In Hand (Part 2)

Stepping into the Elder Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.

Valley Master Tang Zhen sat at the head of the table, with about a dozen elders, each with a profound aura and at least at the Dou Zong, sitting on either side below him.

Elder Chi Yun, who had brought Lin Ming, was also among them. At the same time, there was also a red-robed elder ranked first below Tang Zhen. Although his aura was not as profound as Tang Zhen's, it was clearly not comparable to the level of Dou Zong. Lin Ming knew that this person was also Dou Zun expert.

At the same time, as Lin Ming looked around at the elders, their gazes, like tangible flames, instantly focused on Lin Ming, who had just entered, filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and a hint of doubt.

Among them, sitting to Tang Zhen's left, the first seat, was a Red-Haired Elder with an ancient face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. His gaze was like lightning, as if he wanted to see through Lin Ming from the inside out. He was the Great Elder of Blazing Flame Valley, a powerful One-Star Dou Venerate!

After Tang Huo'er led Lin Ming into the hall, she quietly stepped aside, but her gaze remained fixed on Lin Ming with concern.

Once Lin Ming had stood still, the Great Elder spoke first, his voice deep and imposing. "Young friend Lin Ming, the Valley Master conveyed your request yesterday. Before we discuss further, I have a few questions for you to answer truthfully."

"Great Elder, please ask," Lin Ming said, neither humble nor arrogant.

"A few months ago, on the edge of the Northwestern Region, you were the Lin Ming who killed the Demonic Desire Sect Old Man Demonic Desire Sect and the Blood Cold Sect Elder, causing quite a stir. Were you the one?" The Great Elder's gaze was intense as he directly asked the most crucial question.

The gazes of all the elders in the hall instantly sharpened, fixed intently on Lin Ming.

Lin Ming remained calm, meeting the Great Elder's gaze without hesitation, and clearly stated, "It is indeed I."

Although they had suspected it beforehand, the elders were still shocked when they heard Lin Ming admit it himself. This young man was not only a Tong Xuan of alchemy, but his combat abilities were also so extraordinary!

A glint flashed in the Great Elder's eyes, and a blazing, powerful fighting spirit erupted from his body like a volcano awakening, engulfing Lin Ming: "Good! It's good that you admit it! The Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations is a closely guarded secret of my Blazing Flame Valley. Even if you have done the valley a favor, you still need to prove that you have enough strength and qualifications to bear it! I won't deceive you. As long as you can withstand my attacks for the duration of an incense stick burning, you will have passed the test! Do you dare to accept?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the hall fell into a deathly silence. The elders below exchanged glances, all frowning. After all, this was not what they had agreed upon earlier.

They, as fellow elders of the Elder Hall, knew all too well what the Great Elder's strength was; he was a true Dou Venerate level expert. It was remarkable that he would be the one to conduct the test.

Tang Huo'er's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of anger flashed in her beautiful eyes. This old guy was clearly making things difficult for her, using his Dou Venerate strength to bully Dou Zong. Moreover, Lin Ming hadn't even reached the High-Rank Dou Zong yet; he was only Four-Star Dou Ancestor Dou Zong who had just entered the intermediate level.

"How could the Great Elder say such a thing... Why don't you just suggest having the Old Ancestor test us directly!" Tang Zhen retorted angrily, his voice filled with dissatisfaction and mockery.

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder's expression became rather unnatural. He did not want to pass on the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations to outsiders, and knowing that Lin Ming was exceptionally strong, he had asked Lin Ming to come and test him.

At this moment, seeing Valley Master Tang Zhen, who had even invoked the Old Ancestor, and the rather embarrassed Great Elder, the Second Elder, who was first on the right, had a glint in his eyes. "Valley Master Great Elder right. If word gets out that our Blazing Flame Valley used Dou Venerate to oppress the benefactor of Dou Zong, it's indeed not good."

After saying this, just as he thought the Second Elder would help Lin Ming, his tone First Revolution, and a blazing and boundless fighting spirit suddenly rose from his body. It was even stronger than the Peak Dou Ancestor, and could be said to be the aura of Half-Step Dou Venerate, locking onto Lin Ming.

"It's indeed inappropriate for the Great Elder to intervene, so I will take over! Lin Ming, you were able to kill even the Peak Dou Ancestor Old Man Demonic Desire, a peak Dou Zong, so your Trump Card must be quite formidable. Do you dare to spar with me? You don't need to win; as long as you can withstand my attacks for the duration of an incense stick burning, you'll pass!"

After the Second Elder finished speaking, before Lin Ming could reply, Tang Zhen turned his gaze to the Second Elder, and with a hint of dissatisfaction, was about to say something when the Great Elder, seeing Tang Zhen's expression, spoke first.

"Tang Zhen, although you are the Valley Master, the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations is a closely guarded secret passed down from our ancestors in the Blazing Flame Valley. Giving Lin Ming a chance now is already the biggest concession we can make. If you still don't agree to the Second Elder's proposal, then even if we bring out the Old Ancestor, don't expect us to agree so easily."

At this point, Tang Zhen could only look helplessly at Lin Ming, his eyes indicating that this was the best condition he could obtain.

Seeing this, Lin Ming immediately clasped his hands in thanks to Tang Zhen, then looked at the Second Elder, whose fighting spirit was high. Feeling the pressure from the Half-Step Dou Venerate, Lin Ming was not afraid at all; instead, a blazing flame rose in his eyes. He needed the Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations, so he would accept any test!

"Second Elder, please enlighten me!" Lin Ming stepped forward, his aura suddenly becoming sharp and fierce!

"Good! You have guts! Let's fight outside the hall!" The Second Elder laughed loudly, and in a flash, he was already in the Outer Hall Square.

"The time limit is one incense stick's time in the Outer Hall Square!" the Great Elder shouted, and with a flicker of his figure, he appeared like a ghost in the wide plaza Elder Hall.

The group moved to the plaza. Tang Zhen waved his hand, setting up a Space Barrier to prevent energy leakage.

Tang Zhen waved his hand, setting up a sturdy Space Barrier that enveloped the entire plaza.

"Boy, watch out!" the Second Elder shouted, his Dou Qi surging.

"Second Elder, please enlighten me!" Lin Ming's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. Facing the Second Elder, Half-Step Dou Venerate expert, Lin Ming's aura became increasingly sharp and fierce!

The competition is officially beginning!

The Second Elder did not immediately use a powerful Dou Technique. Instead, he moved and transformed into a streak of crimson light, heading straight for Lin Ming. His withered palm was filled with extremely refined flame Dou Qi, and he struck out with his palm!

Although it was a normal attack, even a casual strike from Half-Step Dou Venerate expert was enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, and the scorching palm wind distorted the air.

Lin Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, not daring to be negligent. With a thought, the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame instantly covered his right fist, and he met the attack with a simple punch!

"Bang!"

Fist and palm collided, producing a muffled explosion! The purplish-red Heavenly Flames and the crimson flame Dou Qi collided fiercely, and Energy Ripple spread out, hitting the Space Barrier and making a buzzing sound.

With a single strike, both men swayed, resulting in a draw!

"It truly is a fine Heavenly Flames!" A hint of surprise flashed in the Second Elder's eyes. He felt his own flame Dou Qi being suppressed and decomposed when it came into contact with the purplish-red Heavenly Flames. The quality of this fire was probably even superior to the Valley Master's Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire!

He stopped probing and growled, "Watch out! Fire Luo Hand!"

Flames erupted from his palms, instantly condensing into two giant fiery hands, each over ten feet in size. Drawing upon the Heaven and Earth Energy, they swept towards Lin Ming with an overwhelming force, one on the left and one on the right! Wherever the fiery hands passed, even the ground of the plaza was scorched with deep trenches.

Faced with this fierce grappling Dou Technique, Lin Ming remained calm. He instantly drew his Star Dragon Saber, and with a surge of Dou Qi, a Little Sun formed on the tip of the blade.

"Blazing Sun Saber Technique, Slash!"

The fireball, with its tearing sharpness and scorching heat, slashed horizontally!

"Sizzle!"

Like the sound of tearing cloth, the two menacing Fire Luo Hand were ripped apart by the fireball and vanished into countless sparks!

"What fierce swordsmanship!" Tang Zhen, who was watching the battle, couldn't help but praise. With his keen eyesight, he could naturally see that Lin Ming's control over this strike had reached a state of perfection.

The Second Elder raised an eyebrow, surprised that Lin Ming had solved the problem so easily. His figure swayed again, his footwork becoming unpredictable and mysterious, as if he had transformed into a fleeting afterimage of flame, his speed suddenly increasing!

"Flowing Fire Steps!"

In an instant, the Second Elder's figure seemed to be everywhere, launching attacks on Lin Ming from all sorts of tricky angles. His palm winds and finger shadows were endless, like a fire storm.

However, Lin Ming's bone wings suddenly unfolded! The bone wings vibrated, emitting subtle Spatial Fluctuations, and his speed instantly increased to a terrifying level, leaving clear afterimages in his place. His True Body, however, moved Instantaneous Movement through the Second Elder's dense attacks as if teleporting, dodging all the attacks!

"This is... the Sky Demon Phoenix Wings?!" Upon seeing these bone wings, the Great Elder was shocked.

After all, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan was far more powerful than their Blazing Flame Valley, and they placed great importance on bloodlines. If they knew someone was using their remains to forge flying bone wings, they would likely hunt them down to the ends of the earth until their deaths! Meanwhile, regarding Lin Ming, the Great Elder couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This boy's Trump Card and these strange items are truly endless!"

The two fought with lightning speed, leaving countless afterimages in the square. The sounds of colliding flames and explosions were deafening, dazzling and alarming the onlookers outside the barrier.

Time passed second by second, and the incense stick had burned more than halfway, with only a small portion remaining.

Unable to break through Lin Ming's defenses, the Second Elder grew increasingly angry. He abruptly took a step back, creating distance between himself and Lin Ming. His immense Dou Qi erupted like Volcanic Eruption, drawing all the fire-attribute energy in the entire plaza towards him! A pressure far more terrifying than any of his previous attacks enveloped the surrounding area!

"Young friend Lin Ming, take my final move! Earth Tier Mid-grade, Great Luo Fire Yi Palm!"

With a roar, a massive fiery palm print condensed above his head from the vast fire Dou Qi!

This palm print was incredibly solid, with clearly visible palm lines. Its entire body was a dark red, almost black color, and the space around its edges was constantly collapsing and repairing itself, emanating a terrifying aura that could incinerate and suppress everything! This was the Second Elder's signature move, and its power was extremely terrifying!

The palm print took shape, carrying an unparalleled momentum, and slowly pressed down on Lin Ming. The speed was not fast, but the oppressive feeling of sealing off space was inescapable!

Feeling the terrifying blow that was enough to severely injure or even kill an ordinary Peak Dou Ancestor, Lin Ming's expression turned completely serious. He knew that he could no longer hold back!

He swiftly formed profound hand seals in front of him, and his Dou Qi and the essence of the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame surged wildly from his body!

"The Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method... The Fifth Technique, Five Dragons Paying Homage!"

"Sing--!" "Sing--!" "Sing--!" "Sing--!" "Sing--!"

Five soul-shaking dragon roars echoed once more throughout the Blazing Flame Valley! Five colossal Giant Dragon, composed entirely of condensed, ultra-purple-red flames, roared and coiled forth! Their Dragon Might was boundless, their Heavenly Flames scorching the sky. The terrifying aura of annihilating all laws and paying homage to the supreme being caused the entire barrier to fluctuate violently, as if it were about to shatter at any moment!

"Go!" Lin Ming pointed his finger, his face turning slightly pale. This attack had almost drained half of his Dou Qi.

Five Flame Giant Dragon, head to tail, transformed into a destructive fire tornado, crashing fiercely into the descending dark red giant palm!

"Boom--!!!"

An unprecedented, earth-shattering explosion erupted in the center of the square! The blinding light temporarily blinded everyone, and a terrifying Shockwave of fire swept out like a tsunami, slamming violently into the Space Barrier. The barrier groaned under the strain, cracking everywhere!

Tang Zhen's expression changed, and he immediately took action to reinforce the barrier.

The light and flames slowly dissipated, revealing the scene before them.

The Second Elder swayed slightly, his breathing somewhat disordered, and there were several charred marks on his sleeves. Opposite him, Lin Ming, though pale and breathing rapidly, still stood tall. The five fire dragons had dissipated, but he had indeed withstood this terrifying attack!

Just then, the last wisp of incense ash quietly fell from the incense burner beside them.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is up!

The entire room fell silent.