The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1426: The Main Force Withdraws

Because of the conflict between Ling Feng and the team leader, the teams ultimately split up and moved separately.

Deep within the forbidden ground, Ling Feng found a volcanic cavern. He killed the demonic cultivator who controlled snakes, insects, and vermin, and obtained his treasure, the Asura Demonic Ring.

After that, Ling Feng ventured further into the cavern and discovered a Heaven-Incinerating Fire Dragon Pool, where he obtained a large amount of Heaven-Incinerating Dragon Flame Essence.

By soaking in the Dragon Flame Essence, his strength advanced to the power of eight dragons.

...

In the blink of an eye, three full days passed.

The main force sent to wipe out the barbarian remnants suffered heavy losses within the maze of mechanisms set by that gaunt old man.

In the end, only about half managed to emerge from the lava caverns alive. Even Su Ming, the squad leader, was nowhere to be found and was most likely dead. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

This was only because the gaunt old man, the demonic cultivator deep within the cavern, had already been killed, leaving no further ambushes. Otherwise, once those eleven Extreme Human Emperor level corpse puppets had acted, everyone would have perished inside the volcanic cavern without exception.

In the end, under Yin Jian's leadership, the remaining barbarian forces were completely wiped out. However, their leader was nowhere to be seen.

What puzzled everyone even more was that Ling Feng had also vanished without a trace.

It was not surprising. Without Ling Feng's Boundless Vision, and with the cavern's terrain so complex, they had wandered aimlessly like headless flies. In just three days, there was no way they could find the hidden location of that gaunt old man.

"Senior Brother Yin, now that there are no more ambushes from the barbarian remnants inside the cavern, could it be that their commander has already escaped, or perhaps perished together with Senior Brother Su Ming?"

One of Su Ming's subordinates spoke in a low voice.

"Hmph! You think someone like your Senior Brother Su is capable of that?"

Chu Tiange could not help but speak up.

After parting ways with Ling Feng, they had not encountered him again. Later, while hunting down the barbarian remnants in the cavern, they ran into Yin Jian and joined forces with him.

Yin Jian frowned. It was true. Aside from the resistance they encountered on the first day upon entering the cavern, their later search revealed nothing but traps and arrays, with no further opposition.

If the enemy leader were still alive, should he not have taken advantage of their weakened state to wipe them out in one strike?

Still, Yin Jian did not believe Su Ming alone could have dragged the enemy leader down with him.

If Ling Feng had been involved, it would make more sense.

After all, Ling Feng had also disappeared for three days without any trace. It was very possible that he and Su Ming had encountered the barbarian leader, fought fiercely, and all died somewhere within the cavern.

That was the only explanation that felt reasonable.

Otherwise, no matter which side had won, things would not be this quiet.

"No matter what, there have been no signs of enemy activity these past few days. If we stay any longer, our strength will only continue to decline. By then, we might not even be able to retreat the way we came."

One of the disciples spoke with concern.

They had remained in the Dead Soul Devil Abyss for far too long. Their elemental force was suppressed, and their recovery speed kept slowing.

If this continued, how would they survive the dangers of the Dead Soul Devil Abyss and return to the Hall of War?

"That is right. In my opinion, the barbarian leader must already be dead. There is no point in lingering here any longer. It is time to return."

"Senior Brother Sun is right. Senior Brother Yin, please make a decision soon!"

By that point, their losses were already severe. If they continued to delay, they might end up dying to the monsters of the Dead Soul Devil Abyss. They had survived the barbarian remnants only to die like this, which would be a bitter end.

"Uh..."

Yin Jian hesitated.

If they left now, it would mean no one had claimed the main credit for this mission.

Still, it was better that no one claimed it than to let someone else take it.

With that thought, Yin Jian finally nodded.

"Very well. Since there are no more disturbances within the cavern, make your preparations. We will return to the Hall of War."

"Are we just leaving like this? Should we not wait for Junior Brother Ling?"

Li Fei frowned and bit her lip.

"If you want to wait, then wait. The remaining barbarian are already wiped out. What is the point of staying here, waiting to die? That brat Ling Feng is probably already dead!"

One of Su Ming's veteran subordinates snapped at Li Fei. After three days without news, Su Ming was most likely dead.

If even their leader had died, how could Ling Feng still be alive?

The thought of Ling Feng dying alongside him gave that disciple a small sense of balance.

"You!"

Li Fei was furious and about to argue back, but Chu Tiange stopped her. He shook his head and said slowly,

"Junior Sister Li Fei, I believe Junior Brother Ling will be fine. Still, they are not entirely wrong. Waiting out here will not change anything. Let us return to the Hall of War and wait there. I believe he will come back."

"That is right. I have not respected many people in my life, but Junior Brother Ling is one of them. With his monstrous talent, how could a mere barbarian general possibly kill him?"

Zhuo Yang nodded and spoke in a serious tone, "With the strength we have left, we cannot afford to stay any longer. If this continues, Junior Brother Ling might still be alive, but we will die first in the Dead Soul Devil Abyss."

During the day, the area around the volcanic cavern was relatively safe. Once night fell and the mist fully sealed the surroundings, the danger rose sharply, and the monsters became far more active.

Everyone had to retreat to the outer edges of the cavern just to barely hold them off.

After three days, they were all utterly exhausted. Once the main force left, the four of them alone would never survive a single night.

Fairy Qingping let out a soft sigh. She cast one last deep look toward the cavern but said nothing, having already made her decision.

"Ling Feng, you have to stay alive!"

Li Fei clenched her fists tightly, silently praying for Ling Feng.

The group lingered outside the cavern for three days. In the end, failing to find the barbarian leader, they could only retreat to the Hall of War and make further plans.

...

At the same time, deep within the volcanic cavern, Ling Feng was facing a tremendous trial.

The clash between the fourth-phase Devouring Flame and the Heaven-Incinerating Dragon Fire had reached a stalemate. For three whole days, Ling Feng had hovered on the brink of death countless times, unable to live yet unable to die.

At that moment, flames blazed all around his body. He looked like a man made of fire. Wherever he stepped, scorched footprints were left behind, and even the ground seemed ready to ignite.

There was at least one piece of good news. Ling Feng could no longer feel the pain of being burned. After enduring it for so long, he had grown numb to it.

The Heaven-Incinerating Dragon Fire and the fourth-phase Devouring Flame coursed through his body, constantly clashing and devouring each other, neither gaining the upper hand. Ling Feng was unable to absorb either of them.

In the end, he had become a walking mass of flames. He looked powerful and imposing, but none of that fire could be controlled by him.

Instead, he had to divert his attention just to resist the flames. Not only was the Devouring Flame effectively sealed, even his elemental force and spiritual power had to be constantly used to fend off the invasion of the fire.

As a result, nearly half of his strength was suppressed without him realizing it. This state was truly a headache to deal with.