Chapter 132: The Essence of Earthfire

Under the impact of immense force, Yang Yu’s body was sent flying, hurtling straight toward the pillar of energy. Amidst his dazed and blurred consciousness, he seemed to hear a murmur: "The treasures are all mine, all mine; don't fight me for them..." This must be Yun Fan’s voice, Yang Yu thought to himself.

Following Yang Yu’s flight, several other figures charging forward with lightning speed were also struck and sent tumbling away by the Edge-less Sword. The sudden turn of events in the arena left everyone who had hoped to fish in troubled waters stunned. Setting others aside, Yang Yu was a direct descendant of the Yang family of Qingchi; the fact that he couldn't even withstand a single exchange against Yun Fan left the crowd wondering: just how formidable was this Yun Fan?

As the crowd gazed in terror at Yun Fan’s "imposing" figure standing tall with his sword, the figure suddenly collapsed with a boom after his display of power, leaving everyone in shock. Not knowing what was happening and fearing he might be unleashing another lethal technique, they retreated in haste.

Yet, after waiting anxiously for a long time, Yun Fan remained motionless. Some of the sharper youths, however, detected something unusual in his breathing.

"This kid Yun Fan must be severely injured; otherwise, why would he be lying there motionless for so long?" a youth in the crowd suddenly shouted.

"That brother is right. Yun Fan’s sudden outburst must have been an instinctive reaction. He likely passed out long ago. He probably practices some strange technique that allowed him to lash out even while unconscious. I’ve heard such techniques are extremely rare and precious. I’d love to know what he’s practicing," another youth chimed in.

"Why don't we test it and find out? Even if he has such a miraculous technique, I don't believe he can unleash such fierce attacks in his current state. Besides, he was already heavily wounded; that last strike must have exhausted all his strength," the first youth reasoned after a moment of thought.

"Right, let's test him!" Several youths voiced their agreement, but despite their bold talk, no one dared to step forward. Yun Fan’s previous strike had been far too savage. Yang Yu was still unconscious, and the other youths struck by the Edge-less Sword had suffered broken bones and perished without even a groan. Who would dare challenge him now? That would be playing with their own lives.

Just as the crowd fell into a slight silence, Che Wuyou slowly stepped out from the ranks. He knew that if this stalemate continued, the lure of the treasure would drive others to take desperate risks. So, ignoring the surprised gazes of the crowd, he walked to the front, calmly lifted Yun Fan, pulled Zhang Qing’er up, and began to walk slowly toward the pillar of energy.

Had Che Wuyou tried to flee with the two of them, the crowd would have undoubtedly tried to block him or used force to hold them back. But because he was heading toward the energy pillar, they were left hesitant and unsure of what to do.

Che Wuyou did not know the horrors of the second level, but the other youths were well aware. Many had paid a heavy price to pass the second gate and reach the third, with some even having their souls scattered in the process.

The scene was truly horrific, and only those "monsters" could ignore such terror to force their way into the third level. The others lacked the courage and strength. Watching Che Wuyou head toward the energy pillar, they felt a complex mix of emotions: some felt schadenfreude, others felt inexplicable fear, and some were waiting for an opportunity. Their thoughts were as varied as they were numerous.

Che Wuyou, however, was not thinking so much. Seeing the crowd dare not move and only follow slowly behind him, he felt a sense of pride. Perhaps his composed demeanor had intimidated them, leaving them unsure of his true strength, hence their hesitation. If he had known that the second-level gate was so dangerous and that they were merely using him as an experiment, he might have felt differently.

As the three of them neared the energy pillar, Che Wuyou began to feel an inexplicable sense of danger. The closer they got, the more intense the feeling became. But there was no turning back now, and the crowd would not let them, so he gritted his teeth and pressed forward.

When they were only about ten meters from the pillar, Che Wuyou felt a sudden emptiness in his heart. He sensed something terrifying approaching rapidly, yet he could see nothing. In a fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of the massive golden energy pillar, but it seemed completely distorted.

Before Che Wuyou could react, someone in the crowd behind them shrieked: "Look, it’s the Essence of Earth Fire! It’s back..."

"Run! It’s the Essence of Earth Fire, run for your lives!"

Before Che Wuyou could process the meaning of "Essence of Earth Fire," the three of them were instantly enveloped by a searing, scorching energy. He turned to flee, but it was already too late. Trapped within the fire, Che Wuyou felt as though he were stuck in quicksand; despite using all his strength, the distance he could cover was negligible.

The temperature around him grew unbearable, the heat so intense he could smell his own hair singeing. Subconsciously, he used his limited energy to shield Zhang Qing’er and Yun Fan. No matter what, even if they were to burn, he had to be the one at the front, he thought to himself.

But the fire grew fiercer, and Che Wuyou found himself losing ground. He had to contract his energy to focus entirely on protecting Zhang Qing’er, whose cultivation was far too weak; without his protection, she would be vaporized by this fiery world in an instant.

In truth, Che Wuyou had his own motives. For one, he was closer to Zhang Qing’er; for another, he hoped Yun Fan might once again create a miracle. Yun Fan was far too mysterious, possessed an extraordinary destiny, and held a strength that was terrifyingly potent.

Che Wuyou felt an inherent wariness toward Yun Fan, and yet, he inexplicably pinned his hopes on him, wishing that in this invisible sea of fire, Yun Fan would once again unleash a burst of energy to help them escape with their lives.