Chapter 340: Do None of You Fire-Wielders Have a Brain

After the golden imprint floated into his body, Chu Liang fulfilled his wish.

"I remember you preferring for it to be alive, but you killed it yourself, so no discount," the girl named Ling'er stepped forward and said.

She had only rushed over here because she remembered the requirement of this deal. Because she remembered Chu Liang's request to capture the Human-Faced Xiao alive, she hesitated to kill it, which gave the creature a chance to escape. After a pursuit outside, it circled back and unexpectedly ran into Chu Liang.

If it weren't for Hua Hua and Chu Liang's sharp senses, the Human-Faced Xiao might have hidden itself into the gust of black wind and escaped.

"No worries. I will pay the full amount," Chu Liang said with a smile.

He had gotten the imprint, which meant that he would be able to unbox another Large-Headed Doll. The rest did not matter to him.

With this, he took out a jade slip and tossed it to Ling'er.

"Spoken like a real man!" Miss Ling'er caught the jade slip in one hand.

As the two were about to leave, the big black dog's nose twitched, emitting a low growl.

"Awooo..."

"An enemy," Ling'er said as her eyes flashed.

Before they could react, the enemy moved with startling speed. In the next instant, a streak of fire surged towards them.

Boom——

A thunderous explosion shattered the air as a figure appeared. It was a robust young man clad in red brocade, with prominent brow bones and deep-set eyes. His cold, fierce gaze gleamed with malice, unmistakably revealing his sinister intent.

He exuded an arrogant aura that filled the space with an oppressive presence.

"I've finally found you," he chuckled darkly, fixing his gaze on Chu Liang as an evil smile crept across his face.

Upon sensing the malice intent, Chu Liang furrowed his brows and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Yang Hong, the young master of the Inferno Devil Valley," the young man stated coldly. "You may not have heard my name before, but I will be infamous tomorrow... because I will kill you."

Upon hearing this, Chu Liang sighed inwardly and thought,

Incredible... The very thing I fear almost always seems to happen.

After Chu Liang became famous through

The

Seven Stars Gazette

, Jiang Yuebai had specifically warned him that things would change, and that some people might intentionally approach him out of malice. Venerable Wen Yuan had also reminded him of this and even gave him a jade talisman to activate Shattering the Void for protection.

Such situations were all too common. Every prodigy in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten had faced sudden hostility during their path to greatness.

The reason was simple.

It was all because of fame.

In the world of immortality cultivators, the quickest path for an unknown individual to achieve fame was by killing someone well-known.

It was the same for Chu Liang. His path to fame followed two significant milestones. First, he defeated Xu Ziyang, and second, he slew Taowu. In both instances, he gained renown by surpassing a renowned prodigy and a famous vicious beast.

This was something all new prodigies had to go through. If they were targeted by those from the righteous path, it usually ended in a duel. If the rising prodigy lost, their opponent would use their fame to boost their own reputation.

If they were targeted by diabolical sects, it could escalate into a life-and-death situation.

Fights between diabolical sects and righteous prodigies had been happening since ancient times and never stopped, and Yang Hong was now involved in one of them.

"I began cultivating at six years old. After twenty years of rigorous training in the Inferno Devil Valley, I've mastered the Immortal Inferno Body. Now that I've emerged from my closed-door cultivation, I'm here to take your head," Yang Hong declared as he fixed his gaze upon Chu Liang, displaying such an arrogant attitude.

The Inferno Devil Valley was not a major force within the diabolical sects. Nonetheless, it was rather famous. Although this sect has few members, they valued quality over quantity.

This diabolical sect never recruited disciples and kept its headquarters hidden, possibly in a hidden realm. If none of its members showed cultivation aptitude, the sect would remain concealed. When a talented member emerged, they would appear and challenge others to duels, quickly gaining fame through their victories.

In the past, many of the top diabolical cultivators in the nine provinces were from the Inferno Devil Valley.

As for the Immortal Inferno Body...

This physical form was achieved through an art unique to the Inferno Devil Valley. Typically, arts and techniques only allowed for physical form attainment at the sixth realm. However, some arts allowed for quicker progress, allowing cultivation of this physical form as early as the fifth realm. The trade-off was an incomplete mastery of the five elements, necessitating focus on training only one element. Nonetheless, this approach offered a shortcut in one's cultivation journey.

In other words, the person facing him was at least a fifth-realm prodigy of a diabolical sect!

"Okay," Chu Liang nodded calmly, then added, "But I'm the one you're after. Others needn't be involved. I'd appreciate it if you allow the young lady to leave."

"No problem," Yang Hong replied with a wicked smile, "I need someone to spread the news."

How arrogant

,

Chu Liang thought to himself.

The fact that he dared to let Miss Ling'er leave freely without worrying that she would call for backup showed that he was confident that he could kill Chu Liang before any backup could arrive.

Upon hearing this, Ling'er nodded. Without hesitation, she swiftly mounted the large black dog and departed like a gust of dark wind.

She left very swiftly.

After she left, Chu Liang asked, "I'm curious, though. How did you know where to find me?"

If the locations of Mount Shu disciples were easily known, they would have been hunted down long ago. The reason some Mount Shu prodigies' locations were known beforehand was because of that traitor within Mount Shu.

But now that the traitor was dead, Chu Liang was very curious as to how Yang Hong had found his location.

"Are you stalling?" Yang Hong sneered. "It doesn't matter if I tell you. Ever since you appeared in

The Seven Stars Gazette

, I've been watching you. I had people in Taotie City tracking your every move. They reported to me as soon as you showed up. It was only a matter of time before you came."

No wonder,

Chu Liang nodded knowingly. If the other party was set on ambushing him, there would always be an opportunity.

The reason Yang Hong targeted Chu Liang was that he had all the characteristics of a stepping stone.

Firstly, he was very famous.

It was too shocking that he had slayed Taowu during the battle on Mount Shu. Among the cultivation prodigies of other sects within the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten, none had achieved such feats. In terms of fame alone, Chu Liang had become as famous as top prodigies like Yang Shenlong and Jiang Yuebai.

Secondly, his strength was far weaker than his fame.

Everyone knew that Chu Liang used the Violet and Azure Twin Swords to slay Taowu. Without those swords, he was merely a fourth-realm cultivator. Yang Hong knew it was impossible for Chu Liang to take the Violet and Azure Twin Swords out of Mount Shu. If he had managed to take the swords with him, Yang Hong would not be the only one intercepting him here.

A tense silence fell, filled with hostility as both of their gazes sharpened.

Yang Hong's foundational qi surged into action, engulfing him in dark red flames instantly!

Chu Liang, on the other hand, flicked his hand, summoning a bluish-green soul. "Old Fei, it's time to work!"

"This again..." As soon as Old Fei appeared, he lifted his chin and glanced at Yang Hong, clearly taken aback. "Inferno Abyss Flame! It's most effective against souls. Why summon me for this opponent?"

"If it were easy to handle, I wouldn't have summoned you. Stand by and help me maintain the formation," Chu Liang replied swiftly.

In the span of this brief exchange, Yang Hong, engulfed in flames, had already drawn near!

If this was a simple close-combat fight, Chu Liang would not be afraid. However, as Old Fei had warned, this Inferno Abyss Flame could burn both the body and soul simultaneously, which was why it was exceptionally powerful. In fact, even a slight touch of this flame would be unbearable.

Immediately, Chu Liang summoned the Dustless Sword. With a clang, he unleashed the Thousand Swords technique, sending a storm of sword rain hurtling towards Yang Hong!

But his opponent made no attempt to dodge at all!

Hiss, hiss, hiss—

In an instant, hundreds of swordlights pierced through Yang Hong's fiery body. He made no attempt to dodge, allowing the swordlights to pass through, leaving holes wherever they struck.

In the blink of an eye, his entire body was covered with holes, yet no blood splattered out. Instead, sparks of fire flew out from each hole where the swordlights had passed through, and the wounds were immediately filled with flames again. It was as though no damage had been done at all!

Immortal Inferno Body!

Chu Liang then understood why this physical form had such a name.

This was not some camouflage or puppet technique, but a true transformation into the inferno Flame, capable of deflecting all techniques!

But understanding was futile at this moment. His attack had missed, and Yang Hong was rushing toward him, swinging a fist blazing with flames!

Bang—

Amidst the chaos, Chu Liang had no choice but to open the Green Leaf Umbrella to block the strike!

But the punch was truly fierce. Even though Chu Liang managed to block it, he was still sent flying dozens of zhang away. Though he wasn't injured, his arms were completely numb.

What a fierce punch!

No wonder this person was so arrogant! This person indeed had the right to be arrogant!

And Old Fei, who had already retreated several zhang away, now pointed at Yang Hong and declared, "The fire you wield is mere mortal fire!"

Whoosh—

Old Fei just used the Immortal Art: The Spoken Divine Law!

According to the rules of the Immortal Art: The Spoken Divine Law, anything affected by the law must not surpass the caster's strength. Otherwise, the spell would rebound on the caster. Thus, Old Fei's best course of action was to transform Yang Hong's powerful Inferno Abyss Flame into ordinary fire, significantly diminishing the threat.

When Yang Hong noticed the changes, he frowned and raised his hand toward Old Fei, unleashing a massive fireball!

Boom!

Fortunately, this flame was no longer the soul-restraining Inferno Abyss Flame, so Old Fei managed to dodge it. However, the intense foundational qi within the fireball still caused his ethereal form to waver.

As Old Fei stalled for time, Chu Liang sprang into action.

A swordlight flew towards Yang Hong, multiplying into a hundred beams mid-flight. These hundred beams of swordlight simultaneously traced a talismanic script in the air!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The silver light in the air coalesced into a continuous stream and swiftly descended.

Yang Hong still did not dodge, but his expression changed drastically the next second!

As the swordlight carrying talismanic scripts pierced his Immortal Inferno Body, it also brought a chilling effect that weakened the flames around him.

One, two, three... After dozens of swordlights, the flames around him were completely subdued!

This was not just a simple Hundred Swords Seal. Instead, it was the combination of the Talismanic Sword Seal and the Hundred Swords Seal—the Hundred-Character Talismanic Sword!

In the blink of an eye, a thin layer of frost had formed on Yang Hong's body, extinguishing the flames! If another wave of sword lights were to strike him, he would end up having as many holes as a sprinkler!

"How cunning!" Yang Hong cursed angrily as he forcefully lifted his hand and summoned a pillar of fire from underground!

As the pillar of fire shot up to the sky, it enveloped Yang Hong's body, pushing and destroying all the swordlights.

"Obviously, I need to use the type of divine skills that can counter your physical form. Even a child would know this. How is this cunning?" Chu Liang retorted with a sneer. "Do none of you fire-wielders have a brain?"

As he spoke, he and his four puppet clones had already surrounded Yang Hong and launched the Celestial Trap!

Boom—

A powerful vortex of foundational qi surged forward, compressing the fire pillar until it weakened, flickering like a candle in the wind!

"Hmph." Yang Hong showed no fear. Instead, he sneered and said, "Do you intend to compete with me in the vastness of the Sea of Qi?"

Bang!

Suddenly, the sky-piercing fire pillar stopped.

Then, limbs grew out of the pillar, following with a head.

In the blink of an eye, the pillar had transformed into a giant inferno devil!

This was similar to the Form of the Heavens and the Earth but the Inferno Devil Valley's version. With the addition of flames, the power had undoubtedly grown much stronger!

If Old Fei had not weakened Yang Hong's fire, this giant would have been composed of Inferno Abyss Flame, making it far more challenging to handle!

"Then let's do this!" Yang Hong's voice echoed from the heart of the giant.

At that moment, his towering figure, seven or eight zhang tall, loomed over the landscape like a terrifying god of devils. Suddenly, he stomped down with incredible speed!

The moment that the giant inferno devil appeared, Chu Liang and the four puppets were blasted away by the surging waves of qi. The puppets exploded into thin air, leaving only Chu Liang himself flying backward.

The opponent's divine ability was too powerful!

In the end, it was too hard for him to bridge that huge gap in cultivation between him and Yang Hong.

As the giant's foot was about to come crashing down, the sky above him suddenly turned red.

Is it time for me to use the life-saving talisman given to me by the sect leader? Already?

Chu Liang refused to accept defeat, but facing this life-threatening moment, he had no time to hesitate.

From the beginning, he had asked Miss Ling'er to leave with the plan that if he couldn't win, he could always escape.

Just as he was about to activate the talisman used for the technique, Shattering the Void, and escape, a terrifying pressure descended.

The sky, which had just turned red, suddenly darkened once more.

Another foot appeared directly above the foot that was about to stomp down on him.