bookandnovel Chapter 86: Fox Flames Burn the Sky
Chapter 86: Fox Flames Burn the Sky
The night was like thick ink, spilled across the entrance to Qixing'ao Valley. The faint starlight and moonlight that had once shone were now completely swallowed up by another light—a light that surged from the depths of the rift, a light mixed with madness and death.
A piercing alarm blared, like a rusty pair of scissors tearing open the silence of the night. Immediately following were the officer's hoarse shouts, the chaotic footsteps of soldiers rushing about, the shrill scraping of weapons as they hastily drew their sheaths… a cacophony of sounds exploded like boiling water poured into hot oil. Liu Xiong's armored and armed men, accustomed to the dangers of war, quickly recovered from their initial shock with a numb, ruthless expression. Amidst the desperate shouts and curses of their leaders, they staggered towards the narrow crevice at the valley entrance, their bows trembling, arrow fletching, swords and spears raised, their cold gleam forming a chilling barrier in the flickering torchlight, attempting to reseal the all-consuming chasm.
However, what emerged from the crack was not the ordinary beasts they were used to seeing, the kind that still had a sense of fear.
First came a sickening, teeth-grinding "crack" as bones scraped against the ground, mixed with heavy, wet breathing and the soft "drip-drip" of saliva dripping. Then, dozens of dark figures surged forth from the shadowy crevice like a burst dam! They were "Ironback Mountain Demons." These ferocious creatures, usually lurking deep in the mountains, now had eyes as red as blood-soaked agate, saliva dripping from their mouths in sticky silver threads, and their thick forelimbs pawing the ground, kicking up clumps of damp earth. Ignoring the wall of people and the menacing arrows ahead, they were drawn by the strange, sweet, and pungent stench that seemed to penetrate to their very bones and burn their very insides, charging headlong into the path like puppets on strings!
"Fire—arrows—!"
A command, distorted in tone, rang out.
The arrows whistled through the air, a continuous series of whooshing sounds. The first dozen or so mandrills fell instantly, their heavy bodies slamming to the ground with dull thuds, splattering murky blood and mud. But the mandrills behind seemed utterly oblivious to fear, trampling over the still-convulsing corpses of their companions, howling and roaring, forcefully wedging their dark, foul-smelling, and frenzied forms into the hastily formed human wall!
"Crack!" The crisp sound of bones breaking.
"Thud!" The dull sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
"Ah—!" The death screams of humans and the frenzied roars of monsters intertwined instantly, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
A flash of light, leaving a trail of blood that traced a ghastly arc in the firelight; fangs tore away chunks of flesh, revealing the white, jagged bone beneath. Blood splattered onto the charred ground, sizzling and rising steam with a metallic, rusty smell. Severed limbs and fragments of internal organs were trampled into mud under the chaotic feet. In a single exchange, the seemingly impenetrable defense crumbled and decayed like an earthen wall soaked by a flood.
This horrific scene lasted only a few breaths.
Deep within the rift, golden light shone brightly!
The light initially appeared as a faint glimmer, like the glow of molten lava deep within the earth's veins. Then, it expanded and erupted with unstoppable force, illuminating the entire fissure as if it were daytime! A colossal shadow, bathed in raging golden flames, carrying a brutal power capable of incinerating the entire world, crashed through the jagged rocks at the fissure's edge and stepped into this bloody slaughterhouse!
It is the Golden Flame Demon Fox.
With each step it took, the hard rocks melted and collapsed like brittle cakes, leaving charred and smoking footprints. The golden flames surrounding it were not static, but flowed and rose like a living thing, leaping tongues licking the air with crackling sounds, scorching and distorting the surrounding scenery. Its eyes, once as deep as a blue pool, were now stained with a terrifying, almost viscous blood-red color, the pupils shrinking to two cold vertical lines. Its gaze swept over the chaotic, ant-like slaughter below without pausing, and went straight to the depths of the camp—there, the lingering aura of the cunning human it hated to the core remained, and the rich vitality emanating from countless pieces of fresh flesh further fueled its berserk nerves!
It didn't even bother to clear away the "ants" in its way; it simply raised its head slightly, letting out a low, rumbling sound from its throat, like churning lava. Then, it opened its mouth and spat out—
"boom--!!!"
A golden pillar of fire, as thick as a bucket and as solid as a tangible object, burst forth from its mouth like a lash of a god, sweeping across the front! Where the pillar of fire passed, the air was instantly ionized by the extreme heat, emitting a sharp explosion and leaving behind a long-lasting, distorted, and transparent burn mark.
The dozen or so soldiers who were at the forefront, along with the iron-clad wooden shields and steel spears they held high, didn't even have time to utter a short cry of alarm before they instantly vaporized and vanished like snowmen under the blazing sun the moment the golden light touched their bodies! Only a few wisps of rising blue smoke and a piece of crystal-clear, still flowing, molten glass-like substance remained on the spot.
The pillar of fire, its power undiminished, slammed down like a red-hot giant blade onto the log-framed camp fence on the left-hand slope. "Bang!" A deafening explosion ripped through the air as the thick logs snapped and burst into flames like paper, instantly transforming into a fiery dragon soaring into the sky! The fire dragon greedily licked at the leather tents nestled beside the fence; the canvas curled and charred in the intense heat, then flared up into even larger flames. Those inside the tents who couldn't escape twisted and struggled in the firelight, emitting inhuman screams before being completely engulfed by the flames.
The stench of burning flesh mixed with the pungent smell of burning skin spread rapidly with the hot wind.
"Condensation...Condensation Core Realm...It's a Demon King of the Condensation Core Realm—!" An old soldier with white hair and beard and a scar on his face stared at the golden figure that was burning the sky and boiling the sea. The steel knife in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang". He squeezed out a half-despairing sob from his throat and collapsed.
Collapse spread like a plague through the camp. Ahead lay the ferocious, bloodthirsty horde of beasts tearing and attacking, behind them the irresistible, incinerating power of the Core Formation Fox. In just a few breaths, this once murderous camp had become a bloodbath and a fiery hell. Screams, wails, the clatter of weapons hitting the ground, the crackling of flames… all these sounds merged into a terrifying torrent that shattered the very mind.
Liu Xiong stood before the central, still-unburning cowhide tent, his face ashen, his jaw taut and clenched like a knife's edge. The warm smile that usually graced his lips had vanished without a trace, replaced by a somber expression tinged with shock, anger, disbelief, and a hint of panic he himself didn't even realize. He stared intently at the golden demonic shadow ravaging the camp, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly. He had calculated everything, but he hadn't anticipated Lin Yan's daring move, much less that it would actually attract a peerless ferocious beast at the Core Formation Realm!
"I can't stay here and wait to die..." This thought was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, sending a chill down his spine. He abruptly turned his head and roared at his equally pale and terrified subordinates, his voice hoarse from the force of his shout: "Form ranks! Backwards! Charge out the way you came! Now—!"
The remaining thirty-odd people seemed to awaken from a dream, grasping at the last straw, and scrambled toward Liu Xiong. Their swords trembled violently, barely managing to form a loose, flawed cone-shaped formation as they stumbled and staggered toward the entrance to the rift that now seemed like a lifeline.
Their minds were completely overwhelmed by the overwhelming ferocity of the golden demonic shadow in front of them, and by the hordes of frenzied monsters of various shapes surging towards them like a tide.
Just as this cone-shaped formation was beginning to take shape, its foundation was unstable, and everyone was preoccupied with their own survival—
"kill--!"
A short, sharp roar, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, suddenly erupted from their flank—the rocky clearing between the shadow of the camp on the right-hand slope and the exit of the crevice!
A dozen or so figures, like cheetahs that had been lying in wait, suddenly bared their fangs and sprang up from the darkness! There were no shouts, no warnings, only an extremely concentrated and unstoppable charging momentum! It was Lu Ling, Zhou Fu, Wang Dashan, Zhao Si, and their squad!
Instead of sneaking up to the crevice to block the door, they chose the most unexpected and deadliest moment and angle—taking advantage of the moment when the enemy's formation was unstable and their minds were in disarray—to launch a fatal breaching charge from the flank!
Lu Lingchong was at the forefront, his face as hard as a rock, his eyes fixed on the opening of the rift. He shouted, "Shield up! Charge!" The "Earth Protective Shield" in his hand, engraved with intricate earth-yellow patterns, burst forth with a powerful light, making his entire figure appear even more imposing.
The dozen or so men moved in unison, without any hesitation or delay. They ignored the terrified enemies on both sides, and simply held their shields in front of them, turning them into an indestructible arrow. With the momentum of their charge, they slammed into the side of Liu Xiong's loose cone formation!
"Bang! Crack!"
"ah--!"
The dull thud of shields striking flesh, the crisp crack of bones breaking, were interspersed with short screams of agony. Several of Liu Xiong's men who stood in the path of the charge were either sent flying backward by the impact of the heavy shields, their ribs caved in; or were grazed by the gleaming blades that followed the edge of the shields, blood spurting from their throats as they staggered and fell. This well-prepared, clearly targeted arrowhead encountered almost no resistance, tearing a bloody gash in the enemy's flank, like a hot knife through frozen oil!
In the blink of an eye, Lu Ling and the others swept past Liu Xiong and his group, who hadn't fully reacted yet, taking several steps ahead and firmly planting themselves in front of the rift's exit! They then quickly turned around, using the rift's deep darkness as their backs, facing their pursuers, and slammed their talisman shields heavily on the ground once more!
"Buzz—!"
A deep, resonant sound rang out, and the earthy-yellow spiritual light flowing on the ten-sided shield suddenly lit up, intertwining and connecting with each other. In an instant, a thick, condensed, and radiant orange-yellow light wall was constructed at the narrow rift! The wall rippled slightly, exuding a heavy aura as steady as a mountain, completely sealing off the only way out!
The last vestige of willpower that Liu Xiong had mustered in his survival instinct was utterly shattered by this sudden flanking attack and the cutting off of his path. He watched helplessly as the squad swept past like ghosts, as the wall of light rose before him, and as the calm yet resolute eyes on the young faces behind it... A chilling coldness shot from his tailbone to the top of his head, instantly transforming into burning rage and shame.
"Lin—! Yan—!" The two words were almost bursting out from his clenched teeth, hoarse and shrill, filled with overwhelming hatred for being fooled, schemed against, and driven to the brink of despair. His face, which usually maintained a gentle mask, was now contorted with muscles and bulging veins, devoid of any composure.
He suddenly drew his sword.
As the sword was drawn, it emitted a clear, cold light, like autumn water. Fine, bluish-white wind and thunder patterns danced across its blade, emitting a soft, hissing sound. This sword, named "Thunderclap," was a weapon he had acquired at great expense, one he rarely showed to others. Now, in this life-or-death situation, he held nothing back.
"Break through it!" Liu Xiong's eyes were bloodshot, like a trapped beast, all his former composure gone. He gripped his sword with both hands, pouring all the remaining true essence of his Core Formation Realm into the blade. "Thunderclap" sword shone brightly, crackling with blue and white lightning, emitting a sharp, piercing whistle as it slashed fiercely down towards the center of the orange-yellow light wall! Where the sword wind passed, the fine pebbles on the ground were all reduced to dust, and smoke and dust filled the air.
"BOOM—!!!"
The sword light clashed violently with the wall of light! A deafening roar exploded like thunder! The orange-yellow light wall trembled violently, its light flickering wildly, and rapid ripples spread across its surface, like the surface of a lake struck by a boulder. The ten team members holding shields in formation all groaned, their faces turning deathly pale. The hard valley beneath their feet cracked open like a spiderweb, and their hands split open instantly, blood trickling down their shield handles. Yet, their feet seemed rooted to the spot, and their formation remained unshaken!
Liu Xiong's pupils contracted, and his horror deepened. The defensive power of this talisman array far exceeded his expectations!
"What are you all standing there for! Focus! Smash it! Smash it open!" He roared hoarsely, like a madman, his "Thunderclap" sword transforming into a ball of bluish-white lightning, unleashing a barrage of slashes at the same spot. His surviving subordinates behind him knew they were facing a life-or-death situation, and their eyes turned red. They hacked and slashed with swords and axes, unleashed talismans, fireballs, and even poisoned hidden weapons, pouring their dreadful energy towards the gradually dimming light wall.
Under such a dense and frenzied attack, the orange-yellow light of the light wall dimmed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. Fine, spiderweb-like cracks began to appear on the wall, and it made a soft "creaking" sound as it swayed under the strain.
In the midst of the formation, Su Qingyao wore ill-fitting soldier's leather armor, her face streaked with sweat from the grime smeared on it. Her complexion was deathly pale, her lips bloodless and pressed tightly together, only her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like cold stars. Her gaze swept rapidly across the flowing runes on each shield, her fingertips unconsciously calculating, her voice low and hurried, yet clearly reaching the ears of every team member:
"The Kan position is deep in water, so add 30% spiritual power to stabilize the foundation! The Li position is weak in fire, so gather 30% of the power and draw the southeast earth energy upward to continue! The Zhen position is unstable, so adjust the pace slightly to the left and right..."
Under her precise control, the "Earth Array," which was on the verge of collapse and whose light flickered erratically, was forcibly held together by an invisible hand and barely stabilized once again. Although the cracks continued to spread and the light grew dimmer, the orange-yellow light wall never completely collapsed. It remained like a wall of sighs, standing between Liu Xiong and the others and their path to survival.