Lava Giant
The remaining seven members of the Alliance stepped into the lava cavern.
A wave of heat hit them instantly, and the air was filled with a scorching aura.
They were surrounded by a river of magma, and in the center of the cavern stood a crimson stone platform.
Hovering above the stone platform was a pulsing, deep-red flame, and at the center of the flame seemed to be a Jade Slip, emitting waves of Dao rhythm.
"It is the Legacy Jade Slip!"
Greed flashed in Ling Jianfeng's eyes.
Zen Master Huiming also recited a Buddhist chant, his eyes burning with eagerness.
However, just as they attempted to approach the stone platform, a sudden change occurred!
"Roar—!"
From the magma river surrounding the cavern, three giants made of scorching lava suddenly leaped out!
They were several zhang tall, with raging fires burning in their eye sockets, exuding a powerful aura comparable to the Mid-stage Spirit Transformation!
"It is the cavern guardians! Engage the enemy!"
Ling Jianfeng shouted, and the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion Disciples quickly formed a sword Formation.
The Thunder Sound Temple monks also chanted scriptures, with rays of Buddha light protecting their bodies.
The battle erupted instantly!
The lava giants possessed immense strength, their fists descending with the force of ten thousand jun. Their fists were covered in earth fire, and every punch whistled through the air; a moment of carelessness would lead to one's death in the Yellow Springs.
Sword light and Buddhist seals struck them; although they could shatter some of the lava, the giants could quickly absorb energy from the magma river to recover, making them nearly immortal!
A Nascent Soul Disciple from the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion failed to dodge in time and was grazed by a giant lava fist. Their protective spiritual light shattered instantly, and they turned into charred remains amidst their screams.
"This can't go on!"
Ling Jianfeng's expression was grim. He noticed that every time the lava giants absorbed energy from the magma river, a fist-sized, exceptionally bright, crimson ball of light briefly appeared on their chests.
Inside the ball of light, there seemed to be a simple Formation inscribed.
Ling Jianfeng had once been a Genius, a Soul Transformation Cultivator at nine hundred years old. But now, at two thousand nine hundred years old, he had yet to achieve a Breakthrough to the Late Stage Soul Transformation, causing him to fall from his former status as a Genius into the depths of despair.
During this period when he could not increase his cultivation, he began to study the Dao of Formations.
Based on his analysis, the ball of light on the chests of these three lava giants contained a simple Formation. It not only served to absorb energy from the magma but also linked the three lava giants together, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The reason it was called a simple Formation was because it was easy to break; one only needed to simultaneously shatter the crimson light balls on the chests of all three lava giants.
"It is a Formation, the core of the Formation is in their chests! We must shatter the light balls on their chests simultaneously to stop them from recovering!"
Zen Master Huiming also discovered this, but his expression grew even graver:
"Amitabha! The auras of these three lava giants are connected, forming a singular unit of offense and defense. To strike the light balls on their chests simultaneously is easier said than done! Unless..."
Unless someone could attract the attention of all three giants simultaneously to create an opportunity for the others.
A ruthless glint flashed in Ling Jianfeng's eyes, and he made a decision instantly.
He barked an order at the sole remaining Nascent Soul Disciple of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion on his side and a Nascent Soul monk from the Thunder Sound Temple:
"The two of you, listen up! At all costs, hold off the lava giants!!"
The faces of those two Disciples instantly turned pale.
Hold off Mid-stage Spirit Transformation lava giants?
This was clearly sending them to their deaths!
"Senior Brother Ling!" the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion Disciple cried out in terror.
"Junior Martial Uncle Huiming!" the Thunder Sound Temple monk also pleaded.
"Those who disobey will die!"
Ling Jianfeng's murderous intent was fully exposed as he pointed his long sword directly at the two.
Zen Master Huiming also closed his eyes and silently recited a Buddhist chant, clearly tacitly agreeing with Ling Jianfeng's decision.
Under the coercion of the two Soul Transformation Stage leaders, the two Nascent Soul Disciples looked at each other in despair, then gritted their teeth and rushed toward the lava giants on the left and right, unleashing desperate Moves in an attempt to temporarily pin them down.
The three lava giants simultaneously launched an attack on the two charging toward them.
The two recited incantations; one leaped high into the air, gathering a flame in their hand.
The other slid across the ground, darting between the legs of the lava giant in the middle.
This caught the middle lava giant off guard, and it lowered its head.
Meanwhile, the two lava giants on its left and right were both attracted by the person above, each reaching out their giant palms to grab at them.
The lava giants' palms extended infinitely, and it looked like they were about to grasp the Cultivator above.
"Now is the time!"
Ling Jianfeng and Zen Master Huiming seized this fleeting opportunity and attacked the three lava giants with all their might!
The sword Qi, like a Dragon, split in two and slashed into the chests of the lava giants on the left and right.
The Buddhist seal, like a mountain, slammed fiercely onto the light ball on the chest of the middle lava giant!
"Roar!"
The three lava giants roared in pain simultaneously, their chest cores flickering violently and developing cracks.
Even so, the two lava giants on the left and right did not retract their hands, instantly slamming them onto the Cultivator above.
The Cultivator didn't even have a chance to scream before turning into fly ash!
The light balls on the chests of the three lava giants were struck; although they were not completely shattered, the cracks on the surface were clearly visible, and the crimson energy flowing inside became chaotic.
Their process of absorbing energy from the magma river was forcibly interrupted, their scorching glow dimmed, and their auras fell from Mid-stage Spirit Transformation to Early Soul Transformation Stage, and they no longer possessed that near-immortal recovery ability!
However, the cracks in the light balls also completely enraged them!
Three pairs of crimson eyes locked onto Ling Jianfeng and Zen Master Huiming, filled with a violent aura.
They abandoned all defense, like three erupting volcanoes, and launched a frenzied attack on the two!
"They can no longer recover! But be careful, they are going to risk it all!"
Ling Jianfeng forced a breath of True Qi, suppressing the surging blood in his body, and his long sword hummed.
Zen Master Huiming's originally benevolent face was now filled with stern killing intent.
He pressed his palms together and recited a mantra, and a more solid Buddha light surged from within his body, faintly forming a phantom image of a glaring Vajra behind him!
"Roar!"
The middle lava giant charged over first, its massive lava fist smashing toward Ling Jianfeng, accompanied by a shriek that tore through the air!
The two on the left and right also lunged simultaneously, sealing off the space for Zen Master Huiming to dodge.
"Vajra Subdues Demons!" Zen Master Huiming shouted in a low voice. The Vajra phantom behind him moved in unison, and a massive Buddhist palm struck out, forcefully blocking the combined attack of the two giants on the left and right!
Amidst a thunderous roar, Buddha light and lava splashed everywhere. Zen Master Huiming's body shook violently, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
At the same time, the other members of the Alliance all moved, continuously unleashing lethal Moves to blast the three giant lava palms.
In the distance, Qin Shuhan and the others, who were hiding in the shadows, watched this scene, all admiring Chen Yuan's strategy. If they had been the ones facing these lava giants, they would have long since been smashed into meat paste.
[PS: Taking a day off, one update today, resuming two updates tomorrow. Love you, mwah!]