"Hah… the mighty Sect Master planning to run off with his son, leaving his Elders, Protectors, and disciples behind to die in his stead. Truly, such touching father–son affection!"
A mocking voice echoed through the great hall — no one could tell where it came from.
Fan Lao's expression changed drastically. He shot to his feet, Dou Qi surging out like a tide. "Who's there! Show yourself!"
Cold sweat rolled down his back. For someone to sneak into the Blood Sect's inner hall without him noticing — if that intruder had chosen to attack instead of speak, he'd already be dead.
Suddenly, a scorching heat flared beside him. Fan Lao jerked his head to the side — only to see a fist wreathed in invisible flames exploding toward him.
"Blood Spirit Armor!"
He roared, blood light bursting from his body and congealing into a crimson carapace. His arms crossed defensively before his chest.
Crack! Crunch!
The next instant, the sound of breaking armor and shattering bones filled the air, followed by a pained scream. Fan Lao's body flew backward, spitting a mouthful of blood midair before vanishing in a streak of crimson light. He reappeared before Fan Ling, gasping and trembling, his aura in chaos.
"Father!" Fan Ling's face went pale. He rushed forward to support him, but his legs nearly gave out when he saw who stood atop the throne — a figure cloaked in blazing, invisible fire.
The flames slowly drew back, revealing Liu Xi's calm face.
"Invisible Flame Python? No… you're Liu Xi! You're not dead? How could you possibly breach the Blood Fiend Formation!?"
Fan Lao's voice grew shrill with disbelief.
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "You're about to die. You don't need to know that much."
"You—!" Fan Lao's eyes bulged in fury and panic. Scarlet Dou Qi erupted from his body, flooding the hall like a storm tide.
In moments, the entire chamber transformed into a sea of blood several meters wide, enveloping both father and son completely.
But even against such power, Liu Xi's expression never changed. With his strength — and the Fallen Heart Flame at his command — there was no need to fear a Dou Huang, much less one already rattled.
"Burn."
"AHHHH!"
Fan Lao's scream tore through the hall. The blood sea quivered violently, surging higher and higher — then fell eerily silent.
When the crimson sea finally dispersed, nothing remained but two charred husks.
Liu Xi walked forward slowly, examining the corpses. "As I thought… my current meridians still can't handle the full might of the Fallen Heart Flame's Dou Zong-level power."
He retrieved Fan Lao's ring, then turned and walked out of the hall.
Outside, Zi Yan appeared in a flash, her face gleaming with excitement. "Big Brother! Those weaklings outside are all dealt with! Oh, and I sensed a lot of treasures nearby — should we go find them?"
"Later," Liu Xi said casually. "First, let's bring down that blood barrier."
They had entered by relying on Zi Yan's space-tearing ability to slip through the Blood Sect's protective formation. The others were still waiting outside.
With the Sect Master dead, the Blood Fiend Formation shattered — and the Blood Sect crumbled instantly.
Its destruction was faster than anyone had anticipated. Hu Qian, Qin Xuan, and the other Elders finally understood what Liu Xi meant when he said he could "fight a Dou Huang."
To make the most of their advantage, Hu Qian, Qin Xuan, and Liu Xi left several Elders behind to clean up, while the rest immediately set off for the Eight Gates.
Along the way, the Elders exchanged strange looks with Liu Xi. They'd been worrying about how to deal with the Black Alliance — yet he had already started dismantling it single-handedly.
...
Black Seal City
Deep underground, within a shadowy palace — the true core of the Eight Gates.
Yuan Yi, the Sect Master, was pacing restlessly. "Damn it… I should've never meddled in Han Feng's affairs!"
Now that Han Feng was dead, the promised pills were gone — and the threat of death loomed closer than ever.
A sound of footsteps came from the doorway. Yuan Yi snapped coldly, "What is it?"
No reply came. Frowning, he turned — and froze.
Liu Xi was walking into the hall with an easy smile.
"Liu Xi!? You're still alive? How did you get in here!?"
Hearing the same question again, Liu Xi chuckled. "You know, Fan Lao asked me the exact same thing. He's dead now. You hide yourself deep, Yuan Yi — fitting for a sect that trains assassins."
Fan Lao… dead?
Yuan Yi's face twitched. He took a deep breath, then sneered. "Don't try to shake me. Fan Lao would never fall unless the Blood Sect was wiped out — your lies are pathetic!"
Azure Dou Qi flared from his body, whipping the air into a gale. "I don't know how you got in here, but even if you have a Heavenly Flame, you're still just a Dou Wang!"
He clapped his hands together. "Azure Wind Cyclone!"
A roaring vortex of wind blades surged forth, forming a massive tornado-like storm.
"Quite the spectacle," Liu Xi remarked. "Unfortunately… it's all show."
Invisible flames erupted from his body, wrapping him entirely as he dove straight into the storm.
"Charging headfirst into my Cyclone? You're mad!" Yuan Yi shouted, delighted.
Moments later, thin tendrils of invisible fire began seeping out from between the winds — more and more with every passing second.
Boom!
The cyclone exploded. A tidal wave of flame poured out, surging toward Yuan Yi like a burning ocean.
"Impossible! Even with a Heavenly Flame, a mere Dou Wang—"
Before he could finish, a blazing figure shot from the inferno, striking him square in the chest. His body bent into a C-shape as Liu Xi's hand clamped tightly around his throat.
"I'm disappointed in you," Liu Xi said softly. "I even sent you to look for treasures. And this is how you repay me?"
"Don't kill me! I have—ahhh!"
The invisible flames crawled up Liu Xi's arm, engulfing Yuan Yi completely. In seconds, nothing but ashes remained.
Liu Xi frowned. "Hmm? He had something?"
He pried the storage ring from Yuan Yi's charred finger and probed it with his soul.
After a long search, his eyes suddenly lit up. He pulled out an old, tattered piece of parchment.
"Heh, not bad at all. The fool actually found something worth keeping — a fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame map!"
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.