With the Fierce Flame Bird's cry, terrifying flames surged around its body, rushing towards the Azure Green ripples without holding back.
Azure Green, already severely wounded, turned ashen-faced. He had finally managed to enter Tongtian Academy, aspiring to reach the Sage realm and bring glory to his lineage. However, he never expected to suffer such a heavy blow from this Fierce Flame Bird today. If he were to perish at the hands of this creature, he would die with deep regret.
"Senior Sister, do not panic, I am here to save you!"
Lu Fan stepped forward, arriving beside Azure Green in an instant, intending to forcefully resist the Fierce Flame Bird.
"You are no match for it. This Fierce Flame Bird is a Half-Sage Beast. You must not underestimate it here."
Azure Green quickly warned, "This matter does not concern you, hurry and leave!"
Unfortunately, Lu Fan did not comply. In the blink of an eye, a surge of flame power from his palm forcefully clashed with the Fierce Flame Bird.
Boom…
With a resounding boom, the Fierce Flame Bird was violently sent reeling backward, its fiery feathers gradually falling off, as if the attack had caused it internal injuries.
"You beast, though you have reached the Half-Sage realm, your strength is still a bit lacking."
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "How dare you be so arrogant within Tongtian Academy? Today, I shall subdue you!"
The Fierce Flame Bird let out a roar, refusing to yield to Lu Fan. It seemed incredibly indignant that Lu Fan had intruded upon its territory.
Azure Green stood frozen, filled with disbelief. He had been worried that Lu Fan would be heavily injured, but now it seemed his concerns were unfounded. Not only was Lu Fan unharmed, but he had also managed to repel the Fierce Flame Bird.
He knew very well that the Fierce Flame Bird was a Half-Sage Beast. Being able to repel it was enough to demonstrate the immense power of Lu Fan.
"Junior Brother, you must be careful. That Fierce Flame Bird is no ordinary demonic beast," Azure Green reminded him again.
"Do not worry, Senior Sister. No matter what it is, it will perish here today!"
With that, Lu Fan leaped forward, rushing towards the Fierce Flame Bird. For some reason, he sensed that the Fierce Flame Bird contained something he needed.
Azure Green had intended to help, but seeing Lu Fan fighting with such ease, completely unfazed by the Fierce Flame Bird, he was momentarily stunned.
Within the entire Eastern Courtyard, his strength was already at the pinnacle, having reached the Half-Sage realm. Even he could not easily subdue the Fierce Flame Bird, yet Lu Fan was gaining the upper hand. This meant Lu Fan's strength had reached the Half-Sage level, or perhaps even more terrifying.
Boom…
Another thunderous roar echoed as the Fierce Flame Bird was struck by Lu Fan's punch and sent crashing to the ground, its life force extinguished. However, within its body, flame energy continued to sustain it.
"Old man, what is going on?" Lu Fan asked the ancient primordial spirit. "Why do I feel a trace of Sacred Fire within this Fierce Flame Bird's body?"
"The Fierce Flame Bird has consumed the Lightning Blaze Flame!"
The ancient primordial spirit stated, "This is the twenty-eighth ranked Sacred Fire on the Sacred Fire Ranking, ten places higher than the White Lotus Sacred Fire!"
"Lightning Blaze Flame?"
Lu Fan's face lit up with joy. If that were indeed the case, he had stumbled upon an opportunity today. Sacred Fires were notoriously difficult to obtain, and now, to acquire another one, all he had to do was absorb it to increase his cultivation.
"Thank you, Junior Brother, for your assistance!"
Azure Green quickly clasped his hands in gratitude. "Since you killed this Fierce Flame Bird, the Blazing Flame Sacred Sword it guarded now belongs to you."
"Blazing Flame Sacred Sword?"
Lu Fan looked surprised as Azure Green approached the Fierce Flame Bird's lair and drew out a long sword, his eyes filled with affection.
He had repeatedly attempted to defeat the Fierce Flame Bird to obtain the Blazing Flame Sacred Sword but had never succeeded. If Lu Fan hadn't appeared in time, he would likely have met his end.
"You may not know this, but in our Eastern Courtyard, to obtain a Sacred Artifact, one must defeat the Sacred Beast guarding it," Azure Green stated plainly. "This Fierce Flame Bird was guarding the Blazing Flame Sacred Sword! Therefore, this sword belongs to you!"
"So, within a certain forest, there are many Sacred Beasts. Normally, they do not attack people? They only attack when someone enters their territory?" Lu Fan asked, slightly perplexed.
"That's right. I've been here several times, but each attempt ended in failure. I never imagined that Junior Brother would be able to defeat it," Azure Green nodded slightly, a hint of envy in his expression.
"I see!"
Lu Fan finally understood and smiled. "As the saying goes, a gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it righteously. I will not take what belongs to another."
"What do you mean by that, Junior Brother?" Azure Green asked, a little confused.
"Since Senior Sister likes it, please take it," Lu Fan stated directly. "I will not compete with Senior Sister for it. Besides, I intervened today to save Senior Sister, not to acquire a Sacred Artifact."
"But this is a Sacred Sword!" Azure Green said with a serious expression. "Are you truly willing to give this Sacred Artifact to me?"
"Didn't you just say that there are many Sacred Swords within this forest? If I truly wanted one, I would simply go and take it," Lu Fan shrugged.
"Sacred Swords are guarded by Half-Sage Beasts, and some are even true Sacred Beasts," Azure Green explained. "It is not easy to obtain them."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly, showing no concern. In his eyes, these were trivial matters. If he were to claim the sword for himself, he would feel rather uneasy.
Azure Green appeared slightly awkward. He was fond of the Blazing Flame Sacred Sword but did not want to take it from Lu Fan, as he knew it did not rightfully belong to him.
"Senior Sister, do not feel any pressure. I am not interested in this Blazing Flame Sacred Sword," Lu Fan stated. "If you truly feel indebted, then consider it a favor owed to me, and you can repay it when the opportunity arises."
"Junior Brother, rest assured, whatever you need in the future, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!" Azure Green quickly clasped his hands. "Even… even if you have feelings for me…"
"I am not that kind of person, Senior Sister, please do not overthink it," Lu Fan replied with an embarrassed smile.
"It was I who overthought it!" Azure Green's face flushed slightly. "But no matter what, I must thank Junior Brother."
Lu Fan nodded slightly and turned to leave. However, he did not return to the cultivation pavilion but instead went in search of the Fierce Flame Bird's corpse. The Lightning Blaze Flame within the Fierce Flame Bird was what Lu Fan desired. He would not easily let go of such a valuable treasure. Ranked twenty-eighth on the Sacred Fire Ranking, its power must be extraordinary. If he absorbed it, he could increase his cultivation in the future.
Upon finding the Fierce Flame Bird's body, Lu Fan forcefully absorbed the Lightning Blaze Flame into his body. Simultaneously, he sat down cross-legged, intending to suppress it. With his greatly increased strength, the Sacred Fire posed little threat to him now.