Chapter 15：Burning with flames

As the drought demon approached, the oppressive heat and eerie cold emanated simultaneously, causing tension among the group.

"Damn it, we've got no choice!" Li Yunyang gritted his teeth and spoke resolutely. "Junior sister, Xiaofan, you two hold off the drought demon as long as you can. I'll use the 'Inferno Talisman' to inflict some damage on this ancient zombie, and then we'll seize the chance to escape!"

There was no way he would sit and wait for death. In his nature, even if he had to die, he would make sure to take the old zombie down with him.

"No, Senior Brother Li! That technique may be powerful, but it places a tremendous strain on your body. If it harms your foundation, the consequences will be disastrous. Besides, if we flee without killing it, the dozen or so people in the village will surely die!" Sun Yueying immediately objected when she heard Li Yunyang's plan. The 'Inferno Talisman' was an extremely potent spell from the Tai Fu Sect, capable of unimaginable destruction, but it came at great personal risk. At best, the user would temporarily lose their strength, and at worst, it could damage their spiritual core, hindering future cultivation.

"Precisely because of that, I have no other choice. If I don't use it, those villagers are doomed. Don't worry, Junior Sister, it's not so easy to damage one's spiritual foundation. Right now, only the Inferno Talisman can harm it." Li Yunyang glanced at the approaching zombie king and spoke urgently to Sun Yueying. She studied him seriously for a moment, then nodded before turning to Tianfan. "Junior Brother Tianfan, let's go!"

With that, Sun Yueying gripped her Violet Azure sword and charged towards the zombie king. Tianfan, after casting a glance at Li Yunyang, smiled faintly and followed, leaving Li Yunyang momentarily stunned.

"Why did he smile at me like that? Could it be... could it be he's that type of person? Ugh…" The thought sent a shiver down Li Yunyang's spine. If Tianfan knew what was running through his mind, he would probably have kicked him hard.

In the center of the battlefield, two long swords whirled around the zombie king in a dazzling display. Sun Yueying executed the mysterious footwork passed down from her grandfather, darting gracefully around the zombie king, keeping it from approaching Li Yunyang, who was preparing his spell.

"Huh? This footwork... Roar!"

Distracted by Sun Yueying's elusive movements, the zombie king failed to notice her strike until the Violet Azure sword, glowing with twin rays of purple and green light, slashed deep into its skull. Black blood oozed from the wound, staining its grotesque face.

"Damn girl! You've hurt me again. I'll capture you and make you suffer for an eternity!" The zombie king, now thoroughly enraged, unleashed a burst of overwhelming energy. The faint red aura surrounding it darkened, and its muscles bulged ominously, preparing for a lethal blow.

But Sun Yueying was undeterred. The purple glow of her sword surged to a new peak, so bright that even Tianfan felt the urge to close his eyes. But knowing the gravity of the situation, he swung his iron sword in a perfect arc, slashing towards the zombie king.

"Die, you insolent girl!" The zombie king roared, raising its right fist, covered in a dark red light that radiated destructive and corrosive energy, and swung it down towards Sun Yueying.

"Violet Lightning Flash!" Sun Yueying's expression turned solemn as she channeled all her strength into her sword, meeting the zombie king's iron fist head-on.

"Get out of my way, insect!" The zombie king bellowed. Tianfan's iron sword had only managed to leave a shallow cut on its left arm before shattering in half. As the zombie king's fist continued its descent, Tianfan crossed his arms in front of his chest in defense. The zombie king sneered—did this human truly believe he could block its invincible fist with mere hands? Foolish!

"Boom!"

The zombie king's fist struck Tianfan's arms, sending him crashing into a dirt wall. He slid to the ground, unmoving. At the same moment, Sun Yueying's Violet Azure sword collided with the zombie king's right fist.

"Boom…"

The two forces clashed, sending out waves of powerful energy. For a brief moment, the sword and fist were evenly matched, but soon, the Violet Azure sword was flung away, embedding itself in a distant stone wall. Stripped of her weapon, Sun Yueying was blasted back by the force of the shockwave, spitting blood as she hurtled through the air towards a jagged rock.

A sinister smile appeared on the zombie king's hideous face, but just as she was about to crash into the rock, a figure darted from the right, catching her mid-air and bringing her safely to the ground.

The sudden intervention stunned the zombie king. When it saw who had caught her, its eyes widened in disbelief. "You? How are you still alive? That's impossible!"

It was Tianfan, who had taken the zombie king's punch head-on. Though his arms were nearly broken, he had managed to withstand the attack. His bones were riddled with fractures, but he had already begun to mend them while keeping an eye on the battlefield.

The 'Heavenly Spirit Heart Technique' was not only a powerful mystical art but also a profound body-strengthening method. Thanks to the trace of dragon energy left in him by the golden dragon, Tianfan had spent several sleepless nights consolidating his peak Condensed Spirit cultivation, making his body incredibly resilient.

"If you have time to wonder, perhaps you should check behind you," Tianfan smiled faintly, ignoring the zombie king's question.

Startled by his calm words, the zombie king whirled around and was immediately filled with dread.

Li Yunyang stood bathed in dazzling azure light. Above his head, a massive yellow talisman floated, adorned with strange symbols. As he poured his vital energy into it, the talisman emitted an intense, blinding glow, radiating a destructive aura.

Sensing the immense power, the zombie king's grotesque face twisted in fear. A red glow enveloped its body, forming a powerful corpse energy barrier. Its expression turned grim, all traces of arrogance gone. It never expected a mere Condensed Spirit cultivator to wield such a fearsome technique.

"Flames of the Inferno, annihilate the evil and break the curse!"

Li Yunyang's face was as pale as death, his hands trembling as he formed complex seals. The yellow talisman above him blazed with fiery light, gathering a force of destruction as it hurtled down towards the zombie king.