649: Chapter 649 A Glimpse into the Grandmaster Realm

However—

It did not make a move.

Its turbulent aura, like a suppressed volcano, churned and rolled, yet never erupted.

Qin Yan watched it quietly, his gaze calm.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

After a while, the Molten Core Giant King's turbulent aura actually began to gradually calm down.

Its clenched fist also slowly loosened.

Its gaze turned to Qin Yan, revealing a trace of wariness: "Human, if you leave now, I can let bygones be bygones!"

"I can pretend nothing ever happened."

"The deaths of these clansmen, I will not pursue."

"As long as you leave, we can stay out of each other's way."

Upon hearing this, the corner of Qin Yan's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a faint, contemptuous smile.

"What's this? Not avenging your clansmen anymore?"

His gaze looked directly into the Molten Core Giant King's eyes, carrying a mix of scrutiny and mockery.

His Mental Energy had increased significantly now, his perception far surpassing what it was before.

Earlier, when he was annihilating the group of Molten Core Giants, he had sensed a gaze watching him from deep within the volcano.

He had been somewhat puzzled at the time—his own clansmen were being slaughtered, so why didn't the Molten Core Giant King, as their ruler, take action?

Now, seeing the Molten Core Giant King's expression, he seemed to understand.

This Molten Core Giant King did not seem to place much importance on its clansmen.

It had allowed those Molten Core Giants to charge out to their deaths, using their lives as a price to probe his strength.

The stronger the power he displayed, the more hesitant it became to act rashly.

If he were weak, it would have come out long ago to crush him with a single slap;

but the strength he had displayed made it feel threatened.

So it was hesitating, weighing the options, considering whether or not to fight this battle.

"What a cold-blooded leader."

Qin Yan sneered inwardly.

His gaze swept over the shattered ice fragments around him.

Those Molten Core Giants, to their dying breaths, never knew they were merely being used as pawns to test the waters.

They charged at the forefront and died the fastest.

And their King, hid behind, watching coldly from the sidelines.

"I mourn for you."

Qin Yan thought silently in his heart.

Even though he was the one who killed these Molten Core Giants.

Heh.

But the instigator was their King.

If the Molten Core Giant King had acted sooner, they might not have died.

But it did not.

It chose to watch, to probe, to sacrifice them.

"So, if you must blame someone, blame your King."

Qin Yan thought to himself.

"Human, do not go too far!"

The Molten Core Giant King sensed the mockery in Qin Yan's eyes, and anger returned to its voice.

"The chance I can give you is only this one—"

It wanted to say more, but Qin Yan was already too lazy to waste any more words on it.

His goal for this trip was very clear—to clear this Molten Core Volcano.

No matter what the Molten Core Giant King said or did, it could not possibly change his decision.

The Molten Core Giant King was a target he *must* kill.

Without another word, Qin Yan took a step forward, his figure transforming into a streak of white light as he charged towards the Molten Core Giant King!

The moyuan spirit weapon in hand, the long spear shimmered with a flowing five-colored radiance, its killing intent sharp and chilling!

"How bold!"

Seeing Qin Yan actually attack without the slightest hesitation and completely disregard its words, a flash of anger passed through the Molten Core Giant King's eyes.

This was clearly looking down on it!

It was the Molten Core Giant King!

A Half-step Grandmaster!

Within this Lava Secret Realm, it was considered a local overlord.

Countless intruders had been scared witless by it.

Yet this young man before it not only didn't run, but actively attacked!

"Brat, since you insist on seeking death, then this King shall grant your wish!"

The Molten Core Giant King roared, the flames around its body swelling once more!

Although it sensed a faint, elusive danger from this youth, now that the other party appeared dead set on a fight to the finish, it had no time to think further.

It could only fight.

However—it was a Half-step Grandmaster!

With an indestructible rocky body, plus the unique terrain advantage of the Lava Secret Realm.

It refused to believe this brat before it could be its match!

It would not lose!

"Molten Core Golden Body!"

The Molten Core Giant King bellowed.

As its voice fell, the surrounding flames instantly erupted into turmoil!

Those flickering flames drifting in the air, the magma gushing from ground fissures, the flames dissipating from the Molten Core Giant King's body—

all converged towards the Molten Core Giant King!

Crimson-red firelight gathered from all directions, like a reversed rain of fire.

The flames coiled around the Molten Core Giant King's body, layer upon layer, ring upon ring, enveloping its form in multiple wrappings.

Within the flames, the Molten Core Giant King's body began to expand.

Ten meters, eleven meters, twelve meters...

It only stopped growing when it reached a colossal fifteen meters!

The fifteen-meter-tall Molten Core Giant King stood within the volcano like a moving mountain peak.

Its entire body was enveloped in a layer of crimson-red halo.

That halo was not mere fire, but a more condensed, more substantial, more majestic power—a remnant of Golden Body power, a unique mark of a Half-step Grandmaster.

Its already oppressive aura now became even more violent, even more terrifying.

"A half-baked imitation, yet dares to call it a Golden Body."

Only a powerhouse of the Grandmaster Realm can possess a Golden Body.

The Golden Body is the signature ability of a Seventh-Grade Grandmaster.

A Grandmaster who possesses a Golden Body experiences a qualitative leap in strength, defense, speed, and mastery over the power of heaven and earth.

A Half-step Grandmaster is one who has already set one foot over the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm but fell short at the final step.

They failed during the condensation of the Golden Body—perhaps due to an unstable Foundation, insufficient Comprehension Ability, or inadequate resources.

But even though they failed to condense the Golden Body, they still receive a portion of its boon, possessing fragments, scraps, and remnants of the Golden Body.

This portion of the 'Golden Body's boon' is enough to cause an earth-shaking change in their strength.

Greatly increased base Qi and blood—an ordinary Half-step Grandmaster has a base Qi and blood of at least 1.35 million cards, far surpassing an ordinary Rank 6 Peak Martial Artist.

Enhanced Qi and blood amplification—Half-step Grandmasters utilize their own Qi and blood more efficiently. With the same base Qi and blood, they can unleash greater power.

Furthermore, Half-step Grandmasters can ignore the suppression power of ordinary Domains.

This is also one of the reasons why Half-step Grandmasters are so formidable.

They are not Grandmasters, but neither are they pure Sixth-Rank.

Rather, they are existences possessing mere glimpses, fragments of the Grandmaster Realm.

But—

Qin Yan was not afraid.