Firelight leaped, illuminating the darkness!
It lit two startled faces.
In their eyes was the reflection of a figure twisted in agony—
Flames had engulfed his wavering body, half real and half illusory. It burst apart everywhere, countless thoughts shooting out from within. But each thought caught fire the moment it emerged and screamed!
The pool boiled. Black vapor spread, breaking apart into strands of thought.
Every strand conveyed the despair of someone at death's door, as though hundreds of people were wailing together!
The whole pool was filled with Human Thought!
Death! Death! Death!
"Elder brother! Save me! Save me! Save me!"
A wave of heat and screams struck Hou Andu, jolting him awake!
"No! The Human Thought I've accumulated!"
In his panic, he cast everything else aside and took two steps forward. His Qi and Blood surged, power gathered in his right arm, and he struck with his palm!
Whoosh!
A scorching gust roared out, sweeping across most of the cellar toward the flames, seeking to smother them!
"Stop!" the Black-Veiled Woman said coldly, but she made no other move.
Alarm flashed through Hou Andu. Then his expression changed drastically!
His palm strike had not suppressed the flames in the slightest. Instead, they raced back along his Fist Intent and the wind of his strike, surging toward him!
"Sever your Fist Intent! Fall back!"
At the critical moment, the Black-Veiled Woman shouted and flicked her slender hand. A crystalline speck shot toward the blaze!
Halfway there, it swelled into a mass of Seven-Colored Waterflow and collided with the flames.
Hissss!
Steam rose, cloudlike and misty.
Hou Andu did not dare delay. He steeled himself, severed his Fist Intent, and grunted as he started to retreat.
Boom!
Suddenly, the cloud of steam caught fire. Divine Fire spread across Hou