After slaying the Infernal Stone Bear, the four rested briefly, then followed the Parting Fire Mirror's guidance deeper into the heart of Flamewind Valley.
The black stone path grew increasingly rugged, and the roar of volcanic eruptions drew ever closer. The killing intent in the air was so dense it almost took solid form; even a single breath required them to circulate fire origin power to forcibly suppress it.
Their journey was far from smooth.
Early the next morning, just after the group rounded a small erupting volcano, a flurry of faint hisses came from the crimson mist ahead.
"Watch out!"
Su Qinghan stopped first and spread his spiritual sense, his tone grave. "Crimson Flame Flying Centipedes. They're fire beasts that live in groups, extremely fast. Their venomous tail stingers can pierce fire origin power barriers."
Before he finished speaking, dozens of crimson figures shot from the mist. Each was as thick as an arm, covered in scarlet scales, with a venomous stinger at its tail that gleamed an eerie blue. Their beating wings whipped up gusts of violent wind laced with poisonous fire.
"Li Lie, hold them off from the front!"
Zhao Yan barked the order. Fire patterns surged across his body, and his pure fire law formed a massive fire shield, sheltering all four behind it.
Li Lie leaped at his command. The fire blade at his fingertips swelled several dozen feet long and cleaved toward the swarm of Crimson Flame Flying Centipedes, leaving a searing trail through the air. But the centipedes nimbly dodged and fired their tail stingers in unison, sending countless needles of poisonous fire toward the shield.
A relentless metallic clatter rang out. The patterns on the fire shield flickered violently, and Zhao Yan sagged slightly, another trace of blood seeping from the corner