At Grand Elder Sun-Piercer’s command, three senior elders of the Sun-Veil Sect stepped onto the far edge of the Bone Bridge. Each held a heavy bronze mirror etched with golden solar runes. They slammed the mirrors into the ancient bone structure in unison, unleashing a blinding wave of golden fire that spread across the bridge like liquid light.
BOOM!
The holy solar flames incinerated the surrounding skeletal specters instantly, turning the bone path into an inferno. The black mist below hissed violently, recoiling into the depths as the heat soared to unbearable levels.
Xiao Feng gasped, holding his arms up as the intense thermal wave threatened to scorch his skin through his robes.
— Master! The array is severing the tomb’s dark Qi! — Xiao Feng shouted over the roar of the flames.
Li Chen remained completely unbothered. He stood amidst the surging golden inferno, his obsidian robes fluttering as his Shadow Core pulsed with calm, rhythmic power inside his Dantian.
— Severing the dark Qi? — Li Chen sneered, his scarlet-violet eyes flashing through the glare. — They do not realize that light without foundation is merely fuel waiting to be ignited.
Li Chen extended his right arm and summoned the Abyssal Heart Cauldron. The dark crimson furnace expanded into the air above the bridge, hovering directly over the blazing solar flames.
The runes on the cauldron lit up with blood-red light. A powerful gravitational pull erupted from its mouth, creating a massive atmospheric whirlpool. The golden solar flames burning across the Bone Bridge were forcibly bent backward, streaming straight into the open cauldron in long, roaring pillars of light.
— What?! — one of the Sun-Veil elders cried out, his hands trembling as he felt his bronze mirror losing connection to the array. — He... he is refining our Solar Purification Flames in real-time!
— Imbecile! Boost the output! Burn through his furnace! — another elder bellowed, pouring his entire life essence into his mirror.
The golden fire surged hotter, but the Abyssal Heart Cauldron drank it in without a single crack appearing on its surface. Instead, the furnace’s dark crimson hue deepened, emitting a terrifying heat of its own as it converted the pure light into volatile, unadulterated energy.
On the other side of the bridge, Grand Elder Sun-Piercer’s face turned deathly pale. He realized too late what Li Chen was doing.
— Stop the array! Break off! — Sun-Piercer roared, leaping forward with his solar sword drawn.
— Too late, — Li Chen whispered. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
With a flick of Li Chen’s fingers, the Abyssal Heart Cauldron tilted downward. The refined, corrupted flame—now a deadly shade of violet-gold—erupted from the furnace like a dragon's breath, blasting straight down the length of the Bone Bridge toward the three elders.
CRASH!
The blast obliterated the bronze mirrors, shattering the elders' protective Qi shields like glass. Screams of agony echoed through the cavern as two elders were instantly vaporized, while the third was hurled off the bridge, plunging into the roaring black abyss below.
When the smoke cleared, Li Chen stepped off the charred Bone Bridge onto the stone floor of the inner sanctuary.
Grand Elder Sun-Piercer stood fifty paces away, surrounded by his remaining terrified disciples, his silver hair wild and his eyes bloodshot with rage.
— You demon... — Sun-Piercer hissed, his sword humming with murderous intent.
Li Chen recalled his cauldron, letting it hover above his shoulder as his scarlet-violet eyes locked onto the old man.
— You offered your flames to purify me, — Li Chen said softly, stepping closer. — It is only polite that I return the favor.