Chapter 21: The Desperate Counterattack in the Lava Cave

Inside the lava cave, the heatwaves were like surging tides. The dark - red crystal stones on the cave walls let out low hums under the impact of spiritual flames. The cracks were gradually expanding, and the lava was dripping down like rain, hissing when it hit the ground and splashing out searing sparks. At the cave entrance, Lin Jin, Su Yao, and Duan Hao stood shoulder to shoulder. Their breaths were rapid, their bodies were scarred all over, but their fighting spirit was burning even more fiercely.

Outside the cave, five Flame Masters from the Skyflame Pavilion were approaching step by step. The crimson flames, dark flames, and whip - like shadows intertwined into a net of death. The killing intent was so thick that it almost solidified the air inside the cave.

A middle - aged man held a flame - forged spear. The crimson flames on it were wriggling like a dragon. He pointed the spear directly at the cave entrance and coldly shouted, "You brats, hand over the Source Flame Crystal, and I'll give you a quick death!" Behind him, a man with a black umbrella opened his umbrella, and thousands of dark flame needles were suspended in the air like a torrential rainstorm. A dual - bladed man stood there with his cold - murderous blade aura, crossing his two blades and getting ready. A whip - wielding man lashed out his crimson - flame - wrapped whip shadow, which was roaring like a dragon. A huge ax - man carried his massive battle - ax on his shoulder. The aura of a Second - Tier Flame Master on his hulking figure was as heavy as a mountain, and his footsteps made the ground shake. Behind these five people, ten black - robed Initiates at the Initial Flame Realm spread out with their blades drawn, blocking all retreat routes. Their eyes were filled with ice - cold killing intent.

Lin Jin tightly gripped his wooden staff. Blood was seeping from the wound on his left shoulder. The purple flames of a First - Tier Flame Master were leaping in his palm, devouring the approaching dark flame needles. He gritted his teeth and muttered in a low voice, "Fight back in this narrow passage. The entrance is too narrow for them to rush in. We must hold our ground!" His gaze was as sharp as a blade, and the swirling purple - flame vortex surrounded his body. Although his left arm was in great pain, he forced himself to build up his strength.

Su Yao stood on his left. Her big, agile eyes were glinting with cold light. She held her short sword across her chest, and the azure flames were diffusing like mist, turning into a lively whirlwind. She growled, "Hold the entrance! Let's fight with all we have!" Her aura at the Fourth - Tier Initial Flame Realm was solid. The azure flames were dancing at the tip of her sword. Her agile figure was slightly trembling, but it was filled with an unyielding tenacity.

Duan Hao guarded on the right. His broad - bladed sword was pointing obliquely at the ground. The crimson flames on the blade were roaring like a tiger. His aura, having just broken through to the First - Tier Flame Master Realm, was wild and unstable. His rugged face was covered with bloodstains. Blood was oozing from the whip wound on his shoulder, but he laughed heroically, "I just reached the Flame Master Realm. I might as well test my blade on you bastards!" He stomped on the ground, and cracks spread across the ground. The crimson - flame blade glow soared, full of heroic spirit.

"Charge in!" The middle - aged man roared angrily and thrust his spear forward. The crimson flames turned into a roaring fire - tiger, which was as high as two zhang, with claws and fangs as sharp as knives. It lunged towards the cave entrance with a deafening roar. The heatwaves were rolling. The ground at the cave entrance was burned black and cracked, and the lava was dripping even more intensively. The power was terrifying.

"Defend!" Lin Jin growled. He activated his Flame Step, and the purple - flame vortex rushed towards the fire - tiger. The purple flames devoured most of the crimson flames, but were dispersed by the pressure of a Third - Tier Flame Master. He was shaken back three steps and hit the cave wall. The wound on his left shoulder burst open, and blood gushed out. He gritted his teeth and steadied himself. He swept his wooden staff, and five幽焰刺(Youyan Stings) condensed at his fingertips. He shot the five purple - flame needles towards the fire - tiger's throat. The fire - tiger exploded with a bang, and the heatwaves spread in all directions.

Su Yao's agile figure leaped up. She activated the Azure Luan Light Flame Art. The azure - flame whirlwind rolled towards the remnants of the fire - tiger. Her sword qi was like a net, entangling the remaining flames. She slashed her short sword continuously, and three arcs of azure - flame sword qi intertwined and covered the middle - aged man. The middle - aged man flicked his spear tip, and the crimson flames burst out. The sword net was torn apart. Su Yao was shaken and staggered back, hitting the cave wall. A trickle of blood slid from the corner of her lips. Her big eyes were full of unwillingness, and she growled, "Again!"

The man with the black umbrella sneered and shook his umbrella. The dark flame needles poured down like a torrential rain, densely stabbing towards the cave. The whip - wielding man lashed his whip shadow, which was like a dragon with crimson flames wrapped around it, towards the cave entrance. The huge ax - man roared and swung his ax down. The crimson flames were pressing down like a mountain. A short and stout woman had her palms full of crimson flames like a furnace, and the heatwaves were overwhelming. The attacks of these four people came like a tide. The heatwaves and dark flames intertwined at the cave entrance, and the killing intent was everywhere.

"I'll chop you!" Duan Hao roared. He swung his broad - bladed sword, and the Blazing Flame Earth - Splitting Slash turned into a zhang - long blade glow, slashing towards the dark flame needles. The blade glow with crimson flames roared and dispersed most of the needles, but was entangled by the crimson - flame whip shadow of the whip - wielding man. He endured the whip strike hard. The flesh on his shoulder was torn, and he growled. He swept his blade glow and forced the whip shadow back.

Lin Jin shouted in a low voice, "The terrain is narrow. Share the attacks!" He rushed towards the cave entrance with his Flame Step, protected by the purple - flame vortex. He swept his wooden staff, and the purple - flame glow smashed towards the man with the black umbrella. The dark flame needles were devoured. The man with the black umbrella roared angrily and opened his umbrella. Lin Jin continuously shot his Purple Flame Stings. Three needles pierced the man's left arm, and he let out a painful scream and retreated.

Su Yao's azure - flame whirlwind rolled towards the whip - wielding man. Her sword qi slashed down like the wind. The whip - wielding man blocked with his whip shadow, but the azure flames penetrated into his arm, and his crimson flames became disordered. He growled and stepped back. Su Yao's agile figure landed. The heatwaves burned her arm red, and she snorted, "Who else dares to come!"

Duan Hao's blade glow locked onto the huge ax - man. The crimson flames burst out. He endured an ax strike hard, was shaken back five steps, and spat out a mouthful of blood. He laughed heroically, "This is so satisfying!" His blade glow rose again and slashed the huge ax - man's chest. The flame armor cracked, and the ax - man roared and stepped back.

The middle - aged man took the opportunity to charge in. His flame spear stabbed directly at Lin Jin's back heart. The crimson - flame spear glow was like a rainbow, and the heatwaves were overwhelming. Lin Jin sensed the danger and dodged with his Flame Step at the last moment. The spear tip grazed his left rib, and the flesh was torn. He growled and launched a counter - attack with his purple - flame vortex. The middle - aged man was shaken back one step and sneered continuously.

"If you can't hold on, you'll die!" The middle - aged man roared angrily. He waved his flame spear, and a crimson - flame torrent rushed towards the cave entrance. The heatwaves forced the lava in the cave to spurt out, and large areas of the cave walls cracked. The man with the black umbrella launched his dark flame needles again. The whip - wielding man lashed his whip shadow like a dragon. The huge ax - man swung his ax continuously. The attacks of these four people came like a wild tide.

"Kid, fight with all you have!" The Flame Soul Ancestor shouted urgently, "Use the lava to counter - attack and detonate the spiritual flames of the earth veins!" Lin Jin gritted his teeth, looked at the lava in the cave, and said in a low voice, "Okay!" His purple flames rushed towards the ground, devouring the spiritual flames of the lava. The ground suddenly trembled, and the lava spurted out like a pillar, rushing towards the outside of the cave.

"Watch out!" The middle - aged man growled. His crimson - flame torrent blocked the lava, but he was shaken back several steps. The dark flame needles of the man with the black umbrella were swallowed by the lava. The whip shadow of the whip - wielding man was broken. The huge ax - man's flame armor was scorched black by the lava. The four of them roared angrily.

"Now's the time!" Lin Jin growled. He continuously shot his Purple Flame Stings. Five needles stabbed towards the middle - aged man. The middle - aged man blocked with his flame spear, but was stabbed in the shoulder by one needle, and blood splashed out. Su Yao's azure - flame sword qi locked onto the man with the black umbrella and pierced his chest. The man with the black umbrella let out a painful scream and fell to the ground. Duan Hao's blade glow slashed towards the whip - wielding man. The crimson flames burst out and sent him flying. Blood spilled across the sky.

"Withdraw!" The middle - aged man saw the situation was not good. He swept his flame spear, and the crimson - flame torrent forced the three of them back. He led the huge ax - man and the whip - wielding man and retreated into the dense forest. The ten black - robed Initiates at the Initial Flame Realm rushed forward, but three were chopped to death by Duan Hao's blade glow, two were devoured by Lin Jin's purple flames, and two were stabbed to death by Su Yao's sword qi. The remaining three fled in horror.

Inside the cave, the three of them were panting heavily. Lin Jin half - knelt on the ground, and blood was flowing continuously from his left rib. Su Yao supported him, and her big eyes were filled with tears. "Lin Jin, you're injured again!" Duan Hao walked over with his sword on his shoulder and said in a rough voice, "Brother, hold on. I'll carry you!"

Lin Jin gritted his teeth and stood up. He said in a low voice, "I'm okay. They've retreated, but they'll come back. We can't hold this lava cave. We have to go!" He looked around the cave. The lava was still spurting out, and the cave walls were tottering.

Su Yao nodded. Her agile figure supported him and said in a low voice, "Run towards the core of the Molten Flame Domain. There are the Molten Flame Mountains there. The terrain is complex, and they won't be able to chase us easily!" She protected herself with azure flames and led Lin Jin forward.

Duan Hao guarded the rear. He swept his crimson - flame blade glow around and growled, "I'm waiting for them to come again!" The three of them staggered out of the lava cave. The night wind was howling, the lava was spurting out like blood. The crisis had temporarily receded, but the shadows still lingered.