The cavern was steeped in an eerie chill.
Ye Chuan's breathing echoed distinctly in the silent cave as he treaded over scattered bone fragments, the soles of his shoes crushing years of accumulated dust, emitting faint rustling sounds.
"Crack—"
When the subtle metallic scraping sound came from the throne, Ye Chuan halted mid-step and turned his gaze toward it—the noise resembled the meshing of precise gears, yet carried an ancient rhythm that transcended machinery, as if a primordial beast from the dawn of time was stirring awake.
Tremors rose slowly from the depths of the earth, as though some force was weaving through the rock layers.
No—it was coming from the throne.
Ye Chuan's expression twisted in shock as he watched the armored giant, once seated high upon the throne, slowly rise to its feet. Its bronze-colored armor was etched with mysterious patterns, and every movement of its joints was accompanied by the grating of metal.
The next moment, violet flames erupted from the gaps in the armor, writhing like living creatures. Where they touched, the scattered stones on the ground began to levitate unnaturally, melting into shimmering glass beads in the inferno, reflecting the colossal and imposing figure of the giant.
When the pair of wings wreathed in violet hellfire unfurled behind the giant, the air within the cavern instantly twisted and distorted.
Huh?
You even have flaming wings?
"ROOOAR—"
Ye Chuan felt his eardrums throb as the armored giant's roar seemed to manifest into tangible shockwaves, crushing against his internal organs.
The towering behemoth, dozens of meters tall, rose fully, its shadow blotting out the sky as it loomed over Ye Chuan. The way it gazed down at him was like a deity observing an ant, instilling a soul-deep pressure.
"&%&&￥…" The deep, guttural growl sent rocks tumbling from the cavern walls, the oppressive force within the soundwaves forcing Ye Chuan to hold his breath.
He couldn’t understand the strange language, but he could clearly sense the killing intent within—the undisguised disdain and bloodlust of a warrior who had endured countless battles, directed at the intruder in its domain. The voice carried an eerie resonance, echoing endlessly through the cavern, making his heartbeat involuntarily quicken.
Definitely not words of welcome.
At that moment, the armored giant leaned forward—and unleashed a torrent of violet flames!
The fire surged like an inverted river. Ye Chuan didn’t even have time to dodge before the violet inferno swallowed him whole. The terrifying heat reduced the ancient bones littering the cavern to ash in an instant, while the ground beneath bubbled and melted like boiling wax.
As the flames began to wane, the air filled with the acrid stench of scorched earth. The armored giant stood motionless, its hollow eye sockets flickering with ghostly violet fire, as if waiting for its prey to be reduced to charred remains.
Yet, when the sea of fire finally receded, Ye Chuan remained standing upright at the center of the molten pool.
The faint, abyssal glow of his Chaos Immortal Body swirled around him, forming an imperceptible barrier. Not only had the violet flames failed to harm him, but his body had greedily absorbed them, converting the energy into surging spiritual power within his meridians.
"Hot, potent, delightful." He flicked his wrist, and the lingering violet flames around him obeyed like tamed spirit beasts, willingly dissolving into his body.
Watching the giant’s massive frame sway slightly, he realized that this armor had long been lifeless—now moving only by instinct.
Yet even so, the sheer majesty and aura it exuded were proof enough that this being had once been a world-shaking existence in life.
"Too bad. I’m magic-immune."
Though the opponent’s level surpassed his own, thanks to the Chaos Immortal Body, Ye Chuan had even managed to refine his cultivation further within those violet flames.
"If magic is all you’ve got, then maybe—"
The armored giant’s metallic fingers suddenly creaked before plunging into the ruins beside it!
With a grating screech, it slowly withdrew a massive sword dozens of meters long, its blade coated in dark red rust that gleamed ominously under the violet flames.
The sword cleaved through the air as it slammed into the ground, releasing a deafening sonic boom!
"Actually, I’m immune to physical attacks too. Maybe just stick to breathing fire?" Ye Chuan’s lips twitched, but before he could finish, the giant lunged like a loosed arrow!
Its movements were terrifyingly fast—nothing like the sluggish heaviness from before!
The colossal sword tore through the air with a piercing shriek, its shadow threatening to split the entire cavern in two.
"Old geezer still swinging swords at your age? Should’ve just stuck to fire-breathing." Ye Chuan cursed under his breath as ripples of spatial distortion formed beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, he appeared mid-air, his immortal sword humming beneath him.
The armored giant’s massive blade crashed into the ground where Ye Chuan had stood moments before, leaving a crater in its wake. Violet flames erupted skyward, vaporizing the surrounding stone instantly!
The shockwave from the impact battered against Ye Chuan, forcing him to channel spiritual energy to stabilize his sword.
"…" Watching the giant slowly rise from the dust, a spark of interest flickered in Ye Chuan’s heart—this empty husk, fighting on instinct alone, could unleash such terrifying power.
I like it. Tempted to just toss a Spirit Ball and catch it.
Ye Chuan raised his hand, and a beam of dark energy streaked across the cavern—only to deflect off the giant’s armor, leaving behind a faint scorch mark.
"Second-tier mage power isn’t cutting it."
Realizing conventional methods wouldn’t work, Ye Chuan swiftly formed hand seals, murmuring an incantation:
"Divine Art—Nine Flames Avatar!"
A torrent of spiritual power erupted from his body, shaking the cavern’s ceiling and shattering stalactites. Above him, a towering inferno took shape—a ten-zhang-tall flame giant, its body wreathed in fire like a burning galaxy, each pulse of its energy radiating apocalyptic might!
The blazing avatar’s eyes glowed with searing light, its muscular contours rippling beneath the flames, exuding an aura that chilled the soul.
"So this is my avatar?" Ye Chuan gazed up at the colossal manifestation, satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The divine ability granted by his Supreme-Grade Core was far more formidable than he’d imagined.
"Strike!" With a thought, the Nine Flames Avatar’s massive fist, wreathed in incinerating heat, smashed toward the armored giant!
The sheer force ignited the air, leaving trails of fire in its wake. The armored giant swung its greatsword in defense, but under the avatar’s overwhelming power, the fist collided with the blade—
BOOM!
Violet and crimson flames intertwined in a dazzling inferno, the shockwaves rippling outward, cracking the cavern walls in every direction!
……
Outside the cavern, Tian Xiaotian and Susu stood frozen in shock.
The relentless tremors shaking the earth had drained the color from their faces. "Why won’t it stop?"
The continuous quakes had also drawn the attention of the wandering spirits lurking beyond the cave.