"Boom!"
Outside Azure Flame City, deep within a remote forest, a massive explosion shook the surroundings, sending birds and beasts fleeing in every direction.
The blast was so powerful that, had it not been such an isolated place, it would've surely drawn the attention of nearby cultivators.
Just the wide, empty, and charred circle surrounding the area was enough to show how terrifying that explosion had been.
"Cough… cough…"
At the center of the crater, a figure lay sprawled on the scorched ground, coughing weakly. His dark robe was torn to shreds by the explosion, revealing a lean, blood-streaked body that still held traces of youth.
His breathing was shallow, each gasp sounding more like a struggle than a sign of life. The pool of blood beneath him hissed softly, evaporating under the lingering heat of the explosion.
It was clear that he was barely clinging to life.
"Cough… y-you…"
Although the figure was on the verge of death, his face still couldn't hide the shock.
