novelraw Chapter 176 - 174: Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array
Chapter 176 - 174: Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array
Flames shot toward the sky from where Wang Meng stood. The explosive power of the Fire Talismans, the intensity of their fire, and the fire-storing ability of the Azure Fire Talisman Array all combined in that moment. The stacking effect created an unbelievably powerful force, forming a sea of flames more than ten zhang wide.
Fire Cloud Hall itself shook from the violent explosion. Fang Lufei was stunned, his hands trembling with excitement. This was his first time using the technique in actual combat, and it had been executed so perfectly.
Wang Meng’s power had pushed him to unleash his own potential. It wasn’t that Wang Meng wasn’t strong; he just had terrible luck.
A violent explosion, flames that lit up the sky... This was no longer a question of victory or defeat. Wang Meng was likely blown to smithereens!
But this was the grand tournament. Life and death were decided by fate.
In the heart of the inferno, a fiery core seemed to form and burn intensely. Talisman stacking was an effect high-level Technique Cultivators deliberately tried to create, but it was incredibly difficult to control. This was the first time such an effect had ever been seen among low-level disciples.
The faces of the Thunderlight Hall disciples turned deathly pale. A chill shot through Zhang Xiaojiang and the others; Wang Meng hadn’t made it out.
In the end, that miraculous footwork had been useless.
Mingren sighed. "Using the same move too many times in the tournament is bound to get you countered."
He used it so brilliantly against Jia Shidao that he was bound to draw attention. It’s a shame he tried to pull the same trick again.
A smile touched Song Zhong’s lips, and he finally felt at ease. But he wasn’t the happiest person there. The happiest was Zhao Guang, standing inconspicuously in a corner.
For some unknown reason, Zhao Guang loathed Wang Meng. He simply couldn’t stand to see Thunderlight Hall prosper. ’When I was Senior, Thunderlight Hall was trash. The moment I left, it came alive, churning out one talent after another. What does that say about me?’
’Does it mean that I, the Senior, was just that pathetic? Everywhere I go, I feel like people are pointing and whispering behind my back.’ Zhao Guang wished that Wang Meng and his entire cohort would drop dead.
BOOM...
A sharp crackling sound stopped Elder Zhu just as he was about to declare the match’s outcome.
The flames abruptly contracted, shrinking from an area more than ten zhang across to just a few zhang in an instant. ...Inside... was that... a person???
CRACK... CRACK... CRACK...
One after another, Technique Cultivator Talismans materialized around the ball of fire. The Talismans began to gather the Flame Power, even showing signs of drawing upon the surrounding Earth Flame.
A fireball, about twice the size of a fist, floated out of the inferno in a peculiar manner.
A wind began to stir...
A dreadful feeling welled up inside Song Zhong.
The flames exploded outward once more, but this time, they were taking shape! A massive head erupted from the inferno, followed by a body that lunged out and shot toward the sky, chasing the fireball.
ROOOOAR—
Elder Zhu had just taken a step forward and nearly tripped over his own feet. "This is..."
The jaws of every Technique Cultivator present dropped. ’This is...’
A complete Fire Dragon soared into the sky, chasing the fireball. In that same instant, all the flames on the ground vanished, and the temperature in Fire Cloud Hall seemed to plummet.
As the Fire Dragon took to the air, Wang Meng was revealed. Far from being blown to bits, his complexion had even become rosy.
Wang Meng extended his right hand toward the sky. The fireball shot back and landed in his palm with a WHOOSH. The terrifying, nearly ten-zhang-long Fire Dragon that had been circling in the air immediately spiraled down toward him.
At that moment, only a single word could describe Fire Cloud Hall: silence.
The majestic Fire Dragon didn’t devour Wang Meng. Instead, it coiled around him, its massive head coming to rest before him, glaring menacingly at the dumbstruck Fang Lufei in the distance.
The disciples were so shocked by the scene they couldn’t find the words to describe it. With the Fire Dragon coiled around him, Wang Meng looked like the very king of Technique Cultivators descending upon the mortal realm.
’The legendary Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array???’
’Isn’t that something only an Ancestral Master at the Minor Perfection stage can achieve???’
Everyone from Fire Cloud Hall was deathly silent. ’This... Fucking hell! Is he even going to let anyone else have a chance?!’
Wang Meng pointed his right hand at Fang Lufei. The Fire Dragon beside him erupted in flames and let out a ROAR!
In an instant, the dragon was right in front of him. Fang Lufei felt his legs go weak, and he collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. He opened his mouth, but couldn’t force out a single word. He wanted to surrender, but it was as if all the strength had been drained from his body. That incomparably majestic Fire Dragon was the ultimate dream of every Technique Cultivator.
The Fire Dragon Technique was something they could only ever hope to unleash in their dreams.
Although Fire Cloud Hall was famous for Artifact Refining, its disciples primarily followed the path of the Technique Cultivator. The appearance of the Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array wasn’t just a blow to their confidence—it was a complete and utter decimation!
Everyone stared blankly at Wang Meng. ’How is this possible?’
’Is he a Sword Cultivator or a Technique Cultivator?!’
Zhu Jun was an Elder, after all. After his initial shock, he managed to close his jaw. It was indeed the Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array, but a miniature version. Its power was less than a fifth of the true Dragon Transformation array. Even so, doubling Wang Meng’s Elemental Power wouldn’t have been enough to cast it. Yet, he had somehow managed to borrow the power of Fang Lufei’s Talismans and combine it with the Earth Flame of Fire Cloud Peak.
"Second match, victory to Wang Meng of Thunderlight Hall."
Wang Meng smiled faintly and crushed the fireball in his hand. This fireball was his Lifebound Pill Flame, the very core of the Celestial Fire Dragon Transformation Array. As the Pill Flame died, the Fire Dragon perished along with it, dissolving into motes of fire that scattered through the air like flower petals.
For the first time, a battle ended, and the plaza remained utterly silent.
Fang Lufei was still sitting on the ground, a dazed look on his face. He clearly hadn’t recovered from the overwhelming display of power. Any Technique Cultivator would be left stupefied after encountering an Ancestral Master Level Magic.
In that moment, the distinction between friend and foe was lost.
After a long moment, Zhang Xiaojiang and the others finally snapped out of their stupor. They exchanged a look and erupted into a wild roar: "Wang Meng!"
MIGHTY!
The voices of the Thunderlight Hall disciples threatened to tear the roof off Fire Cloud Hall. They had gone absolutely wild. The disciples were jumping and shouting with abandon, male and Female Cultivators alike. They threw all concerns for their image and etiquette to the wind, celebrating with unrestrained joy.
Song Zhong’s throat was dry, and he felt as if he were suffocating. He then realized he had been holding his breath for so long that he had simply forgotten to breathe.
’Is this what they call a legendary genius?’
The cheers from Thunderlight Hall jolted everyone else back to reality. Mingren couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile. Only now did he understand why Li Tianyi hadn’t even bothered to watch. ’He must be the only one who truly understands the extent of Wang Meng’s power.’
’To have any hope of suppressing Wang Meng, you’d need Elemental Power of at least the Twenty Layers, and your Skill Technique would have to be flawless. Otherwise, you’d just be paving the way for his victory.’
’A Pill Cultivator? Just a hobby, huh?’
’That Pill Flame must be at least Level 5. No wonder Ancestor Master Zhou was willing to offend the other Ancestral Masters to poach him.’
’Perhaps Wang Meng was "storing up fire" from the very beginning, using his opponent’s strength against him. Is that arrogance, or is it supreme confidence?’
In past battles, regardless of who won or lost, neither side’s disciples would be discouraged. Even in defeat, they would still shout and cheer.
But at this moment, it was as if the throats of the Fire Cloud Hall Disciples were clogged. They could only watch helplessly as the members of Thunderlight Hall celebrated boisterously on their home turf.
Qiao Qian and Jia Shidao were filled with a complex mix of emotions. The shock was real, but their mood had improved considerably. At least their own defeats now seemed excusable. It was just Song Zhong’s damn good luck; if he had been the one to fight this match, he would have been crushed just as badly. Poor Fang Lufei had just been the cannon fodder.
Song Zhong snapped out of his stupor. The grand tournament was still underway, and their Fire Cloud Hall was now down zero to two.
Fire Cloud Hall had never been in such a miserable position, not even during their matches against Beast Hall. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)