Beneath the Burning Sky

"Elder Jadis, long time no see! Are you guys alright?"

Leon descended slowly from the storm-filled sky, his midnight robes fluttering against the scorching winds. Thin amethyst embroideries glimmered faintly beneath the reflection of lightning, making him look less like a human cultivator and more like a sword immortal who had stepped out from an ancient legend.

Behind him, Harry Taylor followed nervously, clutching his robe as waves of terrifying pressure continued to spread across the mystery woodland.

The battlefield around them had already become a living nightmare.

The distant roars of the Inferno Swift Bird shook the heavens. Mountains collapsed one after another beneath waves of fire. The gigantic body of the old earth spiky turtle continued crawling through the burning land while the Smoke darke Lion chased it relentlessly beneath the raging thunderclouds.

The air smelled of blood, ash, and scorched earth.

Jadis finally relaxed slightly after seeing Leon arrive.

"We’re fine. Thank you for your help just now. If it weren’t for you, these children would have died..."

His voice carried genuine gratitude.

He was not pretending.

A moment ago, despair had truly swallowed him whole.

As someone responsible for protecting Fiona and the students, he had almost watched them die before his eyes. Even now, his hands trembled faintly beneath his sleeves.

Leon glanced toward the injured students nearby. Several sat weakly against shattered rocks while others used healing pills with pale expressions.

"You’re being too polite, Elder Jadis," Leon replied calmly.

His purple eyes briefly swept across the battlefield before returning toward them.

"We all belong to the righteous path. Since I saw it happen, how could I stand by and watch?"

Harry immediately puffed out his chest beside him.

"That’s right! My Senior Leon moved so fast even I barely saw his sword."

Leon glanced sideways at him.

Harry instantly coughed awkwardly and lowered his voice.

"Ahem... though honestly, I almost peed myself just now."

Several injured students could not help laughing despite the tense atmosphere.

The suffocating pressure eased slightly.

Fiona also stepped forward softly.

"Thank you for saving my life, Senior. I will remember it in my heart."

Her voice was gentle yet sincere.

Under the dancing firelight, her azure hair fluttered lightly in the wind. Her dark blue robe clung softly against her graceful figure after being brushed by heat waves moments earlier. The silver embroidery near her waist shimmered beautifully beneath the lightning flashes.

Her teal eyes carried lingering fear.

But beneath that fear... there was also gratitude.

Deep gratitude.

She understood clearly.

Without Leon’s sword strike earlier, she would already be dead.

Leon looked at her for a moment before smiling faintly.

Despite being around the same age, she still addressed him as "Senior."

In the martial world, strength determined seniority.

This was the cruelest and simplest truth.

"You don’t need to take it too seriously," Leon said lightly.

"I only happened to arrive at the right moment."

Fiona shook her head immediately.

"To Senior, it may have been a casual action. But to me..." she paused softly, lowering her gaze for a second, "...it was a life-saving grace."

The surrounding students silently nodded.

That sword earlier had truly shocked them.

Even now, many still remembered the terrifying scene clearly.

A purple sword light split the darkness itself apart.

It was beautiful.

But even more terrifying.

Leon merely smiled calmly without continuing the topic.

Truthfully, he had simply followed the traces left behind by the Inferno Swift Bird and happened to discover Fiona’s group trapped in danger.

Saving them had indeed been unintentional.

Yet sometimes fate worked in strange ways.

"That’s good! I came just in time. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Leon spoke while looking toward the burning horizon.

Another deafening explosion erupted in the distance.

BOOM!

A pillar of flames pierced through the clouds.

The Inferno Swift Bird spread its enormous wings proudly beneath the heavens. Endless fire poured from its body like a divine punishment descending upon the mortal world.

Its cry alone caused weaker cultivators to cough blood.

Even Fiona’s expression turned pale again.

Harry swallowed hard.

"That bird really looks pissed..."

Leon’s eyes, however, gradually brightened.

There was excitement inside them.

Real excitement.

Ever since learning the second form of the Font Sword Art, he had never found an opponent suitable enough to test it against.

But now...

A pinnacle beast stood before him.

The blood in his body slowly heated.

The sword intent hidden deep inside his bones began trembling.

Leon looked at the flaming bird in the clouds with an excited expression.

"A beast capable of shaking the heavens..." he murmured softly.

"This is much more interesting."

Harry looked at him as if staring at a monster.

"Senior Leon... why do you sound excited?"

Leon smiled.

"Because opportunities like this are rare."

The surrounding students instantly became speechless.

That was an Inferno Swift Bird.

A terrifying ancient beast.

Yet Leon sounded like someone who had just discovered a new toy.

"Harry, stay here first. Don’t run around. I’ll go meet that Inferno Swift Bird..."

Leon said the most outrageous words imaginable in an unbelievably calm tone.

For a moment, the surroundings became completely silent.

Even the sounds of explosions in the distance seemed to fade.

Everyone stared at him blankly.

"What..."

Fiona’s beautiful eyes widened slightly.

Several injured students nearly choked on air.

Harry himself looked horrified.

"Senior Leon... wait, WAIT—"

"You mean meet ... or fight meet?"

Leon answered casually.

"Fight."

Harry almost collapsed.

Jadis’ face also changed instantly.

"Fellow cultivator Leon, don’t joke around at a time like this."

"I’m not joking."

The calm answer made everyone’s scalps turn numb.

Fiona stared at him in disbelief.

Leon actually wanted to challenge the Inferno Swift Bird?

That was an ancient pinnacle beast.

Its strength was monstrous beyond imagination.

Even the older generation experts present did not dare face it directly.

Yet Leon wanted to confront it alone?

Was he truly fearless...

Or simply insane?

A gust of burning wind swept across the land.

Leon’s black hair danced wildly behind him while purple reflections flickered within his eyes.

At this moment, he truly resembled a sword immortal standing proudly beneath heaven and earth.

"Fellow cultivator, don’t be rash. Let’s wait for the others to arrive before attacking together. The situation is a little chaotic now. Not to mention that old turtle, just the Inferno Swift Bird and the Smoke darke Lion are not something we can deal with. They have already started fighting each other. Why don’t we wait until they are both injured before attacking?"

Jadis spoke seriously.

His analysis indeed made sense.

After the Inferno Swift Bird appeared, it immediately attacked the old earth spiky turtle while simultaneously treating the Smoke darke Lion as an enemy.

The three terrifying beasts were practically tearing apart the entire mystery woodland.

Mountains shattered continuously.

Rivers evaporated into steam.

The earth cracked open beneath waves of violent Mana.

A sea of flames completely framed the inner circle to the outer circle, lighting up the dark night sky.

It looked like the end of the world.

Some weaker cultivators could not even stand steadily under the pressure alone.

Signals continued exploding into the heavens one after another.

The experts from various Powerful Sects had already sent emergency messages requesting reinforcements.

More experts would arrive soon.

Logically speaking...

Leon truly should not act recklessly now.

But Leon himself understood something clearly.

This opportunity would not come again easily.

His hand slowly rested upon the hilt of his sword.

A faint sword hum echoed softly.

Ever since comprehending the second strike of the Font Sword Art...

He had never used it once.

Not because he did not want to.

But because nobody was worthy enough.

Now...

A perfect target stood before him.

The sword intent inside his body almost felt impatient.

Leon smiled faintly.

"I only want to test one sword."

Harry’s eyelids twitched violently.

Only one sword?

Against THAT thing?

What kind of madman says that so casually?

"Senior Leon..." Harry whispered weakly, "...please remember I’m still young. I don’t want to collect your corpse."

Even Fiona nearly laughed despite the tension.

Leon glanced toward him.

"If I die, you can inherit my Storage Space."

Harry’s eyes instantly widened.

"Really?"

"..."

Jadis rubbed his forehead helplessly.

This pair truly matched each other strangely.

Leon looked toward the burning sky once more.

"Don’t worry, I’ll only try one strike. If there’s no chance, I’ll retreat." Leon smiled, revealing a confident smile.