The deeper Qin Chen ventured into the Crimson Hellstorm Domain, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
The scorched terrain beneath his feet pulsed with a faint energy, as if something ancient slumbered beneath the surface.
The air itself crackled with unstable fire Qi, the once chaotic flames now feeling more… deliberate.
Controlled.
Something was watching.
Something stronger.
Qin Chen's golden eyes flickered.
"The real challenges begin now."
As he stepped into a vast canyon of blackened rock and smoldering magma, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the air.
The temperature spiked violently.
Qin Chen halted, his senses sharpening.
A massive shadow loomed ahead.
Then—BOOM!
A monstrous figure landed before him, shaking the ground beneath its weight.
A towering beast, nearly fifteen meters tall, its body covered in cracked obsidian scales, releasing waves of searing heat.
Atop its head, a single burning horn pulsed with flame-imbued Qi—the core of its power.
Ding!
[Infernal Lava Stalker] – Low Core Formation (Empty Core Realm)
-A spirit beast adapted to live in extreme fire environments.
-Possesses a semi-formed Core, granting it higher intelligence and control over flame-based attacks.
-Extremely aggressive, territorial, and highly resistant to external fire attacks.
Qin Chen's smirk widened.
An Empty Core Realm beast.
For any normal Foundation Establishment cultivator, this was a death sentence.
Even for someone like him, fighting across realms was difficult.
But this wasn't a normal situation.
This beast…
Used fire.
And fire?
Fire belonged to him.
The Infernal Lava Stalker roared, its horn glowing brighter.
Without hesitation—BOOOOM!
It slammed its clawed foot into the ground, sending a wave of molten lava surging toward Qin Chen.
The attack would have incinerated an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator instantly.
But Qin Chen?
He stepped forward.
The molten wave rushed over him.
For a moment, he was completely engulfed.
The beast snarled in satisfaction.
But then—
The flames vanished.
Consumed.
Devoured.
Qin Chen walked through the lava, completely unscathed.
His golden flames flickered, his expression calm.
"Is that all?"
The Infernal Lava Stalker froze.
For the first time, an instinctual fear surged through the beast.
This was wrong.
This prey wasn't burning.
It wasn't even struggling.
It was… feeding.
BOOM!
The beast charged, swinging a massive claw coated in hardened magma.
Fast.
Deadly.
Brutal.
But Qin Chen?
He barely tilted his head.
The claw sliced through the air where he had just been, missing by a breath.
And in that moment—
His fist shot forward.
BOOOOOM!
"Hell Flame Fist."
The golden impact struck the beast's obsidian chest—
And punched straight through.
A massive hole opened in the Lava Stalker's body, golden flames eating away at its flesh.
The beast screeched in agony, staggering backward, clawing at its own chest.
Its own fire had never harmed it before.
But this wasn't just fire.
This was Sovereign Flame.
And the Sovereign Flame burned even the heavens.
It allowed Qin Chen to make use of not just his flame energy, but the energy of the beast as well.
It was collapsing on itself.
Qin Chen flexed his fingers.
"Core Formation? You're too weak."
The beast, despite its grievous injury, refused to fall.
Its horn blazed, gathering all of its remaining strength.
A massive concentrated sphere of fire Qi formed, pulsing with unstable destruction.
Ding!
[Infernal Burst – Desperation Attack]
-A suicidal explosion that will destroy everything in a fifty-meter radius.
-Used only when defeat is certain.
Qin Chen's eyes sharpened.
"You'd rather self-destruct than lose?"
He stepped forward.
His flames roared to life.
"You don't get to choose."
BOOM!
The beast released the Infernal Burst.
But before it could explode—
Qin Chen moved.
He vanished, reappearing above the beast's head.
Both hands slammed into the scorched ground beneath them.
"Pillar of Heavenly Fire."
FWOOSH!
A golden inferno erupted, rising into the sky like a divine decree.
The massive pillar of fire swallowed the beast whole.
Its Infernal Burst?
Extinguished instantly.
The beast's agonized roar echoed through the canyon—
Then silence.
When the flames finally died down…
All that remained was ashen rubble.
Ding!
Defeated Low Core Formation Spirit Beast (Empty Core Realm) – 2,500 SP Earned!
Qin Chen exhaled slowly.
"That wasn't even a fight."
He rolled his shoulders, stepping over the remains of the beast.
"I need something stronger."
After defeating the Infernal Lava Stalker, Qin Chen felt it.
A stronger presence.
Deeper in the domain, past the blackened peaks, something waited.
Something… different.
His golden eyes burned.
This was just the beginning.
He adjusted his robes and strode forward, unbothered by the flames still dancing around him.
The Crimson Hellstorm Domain had met its true master.
And now?
He was going to claim everything it had to offer.