From Liu Xi's perspective, the four clans standing proudly in the void regarded everyone else as mere insects beneath their feet—their arrogance was displayed to perfection. These four were the Hun Clan, the Gu Clan, the Yan Clan, and the Yao Clan. The Lei Clan likely had no interest in the Heavenly Flames—if there had been a "Heavenly Lightning Ranking," they would have come running faster than anyone else.
The Xiao Clan had long fallen, the Ling Clan was confirmed to be annihilated, and the Shi Clan wasn't far behind. If nothing unexpected happened, the next to meet disaster would be the Yao Clan.
Liu Xi frowned. If the Hun Clan were allowed to secretly crush one clan after another, destroying them later would become increasingly difficult.
'Once I seize the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, it will be time to expose the Hun Clan's grand conspiracy. Let them fight each other—when the other clans see the Hun Clan's hidden power, they'll be terrified.'
With that thought, Liu Xi hid in the crowd with Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin, showing no intention of stepping forward. The temperature here was rising rapidly; any Dou Zun below the 6-Star level couldn't endure it for long and had no choice but to retreat unwillingly, missing their chance to witness the Heavenly Flame's glory.
Those who remained were all peak Dou Zuns or Half Saints. For Liu Xi's disguised level, blending in posed no issue.
High above, the four ancient clans hung in midair—their arrival brought a subtle balance to the tense atmosphere. The Yan and Yao Clans stood closer to the Gu Clan, though mutual caution lingered among them. After the Ling Clan's annihilation, both had become far more wary.
As time passed, the tides of heaven and earth reached their limit. Above the shattered desert sky, a milky-white halo formed from nothing, expanding in an instant to a radius of nearly a thousand feet.
Seeing this, someone finally lost patience. Greed flickered in his eyes as he shot straight into the light gate. The four clans in the sky—Hun, Gu, Yan, and Yao—didn't act first, but they weren't far behind, each stepping into the radiant circle.
Liu Xi didn't rush. The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame had forged this "flame space" like an impregnable fortress. Entering first had no advantage. He simply warned softly, "The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame is exceptionally strange. It can stir one's emotions, drawing out inner desires and manifesting illusions that burn through the heart. Once inside, no matter what you see, do not lose your calm. Even if you see me, do not rush forward; it could be an illusion."
"I understand," Xiao Yixian said with a soft laugh.
"Yes, Young Master," Qing Lin nodded earnestly.
Satisfied that both understood, Liu Xi nodded and took them with him, blending inconspicuously into the flow of figures entering the light.
In the blink of an eye, Liu Xi passed through the shimmering veil and landed gently on a sea of golden sand that seemed endless. The scorching heat was almost identical to that of the outside world—intense enough that only a high-level Dou Zun could bear it. Even they would feel suffocated.
But Liu Xi was different. The azure flame born from his fusion of eight Heavenly Flames was not much weaker than the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame itself. Since this was merely a fragment of that power, he felt nothing but refreshing warmth instead of pain.
Cautiously scanning his surroundings, he sensed the direction of the strongest heat and shot forward like lightning. Suddenly, a mass of black mist appeared ahead. Liu Xi's brows furrowed—what rotten luck. It was Hun Miesheng and his group.
He had no wish to start a conflict yet and was about to skirt around them when the mist dispersed, revealing a colossal figure cloaked in darkness. The figure's face was blurred, his black robe rippling, and the oppressive aura emanating from him dominated the heavens.
The pressure crashed down like a mountain. Liu Xi's chest tightened; he felt as if he were sinking into the ocean, unable to breathe. Shock filled his face.
That wasn't Hun Miesheng—this was the Void Devouring Flame itself! It had possessed Hun Miesheng's body to personally claim the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame?!
A deep, cold voice echoed through the air.
"It was you who destroyed my Hall of Souls, who stole my Soul Essence, who denied me the chance to attain the Emperor Realm Soul…"
Liu Xi's body stiffened, his heart racing wildly. This went far beyond what he had expected. He had never imagined that shameless Void Devouring Flame would come in person through Hun Miesheng's vessel.
This was absurd!
The Void Devouring Flame was a 9-Star Dou Saint. The gap between them was immeasurable. Worse yet, its power to devour all things countered his Heavenly Flames directly.
Only the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame could truly oppose it head-on. Even with his eight-flame fusion, his fire lacked the purity and spirit of that sacred flame.
"Return… what is mine…"
The black-robed giant extended a palm, and endless dark fire surged forth. A massive, thousand-foot hand of flame condensed in the air, its surface gleaming with a crystal-like sheen.
As it descended, Liu Xi's pupils shrank. His body twisted instinctively, but to his horror, he couldn't move. His limbs were frozen in place, his strength draining away. His Dou Qi, Spiritual Power, even his Heavenly Flame—all were being pulled into that descending hand.
"How… how is this possible…"
"No—Xian'er? Qing Lin? And the Bodhisattva Tree… With them protecting me, even the Void Devouring Flame shouldn't make me this helpless. My strength… where did it go?"
Panic gave way to clarity. The calmer his mind became, the more he saw through the illusion. His fading power began to return to his body, while a cool sensation spread through his mind. The confusion faded, replaced by icy composure.
He looked up, gaze sharp and emotionless. As he did, the thousand-foot hand shattered into smoke, and the shadow of the Void Devouring Flame broke apart like a mirage, dissolving into nothingness.
The illusion collapsed like a mirror breaking apart, and Liu Xi's consciousness returned to reality. Even the endless yellow sands now seemed beautiful and vivid in his eyes.
Faint milky flames clung to his robes—traces of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. Liu Xi immediately summoned his azure flame, driving out the residual lotus fire before it could take hold.
Only then did he truly grasp the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's terrifying nature. Its illusions were on par with those created by the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree itself. The more one believed, the more real they became. If he had faltered, the illusion would have devoured his mind, turning him into a mere flame slave.
Fortunately, he had reacted swiftly—and with the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's aid, his mind cleared instantly.
Just then, the long-silent remnant soul of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint stirred for the first time, catching Liu Xi's full attention.
(End of Chapter)
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