As the distance closed, Zhang Fan could clearly feel the peculiar fluctuation intensify, influencing the power of the entire Fire Element World and drawing in all the cultivators within.
"Two teams from the Nine Cliffs Starfield are also rushing over. Our luck isn't great; we're quite far from where the treasure is about to appear," True Immortal Pu Ji's primordial spirit power spread, quickly sensing two teams rapidly approaching the treasure's emergence point from other directions. He muttered inwardly, "This is not good."
"It's actually a Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone." Even from tens of thousands of miles away, Zhang Fan could clearly see a stone the size of an infant's head floating above a volcano.
The stone was perfectly spherical, covered in flames. It was continuously devouring the flames from the volcano, emitting a dazzling and scorching light in the air, like a newborn star.
"We must get it," True Immortal Pu Ji clearly knew the preciousness of the Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone, and seeing how large it was, its value was likely more than ten ordinary immortal treasures.
When refining immortal treasures, a fist-sized Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone was enough to imbue the immortal treasure with the characteristic of devouring. It could allow an ordinary immortal treasure to grow by devouring other immortal treasures. If bestowed with a complete Great Dao, it could even grow into a Great Dao Secret Treasure.
Therefore, the moment Zhang Fan saw the Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone, an idea formed in his mind: to smelt it into his Blood Refining Divine Weapon, thus greatly accelerating its growth and transformation.
"Leave it to me!"
Divine light flashed in Zhang Fan's eyes. He glanced at the two teams tens of thousands of miles away, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He was determined to obtain this Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone.
As the pháp lực within his body surged, the Kunpeng Diagram, hidden deep within him, lit up. A colossal phantom of a Kunpeng appeared in the void, enveloping Zhang Fan.
With a flap of the Kunpeng's wings, Zhang Fan's speed surged, slicing through the void like a meteor, far surpassing the other two teams as he flew towards the volcano.
The other two teams were momentarily stunned. The leading five-star general murmured, "Can a cultivator in the Spirit Refining Realm achieve this speed?"
However, they quickly regained their senses, knowing that if Zhang Fan was allowed to proceed, neither of their teams would have a chance to seize the Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone.
"Stop!"
Both teams acted with uncanny synchronicity. The two leading five-star generals simultaneously unleashed their Domain of Great Dao, intending to envelop and restrain Zhang Fan, slowing him down.
Concurrently, the remaining team members formed an offensive formation and unleashed an attack towards Zhang Fan.
"Go!"
Zhang Fan softly uttered a word, and a torrent of lightning and sword dao rules surged forth, sweeping across thousands of miles of space like a tidal wave, easily submerging the Domains of Great Dao unleashed by the two five-star generals.
At the same time, without Zhang Fan's command, True Immortal Pu Ji led the Blood Demon Flood Dragon and others to form an offensive formation, resisting the attacks from the other two teams.
"This..."
Not only the enemy cultivators, but even True Immortal Pu Ji was taken aback. Zhang Fan's Domain of Great Dao was so overbearing, able to achieve a crushing victory against two opponents.
Upon closer inspection, True Immortal Pu Ji quickly discovered the difference in Zhang Fan's Domain of Great Dao. Besides the ubiquitous sword dao rules, there were also lightning rules integrated into the swords, containing immense destructive power.
Zhang Fan galloped ahead, under the watchful eyes of the other two teams, he was the first to reach the volcano and pocketed the massive Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone. Only then did he turn to face the two teams that had arrived late.
"The two leading five-star generals are True Immortal Nine-Eyed and True Immortal Howling White. Among five-star generals, their strength is only considered upper-middle. However, their teams are large, and when they form an offensive formation, they can withstand the attacks of a six-star general," True Immortal Pu Ji said, standing beside Zhang Fan.
Offensive formations were a cooperative technique that every cultivator entering the Starry Battlefield had to learn. Although simple, during large-scale battles, these formations could pool immense power. A cultivator in the Spirit Refining Realm leading a group of Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators could even contend with a Soul Transformation Realm expert.
The War Base's regulation that teams must consist of at least five people to enter the Starry Battlefield below the seven-star general level was also due to this offensive formation, which required at least five Soul Transformation Realm cultivators to form.
True Immortal Nine-Eyed was a dark-skinned man with a somewhat ferocious face. His true form was a snake-like exotic beast, exuding a fierce aura. His tiny eyes, like green beans, stared intently at Zhang Fan. He spoke, "Hand over that Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone, and I will let you all leave."
True Immortal Howling White beside him also led his team to quickly approach True Immortal Nine-Eyed's team, his formidable primordial spirit power suppressing space to prevent Zhang Fan and the others from tearing through space and escaping.
"True Immortal Nine-Eyed, do you think being numerous gives you an advantage? If you want the Flame Devouring Fire Essence Stone, why don't you come and take it yourself?" True Immortal Pu Ji shouted. Even though the two teams combined had nearly twenty Soul Transformation Realm cultivators, he was not afraid. With Zhang Fan here, teams led by five-star generals posed no threat to them.
"So it's True Immortal Pu Ji." True Immortal Nine-Eyed's sinister eyes fell on True Immortal Pu Ji, and he sneered, "I heard that your team was wiped out two years ago, leaving only you to escape with severe injuries. I thought you wouldn't dare to enter the Starry Battlefield anymore."
Hearing this, True Immortal Pu Ji's eyes gradually turned cold, and a murderous intent brewed within him.
The battle two years ago remained a pain in his heart to this day. The team he led had been ambushed by two six-star general level teams. Before they could react, most of his teammates were killed or injured. Fortunately, his strength was sufficient, and he managed to drag his heavily wounded body back to the War Base, but none of his teammates survived.
"Pu Ji, can you lead them to form an offensive formation and hold off one team?" Zhang Fan clearly sensed True Immortal Pu Ji's emotional shift, but he didn't say much, instead asking via telepathic transmission.
"Yes, leave True Immortal Howling White to me." True Immortal Pu Ji nodded. Although True Immortal Howling White's small team had eight cultivators, his personal strength was already top-tier among five-star generals. Coupled with the power of Blood Demon Flood Dragon, Southern Esteemed, and the others, he could contend with him head-on.
"Good." After receiving True Immortal Pu Ji's affirmative reply, Zhang Fan raised his eyes to look at True Immortal Nine-Eyed, grinned, and said, "Let us leave, but I never intended to let you leave!"
Zhang Fan beckoned, and the blood-colored iron sword fell into his hand. He transformed into a stream of light and charged at True Immortal Nine-Eyed's team at extreme speed. Simultaneously, True Immortal Pu Ji led Southern Esteemed and others to charge towards True Immortal Howling White's team.
Zhang Fan's first battle in the Starry Battlefield erupted within the Fire Element World.
...