C404 Solar Flame Mantra

Tang Cen stood tall and striking on the island chosen by Winter's Bite, resembling a rare stone seldom seen in the world. Sunlight scattered across him in glimmers of golden light, highlighting the exposed skin of his neck and wrists with a clarity that was almost tangible.

As the onlookers turned their gaze toward him, he met Yu Yuan's eyes with a smile and abruptly engaged his spiritual sense. In that moment, Tang Cen's eyes blazed with an astonishing brilliance. Those of lesser cultivation, who had not yet mastered the Subtlety, perceived his pupils as transforming into intense spheres of light, too dazzling to face directly.

"Sunlit Order's Solar Flame Mantra from Churchsor Hill!" someone from Abyssal Dawn shouted, unraveling the mystery.

Tang Cen's eyes shifted into one gold and one red orb, as if they were distinct spheres of colored light. Within the depths of his gaze, both golden and red flames roared to life. Weaker individuals who dared to stare into his eyes felt as though they were witnessing the end of the world, with all things burning to ash in a desolate silence.

Many were mentally shaken by this vision, sensing danger. They quickly composed themselves, holding their breath and concentrating, avoiding any direct confrontation with his gaze.

Tang Cen, now in the middle period of Subtlety, had refined his spiritual sense to a high degree, demonstrating his adeptness with ease.

"Don't look at him!" Liu Ying of the Starmoon Sect warned. As Tang Cen raised his voice to draw the crowd's attention, she quickly realized his ill intent and cautioned them just as Yu Yuan was about to glance his way. Yet, Yu Yuan seemed oblivious to her warning.

To everyone's astonishment, Yu Yuan appeared completely unaffected as he met Tang Cen's gaze across the sea.

Their eyes locked.

"Chi! Chi!" Sparks of fire erupted from the corners of Yu Yuan's eyes.

The elders from the seven lower sects, who had attained the Lunar Spirit Stage, could see clearly that Tang Cen was employing the "Solar Flame Mantra." His spiritual sense, imbued with fiery energy, was burrowing into Yu Yuan's eyes.

The "Solar Flame Mantra" was the most renowned spell of Churchsor Hill, and Lord Tang Zheng had dedicated many years to its mastery, achieving profound depths of understanding.

Logically, only those hailing from Churchsor Hill and who had made significant contributions to the Sunlit Order were deemed worthy to practice the Solar Flame Mantra.

And yet, this was to be achieved only after reaching the Lunar Spirit stage!

Tang Cen was merely in the initial phase of Subtlety, lacking any remarkable power. By all accounts, he should not have been eligible to learn this spell.

The fact that he was able to cultivate it, and do so successfully, was solely because he was Tang Zheng's grandson.

It was also because Lord Tang Zheng personally intervened, assisting him in purifying his meridians and establishing a solid foundation as he stepped into the Subtlety stage. This guidance enabled him to grasp the intricacies of the Solar Flame Mantra early on.

Cultivating the Solar Flame Mantra involved harvesting fire essence and infusing it into one's vitality and remnant soul.

Without advancing to Lunar Spirit, Tang Cen's remnant soul remained incomplete. Nonetheless, with the Lord's assistance, he integrated it with his spiritual sense.

This endowed his spiritual sense with the formidable power of the fire essence, and the fire essence he had assimilated into his own being was also collected with Tang Zheng's help, making it all the more potent.

Therefore, when Tang Cen employed the Solar Flame Mantra, launching an attack on Yu Yuan with his fire essence-laden spiritual sense, it took many by surprise.

But upon reflection, the situation became clear to everyone.

Yu Yuan was not a disciple of the Devil Palace!

Without the backing of a powerful sect and considering Tang Cen's esteemed position within the Sunlit Order, what consequence would there be if he used the Solar Flame Mantra to harm Yu Yuan's three souls?

This was Tang Cen's line of thinking as well!

Yet, what was unfolding before their eyes defied all expectations and left onlookers astounded.

Despite employing the Solar Flame Mantra, Tang Cen failed to scorch Yu Yuan's eyes with the spiritual sense imbued with fire essence, let alone penetrate his consciousness and inflict damage on his three souls.

The spray of fiery sparks was unmistakably the fire essence attached to Tang Cen's spiritual sense!

Yu Yuan was merely in the middle period of the Golden Sanctum, a whole realm below Tang Cen's middle period of Subtlety!

How did Yu Yuan manage it?

Liu Ying, who had been on edge, covertly employed the Fallen Star Eyes to intervene and stop the unfolding events.

Yet, as fiery sparks erupted from the corners of Yu Yuan's eyes, she recalled something that brought her instant tranquility, dispelling her anxiety.

"Swish! Swish!"

Sparks flew from Yu Yuan's eyes, his demeanor eerily calm as he inwardly scoffed.

Tang Cen had chosen poorly, opting to attack with spiritual sense.

Yu Yuan, a practitioner of Soul Forging through Enlightenment, possessed an exceptionally strong heaven soul and acute perception. The idea that a spiritual sense, tinged with mere fire essence, could harm him was laughable.

Yu Yuan almost laughed out loud at Tang Cen's folly, who had chosen the very method least likely to trouble him, only to embarrass himself.

"Tang Cen, let it go."

Lin Zhuyun, sensing trouble, softly urged him to stop.

"Fine, I'll spare you the embarrassment."

With a huff, Tang Cen ceased casting the Solar Flame Mantra, his eyes shifting from a mix of gold and red back to their normal hue.

Still separated by the sea, he maintained his composure and said to Yu Yuan, "We'll meet again at the ocean's floor."

With that, he resumed his seat under the blazing sun, extracting a peculiar soulstone ablaze with internal flames to draw in spiritual energy for his recovery.

Yu Yuan shook his head with a wry smile, choosing not to reveal the truth.

He was well aware that if Tang Cen persisted with the Solar Flame Mantra, he would ultimately be the one at a disadvantage!

Surely, Tang Cen was aware of this as well!

The Boulderdawn's Soul Forging through Enlightenment was a remarkable thaumaturgy for cultivating the heaven soul and tempering the spirit.

Yu Yuan couldn't fathom why he was able to enhance his heaven soul with this technique even before achieving Subtlety or Lunar Spirit, yet he could still connect with the Soulforge Pool from afar.

Located in the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Soulforge Pool was a stunning rare treasure crafted by the Boulderdawn, from which he could draw Soul Power.

Should Tang Cen launch an assault from the skies, armed with the might of Subtlety, Yu Yuan might not be able to withstand the barrage.

Tang Cen was practically asking for trouble by using his spiritual sense to play tricks. It was a close call; he nearly got himself killed.

"How did he manage to provoke Tang Cen? Luckily, Tang Cen held back, or he would have been in a world of hurt."

"Tang Cen's Solar Flame Mantra is no ordinary technique. If he had continued, I fear that he..."

"Liu Ying, do you think there will be trouble for the one who crossed Tang Cen?"

Many of the young members of the Starmoon Sect hadn't achieved the state of Subtlety, their spiritual sense still unrefined, unable to perceive the true marvels of such a state.

Concerned about Tang Cen's status, many were worried for Liu Ying.

However, Elder Tian Wanrou, with her hair neatly coiffed, gazed intently at Yu Yuan and reassured the others, "Don't fret so much. Tang Cen is merely from Churchsor Hill, while Liu Ying is the strongest of her generation in the Starmoon Sect. How could she be inferior to anyone?"

Her words gave pause, and the crowd fell silent, no longer voicing their concerns.

Tang Cen was destined to inherit the mantle of Tang Zheng, becoming the future Lord of Churchsor Hill.

The Sunlit Order boasted seven peaks, yet Churchsor Hill didn't rank among the top three.

Liu Ying, barring any unforeseen circumstances, was set to become the leader of the Star Sect, the visible head of the Star Sect.

Moreover, Liu Ying was younger than Tang Cen and not at all lacking in her cultivation level!

Even though Tang Cen was a native talent of the Euwrea Continent, in the long run, he might not measure up to Liu Ying.

What did Liu Ying have to fear?

"Liu Ying, your friend is quite impressive," Tian Wanrou remarked once more.

The Starmoon Sect's members began to buzz with speculation again, insisting that it was only because Tang Cen had shown restraint that Yu Yuan remained unscathed.

Liu Ying smiled coyly, sharing a glance that spoke volumes with Tian Wanrou, and said, "He truly is exceptional and distinguished. I did mention before that he rescued me in the Forgotten Ruins."

"Now, I'm starting to believe it," Tian Wanrou nodded in agreement.

Both recognized that Tang Cen from Churchsor Hill, despite wielding the Solar Flame Mantra to discipline Yu Yuan, hadn't managed to secure any advantage.

Had Lin Zhuyun not spoken up, Tang Cen might have found himself at a slight disadvantage under the relentless casting of his spell.

Who exactly was Tang Cen, and what was his level of cultivation?

Upon their first encounter, he nearly suffered a significant setback despite invoking the Solar Flame Mantra. What sort of background and origins did this obscure Yu Yuan possess?

It wasn't just Tian Wanrou who was taken aback; the other elders from the seven lower sects and the leader of the Lunar Spirit realm were all quietly astonished.

They all recognized that Tang Cen had failed to secure an upper hand, and it was only Lin Zhuyun's intervention that provided him with a graceful exit.

"Golden Sanctum level, really? But Tang Cen had employed the Solar Flame Mantra. How curious."

"Yu Yuan hails from the former Silvermoon Empire. What's the deal with this young man?"