Chapter 77: Everburning Crucible **

Lei Wenshan didn't flinch. Instead, he planted his lightning spear into the ground, letting an electric current run through the earth. The Direwolf's claws skidded as the beast snarled in confusion, its muscles spasming as electricity coursed through its limbs. Lei Wenshan seized the moment, pulling his spear free and thrusting it forward with lethal accuracy.

The tip of the lightning spear pierced the Direwolf's chest, the crackling energy exploding outward in a blinding flash. The beast howled, its body convulsing violently before crumpling to the ground, smoke rising from its charred fur.

Before Lei Wenshan could catch his breath, another Direwolf charged, this one larger and faster than the first. Lei Wenshan spun his spear, sparks flying as the weapon carved through the air. The beast pounced, its fangs aimed for his throat, but with a precise step to the side, Lei Wenshan avoided the attack and drove his spear into the creature's flank. Lightning surged once more, illuminating the battlefield as the second Direwolf collapsed, lifeless.

But the beasts came in waves.

More Direwolves emerged, their howls sending shivers down even the most seasoned warriors' spines. Behind them, Ironhide Boars charged forth, their thick, metallic hides reflecting the light like armor. Their tusks, sharp and deadly, tore into anything in their path.

The Situ Army met them head-on. Soldiers with long spears formed defensive formations, their weapons braced against the ground to impale the charging boars. Archers from the Lei Clan rained arrows down from the walls, their shots aimed with deadly precision. Flame-tipped arrows streaked through the sky, striking Direwolves mid-pounce, while other arrows embedded themselves in the hides of the Ironhide Boars, slowing but not stopping them.

Jiang Feng watched as Wu Lihua of the Ironwood Sect entered the fray. The woman's weapon of choice—a massive, two-handed iron staff—whirled through the air like a storm. She smashed an Ironhide Boar to the ground with a single, thunderous strike, splintering the earth beneath it. The boar struggled, its thick hide protecting it from the worst of the blow, but Wu Lihua wasn't done. With a fierce shout, she lifted the staff high and brought it down again, this time shattering the beast's skull.

To her left, Zhen Ming of the Zhen Clan fought with practiced speed. His twin blades moved like a blur, slicing through Direwolves and fending off Ironhide Boars, each step he took created glowing circles below his feet. After five steps, five circles were created and connected together, light rose forming a formation dic that rotated at shocking speeds, cutting into any Ironhide Boar that came too close to him.

He leapt high into the air, landing atop one of the larger boars and driving both blades into its spine. The creature bucked wildly, but Zhen Ming held firm, twisting his blades to ensure the kill.

Lei Wenshan continued to dominate the battlefield, his lightning spear cutting down beasts left and right. However, even his formidable strength was tested as a ninth-level Essence Condensation Direwolf entered the fray. This one was larger than the rest, its fur streaked with streaks of silver, and its growl sent vibrations through the ground.

The Direwolf lunged at Lei Wenshan, who barely managed to block the beast's claws with his spear. The impact forced him back several steps, and sparks flew as his spear clashed with the creature's claws. Lei Wenshan's expression hardened as he channeled more lightning into his weapon, the crackling energy arcing wildly around him.

"Come on!" he roared, thrusting his spear forward in a blinding flash of light. The Direwolf howled in rage as the spear struck its shoulder, the electricity forcing it to recoil. But the beast wasn't done. It recovered quickly, lunging again with even greater ferocity, sending Lei Wenshan flying backwards, with a bloody shoulder.

Seeing the tide of beasts, Jiang Feng felt his blood boil. He couldn't stand idle any longer. Holding onto his dagger tighter, he leapt down from the wall and joined the fray, his flames roaring to life as he prepared to turn the battlefield into his forge.

-

"Hold the front lines! These are just Essence-level beasts! Let the young ones handle them. Prepare for golden Core-level monsters, elders, get ready!" Elder Lei Tianrong shouted, his hands folded behind him as he surveyed the chaos.

Although this mission was meant to repair the eastern wall, it was also a test for the younger generation, those ranked third in their respective families. The first and second ranks had already reached the ninth phase of Essence Condensation, making them a little more at ease in the Obsidian Waterfall realm.

But the third-ranked warriors were the ones who concerned their clans. Losing them would be a waste of years of training and resources, and they were seen as future pillars of their families. For this reason, the younger generation was sent into the fray under the watchful eyes of their elders, to prove their worth. If danger loomed too close, the elders would intervene. But Jiang Feng had no such safety net.

With a loud thud, Jiang Feng crashed to the ground, blue flames igniting as he charged toward the nearest Direwolf. The beast lunged, fangs bared, but Jiang Feng was already faster, his dagger shooting out, flames flaring as it pierced the direwolf's chest.

Blood splattered across the battlefield, and the force of Jiang Feng's strike sent shockwaves through the beast's body. Though he was at the first stage of Essence Condensation, his blood surged with the power of his now draconic lineage and the symbiotic relationship with the Aetherion Dragon. His essence lake, stretching three thousand meters, roared to life within him, his power rising rapidly, nearly pushing him past his limits.

"Ha!" With a fierce shout, the Direwolf's chest caved in, and Jiang Feng's strength—shocking for one so young—was enough to bring down the beast with a single blow. "One done," he muttered, barely winded, the flames of his blood still burning bright. "This looks like a good time to practice the Silent Reaper" Feng thought to himself.

"Forget the Silent Reaper" the Codex's voice cut in, its tone both firm and eager. "It's a key to cultivating the concept of darkness, but you'll expose yourself. I have something far greater for you. Something that has slumbered for, far too long time."

"I bet it's that Godforsaken cultivation method you're so proud of!" the Aetherion Dragon grumbled, its voice laced with annoyance.

"Please, ancestors, don't fight, I beg of you!" Jiang Feng muttered, feeling the weight of their bickering, which threatened to bring him to tears.

"Haha! Shut up Dragon meat" the Codex responded, clearly amused. "When it's time to give him your cultivation method, I hope you remain calm." A brief laugh echoed in the air. "Feng, I'll give you the mantra. You only need to speak it once, and the cultivation method will unfold in your mind. It's already in your blood, in your soul—dormant, waiting to be awakened. This is the legacy of our people. Never forget that."

The golden pages of the Codex flipped, and waves of knowledge slammed into Jiang Feng's mind. But he couldn't afford to pause. He ignited blue flames once more, surrounding himself in a cage of fire to trap an Ironhide Boar. The boar roared as the flames seared its flesh, but Jiang Feng didn't falter.

"Be ready" the Codex warned, its voice booming with excitement. "When you speak the mantra, your Eternal Flame bloodline will awaken. The world will see what a true master of both craft and battle looks like. They thought we were gone, but today, they will fear the Eternals."

The Ironhide Boar howled in agony as the flames consumed it. Jiang Feng's gaze was unwavering. He stepped onto the open battlefield, feeling the power within him intensifying. He opened his mouth, and the mantra the Codex had shared with him began to flow from his lips.

As he recited the words, the character for Eternal (æ°¸) flared to life on his back. It burned like molten iron, searing the very fabric of his skin, line by line. With each stroke, Jiang Feng could feel the immense power coursing through him, the blood of the Eternal Flame Clan awakening, and the universe itself beginning to tremble at the awakening of a new ruler.

"From the depths of eternity, I rise—unchained, unyielding. Where my will goes, the earth bows; where my eyes fall, stars wither. I am the echo of worlds before, the harbinger of those to come. I command the tide of fate, the pulse of time. Where I walk, empires fall and kingdoms crumble. I am the void that consumes, the storm that shapes. No god, no king, no immortal dares defy my ascent. I am the paragon, the ruler of realms, the storm that will tear the heavens asunder and carve my name into the fabric of the universe. For I am the Everburning Crucible"