The thunderous tremors of firelight had yet to subside, but the air in the street outside the Realm Patrol Bureau was already scorching enough to make scalps prickle.
Crimson radiance tore through the clouds as seven figures strode upon fire. Layers of flame patterns floated beneath their feet, and though no open flames burned, they baked the surrounding air into twisting folds.
This was the pure manifestation of the law of fire.
There was no need to ignite vegetation or summon spiritual flames. The law alone stripped the coolness from a stretch of space, defining this region as a burning heaven domain.
Two figures slammed heavily onto the bluestone entrance of the Realm Patrol Bureau compound.
Clouds of dust shook loose from the stone gateposts. Both men were charred black, their clothes torn, dark red burns seeping through their mangled flesh. Their chests barely rose and fell; grievously wounded, they had already lost consciousness.
The scorching stench of blood spread along the cracks between the bluestone paving slabs.
They were the realm patrol guards stationed at the Teleportation Array. For nothing more than a single rebuke, they had been beaten into unconsciousness and dumped at the entrance to the Realm Patrol Bureau compound.
"You lot from the Realm Patrol Bureau, get the hell out here!"
The coarse roar crashed down upon the world, its sound waves carrying the fire element law as they shook the surroundings.
Throughout the Realm Patrol Bureau's grounds, all spiritual energy containing the fire attribute suddenly churned and boiled.
The fire spirit roots within ordinary cultivators' dantians grew faintly hot, their meridians scorched, as though they had been forcibly stuffed into a sealed furnace.
The decorative spiritual plants lining the street rapidly yellowed and dried out, their leaves curling into charred black husks before withering silently.