"What is that?"
Master Baiyun stood outside the cave entrance, peering inside with a slight frown. "What, is there another magic artifact in there?"
"If it's a fire-type magic artifact, I'd advise you to hand it over obediently. If you do, I'll show some mercy and make your death quick!"
Master Baiyun stood at the entrance, face full of arrogance. The compass in his hand spun faster and faster, as if on guard for whatever was about to happen.
But as soon as Master Baiyun finished speaking, there was no movement at the cave entrance. Instead, the air temperature around him kept climbing higher and higher.
Crackle, crackle.
The grass in front of the entrance, once lush and green, now made faint popping noises as it withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning yellow and brittle.
Deprived of moisture, the grass instantly drooped. Wisps of white mist rose from the ground—water vapor drawn from the mountain vegetation and steamed dry by the heat.
"Just what is it, playing tricks and acting mysterious!"
Master Baiyun's face darkened as he stepped forward. He reached out and grabbed at the air, condensing a giant invisible hand that shot straight into the bunker entrance.
Pfft!
That invisible giant hand, which had charged into the mouth of the bunker with overwhelming force, suddenly gave a muffled thud, then vanished without a trace, leaving no sound behind.
"What the...?" Master Baiyun froze, clearly caught off guard.
The very next second, a pillar of fire shot out from the pitch-black tunnel, blasting toward him at breakneck speed!
The thick, surging orange-red flames barreled straight at Master Baiyun, unstoppable and wild.
"Pointless! I am a Life-and-Death Mage—even if I’ve just stepped into this realm, you’re nothing that can shake me!"
Master Baiyun’s eyes flashed. Facing the oncoming pillar of fire, he didn’t panic at all. Instead, he calmly lifted his compass, ran his palm across its top, and then, in the next instant, the compass abruptly reversed direction and began spinning counterclockwise.
As the compass spun, the roaring pillar of fire was instantly drawn in, sucked right toward the center of the disk.
In just a few blinks, the area the fire passed over was scorched into black earth, the air thick with the stench of burnt soil.
But that mighty pillar of fire was completely absorbed, vanishing as if it had never existed. The compass, meanwhile, now gleamed with a richer, more lustrous glow—clearly even stronger than before.
"Here, have your fire back!"
Master Baiyun barked coldly, "Go!"
From within the compass, a surge of blazing fire erupted, shooting back into the bunker with explosive speed.
"Roar!"
Just as the flames neared the entrance, a vicious shriek echoed out from deep inside the tunnel.
A moment later, a massive python head lunged out, jaws wide, and swallowed the fire that had shot from the compass in one gulp.
"An artifact spirit?"
In Master Baiyun’s vision, the giant fire python was blazing red all over, its eyes burning with wild flames. Its massive body filled most of the tunnel entrance.
This fire python was none other than the Blue-Flame Blood Python that Evan Lin had refined into the Scarlet Flame Command back at Medicine King Valley!
Only now, the Blue-Flame Blood Python existed as the spirit of the magic artifact—not a true, physical serpent body.
Even so, its strength was nothing to scoff at!
After swallowing the flames, the Blue-Flame Blood Python didn’t slow down in the slightest. It opened its jaws wide and lunged straight at Master Baiyun, aiming to tear him apart.
"Filthy beast, get lost!"
Master Baiyun’s expression darkened. With a furious shout, he slapped his right palm down, forming a transparent ring of light that blasted straight at the Blue-Flame Blood Python.
Boom!
Master Baiyun’s palm pierced right through the python’s head, but the Blue-Flame Blood Python didn’t seem to feel pain at all. Its massive tail whipped down at him again.
Master Baiyun leapt into the air as the python’s tail smashed into the spot where he’d just been standing, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
"With my Life-and-Death Mage powers, subduing an artifact spirit like you is a piece of cake!"
With a cold snort, Master Baiyun inhaled deeply while hovering in midair, his feet tapping the very tip of a treetop behind him. Borrowing the tiniest bit of force, he soared even higher.
"By the authority of the Life-and-Death Mage, hear my command: with this palm, I can suppress spiritual beings!"
He spoke quickly, and in that instant, his aura surged sky-high as he leaped above the python’s massive body.
The python’s shattered head, smashed by Master Baiyun’s palm, instantly reformed within the blaze. It twisted, raised its head high, tongue flicking, its serpent eyes locked on Baiyun in midair, clearly feeling the pressure.
The Blue-Flame Blood Python’s enormous body coiled up, tense and restless, its entire form ablaze. Within those flames, the Scarlet Flame Command’s token could be glimpsed.
Roar!
Finally, as the pressure in the air reached its peak, the Blue-Flame Blood Python couldn’t take it anymore. With a furious roar, it hurled its colossal body skyward.
It opened its jaws wide, trying to swallow Master Baiyun whole!
Its body, which had been coiled on the ground, now whipped up countless rocks and vegetation as it lunged at Baiyun.
Compared to the charging python, Master Baiyun—holding his compass—looked tiny and insignificant.
Yet his face showed not a hint of panic; he simply stared coldly at the beast lunging up from below.
"I said I’d suppress you, and that’s exactly what I’ll do!"
"Get back!"
With a sudden shout, Master Baiyun gathered his strength and slammed his palm downward.
Clang!
His palm landed squarely on the python’s head.
Unlike his earlier strike that pierced the python’s head, this time, the blow didn’t break through—but the blazing flames covering its body were instantly snuffed out by more than half.
It was as if a raging inferno had finally met a torrential downpour.
In no time at all, the python was completely suppressed, its flames utterly extinguished!
Hiss...
The Blue-Flame Blood Python’s eyes dimmed, and it let out a mournful, unwilling cry before vanishing in an instant.
With a metallic clatter, the Scarlet Flame Command dropped out, its true form revealed as it hit the ground.
Master Baiyun bent down, picked up the Scarlet Flame Command, examined it, then glanced at the three bound female ghosts nearby and marveled: "I never imagined you had two magic artifacts of such incredible power."
"This time, my emergence was truly worthwhile. You killed my disciples, so I’ll take your artifacts and your life as tribute to their spirits. Quite a profitable deal."
Master Baiyun let out a hearty laugh.
At that moment, the air inside the bunker seemed to suddenly congeal.
Inside, the sound of steady inhaling and exhaling could be heard.
That sound remained sharp and relentless, unchanged despite everything.