Chapter 24: Blazing Demon Lions

Rain started to fall drop by drop, tapping softly on the leaves of the trees. The air was filled with the earthy scent of the rain, and the sound of droplets pattering against the ground and gradually washed away the pool of blood that had formed around the dead Bloodfyre Wyvern.

A few feet away from the body, glowing purple spirit energy converged and flowed throughout the body of a still blood soaked Long Yuyin as the purple spirit ring hovered before her. The rain started to wash away the blood on her clothes and skin, revealing the luminescent purple spirit energy under her skin.

Feng Qin stood protectively in front of Long Yuyin, his back to her, as he surveyed his surroundings. As the rain started getting stronger, he raised his hand up and conjured an invisible circular barrier made of spirit power, that was 5 diameters, around them.

He let out a heavy breath, feeling a bit exhausted. Mentally and physically. The battle, or assassination, of the Bloodfyre Wyvern had succeeded completely due to luck.

Heaven's Wrath, a somewhat powerful sword technique that the Sword Immortal had back in his mortal world. It was a technique that juggles between easy and hard, considering the necessary requirements to use it.

It has three requirements: a strong physical body, some understanding of the way of the swords, and Essence Qi or spirit power in this world.

It needed him to be at the Skin Tempering Stage to handle the strain of swinging it with great force and speed but with the Heretical Spirit Body Strengthening Art making him stronger than an ordinary Body Cultivator, he was able to use it with relative ease.

The technique involved the user releasing almost all their spirit power or Essence Qi to imbue the sword with a destructive force, with some understanding of the sword they could create Sword Qi to deal internal damage, and then gathering it in their hand to release it in a single, powerful swing or thrust.

Feng Qin had used Heaven's Wrath to cut its right arm-wing, a chunk of its side and its most dangerous part–its stinger. It was currently the most powerful martial art he could use to cause enough damage to the Bloodfyre Wyvern that it had only 10-20% of its prowess left and was near death's door so that Long Yuyin could strike the final blow.

They were lucky enough that the Bloodfyre Wyvern didn't spot Long Yuyin when it was charging its final attack and that the latter had managed to kill it in a single blow. Although Feng Qin severely wounded it, the Wyvern is still a thousand year old spirit beast and had the bloodline of a true dragon running through its veins. Its resilience, strength, vitality, and durability isn't something a Spirit Grandmaster could easily punch a hole through its head.

There were a couple factors that made Long Yuyin's punch kill the Bloodfyre Wyvern. One being, bloodline suppression. The Wyvern might have the blood of a true dragon, but it couldn't hold a candle to Long Yuyin's Golden Blood Dragon spirit.

Due to it being in a berserk state, it thought that the foreboding feeling it felt was coming from Feng Qin and never noticed Long Yuyin coming around it.

Lastly, and the most major factor, when Long Yuyin punched into its head, the exploding blood flame breath it was accumulating, had detonated in its throat and mouth and destroyed its entire internal body in an instant.

'Shame that we couldn't preserve the corpse of the Bloodfyre Wyvern before it dissipates.' Feng Qin let out a disappointed sigh as he watched as the large Wyvern corpse gradually dissipating into the wind, even its blood. 'Next on the list to do, find out how to preserve spirit beast corpse and blood. Even back in the family restaurant; the meat we got was from our business partner Uncle Nangong and the academy didn't teach us or get to the topic as well, so I didn't bother to find out.'

'Now look how it came to bit me in the ass. The Bloodfyre Wyvern hide, scales and bones could be used for armor and even weapons! It's much stronger than a regular steel sword, just from one use of the Heaven's Wrath and it already started to form cracks. And its blood is useful in making alchemy pills and spirit tools.'

'Speaking of blood...'

Feng Qin turned to Long Yuyin, checking on her to see that the spirit ring still had 90% of its form. His eyes then zoomed towards her neck and subconsciously touched the Myriad Soul Gem, which he made to appear.

'For the last couple of days, I've been trying to get back to that inner dimension of my spirit, to try to get another fragmented memory and explore more about my spirit, and yet none of my methods worked. I've tried drinking a mouthful of Long Yuyin's blood again(from a cup).' His face turned green at the memory. 'Ugh. But nothing. Even the Wyvern's blood didn't do anything. Do I have to find another spirit master and suck their blood to activate the Myriad Soul Gem again? Which may lead to getting another brainwashed servant?'

He groaned, slumped over. He stayed in that position for a while before he narrowed his eyes and stood upright. He looked in front, towards the dark and silent red forest with a grim expression.

All was quiet and dark, not a single sound to be heard. Yet, this silent atmosphere in the forest around them was quite more...disturbing.

'...I have a bad feeling.'

Feng Qin slightly tilted his head, holding the handle of his sword, he circulated his spirit power into his eyes; strengthening them. It only gave him enhanced vision but it was enough to spot something glowing in the distance between the trees of the forest.

'That's...flames? Did the flames of the Bloodfyre Wyvern get carried away by the wind and ended up that far and started a forest fire? No, that's impossible. For any normal forest, sure, but this forest habitat is mostly fire type spirit beasts and that includes the plants. It couldn't easily be ignited–' His eyes widened.

Right before his enhanced vision, the fiery glow coming from the depths of the dark forest started to grow brighter and soon revealed that the flames were from several vague forms, rushing towards his location.

"Tsk–!"

Feng Qin clicked his tongue and turned to check on Long Yuyin once more, only to find that her progress with her spirit ring remained the same.

"Shit. This might take more than an hour." He cursed as he turned back towards the rapidly approaching herd or pack of fire type spirit beasts. He miscalculated.

Feng Qin thought that with the prowess he showed off and the death of the powerful 1,500 or so year old level Bloodfyre Wyvern, it would've been enough to deter other spirit beasts from coming anywhere near them but it looks like he underestimated the greed and curiosity of spirit beasts.

Unsheathing his sword, Feng Qin supplied the barrier with a bit more spirit power so it can last longer and would shield Long Yuyin from a sneak attack. She's at her most vulnerable moment, any spirit master would be when they absorb their spirit ring. Just the slightest distraction could cause catastrophic effects for the spirit master, with the best outcome being damaged energy channels.

'With the Myriad Soul Gem and the cultivation method I used, Heavenly Vast Universe Art, I completely recovered my spirit power. I just hope these spirit beasts are few and weak.'

Feng Qin hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the barrier and took several steps forward, stopped, and went into a sword stance, ready to face whatever was coming for them.

His mouth lifted into a smile.

'Of course, it wasn't going to be easy.'

Several red flaming figures appeared just behind the trees and one of them stepped out, revealing itself to be a large, fiery lion with golden eyes. Its mane was made of flames and its fur was a deep red color. Just standing there, there is a feeling of flames rising all over its body, able to distort air with the flame from its fur.

Feng Qin recognized it as a Blazing Demon Lion, at least a thousand years old judging by its large size, it's a spirit beast that was around the same level as the Bloodfyre Wyvern.

It's a powerful spirit beast on land, especially in the forest as one of the kings of the beasts, with powerful abilities to control the fire element. A Blazing Demon Lion could equal the same threat level as a Bloodfyre Wyvern is because...they have their 'pride'.

Several other more lions, and lionesses judging by their size; smaller than the first one to step out and lack of a beautiful blazing mane. Judging by their auras however, every one of them had the cultivation of a hundred year spirit beast at least, if not a thousand year level.

Feng Qin's smile faded as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had underestimated the power of the Blazing Demon Lions and their pride. They were not going to let him and Long Yuyin leave without a fight.

He tightened his grip on his sword and prepared for battle. He knew that he had to protect Long Yuyin at all costs, even if it meant risking his own life. Because it really does cost him his life.

They were tied by their life force, if one dies then the other does as well.

"Well nonetheless, I needed a spirit ring for myself anyway. One of you guys is fit to become my first new spirit ring." Feng Qin grinned.

The Blazing Demon Lions roared, and Feng Qin charged forward, his sword glowing with orange spirit power, the Heavenly Vast Universe Art started circulating in his body and started emitting intense heat but it couldn't equal the spirit beasts. A small black flame symbol, flickering, suddenly appeared between his eyes whilst the large tattoo on his back started to shimmer as well.

The lions attacked from all sides, their fiery claws and teeth striking at him with deadly precision.

[❄️❄️❄️]

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