Chapter 78: The Everburning Crucible Awakens

The moment Jiang Feng's mantra ended, the battlefield froze. The Direwolves and Ironhide Boars, fierce and relentless moments before, now paused as if struck by an unseen force. Their instincts flared, warning them of something dangerous. Even the ninth-level Essence Condensation Direwolf, in mid-charge, faltered, its black-streaked fur bristling with uncertainty.

Amid the stillness, Jiang Feng stood, his figure wreathed in swirling blue flames. The symbol of "Eternal" (æ°¸) emblazoned on his back pulsed with a radiant glow, each stroke shimmering with energy so potent it seemed to distort the air around him. His dagger, once an ordinary weapon, now blazed with molten heat, reshaped by the awakening of his bloodline, its very form bending to a new, unearthly power.

Lei Wenshan, locked in combat with the massive Direwolf, couldn't help but be caught off guard by the sudden stillness. His eyes followed the beast's gaze, tracing it to Jiang Feng standing over the fallen corpse of an Ironhide Boar, his gaze unfocused, as if lost in some unfathomable realm. Even the elder overseeing the wall seemed to take note of the shift in the air.

"Who's this person?" A voice rang out from the top of the wall, sharp with confusion. Kaelen Ironshade, the elder tasked with overseeing the eastern wall's defenses, pounded his iron fist against a table in frustration. Rising from his seat, he squinted into the distance. "Why is a blacksmith jumping into the middle of the battlefield?"

Wu Lihua, standing tall and poised, couldn't hide the glint of intrigue in her eyes. She shifted slightly to better view Jiang Feng's stance. "This is getting interesting," she murmured, her expression softening as she noticed a strange, golden glow radiating from his black attire.

Zhen Ming, however, scowled, his irritation growing. "What is this kid doing? Standing in the middle of a beast wave like some kind of spectacle. Why is he drawing all the attention?" His eyes narrowed, now burning with a deeper frustration as the massive Ironhide Boar hesitated before him, unsure of its next move.

The Aetherion Dragon, ever prone to mischief, let out a rumbling laugh. "Haha, look at him, causing such a stir. Let's see how he avoids the spotlight now." Its excitement was palpable, the dragon's unrestrained temperament feeding off the chaos below.

"Who cares" came the codex's deep, amused voice. "Feng, roast everything, haha!" The energy within the codex surged with excitement, eager to witness the storm Jiang Feng was about to unleash.

Jiang Feng, standing amidst the beasts, seemed unfazed by the tension surrounding him. His eyes, now glowing with an ethereal fire, met the eyes of the largest Direwolf, daring it to make the first move. The air crackled with an unseen tension, as if the world itself held its breath, waiting for the next moment in this unfolding spectacle.

-

The air was thick with tension as Jiang Feng, standing amidst the chaos of the battlefield, became a living tempest. The very earth beneath his feet trembled with the force of his presence, his blue flames dancing around him like wild dragons. Each swing of his dagger carved through the air, leaving streaks of fire in his wake, consuming beast after beast with ease. His body, fueled by his bloodline's awakening, was a conduit for destruction.

Lie Wenshan looked to the Eastern Wall, as an elder moved his lips, as if relaying all the details he had to Lei Wenshan. Soon after his expression turned ugly. 'On hired blacksmith kid? That f-ck!!"

Lei Wenshan's shout rang out, his voice cutting through the madness as he struggled to keep his composure. "Jiang Feng!" He clutched his injured shoulder, fury and disbelief mixing in his eyes. "What the hell are you doing?!"

For a moment, Jiang Feng's gaze shifted toward him. His lips curled into a faint, knowing smile, as if the chaos of the battlefield was nothing more than a trivial distraction. "Answering destiny," he said, his voice calm and unwavering.

The Direwolf, its black-streaked fur bristling with unease, snarled, shaking off its hesitation. As a ninth-level Essence Condensation beast, pride surged through its veins, and it lunged at Jiang Feng with unrelenting speed. Its claws raked through the air, seeking to tear him apart.

But Jiang Feng remained rooted to his spot, unflinching. His body seemed to merge with the ground itself, every muscle coiling with untapped power. The Earth meridian surged within him, sending waves of strength pulsing through his limbs. His grip tightened on his dagger as the world around him seemed to fall into place. He could feel the beast's every movement, every breath, as if the very air between them had become an extension of his senses. 'It's this the power of the Earth Meridian?'

He stabbed out, his dagger blazing- when the Direwolf's claws collided with his weapon, blue flames erupted in a violent explosion. The fire surged like a wild dragon, wrapping around the beast in a tidal wave of heat and force. The Direwolf howled in agony, its fur catching fire as the flames consumed it from the inside out. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as Jiang Feng's dagger found its mark, plunging deep into the creature's chest.

With a burst of energy, he unleashed an explosion of fire that tore through the Direwolf's body, reducing it to nothing but charred remnants. The flames raged outward, enveloping everything in its path, before retreating back into Jiang Feng's body, leaving only ash in the wake.

The battlefield fell into stunned silence. Lei Wenshan's mouth hung open, his eyes wide in disbelief. Zhen Ming stood frozen, his expression a mixture of shock and awe. Even Wu Lihua's usual calm was replaced by a gleam of excitement in her eyes.

"Impossible!" Zhen Ming hissed, his voice trembling with a mix of frustration and anger. He turned, glancing toward the high walls. The elders, too, were frozen in place, their expressions a blend of confusion and disbelief. How could a first-stage Essence realm cultivator defeat a ninth-level Direwolf? The power he had displayed was beyond comprehension.

But what they didn't realize was that Jiang Feng's Essence lake was roaring, expanding at an extraordinary rate. His Essence had surged from 3,400 to 3,500, 3,700, 4,000, and beyond, until it stabilized at 5,990—just one step shy of the second stage of Essence Condensation. Though he was only in the first stage, his Eternal bloodline awakening and demonic bloodline allowed him to fight on par with a seventh-level cultivators and, with the Direwolf already wounded, he had the upper hand.

But any other day and a Ninth Essence Level Direwolf would make quick work of him.

The battlefield erupted into chaos once more, the remaining beasts charging with renewed ferocity. Jiang Feng, his flames now burning brighter and hotter, became an unstoppable force of destruction. His every movement was fluid and devastating, leaving scorched earth and smoldering corpses in his wake.

Soldiers from the Situ Army gaped in awe as Jiang Feng single-handedly pressed forward against the tide of beasts. His flames created barriers and cages, shielding the injured warriors and clearing a path for them to regroup.

"Get out of my way!" Lei Wenshan's voice rang out, filled with determination and fury. Lightning crackled around him as he charged forward, his pride refusing to let anyone outshine him. Yet behind him, unnoticed by all, the Nascent Soul of Lin Moyi watched from the shadows, watching the scene unfold with keen interest.

Amidst the chaos, Elder Lei Tianrong's voice cut through the tumult. "Hold your positions! Let him fight—this is his test!" He gestured to the warriors of the Lei clan, who were hesitant to intervene. They could see Lei Wenshan's injured shoulder, but the elder's command was clear. Lei Wenshan's test had begun, and they were to let him face it alone.

The warriors exchanged uncertain glances but obeyed, maintaining their formations as they watched Jiang Feng unleash wave after wave of burning power.

As Jiang Feng fought, the Codex's voice resonated in his mind, guiding him. "Good. You're adapting quickly. But this is only the beginning. Your Eternal Flame bloodline is vast, limitless. You've awakened, but mastering it will require patience, and an unyielding will power that looks down on the world. With a strong body from the dragon clan, the Skyforge Flame's true might can truly take form."

"Hmph, now you remember me," the Aetherion Dragon rebutted, its body crackling with black lightning that surged through it like a storm. "Kid let me show you the might of Black Lightning!"

Lightning, filled with chaotic might, bore through Jiang Feng's body, before slamming into the bodies of the demonic beasts with brutal force. Dozens of holes appeared in their bodies before they shattered into pieces, the chaos in his wake overwhelming to anyone watching. Lei Wenshan froze, the chilling sensation of the lightning brushing past him sent a shiver down his spine.

The Aetherion Dragon, watching from within Jiang Feng's soul, snorted in satisfaction. Jiang Feng could tell that it intentionally let the lightning brushed by Lei Wenshan.

Jiang Feng, however, paid no mind to the comments of the Codex or the Dragon. His focus remained solely on the battlefield before him. His flames burned hotter, forming a vortex that began pulling the remaining beasts toward him. Direwolves and Ironhide Boars alike were drawn into the inferno, their howls of agony filling the air as they were consumed by the flames.

'Wait I'm I doing this or is it the Skyforge Flame's doing?" Jiang Feng knew he didn't have the knowledge to create a vortex like this. 'Does my body belong to me or them?'

But as he turned the tide against the lesser beasts, a new, more terrifying threat emerged from the depths of the forest. A deep, guttural roar shook the earth, sending tremors through the battlefield. The trees parted, revealing a massive figure—a Golden Core-level Bloodthorn Mammoth. Its crimson tusks gleamed menacingly as it lumbered toward the Eastern Wall, an aura of overwhelming power radiating from its form.

Elder Lei Tianrong's expression darkened as he saw the creature. "Golden Core already?" he muttered, gesturing to the other elders. "Prepare to intervene. The younger generation won't survive this without our help."