One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 184 Fire Demon Annihilation

The fire demon let out the most mournful and desperate scream of its life!

The screams were so loud that the entire mountainside trembled! The pain contained in those screams was enough to make any living being tremble!

Its body, harder than steel and wreathed in demonic flames, melted and vaporized rapidly before this dark golden flame, like ice and snow under the scorching sun!

Whether it's the undying resentment—the black smoke clinging to it, emitting mournful screams in the flames, like a vengeful ghost thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, struggling and twisting, yet unable to escape the fate of being purified.

It was still the evil energy left behind by the "external demon" pollution—those black, wriggling, foul-smelling substances, under the scorching of the dark gold flames, were like encountering an absolute natural enemy. They didn't even have time to struggle before being instantly decomposed and purified, turning into wisps of the most primordial and harmless spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which drifted away.

Or perhaps it was the rotting flesh and bones that grew after its transformation into a zombie—those things that should have decayed but were strangely alive, making a "sizzling" sound in the flames, like grease melting in a frying pan, quickly turning into a pool of black liquid, and then even the liquid was evaporated and completely disappeared.

All filth, all evil, all impurity, have no power to resist the scorching heat of the pure Qilin True Fire!

Just a few breaths.

The enormous, ferocious, and arrogant fire demon that had once put immense pressure on Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo vanished completely amidst the dark golden flames.

It left no remains, no ashes, as if it had never existed.

Only in the center of the stone chamber, on the floor scorched by the dark golden flames, remained an exceptionally clean and smooth circular area. The rocks within this area, melted by the intense heat of the flames, had then reformed, forming a smooth, mirror-like, glassy surface that subtly shimmered with a dark golden luster. Not a trace of dust or evil aura remained within this area; it was as clean as a Buddhist shrine meticulously maintained daily by the most devout monks.

After the dark golden flames were purified, they automatically flew back to Nie Lingfeng's fingertip, affectionately circled his finger once, like a spoiled pet, before disappearing into his body.

An ancient silence returned to the stone chamber.

Only Nie Lingfeng's steady, long breaths and Chen Duo's slightly rapid panting were particularly clear in the silence.

Nie Lingfeng slowly lowered his hand, and the chilling aura of majesty emanating from him gradually receded, like the tide going out. His dark golden eyes returned to their normal color, though occasionally a glint of dark golden light flashed deep within them, revealing his extraordinary nature and transformation.

He closed his eyes and felt the changes within his body.

At the dantian, the chaotic vortex of the Three-Part Returning Qi had completely changed its appearance—no longer a hazy gray, but transformed into a deep dark gold, slowly rotating. With each rotation, dark gold energy was inhaled and circulated. Within the vortex, the faint phantoms of a galloping Qilin, a circling Phoenix, and a winding Divine Dragon could be seen, the three beasts surrounding each other, complementing each other, forming an incomparably profound pattern.

What flows through the meridians is no longer simply internal force, but a completely new, dark golden energy. This energy is balanced and peaceful yet domineering, fiery and vibrant yet icy and stagnant, full of life yet containing deathly stillness—as if it contains all the mysteries of the unity of opposites in the universe.

The physical body underwent a dramatic transformation—every inch of skin was as tough as dragon scales, yet as soft as silk; every muscle contained explosive power, yet remained restrained and unassuming; every bone was like the finest jade, warm and smooth, and indestructible.

The soul also became more refined and powerful, and the range of perception expanded many times over, even allowing it to vaguely sense the faint life force deep underground in the distance.

Is this the new life after merging the three divine objects?

A feeling that was hard to describe welled up in Nie Lingfeng's heart.

He turned around and looked into the distance.

Chen Duo remained in the sword-wielding posture, her small mouth slightly open, her bright green eyes wide open, filled with a bewildered and shocked expression of "Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?" She stared blankly at Nie Lingfeng, then at the spot where the fire demon had disappeared, then back at Nie Lingfeng, her little mind seemingly still unable to process what what had just happened meant.

That look in his eyes was like that of a bewildered child who had suddenly witnessed a divine intervention.

Nie Lingfeng couldn't help but smile slightly, revealing a gentle smile. In that smile, there was relief, gratitude, and a hint of relief at surviving a calamity.

"It's alright, Chen Duo." He walked up to Chen Duo, reached out his right hand, and gently ruffled her hair. The gesture was gentle and natural, like an older brother comforting a frightened younger sister. "It's all taken care of."

Chen Duo suddenly snapped out of her daze, blinked her big eyes, and stared blankly at him. Her gaze scrutinized him carefully from top to bottom and left to right, as if trying to see right through him.

Then, she tilted her head and asked very seriously, "Nie Lingfeng, have you... become a god?"

Her tone, her expression, combined with her innocent little face and earnest eyes, were indescribably adorable.

Nie Lingfeng chuckled and shook his head slightly: "It's not that exaggerated, it's just... a little stronger."

He paused, his gaze falling on the peerless sword in Chen Duo's hand, and added, "It's also thanks to your timely activation of the peerless sword's sword intent that our combined attack severely injured it, buying me time. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to hold on until the fusion was complete."

That's the truth. If it weren't for that devastating blow from the Maha Boundless, the Fire Demon would have been in much better shape. At the crucial moment when he was fusing the three powers, he might have pounced on him and interrupted him, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Chen Duo shook her head and said honestly, "It's because you're amazing. Just now, it was so scary, and so...beautiful."

She couldn't seem to find the right words to describe what had just happened—with a flick of Nie Lingfeng's finger, a tiny flame completely purified the terrifying beast. His effortless, godlike demeanor left an indelible impression on her.

"It's good?" Nie Lingfeng was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Then next time there's a chance, I'll let you see it a few more times."

Chen Duo nodded seriously, then, as if remembering something, looked down at the peerless sword in her hand, then at Nie Lingfeng, and asked, "Then... should I return this sword to you?"

Nie Lingfeng thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You take it first. You have the bloodline of the phoenix in your body, so it doesn't clash with this sword. You might even be able to glean some insights into the swordsmanship of Senior Bu Jingyun from it. Moreover, if you encounter any danger again, you can use it to protect yourself."

Chen Duo thought for a moment, nodded, and slung the peerless sword over her back. The sword was longer than her; when it was on her back, the tip almost dragged on the ground, making her look somewhat comical and somewhat cute.

Nie Lingfeng smiled and turned to look in the direction of the cave.

The once bottomless cave entrance no longer spewed forth evil energy, becoming quiet and profound. With the fire demon purified, the remaining evil energy within the cave slowly dissipated, gradually returning to calm.

He looked again at the original location of the three divine objects in the air, which were now empty except for residual energy fluctuations. Finally, his gaze fell on the scattered jade fragments on the ground and the empty stone box.

He has already accepted most of the gifts left by his senior, Bu Jingyun.

The three divine artifacts merged into his body, and his life essence underwent a tremendous transformation.

With the cultivation manual in hand, I can slowly study and comprehend it in the future.

The peerless sword has finally found its home with Chen Duo.

The fire demon has been completely purified, and the greatest threat within Lingyun Cave has been eliminated.

The surrounding tyrannical aura gradually dissipated, and the aura of the outer demons also disappeared.

The biggest goal of this trip seems to have been achieved.

but……

Nie Lingfeng frowned slightly. The Buddha's head had suddenly appeared, guiding him here, merely to receive the inheritance and defeat the fire demon? Were there other secrets hidden deep within this cave…?

What is the connection between this and the mysterious "existence" of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley?

He had a vague feeling that things were far from over.

It may have only just begun.

"Let's go, Chen Duo." Nie Lingfeng collected his thoughts, took Chen Duo's hand, and said, "Let's leave here first and find a safe place. I need some time to digest what I've gained this time and stabilize my cultivation level. Then... we still need to go out and see what's going on outside. Those fire beasts might still be causing trouble."

"Yes!" Chen Duo nodded vigorously, gripped Nie Lingfeng's hand tightly, and followed him back to the passage they had come from.

The two figures gradually disappeared into the darkness at the end of the passage.

The stone chamber returned to its ancient silence.

Only the circular area on the ground, purified by the Qilin True Fire, emitted a faint, warm, and holy dark golden glow, like a small sun, quietly illuminating this space that had witnessed the earth-shattering changes.

The luster was soft and warm, as if silently telling the story of what had just happened—the breathtaking battle, the immeasurable power that could destroy the world, the fusion of the three divine objects, and the dark golden flame that purified everything.

Everything returned to calm.