Chapter 552: Self-Created Secret Art, Spirit Flame Incarnation

Though hatred for Wei Tu had already filled his heart to the brim, Wenyuan did not show the slightest change on his face.

It wasn’t because his composure was flawless, but because a young cultivator in a ceremonial crown stood nearby, bowing respectfully at his side. With someone present, he had to restrain himself.

"Xin’er, has there been any news from the Ruyi Tower?" Wenyuan put away the jade bottle, glanced at the crown-wearing cultivator, and asked calmly.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple already asked. According to Ruyi Tower’s assessment, with injuries like yours, it will take at least three months of nourishing from a Nascent Soul furnace cauldron to recover even a little…"

"And the asking price is…"

At this point, the crown-wearing cultivator paused, lifted his hand, and raised three fingers.

"Three spirit crystals?"

Hearing this, Wenyuan frowned, his face showing obvious reluctance. Compared to the Longevity Pills, three spirit crystals wasn’t much, but the cost still made his heart ache.

"Forget it! You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. The pilgrimage to the Ruins will arrive before long. If I don’t recover by then and my cultivation drops, that will be far worse."

He sighed softly, but his meaning was clear—he agreed to spend the steep price of three spirit crystals to rent a Nascent Soul furnace cauldron from Ruyi Tower.

"Yes, Master. This disciple will handle it right away."

The crown-wearing cultivator nodded and was about to turn and leave to make arrangements.

But just then, he suddenly realized that somehow, a black-clad figure with a chilling aura had appeared inside the room.

"Not good, an intruder!"

Startled, he shouted a warning to his master before retreating rapidly, intending to escape and summon reinforcements.

Yet the moment he spoke, the black figure was already in front of him. A right hand pierced straight into his dantian and clutched his Nascent Soul tightly.

"Fourth-tier body cultivator?"

Blood filled his mouth so he couldn’t even speak. Staring in shock at the scene before him, only this thought flickered through his mind.

The next moment, as his Nascent Soul was ripped out, the light in his eyes dimmed, and with a thud, he collapsed in a pool of blood, dead.

The entire process took less than half a breath.

"You… who are you?"

Wenyuan had no time to grieve his disciple’s death. He leapt up in alarm, staring at the black-clad figure, lips trembling as he spoke.

In close combat, even a fourth-tier early-stage body cultivator held a great advantage over a Nascent Soul cultivator like him. What’s more, by his divine sense, this intruder was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator just like himself.

He had snuck into Fireburn Sect unnoticed. He had the overwhelming power to slaughter his disciple in an instant.

Wenyuan already knew—this was not someone he could face head-on. His questions were only to buy time to prepare his escape, and also to test the man’s identity for future revenge.

But Wei Tu wasn’t about to be tricked. With a cold laugh, he rushed forward again, intending to repeat his move—just as he had killed the crown-wearing cultivator, to strike Wenyuan dead in one blow.

"Can’t let him get close!"

Wenyuan’s face hardened. He flicked his sleeve, tossing out four fire talismans that burst into four scarlet flame pythons coiling tightly around him.

He then formed seals, transforming the interior of the dwelling into a domain of fire, turning it into a battlefield that favored him.

Yet at that very moment, he realized Wei Tu wasn’t pressing in, but instead retreated. In the gap of his casting, Wei Tu had already slipped out of the dwelling.

"Did he give up the assassination?"

Relief flooded Wenyuan’s chest. The last thing he wanted was to clash with a stronger peer while still gravely wounded.

But that hope quickly shattered. Outside, a pale blue formation light shield suddenly rose, sealing the courtyard.

Even if he were a fool, Wenyuan now understood Wei Tu’s plan.

The man knew he couldn’t kill him quickly like an early Nascent Soul, so instead he set a formation to trap him while keeping other Fireburn Sect Nascent Souls from rushing inside.

"Who is this man? His battle experience is this rich, and he even understands formations?"

Doubt and fear filled Wenyuan’s mind. He couldn’t recall ever offending such a powerful figure. Normally, he would have stayed far away from someone like this, never daring to provoke them.

The thought of "Fellow Daoist Fu" did surface briefly in his mind, but he soon dismissed it. The aura was completely different, and this black-clad man clearly had body cultivation, something that so-called Fellow Daoist Fu didn’t.

"Escape first. Investigating his identity can wait."

He knew the priority. Escaping the formation came before all else.

Still, he didn’t rush blindly. His fear of close combat against body cultivators was etched into his bones.

He quickly formed seals, expanding the fire domain outward. Once the courtyard was engulfed, he would do as he had in the last battle—transform into blood-colored spirit flames and flee.

Soon, with mana surging, the fire domain expanded beyond the dwelling, filling the courtyard and cautiously pressing toward the formation’s edge.

The instant he neared it, he merged into the flames, his body turning into endless blood-red spirit fire that frantically streamed outward.

All of this happened in less than a breath.

"Closer! Closer!"

Staring at the formation’s edge that was still unsealed but drawing closer, Wenyuan’s heart surged with excitement. He secretly rejoiced—he never thought he could escape from such a powerful enemy so easily.

But just then, he realized his Spirit Flame Incarnation was suddenly pressed down by an immense force, unable to move.

"Not good, it’s Yuan Gravity Light!"

His face changed as he recognized the gray radiance sealing the breach in the formation. With Yuan Gravity Light blocking the gap, unless his true body acted, it would be almost impossible for his flame incarnation to break through.

Not enough strength—this was the one weakness of the Spirit Flame Incarnation.

'So that’s it! If he dared infiltrate Fireburn Sect to assassinate me, then he must have already investigated my divine abilities…'

Wenyuan’s expression grew darker. What he didn’t know was that Wei Tu had not only investigated him, but had personally fought him before and experienced this Spirit Flame Incarnation firsthand.

That was why he had set up this trap to counter it, leaving no path of escape.

"Die, Wenyuan!"

At that moment, the formation fully deployed, Wei Tu’s dharma body shifted in midair, instantly turning into a massive coffin of blood, more than ten feet long.

From within the blood coffin, four blood-red spears shot out like arrows loosed from a bowstring, striking straight at Wenyuan below.

Though wary inside, Wenyuan still kept a calm face.

"I have my Spirit Flame Incarnation. Your blood spears won’t harm me…" he said coldly.

His incarnation sacrificed physical strength, but it also freed him from the limits of flesh. In other words, he had no vital points left. Unless Wei Tu could extinguish the fire domain itself, there was no way to kill him. And how hard was that?

The fire domain was the manifestation of his cultivation. In realm, he and Wei Tu were equals.

But before he could finish that thought, shock struck him dumb.

For in the instant the four blood spears landed, they transformed into strange crimson talismans that pinned the fire domain itself. Under their pressure, his Spirit Flame Incarnation felt faintly sealed.

"Again!" Wei Tu sneered. He waved his hand, urging the Filthy Blood Coffin once more, sending another wave of bloody spears crashing down.

The Filthy Blood Coffin was a high-level demonic secret art passed down from Madam Jin. Once opened, it turned all of his mana into endless "demonic blood" for a short time. Its principle was similar to the Spirit Flame Incarnation, but unlike that escape technique, this was purely for battle.

At first glance, it was weaker than his Nine Secrets of Vitality. But after his research, Wei Tu discovered that when combined with his Spirit-Sealing Talismans, it became terrifyingly effective.

His demonic blood, of fourth-tier quality or higher, worked perfectly as ink for drawing talisman runes. Spirit-Sealing Talismans suppressed spiritual energy, and since every divine ability and secret art relied on spiritual energy to activate, sealing it meant even the strongest arts would falter.

Of course, this had limits—it only worked well in prolonged duels against equals. If the opponent was too strong, he’d be overwhelmed before it took effect. If too weak, it wasn’t worth the effort, as his other powers could easily crush them.

Today, Fireburn Sect Patriarch Wenyuan was the very first opponent he tested this art on. And he was the perfect target.

Yes, Wei Tu could have used other techniques to finish him. But when he fought as Fellow Daoist Fu earlier, he had already revealed many powerful methods. Now was not the time to expose them again.

"I admit defeat…"

"Fellow Daoist, who are you? Why assassinate me? I’m willing to pay double—buy my life with wealth!"

Seeing his incarnation being restrained by Wei Tu’s blood talismans, Wenyuan’s expression changed drastically. He hurriedly pleaded, stalling for time. He had already sensed other Nascent Soul cultivators of Fireburn Sect rushing this way. If he could delay a little longer, not only might he survive, but he might even turn the tables and trap Wei Tu here.

"Begging for mercy? Double the price?"

Wei Tu paused, interest flickering in his eyes. He slowed his assault, looking at Wenyuan with amusement.

"A good chance!"

Seeing this, Wenyuan’s face lit up with joy. He quickly broke free from his flame incarnation state, formed seals with both hands, and shouted, "Condense!"

In an instant, the fire domain engulfing the courtyard transformed into a giant purple lotus. Wei Tu’s position in the air was right at its bud. The moment the lotus closed, he was trapped inside.

"Success!" Wenyuan breathed out in relief.

The Fire Lotus Technique was not only a defensive secret art but also a method of ensnaring enemies. He had always kept it hidden, never once showing it before. Using it against Wei Tu was a first.

But before his relief settled, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of him.

A moment later, he felt his neck lighten, and then his head hit the ground.

"Almost caught me there."

Wei Tu stood over Wenyuan’s headless corpse, pulling the Nascent Soul from his dantian with a cold expression.

But in that final instant, Wenyuan’s eyes had seen something else—the true form that Wei Tu’s Fire Lotus wound had forced out. A warped, dwarfish figure beneath the disguise.