The flames had already spread throughout the entire town, forming a vast and burning magical array pattern. Buildings were engulfed within, blazing like torches, including the townsfolk and the remaining demonic cultivators who were fleeing in panic.
After observing for a moment, Su Luo activated his divine eye to examine the situation. Once certain, he descended.
Li Tianjue asked, "Luoluo, what is it?"
Su Luo's expression grew grim as he replied, "I fear this is not good. I didn't expect the formations here to be combined with the underground fire veins. Once activated, the entire Pig Dragon Town will turn into an inferno. Although Sun Biao is dead, the formation has already been activated, and it will soon consume everything. We must leave here quickly."
Tang Xiaoguo's heart leaped, "These demonic cultivators are so cruel. They're willing to let the entire town perish."
Fan Tian also exclaimed, "Sister, then let's go quickly. This place is so terrifying..."
The situation was urgent, and everyone immediately left the residence, preparing to depart.
However, the streets were engulfed in fire. The houses burned as if doused in oil, with scorching heatwaves making them impassable. Countless townsfolk, their bodies ablaze, fled from their homes, shouting in panic, crying for help, and struggling.
Those who had attacked Su Luo and the others with ferocity moments ago were now pitiful and helpless, screaming for salvation.
"My lords, young lady, please save my child! He's still inside the house..." At this moment, a disheveled woman blocked their path, pleading for help in a state of distress.
Wen Dai'er glanced at her coldly, "Ignore her, let's go."
A man also ran over, roaring at them, "You refuse to help, how can you be so cruel? My son is still in there, and you know it but won't save him. Are you not from the Pure Void Heaven? You are more ruthless than the demonic sects!"
Su Luo's eyes sharpened as he stared at him, "You tried to kill us just now, and now you want us to save your son. Have you lost your mind?"
The couple's faces froze, and they became awkward.
"We were wrong, alright?"
The woman pleaded, "You are magnanimous, please don't hold it against us. The child is still young, save him first!"
A child's cry came from the burning house. The man also panicked but dared not enter, only urging Su Luo and the others, "Did you hear that? My son is about to die, he's crying! Do you have any conscience?"
"Ignore them, let's go quickly, the fire is getting bigger," Shang Xie Shaoqing glared coldly at the man and led the way, controlling the oncoming flames and urging everyone to leave quickly.
He harbored no intention of rescuing the people of Pig Dragon Town.
With a shout of "Let's go," Li Tianjue urged everyone forward. They swiftly departed, leaving the couple crying out, howling, and cursing behind them, while Su Luo and the others ignored them and sped ahead.
With a whoosh, a large burst of flames erupted from the ground, blocking their path.
The area ahead had already turned into a sea of fire. In just a quarter of an hour, the entire town had transformed into a living hell. Flames consumed everything, harvesting lives. Screams and wails echoed everywhere, the fire reaching the sky, with walls of flame several zhang high rising like waves, radiating oppressive heat.
Seeing that they could not pass, Shang Xie Shaoqing stopped in his tracks, parting his hands. The flames magically separated to the sides. As he was about to call for everyone to hurry through, his attention wavered for a moment, and the flames, losing control, roared back together.
"This formation is so powerful!" his expression turned grim.
At this moment, Li Tianjue walked over, his pupils deep. He aimed his palm forward, and the flames transformed into a fire dragon that flew into his palm and vanished. The surrounding heat subsided, and the flames diminished significantly, leaving only faint embers on the ground.
Li Tianjue reminded everyone, "The underground fire veins are too dense. It's likely they won't extinguish even after burning for three days and three nights. Everyone, hurry and pass through, and leave Pig Dragon Town as quickly as possible."
He never expected such a formidable fire formation to be set up in such a small town.
Shang Xie Shaoqing, possessing fire elemental power, was largely unaffected by the flames compared to others. He led the way, forging ahead. Su Luo's water elemental power had greatly advanced, but facing such immense fire with no water source nearby, she could only manage to protect herself.
The others, relying on their cultivation, were temporarily safe as long as the flames were not too intense.
Tang Xiaoguo and Bai Qi rode on the backs of their dragon hounds, while Fan Tian was protected in the center. The group charged forward, encountering cries of agony everywhere. Figures engulfed in flames collapsed to the ground, screaming, gradually turning into charcoal and their lives extinguished.
Finally, they reached the edge of the town.
However, the intensity of the fire here was even fiercer, resembling a sea of flames that seemed to connect heaven and earth. Only a fiery red color remained, making it impossible to approach. The ground had melted due to the extreme heat, and hot magma flowed slowly, igniting the surrounding wild grass and trees. It was more terrifying than a volcanic eruption.
"What do we do? We can't get through," Wen Dai'er's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't get close at all.
Even with her countless experiences, this was the first time she had witnessed such a terrifying scene. The combination of the formation and the underground fire veins had unleashed a power comparable to a natural disaster.
Chu Tianshu held her hand and stepped back, "Don't worry, we have the eldest senior brother."
Shang Xie Shaoqing took a step forward, then retreated. Even with his fire elemental power, he felt the intense heat.
Li Tianjue stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, separated from the others by five zhang. He glanced at Shang Xie Shaoqing, nodded, and both extended their hands simultaneously.
Two streams of fire flew towards them, instantly transforming into two fire dragons, fangs bared and claws extended, and enveloped them.
The flames swirled and attacked, but Shang Xie Shaoqing and Li Tianjue remained unharmed. Their clothes and hair billowed in the wind, appearing completely at ease. At this moment, the two seemed like gods of flame, their faces licked by the scorching heat, bathed in golden light. Their aura surged, becoming invincible.
Between the sea of fire and themselves, a bridge of fire was formed.
Su Luo could feel that the power of the sea of fire was beginning to weaken. Though slow, it was constantly diminishing.
The power of the earth fire was terrifying to others; it could turn a Heavenly Venerate-level expert into ashes. However, for practitioners of fire elemental power, it was the best nourishment. If not for the urgent situation, Shang Xie Shaoqing and Li Tianjue would have made rapid progress by cultivating in such an environment.
Finally, the sea of fire gradually contracted, and the height of the flames began to lower.
A rumbling sound echoed within Shang Xie Shaoqing's body. He had broken through again, reaching the fifth stage of the Spirit King realm! After absorbing the vast energy of the sea of fire, he benefited greatly, his aura surging, and he broke through directly.
However, for Li Tianjue, breaking through again was not as simple as absorbing this fire energy. To achieve another breakthrough now was no longer easy; it became increasingly difficult as one progressed.
He parted his palms, and the flames separated to the sides once more, revealing a path leading to the outside.