Taking Fire from the Flames

"You~"

The Purgatory Devil King flew into a rage, his powerful aura pressing hard against Lei Dong. He wanted to kill him, but held back at the last moment. This Lei fellow was no ordinary opponent. Not only was he quite powerful, but he was also exceptionally good at escaping. Even the Purgatory Devil King himself wasn't confident he could kill him immediately. If he made a move, things would spiral out of control. Whether the brat escaped or, realizing he was outmatched, crushed the Flame Essence, either outcome was unacceptable to the Purgatory Devil King.

"Senior, please calm down. I admit this junior may be asking for a little too much." Lei Dong stood with his hands behind his back, looking utterly composed. "But compared to what you've gained, what I'm asking for is nothing more than a trifle."

"Hmph. It's only a single Flame Essence. It's not as precious as you think." The Purgatory Devil King snorted repeatedly, doing his best to downplay its value. All the goodwill he had built up toward Lei Dong vanished.

"To others, the Flame Essence is indeed precious, but it's not worth what this junior is asking." Lei Dong smiled serenely, speaking at an unhurried pace. "But that may not be true for you, Senior. If you successfully refine a Flame Monarch avatar, it could rewrite the balance of power not only in the Purgatory Domain, but throughout the various domains and provinces. The subtle shifts brought about by your newfound strength would be felt everywhere."

"What?" The Purgatory Devil King was utterly shocked. He had thought that the secret art he'd stumbled upon in the ruins left behind by the High-ranking Devil Race, after they had been destroyed by war, was known to no one else in the world. He had