25: Chapter 25 Desperate Counterattack, Outwitting the Earth Dragon

Before the roar had even faded, the air at the entrance of the tunnel twisted and expanded violently, as if being squeezed by an invisible, immense force!

"Boom——!!!"

Huge chunks of rock, accompanied by scorching fragments of magma, shot out from the tunnel like cannonballs!

Following closely behind was the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's massive head, covered in ferocious scales and burning with raging fury!

It had actually forced its way into the Secret Grotto by squeezing and even partially melting the already narrow tunnel with its body!

Its three crimson-gold vertical pupils instantly locked onto Lin Yan, as well as the fire marrow crystal and Xiao Yi Xian by the pool behind him.

Violence, greed, and the extreme anger of a "thief" trespassing on its sacred ground coalesced into a nearly tangible mental shockwave, slamming fiercely toward the two of them!

"Humble insects! How dare you defile this sacred ground and steal the Sacred Crystal Dao Marks! Today, I will burn you both to ashes and imprison your souls in the earth fire forever!"

The Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's mental roar echoed through the Secret Grotto, causing the stalactites to hum.

Before it had even finished speaking, it opened its massive maw, and a pillar of magma—far more condensed than before and dark gold in color—shot out like a destructive beam of light, carrying a terrifying heat capable of incinerating all things, instantly tearing through the air and blasting toward Lin Yan!

This time, it struck in anger, holding nothing back, vowing to annihilate this "insect" that had repeatedly provoked it in one fell swoop!

A full-strength strike from a peak Dou Ling in this relatively enclosed space was magnified in power!

Before the fire pillar even arrived, the suffocating, scorching pressure already made it difficult for Lin Yan to breathe, and his skin felt a prickling pain like needles.

He could not take it head-on! He couldn't block it at all!

Lin Yan's pupils constricted to pinpricks, and he pushed his Explosive Step to the limit at this moment; the ground beneath his feet exploded into spiderweb-like cracks as his body darted toward the side and back like a ghost!

At the same time, he activated the ability of the newly strengthened Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame—energy aura simulation and camouflage!

A faint wisp of aura, simulating the gentle and peaceful fluctuations of the fire marrow crystal itself, silently spread out from him, attempting to interfere with the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's violent and direct soul lock.

"Boom——!!!"

The dark gold fire pillar brushed past Lin Yan's afterimage and slammed fiercely into the rock wall at the back of the Secret Grotto!

The hard rock wall, imbued with the power of the earth's veins, was instantly melted into a massive, charred crater several zhang deep; magma flowed down like tears, the entire Secret Grotto shook violently, and gravel fell like rain!

Although Lin Yan had avoided the direct impact, he was still struck by the aftermath and shockwave of the explosion; his chest felt stifled, a metallic taste filled his throat, and he was wounded once again.

Yet, a cold light flashed in his eyes—the interference had succeeded!

Although it was only for an instant, the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's attack had indeed deviated ever so slightly; otherwise, he would never have been able to completely evade that blow!

"Hmm? A strange little insect!"

When its attack missed, the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's rage burned even brighter; it also sensed the strange aura on Lin Yan that made even its source flame tremble slightly (Void Swallowing Flame), as well as the peculiar fluctuations that had interfered with its lock.

"You have some tricks, but in the face of absolute power, they are all in vain!"

Its massive body squeezed completely into the Secret Grotto, occupying nearly half the space; its thick, magma-covered tail swept out violently, carrying a howling storm of flames, swiping toward Lin Yan who had just regained his footing, while simultaneously sealing off most of his room for evasion!

"Lin Yan!"

Xiao Yi Xian, by the pool, cried out in alarm; she had just barely identified a key energy node of the formation and was attempting to inject her own refined poison power, which possessed corrosive and cold properties. Seeing Lin Yan in danger, she didn't hesitate to raise her hand, and several points of deep blue toxic light shot out from between her fingers like lightning, aiming straight for the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's three crimson-gold vertical pupils!

The first completed poison technique from the Seven-Colored Poison Manual—Nether Pupil Sting!

This poison needle contained poison power that had been refined by earth vein energy, making it more condensed and sinister; it specialized in attacking souls and energy nodes, and was as fast as lightning!

Although the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon was strong, its vertical pupils were its relatively fragile sensory organs; its instinct for danger caused it to subconsciously close its eyes and tilt its head.

"Chi, chi, chi!"

The few poison needles struck its thick eyelids and the scales on its forehead, emitting a corrosive sound and leaving behind a few charred, shallow pits; while they didn't cause substantial damage, they successfully interfered with its vision and momentum, causing its sweeping giant tail to slow down.

A good opportunity!

A brilliant light shot from Lin Yan's eyes; he stepped with Explosive Step again, not retreating but advancing, actually charging toward the side of the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon!

He curled the fingers of his right hand into a claw, and at his fingertips, a wisp of pitch-black, profound aura that seemed capable of sucking away even souls condensed—the strengthened Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame, compressed to the limit, as he prepared for a close-range, "point" style devouring assault targeting energy or soul!

At the same time, he held a wisp of energy from the Seed Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame in his left hand, invisible and intangible, carrying a burning sensation that pierced straight into the heart and soul, ready to strike, preparing to attack from both sides!

"You seek death!"

The Magma Earth-Walking Dragon felt the strange sense of threat coming from its side; though surprised, it was not flustered. Its forelimb, covered in magma armor, lifted violently and slammed down like a giant hammer, while a layer of scorching, dark gold flames gushed out from the gaps in its armor, forming a protective ring of fire!

However, Lin Yan's target was not its body.

Just at the moment the giant magma claw was about to hit him, Lin Yan's figure slipped away like a loach; he utilized the turning ability of Explosive Step to the limit, narrowly evading the claw strike and brushing past the protective fire ring, the scorching airwave it stirred up nearly igniting him.

His right hand, which had been gathering strength for a long time, lunged out like a viper striking from its hole; the point of extreme, compressed blackness at his fingertips slammed into the dark red energy vein that was faintly visible in the gap between the armor at the junction of the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's forelimb and body—that was a branch of its earth fire energy circulation!

"Void Devour!"

The pitch-black point of light sank into the gap of the armor, touching the surging dark red earth fire energy.

"Roar——!"

The Magma Earth-Walking Dragon let out a roar mixed with pain and furious shock!

It felt a strange energy, cold, empty, and carrying a terrifying devouring power, instantly cut off that small section of its energy vein and frantically devour and annihilate the earth fire essence within it!

Even more terrifyingly, that power was still spreading along the energy vein, eroding deep into its body!

Although insignificant relative to its massive total energy, it was like a maggot on a bone, bringing intense pain and sluggishness in its energy circulation!

It whipped its forelimb violently, and its violent Dou Qi (Beast Origin Power) exploded, blasting Lin Yan away while also forcibly expelling and dispersing that wisp of intruding Void Swallowing Flame energy.

Lin Yan spat blood again as he flew backward, slamming heavily into a protruding rock by the pool, feeling as though every bone in his body was about to fall apart.

Yet, a cold smile appeared on his face—it had succeeded!

Although the price was heavy, it proved that the Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame indeed had a restraining and damaging effect on its energy system!

Moreover, the opponent was clearly extremely wary of this "devouring" property!

"Insect! You have enraged me!"

The Magma Earth-Walking Dragon completely went berserk, its three vertical pupils entirely bloodshot; even fiercer flames gushed from the gaps in the magma armor on its body, its aura climbing once again, with a violent trend of faintly breaking through the peak of Tier 4 and touching the threshold of Tier 5 (Dou Wang)!

It no longer cared about potentially damaging the Secret Grotto and the fire marrow crystal (it saw that the other party dared not destroy the fire marrow crystal, otherwise they would have acted sooner); it wanted to tear these two hateful thieves to shreds!

Its massive body stood upright, and three pairs of magma wings on its back fully unfurled; the scorching light illuminated the entire Secret Grotto, and two spheres of dark gold magma energy, spinning violently and emitting destructive fluctuations, condensed in its claws!

"Earth Fire Explosion!"

The two magma energy spheres flew out from its claws; one slammed toward Lin Yan, and the other actually blasted toward Xiao Yi Xian, who was nervously making arrangements by the pool!

It wanted to kill both of them simultaneously, giving them no further chances!

There was no escaping! There was no blocking!

A look of determination flashed in Lin Yan's eyes; just as he was about to recklessly urge the Void Swallowing Flame to resist at any cost, the corner of his eye caught that Xiao Yi Xian's face was not only devoid of fear, but instead flashed with an unusual calmness, even... carrying a glint of a scheme succeeding?

Xiao Yi Xian did not dodge; instead, she slammed her palms onto the formation node she had been studying all along!

All the gray-purple poison power within her body, which had been refined and compressed to the limit, surged into those ancient patterns like a floodgate opening!

"Using poison as a guide, reversing Yin and Yang—Activate!"

She let out a sharp cry, her emerald eyes instantly flooded with gray-purple toxic light!

"Hum——!!!"

The massive, ancient formation by the pool, after remaining silent for who knows how many years, suddenly lit up with a faint glow!

Although most of the patterns remained dim due to a severe lack of energy, the key node that Xiao Yi Xian had infused with her poison power, along with several connected patterns, suddenly activated!

The formation was forcibly stimulated by the "polluting" poison power, producing a chaotic and violent reaction!

A chaotic, mixed, yet energy field containing ancient seals and earth vein repulsion force erupted from that node as the center, just in time to meet the magma energy sphere blasting toward Xiao Yi Xian!

"Bang!!!"

The chaotic energy field collided with the magma sphere; there was no earth-shattering explosion, but rather, it was like ice water dripped into a pot of hot oil, triggering a violent and uncontrollable energy annihilation and conflict!

The magma energy sphere was significantly weakened and deflected, flying past Xiao Yi Xian's body and slamming into the distant rock wall.

The backlash from the formation also spread along the patterns, causing the energy field of the entire Secret Grotto to become chaotic; the light mist of the pool water churned violently, and the light of the fire marrow crystal flickered uncertainly.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan, facing the other incoming magma sphere, knew it was time to risk his life.

He held nothing back, forcing all the Dou Qi he had recovered, along with the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, and even a wisp of source power from the newly strengthened Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame, to fuse and compress in front of him in an extremely brutal, near self-destructive manner!

"Three Flames... Protective Barrier!"

A semi-illusory, semi-solid flame light shield, interwoven with green, red, and black colors and covered with fine cracks on its surface, instantly formed, blocking in front of Lin Yan.

"Boom——!!!"

The magma sphere slammed fiercely into the three-colored light shield!

A terrifying energy storm swept out; the light shield only held for a breath before shattering with a bang. Lin Yan was blown away like a broken sack, his entire body charred black, his bones emitting teeth-gritting cracking sounds in multiple places, blood spraying wildly, and his consciousness beginning to blur.

But ultimately, he did not die!

The three-colored light shield had offset most of the power, and because of the formation's backlash and the chaotic energy field, the power of the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon's strike had also been slightly affected.

"Cough, cough..."

Lin Yan fell to the edge of the pool, struggling to get up, but he found it difficult to even move a finger; his vision began to blur, and he could only see the massive silhouette of the Magma Earth-Walking Dragon, which also seemed slightly unstable in its aura due to the formation's backlash and continuous outbursts. It was shaking its huge head, its three vertical pupils staring fixedly at him, approaching step by step, filled with killing intent.

Is it over?

A sense of unwillingness welled up in Lin Yan's heart.

Was he going to die here?

Just at this moment of despair, in his blurred vision, he saw the ancient patterns on the edge of the pool that he was pressing down on and had stained with his blood... Those patterns stained with his blood (containing the aura of the Seed Flames of Heavenly Flames and earth fire spirit liquid energy) seemed to come alive, faintly lighting up with a weak glow that echoed the fire marrow crystal in the distance?

And the dark gold fire marrow crystal in the center of the pool seemed to be stimulated by the Heavenly Flame aura in his blood, as well as the violent energy conflict just now; the remaining phantoms of the Heavenly Flame Dao Marks sealed within it began to flicker and collide violently and uncontrollably!

The entire Secret Grotto began to emit a low hum, as if coming from the depths of the earth!

The Magma Earth-Walking Dragon stopped its approach; for the first time, its three vertical pupils revealed a look of uncertainty, and even... a trace of fear?

It stared fixedly at the flickering fire marrow crystal and the humming ground, as if it had sensed some kind of more ancient and terrifying will that made its very soul tremble, which was... slowly awakening from the depths of these earth veins?