Chapter 43

The thing looked small, but it was astonishingly heavy—far heavier even than the Xiao Clan Gauntlet.

Strands of eerie red flame coiled around it. Once anyone drew near, the protective barrier released by the Xiao Clan Gauntlet would instantly shatter, and they would be burned to death by those flames.

Thus, after sensing the danger of this thing, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet's artifact spirit hurriedly controlled the gauntlet to shoot a ball of flame at the Fire Qilin, hoping to stop it from continuing its attack.

However, he had underestimated the power of the flames.

The moment the flames shot out, they instantly enveloped the Fire Qilin's chest.

The Fire Qilin let out a miserable cry.

But its hide was far too tough, and the flames could not harm it at all.

Seeing that his attack had failed, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet's artifact spirit gritted his teeth and lunged straight for the Fire Qilin's neck.

Since this fellow's defenses were so formidable, he would make it lose a place it could defend.

With that thought, he pounced toward the Fire Qilin's neck.

But to his surprise, the Fire Qilin was simply too fast. He could not keep up with it at all.

When he was still a meter away from the Fire Qilin, flames suddenly erupted from its body and blasted him away.

Although the Xiao Clan Gauntlet possessed powerful defensive abilities, the Fire Qilin was, after all, a fire-element creature. Before its flames, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet seemed utterly vulnerable.

Bang!

The Xiao Clan Gauntlet slammed into a tree, then fell from it to the ground.

However, although the Xiao Clan Gauntlet had not defeated the Fire Qilin, it used the rebounding force to dart straight toward the Xiao Clan Gauntlet.

Seeing this, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet's artifact spirit could not help but smile bitterly.

It seemed he still had no way to kill this Fire Qilin.

The Fire Qilin's defenses were simply too powerful. Unless the Xiao Clan Gauntlet could enter the divine weapon realm, it would be impossible to kill it.

"I refuse to believe your defenses can remain at this level forever!"

With that thought, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet's artifact spirit snorted coldly and controlled the gauntlet to charge at the Fire Qilin.

Bang!

This time, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet crashed directly into the Fire Qilin's head, sending it flying.

"Damn it, I still can't kill you!"

Seeing this, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet's artifact spirit could not help but curse.

After flying backward for some distance, the Fire Qilin steadied itself. However, its eyes were wide with shock as it stared at the Xiao Clan Gauntlet as though it had seen a ghost.

In that vicious collision just now, what the Fire Qilin had felt was a piercing pain.

Moreover, the instant it had been sent flying by that gauntlet, a fist mark had appeared on its chest, and that fist mark was continuously spreading.

"Damn it! You dared to injure me? I'll devour you and refine you into my power!"

With that thought, it opened its mouth again, intending to swallow those flames into its stomach.

Yet just as it was about to consume the flames, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet waved a hand and recalled them.

At that moment, the Fire Qilin let out another roar.

However, the Xiao Clan Gauntlet paid it no heed and turned to flee.

Although the Xiao Clan Gauntlet had been unable to kill the Fire Qilin, it could still delay it and prevent it from continuing its attack.

Once all these flames had been used up, they would extinguish on their own. Then, they would be able to escape their predicament.

But now, his task had been completed.

So he had to leave.

Though the Fire Qilin was furious, it could do nothing to the Xiao Clan Gauntlet, because the gauntlet's defensive capabilities were simply too terrifying.

Though it was enraged, in the end it could only watch helplessly as the Xiao Clan Gauntlet escaped.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures flashed continuously through the forest.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few ferocious beasts.

After Xiao Ming used his movement technique at full strength and employed spatial jumping techniques to evade those beasts, he quickly left the dense woods and entered the forest beyond.

"Hah..."

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Ming and Xiao Qingyan both let out long sighs. The battle just now had clearly consumed a tremendous amount of their strength.

However, despite expending so much power, they had gained substantial rewards.

Especially during that great battle, they had finally understood the gap between themselves and the Fire Qilin.

If the two of them worked together, they might be able to contend with the Fire Qilin to some extent. But alone, neither of them would likely be its match.

Moreover, during the clash just now, Xiao Ming had sensed the power contained within the Xiao Clan Gauntlet.

Before that power, the Fire Qilin was as fragile as a block of tofu.

"I never expected that a gauntlet nurtured within the soul could unleash such power!"

After noticing this change, Xiao Ming's face revealed a shocked expression.

This was also his first time witnessing the might of a weapon like the Xiao Clan Gauntlet.

Although the Xiao Clan Gauntlet had not reached the level of a divine weapon, the power it contained was still not to be underestimated. It could absolutely make even a Heaven-tier Grandmaster tremble.

Furthermore, this power was not limited to the gauntlet itself.

Although they had been seriously injured in the battle just now, the power contained within the Xiao Clan Gauntlet had not dissipated in the slightest. Instead, it seeped directly into their limbs and bones, helping them recover from their injuries.

However, just as they were about to rest, a violent rumbling sound suddenly rang out.

Immediately afterward, a colossal creature appeared not far from them. This ferocious beast stood a full three zhang tall, its entire body blazing with raging flames.

Moreover, three horns grew from its forehead.

When he saw this ferocious beast, Xiao Ming frowned slightly, unsure what it was.

"Ya Fei, what is this?"

Looking at the magical beast before him, one he had never seen before, Xiao Ming spoke to Ya Fei within his sea of consciousness.

Hearing Xiao Ming's words, Ya Fei said calmly, "This is a Scarlet Flame Beast, an existence even more troublesome than a Crimson Blood Lion."

"Crimson Blood Lion?"

Xiao Ming's gaze sharpened as he looked at the Scarlet Flame Beast, inwardly startled.

The memories in his mind had once mentioned the name of this ferocious beast.

Within the Ancient Realm, only a very small number of ferocious beasts possessed this bloodline, and the Scarlet Flame Beast was one of them.