Within Nanyan Prefecture.
The Underground Fire Vein.
The Chief of Red Flames Peak's secluded cultivation grounds.
After the battle at Pingyang Ghost City, this renowned master of Nanyan Prefecture had not lingered. He had rushed back to his lair and announced that he was entering seclusion.
He intended to seize that fleeting spark of insight, take the final step, and advance to the Jie Realm.
Caw, caw, caw!
Caw, caw, caw?
That day, a fiery-red crow flapped its wings and arrived above the Lava River.
Boom!
It circled several times, then swung its wings sharply, unleashing gust after gust of fierce wind that churned the Lava River into towering waves.
"You wretched beast, what in the world are you doing?"
Whoosh!
Just then, a hand suddenly broke through the river's surface and grabbed viciously at the crow, as though intent on crushing it to death in a single squeeze.
Splash!
The Chief of Red Flames Peak flew up from the riverbed, his gaze decidedly hostile as he stared at the fire crow.
He was at a critical juncture. If he failed to seize that fleeting spark of insight, who knew how many more years he would have to wait before entering the Jie Realm?
Yet his spirit pet had chosen this very moment to disturb him. It truly infuriated him.
"Caw, caw, caw!"
"Red Flames, I've just received some news."
With a sweep of its wings, Red Crow escaped the huge hand's grasp and shouted:
"Just now, word came from the Dao Sect that Jiang Yan has successfully advanced to the Jie Realm!"
Afraid that the Chief of Red Flames Peak would fly into a humiliated rage and give it a nasty beating, it immediately blurted out the momentous news. Sure enough, it caught his attention.
"Jiang Yan advanced to