Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest.
The forest was perpetually steeped in the smell of sulfur, so potent that it dyed the great sun in the sky orange-red, making it look like a setting sun. That was how the forest got its name.
It was said that ten thousand years ago, this forest had been an active volcano. But the world had changed, and the landscape had shifted, until the volcano gradually became a forest.
Though the earth's crust had shifted, the volcano's rich fire element had never vanished. It had merely taken other forms.
Such as the forest's abundant fire-type spirit plants and Soul Beasts, and the Earth Fire that was now slowly emerging.
Rumble!
The earth trembled as flames from the earth's veins surged and gathered strength, waiting for the moment to erupt.
Though it had yet to erupt, the intense fire-element energy had already attracted many fire-attributed Soul Beasts.
Crimson Fire Boas, Flame Feather Magpies, Fire-Patterned Lizards...
Rustle, rustle...
The Soul Beasts gradually gathered and drew closer, beginning to absorb the energy spilling out.
"Croak! Even the energy spilling out is already this delicious. I can't even imagine how much I'll grow if I eat the whole Earth Fire. I'd probably ascend to the heavens in a single step and become a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with ease!"
As if they had tasted some delicacy, the Soul Beasts' eyes widened. Their scales and feathers grew smoother and finer, their limbs seemed more powerful, and the flames they breathed grew hotter.
However, as the Earth Fire slowly emerged, its leaking energy gradually attracted other monsters.
"Lii—!"
At the clear cry of a bird, countless rays of rainbow light spilled down from the sky. The sunlight grew brighter and hotter, and all the Soul Beasts trembled and bowed in submission.
Amid the rainbow light, the figure of a divine bird slowly appeared. Its body was more than three zhang long, with a wingspan of nearly ten zhang.
It was the lord of the skies above the entire Sunset Forest, the ruler of the Rainbow Feathered Birds—Great Sun Rainbow.
The moment Great Sun Rainbow appeared, its pressure made every Soul Beast submit. The weak Ten-Year Soul Beasts exploded one after another under its terrifying might.
Scarlet blossoms bloomed throughout the forest, yet not a single Soul Beast dared complain, afraid that Great Sun Rainbow would kill them.
Great Sun Rainbow was pleased by the sight of the ten thousand beasts submitting. It beat its wings, raising a gale that drove away the Soul Beasts that had been greedily feeding moments before. It left only itself to enjoy the nourishment of the Innate Yang Fire and await the flames' emergence.
But one beast refused to submit.
It was the lord of the earth veins beneath Sunset Forest, the ruler of the Nether Swamp Black Pythons that dwelled in marshes and miasma—Fallen Heaven Python!
Fallen Heaven Python and Great Sun Rainbow ruled the land and sky of Sunset Forest, respectively. Thanks to their astonishing strength, even the Soul Beasts from the nearby Star Dou Forest didn't dare invade.
But the two beasts couldn't stand each other. Each wanted to prove its superiority and rule Sunset Forest alone. Unfortunately, neither was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and after nearly a thousand years of fighting, neither had won. Now, however, the Earth Fire was about to emerge.
Even though the Earth Fire's attributes didn't match Fallen Heaven Python's, it was still a product of the earth's veins and belonged under its rule. And now Great Sun Rainbow dared to claim it?
If Great Sun Rainbow devoured the Earth Fire, it would likely become a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in an instant. Then there would be no room in Sunset Forest for Fallen Heaven Python and its kin!
Fallen Heaven Python would never let that happen. It attacked without hesitation, sending water and poison toward Great Sun Rainbow!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Great Sun Rainbow refused to back down. It spread its wings, spraying flames and rainbow light in every direction like a fountain. This time, they would fight until one of them was dead!
Watching the flames land on his face, nearly scalding him and Little Fire Dragon, Xiao Yan wasn't afraid. If anything, he was excited.
That meant the Earth Fire was pure enough to attract even Soul Beasts of this caliber.
But this opportunity came with risks.
The two beasts were fighting, and Xiao Yan could certainly profit as a third party. But what would happen afterward?
Great Sun Rainbow would definitely hunt him down after losing its chance, while Fallen Heaven Python would laugh as it watched him being chased.
After all, Xiao Yan had already absorbed the flames. Even if Great Sun Rainbow killed him, it would only be venting its anger; it had no reason to worry that he might surpass it.
Still, watching a treasure trove slip away right before his eyes wasn't Xiao Yan's style.
"I'll sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Once both are badly wounded, I'll swoop in and pick up the scraps."
After thinking it over for a long while, Xiao Yan could only decide to wait until the two sides finished fighting, then sneak in and gobble up the leftovers.
Time passed slowly as the two beasts fought without rest.
Water and flames splashed everywhere, while rainbow light and poison scattered in all directions.
"Lii—!"
With another cry, Great Sun Rainbow swooped down, seized Fallen Heaven Python, and then charged fiercely toward the sky.
She wasn't content to keep ruling Sunset Forest alongside that creature, either. Today, they had to settle things, once and for all!
When the two beasts flew into the sky and the surrounding Soul Beasts disappeared, leaving only the slowly emerging Earth Fire, Xiao Yan seized his chance!
"Now!"
Xiao Yan and Little Fire Dragon abruptly completed Martial Soul Possession. Then he plunged into the molten rock and flames continually surging up from the earth's veins.
Glug—glug.
Surrounded by flames, he was scorched all over. Even with Little Fire Dragon's Dragon Scales protecting him, the pain was like torture.
Xiao Yan endured the pain, held his breath, and swam deeper into the earth's veins.
Because the Flame Mantra needed to absorb the Earth Fire's source, Xiao Yan had to dive into the raging flames until he found the tiny fire source.
It was as difficult as finding a needle in the sea, but fortunately, Little Fire Dragon could sense fire elements. Relying on that ability, Xiao Yan could just barely make out the general direction and ensure he wasn't swimming the wrong way.
At last, after swimming through the earth's veins for who knew how long, Xiao Yan finally swam out of the flames and surfaced in a hollow in the earth's crust.
"Cough, cough... Damn it, what's going on?"
Xiao Yan coughed twice, hacking the sulfurous air lodged in his throat and nose, then looked around.
It was a cave like an underground cavern. Though it was the source of the flames, there wasn't a single flame to be seen.
If Xiao Yan couldn't still sense the dense fire-element energy here, he would have thought he'd swum to the wrong place.
"But this is strange. I can clearly sense that the source of the flames is right here..."
"Could it be some kind of hidden Heavenly Flame?"
"Gao~"
Little Fire Dragon tugged at Xiao Yan's trouser leg and pointed in one direction.
"You mean you saw something over there?"
Following Little Fire Dragon's pointing finger, Xiao Yan suddenly froze. In that direction, a bone-white skull filled his field of vision, its eye sockets burning with blue flames.
All the flames' aura came from the skull's eye sockets.
"This... could it be Bone, Bone Spirit Cold Flame?"
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