Da Mao struggled violently in Su Xi's grasp, trying to break free from her hold.
However, Su Xi's hands were like iron clamps. He struggled with all his might but couldn't break free at all.
"Sister, what are you doing?" Da Mao's face showed a pitiful expression as he looked at Su Xi pitifully.
Seeing Da Mao being held by Su Xi, the others rushed over, eager to help.
Although these people had no magical powers, they were unwilling for Su Xi to harm Da Mao. Each of them wore an expression of a willingness to die.
Looking at the villagers' reactions around her, Su Xi's suspicion was further confirmed. The Da Mao in her hand was the Fire Spirit Pearl she had been searching for, though she had never imagined the Fire Spirit Pearl would turn into a living person.
Su Xi paid no attention to those rushing towards her. Instead, she focused her gaze on Da Mao in front of her and said coldly, "Do you really want me to kill them?"
From Zheng Yuan's earlier words, Su Xi had already understood.
Once the Fire Spirit Pearl gained sentience and became a living person, it would not exist alone. Instead, it would constantly absorb human vitality to maintain its human form.
Therefore, these villagers in front of her were, strictly speaking, no longer true villagers. They were merely sacrifices used by the Fire Spirit Pearl to supply its human vitality, akin to living dead.
Even if they did nothing, these villagers wouldn't live for long.
Once their vitality was exhausted, they would all die.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Da Mao's innocent expression vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister look. "I never expected that even with my excellent disguise, you would still discover me."
Da Mao no longer bothered to maintain his facade. A scorching flame erupted from his body, engulfing him entirely.
Seeing Da Mao burst into flames, Su Xi quickly retracted her hand.
Even though the flames hadn't fully erupted, Su Xi could already feel the powerful energy contained within. If she hadn't let go, she would have been severely injured.
The other villagers, seeing Da Mao engulfed in flames, all knelt on the ground and began kowtowing repeatedly, muttering in a local dialect.
As they chanted, red lines emerged from their bodies, emitting a golden glow, all converging into Da Mao's body.
With the infusion of the red lines, Da Mao's body rapidly expanded, transforming into the appearance of an adult in the blink of an eye. Simultaneously, his oppressive aura grew, and his scorching aura intensified.
It was like a sun appearing before them, ready to melt everything in the world.
"Boom~"
Da Mao's body temperature increased further. The surrounding thatched huts couldn't withstand the intense heat and spontaneously combusted.
One, two.
...
Many houses caught fire, and the surrounding temperature rose higher and higher.
Yet, the villagers seemed oblivious, continuing to kowtow. Even when flames licked at some of them, they showed no reaction, their kowtowing even accelerating.
As their kowtowing frequency increased, the red lines on their bodies became thicker.
Witnessing the villagers' bizarre behavior, the other soldiers completely panicked, having not expected to encounter such a situation.
They had initially thought they were merely guarding some powerless villagers, only to find themselves facing such a strange predicament.
Driven by fear, they abandoned all military discipline and turned to flee. At this moment, their only desire was to survive; nothing else mattered.
However, before they could escape the village, they suddenly felt a heat in their chests, and their bodies instantly ignited.
At first, the flames were small, but they rapidly expanded, engulfing the men and reducing them to ashes.
Watching this scene, Su Xi couldn't help but step back, her expression growing solemn.
She realized she had underestimated the Fire Spirit Pearl's power.
Given its current strength, her cultivation was insufficient to contend with such potent flames. Contact with these flames would undoubtedly result in severe injuries.
Having absorbed the lives of so many people, Da Mao's malevolence intensified. The childishness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a bloodthirsty glint.
When a sacred artifact emerges, sacrifices are necessary.
Da Mao did not wish to be confined to the Scar of Heaven for centuries every few millennia. Thus, when the opportunity arose, he naturally sought to resist.
"Whoosh~"
A stream of flames surged towards Su Xi, intending to devour her vital essence as well.
The moment the flames left his hand, they swiftly sealed all of Su Xi's escape routes, giving her no chance to flee.
The flames coalesced into a colossal net, poised to ensnare Su Xi.
Seeing the bizarre flames transforming into ropes before her, Su Xi naturally did not want to be bound. Not to mention what would happen if she were caught, even mere contact with these flames would turn her to ash.
Seeing the flames, Heavenly Stellar True Master shouted, "Not good, these are not mortal flames."
According to legends, there were three True Fires in the cultivation world. Besides the well-known Samadhi True Fire, there were also the Yin True Fire and the Yang True Fire.
The scorching flames before them clearly possessed the might of the Yang True Fire.
As the highest-ranked flame in existence, the Yang True Fire could smelt all things in the world, and nothing could obstruct it.
Su Xi watched this unfold, her expression growing increasingly grave.
She had known the Fire Spirit Pearl would be difficult to deal with, but she hadn't expected it to have already birthed the Yang True Fire. She instantly wondered if she was there to subdue the Fire Spirit Pearl, or if the Fire Spirit Pearl was there to subdue her.
The talismans she had prepared turned to ash before she could even deploy them.
"What do I do?" Su Xi looked at Heavenly Stellar True Master beside her. She knew nothing about the Yang True Fire.
Her Ancestor, having seen and experienced much, would surely know how to deal with the Yang True Fire.
Observing the approaching flames, Heavenly Stellar True Master said nonchalantly, "To deal with something without roots, use your newly refined technique. It should be effective."
"Heavenly Talisman?" Su Xi couldn't fathom why the Heavenly Talisman would be effective, but faced with the immediate danger, she had no time to ponder.
As a great man once said, hesitation leads to defeat.
"Talismans of Invitation!"
Su Xi leaped into the air, a white light erupting from her body. The familiar brush reappeared in her hand.
As soon as the brush was wielded, Su Xi directly struck the flames.
"Whoosh~"
Seeing that the brush in her hand was not melted by the Yang True Fire, Su Xi breathed a long sigh of relief. Then, using the Yang True Fire as spiritual energy, she began to draw.
With Su Xi's movements, the Yang True Fire was gradually siphoned away, transforming into energy within the talismans.
Seeing his Yang True Fire being stolen by Su Xi, Da Mao's face changed drastically. This was his source of power, his very essence. If Su Xi took it away, how could he become stronger?
"No."
Da Mao roared and charged at Su Xi desperately.
He had initially believed the Yang True Fire would quickly kill Su Xi, but unexpectedly, a complication arose. However, since he had already gained sentience, he naturally did not wish to fall back into slumber.