Despair was like the all-pervasive Poisonous Fire Mist, swallowing the entire plaza.
Their Dou Qi was being drained, their bodies restrained, their lives stolen... They could only watch as they were about to become fuel for someone else's resurrection, after first being transformed into those kinds of monsters.
This sort of torture was far more devastating than simply dying.
On Jia Nan Academy's side,
With Qin Han protecting them, the Poisonous Fire Mist eroded them extremely slowly, so there was no immediate cause for concern.
Yet they were likewise restrained by the Myriad Stars Flame.
Wu Tianlang had tried to break free by force, but the moment he mobilized his Dou Qi, the Heart Flame within him became unstable, allowing the fire poison to seize the opening and invade.
Even Hu Gan was exceedingly cautious. He only dared to resist the Myriad Stars Flame's restraints with his Dou Qi while carefully moving back from the front to rejoin the others.
"Vice Dean, what do we do?"
"This damned thing is too bizarre! Once the others have been drained dry, Yun Qianhang will definitely notice us."
Wu Tianlang spoke coldly.
"Have you used the Communication Jade to contact the Great Elder? A Dou Zong-level Strong Expert is simply beyond our ability to handle."
"It's useless... We're still inside the great formation. We've tried, but the communication waves can't get out at all..." Hu Gan's face was filled with bitterness.
Wu Tianlang gritted his teeth. "If it comes to it, we'll have to force our way free and break the formation. Are we supposed to wait here to die?!"
"But we can't act rashly either..."
Amid the crowd, Qin Han's heart pounded wildly.
He discovered that when the pale green Starflame Silk Threads hanging down from the air touched his body's surface, they did not tighten around him. They merely brushed lightly against him and flowed past, making no further move.
The restraining force had no effect on him!
In a flash, he understood why. It had to be related to the fact that he had replicated the Myriad Stars Flame.
That trace of Starflame Origin inside him had created some sort of same-origin affinity between him and the Starflame filling the sky.
Within this great formation dominated by the Myriad Stars Flame, he was like a drop of water merging into the sea. The formation had mistaken him for one of its own—or at least not an intruder that needed to be immediately restrained and drained.
An opportunity!
An opportunity to break the deadlock.
Qin Han forcefully suppressed his racing heart and did not act at once.
After observing for a moment, he made his decision.
In such a desperate situation, even Hu Gan was powerless. If there was anyone with unconventional trump cards or knowledge, Qin Han could think of no one besides Old Yao.
Thus, Qin Han suddenly injected a massive surge of Heart Flame into everyone's bodies, then drifted lightly toward the rear under their astonished gazes.
Throughout the process, the Starflame drifted obediently around him without hindering him in the slightest!
"Hey!"
Qin Han lowered his voice until he was practically speaking in a whisper. "In this damned state, do you have a way to break the deadlock?"
Xiao Yan abruptly raised his head. He had been focused on communicating with Old Yao and had not noticed Qin Han quietly approaching at all.
His body was also wrapped in several Starflame Silk Threads, leaving his movements stiff.
"Qin..."
Xiao Yan nearly shouted out loud, then cleared his throat and replied in an equally low voice. "The fire poison can still barely be resisted with Dou Qi for a while.
But the troublesome part is this Blood Refining Formation. The formation has already taken shape and is completely linked to the earth veins, the furnace, and the Starflame. Unless we break the Formation Eye, being drained dry is only a matter of time."
Xiao Yan spoke helplessly.
With the Green Lotus Core Flame and Bone Chilling Fire, neither the fire poison nor the Starflame could fully restrain him. But even if he went all out, he could never defeat Yun Qianhang.
If the formation remained unbroken, there was still no path to survival.
"Where is the Formation Eye?" Qin Han immediately pressed.
Xiao Yan's voice carried a trace of helplessness. "I can sense it. It's on the Myriad Fire Furnace. On the furnace's inner wall, the node where the third Ring Rune intersects with the seventh Vertical Rune is the core hub of the entire formation's energy circulation. It is also the weakest point, where outside forces can interfere. But..."
"If I forcibly break free, that Old Monster in the air will notice immediately.
With his strength and control over the formation, he can suppress me in an instant."
Qin Han did not listen to the rest. His gaze immediately locked onto the massive dark-red cauldron, and he swallowed. "This Starflame doesn't affect me. I'll go break the Formation Eye!"
Xiao Yan's body trembled almost imperceptibly as he abruptly turned his head. "What did you say?!"
Qin Han quietly spread his palm upward.
A wisp of pale green flame, identical in origin and nature to the Starflame in the air, flowed peacefully across his palm like a docile little spirit.
Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly contracted beneath the shadow of his hood.
"Don't tell me this is another case of flame seeds automatically forming in your body?!"
In his agitation, Xiao Yan had already forgotten to conceal his identity.
Qin Han spread both hands, his meaning self-evident.
"Fuck! What kind of Ghost Physique do you have?!"
Xiao Yan completely lost his composure.
How much suffering had he endured to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame? How much pain had he gone through?
Yet this guy had merely touched it lightly and obtained a High-level Flame?!
Was there any justice left in the world?!
"Teacher... do you have a better Cultivation Method?" Xiao Yan suddenly felt that the Fen Jue was no longer so appealing.
Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Qin Han thought it over and decided not to produce the Green Lotus Core Flame. Otherwise, the blow to the kid might be too great.
"The intersection of the third ring and seventh vertical line on the furnace's inner wall, right?"
Qin Han repeated the location of the Formation Eye word by word.
"That's right. It's the valve through which the formation's energy is fed into the furnace."
Xiao Yan shook his head, temporarily casting aside his frustration as he spoke quickly.
"Got it."
Qin Han took a deep breath.
"Vice Dean, old man, I have a way to get close to the Formation Eye and try to break the formation!
But once I start moving, I'll definitely be noticed. I need you to create as much chaos as possible, draw that Old Monster's attention, and win me a sliver of opportunity!"
The sudden voice transmission startled Hu Gan and Wu Tianlang at the same time.
But they were not surprised by this outcome. When they had seen Qin Han drift away without being controlled, they had already guessed that he had not been restrained.
"Your physique... really is something to envy! But how confident are you?"
Hu Gan's voice was grave.
"The Formation Eye's location has been confirmed. There is only one chance. No matter how slim our odds, we have to try! Otherwise, everyone will die!"
Hu Gan and Wu Tianlang exchanged a glance.
"Fine!"
Hu Gan gritted his teeth. "We'll do everything we can to cover you! You... be careful!"
Wu Tianlang said nothing. The blade light in his hand merely flared several degrees brighter, making his stance clear.
Qin Han then looked at Xiao Yan. "Once I move, the pressure on the front will grow greater. Help them hold out against the fire poison and Extraction Force a little longer."
Xiao Yan replied gravely, "Don't worry. Just break the Formation Eye. Leave this side to me."
The two continued concealing Xiao Yan's identity with tacit understanding.
With the plan settled, there was no more hesitation.
Qin Han thought for a moment, then fiercely pinched his own thigh.
"Hiss—"
Pain shot through him. Qin Han immediately twisted his expression, and his body began to tremble and sway "uncontrollably." Clutching his head, he let out hissing cries.
As though unable to withstand the agony of the fire poison's corrosion and Soul Extraction, he "staggered" and "struggled" toward the Myriad Fire Furnace.
Seeing Qin Han's absurd movements, everyone could not help staring at him in speechless bewilderment.
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