The Black Cauldron of Cold Flame was incredibly heavy. As time passed, the pressure it exerted on the body grew increasingly oppressive, as if countless mountains and cauldrons were piling onto one's back. The burden could not be shaken off or discarded. It was enough to crush one's body and soul, suppressing even their will. The sensation of the cauldron crashing down upon the head brought only darkness and despair.
Forcefully activating the cauldron left the Ogre Chieftain pale. He wasn't just expending his battle energy, but also burning his lifespan and life potential, transforming it into raw power to drag the entire Demonbreaker Legion into the black cauldron at once.
Yet, looking at the soldiers trapped inside, he felt it was all worth it.
"Hahaha! Let's see how arrogant you are now. Once you're inside the cauldron, you'll never escape. The cauldron is for life!"
"That's right! Today we're going to stew this damn human army alive. Tens of thousands of elite troops in one pot—this is something even the beastmen couldn't pull off. But we will! That's real power!"
"Come on! Everyone, pour in your power! This is a chance we can't miss!"
A horde of ogres gathered around the cauldron, channeling their strength into it with madness. They were determined to annihilate the Demonbreaker Legion completely.
Inside the cauldron, the soldiers were already feeling the effects.
"So cold... The outside temperature's dropping fast. These flames are strange—even the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation can't resist them. The less fire there is, the colder it gets, like our body heat is being sucked out."
"Yeah, even our essence, spirit, and vitality are slipping away. And we feel like we're being crushed under a heavy weight—our true essence and magic are draining!"
The Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation was a powerful offensive formation, extremely effective on the battlefield, but not specialized in defense. Wrapped in the black flames within the cauldron, the soldiers immediately noticed changes in their bodies.
Looking up, all they could see was an endless black sky.
They were completely engulfed in darkness, sealed off by some invisible power. Under such power, breaking free was nearly impossible. There was no doubt—they were now trapped in the Black Cauldron.
"You think you can stew me, Zhang Fei? I'm just afraid your ogre teeth aren't strong enough! All forces, prepare to re-form!"
Zhang Fei's eyes flashed with a vicious gleam. He shouted:
"Heaven and Earth Without Limits—Soldiers of Heaven, Lend Me Your Strength!"
喝!!
At his cry, the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation instantly collapsed, revealing the five hundred thousands of soldiers of the Demonbreaker Legion. They shouted in unison, and an invisible, mystical connection formed between them and Zhang Fei, channeling their true essence into him.
The energies did not clash—instead, they blended together in perfect harmony. Zhang Fei's body began to expand at a visible rate: ten zhang, hundred zhang, soon reaching hundreds of zhang tall.
In a flash, he had become a towering war god, clad in divine armor, gripping a serpentine spear in his hand. His eyes blazed with fury. The Serpent Lance—his lifebound weapon—had become a divine treasure ever since he arrived in the Eternal Continent, evolving alongside him, just like Guan Yu's Azure Dragon Crescent Blade.
"BREAK!!"
Empowered by a tide of energy that surged through his body like a storm, Zhang Fei roared. His cry echoed like thunder through the cauldron. With a mighty heave, his Serpent Lance pierced the sky, aiming to shatter the black domain above.
Boom!!
A swirling ripple appeared in the darkness above, distorting under the power of the strike. It was clear—the very cauldron space was on the verge of breaking under this blow.
"No!! How can this be?! Da Yi actually possesses such a terrifying battle formation! This channels the power of five hundred thousands into a single body! How could they have something this monstrous?!"
The Ogre Chieftain was shaken. If the Eight Gates Formation was deadly in offense, then this Heavenly General Converging Formation was devastating in single combat, allowing one warrior to wield the might of an army. The two formations were each suited to different scenarios, but both were equally lethal when used properly.
And now—Zhang Fei had become an unstoppable war machine.
Even the Dark Night Curtain in the sky couldn't hide what was happening inside the cauldron.
"Your Majesty, shall I intervene? I am confident I can slay that ogre chieftain. Once he dies, the cauldron will lose its anchor and fall apart," said Tong Huang calmly.
The Ogre Chieftain's aura had clearly diminished. Slaying him now would be simple.
"No need," Yi Tianxing replied with a serene shake of his head. "I trust in Da Yi's soldiers. If these aliens think they can wipe us out so easily, they'll pay dearly for their arrogance. This is our soldiers' moment to shine—let them earn their glory."
Just as he finished speaking, the cauldron trembled violently. The flames dimmed, flickering with instability. Its brilliance began to falter.
"No! Suppress him—now!"
Angry shouts erupted—but it was too late. A terrifying force burst outward, sending all nearby ogres flying, blood spraying midair as they were gravely wounded by the backlash.
BOOM!!
With a thunderous explosion, a giant spear pierced through the cauldron, tearing apart its restrictions. A colossal figure hundreds of zhang tall strode out, sweeping his lance across the battlefield.
"Aaaahhh!!"
Wherever the spear swept, ogres exploded into blood mist, unable to withstand even a single blow.
"Impossible! How can anyone wield power like this?!"
The Ogre Chieftain let out a despairing howl—only to be met with a cold, merciless strike. In the blink of an eye, he too exploded into blood mist, slain on the spot.
"Humans! Today we'll show you—we're not to be trifled with! Even if we burn through our heritage, we'll make you pay the price!!"
Another voice roared—this time, from the Lava Giant Chieftain, Huorong.
His body surged with magma, glowing like molten iron, as if lava was his blood. Towering over a hundred zhang tall, he stood like a massive colossus upon the battlefield.
And in his hand… was a crimson scroll, crafted from some unknown beast hide, covered in interwoven crimson runes pulsing with destructive power. Inside, terrifying flames and beastly roars raged.
"Not good! That's a divine scroll—it must contain an extremely powerful sealed technique. Once unleashed, it could devastate the battlefield!" exclaimed Zhuge Liang, his expression turning grim.
"Yes—an innate divine treasure. And it's single-use. That kind of scroll is always monstrously powerful," added Jia Xu, face equally grave.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
The scroll ignited, transforming into a ball of red light that shot into the sky. The dark, moonless night was suddenly pierced by a blazing crimson fire, igniting the heavens.