Quick, Let Me In!

Luo Tianci came to his senses as well and speculated, "When we joined forces to attack the other Crimson Flame Python, this one never appeared. Yet it only showed up after the other one died. What does that tell us? Could it be that it happened to be at a critical juncture of breaking through or absorbing some treasure, and our arrival interfered with it, causing its breakthrough to fail?"

Jun Ziqian agreed. "Exactly, that must be it. It may not have come here to avenge the other Crimson Flame Python at all. It may simply be here to retaliate against us for ruining its breakthrough. If that is the case, if we take out the cultivation resources on us and release their dense spiritual qi as compensation, perhaps we can dispel its hatred..."

As Lu Feng listened to their conversation, he noticed this as well. Although the Crimson Flame Python in the sky possessed an imposing aura at the Heaven Soul Realm Late Stage, the Fire Essence Qi within the flames it had spewed earlier seemed faintly unstable. Clearly, its strength had yet to stabilize.

By that reasoning, this Crimson Flame Python might truly have suffered severe injuries after being disturbed at the critical point of its breakthrough.

That was why, despite its powerful aura, the strength it could actually wield was only a little greater than that of the Crimson Flame Python they had slain earlier.

Hiss—

An even more shrill and agonized hiss rang out.

To everyone's horror, the enormous Crimson Flame Python in the sky suddenly dove down at tremendous speed.

"Not good... it's heading for the other Crimson Flame Python's corpse!"

Xiong Yuan's face went pale. He hurriedly led Luo Tianci and the others away from the area where the Crimson Flame Python's corpse lay.

Boom...

The shockwave from the Crimson Flame Python's landing struck a nearby ridge, collapsing a huge section of it.

After landing, the Crimson Flame Python swiftly coiled its body around the other python's remaining half. Its massive head rose high into the sky, its bloody maw gaping wide as it let out one mournful hiss after another.

That heartrending cry made everyone's hearts tremble.

Amid its hissing, flames erupted chaotically from its mouth. Just as everyone thought it had gone mad, they suddenly discovered that all the flames that had missed them were piling up beyond the mountain ridge, forming a fence of fire that cut off every route of retreat.

At that moment, everyone felt the Crimson Flame Python's Wrathful Intent and recognized its intelligence. For a time, no one dared make the slightest movement. They could not be sure whether they would successfully escape that ring of flaming fence, but one thing was certain: the moment anyone moved, they would be the first to draw the Crimson Flame Python's attention.

No one wished to be the first.

A gigantic tear, as large as a human head, fell from the Crimson Flame Python's raised head. Its formerly emerald green eyes had already turned blood-red.

Seeing the Crimson Flame Python shed tears, seeing its gaze suddenly redden, everyone involuntarily swallowed, a deep terror rising from the bottoms of their hearts.

But in the next moment, the Crimson Flame Python's actions utterly horrified them all.

Its body coiled tighter and tighter... until it crushed the dead Crimson Flame Python alive, squeezing its beast core out of the mangled remains.

"What... what is it doing?" Xiong Yuan cried out in horror, his voice trembling.

"It wants to devour the beast core and use its power to heal its wounds and break through!" Lu Feng saw through the Crimson Flame Python's intentions, and a trace of panic rose within him as well.

At such a critical juncture, not a single person from the group gathered in the distance dared step forward to stop it. They stood there as if scared witless, staring blankly at the Crimson Flame Python's actions.

Sang Feichen vaguely realized that before the Crimson Flame Python made its next move, this might be their only chance to escape. He glanced at Sun Liuliu beside him and used his soul consciousness to signal her to find an opportunity to flee together, but Sun Liuliu rejected him.

A trace of unwillingness showed on Sun Liuliu's face. She swept her eyes toward Lu Feng, then abruptly said to everyone, "Everyone, our chances of escape are exceedingly slim right now. Our only hope may lie in borrowing the Southern God Fire over there to pose some threat to the Crimson Flame Python."

Lu Feng's expression darkened at those words. Looking at Sun Liuliu's face, he felt increasingly disgusted. She had provoked the others against him more than once. While it sent a chill through his heart, it also made him wonder what Sun Liuliu wanted the Southern God Fire for—or what the Sun Family wanted it for.

Besides, how had Sun Liuliu learned of the Southern God Fire's whereabouts?

Qin Tianliang, without doubting her, immediately echoed, "Young Miss Sun is right. Since the Crimson Flame Python landed, it has never approached that area. It is clearly afraid of it. Whether for self-preservation or battle, we should seize that area at once."

The others also began to sense the area where Lu Feng stood with half-believing suspicion, and they too detected the exceedingly dense Fire Essence Qi there.

Though most of them did not know the exact details of the Southern God Fire, they could clearly sense the terrifying Fire Essence Qi it gave off.

Before long, more than half of the Soul Masters had agreed with Sun Liuliu's proposal.

The chill on Lu Feng's face deepened. Seeing how Sun Liuliu could so easily use a host of Soul Masters as spears with a few words, he could not help but inwardly sigh. Her reputation as the Sun Family's most intelligent person was indeed backed by genuine ability.

Yet quite a few held different views, Xiong Yuan among them. Due to his familiarity with Beast Valley, he had some knowledge of beasts as well. Once he calmed down, he too realized the Crimson Flame Python's intention.

"Everyone," Xiong Yuan called out to Sun Liuliu and the others, who had already started walking toward Lu Feng, "with the Crimson Flame Python at its current strength, if all of us join forces, we may have some chance of severely wounding it. But if we let it absorb and refine that beast core, then even if we join forces, I fear we will no longer be able to withstand it at all!"

Qin Tianliang stopped walking and said to Sun Liuliu, "Sun Meimei, what he said does seem to make some sense."

Sun Liuliu's face turned cold. She deeply loathed Qin Tianliang's fence-sitting, wind-following nature. He was lustful and utterly without conviction. She inwardly sighed that if a person like him had not been born into the well-provided Qin Family, he would likely have died long ago.

Jun Ziqian suddenly spoke up. "Everyone, severely wounding the Crimson Flame Python and using the Southern God Fire to protect ourselves do not conflict. We might as well first secure that area, then find a way to lure the Crimson Flame Python close and use the Southern God Fire to interrupt its absorption."

Luo Tianfu agreed. "Brother Zi Qian's plan is ingenious."

As he spoke, he pointed at Lu Feng and continued, "Since that man dares stand above the Southern God Fire, he must have some means of restraining it... Why not have him lead the charge?"

Luo Tianci frowned at those words and stopped him. "That man bears us neither grudge nor grievance. How can we make him charge into battle?"

Xiong Yuan also felt that this was somewhat improper.

Jun Ziqian cast Lu Feng a disdainful glance. "Is anyone here on good terms with him?"

Sun Liuliu shook her head with malicious delight. Qin Tianliang shook his head. Sang Feichen shook his head. Luo Tianfu and the others shook their heads as well.

Jun Ziqian sneered. "In my view, he is merely a Rogue Cultivator. For him to sacrifice himself and lead the charge for us should be his honor!"

After saying that, he cast Luo Tianci another cold glance. "You may be the Luo Family's First Young Master, but in terms of courage and resolve, you are far inferior to Brother Tianfu. I truly worry what sort of state the Luo Family will end up in should you ever become its head."

That simple sentence had an exceedingly subtle effect. It not only won Luo Tianfu's favor, but also drove a wedge between him and Luo Tianci, while indirectly goading Luo Tianfu as well.

Those with discerning eyes could not help but marvel at Jun Ziqian's scheming. As expected of a descendant of the foremost family.

From the moment the Crimson Flame Python appeared, Lu Feng had been secretly setting up an array. When he saw Sun Liuliu and the others cast ill-intentioned glances his way, his face sank. With a wave of his hand, he activated the array.

Accompanied by a crisp boom, two fortress-like Spiritual Qi Shields appeared on the foundation in the shape of a gourd. One shield happened to cover the entire foundation, while the other was positioned outside it.

The instant the array formed, Lu Feng sent a thread of soul consciousness to Leng Huaping. She immediately obeyed, leaping without hesitation into the first barrier with Ruo Shui.

Amid his shock, Zhu Yizhong hesitated for only an instant before following Ruo Shui into the first Spiritual Qi Shield.

The moment Zhu Yizhong stepped inside, the two Spiritual Qi Shields changed from pale red to crimson, as though they had solidified. Numerous dark patterns drifted and flowed across their surfaces, giving off a palpitating aura.

"What array is this?" Sun Liuliu cried out in shock from afar. Even her steps toward the Southern God Fire halted. At the instant the array formed, she abruptly discovered that her sensing of the Southern God Fire had become much weaker.

"Not good, could that brat also have a way to collect the Southern God Fire?" Sun Liuliu was instantly alarmed, panic covering her face. She did not dare, nor could she allow, the Southern God Fire to fall into someone else's hands.

In her urgency, Sun Liuliu shouted, "Everyone, stop him! He is trying to keep us outside and make us fight the Crimson Flame Python!"

No one present was familiar with the array Lu Feng had set up. Thus, the moment Sun Liuliu spoke, everyone instinctively agreed with her.

Just then, Lu Feng spat disdainfully and said coldly, "Everyone! Those who need to borrow the Southern God Fire's aura, pour your spiritual qi into the Spiritual Qi Shield ahead! The more spiritual qi you inject, the greater the chance of successfully drawing out the Southern God Fire's aura!"

"What do you mean?" Everyone looked at Lu Feng in astonishment.

A concealed gloom flickered in Sun Liuliu's eyes.

Lu Feng shouted at Zhu Yizhong, "Kid, strike it with your palm and give it a try!"

Though Zhu Yizhong was unwilling to follow Lu Feng's instructions, seeing Ruo Shui frown angrily beside him, he could not bear to refuse and did as told.

The moment he stepped into this Spiritual Qi Shield, Zhu Yizhong had sensed the dense Fire Essence Qi contained within the drifting patterns on its surface. After receiving Lu Feng's instruction, he immediately understood Lu Feng's intention.

He raised his hand and infused it with spiritual qi, drawing out the Fire Essence Qi from one of the patterns before blasting it outside the shield with his palm strike.

Seeing a burning blood-red palm imprint rushing toward them, everyone immediately retreated and dodged, their faces filled with horror.

Feeling the might of that palm strike, which was enough to blast apart an ordinary Heaven Soul Realm First Stage Soul Master, everyone's expressions changed.

Luo Tianci called out, "That palm strike truly contains extraordinarily dense Fire Essence Qi. He did not lie to us!"

Jun Ziqian's eyes lit up with joy as he urgently cried, "Quick, let me in!"