The genius who counterattacked the mainland

The sky over the scorching wasteland seemed dyed orange-red by molten gold. Thick waves of heat rolled down, distorting vision and making distant scenery seem to sway in an illusion. As Xu Tiancai and his companions stepped onto this scorched earth, a sizzling sound echoed from the soles of their shoes. It was the instant protest of leather against scorching rock. The heat from the ground, like a greedy demon, surged up from the soles of their feet, attempting to burn away all their strength.

Ah Gang frowned, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and were evaporated in an instant, leaving only white marks. The battle axe in his hand was red from the high temperature, as if it had just been pulled out of a furnace. "This damn place is even more unbearable than that snowy peak! It's so hot that my skin is about to be cooked!" He spat, but did not dare to slack off. He held the battle axe horizontally, alert to the "fire monsters" that might jump out from the surroundings at any time.

The fire monsters didn't keep them waiting for long. Soon, several balls of flame leaped out from the cracks in the dry earth, twisting and converging into humanoid shapes. Their flaming "hair" danced, their "eyes" danced with violent flames, and they roared and pounced. The leading one was tall, and with a wave of its arms, it swung out two flaming whips. Wherever they passed, the air crackled and exploded, like firecrackers.

Lin spat softly, her staff whirling rapidly. Wind elemental whistled in front of her, forming a vortex like a transparent shield, withstanding the lash of the fire whip. But the fire monster was incredibly powerful, and the vortex was shaken and shattered. Lin's mouth bled, her face pale, but she gritted her teeth and held on, chanting an incantation. Wind blades shot out from the vortex, slicing through the monster's body where the Flame Soul Crystal resided.

The Ice Princess followed closely, her hands dancing as icy magic poured forth, transforming into a rain of ice arrows that rustled and shot towards the Fire Spirit. Ice and fire collided, stirring up a cloud of vapor and creating a sizzling sound. Su Yao's zither played, sending waves of sound flowing through everyone like cool water, relieving the intense heat and carrying a strange rhythm that disrupted the Fire Spirit's rhythm, slowing its attacks slightly.

Xu Tiancai seized this opportunity, unleashing a dazzling radiance from his Star Sword, like a night star streaking across the wasteland. He charged at the Fire Spirit like lightning, dodging its flaming fist with a sideways movement. The sword's blade sliced ​​through the Fire Spirit's arm, piercing the Flame Soul Crystal at its core. The Fire Spirit roared in shock and fury, its flames surging. It attempted to force Xu Tiancai back, but the star power and mystical energy within him converged, transforming the sword's light into a substantial rope that bound the flames. With a sudden twist, a crackling sound emanated, dimming the Flame Soul Crystal's glow. The Fire Spirit's monstrous form collapsed into a scattering of sparks.

But before they could catch their breath, the ground around them trembled, and more fire spirits surged in, seemingly endless. Everyone stood back to back, forming a defensive circle, each employing their own methods to counterattack. Agang's fighting spirit surged, his axe shadow like a mountain. Each strike unleashed a surge of heat, shattering any approaching fire spirits. Lin manipulated the wind element, sometimes acting as a barrier, sometimes as a sharp blade, with agile and adaptable movements. The Ice Princess channeled her endless icy magic, alternating between ice cones and ice shields to counter the flames. Su Yao's passionate piano music, her soul-calming tunes disorganized the fire spirits' attacks.

After a bitter struggle, they finally repelled the attack. Everyone was left in tatters, their clothes tattered and in disarray, but there was no time to rest. Xu Tiancai's gaze fixed on the depths of the wasteland. He could faintly sense the powerful fluctuations of magical energy. That must be the place where the Flame Soul Crystals converged, and also the core of the danger. "Let's go. We can't stop. The closer we get to the source, the greater the danger. But we must obtain the Flame Soul Crystals." With that, he led the way forward, his steps stumbling but firm.

We reached a valley where magma surged like a red river, bubbles surging and exploding, sending up scalding droplets like fireworks. Above, a flock of "flame-winged vultures" circled. Their bodies were the size of cows, their feathers composed of flames. Sparks rained down from their wings, their sharp beaks and claws gleaming coldly, their metallic textures radiating from them. Their sharp cries pierced the sky as they swooped down, leaving streaks of fire.

Xu Tiancai pointed his sword into the sky, and the Star Sword radiated several streams of energy, colliding with the Flame-Winged Eagles, sending them into a shower of fireworks. Ah Gang swung his battle axe, spinning in place. His fighting spirit formed a tornado that engulfed several Flame-Winged Eagles, burning their feathers to ruffled hues and causing them to scream in agony. Lin summoned a fierce wind, carrying sand and rocks into the air, impeding the Flame-Winged Eagles' flight. The Ice Princess formed a dome of ice above them, shielding them from the lava splashes and piercing eagle claws.

Su Yao's zither music shifted, its soothing tone tinged with majesty, a mysterious charisma that caused several Flame-Winged Vultures to momentarily lose their bearings and spiral in mid-air. Xu Tiancai seized the opportunity, tapped his toes, and leaped upwards, slashing down with his Star Sword, striking a Flame-Winged Vulture squarely in the neck. With a "puff," the eagle's head and body were severed, the flames dissipated, and it plummeted to the valley floor, stirring up a vast wave of lava.

They struggled along the valley's edge, their feet loosening the rocks that occasionally rolled down, sending lava splattering. Once they emerged from the valley, they found themselves in a vast basin. At its center stood an ancient altar, engraved with runes and gleaming with light, seemingly resonating with the barren wasteland's fiery rhythm. Atop the altar sat the Flame Soul Crystal, unleashing a heart-pounding wave of heat.

Just as they were about to approach, the ground suddenly cracked, and several "fire pythons" emerged. Their bodies were as thick as barrels, their scales like red-hot iron plates, and their mouths spitted out tongues, spewing pillars of flame. Xu Tiancai and the others quickly dispersed. Ah Gang met the fire pythons and chopped them down with his battle axe, but they were easily entangled. The scorching scales burned his arms and smoked. He roared and struggled to break free. Lin hurriedly used the wind to help him, blowing away the flames. The Ice Princess fired a series of icicles, piercing the fire pythons' seven inches. Su Yao's music disrupted the pythons' movements. Xu Tiancai waited for his opportunity, charging his Star Sword, the power of the stars on the sword quietly merging with the fire element of the wasteland, waiting for the fatal blow...

After a long and bitter battle, the Flame Python gradually lost ground and was repelled by the combined efforts of the crowd. They dragged their exhausted bodies towards the altar, but before they could reach it, the sky suddenly darkened. Dark clouds, lashed with black lightning, surged in. A black-robed figure emerged from the clouds, emanating a thick, dark aura. It was another capable minion of the Dark Pope, sent to block their quest for the Flame Soul Crystal. A life-and-death struggle unfolded in this scorching wasteland, fate taut, the outcome hanging by a thread.