SNAP!
Gu Tianchen seized the scarlet tongue in one hand, stunning not only Lin Qiye and the others but even the Ghost-Faced Creature itself.
Was this guy always this brave?
The creature tugged, trying to yank its tongue back, but Gu Tianchen's grip was unnaturally strong, holding the taut tongue immobile.
"Want it back? Here you go."
Gu Tianchen abruptly let go, and the elastic tongue snapped back like a released rubber band, smacking the Ghost-Faced Creature in the face and sending it staggering.
"Run, unless you want to be dinner!"
Gu Tianchen retreated swiftly, his shout snapping the gawking group out of their stupor.
They scattered, but Lin Qiye and Li Yifei, less fortunate, were cornered by another Ghost-Faced Creature.
Rushing over, Gu Tianchen tossed his bag to Li Yifei, subtly shielding him.
Li Yifei swallowed hard, stammering nervously, "Tianchen, we're tight, but Qiye can't see. Maybe protect him instead?"
Heh, he's the protagonist. He's not dying that easily. This Ghost-Faced Creature is just here to deliver an experience package for Lin Qiye's awakening.
But you, Nanda Serpent Demon—if you get killed and your true form revives, swallowing me to turn me into a snake spawn, that'd be a real mess.
"Worry about yourself," Gu Tianchen said.
He shed his school uniform, tying it around his waist. The defined muscles on his arms left Li Yifei stunned.
In just a week, this guy had transformed. No wonder he dared to face off with the monster—he had the goods to back it up!
In the week since Lin Qiye's transfer, Gu Tianchen hadn't been idle. With his newly forged body, he'd been cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art, achieving modest success.
He'd barely crossed the threshold of the first revolution, but his physical strength now rivaled the Ghost-Faced Creature before him.
Without that edge, would he dare to clash head-on with it?
"ROAR!"
The Ghost-Faced Creature let out an enraged bellow, charging forward and swinging a massive paw at Gu Tianchen.
Done for! My bro's toast!
Li Yifei could already picture his friend flattened into a pancake, with himself next. Despair welled up.
But then, a twist.
Gu Tianchen caught the giant paw with one hand. As the creature gaped, he unleashed a punch that sent it flying, its bloated body tumbling across the ground.
Li Yifei's jaw dropped. This wasn't the script he'd imagined. His friend had just sent the monster flying?
This formidable aura even surpassed that of Yelande, the leader of the Western Holy Church!
Who exactly was the figure behind that crimson silhouette?!
Boom!
After seven or eight seconds, Seraph Michael withdrew his gaze, and the golden pillar of light enveloping Lin Qiye dissipated.
Seeing that the other party did not make a move, the colossal crimson silhouette likewise vanished into the air, and the terrifying heat plummeted instantly.
Gu Tianchen submerged his consciousness into the Pangu Temple, where the immense figure unfurled its flaming wings, exuding an ancient, mysterious divine majesty.
If he wasn't mistaken, this must be Zhurong, the most tempestuous Fire God among the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
The divine aura of Seraph Michael earlier had likely been perceived as a provocation by this figure.
A god who once shattered the celestial pillar Mount Buzhou in a fit of rage—how could he tolerate such a challenge?
"May I ask if you are the Fire God Zhurong, Senior?" Gu Tianchen called out loudly, looking up.
The enormous crimson shadow lowered its gaze and noticed the tiny human with Witch Clan blood at its feet.
"I'm Zhurong, alright. Kid, who was that winged bastard just now?"
"Senior Zhurong, could you please shrink a bit? It's rather impolite and inconvenient to converse while craning my neck and staring at your… crotch," Gu Tianchen shouted.
"Such a fuss over nothing!"
Buzz!
A wave of flames rippled outward, and a young man emerged from the blaze. His crimson hair burned like fire, his upper body was bare, adorned with two shoulder-spanning fire dragon tattoos, and he hefted a flame-wreathed halberd.
Though he had shrunk, he still towered over two meters tall, making the 1.8-meter Gu Tianchen feel the weight of his imposing presence.
"Where the hell did I end up?" Zhurong surveyed his surroundings, frowning.
Gu Tianchen attempted to explain the current situation to this fiery-tempered ancient Fire God, including the identity of the "winged bastard," but he froze before he could begin.
Where should he even start?
Five thousand years of Great Xia's history… He knew to skip Pangu's creation of the world, moving straight to Nüwa mending the heavens.
But the problem was, the one who caused Nüwa to mend the heavens stood right before him!
If it weren't for Zhurong brawling with the Water God Gonggong and beating him to tears, Gonggong wouldn't have rammed Mount Buzhou in a rage.
Explaining this would be an colossal undertaking, wouldn't it?
Seeing the kid silent for so long, Zhurong said impatiently, "Spit it out, or I'll cleave you in two with my halberd!"
A dark golden light flared within the Pangu Temple, surging into Zhurong's body.
Zhurong closed his eyes, as if absorbing something.
Moments later, he opened them and asked Gu Tianchen, "This tribe we're in… it's called Great Xia?"
"Uh… Lord Zhurong, times have changed. It's called a nation now," Gu Tianchen explained.
"Hard to adjust in a snap. Give me time to get used to it. That winged bastard was called Seraph Michael, right? Those Outer Gods are all rotten. I'm gonna go chop him down!"
Zhurong hefted his flame-wreathed halberd and sped toward the Pangu Temple's exit.
Clang!
A dark golden barrier rippled, blocking Zhurong's path.
"Damn it, what's this crap? Daring to stop me!"
Zhurong swung his flame-wreathed halberd, slashing fiercely at the dark golden barrier!
Boom!
Terrifying flames surged into a sea of fire, the world-burning blaze capable of melting all creation rippling outward, yet it didn't damage the barrier in the slightest.
Under the Pangu Temple's protection, Gu Tianchen stood unscathed amid the sea of world-burning flames, though he felt a bit warm.
Buzz!
A dark golden halo shimmered before Zhurong. After a long moment, he returned to Gu Tianchen, his expression grim.
"Senior Zhurong, are you… alright?" Gu Tianchen asked tentatively.
"Kid, whether I get out of here depends on you," Zhurong said gruffly.
"On me?"
"You need to collect nine different flames for me to leave this place," Zhurong stated.
Gu Tianchen raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this the world of Slay the Gods? Why did he get the Flame Emperor's script?
"Nine different flames… The temple doesn't count your flames among them, does it?" Gu Tianchen asked.
"Right! My Dutian Divine Fire is ready-made, isn't it? Smart kid. Come here, I'll pass you the Dutian Divine Fire," Zhurong said with a grin.
"No need," Gu Tianchen declined politely.
Zhurong's brow furrowed, his voice cold. "What's that supposed to mean, kid? Looking down on me? You know how many Witch Clan prodigies begged for my fire back then, and I didn't even glance their way!"
"Senior Zhurong, you misunderstand. When you awakened, I already inherited all your divine abilities. Don't believe me? Watch."
Boom!
Gu Tianchen extended his hand, and a purple-red flame burst from his palm, flickering like a ceaseless bonfire.
Zhurong observed. Though the kid's flame was still weak, it was indeed his origin fire, the Dutian Divine Fire.
Besides the Dutian Divine Fire, Gu Tianchen had also gained two divine abilities: Rebirth Through Fire and Divine Fire Avatar.
Rebirth Through Fire: Each unique flame acquired allows a single resurrection through that flame.
Divine Fire Avatar: Creates a flame avatar to aid in combat, with each new flame granting an additional avatar.
Dutian Divine Fire: The origin fire of Fire God Zhurong, suppressing all worldly flames, greatly enhancing combat power and explosiveness. At full mastery, it becomes the Might of World-Burning Flames.
Looking at Gu Tianchen, Zhurong mused: If awakening each Ancestral Witch granted all their divine abilities, how powerful would a Witch Clan member who mastered all Twelve Ancestral Witches' powers be?
The moment Gu Tianchen unleashed the Dutian Divine Fire, one layer of Zhurong's release condition was unlocked.
"Kid, get out there and collect those flames. I'm itching to take on those Outer Gods. If you have questions about cultivation, come ask me anytime," Zhurong said, laughing as he clapped Gu Tianchen's shoulder.
"Thank you, Senior Zhurong. I'll take my leave."
Gu Tianchen's consciousness returned to his body, finding the two Ghost-Faced Creatures had been crushed into pulp by the divine auras earlier.
Li Yifei had fainted, lying stiffly behind him.
Lin Qiye had opened his eyes, his burning golden gaze fixed on him.
A man in a dark red cloak hurried over, looking at the scene in bewilderment.
The two Ghost-Faced Creatures had died so… cleanly?
Zhao Kongcheng first glanced at Lin Qiye, then at Gu Tianchen, unsure what to say.
Finally, Gu Tianchen broke the awkward silence, smiling at Zhao Kongcheng. "Was I cool just now?"
***
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