Chapter 5882
“Rumble—!”
The ground ahead suddenly trembled violently, and a massive crack abruptly split open, spewing scorching magma into the sky like a fountain!
Immediately afterward, three colossal creatures crawled out of the crack.
They were three monstrous lava apes, each five zhang tall, their bodies composed entirely of black rock and crimson lava!
Each one exuded an aura that reached the peak of the seventh rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm!
Even more terrifying was that they didn’t appear alone; on the shoulders of each ape stood hundreds of densely packed crimson bats—fire bats!
These bats were only the size of a palm, but their fangs were sharp, their wings edged with flames, and they flew at incredible speed.
Most troublesome of all, they could spew a special kind of “corrosive fire,” specifically designed to corrode a cultivator’s protective immortal aura and the spiritual light of their magical artifacts!
“Not good! It’s a three-headed lava giant ape and a swarm of fire bats!”
Lin Feng’s expression changed drastically. “How could they be gathered together? The intelligence didn’t mention it!”
Shi Meng gripped his double hammers tightly, sweat beading on his forehead. “We’re doomed. This lineup is too much for the three of us to handle… Quickly send a signal for help!”
Kai, however, narrowed his eyes, staring at the three-headed lava giant ape.
He noticed that the ape’s eyes were flashing with an abnormal crimson light, and its behavior was somewhat sluggish, as if it were being controlled by something.
“Someone’s tampering with things…” This thought flashed through Kai’s mind.
A thousand feet behind, the Earth Fire Pavilion team also saw the sudden change ahead.
“Three-headed lava giant apes? And a swarm of fire bats?”
Elder Yan Xin’s face darkened. “This doesn’t make sense. The two kinds of ferocious beasts have different habits and rarely act together.”
Huo Ling’er said urgently, “Kai and the others are in danger! Quickly send reinforcements!”
As she spoke, she was about to lead several Earth Fire Pavilion disciples to rush over.
“Stop!”
Yan Lie flashed to block her way. “Junior Sister Ling’er, don’t be impulsive! The situation ahead is unclear; it’s too dangerous to rush forward!”
“But Kai and the others…”
“They’re just hired guards,”
Yan Lie said coldly. “Since we accepted the mission to clear the way, we should bear the risks. The lives of us Earthfire Pavilion disciples are precious; how can we risk our lives for a few guards?”
He then turned to Elder Yan Xin: “Elder, I think we should postpone our advance and observe the situation. If Kai and the others can handle it, that would be best. If they can’t… it will buy us time to find another path into the Flame Spirit Basin.”
These words sounded grand, but in reality, they were ruthless. They were using Kai and the others as cannon fodder to draw the beasts’ fire so that the Earthfire Pavilion could take the opportunity to detour or retreat.
Huo Ling’er was stunned, exclaiming incredulously, “Senior Brother Yan Lie, how could you say that? They are our companions!”
“Companions?”
Yan Lie scoffed. “Junior Sister Ling’er, you’re too naive. They’re only here for the reward. If they were truly in a life-or-death situation, they’d be the first to run. It’s just an employment relationship, why take it so seriously?”
He looked at the other guards: “Don’t you agree?”
The other guards remained silent.
Although they were indignant, they dared not refute Yan Lie.
After all, they were indeed here for the reward, and there was no need for them to risk their lives for the Earth Fire Pavilion.
Elder Yan Xin pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: “Yan Lie is right. Our primary task is to collect the Flame Spirit Grass; we shouldn’t cause any unforeseen complications. Since Kai and the others accepted the path-clearing mission, they should be prepared.”
He looked ahead: “Observe for a while. If they are outmatched, we’ll decide whether to provide support or retreat.”
“Elder!” Huo Ling’er stamped her foot anxiously.
Elder Yanxin had already made his decision; the disciples of the Earthfire Pavilion remained on guard, showing no intention of providing support.
At the front lines, on the battlefield,
Kai heard the conversation behind him, his expression remaining calm.
Lin Feng and Shi Meng, however, looked grim.
“Damn it, they really are using us as cannon fodder!”
Shi Meng spat. “I shouldn’t have accepted this mission!”
Lin Feng smiled bitterly: “It’s too late to say that now. Fellow Daoist Chen, what do we do? Fight or retreat?”
Kai looked at the three approaching Lava Giant Apes and the swarms of Fire Bats flying overhead, and said calmly: “You all retreat and protect yourselves. I’ll handle this.”
“You alone?” Lin Feng was shocked.
“Yes.”
Kai took a step forward, his body surging with a hazy, chaotic immortal power.
Faced with such a formidable force, he held nothing back.
The first Lava Giant Apes had already charged forward, their millstone-sized rock fists carrying scorching heat as they slammed towards Kai!
Kai neither dodged nor evaded, his right fist meeting the attack head-on.
The two fists, one large and one small, collided.
“Boom—!”
With a deafening roar, the Lava Giant Ape’s incredibly hard rock arm shattered inch by inch, starting from its fist!
Cracks spread all the way to its shoulder, and the entire arm exploded, sending debris and lava flying everywhere!
The giant ape roared in pain, its massive body staggering backward.
Kai’s figure flashed, appearing above the giant ape’s head, his right foot slamming down heavily.
“Crack!”
The giant ape’s head was crushed by the stomp, its massive body crashing to the ground, turning into a pile of rubble and cooled lava.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
The other two Lava Giant Apes and the swarm of Firebats hadn’t even reacted yet.
“Roar—!”
The remaining two giant apes roared angrily, pouncing simultaneously. The sky full of Firebats also swooped down with strange squeaking sounds, spewing out dense, corrosive fireballs, like a crimson rainstorm!
Kai formed hand seals and softly uttered, “Chaotic Domain, open.”
Within a radius of thirty feet centered on him, space suddenly distorted.
A hazy gray mist spread out, causing all the fireballs that entered the area to slow abruptly, then vanish silently like melting snow.
The swooping fire bats, upon entering the gray mist, seemed to lose their sense of direction, spinning in place before plummeting to the ground, their life extinguished before they even hit the ground.
Chaotic Domain—this was the rudimentary form of a domain that Kai had created by combining his chaotic immortal power with his shallow understanding of space and time.
Although still imperfect, it was sufficient to deal with these lowly, ferocious beasts.
Two giant lava apes rushed into the domain, their movements instantly slowing, as if struggling in a quagmire.
Kai, his figure like a ghost, appeared beside one of the giant apes, his fingers forming a sword, unleashing a burst of gray sword energy.