Chapter 124: The Awakening Of The Top 10 Flames

Darkness enveloped the land like the gaping maw of a bloodthirsty beast, swallowing everything in its path. Eerie lights flashed across the sky in sporadic bursts, casting fleeting shadows over the world below. The land stretched out endlessly, a vast expanse of civilization teeming with life and death.

Hundreds of thousands of buildings rose and fell like the undulating tide of an ocean, their silhouettes jagged against the horizon. Some structures soared so high they seemed to pierce the heavens, their peaks vanishing into the clouds, dwarfing even the mightiest of mountains.

The air was thick with spiritual energy, but it was not the kind that nurtured or healed. It was cold, ghostly, and corrosive, a sinister force that gnawed at flesh and bone like acid. Yet, despite its destructive nature, this energy was abundant—so abundant that millions of cultivators and ordinary humans alike had learned to harness it, bending its malevolence to their will. It was a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of those who called this place home, a land where even the most toxic forces could be turned into tools of power.

At the heart of this sprawling metropolis, a young woman sat cross-legged, her eyes closed in deep meditation. The air around her was heavy, almost suffocating, as if the very essence of hell had seeped into the earth beneath her. Her breathing was slow and deliberate, each inhale drawing in the corrosive spiritual energy, each exhale releasing a faint, ghostly mist.

Behind her, a green flame flickered and danced, its form shifting unpredictably—one moment a roaring fire, the next a spectral face contorted in silent agony but it wasn't in any form of pain at all. The flame exuded a corrosive energy that mingled with the atmosphere, and the young woman absorbed it all, her body a conduit for its power. She was cultivating, using the flame to fuel her growth, her strength and vice versa.

Her lips curled into a dark, almost sinister smile as she opened her eyes. They glinted with a malevolent light, reflecting the green hue of the flame behind her. "So, the other flames are awakening," she murmured, her voice low and dripping with anticipation as she listened to the voice playing out inside her head. "Caelestis Fernax, Lunara Glacies and Solaris Infernum huh? I assume the Three Eyes Illusion Flame, Mirage Trioculus and the Heavenly Cloud Flame, Nimbus Divinus, will be next." Her grin widened, revealing a flash of teeth that seemed almost predatory. "I already possess the Undead Ghost Flame, Mortem Umbra. If I could acquire just more... even one... I'd be able to cultivate at twice my current speed."

The thought sent a shiver of excitement through her, though her expression remained calm, almost serene. She leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting upward to the sky, where the eerie lights continued their sporadic dance. The city around her hummed with life, its inhabitants oblivious to the dark ambitions brewing in its heart. But she knew—she could feel it in her bones—that the balance of power was shifting. The awakening of the other flames was no coincidence. It was a sign, a call to action. And she intended to answer it.

Her mind raced with possibilities, each more tantalizing than the last. The Undead Ghost Flame had already given her an edge, its corrosive energy fueling her rapid ascent. But with another flame... with two... she could surpass even her wildest dreams. The thought was intoxicating, a heady mix of ambition and greed that burned brighter than the green flame at her back.

For now, though, she would wait. The flames were awakening, but they were not yet within her grasp. She would bide her time, continue to cultivate, and prepare for the moment when opportunity presented itself. And when it did... she would seize it with both hands, no matter the cost. The city around her might have been vast, but her ambitions were vaster still. And in the end, she would see them realized, no matter who or what stood in her way.

—

The swamp was eerily silent, the thick fog obscuring visibility and creating an atmosphere of foreboding. The air was heavy with moisture, and the ground beneath them was soft and unstable, threatening to swallow anyone who stepped carelessly. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran hovered above the swamp, their wings keeping them aloft as they surveyed the unfamiliar terrain.

"This place feels... wrong," Ji Moran murmured, her icy wings glinting faintly in the dim light. Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, but the fog made it difficult to see more than a few meters ahead.

Jiang Feng nodded, his golden crow wings flickering with faint yellow flames. "The energy here is oppressive. It's like the swamp itself is alive and watching us."

As they ventured deeper into the swamp, the fog seemed to grow thicker, and the silence became almost deafening. Suddenly, a low, guttural growl echoed through the air, sending shivers down their spines. The sound seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.

"Stay alert," Jiang Feng whispered, his hand instinctively reaching for the Celestial Dagger, though he knew it was currently too heavy to wield. Ji Moran nodded, her icy wings spreading wider as she prepared for whatever might come their way.

Out of the fog, a massive, shadowy figure emerged. It was a creature unlike anything they had ever seen—a monstrous amalgamation of swamp muck and twisted vegetation, with glowing green eyes that burned with malevolence. Its body shifted and writhed as if it were constantly being reformed by the swamp itself.

"A swamp demon," Ji Moran said, her voice steady but laced with caution. "These creatures are born from the darkest energies of the swamp. They're relentless and nearly impossible to kill. My Ji family has some information from a previous opening of the Obsidian Waterfall Realm on them!."

Jiang Feng's eyes narrowed. "Nearly impossible doesn't mean completely impossible."

The swamp demon let out a deafening roar as it surveyed them from afar before it lunged at them, its massive claws slashing through the air. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran dodged in opposite directions, their wings allowing them to maneuver swiftly despite the oppressive environment.

"Golden Crow Flame!" Jiang Feng shouted, summoning a torrent of fiery energy from his wings. The flames surged toward the demon, engulfing it in a blazing inferno that burned even the sky. Light shined in every direction as the temperature increased dramatically.

However, the creature seemed unfazed, its body reforming almost instantly from the swamp's muck after parts of its body were reduced to ash.

Ji Moran's icy wings shimmered as she summoned a barrage of razor-sharp ice shards. "Frostbite Barrage!" she cried, sending the shards hurtling toward the demon. The ice struck its body, freezing parts of it solid, but the creature simply shattered the ice and continued its advance, the creature seemed as if it was harder to deal with than Zhan Huito and Gao Zhenlei.

"It's regenerating too quickly," Ji Moran said, her brow furrowed in frustration. "We need to find its core—the source of its power is all concentrated in that area just like the Golden Core of a cultivator."

Jiang Feng nodded, his mind rumbled as he processed all the information on the creature, their surroundings, and even the earthly Dao threads that were lining the walls of this chamber. He then focused his senses, trying to detect any unusual energy fluctuations within the demon. Suddenly, he noticed a faint pulse of dark energy emanating from its chest.

"There! Its core is in its chest!"

"Then we'll have to strike together," Ji Moran said, determination flashing in her eyes. "On my mark."

The two of them circled the demon, their movements synchronized as they prepared for a coordinated attack. Ji Moran's icy wings glowed brighter as she gathered her energy, while Jiang Feng's golden crow wings blazed with intense flames that soared to the sky.

"Now!" Ji Moran shouted.

"Golden Crow Inferno!"

The sky was instantly light with a burning yellow flame that towered skyward before swiftly falling back down. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran while digesting the two legacies found that there were minor and major martial techniques hidden in the legacies of the two flames. Just like how the Skyforge flame could awaken martial techniques as could the two flames.

"Frozen Tempest!" Frozen shards of ice swirled like a storm, and the air shook frantically, twisting and freezing as it came under pressure.

Their attacks converged on the demon's chest, the fiery and icy energies colliding in a spectacular explosion. The swamp demon let out a final, ear-piercing screech as its core was obliterated, its body dissolving into a pool of murky water that seeped back into the swamp.

Jiang Feng and Ji Moran landed on a patch of solid ground. "That was... intense," Jiang Feng said, a grin spreading across his face, they were both visibly stronger than they were before entering this challenge chamber and making quick work of the swamp demon.

Ji Moran nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "We make a good team."

As the fog began to clear, a faint glow caught their attention. In the distance, a small island emerged from the swamp, with a single, ancient tree standing at its center. The tree's branches were adorned with glowing fruits that pulsed with a mysterious energy.

"What do you think that is?" Ji Moran asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Only one way to find out," Jiang Feng replied, burning wings already carrying him toward the island.

As they approached, they could feel the energy radiating from the tree. It was pure and potent, unlike anything they had encountered before. The fruits seemed to hum with power as if inviting them to partake.

Jiang Feng reached out and plucked one of the fruits, its surface warm to the touch. "Do you think it's safe to eat?"

Ji Moran studied the fruit carefully. "I'm not sure, but the energy feels... benevolent. It might be the reward for overcoming the swamp demon."

Jiang Feng hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. The moment the fruit's juice touched his tongue, a surge of energy coursed through his body, revitalizing him and enhancing his senses, he could hear much clearer and see much further than he'd used to. "This is incredible!"

Ji Moran followed suit, her eyes widening as she felt the effects of the fruit. "This energy... it's like nothing I've ever experienced before."

As they consumed the fruits, the ancient tree began to glow brighter, and a soft, melodic voice echoed in their minds. "You have proven your worth, travelers. The path ahead will be fraught with greater challenges, but you have the strength to overcome them. Trust in each other, and you will find the answers you seek."

The glow faded, and the tree returned to its dormant state. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran exchanged a glance, shock evident in their eyes. It was the first time since being here, that they heard a tee speak before or ever in their lives. The surprise was no less than that of the magical effects of the fruit they had just eaten.

"Whatever comes next, we'll face it together," Jiang Feng said, his voice filled with resolve.

Ji Moran nodded. "Together."

Soon after took picked the whole tree dry. Jiang Feng even picked some tea leaves for Lin Moyi. Thinking about the old man who always liked to drink tea whether it was morning, noon, or night, Jiang Feng smiled even more. Lin Moyi had taken good care of him ever since he showed up at the Lin Village, Lin Rou was no exception either, Jiang Feng swore that he would repay that in this lifetime in full and then some.

With that, and double-checking that they had taken all the fruits from the ancient tree, they spread their wings and took to the skies, ready to face the next trial that awaited them. The swamp behind them faded into the distance, but the bond between them had grown stronger, forged in the fires of battle and the mysteries of this ancient world.

Time quickly flew by and it was the 10th month inside the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, leaving two months until it was time for the realm to eject everyone out except for the dead.