fire Martial Soul rejoiced with excitement; the fire-element energy here was far richer than she had imagined.

"Big lizard, stop hiding and get your ass out here!" Yan'er was impatient by nature. She directly gathered her Soul Power and shouted into the crater.

Gurgle, gurgle...

The lava pool churned violently as an enormous head covered in dark red scales slowly emerged from the magma. It was a massive lizard-type Soul Beast, over ten meters long, with powerful limbs and a tail like a steel whip. Most peculiar of all were its eyes—two dancing clusters of golden flame! When it opened its mouth to breathe, it expelled not hot air, but a stream of searing golden fire that turned the nearby rocks red and soft.

A Twenty-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—the Earth Core Fire Lizard!

The Earth Core Fire Lizard stared at Yan'er, greed flashing through its golden fiery pupils. It sensed incomparably pure and delicious fire-element energy from her. If it devoured her, perhaps its flames could evolve once more!

"Roar!"

The Earth Core Fire Lizard let out a deep roar. Its massive body sprang from the lava with astonishing agility, carrying a monstrous heat wave as it lunged straight at Yan'er! Opening its huge jaws, it blasted out a thick pillar of golden fire. Everywhere it passed, even the air ignited!

"Perfect!" Rather than being frightened, Yan'er was delighted. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings beneath her feet lit up instantly. "First Soul Skill, Fire Feather Protection!" Scorching fire feathers formed a flaming shield before her, blocking the golden fire pillar as flames scattered in all directions. "Second Soul Skill, Flame Rain Meteor!" She soared into the air and waved both hands, sending countless fireballs crashing down on the Earth Core Fire Lizard like meteors.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fireballs exploded against the Earth Core Fire Lizard's hard scales. Though they could not inflict fatal wounds, they still hurt it badly and further provoked its savage nature.

The Earth Core Fire Lizard swung its enormous tail at Yan'er in midair like a flaming whip, while continuously spewing golden flames from its mouth.

Relying on her agile movements, Yan'er darted and twisted through the air, constantly seeking chances to attack. Her flames were of exceptionally high quality. Though the Earth Core Fire Lizard's defenses were strong, its scales began to blacken and melt under the relentless burning of Ultimate Fire.

However, the Earth Core Fire Lizard possessed twenty thousand years of cultivation after all. Its Soul Power was immense, and after devouring Earthfire for so long, its flames carried a trace of the earth's power—heavy and enduring. As the battle dragged on, Yan'er began to feel her Soul Power draining rapidly, while the Earth Core Fire Lizard only grew fiercer.

"Is fire only about burning and destruction?" Yan'er recalled Qin Mo's teachings. No... Fire should possess the resilience to spread across the plains. More than that, it should carry the hope and creation of light!

She looked at the surging lava below, a manifestation of the forces of destruction and creation deep within the earth. Could her fire be the same?

After narrowly evading another sweep of the Earth Core Fire Lizard's tail, determination flashed through Yan'er's eyes. She stopped dodging and instead poured all of her Ultimate Fire Soul Power frantically into her Third Soul Ring!

"Third Soul Skill, Fire Phoenix... Nirvana!"

Boom!

Yan'er's body was instantly engulfed by incomparably dazzling golden-red flames! Those flames no longer contained mere destruction, but an enigmatic intent of being Born from Death! Within the fire, the phantom of a magnificent Fire Phoenix faintly spread its wings and let out a clear phoenix cry!

The golden fire pillar spat out by the Earth Core Fire Lizard struck the Nirvana flames, only to vanish like mud sinking into the sea, rapidly assimilated and absorbed! Not only did Yan'er's aura not weaken, it continued to rise within the flames, becoming purer and more domineering!

"This is... the power of Nirvana Rebirth?!" Qin Mo, watching from afar, was moved once again. Yan'er had actually comprehended the deepest Nirvana truth of the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul in battle! Though she had only just touched upon it, it was enough to bring a qualitative transformation to her flames!

The Earth Core Fire Lizard sensed a deadly threat. It wanted to retreat, but it was already too late.

Having transformed into a Nirvana Fire Phoenix, Yan'er's speed surged. Like a shooting star, she instantly arrived before the Earth Core Fire Lizard! She pressed her palms together and raised them over her head, gathering all the Nirvana flames into a massive divine sword of fire!

"Heaven-Burning... Slash!"

Carrying the will to purify everything and burn the eight wastelands to ash, the flaming divine sword came crashing down upon the Earth Core Fire Lizard's head!

Sizzle—!

There was no explosion, only a sound like a hot knife cutting through butter. The Earth Core Fire Lizard's hard scales and skull were as flimsy as paper before the Ultimate Fire infused with the true meaning of Nirvana, and were effortlessly cleaved apart!

"Roaaar—" The Earth Core Fire Lizard let out a brief, despairing howl. Its massive body crashed to the ground, and the golden flames in its eyes swiftly dimmed.

The Nirvana flames slowly receded, revealing Yan'er once more. Her face was pale, and her body swayed slightly. Clearly, that strike had consumed an enormous amount of power, but her eyes blazed like fire, filled with excitement and realization.

"Headmaster, I did it!" Yan'er cried excitedly toward Qin Mo.

Qin Mo and Zhu Zhuqing leaped over to her side. "Well done, Yan'er." Qin Mo smiled. "By comprehending the true meaning of Nirvana, your future will be limitless. Restore your Soul Power quickly and prepare to absorb the Soul Ring. This Twenty-Thousand-Year Earth Core Fire Lizard's essence is just what you need to stabilize your Nirvana flames."

Yan'er nodded excitedly and immediately sat down cross-legged to regulate her breathing. She knew that after this battle, her Fire Phoenix Martial Soul had truly begun to reveal its supreme potential.

The Ice and Fire Twin Beauties had both emerged victorious. Myriad Manifestations Academy's greatest combat strength was about to undergo an enormous leap.