Chapter 262: Red Flame

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were impressed that someone could dive into such scorching lava. They knew that practitioners of fire-based cultivation methods could control high temperatures to a certain extent, but this was their first time witnessing something like this.

A group of people gathered around the lava spring, observing. Black smoke occasionally bubbled up. Shi Chun activated the special ability of his right eye, watching as the four individuals sank, gradually approaching whatever unknown creature lay beneath. The creature, perhaps sensing their approach, suddenly became still.

Tong Mingshan, An Wuzhi, and Zhu Xiangxin occasionally glanced at Shi Chun, uncertain if their leader was truly serious or merely playing a trick. If he was deceiving them, his act was remarkably convincing. How could he have gotten this far without some genuine substance? But if he was serious, the three couldn't comprehend his reasoning: why allow outsiders to intervene in the absorption of the divine fire instead of keeping it for their own people?

Not just them; even Chu Jingtang and his group shared the same thought. The perplexing issue was that their leader had also killed the opposing group's leader. They were utterly bewildered and thus dared not voice any criticism. It felt similar to the Heaven Rain Meteorite Assembly, but there was a difference: then, he had truly been a fool; now, he was a fool with clear awareness.

Suddenly, Shi Chun discreetly pulled out his Wind Scale. He saw the monster lurking below stir, seemingly charging at the four individuals who had infiltrated its space. Soon, those standing on the tortoise-shell-like ground felt vibrations beneath their feet as the lava in the spring began to churn.

"What's going on?" Shi Chun asked.

Xu Anchun said gravely, "There might be something down there."

Hearing this, Shi Chun wasted no time. He directly told his own people, "Those from the Ming Shan Sect, we're not proficient in fire-based cultivation. Let's step back." With a gesture, he beckoned everyone to leap to the nearby island. The monster was indeed attacking people below, and knowing what it was remained a mystery. It was better to hide first and let the others test its strength.

Xu Anchun and his group merely glanced at them and did not retreat. Meanwhile, the lava in the spring became increasingly turbulent, accompanied by faint, muffled rumbling sounds. The expressions of the Four Ding Sect members grew serious.

Shortly after, the lava erupted, and a figure, You Mu, burst out. Closely behind him emerged the other three individuals who had descended. Everyone looked on, noticing that the clothes of all four individuals were tattered and burned, and two of them were visibly injured by the fire. Xu Anchun and his group were slightly surprised to see that even practitioners of fire-based cultivation had sustained burn injuries.

Still airborne, You Mu shouted, "Everyone, beware of the divine fire! Quickly deploy the 'Gold-Scented Silk'!" Upon hearing this, the Four Ding Sect group was instantly invigorated. They now understood why their fellow disciples who had descended had suffered burns. As they all practiced fire arts, the presence of genuine divine fire meant that minor injuries were insignificant. They were ready to proceed.

Tong Mingshan immediately turned to Shi Chun beside him and asked, surprised, "Leader, is there really divine fire?" The group looked at him, all sharing the same question: Had their leader truly found divine fire earlier? Shi Chun stood dumbfounded. Was the monster the divine fire? Who could he ask? His original intention was merely to provide an explanation to Xu Anchun and his group. Had he truly stumbled upon divine fire now?

Just then, lava erupted from the spring in the tortoise-shaped ground, and a creature, still a dazzling blood-red even in broad daylight, burst forth. It was nearly two zhang long, resembling a colossal crocodile, its entire body a brilliant crimson that cast a vivid red hue over everything nearby, making everyone feel as if they were coated in red paint. Its eyes glowed a terrifying purplish-red.

The moment the fire crocodile emerged, it immediately lashed its tail across the people on the tortoise-shaped slope, its guttural roars shaking their eardrums. Everyone promptly leaped into the air as the fire crocodile opened its maw, unleashing an intense torrent of crimson flames that swept through the airborne figures with astonishing power.

Everyone used their fire-based cultivation techniques to defend, but this flame was clearly no ordinary fire. The art of fire manipulation proved difficult to master; those with slightly weaker or slower control immediately found their defenses breached. Their protective *qi* was instantly incinerated by the intense flames, their clothes caught fire, and they let out painful howls. Though they managed to extinguish the visible flames by frantically dodging aside, half of their bodies were already severely burned.

Witnessing the intense flames, as vibrant and red as fresh paint, Tong Mingshan, An Wuzhi, and Zhu Xiangxin almost simultaneously exclaimed, "Crimson Blaze!" The three looked eager to act. Shi Chun and his group understood immediately—it truly seemed to be divine fire. However, at that moment, they had no inclination to ask further questions, focusing instead on the ongoing battle.

*Bang!* Xu Anchun, wielding his sword and charging to slay the fire crocodile, collided forcefully with its sweeping tail. He was sent tumbling backward onto the lava, each retreating step igniting a burst of sparks. Shi Chun and his group were slightly astonished. Given Xu Anchun's advanced martial cultivation, the fact that he couldn't withstand the fire crocodile's attack spoke volumes about the creature's immense power.

Xu Anchun, however, kicked a scorched rock, striking the fire crocodile's head, then brandished his sword and roared, deliberately provoking it. This was clearly to buy time for his companions to prepare. He then shouted loudly, "Don't let it get away! If it escapes into the depths below, it will be incredibly difficult to catch it again!" With that, he turned and fled.

On the surface of the lava lake, the fire crocodile thrashed its head and tail, moving with incredible speed, charging in pursuit, leaving a trail of fiery light in its wake. Meanwhile, You Mu had retrieved a large metal net from his Qiankun Bag, throwing several rope ends to his urgently arriving fellow disciples. Then, six of them together unfurled the net and charged towards the fire crocodile.

"Over here!" You Mu suddenly called out. Xu Anchun, who was being chased, looked back, then immediately twisted his body, soaring into the air and passing directly over the fire crocodile's head. The fire crocodile, looking up, immediately twisted its body to give chase.

"Sink!" You Mu commanded, raising a hand. The six individuals holding the net immediately pulled it and sank into the lava. Just as Xu Anchun passed overhead, the fire crocodile charged forward, leaving a trail of fire. At that precise moment, the six individuals burst from the lava, using the net ropes to entrap the fire crocodile. They then soared through the air, crossing to the opposite side.

The large metal net suddenly tightened, completely ensnaring the fire crocodile. The fire crocodile struggled desperately. Although the six individuals were shaken violently, they held on tightly, refusing to let go. Under You Mu's command, they quickly pulled the net ropes and ran towards the island. There was no other way; the soft, unstable lava surface couldn't withstand their pulling force.

The process was arduous. The fire crocodile, finding it difficult to escape, attempted to burrow into the lava, pulling the six individuals up and down. The remaining Four Ding Sect disciples immediately rushed to help pull the ropes, even those with burn injuries, finally stabilizing the net and preventing the creature from dragging them into the molten rock. The fire crocodile roared in defiance, continuously spewing crimson flames from its maw, attempting to incinerate the metal net. Indeed, the mesh began to show signs of melting. Despite this, the group desperately dragged the fire crocodile onto the island.

Shi Chun tutted, "What kind of net is that, to be able to withstand the divine fire's immolation?"

Tong Mingshan explained, "That's what they call 'Gold-Scented Silk.' It's occasionally used in artifact refining to contain materials. It can't permanently withstand divine fire; it's only holding up temporarily."

As if to confirm his words, no sooner had the fire crocodile been dragged onto the island than its head burst through the mesh, thrashing left and right, roaring and spewing fire. However, once on shore, the cultivators' restraining power significantly increased. The creature could no longer rampage freely, and escaping easily was out of the question.

Xu Anchun produced a pointed shovel, its handle capable of extending segment by segment. Once it was rapidly lengthened to a sufficient size, he thrust it like a spear, piercing the fire crocodile's neck with a single strike. Someone on the other side moved to grasp the other end, and with both sides holding firm, the fire crocodile's head was utterly immobilized, allowing it only to howl, but preventing it from thrashing wildly.

After calling someone to take his place at one end, Xu Anchun drew his sword, leaped onto the fire crocodile, and plunged his blade into it, repeatedly, until it could no longer resist. After hundreds of stabs, the fire crocodile finally lost its ability to resist, reduced to mere gasps. The net ropes, however, tightened further and further, and the fire crocodile's form visibly began to shrink.

Xu Anchun, having sheathed his sword, gazed at the subdued behemoth before him with a satisfied smile. The Ming Shan Sect group also realized the creature was subdued. They exchanged glances, knowing that if they had encountered this beast alone, they likely wouldn't have been able to overcome it. They also secretly marveled at the seamless teamwork of the Four Ding Sect members. They had witnessed the entire capture process firsthand, and it was executed with remarkable efficiency, truly befitting a unified sect.

Xu Anchun, turning his attention to Shi Chun, swiftly flew over and landed before him. He gave Shi Chun a thumbs-up and chuckled, "Brother Chun, you are truly extraordinary! Without your keen insight, we surely would have missed this!"

Shi Chun waved a hand dismissively, feigning modesty, and asked, "Is divine fire a living creature?"

Reflecting on this, Xu Anchun spoke with considerable emotion. "Not entirely, no. Most divine fires possess spiritual properties, but for one to transform into a spiritual creature like this... that must be exceedingly rare. This fire crocodile, its essence, must have accumulated here for a very long time to gain sentience and take on a physical form. What a magnificent find!"

Shi Chun gestured toward the fire crocodile with his chin. "How is this absorbed?"

Xu Anchun replied, "It will revert to its original form, which makes absorption much easier. This fire is likely the 'Crimson Blaze,' one of the thirty-six divine fires."

Shi Chun made a sound of understanding, then turned to Tong Mingshan. "Brother Tong, does this divine fire, the Crimson Blaze, meet your approval?"

"Uh..." Tong Mingshan paused, then seeing Xu Anchun also staring at him, he offered a wry smile. "Leader, you jest. This is divine fire! It's a treasure artifact refiners dream of. How could I possibly not be impressed? What right do I have to look down on it? To be honest, I'm incredibly envious."

Despite his envy, he knew full well that the Four Ding Sect would never relinquish something they had acquired. Given their power, snatching it was out of the question.

Shi Chun nodded. "Speaking of a leader, Brother Tong, you truly treated me as one. When I wanted to act, you were at the forefront. Since you haven't let me down, how could I let your envy be in vain? Since you desire it, Brother Tong, then this divine fire, the Crimson Blaze, is yours." He then turned to Xu Anchun, "Brother Xu, what are your thoughts on this?"

Everyone thought their leader was speaking in his sleep, yet to their surprise, Xu Anchun nodded casually and replied, "Very well!" Since all the troublesome disciples from the Four Ding Sect had been eliminated by them, he could now fully represent the sect in agreeing to the arrangement.

The Ming Shan Sect group was almost collectively dumbfounded, believing they must have misheard. Wu Jinliang chuckled beside them.