The Patriarch Strikes

"We've met once," Xiao Ran said.

"It is my honor to be able to meet you, Sir." Xia Luoran said humbly.

Blood flowed out from her torso, her face was pale. In just a few breaths, her injuries showed visible signs of worsening.

"Let me heal you first."

"Thank you, Sir." Xia Luoran whispered and closed her eyes.

He raised his palm and let it hover three inches above her chest.

Purifying spiritual force cascaded from his palm and seeped into her body, rapidly healing her injuries.

The formidable power of the Godfiend evolution technique was displayed in all its full glory at this moment.

Under the healing power of the purifying spiritual force, her dreadful injuries were practically healed in a matter of minutes.

Withdrawing his hand, Xiao Ran asked, "How do you feel now?"

Xia Luoran was shocked. She checked her body closely and realized that her serious injuries had almost all healed.

Standing up from the ground, her attitude became even more respectful as she clasped her hands together and bowed humbly in reply, "Thank you for your help, Sir!"

"Hmm," Xiao Ran nodded.

Xia Luoran hesitated, looking troubled.

Xiao Ran could tell from her expression too. "Forget it."

Xia Luoran felt ashamed. With this gentleman's ability, even if he was willing to help, he still would not be a match for the Patriarch of the Mount Flaming Inferno.

However, If it was disadvantageous to him, he would not have helped.

He patted the pouch on his waist with one hand and took out a stalk with crimson fruit on it. The Crimson Cetan Holy Fire blazed brightly on its stem, and a terrifying power emanated from it.

"That is a Nirvana First Revolution Sacred Fruit. I came here precisely for it."

Xiao Ran was surprised. Didn't the Crimson Cetan say that the Nirvana Third Revolution Sacred Fruit was very rare?

It was the only one of its kind in this world, so why did another stalk appear out of nowhere?

Looking at the 'Crimson Cetan' motif on his right wrist, he thought, Was this guy lying to me?

The Crimson Cetan was startled. The motif rotated once and sent out a sublime message. This was a wisp of the origin energy emitted by the Nirvana Third Revolution Sacred Fruit. After absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for a long time, it had borne another fruit by chance.

Xia Luoran continued. "To be honest, an elder in my family has run into problems while practicing her skills. She needs this fruit to save herself."

"With your status, there's no need for you to put yourself in danger."

Xia Luoran shook her head and smiled bitterly. "The members of the Imperial family may look bright on the outside, but when they are placed under the spotlight, any mistake they made would be magnified many times."

There was a pause, as if she were venting his frustration.

She decided to pour out all the grievances in her heart that she had been holding back for the past few days.

"Not everyone wants my elder to be safe. As long as she remains alive, she will be considered a big threat in some quarters."

Xiao Ran interrupted her with a wave of his hand. "I'm not interested in your family matters."

"Forgive my impudence." Xia Luoran smiled bitterly.

"Leave this place first. Don't delay for a moment after you leave the Mount Flaming Inferno." Xiao Ran reminded her as he looked into the far distance of the Mount Flaming Inferno.

He could sense it.

A huge aura had risen up and locked onto him from many miles away.

There was no need to guess.

The other party must be a Patriarch of the Mount Flaming Inferno.

"Sir, what about you?"

"I still have something to do." Xiao Ran replied with a smile.

With one stride, he traversed the sky. Within three steps, he stood above the nine heavens. A supreme sword intent erupted from his body, stirring up a huge storm. It covered a radius of several thousand feet as it went slashing towards the aura coming from the depths of the Mount Flaming Inferno.

Boom…

Violent airwaves stirred up thick foreboding clouds in the mad chorus of explosive shockwaves.

Xia Luoran looked up and saw Xiao Ran initiating his attack from afar. Her heart sank. Could it be that the person from the Mount Flaming Inferno had attacked?

Whoosh!

Tempestuous demonic energy formed a sky canopy that descended from the heavens and blanketed the entire terrestrial plain.

Under this demonic energy, all living creatures were like lowly ants, their life or death wholly under the control of others.

Xia Luoran's knees buckled under her. Even with her Level 6 Grand Master evolution, she could not withstand the downward force and she sank down to the ground.

"Break!" Xiao Ran spat out one word.

The sword energy slashed again, forming an immense arc that decimated the demonic energy canopy between heaven and earth.

A figure materialized out of nowhere.

He had a head full of white hair and was dressed in a full length green robe. He stood there with his hands behind his back, as though he ruled over heaven and earth.

"The Patriarch of Mount Flaming Inferno!" Xia Luoran's eyes widened in fear.

"Are you here for revenge?" Xiao Ran asked.

"May I ask who you are? Why haven't I seen you before?" The Patriarch asked in response.

"There are plenty of people you haven't met."

The Patriarch's expression darkened, his furrowed brows displaying clear and evident displeasure. However, he controlled his anger and continued to ask, "Don't you know that this is my territory?"

"I know," Xiao Ran replied.

"In that case, why did you still kill someone from my Royal Bloodline?"

"Anyone who commits crimes and breaks the law will be punished accordingly."

The Patriarch was so infuriated that he burst out laughing instead. An even more imperious aura burst forth, and like rolling thunder, it pushed towards Xiao Ran rapidly.

It was as if a giant invisible mountain, over hundreds of thousands feet high, went smashing towards his head.

"Such things have no effect on me." Xiao Ran shook his head.

The Sword Intent converged into a gigantic sword thousands of feet long. That sword composed of pure unadulterated Sword Intent energy plunged downwards.

Swish!

The demonic energy that was as dense as a mountain instantly shattered. The sword intent didn't lose its momentum and continued to rush towards the Patriarch.

"Hmph!" The Patriarch's face turned dark.

"Crimson Devil Sky Fire!"

Under his control, the flames morphed into a sword and clashed into the manifestation of the Sword Intent.

Heaven and earth shook, and a roar of destruction force swept out in all directions. For a moment, all corners of heaven and earth became bright and clear.

"Roar!" The Patriarch bellowed.

He immediately revealed his true form. He was a Cardinal Vulpes fox demon that was over a thousand feet in size. It had four heads and its whole body was ablaze with the Crimson Devil Sky Fire. It looked at Xiao Ran with cold merciless eyes.

Four jaws jerked wide open at the same time. "Heaven Splitting Divine Howl!"

The sound waves transformed into tens of thousands of giant swords, each of them several tens of feet in length. Sword energy tore through the air as they all slashed down at the same time.

Xiao Ran drew out the Beryl Lotus Brilliance Sword and infused it with his Sword Intent. He then slashed out using this technique. "Phoenix Essence Sword Technique!"

A sword shook the heavens as it pierced through the void. At the same time as it was charging, one could vaguely see a phoenix swirling in the air, destroying all techniques and enveloping the thousands of mighty swords.

When both came into contact, everything dissipated.

With the two experts in the center, a massive vacuum was formed around them.

Looking at the Patriarch of the Mount Flaming Inferno, Xiao Ran said, "No wonder the Imperial Court can't do anything to you."

The Patriarch was also shocked. He looked at the Beryl Lotus Brilliance Sword with a worried expression. "That is a Consummate Numinous Treasure?"

"Yes," Xiao Ran admitted with pride.

"Where did you come from?"

"I can't tell you."

The Patriarch was at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, he said with a sour expression, "With the help of this Consummate Numinous Treasure, it's no wonder you're able to attain enlightenment of the sword intent."

"You still want to fight?" Xiao Ran asked.

"You killed someone from our Royal Tribe, aren't you going to give us an explanation?"

"This is the explanation I will give you." Xiao Ran raised his sword and charged forward again.

The Patriarch's face turned dark. Do you have to be so reckless? I'm just saying it as a formality.

Fifteen minutes later,

the two of them stopped again and Xiao Ran asked, "Do you still want an explanation?"

The Patriarch's palm was numb and the purlicue area on his hands was aching. When he saw that Xiao Ran was about to raise his sword again, he waved his hand. "You guys can leave!"