With nowhere to gain purchase in midair, Qin Ran stepped on the air and shot upward.
The stabbing flames swept past the soles of Qin Ran's shoes, and his figure vanished from the entrance to the secret chamber.
Then-
Whoosh!
Like a mountain bearing down, [Words of Arrogance] slashed downward with a roar.
Bang!
Wood splinters scattered, and sparks flew.
Under the immense wind pressure, the flames swayed from side to side, flickering erratically.
The flames directly beneath the blade were cleaved in two, revealing the attacker's true form.
It was a humanoid mass of flame.
It looked like a person, but it had no facial features. It had limbs and a torso, but all of them were made of fire.
This unusual enemy did nothing to stop the dark red blade's downward slash.
Without a sound, the humanoid flame was split in two.
But that was not its death!
It was merely another beginning!
Not only did the physical attack prove useless, but the divided flames also merged with the fire around them.
In an instant, the flames in the secret chamber seemed to come alive, baring their claws and fangs as they displayed their terrifying heat to Qin Ran.
They condensed into flaming swords, their points all aimed at Qin Ran's back. His slash had left a palm-wide fissure even in the solid floor.
The chilling presence of death became starkly clear amid the scorching heat.
"Do you think you can escape just because you obtained the Sage's Stele?"
A hoarse voice came from the flames, barely distinguishable but still intelligible.
It brimmed with disdainful mockery, yet sounded more like a pronouncement of Qin Ran's fate.
As the voice fell silent, the flaming swords eagerly thrust forward.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The dense chorus of rushing air rivaled a