After a while, when the Pill Lightning dissipated, the Northern King landed tall and straight beside Xiao Yan. Huo Qing and the other two looked at the puppet in front of them with strange expressions. Upon closer inspection, the Long Lin on the Northern King's body seemed to be more numerous than before, and the thunderous power flowing all over his body, as well as his cold and ruthless killing aura, also seemed to have become much stronger.
"What a peculiar puppet! It can even absorb the power of lightning to temper itself. No wonder you're so confident in the power of the Pill Lightning God."
Seeing the strange puppet before him, Huo Qing couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Xiao Yan smiled slightly, his gaze falling on the Northern King. After carefully sensing him, he couldn't help but frown.
"Still at the Mid-Stage Eight-Star Yuan Zong?"
After some investigation, Xiao Yan was astonished to find that the Northern King's strength had not broken through as directly as before. Although he was already close to the Late-Stage Eight-Star Yuan Zong, the overall effect of the Pill Lightning on the Northern King's strength had visibly slowed down. Of course, it could also be because the Lei Yuan had not been completely absorbed. However, such a result inevitably disappointed Xiao Yan.
With a helpless pursed lip, Xiao Yan put away the Northern King. His thoughts returned to the present. As he reached out, a crimson pill flew swiftly from above the crater of fire. With a flick of his finger, he put it into a jade bottle and then handed it to Huo Qing.
Holding the jade bottle in his hand, Huo Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with a solemn expression, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Yan and said in a deep voice:
"Thanks, little one!"
Beside them, Huo Rong and her brother bowed and clasped their hands in respect, their faces filled with reverence.
"You're too kind, senior. I was just doing my best."
Xiao Yan shook his head and helped Huo Rong and her brother up. After Huo Qing thanked him several times, he handed the Huo Xin. The most important thing right now was for this girl to break through to the Origin Emperor as soon as possible with the help of the pills. In this way, Huo Rong's inheritance would also be officially launched!
While Xiao Yan and the others waited for Huo Xin to break through in the Fire Banyan Ruins, strange things were happening one after another on the Flowing Fire Plain outside.
First, all the Fire Banyan Branch in the Fire Banyan Forest mysteriously disappeared. Then, the Fire-Scaled Lizard Beast also plunged into the depths of the lava. On the outskirts of the plain, the lava rivers gradually dried up, revealing deep ravines. Deep within the plain, a massive volcano suddenly emerged from the ground, spewing out scalding lava. However, the powerful figures in that area did not retreat but advanced, waiting for a long time around the volcano.
One month later, the Fire Banyan Ruins.
Xiao Yan and Huo Qing stood before the Fire Banyan Locust Tree. As Huo Qing summoned his staff and raised his hands to his chest, a series of lightning-fast hand seals appeared. Two clusters of pure energy, enveloped in scarlet flames, slowly emerged from the Fire Banyan Locust Tree. Then, as the staff slammed into the ground, the seal covering the inheritance was gradually torn apart. At Huo Qing's summons, Huo Xing and Huo Xin leaped onto the treetop without hesitation, their bodies merging into the seal, and they fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at the brother and sister who had fallen into a deep sleep, Huo Qing couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance in his old eyes. After so many years of companionship, the thought of being separated was something no one could easily bear.
However, Huo Qing was well aware of the current situation. While he still had consciousness, he turned around without hesitation and did his best to erect a barrier at the entrance of the stone cave. This was his last act of protection.
Not far away, Xiao Yan stood quietly. Everything here should now be entrusted to this old man who had lived here for so many Suiyue. At the end of his life, what came to mind, besides his old friends from the Suiyue, was even more so the two children he had protected like his own for so many years...
"Young friend Xiao Yan, we must entrust them to you!"
Huo Qing's body trembled slightly, specks of light scattering from his body. His consciousness began to fade, and his neck twitched as he shouted loudly, like a deaf old man, as if afraid that Xiao Yan wouldn't hear him clearly. Only after confirming that Xiao Yan nodded heavily did he smile brightly. The light in his crimson eyes gradually disappeared, and his entire body finally turned into a ray of starlight and vanished from this space.
Even with Xiao Yan's emotional state, his throat tightened slightly. As the earth before him gradually melted and crimson flames rose, carrying lava everywhere, Xiao Yan finally focused his mind and gathered his strength. The sadness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a resolute determination. Right now, the only way was to keep his promise to the old man and do his best to become stronger, so that he would have a chance to continue protecting the brother and sister for him!
"Come forth... Volcanic Stone Flame!"
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yan decisively summoned four Heavenly Flames, which stood in the four directions to trap the spreading Volcanic Stone Flame with their Heavenly Flames. He then charged straight into the raging fire that rolled like lava after a loud shout!
The devouring of the Heavenly Flames has begun!
More than four months later.
Deep within the Flowing Fire Plain, the volcano that suddenly erupted from beneath the earth a few months ago has now risen hundreds of feet high. The churning lava within has gradually settled to a suitable position, and upon closer inspection, something seems to be rapidly flowing within the lava.
The area surrounding the volcano was already filled with people. Powerful figures from all sides had gathered here, not for any other reason than that the crater was the true entrance to the Fire Banyan Ruins. In just over ten days, the lava inside would completely recede and dry up, exposing the entrance beneath. At that time, all the powerful figures present could then use the Fire Banyan Token to enter the Fire Banyan Ruins smoothly!
On a high peak outside the crater, Bai Zijing, dressed in white, stood with several members of the Bai Clan behind him. Bai Rong, whose body was ashen, was also among them.
Gazing at the scalding lava flowing from the cracks at the edge of the volcano, Bai Zijing couldn't help but picture a figure in black robes, and his fists beneath his sleeves gradually clenched together.
" Xiao Yan, when we return to the clan, I will personally drag you out of the Xiao Clan and tear you to pieces. Otherwise, how can I, Bai Zijing, face my dead brother!"
At the same time, on the outskirts of the Flowing Fire Plain, a figure in a green robe swiftly approached from the horizon, standing atop a cliff, gazing at the vast, boundless plain before him, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes. After a moment, having confirmed the general direction, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure instantly transforming into a bolt of lightning, rapidly darting towards the depths of the plains.