In the endless expanse of yellow sand, three streaks of light tore across the sky toward the blazing heart of the desert — the center of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's domain.
It was Liu Xi, Xiao Yixian, and Qing Lin. After escaping the first layer of illusion, Liu Xi had spent considerable effort calming the two women. The illusions they experienced had all revolved around him, dragging them deeper and deeper into false emotions until they were almost heartbroken by the "Liu Xi" within the illusion. The more they cared, the easier it was to be wounded.
Only after settling that did Liu Xi lead them onward toward where the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame resided. Now that he possessed the Pure Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance, he was almost certain of success in subduing the flame.
As they advanced, Liu Xi continued studying the Demon Saint's legacy. He didn't delve deeply into its philosophies but rather familiarized himself with its mechanisms — its structure and ways to counter it.
This entire realm of burning sand gradually revealed its true nature to him: a colossal formation stretching for thousands of li — the Demonic Flame Refining Heaven Formation.
Beyond its innate ability to purify all things, most of the flame's power originated from the Pure Lotus Demon Saint himself. Now, inheriting that same legacy, Liu Xi had become a walking paradox within this domain — the one existence capable of disrupting its very laws.
As he journeyed through the desert, Liu Xi encountered many Central Plains experts still trapped within illusions. With casual gestures, he dispelled their illusions one by one. Whether they could resist being re-controlled by the flame afterward, however, was up to their own fate.
Liu Xi wasn't acting out of kindness. He simply wanted to stir the waters — for only in chaos could one fish unseen.
Soon, a magnificent temple appeared in the distance, towering and grand. But as the azure flame flickered in Liu Xi's eyes, the illusion peeled away. There was no temple at all — only a massive volcano of black stone, jagged and menacing, the air thick with scorching heat.
"Nightmare Heavenly Fog," Liu Xi murmured with a faint smirk. Pretending ignorance, he descended with the two women. At the "temple's" gate stood a lone flame servant — this one, at least, was real.
The flame servant's face was ordinary, its expression blank as stone. Yet from its body emanated a twisted, suffocating heat — the strength of a 2-Star Dou Saint.
"Let me handle this!"
Both Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin spoke in unison, faint traces of mischief on their faces — they still hadn't vented the anger from their illusions. Meeting each other's eyes, they both smiled and began to politely insist.
"I'll let Sister Xian'er do it…"
"No, Qing Lin should take this one…"
Seeing their playful exchange, Liu Xi chuckled. "Let me do it. After all, it's a 2-Star Dou Saint. It'd be a shame to break it."
He stepped forward, raising his hand. Using his fingertip as a brush and his Spiritual Power as ink, he began tracing sigils in midair.
Moments later, a shimmering spiritual talisman took form. With a sly smile, Liu Xi fixed his gaze on the flame servant and struck.
His feet pressed against the ground — boom! — the servant's eyes flashed with savage light, an aura about to erupt. Yet, before it could, Liu Xi's figure blurred like lightning. In an instant, the talisman slammed into its forehead. A fiery bead shimmered briefly before the sigil expanded, sealing it. The servant stiffened — subdued.
Of course, this control was temporary. The true master remained the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. Liu Xi had merely cut the connection, leaving the servant in a state of disarray. Once the flame noticed, it could reclaim control with ease.
Now with a 2-Star flame servant under his command, Liu Xi turned to the illusory temple. The Nightmare Heavenly Fog was indeed a formidable illusion technique; even a 5-Star or 6-Star Dou Saint could be ensnared and reduced to one of the flame slaves.
But illusions could only deceive those who believed them. Liu Xi, having never been fooled from the start, saw through it effortlessly. His old Illusionary Heart Technique once toyed with the five senses, but his soul had since transcended such tricks.
This illusion, however, worked differently — the more one believed it real, the more real it became, until the illusion could consume its victim entirely.
Facing the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame alone would be unwise. Thus, Liu Xi began drawing again — a new talisman, each line traced in a single, seamless motion.
The Illusion Break Talisman.
It was difficult to craft. Every stroke required a perfect balance of Spiritual Power and structure, its integrity determining whether it could shatter the Nightmare Heavenly Fog itself.
But Liu Xi's soul had already reached the Perfect Heaven Realm, and years of alchemy had honed his spiritual control to monstrous precision. After studying it briefly, he reproduced it flawlessly.
"Go."
With a flick of his wrist, the talisman soared forward, radiating dazzling light as it pierced the false temple. Brilliant flames illuminated every corner within, exposing all that had been hidden.
Reality and illusion intertwined chaotically — the majestic temple and molten lava flickering in and out of existence, fragments merging and splitting in eerie disorder. Then, with a sharp snap, everything shattered. The illusion dispersed into glowing fragments, revealing the true sight beneath — a raging sea of magma.
Those trapped within emerged one after another, faces dark with embarrassment and frustration. Had the illusion not broken suddenly, many would have remained trapped until death, never realizing they'd been dreaming.
And Liu Xi? He stayed right outside the cavern entrance.
He had no intention of entering yet. His plan was simple: stir the waters, then let others exhaust themselves against the full power of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. Only when all was chaos would he move in to seize the true origin flame.
Within the volcano's depths, on the surface of the lava lake, stood a man in white robes — his features strikingly handsome, his face eerily similar to that of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. But unlike the Demon Saint's serene, divine grace, this man radiated boundless ferocity.
He was the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
At this moment, his brows furrowed, the violent glint in his eyes flickering with unease.
"That was… the Illusion Break Talisman! Impossible. He's dead — he should have perished, devoured by me…"
"The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame!"
Someone's shout shattered the tense silence. Countless greedy eyes turned toward the figure standing calmly upon the magma lake.
The Hun Clan, the Gu Clan, the Yan Clan, the Yao Clan — and countless Central Plains experts — all locked onto him. Who among them didn't crave the flame ranked 3rd on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?
The Pure Lotus Demon Saint, its former master, had once suppressed even the ancient clans with overwhelming might. To control this flame was to inherit that same terror.
The white-robed figure swept his gaze over the crowd, disdain flashing across his eyes. His voice was cold and detached:
"Ants… become my flame slaves."
(End of Chapter)
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