Volume Two: The Emergence of the Nine Provinces Map, Entering the Spirit Void Sect Chapter 128: The Crimson Flame Fire Crow

The Fire Crow let out a piercing shriek, its plumage transforming into blossoms of flame as it dove toward Chen Yu.

Chen Yu’s expression darkened. He immediately executed the Golden Light of Earth-Traversal, darting away with great speed. However, the Fire Crow’s murderous intent was fixed, and it would not let him escape so easily.

With another long, shrill cry, as if the Scarlet Flame Mountain itself were responding, a plume of floral fire erupted directly in the path where Chen Yu was darting.

Chen Yu felt a jolt of alarm in his heart, thinking to himself: Has this Fire Crow already mastered the power of the Fire Element?

Even so, he felt no fear. He leaped once more, narrowly dodging the erupting flames. Yet, under the Fire Crow's control, there was more than one strike. Having just evaded the first, Chen Yu realized that several more jets of flame were surging toward him from all directions.

Chen Yu’s eyes grew solemn; he knew he could no longer dodge. In an instant, he placed a hand on his sword and shouted, "Flowers Bloom in an Instant, Shaking Mountains and Earth."

He slashed his sword, and golden flowers materialized, blocking the incoming flames. As the sword energy dispersed, the various jets of fire were instantly annihilated into nothingness.

The Fire Crow had not expected its attack to be so easily neutralized, but it did not panic; instead, its killing intent grew even more ferocious. It swooped down, its massive wings of fire seemingly capable of incinerating the very air.

Chen Yu, unwilling to engage in a direct confrontation on Scarlet Flame Mountain, deployed the Golden Light of Earth-Traversal and fled.

"Do not think you can escape!" the Fire Crow roared, its speed increasing as it caught up to Chen Yu in a single breath. Its flaming feathers fired off like arrows.

Chen Yu parried with his sword, deflecting them one by one. Taking this opportunity, the Fire Crow shifted to Chen Yu’s rear, its sharp claws raking directly toward the back of his head.

"Taizhu Sword Technique: Subduing Dragons and Tigers." Chen Yu whirled around and struck.

Boom! Their powers collided violently. Chen Yu, having lost the initiative and falling a step behind, was forced back several yards. The Fire Crow, clearly not intending to give him time to recover, pressed forward, its massive wings slashing through the air in a swift glide.

Chen Yu was driven back again, the powerful impact churning his internal organs. He took a deep breath, remaining calm, his fighting spirit burning ever hotter.

"If you want to fight, then let us fight." Chen Yu’s voice was low and steady. His aura shifted, becoming sharp and piercing.

The Fire Crow shuddered, as if it had been locked onto by something terrifying. However, it quickly adjusted; though its eyes were filled with hatred, they were now far more cautious.

Chen Yu provocatively pointed his sword at the Fire Crow. Enraged, the beast’s flames intensified, and the surrounding air instantly transformed into a sea of fire, engulfing them both.

"Die..." With the Fire Crow’s long shriek, the sea of fire turned into waves, crashing down upon Chen Yu at the center.

"Flowers Bloom in an Instant, Shaking Mountains and Earth." Chen Yu swung his long sword, the countless sword shadows weaving into a giant net that expanded rapidly, pressing back against the sea of fire.

Rumbling sounds echoed as the two forces clashed violently, neither willing to yield an inch.

"Is this human thief really only at the First Origin, Third Aperture stage? Why is his power so great?" the Fire Crow roared in its heart, bewildered. "Damn it... kill... kill..."

The Fire Crow lunged forward in a rage, intent on finishing Chen Yu. But this was exactly what Chen Yu had been waiting for. He transformed into golden light and charged.

Subduing Dragons and Tigers, Wind and Rain Golden Light.

The power of a single strike contained the might of three different Daoist arts. By the time the Fire Crow realized the danger, Chen Yu’s blade had already sliced through its body. Its scorching blood sprayed out, only to be instantly incinerated by the intense heat.

"Human thief..." Aside from its shock, the Fire Crow’s eyes flashed with malevolence as it tried to lunge at Chen Yu again in a hideous display of desperation.

Chen Yu’s reaction was faster. Following the first strike, he twisted his body and slashed again: "Taizhu Sword Technique: Shaking Mountains and Earth."

The sword energy was archaic and complex, seemingly possessing a hundred variations. The Fire Crow’s newly gathered Fire Element spiritual energy was instantly shattered.

*Squelch...* Another deep wound was carved into the Fire Crow’s body.

"Ah..." Now, the Fire Crow was truly terrified. It had never expected Chen Yu to be so ferocious, wounding it within a few moves; it was completely beyond its expectations.

The threat to its life caused the Fire Crow to instinctively attempt to flee into the distance.

"Trying to leave..." Chen Yu let out a cold snort, ready to pursue. Suddenly, he sensed five distinct auras approaching from not far away.

"Hmph... count yourself lucky. I shall spare you for now; once I have dealt with them, I will settle our score properly." Chen Yu said, transforming into a streak of golden light and escaping in the opposite direction.

When Zhu Gui and the others arrived, they found only shattered rocks and ruined earth, with no sign of Chen Yu.

"Senior Brother Zhu, it seems that Chen Yu has escaped," Feng Qing said.

"Could it be that he guessed we were coming?" Feng Yu couldn't help but wonder. They had all witnessed the strength of Chen Yu’s survival instincts firsthand.

"Perhaps! But he should not know it is us yet," Zhu Gui said, frowning.

"Senior Brother, do you have a clever plan?" Guo Ming asked with a sycophantic tone.

"Senior Brother Zhu, I have a plan that might lower his guard," Xu Xiu said, detailing his idea.

Upon hearing it, the group was delighted. "Excellent, this should work. As fellow disciples of the Spirit Ruins, he surely wouldn't stand by and watch us die."

Zhu Gui cursed in his heart: "Chen Yu, you little thief, I will make you pay double for the insults you have dealt me. This Scarlet Flame Mountain shall be your burial ground."

They immediately set off in the direction Chen Yu had fled, completely unaware that in the shadows, a pair of fiery eyes were watching them coldly. It was the Fire Crow that had been repelled by Chen Yu earlier.

Having already fled, it had grown suspicious when Chen Yu did not pursue, believing him to be at the end of his strength. It had returned to investigate, never expecting to witness this scene.

"Very good. I never imagined others were also targeting that human brat," the Fire Crow muttered hatefully. "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman gains. Little thief, I will not let you go."

...

The battle with the Fire Crow had consumed much of Chen Yu’s magical power. He needed to recover before his enemies arrived. Thus, he found an area shrouded in thick, grey mist where one could barely see their own hand, and went into hiding.

He circulated the Nine-Breath Qi Method and the Hunyuan Scripture simultaneously to restore his internal energy.

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed. Chen Yu carefully sensed the surrounding auras. His expression turned icy as he thought: "They really did track me down."

"Hm? Strange. Why is there only one person? Have they split up?" Chen Yu murmured coldly. "Perfect. Let me see exactly who it is."