A Body of Flame to Burn the World

Starwave Sect.

Within the Sect.

Boom!

Without warning, clouds churned above Starwave Sect, and an immense pressure, seething with murderous intent, came crashing down.

Bang!

Everything within Starwave Sect shattered!

"Ah!"

Screams rose on every side as countless Starwave Sect disciples were reduced to ash!

"This is bad!"

Feng Yangu cried out. He drove his Source Power to its limit, forming a pillar of flame that surged toward the descending pressure.

Bang!

With a thunderous blast, the pillar of flame exploded above Starwave Sect, scattering like brilliant fireworks.

"Pfft!"

Feng Yangu spat blood and swayed, nearly losing his footing.

That pressure was so powerful. Just dispelling it injured me. Could the person who's come be...?

Horror gripped him. He had already guessed who it was.

At the thought, Feng Yangu swayed even harder. Then the Old Ancestor and the others must be...?

Whoosh!

Just then, a severed head hurtled down through the air.

"Old Ancestor!"

The panicked Starwave Sect disciples heard it fall, looked up, and cried out in grief.

"No! Old Ancestor!"

Feng Yangu's anguished wail tore from his chest.

Whoosh!

Mo Lingyuan appeared above Starwave Sect. He looked down at its people, cold as frost, his white hair whipping about him and his killing intent soaring skyward.

And in his hand was none other than Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul!

"Old Ancestor!"

Feng Yangu and the Starwave Sect disciples stared in shock and cried out.

"Mo Lingyuan! You destroyed our Old Ancestor's body and imprisoned his Nascent Soul. I'll fight you to the death!"

Feng Yangu's eyes nearly split with rage as he let out a resolute howl.

"What? Mo... Mo Lingyuan?!"

"Didn't he leave the Sect? How did he get back so quickly?"

"No! Run!"

But at the sound of his name, the Starwave Sect disciples lost their nerve and fled in every direction.

Screech!

Not one of them had even reached the Fourth Stage of Qi Refinement. Where could they run? In an instant, they were ground to dust!

"No! My disciples!"

Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul cried out in pain, powerless to do anything but watch his disciples die.

"Mo Lingyuan, pay with your life!"

Ignoring the disciples, Feng Yangu roared at Mo Lingyuan.

"Hah!"

With a fierce shout, he tore his clothes to shreds.

"My body the flame, my fire burns the world!"

Feng Yangu drove his Source Power to its peak. Vast Source Qi poured out, becoming raging flames that enveloped him.

Whoosh!

His body became a ball of fire and hurtled toward Mo Lingyuan, trailing flames.

Screech!

Like heavenly fire descending to earth, the fireball burned even space itself to ash wherever it passed!

"Yangu, don't! Run!"

Though the fireball's might was terrifying, Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul desperately tried to stop him.

He knew Feng Yangu was only at the eighth stage of Core Formation. He could never be Mo Lingyuan's match.

This was no different from throwing his life away!

But Feng Yangu had resolved to die. The Sect's people had been wiped out, and the Old Ancestor's Nascent Soul had fallen into another's hands. How could he go on living alone?

All he asked was to wound Mo Lingyuan, however slightly, before he died. That would be enough!

Feng Yangu charged at Mo Lingyuan without the slightest hesitation, despite Shen Xinghu's pleas!

"Feng Yangu, you have more backbone than your Old Ancestor."

Mo Lingyuan raised an eyebrow in approval.

"But what a pity..."

Mo Lingyuan lifted his gaze, and an overwhelming pressure slammed into the fireball.

Bang!

Feng Yangu's body and Source Core exploded together into a rain of fire.

The fire-rain fell soundlessly. Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul watched, devastated.

"Yangu, Yangu..."

He murmured to himself.

"I did this to you. I did this to all of you..."

Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul was beside himself with grief and self-reproach.

"Mo Lingyuan, kill me!"

Half the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul raised his head and begged, utterly broken.

"Very well. As you wish!"

Mo Lingyuan showed no mercy. He unleashed his Source Power, and Shen Xinghu's Nascent Soul dispersed!

With that, Starwave Sect was destroyed!

Mo Lingyuan turned into a streak of light and descended into Starwave Sect. He did not leave until half an hour later.

Azure Feather Sect.

Within the Sect.

The Discussion Hall.

"Shen Xinghu led his people here to attack today. Someone must have told him I'd left the Sect."

Seated at the head of the hall, Mo Lingyuan swept his cold gaze over everyone present.

Under that gaze, Jin Pingqi and the others sat rigidly upright, not daring to speak.

Jin Pingqi had long harbored suspicions himself, but Mo Lingyuan's look still startled him.

"And only Sect Master Jin and you twelve elders knew I had left."

"So one of you must be the traitor!"

Mo Lingyuan's expression hardened.

He stood and produced thirteen Bamboo Lots. "I can't be bothered with a detailed investigation. Of these thirteen Bamboo Lots in my hand, the shortest is three inches long. Whoever draws that one is the traitor!"

Jin Pingqi and the others exchanged bewildered looks.

That hardly seemed fair, did it?

Huang Guchen looked puzzled too, but inwardly he rejoiced. Excellent. One chance in thirteen. The Old Ancestor might not find me!

"Start drawing!"

Mo Lingyuan swept his gaze over them again and gave the stern order.

"Yes, Old Ancestor!"

Though Jin Pingqi and the others had their doubts about his method, they drew lots one after another as instructed.

Whew! Mine's three and a half inches. Now let's see who's unlucky enough to take the fall for me!

Huang Guchen looked at the Bamboo Lot in his hand and breathed a long sigh of relief. A trace of gratitude for his luck crossed his face.

Boom!

Just then, a crushing pressure descended and trapped him fast.

"Huh? Old Ancestor, what is this?"

Unable to move, Huang Guchen asked in alarm.

"Huang Guchen, so you're the traitor!"

Mo Lingyuan answered him with an angry accusation.

"I've been wronged, Old Ancestor! Wronged!"

Huang Guchen protested and struggled desperately.

But he was only at the seventh stage of Core Formation. How could he break free of Mo Lingyuan's hold?

At last, he gave up. "Why me?"

Jin Pingqi and the others were equally baffled. How had the Old Ancestor determined that Elder Huang was the traitor?

"All thirteen Bamboo Lots are three and a half inches long. Everyone else looked calm when they drew one because their consciences were clear. But you showed a flicker of relief, because you had something to hide!"

Mo Lingyuan stared coldly at Huang Guchen as he answered.

"So that's it!"

Understanding dawned on Jin Pingqi and the others.

"Old Ancestor, you... you tricked me?!"

Huang Guchen's expression changed as he realized he had fallen for it.

"Huang Guchen! You caused the deaths of more than ten thousand Sect disciples and the Grand Elder. What punishment do you deserve?"

Jin Pingqi demanded furiously.

"What punishment? Hahahaha..."

Huang Guchen laughed wildly, as though he had heard the finest joke in the world.

A moment later, he stopped laughing and declared, "What crime have I committed?"

"I'm not the guilty one. I didn't cause Yun Shengya's death or the deaths of the Sect disciples. You did, Jin Pingqi—and the Old Ancestor!"

Mo Lingyuan and Jin Pingqi were stunned. The other Azure Feather Sect elders gaped at him.

Had Huang Guchen gone mad?