One hundred seconds was a short time.
But at that moment, it seemed extraordinarily long.
The process of Wei Yi taking in the abnormal fire could not be interrupted. If it was, not only would he fail to take it in, but he would also suffer a powerful backlash.
So the task of holding off outside enemies could only be left to Wei Wu and the other two.
Only ten seconds passed before two martial artists charged up together and clashed with the three of them.
These two had been fighting fiercely at the foot of the mountain just moments ago, but now they joined closely together, frantically battering at the three men's defenses.
If it had only been those two, Wei Wu and the others could have managed, but far more than two people charged up to seize the abnormal fire.
Another twenty seconds passed, and three more people soon rushed up, including a Great Martial Master. The faces of Wei Wu and the other two immediately darkened. They exchanged glances but still chose to grit their teeth and hold on. It was not that they were particularly willing to protect Wei Yi, but they knew full well that if they fled and withdrew now, Wei Yi would hate all three of them to death.
"Take the Blood-Rage Pills!"
Wei Wu let out a roar.
All three quickly took out a blood-red pill each and swallowed it.
Blood-Rage Pills were second-grade pills that could boost combat strength to a certain extent for a short time, but afterward, the user would fall into a weakened state.
"Anyone who dares charge any farther will be a mortal enemy of the Wei Clan!"
Wei Wu bellowed furiously. After taking the Blood-Rage Pills, they barely managed to hold off the five opponents.
"Break through, and the abnormal fire is ours!"
"Get the abnormal fire and fly far away! Who gives a damn about the Wei Clan!"
Although the opposing martial artists feared the Wei Clan, under the Great Martial Master's lead, their desire to seize the abnormal fire still overwhelmed their fear, and they soon charged forward desperately together.
A moment later, a dull thud rang out, and Wei Hong, the weakest of the three, was the first to be sent flying by a saber strike.
Wei Wu and Wei Yuan were also forced back step after step.
"Die, all of you!"
Ferocity filled the Great Martial Master's eyes as he slashed out again with his battle saber. With surging internal Qi pouring into it, layers of saber shadows took shape, like towering waves in a raging sea.
He was not merely attacking Wei Wu and Wei Yuan. He had also included Wei Yi, who was taking in the abnormal fire behind them, within the range of his attack.
Wei Wu and Wei Yuan's expressions changed drastically.
But just then, Wei Yi, who had been concentrating entirely on taking in the abnormal fire, opened his eyes.
He waved his right hand, and the Crimson Crystal True Flame floating before him instantly vanished, turning into a streak of dazzling light that plunged straight into his body.
At the same time, Wei Yi's presence surged wildly. In particular, scarlet flames seemed to flicker faintly in his pitch-black eyes, which also resembled two clear, translucent gemstones, giving off an indescribably eerie, intimidating feeling.
"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish."
Wei Yi spoke coldly, his words carrying an exceptionally intense killing intent.
The faces of all five opponents involuntarily changed in shock.
They had never imagined that Wei Yi would successfully subdue the Crimson Crystal True Flame in such a short time.
Before they could react, Wei Yi had already flashed before them.
More precisely, he had appeared before the Great Martial Master leading them.
His right palm struck out lightly, using the Heart-Crushing Palm, which specifically damaged the internal organs. Powerful internal Qi bored into his opponent's body in the blink of an eye. Together with the terrifying power of the Crimson Crystal True Flame, it left a pitch-black palm print on the man's chest, and the Great Martial Master flew backward, spraying blood.
He died instantly!
Although the Heart-Crushing Palm was only a mortal-grade martial technique, after the flame power of the Crimson Crystal True Flame was added, its might fully rivaled a profound-grade martial technique.
This was the value of the Crimson Crystal True Flame, and it was merely one of its uses.
That was why so many people were desperate to seize abnormal fire.
Wei Yi drew the Qinggang Sword, and scarlet flames instantly enveloped its entire blade. The cutting edge, in particular, turned glowing red at once. The Thirteen Life-Seizing Swords once again erupted with astonishing might, each strike killing a man. The remaining four turned and fled, but how could they match Wei Yi's movement speed? In the blink of an eye, they died beneath his sword one after another.
Although they were likewise Martial Masters, their combat strength was far below Wei Yi's.
Five system notifications sounded in succession.
Wei Yi's experience, which had just fallen to eighth-stage Martial Master, rose substantially once again.
"Thank you, cousins, for doing everything you could to protect me just now."
Wei Yi thanked Wei Wu and the other two.
"No need for thanks, no need."
"It was what we should have done."
Wei Hong had also climbed back to his feet by then. All three shook their heads repeatedly, their eyes filled with unconcealable shock as they looked at Wei Yi.
They had not expected Wei Yi to successfully subdue the abnormal fire so quickly either, much less become so overwhelmingly powerful and terrifying all at once. Five martial artists, including a Great Martial Master, had all been dispatched in the blink of an eye, as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables.
Thinking of their own sorry state, all three could not help feeling somewhat ashamed.
"Come on, let's head down and regroup with the main force first."
Led by Wei Yi, they quickly hurried down the mountain again.
Knowing they had seized the abnormal fire, quite a few people naturally charged at them to kill them.
Although Wei Yi had already subdued the abnormal fire, as long as they killed him, they still had a chance to obtain it again.
Wei Yi showed these people no mercy either. Although his cultivation had fallen from ninth-stage Martial Master to eighth-stage Martial Master, his bloodline power had not weakened. With the newly acquired Crimson Crystal True Flame as well, his combat strength was far greater than before. The Qinggang Sword unleashed terrifying streaks of Sword Qi, and not one of the martial artists blocking his path could withstand a single exchange.
He did reap quite a lot of experience, though.
Killing a Martial Master earned him at least several hundred experience points, while a Great Martial Master yielded over a thousand.
Killing his way down and leaving blood strewn across the ground, Wei Yi actually returned to the ninth-stage Martial Master realm.
Boom!
"Who dares court death!"
Suddenly, a deafening crash rang out. A dozen or so martial artists at the very front were smashed directly into meat paste by a single staff strike. Violent power poured forth, and a massive trench appeared.
Wei Tianyang appeared before Wei Yi and the others.
The remaining Wei Clan martial artists, including the three great elders, also quickly gathered around.
"Did you get the abnormal fire?"
Wei Tianyang looked at Wei Yi.
"Fortunately, I didn't fail you."
Wei Yi nodded with a light laugh.
"Hahaha, good! Let's go!"
Wei Tianyang laughed unrestrainedly, then took the lead at the very front. Not a single martial artist in the gorge dared stand in his way.
Even Sun Zhenshan, the Sun Clan's patriarch nearby, was no exception.
They had just exchanged dozens of blows, and he was no match for Wei Tianyang.
"Those damned bastards!"
Sun Zhenshan gritted his teeth, his eyes instantly filling with towering rage as he looked toward the Wei Clan.
He had not expected this operation not only to fail to achieve its objective, but also to cost him both his sons, with many Sun Clan martial artists killed or wounded as well.
Right now, he truly wished he could grind Wei Yi and his father's bones to dust and scatter their ashes, then confiscate the entire Wei Clan's holdings and exterminate them.
"Young Master Luo, everything my Sun Clan did this time was for you. You can't refuse to take responsibility."
Sun Zhenshan turned his head and looked at someone standing beside him.
This person was none other than the brocade-robed young man who had fought Wei Yi for the abnormal fire.
His expression was ugly as well. He snorted coldly and asked with a hostile look, "How do you want me to take responsibility?"
"Why not have your honored father act and wipe out the Wei Clan outright?"
"Hmph, you certainly know how to scheme. Even setting aside the fact that the Wei Clan is one of the ten great lineages, with a tangled web of connections behind it, Wei Tianyu himself is a Martial King-level expert. Do you think my father would go to war over me?" the brocade-robed young man asked with a sneer.
"So we're just letting this matter go?"
Sun Zhenshan asked unwillingly.
"Not moving against the Wei Clan or Wei Tianyang doesn't mean we can't move against that Wei Yi." The brocade-robed young man's gaze was unfathomable, his eyes filled with icy killing intent.
"He took something he shouldn't have. He must pay the price!"