As the distance closed, Zhang Fan could clearly feel the strange fluctuation intensifying, drawing upon the power of the entire Fire Element World and attracting all the cultivators within it.
"Two teams from the Nine Cliff Star Domain are also rapidly approaching. We're not very lucky; we're too far from where the treasure is about to emerge," True Immortal Puji's primordial spirit power permeated, quickly sensing two teams rapidly converging on the treasure's emergence point from different directions. He inwardly cursed his misfortune.
"It's actually a Flame Swallowing 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 suspended above a volcano.
The stone was perfectly round, covered in flames. It was currently devouring the flames from the volcano, emitting a dazzling and scorching light into the air, like a newborn star.
"We must have it," True Immortal Puji clearly understood the preciousness of the Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone, and its considerable size meant its value likely surpassed ten ordinary immortal treasures.
During the refining of immortal treasures, adding just a fist-sized piece of Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone could imbue the immortal treasure with a devouring characteristic. This would allow an ordinary immortal treasure to continuously grow by consuming other immortal treasures. If it were granted a complete Great Dao, it could even potentially mature into a Great Dao Secret Treasure.
Therefore, the moment Zhang Fan saw this Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone, an idea formed in his mind: to smelt it into his Blood Refining Divine Weapon, thereby greatly accelerating the growth and transformation of his Blood Refining Divine Weapon.
"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 hint of coldness flashing in his gaze. He was determined to obtain this Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone.
As the mana within his body surged, the Kunpeng Tome, hidden deep within him, was ignited. A colossal phantom of a Kunpeng appeared in the void, enveloping Zhang Fan.
With the Kunpeng's wings spread, Zhang Fan's speed instantly skyrocketed. He tore through the void like a meteor, his speed far surpassing the other two teams as he flew towards the volcano.
The other two teams momentarily froze. The leading Five-Star General couldn't help but murmur, "Can cultivators at the Spirit Refining realm achieve this speed?"
However, they quickly reacted, realizing that if they allowed Zhang Fan to proceed, neither of their teams would have a chance to seize the Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone.
"Stop!"
The two teams acted in perfect unison. The two leading Five-Star Generals simultaneously unleashed their Dao Domains, attempting to envelop Zhang Fan and restrain him, slowing his progress.
Concurrently, the remaining team members formed an attack formation and unleashed a barrage of attacks towards Zhang Fan.
"Go!"
Zhang Fan uttered a soft word, and a boundless wave of thunderous sword dao rules surged forth, sweeping across tens of thousands of miles of space like a tidal wave, easily submerging the Dao Domains unleashed by the two Five-Star Generals.
At the same time, without Zhang Fan's command, True Immortal Puji led the Blood Demon Jiao and others to form an attack formation, resisting the offensive from the other two teams.
"This..."
Not only the enemy cultivators, but even True Immortal Puji was surprised by how domineering Zhang Fan's Dao Domain was, able to crush two opponents simultaneously.
Upon closer inspection, True Immortal Puji soon discovered the distinctiveness of Zhang Fan's Dao Domain. In addition to the ubiquitous sword dao rules, there were also thunder rules integrated into the swords, containing immense destructive power.
Zhang Fan blazed ahead, under the watchful eyes of the other two teams. He reached the volcano first, pocketed the massive Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone, and then turned to face the two teams that had arrived late.
"The two leading Five-Star Generals are True Immortal Nine-Pupils and True Immortal Howling White. Their strength is only mid-tier among Five-Star Generals, but their teams are substantial. Their combined attack formation can even withstand attacks from Six-Star Generals," True Immortal Puji said, standing beside Zhang Fan.
Combined attack formations were a crucial combat art that every cultivator entering the Star Battlefield had to learn. Although simple, during large-scale warfare, these formations could pool immense power. A Spirit Refining realm cultivator leading a group of Primordial Spirit realm cultivators could even contend with Nascent Soul realm powerhouses.
The War Base's regulation that teams of at least five people were required to enter the Star Battlefield below Seven-Star Generals was also because this combined attack formation required at least five Nascent Soul stage cultivators to form.
True Immortal Nine-Pupils was a man with dark skin and a somewhat ferocious countenance. His true form was a serpentine beast, exuding a fierce aura. His pupils, like green beans, stared intently at Zhang Fan, and he spoke, "Hand over that Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone, and I will let you leave."
True Immortal Howling White, standing beside him, also led his team members to quickly approach True Immortal Nine-Pupils' group. His potent primordial spirit power suppressed the space, preventing Zhang Fan and his companions from tearing through it to escape.
"True Immortal Nine-Pupils, do you think you have the advantage just because you have more people? If you want the Flame Swallowing Fire Essence Stone, why not come and take it yourself?" True Immortal Puji shouted. Even though the two opposing teams combined had nearly twenty Nascent Soul stage cultivators, he showed no fear. With Zhang Fan present, teams led by Five-Star Generals posed no threat to them.
"So it's True Immortal Puji," True Immortal Nine-Pupils' sinister eyes fell upon True Immortal Puji, and he sneered, "I heard two years ago your entire team was wiped out, leaving only you to escape severely wounded. I thought you wouldn't dare to enter the Star Battlefield anymore."
Hearing this, True Immortal Puji's eyes gradually turned cold, and a killing intent brewed within him.
The battle from two years ago remained a painful memory for him. The team he led had been ambushed by two Six-Star General-level teams. Before they could react, most of his team members were killed or injured. Fortunately, he was strong enough to drag his severely wounded body back to the War Base, but his teammates perished without exception.
"Puji, can you lead them to form a combined attack formation and hold off one of the teams?" Zhang Fan, clearly sensing True Immortal Puji's emotional shift, but without dwelling on it, secretly transmitted his inquiry.
"Yes, leave True Immortal Howling White to me." True Immortal Puji nodded. Although True Immortal Howling White's team had eight cultivators, Puji's own strength was among the top tier of Five-Star Generals. Combined with the strength of Blood Demon Jiao and Nan Zun, he could contend with them head-on.
"Good." After receiving Puji's affirmative reply, Zhang Fan looked up at True Immortal Nine-Pupils, 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 streak of light and charged at True Immortal Nine-Pupils' team at extreme speed. Simultaneously, True Immortal Puji led Nan Zun and others to attack True Immortal Howling White's team.
Zhang Fan's first battle in the Star Battlefield erupted within this Fire Element World.
...