Seizing the perfect moment, Liu Xi slipped through the chaos like a shadow. The three Hall of Souls Dou Zuns were fully focused, pouring their Spiritual Power into maintaining their Life Soul Locks and binding the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
They never noticed Liu Xi's movement until it was too late. He bypassed all three in a single breath, his figure flickering forward like lightning, striking directly toward the gravely wounded Mu Gu, who had just been crushed by the flame's earlier assault.
As expected, Mu Gu had no strength left to resist. One clean strike was all it took — the proud Dou Zun died without even a sound, his death utterly unworthy of someone of his rank.
With a wave of his sleeve, Liu Xi collected Mu Gu's charred corpse into his ring, his movement fluid and calm. Without pausing, he turned toward the miniature black dragon — the condensed Origin Flame — and shot forward once more.
"Presumptuous!"
"You dare!"
"Courting death!"
The three Hall of Souls Dou Zuns finally reacted, fury blazing in their eyes. They had sacrificed so much to draw out the Origin Flame, and now an outsider had snatched the fruit of their labor — and even killed Mu Gu before their eyes! Returning like this would only mean punishment, or worse.
They no longer cared about maintaining their Life Soul Locks. With the flame's Origin separated from its main body, its threat was temporarily reduced. All three erupted with Dou Qi, charging straight toward Liu Xi with murderous intent — forgetting entirely how badly he had beaten them earlier.
But before they could reach him, two golden streaks of light intercepted their path. The Heavenly Demon Puppets appeared, their massive bodies gleaming with golden brilliance. Their strikes thundered through the air, stopping two of the Dou Zuns cold.
And they weren't alone — Elder Qiu Ling and Elder Qing Hua also moved in. Even they hadn't expected Liu Xi's timing to be so precise. His attack was clean, decisive, and perfectly coordinated with the Three Thousand Burning Flame's earlier strike.
It was almost as if the Heavenly Flame had willingly assisted Liu Xi. One struck Mu Gu down, and the other quietly finished the job.
While Qiu Ling targeted the last remaining Dou Zun, caring only that the Hall of Souls couldn't take the flame away, Qing Hua's eyes burned with greed as he flew toward Liu Xi. The Origin Flame was already revealed — anyone who seized it could try refining it. Whether they survived… depended on fate.
At that same instant, no one noticed the subtle flash in the little dragon's eyes — a gleam eerily similar to Liu Xi's own. Man and flame exchanged a silent, knowing glance.
'Well done!' — Liu Xi.
'…' — Three Thousand Burning Flame.
The little dragon suddenly turned and bolted. It looked panicked, almost clumsy, darting straight toward the ongoing battle between the other Dou Zuns and the puppets.
Just then, Qing Hua arrived. His kindly face and gentle tone contrasted with the greed glimmering in his eyes. "Little friend," he said with a soft smile, "you already possess a Heavenly Flame. Could you perhaps yield this one to me? I'll make sure you don't suffer any loss."
Liu Xi's expression was unreadable. 'Something equivalent to a Heavenly Flame? This old fox thinks I'll fall for that? I'm in the middle of killing people here!'
He replied sincerely, "Senior, Heavenly Flames are born of heaven and earth. They belong to those destined for them. If it can be given away so easily… why don't you let me have it? I promise I won't let you suffer either."
'What a cunning brat…' Qing Hua thought bitterly, but his hands didn't stop moving. Dou Qi surged, condensing into a massive azure palm that reached straight for the little dragon.
"Then let's see," he said coldly, "whether fate favors me or you!"
Liu Xi's lips twitched. You'll find out soon enough. Out loud, he called, "Be careful, Senior. Even separated from its body, the Origin Flame remains dangerous. Don't underestimate it."
Qing Hua chuckled, clearly unconcerned. "Without its host body, what danger can it possibly—"
Reality slapped him hard.
The little dragon, now completely black from compression, radiated a destructive, crazed energy. It slammed straight into the oncoming azure palm.
Hiss—!
In less than an instant, Qing Hua's Dou Qi construct was pierced through like paper. The black dragon tore forward, its burning body flaring brighter as it charged straight at Qing Hua.
The searing heat twisted the air, the black flames pulsing with raw annihilation. Even a Dou Zun could barely withstand such power.
Qing Hua's composure broke. His body trembled — old, weakened, and declining — and before the full force of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, he finally panicked. The elder turned tail and fled.
Liu Xi didn't even bother to mock him. He simply followed behind the black dragon as it streaked toward the battlefield ahead — right where another Hall of Souls Dou Zun was locked in combat with a Heavenly Demon Puppet.
That Dou Zun, though battered, still managed to suppress the puppet through sheer cultivation strength. Seeing the black dragon flying toward him, his heart leapt with excitement.
'The Origin Flame! It's mine!'
Grimacing, he took a brutal punch from the puppet head-on, spitting blood but refusing to retreat. Using the recoil, he spun around and lunged toward the little dragon.
With a sweep of his sleeves, his Dou Qi surged like a storm, forming a dozen black chains that lashed toward the flame, sealing every path of escape.
"Three Thousand Burning Flame—come quietly!"
The little dragon's eyes glinted with savagery. It roared and rammed forward without hesitation.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of shattering metal echoed through the space. The black chains melted one after another, the souls within screaming as they burned.
The Hall of Souls Dou Zun's face went pale. He instantly realized why Mu Gu had died so easily — this "small" dragon possessed unfathomable strength.
The little dragon broke through the mist and kept charging, but its black fire began to dim slightly, shifting back toward violet-black.
The Dou Zun's fear turned to joy. 'It's weakening!' If the flame's power was waning, then it was his chance.
He roared, channeling his Dou Qi for a full-force strike—when suddenly, a gust of wind swept up behind him.
His heart froze.
Liu Xi's silhouette appeared like a phantom, a faint smile curling his lips as he watched the "fireworks" burst before him. Everything was exactly as he had planned.
The Dou Zun's so-called opportunity was no coincidence. It was the trap Liu Xi had laid from the very start — a flawless killing game.
When the haze cleared, the little dragon had already "fled" again, while the Hall of Souls Dou Zun stood revealed, his robes tattered, aura flickering weakly.
Liu Xi arched an eyebrow. 'Still alive? Then I'll help you along.'
In the instant that followed, the dying Dou Zun felt a cold hand wrap around his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief and fear as Liu Xi's calm face filled his vision.
"Cough—wait—don't kill me! I'm a Hall of Souls elder! If you kill me, no one will protect—"
Crack!
Before he could finish, Liu Xi's fingers tightened. The Dou Zun's neck snapped cleanly, his life extinguished without a ripple.
(End of Chapter)
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