Chapter 10: The Second Ambush & The Phoenix Soulfire Baptism
The dense forest stretched endlessly before Long Tian, its towering trees casting eerie shadows beneath the pale moonlight.
After three days of battling spirit beasts, Long Tian and Raijin had reached the edge of Stormveil Ravine, a treacherous gorge that cut through the land like a scar.
The Azure Sky Sect lay just beyond it.
But something felt off.
Raijin, usually calm but alert, suddenly tensed, its golden eyes narrowing as its forked tail flicked in agitation.
Long Tian exhaled, his smirk barely visible in the dim light.
"They've come."
His Fate Eyes flickered, revealing multiple crimson fate threads converging toward him from all directions.
Unlike the first ambush, these threads were thicker, pulsing with strong killing intent.
A more dangerous enemy had arrived.
Long Tian rolled his shoulders, his Qi subtly circulating.
"Let's see if you're worth my time."
---
The forest fell into a dead silence.
Then—
BOOM!
The ground exploded as a figure descended from the treetops, landing heavily before Long Tian.
Clad in black battle armor, lined with demonic runes that pulsed with an eerie glow.
A heavy greatsword rested on his back, its blade crackling with dark Qi.
His aura burned fiercely—Foundation Establishment First Stage.
A vast pressure radiated from the man, causing the leaves to tremble.
He cracked his neck, a twisted grin splitting his scarred face.
"You're quite the troublesome brat," he growled. "My men failed, but I won't make the same mistake."
Long Tian's Fate Eyes sharpened.
'He's fast. Strong. But reckless.'
The man reached into his robes and pulled out a black demonic talisman, inscribed with sinister symbols.
"This will block your wyvern's movement," he sneered. "You'll die alone."
He threw it forward.
BOOM!
The talisman exploded in mid-air, summoning crimson chains that lashed out toward Raijin.
CLANG!
Before they could bind the wyvern—Long Tian moved.
---
Long Tian vanished, appearing directly in front of the attacker before the chains could fully activate.
His palm glowed with golden energy, enhanced by Dragon Body Reinforcement.
CRACK!
A single palm strike shattered the talisman, dispersing the chains into nothingness.
Raijin roared, its body vanishing into the shadows, reappearing behind the enemy in an instant.
ZAP!
A Thunder Fang strike connected with the man's back, surging lightning through his armor.
But—
BOOM!
A pulse of black demonic Qi erupted from the man's body, blasting Raijin backward.
The man twisted his grip around his greatsword and swung with inhuman speed.
Long Tian blocked instinctively—but the moment their weapons clashed, a dark force surged through the blade.
His muscles stiffened slightly.
A paralytic Qi technique.
"Surprised?" the man sneered. "Demon Sect blade arts aren't so easily blocked!"
Long Tian's lips curled.
"Is that all?"
His Fate Eyes flickered, instantly identifying the flaws in the technique.
Step left. Twist. Counter.
BOOM!
Long Tian's palm strike smashed into the enemy's wrist, sending the greatsword flying.
The man's expression shifted to shock—
Just as Raijin struck.
"Storm Pulse!"
The wyvern's body exploded in a burst of lightning, sending arcs of electricity ripping through the air.
The assassin's body convulsed violently, his Qi defenses barely holding.
Long Tian didn't give him time to recover.
He lunged forward, striking his chest with a full-force Azure Dragon Palm.
BOOOOM!
The assassin's ribs shattered, his body sent flying through the air before crashing into the trees.
Blood pooled beneath him.
Silence.
Long Tian exhaled, lowering his stance.
"Too slow."
Raijin let out a victorious screech.
The battle was over.
---
As the battlefield settled, Long Tian turned to Raijin—and immediately noticed something unusual.
The wyvern's body trembled, not from exhaustion—but from change.
Golden sparks danced across its scales, merging with a deep, dark hue.
Then—
BOOM!
A surge of Qi erupted from Raijin's body, the surrounding air crackling with storm energy.
Long Tian's Fate Eyes flickered.
'It's evolving.'
Its golden scales darkened, turning a deep obsidian with streaks of violet lightning.
Its wings stretched, growing slightly larger, their edges crackling with static.
A second tail emerged, tipped with sharp, electrified barbs.
[Raijin has evolved into a Thunderstorm Wyvern.]
Long Tian smirked.
"Looks like I'm not the only one getting stronger."
Raijin blinked at him, then let out a powerful roar—its lightning aura denser, its presence sharper.
They had both taken a step forward.
But their journey wasn't over yet.
---
Just as Long Tian was about to leave, a familiar golden fate thread pulsed beneath the earth.
His eyes narrowed.
"A hidden treasure?"
He followed the energy thread to a collapsed ruin nearby.
Buried under layers of stone and vines lay an ancient pedestal.
At its center—
A floating crystal, shimmering with faint golden flames.
A Phoenix Soulfire Crystal.
Long Tian's breath slowed.
'A legendary resource… something that can refine Qi to near-perfection.'
He placed his palm against it—
And immediately—
BOOM!
A rush of primal fire Qi surged into his meridians, igniting a deep transformation.
His Azure Dragon Martial Soul pulsed with renewed vigor.
His Qi channels expanded, absorbing energy more fluidly.
His lightning and flame affinity strengthened.
Long Tian clenched his fist as the golden flames flickered through his veins.
This wasn't just a treasure.
It was a step toward the Tenth Realm.
He slowly opened his eyes.
A faint golden fire flickered within them before vanishing.
A storm was coming.
And he was ready for it.
---
End of Chapter 10