Chapter 43: Inferno Reckoning—Martial Epiphany
The battlefield crackled with embers, the once-lush forest now reduced to a desolate inferno. Heat shimmered in the air, warping reality itself. Yet, in the midst of destruction, two figures stood firm—one, a monstrous beast wreathed in fire, stuck to a tree and the other, a lone martial artist facing it head-on.
With a furious bellow, its horn ignited, the flames around it condensing into a blinding inferno. The surrounding trees trembled, leaves withering under the intense heat before spontaneously combusting.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
The Rhino exploded with power, shattering the massive tree it had crashed into. Fiery debris was sent flying in all directions as it ripped itself free. Its molten scales, previously red, now glowed a blinding white-hot hue, like magma bursting from the earth's core.
A terrifying presence erupted.
Its body pulsed—each breath releasing a wave of searing heat. The ground beneath it cracked, magma-like energy seeping from between the fissures. Its hooves sank into the earth, leaving behind charred, smoldering footprints.
Then, the world seemed to freeze. The very air twisted under the sheer heat, the trees groaning as their leaves blackened. A suffocating silence hung for a split second—before everything detonated.
'FIRESTORM STAMPEDE!'
The Inferno Rhino lowered its horn, and an eruption of fire surged outward in every direction. Flaming shockwaves barreled through the landscape, leaving scorched trees and molten craters in their wake.
Xiao Rongyu moved.
"Vermillion Steps—Ember Leap!"
Her figure blurred into motion—this time, faster than before. She leaped into the air, propelled by an explosive burst of elemental iQ. Glowing embers scattered in her wake, her body weaving through the fiery onslaught with breathtaking precision.
The battlefield was left in ruins.
Where she once stood, the Inferno Rhino's attack had obliterated everything. Trees had been reduced to blackened husks, stones had melted into slag, and the once-vibrant forest was now a scorched wasteland.
Mistshadow's eyes widened in shock. She had known that Grade Four Beasts were powerful, but the sheer destructive force of the Inferno Rhino's full strength was beyond anything she had imagined.
The air shimmered with unbearable heat. Flames roared, consuming everything in their path. Amidst the chaos, Xiao Rongyu moved like a phantom, her ember-lit figure weaving through the Inferno Rhino's wrath.
Yet, at the heart of this destruction, one figure remained still.
Xiao Chen sat beneath a half-charred tree, his posture relaxed, his breathing calm—as if he were in deep meditation. Despite the battle raging before him, he was utterly detached. His mind had already left this world, sinking into the labyrinth of knowledge within his soul.
It was an like endless library—one filled with techniques, lost wisdom, and boundless power.
He flipped through the pages of his inherited knowledge, searching, refining his thoughts.
"I think it's time I learn proper Martial Arts techniques that will carry me forward."
Even as he explored the vast collection of techniques available to him, he knew his current limits.
"For now, my body can only withstand Earth-rank techniques. Using anything at the Heaven Rank would be courting death."
Minutes passed in the outside world, but within his mind, he had searched for what felt like days. Finally, he settled on four techniques—each one the pinnacle of what he could currently wield.
Heavenly Yin-Yang Judgment (Peak Earth Rank)
A technique that merges the balance of light and darkness into a devastating force. It consists of nine distinct moves, each representing a fundamental law of balance. Offense, defense, suppression, and counterplay—all exist in harmony. The stronger the user's comprehension, the more seamlessly they can switch between the nine forms.
Shadow Clone Technique (Peak Earth Rank)
A technique that allows the user to create clones infused with a portion of their true strength. Unlike ordinary illusions, these clones possess physical form and can attack independently. The number of clones increases with mastery, but each additional clone requires immense control and energy refinement. At the peak, it is said that the clones can even deceive the heavens.
Darkness Bind (Peak Earth Rank)
A sinister restraining technique that calls forth chains forged from pure shadow essence. These chains can entangle the opponent, locking their movement and sealing their qi circulation. The more the target struggles, the tighter the chains become, draining their energy in the process. At higher mastery, the chains can even adapt, twisting into blades or spikes that pierce through defenses.
Divine Illumination (Peak Earth Rank)
A rare technique that channels the power of light to heal, shield, and empower. It enhances the user's defensive capabilities, mends wounds rapidly, and even amplifies physical strength in battle. It is especially potent for those with a light affinity, allowing them to bathe in radiant energy, turning them into an unstoppable force of resilience and restoration.
Xiao Chen's eyes flickered open. His mind processed the vast knowledge in mere moments, far beyond what an ordinary genius could achieve in months.
"I can't believe I have access to such techniques…"
He thought back to the Xiao Family's most treasured martial art—a high-grade Earth Rank technique. Their most powerful cultivation method was only mid-grade Earth Rank. Compared to what he possessed, it was like comparing a candle to the sun.
He had even tried to share some techniques before, but there seemed to be a restriction preventing him from doing so.
Xiao Chen sighed, pushing the thought aside.
"Now's not the time to dwell on this. I've chosen my techniques… but how long will it take me to master them?"
For an ordinary genius, these techniques would require months—perhaps even years—to comprehend fully.
But Xiao Chen was no ordinary genius.
His perception, his comprehension, his very existence had already surpassed the mundane.
A slow smirk formed on Xiao Chen's lips.
"Let's see just how fast I can learn them."
The moment the thought settled in his mind, he withdrew from the battlefield's chaos, sinking deeper into the labyrinth of knowledge within his soul.
Yet outside—things were far from still.
As the thick smoke from the Inferno Rhino's Firestorm Stampede began to disperse, the towering beast finally locked eyes on its original target—Xiao Rongyu.
A chilling moment passed.
Then—
ROOOOOOAAAARRR!
A thunderous roar erupted from its maw, shaking the ground and sending a burst of heat rippling through the air. Its molten eyes blazed with fury, its breathing ragged, yet its power only seemed to grow. Flames exploded from its horn, climbing higher and higher, turning golden-red as its muscles bulged unnaturally. Veins pulsed, thick and fiery, crawling across its massive frame like molten rivers.
A terrifying transformation had begun—
The Berserk State.
The Inferno Rhino's previous devastating attacks had left its pride wounded. Seeing Xiao Rongyu standing there without even a single scratch, her flawless skin glowing with an otherworldly radiance—it was an insult. An unforgivable disgrace.
BOOOOM!
The ground beneath the beast shattered as its hooves dug deep, unleashing a shockwave of searing heat. The air warped violently. Its molten body radiated so much power that the surrounding trees—already weakened from the previous flames—crumbled into ash.
Xiao Rongyu watched the transformation unfold, her expression calm yet filled with anticipation.
Her golden eyes reflected the rising inferno before her.
"Quite the temper, I see."
She raised her sword, its fire burning ever brighter.
FWOOSH!
The flames turned from ordinary red to a dazzling golden-red hue, mirroring the brilliance of a divine fire. Her golden hair danced wildly, caught in the energy rising from her surging aura.
At that moment—she was no longer a simple martial artist.
She was a flame incarnate.
A radiant goddess standing against a rampaging beast.
Her gaze turned sharp, predatory. The Inferno Rhino, despite its overwhelming power, was nothing more than a challenge to be cut down.
"Let's see if that thick hide of yours… can withstand the fury of my flames.