264: Chapter 272 Backlash from Inner Demons

Crimson-gold flames blazed on the bluestone for three full days and nights.

At first, the flames were pure and scorching, parching the vegetation within a hundred-meter radius. Lu Yang and Liu Yan took turns keeping watch, not daring to slacken in the slightest. However, on the fourth day, the color of the flames began to undergo a strange change.

The originally pure crimson-gold actually began to mix with wisps of ink-like blackness. This blackness was not murky; instead, it carried a chilling coldness and tyranny that made the Soul tremble. The temperature of the flames did not drop but became even more violent, and the surrounding air was torn apart with bursts of sharp shrieks, as if countless aggrieved Souls were wailing within.

"Not good!" Lu Yang, who was sitting in meditation to adjust his breath, suddenly snapped his eyes open, his pupils shrinking abruptly. "It's a backlash of Evil Qi!"

He strode to the bluestone and saw the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's body trembling violently. Though its tightly closed eyes did not open, the eyeballs beneath the lids were rolling frantically, as if it were experiencing an extremely terrifying nightmare. That layer of newly grown, purple-tinted gold fur was now standing on end, as if every single hair had turned into a black sharp sword, emitting a heart-palpitating Evil Qi.

"Little Fire!" Liu Yan cried out in alarm, wanting to reach out and touch it, but was stopped by Lu Yang.

"Don't touch it!" Lu Yang's voice was urgent and solemn. "The residual Evil Qi of the Black Fiend Tiger King inside its body is eroding its sanity. This Evil Qi has condensed into a Heart Demon. If you touch it forcibly, you'll be injured by the backlash of the Evil Qi, or even accidentally hurt by it!"

"Then what should we do? We can't just watch it be swallowed by the Evil Qi!" Liu Yan was so anxious she was about to cry. Seeing the usually docile Little Fire become so hideous, her heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife.

Lu Yang took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He quickly pulled a pale gold Talisman from his robe. The Talisman was drawn with complex suppression array patterns and emitted a sense of noble righteousness.

"This is the 'Heart-Clearing Spirit-Settling Talisman.' Although it cannot completely eliminate the Evil Qi, it can temporarily suppress it and buy me some time," Lu Yang said in a deep voice. "Liu Yan, step back and guard the perimeter. Don't let any external force disturb me. I will enter with my Divine Sense and personally go into its Sea of Consciousness to sever this Heart Demon!"

Liu Yan bit her lip. Although full of worry, she knew now was not the time to cause trouble. She nodded heavily and retreated ten paces away, her spiritual power surging as she watched the surroundings alertly.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged, facing the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger. His hands formed seals as he silently recited an incantation, and a faint silver light slowly emerged at the center of his brow. The light grew brighter and brighter, eventually condensing into a tiny silver needle that gently pierced into the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's brow.

In the next moment, Lu Yang's consciousness seemed to fall into an endless dark abyss.

...

This was a desolate, deathly silent world. The sky was gray, the ground was scorched black, and the air was thick with the nauseating smell of blood and rot.

Lu Yang's Divine Sense transformed into an illusory figure, warily looking around. Was this the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's Sea of Consciousness? No, it was more like a Hell completely polluted by Evil Qi.

"Roar—"

A tiger's roar full of tyranny and killing intent suddenly rang out, causing Lu Yang's Divine Sense to shake.

In the darkness ahead, a massive dark shadow slowly stepped out. It was a giant tiger, pitch-black all over with blood-red eyes. It was more hideous than any Yao Beast Lu Yang had ever seen, surrounded by a thick, inseparable black Evil Qi. With every step it took, the earth seemed to tremble.

This wasn't the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger; this was the Black Fiend Tiger King!

No, to be precise, this was an illusion condensed from the residual Evil Qi of the Black Fiend Tiger King, the most fearful and tyrannical projection deep within the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's heart—a Heart Demon!

"Humble human, how dare you intrude into my Domain!" The illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King let out a low growl, its voice like rolling thunder. "Your flesh and blood shall become a part of me!"

It lunged forward suddenly, fast as lightning, carrying a world-destroying Aura.

There was no fear in Lu Yang's heart; instead, a strong Battle Intent surged within him. His Divine Sense body glowed brightly, and a longsword formed of pure spiritual power condensed in his hand.

"Strike!"

He shouted loudly, the longsword slicing through the darkness and clashing fiercely with the Black Fiend Tiger King's claws.

Boom!

A loud explosion rang out. The collision of Divine Senses was even more dangerous than physical combat. Lu Yang felt as if his consciousness had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, leaving him dizzy. But he knew he couldn't retreat now. Once his Divine Sense collapsed, not only would he become a vegetable, but the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger would also be completely swallowed by the Heart Demon, turning into a Yao Beast that knew only slaughter.

"Little Fire!" Lu Yang endured the sharp pain in his Divine Sense and shouted into the depths of the darkness. "I know you're here! Don't let it control you! It's fake! It's the fear in your heart!"

The illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King seemed to be enraged, its attacks becoming even more violent. It opened its bloody maw and spat out a torrent of black Evil Qi, attempting to completely submerge Lu Yang.

Lu Yang fought while retreating, simultaneously releasing waves of his Divine Sense, trying to locate the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's Divine Sense.

Finally, beneath a patch of scorched ruins, he felt a faint but familiar Aura. It was a small, curled-up golden orb of light, shivering and surrounded by endless darkness.

That was the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's Origin Divine Sense!

Above the golden orb, a miniature version of a black tiger was biting frantically, trying to swallow the golden orb.

"Little Fire!" Lu Yang's heart ached, and he rushed over recklessly.

He swung his spiritual power longsword, slashing hard at the small black tiger.

The small black tiger let out a shrill scream and dissipated into a wisp of black smoke, but it soon reconsolidated not far away.

"It's useless..." The illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King let out a chilling laugh from a distance. "I am the fear deep within its heart. As long as it still has fear, I will never disappear. You can't kill me; instead, you will be assimilated by me!"

Lu Yang looked at the shivering golden orb, a complex emotion surging in his heart. He put away his longsword and slowly walked up to the golden orb.

"Little Fire," he said softly, his tone full of tenderness and determination. "Open your eyes and look at who I am."

The golden orb didn't move, still trembling.

"I am Lu Yang, your partner." Lu Yang reached out his hand, hovering it over the golden orb. "Do you remember? We played together in the valley, warmed ourselves by the campfire together, faced strong enemies together... You are not alone. You have me, and you have Liu Yan. We are your family."

The golden orb trembled slightly.

"Fear is not shameful; everyone has fear." Lu Yang's voice continued to echo in the Sea of Consciousness. "But you cannot be controlled by fear. That black tiger is just a side effect of you swallowing its power; it doesn't represent you. You are the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger, the king of flames. Your pride, your courage, and your partners are all here."

He paused, his eyes burning as he stared at the golden orb: "Stand up, Little Fire! Use your power to prove it to him! You are the master of this Sea of Consciousness!"

In the distance, the illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King seemed to feel a trace of unease. It roared and charged over: "Shut up! I'm going to kill you!"

Lu Yang turned abruptly, his Divine Sense power surging and transforming into a wall of light, blocking the Black Fiend Tiger King's impact. He turned back and shouted at the golden orb: "Little Fire! Believe in yourself!"

Just then, the golden orb suddenly stopped trembling.

It slowly, bit by bit, unfurled.

The originally weak golden light began to become bright and dazzling. A youthful yet stubborn voice rang out in Lu Yang's mind:

"I am not... fear..."

Immediately afterward, the golden orb exploded, transforming into a dazzling golden flame that instantly swept through the entire Sea of Consciousness.

"Ah—!"

The illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King let out a shrill scream. Its proud black Evil Qi actually melted like snow under the burning of the golden flames. It struggled and roared frantically, but the golden flames contained a supreme yang and rigid power, full of vitality and bonds—a power that pure negative emotions like it simply couldn't withstand.

"I am... Crimson Flame!"

As a crisp and majestic tiger's roar rang out, the golden flames condensed in the air, transforming into a small golden tiger that wasn't large but possessed an awe-inspiring Divine Might. Pure golden flames burned all over its body, its eyes like torches. Wherever its gaze fell, the darkness dissipated.

It raised its front paw and gave it a light swipe.

A golden flame blade sliced through the sky, striking hard against the illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King.

Boom!

The illusion of the Black Fiend Tiger King completely shattered, turning into countless black motes of light that dissipated within the golden flames.

The darkness in the Sea of Consciousness instantly receded, replaced by a warm, bright golden world. In the sky, a golden blazing sun hung high, illuminating this newly born heaven and earth.

Lu Yang's Divine Sense body smiled slightly and transformed into a stream of light, dissipating into the golden radiance.

...

In the real world.

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger on the bluestone suddenly snapped its eyes open.

This time, its eyes were no longer pure lava-gold, but had an added touch of agility and clarity. That violent black Evil Qi had vanished without a trace, replaced by an even purer and more overbearing crimson-gold flame that burned slowly around its body, parching the surrounding air until it slightly distorted.

It opened its mouth, let out a yawn, and exhaled a breath of turbid air containing black Impurities.

"Meow~"

A soft cry filled with a bit of laziness and satisfaction rang out.

Seeing this, Liu Yan wept with joy and rushed forward to hug it: "Little Fire! You're awake! You're okay! That's wonderful!"

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger gently rubbed its cheek against hers, then turned its head to look at Lu Yang, whose face was slightly pale, clearly having consumed a great deal of energy.

It jumped down from the bluestone, walked to Lu Yang, and gently nudged his palm with its head, its eyes showing deep gratitude and reliance.

Lu Yang rubbed its head, showing a tired but gratified smile: "Good job, little guy. This hurdle, you've completely passed it."

He could clearly feel that the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's Aura was deeper and more restrained than before. Although its Realm hadn't broken through, its Foundation was now completely stable, and after the tempering of the Heart Demon, its intelligence was more mature, and its combat power had increased by a level.

"It seems," Lu Yang stood up, his gaze looking into the distance, "our journey is about to continue. But this time, we have even greater confidence."

In the valley, the wind blew as before, but the sunlight seemed exceptionally bright. The figures of the man, the woman, and the tiger were stretched long, as if foretelling the start of a new legend, about to begin.