As Zhao Xuan's words fell, the flames atop Chentang Pass abruptly sank.
The Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover hung in midair. Nine Fire Dragons raised their heads together along its walls, their scales sliding against its surface as the blaze pressed down, turning the entire battlement red.
Yuqing Immortal Light surged around Taiyi Zhenren.
He no longer looked at Shi Ji, nor at Biyun Boy's corpse.
His gaze settled on Zhao Xuan's sleeve.
White Crane Boy had once wounded Zhao Xuan outside Golden Turtle Island.
The Jade Emptiness knew about that incident.
Taiyi remembered it too.
That was why they had always believed Zhao Xuan could not be particularly strong.
But today, he sensed something amiss.
It was as though the Zhao Xuan before him had become even harder to fathom than before.
So at this moment, Taiyi dared not grow complacent.
He formed a spell seal in his palm, magical power surging through him, and roared.
"Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, return!"
The cover shuddered violently.
The Nine Fire Dragons wheeled back together, the flames rolling backward along Taiyi Zhenren's spell seal.
The bricks atop the wall instantly turned red.
Li Jing knelt beside a crenel, his armor smoking beneath the scorching heat.
Several soldiers who had yet to leave the battlements were overturned by the fiery wind and rolled to the foot of the parapet, unable even to finish their screams.
Nezha stood behind Taiyi, and the Universe Ring on his wrist let out a piercing shriek.
At his feet, a thread of fire emerged from a crack between the bricks, climbing along the edge of the Sky-Mixed Silk.
Zhao Xuan did not seize the cover first.
He raised his left hand.
A strand of Shangqing Sword Qi spread along the wall, first suppressing the threads of fire