"No… you can't kill me!"
"I am the heir of the Sun family!"
"Father, save me!"
Sun Wenzong cried out in panic, his face contorted in fear as he stumbled backward.
But Wei Yi remained utterly unmoved.
With a cold flash of steel, his blade swept out—severing Sun Wenzong's sword-wielding hand in a single strike.
Blood sprayed violently into the air.
From a distance, Sun Zhenshan's eyes bulged with rage as he witnessed the scene, his expression twisting with fury.
"Wei Yi!!!"
"You dare harm my son? I'll have your head!"
Roaring in rage, Sun Zhenshan abandoned his duel with Wei Tianyang and charged toward Wei Yi like a tempest.
But how could Wei Tianyang let him pass? With a flicker of movement, he reappeared, once more blocking his path.
"Your opponent is me."
Sun Zhenshan's fury surged like a tidal wave, yet he was helpless to act. Both men were Martial Kings, but Wei Tianyang held the upper hand—Sun Zhenshan could not break through.
The rest of the Sun family's experts were similarly entangled, restrained tightly by the Wei family's warriors.
There was nowhere for Sun Wenzong to run.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
He clenched his teeth and lunged toward Wei Yi in desperation.
"With just you?"
"It's time you paid the price for your past sins."
"Die."
Wei Yi's expression was icy, his blade striking like a venomous serpent. Before Sun Wenzong could even reach him, Wei Yi had already passed by in a ghostlike blur.
Sun Wenzong staggered and collapsed, eyes wide, clutching his throat.
Lifeless.
Ding! Player Wei Yi has slain Sun Wenzong, heir of the Sun family. Cultivation experience +1000, Deathblade Skill experience +900.
The system notification chimed, confirming the kill. Wei Yi's lips curled into a cold smirk—void of pity or remorse.
A fool who brought about his own demise—he deserved no less.
"First, seize the Flame."
With both Sun brothers dead, Wei Yi had no further interest in the other Sun clan members. His focus shifted immediately to the prize.
By now, many had begun rushing toward the Flame, but they were tripping over one another—none moving with real speed.
Activating his max-level Blackwater Step, Wei Yi became a blur of darkness as he raced up the mountainside.
In this tangled forest terrain, Blackwater Step, a peak-grade mortal movement art, made him a phantom—darting effortlessly through obstacles. Within moments, he'd outpaced nearly everyone. Even those who tried to intercept him couldn't lay a finger on him.
Soon, he was leading the charge.
"Stop him!"
"Kill him! He must not get the Flame!"
"Stop right there, brat!"
Shouts of fury rang out from behind him.
Wei Yi paid them no mind.
He only ran faster, widening the gap between him and the rest.
At last, the Flame came into view.
It hovered within a rocky pit, glowing with translucent crimson light. Up close, it looked less like a raging inferno and more like a jewel—radiant, flickering, and almost… alive.
Wei Yi's eyes lit up.
"The Crimson Crystal Flame."
"Ranked 108th on the Flame Index."
As a former player, Wei Yi was intimately familiar with every entry on the Flame Index.
Though 108th might not sound impressive, it was in fact extraordinary. Only around three hundred such flames were known to exist, most long vanished or already claimed. The conditions for their emergence were exceedingly rare—many martial artists would never encounter even one in their entire lifetime.
The higher-ranked the flame, the more powerful—and the more difficult to subdue.
A top-ten flame would be beyond even a Martial King like his father.
But the 108th-ranked Crimson Crystal Flame was perfect for Wei Yi at this stage.
Ding! Player Wei Yi has discovered the Crimson Crystal Flame.
Ding! Flame system activated.
Ding! To claim the Crimson Crystal Flame, 10,000 cultivation experience is required. Proceeding will reduce your realm from Ninth-tier Martial Master to Eighth-tier. Do you wish to continue?
The system prompt chimed again.
Wei Yi's face darkened.
He had just advanced from eighth-tier to ninth-tier, and now he was expected to sacrifice that progress?
Unfair!
Still, after a moment's hesitation, he chose to proceed.
Ten thousand experience points was a small price to pay. He could earn them again. But the Crimson Crystal Flame? Priceless. Even if it cost a hundred thousand, he wouldn't hesitate.
Just as Wei Yi made the decision, a sudden chill prickled his spine.
His heart jolted. Without turning, he instinctively dove to the side.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted behind him, a surge of violent energy detonating the air.
Though his reaction was swift, he couldn't escape unscathed. His back tore open, blood flowed freely, and his face paled from the wound.
Wei Yi turned, eyes sharp.
A young man in ornate robes now stood where he had just been.
He seemed surprised that Wei Yi had evaded the strike.
"Impressive footwork," the youth sneered. "But the Flame is not for the likes of you. Leave now, while you still can."
Wei Yi's gaze turned glacial.
He took out a healing pill he had refined days earlier, swallowed it, and tightened his grip on the Qinggang Sword.
"Screw your ancestors!"
With a flash of motion, Wei Yi lunged forward.
"You court death."
The young noble's face darkened at the insult.
He didn't draw a weapon, but his palms shimmered with black light, intercepting Wei Yi's strikes with bare hands, countering blow for blow.
Though not yet a Grand Martial Master, his power was formidable—equal to Wei Yi's.
Wei Yi could sense it: this man's cultivation method was of exceptional quality, and his martial techniques were polished to a high level. Without his bloodline boost, Wei Yi might have been at a disadvantage.
This was no ordinary opponent—his background had to be extraordinary.
"Who are you?" Wei Yi demanded coldly.
"Afraid already? Get on your knees and beg, and I might let you live. Otherwise, you'll regret this for the rest of your short life!"
The nobleman's voice dripped with venom.
He had never been humiliated like this before.
"If death is what you seek, allow me to oblige."
Wei Yi's eyes blazed with killing intent. He launched a fierce offensive.
His opponent, unarmed, quickly began to falter beneath Wei Yi's onslaught, his face growing darker by the moment.
"Wei Yi!"
At that moment, three figures arrived at a sprint—Wei Wu, Wei Yuan, and Wei Hong.
"Let's kill him together," Wei Yi ordered with a glance.
Wei Wu hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the Crimson Crystal Flame. He was clearly tempted.
But Wei Yuan was already in motion, charging the noble youth.
Left with no choice, Wei Wu and Wei Hong joined the attack.
The young man had struggled against Wei Yi alone—now, faced with four, he was overwhelmed. Rage burned in his eyes as he glared at Wei Yi.
"Remember me, brat—I won't forget this."
With that, he spun and fled, vanishing into the forest beyond.
Wei Yi moved to pursue, but Wei Wu grabbed his arm.
"Secure the Flame first."
"We'll guard you."
Wei Yi inhaled deeply, nodded, and glanced at his three cousins.
"Thank you, brothers. I'll reward you handsomely when we return."
The trio had stepped aside, allowing him the first claim. He wouldn't forget this.
Approaching the flame, Wei Yi extended his hand.
"Claim the Flame," he commanded.
Ding! Player Wei Yi has spent 10,000 cultivation experience. Commencing absorption of Crimson Crystal Flame.
Countdown: 100, 99, 98, 97…