"Boom boom boom—"

The first obstacle faced by the crowd vying for the items on the stone platform was the overwhelming fire.

Zhenru and Liu Yunzhao had already experienced such a scene once before.

Originally, Zhenru thought that with her current level of cultivation, it wouldn't be too difficult for others to succeed. However, after hearing the explosions of magical power several times, she realized that this was not the case.

Those vying for the Golden Crow's essence blood are increasing in cultivation, and the fire protecting the Golden Crow's essence blood is also becoming more powerful than before.

If everything is increasing, then it means the difficulty remains the same.

As if remembering something, Zhenru turned to look at Liu Yunzhao, gave him a "thank you" smile, and pretended to fly towards the small stone platform in the middle that was separated by the river of flames—a stone platform made of Vermilion Bird Gold Stone.

As soon as Zhenru moved, Liu Yunzhao followed suit, and Qin Yue and the other two who were secretly observing also moved.

In the midst of the fight, Lei Wuxin, also from the Sun Realm, subtly shifted his gaze as the others silently flew toward the stone platform. He changed his sword technique and quietly engaged in a chaotic battle, successfully diverting the attention of many.

Of course, this only diverted part of the group.

Those who had realized Zhenru's intentions, who had been fighting fiercely, now turned their attention to Zhenru and his group.

Zhenru never expected that this time she could take away the Golden Crow's essence blood silently, just like before.

Seeing the people gathering around, Zhenru showed no impatience or surprise. His handsome face, which was slightly indifferent, gave a slight twitch of the corner of his mouth as he looked at the people who had gathered around.

The hands, which had been secretly forming a hand seal, pushed open to both sides in front of her the instant she smiled. Then, with a twist of her wrists, her palms lifted upwards like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

Those flames that did not need to be chaotic, indiscriminate, or entangled with the cultivators, seemed like soldiers who had received a general's order. After pausing on the spot, they were neatly arranged, with Zhenru as the center, pushing the others outwards.

Once the neatly arranged flames formed a high circle, completely enveloping Zhenru, Zhenru pressed his raised hands down forcefully—

"BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"

Those neat rows of independent flames suddenly pressed down to their limit with a "bang," and the temperature of the raging flames, which could burn one's consciousness, doubled several times, turning into a surging sea of ​​fire that swept out in all directions.

Sensing the immense destructive power contained within the raging sea of ​​fire, the fighters, disregarding their need to rush towards Zhenru, were all sent flying backward.

Those who were slower were caught in the flames and found it difficult to escape.

Everyone looked at Zhenru with a mixture of fear and apprehension, unaware that Zhenru had not intended to kill him.

Of course, that doesn't mean this move is really that easy to execute.

However, thanks to the advantageous location, she was able to use less of her own strength and rely on the flames that protected her essence and blood, so it looked easy for her.

Aside from those who didn't recognize Zhenru, the three people—Liu Yunzhao, Qin Yue, and the others—who were pushed aside by the flames indiscriminately, looked at Zhenru with a much more complex gaze than the simple apprehension and fear of strangers.

"So this is her power? This is her control over fire?"

No.

They were not fire elementalists and did not know that the most distressed group at this moment were the fire elementalists among them.

In such an environment, cultivators with fire elemental roots would naturally have an advantage, gaining extra assistance in any fight.

That was indeed the case, but this situation only lasted until Zhenru took action.

After Zhenru took action, those fire-element cultivators were not as relaxed as those with other elemental roots.

They didn't know what kind of hand seal Zhenru was making, they only knew that with each lift and press of Zhenru's hand, the fire spiritual power in their bodies rose and fell like the tide.

How terrifying is it when a cultivator's spiritual power is out of their control and can be manipulated by someone else with a single move?

Those fire-elemental cultivators, after retreating as far away from Zhenru as possible and controlling the surging spiritual energy within their bodies, came to a conclusion with lingering fear:

This female cultivator from the Sun Realm possesses a unique flame!

And it's really impressive!

Those fire-elemental cultivators exchanged glances, and after realizing that they had all come to the same conclusion, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The reason their fire elemental power went out of control was because of the strange fire on Zhenru's body, not because of Zhenru's ability to control fire.

It all sounds like it's because of Zhenru, but because the strange fire was suppressed, it's not that they were less skilled; it's just that others had a greater opportunity.

As for the latter possibility, they were unwilling to think about it.

Even the most outstanding individuals from all realms, with their high aspirations and long-standing privileges, may find it difficult to accept such a reason when caught off guard.

This series of conjectures and self-consolation are unknown to others, and even Zhenru himself is unaware of them.

She had no need to know, because Zhenru's opponent today was still Liu Yunzhao.

This time, Zhenru was even stronger than before. His ability to control fire was even more refined than when he last competed for the Golden Crow's essence blood. Even though the power of the fire was many times greater than before.

Liu Yunzhao remained calm, his expression still one of certainty.

If his imposing presence at this moment truly seemed like that of a mere pawn in Liu Yunzhao's quest for power.

All that's left is for Zhenru to pluck the fruit with all her might, and for Liu Yunzhao to simply snatch the fruit from her hands at the last moment.

Unfortunately, Zhenru did not pick that fruit.

After suppressing the besieging crowd with a single, swift move, Zhenru's lowered eyes sharpened, and when she looked up again, she had already shot an arrow at Liu Yunzhao with lightning speed.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"

"Click-click-click—"

Pretending to be calm and collected, but secretly excited, Liu Yunzhao, who was waiting to truly obtain the Golden Crow's essence blood, instinctively put on his strongest defense against this sudden and unexpected arrow.

After a deafening roar of clashing magical powers, came the sound of solid ice cracking inch by inch.

When Zhenru looked over, she saw no ice crystals at all, only Liu Yunzhao flying backward.

Zhenru blinked rapidly, concealing her surprise, and looked at Liu Yunzhao with a mocking and disdainful expression.

"I thought you had some amazing trick up your sleeve, but you dare to try and take this from me? You're a defeated opponent..."

The words "defeated opponent" were drawn out with a long, drawn-out tone, carrying endless contempt and disdain. Then, he strolled leisurely toward the stone platform cast from the Vermilion Bird's golden stone.

Qin Yue and his two companions, who had been keeping a low profile and silently observing Zhenru, were still wondering when Zhenru would take out his longbow and when he would condense his spirit arrow. When they saw that Zhenru was serious, they could no longer pretend and, along with the others, rushed towards Zhenru.

Zhenru's hand was just inches away from landing on the fist-sized flame on the stone platform, but it stopped abruptly and then quickly dodged.

As he casually summoned layers of flames to protect himself, Zhenru had already escaped the encirclement.

She was in no hurry to retaliate, and no one would attack her again, because their target was the flame, not her true self.