Remains of the Setting Sun

Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest.

The forest is permeated year-round with the scent of sulfur, so thick that it dyes the sun in the sky a deep orange-red, resembling a setting sun; hence, its name.

Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, this forest was once an active volcano. However, as the seas changed into mulberry fields and the landscape shifted, the volcano gradually transformed into a forest.

Yet, despite the crustal movements, the rich fire elements within the volcano never dissipated; they simply transformed into other forms of existence.

For instance, the incredibly abundant fire-type spirit plants and soul beasts within this forest, and also the Earth Fire currently beginning to emerge.

Rumble!

The earth trembles, and the flames originating from the ley lines surge continuously, accumulating power while waiting for the moment of eruption.

Even before the eruption, the dense fire elemental energy has already attracted many soul beasts that share the fire attribute.

Crimson Fire Boas, Flame Feather Magpies, Fire-Patterned Lizards...

Rustle, rustle...

The soul beasts gradually gather, moving forward, and begin to absorb the energy leaking out.

"Croak! Just the leaked energy is already this delicious. I dare not imagine to what extent I would grow if I consumed the complete Earth Fire. Perhaps ascending to the heavens in one step and becoming a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would be a simple matter!"

As if they had tasted something exquisite, the soul beasts widen their eyes. Their scales and feathers become smoother and more delicate, their limbs seem more powerful, and the flames they spit out become even more scorching.

However, as the Earth Fire gradually emerges, the leaking energy begins to attract other monsters.

"Screech—!"

Following a clear, piercing bird cry, countless rainbow rays spill down from the firmament. The sunlight becomes more intense and scorching, causing all the soul beasts to tremble and submit.

Within the rainbow light, the figure of a divine bird, over three zhang in length with a wingspan of nearly ten zhang, slowly emerges.

That is the lord of the entire Sunset Forest airspace, the master of the Rainbow Feathered Birds—the Great Sun Rainbow.

The moment the Great Sun Rainbow appears, the pressure it radiates forces all the soul beasts to submit to it. The weak ten-year soul beasts even explode one after another under this terrifying pressure.

Blooms of bright red blossom throughout the forest, yet not a single soul beast dares to complain, fearing they might be killed by the Great Sun Rainbow.

The Great Sun Rainbow looks at the scene of ten thousand beasts submitting and is very satisfied. It flaps its wings, whipping up a gale to drive away the soul beasts that were greedily feeding just moments ago, leaving only itself to enjoy the nourishment of the Innate Yang Fire while waiting for the cluster of flames to emerge.

But, one beast refuses to submit.

That is the master of the Sunset Forest's ley lines, the Fallen Heaven Python, who dwells within the swamps and miasma!

The Fallen Heaven Python and the Great Sun Rainbow rule the ground and the sky of the Sunset Forest respectively. Thanks to their astonishing strength, even the soul beasts from the nearby Star Dou Forest dare not invade this Sunset Forest.

However, the two beasts cannot stand the sight of each other, both wishing to prove their superiority and rule the Sunset Forest alone. Unfortunately, neither is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and they have fought for nearly a thousand years without a clear victor. But at this very moment, the Earth Fire is about to emerge.

Even though this Earth Fire does not match the Fallen Heaven Python's attribute, it is still a product of the ley lines and falls under its jurisdiction. At this moment, the Great Sun Rainbow actually wants to lay claim to it?

If the Earth Fire were to be swallowed by it, the Great Sun Rainbow would likely become a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in an instant, and this Sunset Forest would no longer have room for the python and its kin!

The Fallen Heaven Python will never let such a thing happen. For this reason, it strikes fiercely, sending torrents of water and venom toward the Great Sun Rainbow!

Boom, boom, boom!

The Great Sun Rainbow does not show weakness either, spreading its wings as flames and rainbow light spray everywhere like a fountain. This time, they are determined to fight until one of them dies!

Watching the flames land on his face, nearly scalding himself and Little Fire Dragon, Xiao Yan feels not fear, but excitement.

This indicates that the purity of the Earth Fire is high enough—high enough to attract soul beasts of this caliber.

However, this opportunity is also accompanied by risks.

With the two beasts fighting, he can certainly profit as the fisherman, but what happens after he profits?

He would definitely be hunted down by the Great Sun Rainbow, who lost its chance, while the Fallen Heaven Python would likely watch him being chased with glee.

In any case, the fire would have already been absorbed by Xiao Yan; even if the Great Sun Rainbow killed him, it could only vent its anger, and he does not worry about the opponent surpassing him.

But, sitting by and watching a treasure mountain slip away before his eyes is not Xiao Yan's style.

"Sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, then step in as the fisherman once both sides are heavily injured."

After pondering for a long time, Xiao Yan can only decide to wait until the two sides finish fighting before going up to steal the leftovers.

Time passes slowly, and the two beasts continue their struggle without end.

Water waves and flames splash everywhere; rainbow light and venom scatter in all directions.

"Screech—!"

Following another cry from the Great Sun Rainbow, it dives down, grabs the Fallen Heaven Python, and then charges fiercely toward the sky.

It is equally unsatisfied with sharing the rule of this Sunset Forest with this fellow; today, a victor must be decided, and one must die!

Seeing the two beasts fly toward the firmament, leaving the surrounding area devoid of soul beasts and only the Earth Fire emerging, Xiao Yan seizes this opening!

"Opportunity!"

Xiao Yan suddenly completes his Martial Soul Possession with Little Fire Dragon, and in an instant, he dives into the lava and flames continuously surging from the ley lines.

Gurgle—gurgle.

Deep within the flames, his entire body is scorched continuously. Even with the protection of Little Fire Dragon's dragon scales, the pain is comparable to torture.

Xiao Yan endures the pain, holds his breath, and continues to swim toward the depths of the ley lines.

Because the Burning Technique requires the absorption of the source of Earth Fire, Xiao Yan had to dive deep into the raging flames until he could locate that minuscule fire source.

This was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, but fortunately, the Little Fire Dragon possessed a keen sense for fire elements; relying on this perception, Xiao Yan could barely discern the general direction, ensuring he wouldn't swim the wrong way.

Finally, after swimming through the geothermal veins for who knows how long, Xiao Yan emerged from the mass of flames and surfaced within a hollow in the Earth's crust.

"Cough, cough... what the hell? What's going on here?"

Xiao Yan coughed twice, expelling the sulfurous fumes clogging his throat and nasal passages, and scanned his surroundings.

This was a cavern-like grotto, and despite being the source of the raging fire, not a single flame could be seen anywhere.

If not for the fact that Xiao Yan could still sense the dense aura of fire elements here, he would have feared he had swum to the wrong place.

"It's just... truly strange. The source of the fire I sensed is definitely right here..."

"Could it be some kind of hidden Heavenly Flame?"

"Gao~"

The Little Fire Dragon tugged at Xiao Yan's pant leg and pointed in a certain direction.

"You're saying you saw something over there?"

Following the direction the Little Fire Dragon indicated, Xiao Yan suddenly froze; in that direction, a stark-white skull with blue flames burning in its eye sockets filled his vision.

And every trace of the fire's aura originated from the eye sockets of that skull.

"This... could it be the Bone Spirit Cold Fire?"