Chapter 154: Tai Mountain Presses the Egg

“Uh,”

The Sea-corpse race Foundation Establishment Life Fire cultivator, who was about to arrive via the teleportation array, suddenly paused mid-sentence.

Before his death, he was not human but an alien, appearing humanoid but actually possessing six eyes: besides the normal two, there was one on his forehead, one on each temple, and one at the back of his head. The greater part of his body that had already formed included his head and eyes. At this moment, his breathing clearly quickened. All five of his visible eyes, as well as the sixth one Xu Qing couldn’t see, instantly contracted.

Shock and disbelief were evident, and the intense, earth-shattering changes within him could not be concealed in the slightest.

“You—you are Life Fire, not just one… this… this…”

The Sea-corpse race Foundation Establishment Life Fire cultivator felt his mind roar and his body shiver. A powerful life-or-death crisis made his soul tremble. He wanted to destroy the array, but with it activated to such an extent, he couldn’t do so from within. So, he urgently roared at the black-robed scholar, “Quick, destroy the array!”

In fact, it wasn't just him reacting this way. The black-robed Sea-corpse scholar, who was about to approach Xu Qing, also felt his mind churn in that instant, stirring up colossal waves of shock. The flames emanating from Xu Qing at that moment felt truly terrifying! That volcanic power made the black-robed scholar’s eyes feel as if countless needles were piercing them, causing immense pain, as if he couldn't even look directly. The terror within him was earth-shattering, and his mind felt on the verge of collapse.

In such a situation, how could the black-robed scholar dare to approach? The intense life-or-death crisis overturned everything in his heart, leaving him with only one path.

That was to defy his racial instincts, disregard the orders of his superior, use the superior's arrival to draw the enemy's fire, and quickly flee himself.

Thus, in an instant, he made his decision, abruptly retreating his body, preparing to escape. At this moment, Xu Qing, standing in the distance, raised his head.

The volcano within him was immense, burning the surrounding seawater, which constantly boiled and spread. Especially his eyes, at this moment, emitted dazzling fire, making his entire being seem like a divine child as he gazed coldly.

His gaze seemed capable of penetrating all barriers and obstructions; even the fluctuations of the teleportation array could not affect it in the slightest. Xu Qing completely ignored them, locking his gaze onto the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator.

With that single gaze, everything in Xu Qing’s vision became extremely slow. The black-robed scholar was slowly fleeing, the surrounding dust seemed frozen in place, and everything appeared to be turning eternal. And the teleportation array's fluctuations spread slowly like ink in water. Only the figure of the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator within it moved relatively faster. But it was still very slow!

Under Xu Qing’s gaze, the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator’s mind roared, his expression changed wildly, and he couldn't help but wail internally. “Two, it must be two! If this Seven Blood Eyes Seventh Peak cultivator has two Life Fires, why didn't he let me out earlier?” As he lamented in his heart, the teleportation array suddenly showed signs of impending destruction. Clearly, someone on the other end of the transmission was helping him destroy the array to escape this killing tribulation. But it was too late.

Xu Qing raised his right hand and gently pressed towards the teleportation array.

With a roar, a burst of black malevolent fire immediately erupted from the volcano within Xu Qing, spreading outward furiously, instantly engulfing the teleportation array. It formed a gigantic black flaming palm that descended forcefully upon the array.

This palm emitted astonishing heat, carrying an aura of incinerating everything. As it descended, cracks appeared on the ground, as if the earth itself were tearing apart.

All the sea grass instantly withered into ash, and the seawater in the surrounding area evaporated in an instant, creating a hollow void that revealed the dimly lit teleportation array. On the array stood the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator, whose mind had now collapsed, letting out hysterical screams.

His form couldn't dissipate in time. The incredibly intense life-or-death crisis made him let out a shrill roar. Using all his strength, his body grew four additional arms. All six hands were raised, and his Life Fire erupted, activating his Profound Radiance state. At this moment, he even sacrificed his vital apertures, unleashing his full potential and transforming his body into a ball of flame, resisting Xu Qing’s black flaming palm with all his might.

As he resisted, he also took out three magical artifacts and spat out a blue jade stone from his mouth, his expression ferocious with the madness of despair. But it was still not enough!

A single Life Fire could not contend with a cultivator possessing a Life Lamp. The next instant, as the black flaming palm descended and all surrounding matter turned to ash, the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator’s artifacts offered no resistance whatsoever. Two instantly cracked and disintegrated, and the third lasted less than half a breath before it, too, shattered.

The last to shatter with cracking sounds was the blue jade stone. Following that, the powerful physical body that the Sea-corpse cultivator was so proud of could no longer endure, and its flesh and blood ruptured. Three of his six arms collapsed in the blink of an eye. Amidst the bloody mess, his legs also couldn't bear the strain and exploded with a crash. The remaining three arms bent at this moment, but ultimately could not resist, exploding into a blue blood mist that spread with a rumble.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing's black palm, imbued with an overwhelming force, slammed down fiercely, landing directly on the ground and crushing everything beneath it! The array shattered into ash.

As a deep palm print appeared on the ground, the six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator’s body had been utterly destroyed. Only a single, extremely dim green flame remained, looking as if it could extinguish at any moment, fleeing desperately into the distance.

Its speed was extreme to those who had not activated their Life Fire, almost invisible. Yet, in Xu Qing’s eyes, it was still far too slow. He took one step forward.

As that step landed, the surrounding seawater shattered and exploded, turning into turbulent currents that furiously surged to either side, and Xu Qing had already given chase. His speed was immense, breaking through all obstacles in the blink of an eye, appearing before the terrified six-eyed Sea-corpse cultivator. He raised his right hand and casually grabbed.

Ignoring the opponent's Life Fire, he directly penetrated it, seizing the soul within as easily as grabbing a chicken. No matter how much the opponent struggled, it was futile. Finally, amidst the Sea-corpse cultivator's shrill screams, black flames from Xu Qing's body spread to cover him, instantly engulfing him. He was directly refining the soul!

Even at this point, the deceased Sea-corpse cultivator could not understand why this Seven Blood Eyes disciple, despite being so strong, had repeatedly prevented his earlier appearances. After all, he had never seen anyone reach such a level immediately upon activating Life Fire, so in his perception, it was impossible for Xu Qing to have just activated his Life Fire.

In the span of three breaths, as Xu Qing released his hand, the Sea-corpse cultivator's soul was refined within his body, burning like fuel.

Having finished these tasks, Xu Qing turned to look at the black-robed scholar slowly fleeing in the distance. Observing the escaping figure, Xu Qing even had time to ponder the difference between Life Fire and non-Life Fire. “The gap is indeed too wide,” Xu Qing mused, taking a step towards the black-robed scholar.

Xu Qing's speed in Profound Radiance state made him utterly invisible to the black-robed scholar. As the seawater exploded again, Xu Qing had already appeared before him. The black-robed scholar hadn't even had time to change his posture, and the terror in his expression had barely begun when Xu Qing raised his hand. A black flaming dagger materialized and slashed across the black-robed scholar's neck.

His head and body separated into two parts, connected by black flames. As the flames spread up and down, they again became two distinct parts, both simultaneously burned until they turned to ash and dissipated. Only then did Xu Qing turn his head to look in the direction the Three Peaks youth had fled earlier.

The youth's figure was already out of sight; he had clearly escaped very far and couldn't possibly know of the changes here. Xu Qing thought for a moment and gave up the pursuit. While fleeing, the opponent had still managed to release strange creatures. Although this was for better escape and self-preservation, and potentially to target Xu Qing, it ultimately helped him a little.

So, after collecting the spoils of war here, Xu Qing checked the surroundings again, ensuring there were no omissions. Only then did his body flicker, and he instantly moved away, vanishing from the area in a flash.

Speeding through the underwater world in his Profound Radiance state, Xu Qing felt incredibly excited, with a sensation that was difficult to describe. The sheer power emanating from within him gave Xu Qing a profound sense of security. His speed was so immense that ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could not even see him; the resistance of the seawater was the only factor affecting him. At the same time, as he observed, the volcanic eruption-like sensation within him astonished even himself.

“I wonder how I compare to the captain now,” Xu Qing murmured in his heart, feeling his Life Fire surge on his Life Lamp. He had deeply realized the terrifying nature of the Profound Radiance state.

“All my abilities are like a metamorphosis!” As he sped through the water, Xu Qing raised his right hand and waved. Instantly, a sea of black fire, far more vast than before, violently spread out, obliterating a Sea-corpse race teleportation array in a flash.

Then, he clenched his fist and pressed it towards the ground from a distance. The earth immediately roared, and cracks suddenly burst open, forming a massive deep pit. Next, he raised his hand and formed a hand seal. The surrounding seawater suddenly churned, rushing towards the deep pit at his command. After filling it, a storm-like vortex formed, spinning outwards with a rumble, its destructive power astonishing. Any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator who touched it would surely have their body collapse and their form and spirit be annihilated.

“Spells, physical body—all are like this!” Xu Qing was invigorated. In a secluded part of this underwater world, his body suddenly halted. As the sounds of exploding seawater slowly reached him, Xu Qing looked down at his shadow, then waved his hand to take out the black iron stick, glancing at it.

The shadow immediately trembled, and the Vajra Sect Ancestor on the black iron stick also shivered intensely. In fact, after Xu Qing had activated his Profound Radiance state earlier, they had instantly quieted down. Xu Qing in that state felt truly terrifying to them. Not to mention that Xu Qing then suddenly became even more astonishing than a single Life Fire's Profound Radiance state, killing a Life Fire cultivator as easily as slaughtering a chicken. This feeling was utterly terrifying to them.

“The assessment period is approaching,” Xu Qing slowly said.