Fire Roasting and Dorian’s Hungry Cravings

This man is simply courting death.

Driven by jealousy he couldn't admit to, he recklessly risked everything, gambling the entire Demon Sect as his stake. Truly, he doesn't know his own limits.

Serena Feng looked at Rowan Bloom and shook her head.

In Serena's eyes, Rowan Bloom was already a dead man. Even if Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan might spare him, Serena certainly would not.

Facing Rowan Bloom's outrageous demands, Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan didn't get angry—instead, he smiled: "Is that all you want? Sect Master Rowan, your standards are awfully low."

That remark...

Dorian Owen shivered and instinctively stepped back.

Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan's smile wasn't something ordinary people could handle. Dorian actually felt a little sorry for Rowan Bloom—he was doomed.

Zed stood frozen, his face ashen.

He couldn't believe it—his proud father had actually made such an outrageous demand. Had he gone mad?

Rowan was clearly trying to stir up the Master of Mystic Healer Valley and Serena Feng against Nolan, but all he got in return were looks of utter contempt.

Dorian Owen puffed up with righteous bravado, thumping his chest: "A man dies for his confidant, Sect Master Rowan—haven't you ever heard that saying? I may not be a saint, but I'm no coward either. Your trick won't work on me."

Dr. Redwater arched an elegant brow, looking completely uninterested. "We haven't been infected by Corpse Worms, so this has nothing to do with us. Whenever you're done arguing, let us know so we can go home." He and Dr. Marcus Guile made it clear they had no intention of getting involved, leaving Rowan momentarily speechless.

Just what kind of people did Nolan surround himself with?

Each one was stranger than the last.

"Dr. Redwater's got a point. There's no use arguing like this, Sect Master Rowan. If you have any cards left, show them now. If not, kindly step aside—we're leaving." Serena Feng waved her hand, and the dark guards stepped forward, drawing their blades...

Rowan was so furious he could barely speak.

Arguing? What was the point?

He would never stoop so low as to bicker with Nolan and his crew. If they thought he’d reveal all the Holy Sect’s secrets just by goading him, they were dreaming!

Rowan’s face twisted, eyes burning with rage.

"You refuse to take the easy road to heaven, so you choose the hard road to hell? Since you’re so eager to die, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

With that, Rowan yanked Zed back a step and blew a sharp whistle. The woods, peaceful just moments before, suddenly erupted with noise.

From afar, a massive, dark flock surged toward them, blotting out the light.

"This trick again? Aren’t you tired of it? Seriously, if you’re not sick of it, we sure are." Dorian eyed the swarming crows, completely unfazed.

They’d guessed Rowan would use his man-eating crows against them, but...

"Fall back!" Nolan commanded, leading Serena and the others to retreat as one.

"Hahaha... Too late to run now! You dared disrespect me—now you’ll pay!" Rowan shouted from a distance, triumphant.

No matter how noble Nolan was, here in the Demon Sect, Rowan was king. If Nolan wanted to survive, he’d have to obey Rowan’s every word.

"Idiot!" Dorian muttered under his breath. Too bad the crows were making such a racket, Rowan didn’t hear him.

The crows drew closer and closer. Serena and Nolan retreated to lower ground.

Just as the crows were about to swoop down, Nolan flicked his fingers. A spark of flame shot from his palm and landed in the dry grass ahead.

A split second later, with a whoosh, fire leapt up in the grass. As the crows dove low, the flames surged higher, whipped up by their own beating wings, and swept the birds into a blazing inferno.

"Caw—caw—!"

It was like a downpour of black rain—the crows plummeted into the fire one after another, crackling and hissing. The few that made it past the flames were instantly cut down by the dark guards’ swords.

The forest filled with the mouthwatering smell of roast crow. Dorian inhaled deeply, practically drooling. "Smells amazing."

"Want some? I can fetch it for you," Dr. Redwater teased, grinning.

Dorian quickly wiped the dreamy look off his face and shook his head fast. "Forget it! These crows grew up eating corpses—even if you gave me one, I wouldn’t touch it."

"What a shame. A whole feast of crow, and you can't eat any." Dr. Redwater hated this corpse‑fed Holy Land, so seeing it go up in flames made him genuinely happy.

"What a pity. If only we could catch a few alive," Dr. Marcus Guile and the Master of Mystic Healer Valley sighed, hearts aching.

Of course, they only dared to dream—no one was foolish enough to actually try. Even the feathers of those crows were toxic, and who knew how many Corpse Worms they carried? One wrong move and you'd be infected; the risk wasn't worth it.

Compared to Nolan's group's delight, Rowan's face had turned the color of excrement. Watching his sacred crows fall into the fire, he wanted nothing more than to tear Nolan apart.

How dare they burn his Holy Land!

"Eastlyn Nine! Serena Feng! You dare destroy my Sect’s Holy Land? I, Rowan Bloom, will never let you go!" Rowan roared. His voice was so loud it carried even across the wall of fire to Nolan and Serena.

"I’ll be waiting, Sect Master Rowan. You’d better hurry, or I’ll simply leave," Nolan replied, indifferent and mocking.

With that, Nolan and Serena turned and walked away in the opposite direction, calm and unhurried...