Zeng Batian unleashed a set of Fire Cloud Palms, instantly creating wave after wave of fire surging towards Li Feng like an avalanche.

The power of the fire waves was so intense that even those standing dozens of meters away from the Duel Platform could feel its scorching heat.

"So powerful."

Someone couldn't help but marvel, but soon shifted their gaze to Li Feng, who was charging forward fearlessly. Despite Li Feng withstanding Zeng Batian's Red Lotus Fire previously, the disparity in their ranks was still evident.

Moreover, Li Feng hailing from the Lower Three Rings, even if he had some fortuitous encounters allowing him to withstand the burning of the Red Lotus Fire, how much foundation could a newly ascended Golden Core cultivator have?

Zeng Batian was different; not only was he in his prime golden age with the resources of the Zeng Family, although Heaven Rank and Earth Rank cultivation techniques were still hard to acquire, Profound Level techniques were nothing difficult for the Zeng Family.

Their battle experience and foundation weren't even in the same league. Even if Li Feng luckily endured once, when things got serious, could he withstand it?

Though Li Feng not dying created some hesitation among people, it was soon overshadowed by rationality.

How could he possibly be Zeng Batian's match?

That wasn't logical.

Thinking cross-ranked killing was easy—unless Li Feng had an even stronger trump card.

But was that possible?

On the Duel Platform, the space in front of them was filled with countless palm winds and those endless fire waves, and Zeng Batian became serious; after all, he should win this match, but if he lost...

He couldn't afford to lose.

The Zeng Family couldn't afford it.

In an instant, the sky was filled with Fire Clouds and palm winds engulfing Li Feng. This strike was no longer just Red Lotus Fire's burning but a comprehensive crush.

Even if the opponent had something odd, not fearing the burning of Red Lotus Fire, but in the face of absolute strength, there was only one outcome.

Li Feng felt the overpowering palm power of Fire Cloud crashing onto him; at this moment, he felt like a lone leaf in the ocean under a storm, seemingly always on the brink of capsizing.

The powerful palm force, along with the fierce burning of Red Lotus Fire, made it even hard to breathe.

Humph.

Li Feng snorted softly, exhaling a stream of hot air, as the Domineering Purple Flame swiftly circulated within his meridians, simultaneously activating the Burning Technique. His heartbeat suddenly gave a mighty thump, shaking his entire essence and spirit.

In the next second.

Li Feng's blood and veins throughout his body seemed to boil; now he was like running on twin engines, his skin instantly scorching, and when these blood rushed into the heart, the Vermilion Bird Blood residing in the heart's Purple Mansion seemed awakened.

The Vermilion Bird Blood appeared to undergo a blazing rebirth, an illusion emerged from the blood, then it spread its wings, and a cry of the Vermilion Bird echoed from the Purple Mansion.

This cry exploded directly in Li Feng's mind; it was a tint of divine will, the Holy Beast Vermilion Bird vividly appeared in his mind.

Li Feng looked at the lifelike Vermilion Bird, swallowing hard.

"Interesting."

To his surprise, the Vermilion Bird Illusion spoke, leaving Li Feng stunned; was this Vermilion Bird alive?

"Hmm, little one, this Holy Beast coexists with the heavens and earth, an immortal existence; it cannot die. You obtaining my bloodline inheritance counts as your fortune."

"The abnormal fire on you is quite peculiar, somewhat like Qilin Fire, but carries a notion of destruction...!"

"Strange, strange."

The Vermilion Bird muttered to itself.

"If you get a chance, come visit my Vermilion Bird Holy Realm, that's all."

After speaking, the Vermilion Bird Illusion detached its divine will, and Li Feng finally exhaled, the opponent's divine will was too strong.

Moreover, according to the Kunlun Void map, this Vermilion Bird should be in the Southern forbidden zone thousands of miles away, yet it could send divine will across such a distance.

This kind of power.

It's quite terrifying.

Li Feng returned to his senses, uncertain whether this was good or bad, but at the moment had no time for further contemplation, as his inner Vermilion Bird awakened, his entire being became volcanic, nearing the tipping point of eruption.

Li Feng let out a low roar, stretching out, the Vermilion Bird within the Purple Mansion broke free, immediately raising its head, its embracing wings seemingly finding space to unfold, directly flapping.

In an instant, the tsunami-like fire waves on the Duel Platform were swept clean.

The Vermilion Bird raised its head, emitting a cry, its clear voice shocking all the spectators.

Golden Core Stage strength aside, those not at Golden Core directly found their minds buzzing, almost scared to the point of peeing themselves.

"Whoa, wow, that's a Vermilion Bird."

The Vermilion Bird Illusion appeared behind Li Feng, breaking Zeng Batian's Fire Cloud Palms. Li Feng didn't idle, with a springing step, darting towards the bewildered Zeng Batian.

Li Feng's punch landed squarely on Zeng Batian's face, whose disbelief persisted, finally being knocked down by Li Feng, still murmuring this was impossible.

"Vermilion Bird Bloodline."

With Li Feng pinning Zeng Batian underneath, Martial Saint Square fell silent as they all stared wide-eyed at Li Feng's triumph.

In the surrounding tavern's private boxes.

Ji Wuyang widened his eyes, Vermilion Bird Bloodline, what was happening?

He actually had Vermilion Bird Bloodline too?

Was it because of Sikong Lie?

No, impossible, though Sikong Lie awakened Vermilion Bird Bloodline, its power seemed weaker compared to Li Feng's.

However, this explained his earlier doubts.

Li Feng having Vermilion Bird Bloodline made him immune to Sikong Lie's Vermilion Bird Fire, even Vermilion Bird Tears, sharing the same origin. If Sikong Lie was stronger than Li Feng, he could injure him, but if weaker, Li Feng wouldn't get hurt.

Additionally, it elucidated why Zeng Batian's Red Lotus Fire couldn't harm Li Feng.

Because Red Lotus draws its power from Earth Core Fire, growing to its final form, and since Vermilion Bird dwells in similar environments, despite Red Lotus Fire and Vermilion Bird Fire bearing different names, they stem from the same source.

Red Lotus Fire not only couldn't hurt the opponent, but might even nurture them.

This meant Zeng Batian was restrained.

Ji Feixue blinked; Vermilion Bird Bloodline, she hadn't expected that, although she sensed something mysterious about Li Feng before, who doesn't have some secrets?

"Brother, could Li Feng be an illegitimate child of the Sikong family?"

In Ancestor Dragon City, the Sikong family was reputed as Vermilion Bird family, their family crest was a Vermilion Bird, and they took it as their totem.

And throughout Ancestor Dragon City, only the Sikong family possessed Vermilion Bird Bloodline, so Ji Feixue inevitably speculated.

Ji Wuyang heard Ji Feixue's guess but didn't refute it outright, rather rubbing his chin thoughtfully: "That's not entirely improbable."