"Presumptuous!"
"Young friend, don't bring ruin upon yourself!"
"Jie jie, don't think that just because you control this formation, you can act as you please. The forces behind us are far beyond what you can imagine."
No one would ever agree to such a condition. The Gu Clan, Yan Clan, and Yao Clan all had their Young Clan Leaders carrying their clans' Heavenly Flames. How could they possibly hand them over to another?
Seeing this, an elderly Half Saint cupped his hands with a forced smile. "This young brother, we old fellows don't have any Heavenly Flames. Could you perhaps open the formation and let us leave?"
Liu Xi tilted his head slightly, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "No can do. You had your chance to leave earlier. But now that you've seen my face, how could I let you go? The rule of the road is simple — anyone who's seen a bandit's face must die!"
"What!" The Half Saint froze, realization dawning too late as his face went pale with dread.
"Young friend, this goes too far!" Even the Pill Tower's old ancestor frowned at that.
Having now completely mastered the Refining Sky Ancient Formation, Liu Xi no longer wished to waste words. The Heavenly Flames were his prize, and those who knew his secret could not be allowed to live.
"Refining Sky Ancient Formation—Purify the Heavens!"
The terrifying energy gathered, the temperature inside the formation soaring. With the Refining Sky Ancient Formation's power accumulated over thousands of years, even high-level Dou Saints would be crushed beneath its force, let alone those here who didn't even reach that level.
An explosion of blinding light erupted, filling the entire space. Within that brilliance, the faces of the crowd were revealed—shock, madness, and terror all frozen in time.
"Soul Burial Technique!"
Hun Mo's expression twisted hideously as his fingers formed seals. His wide sleeves flared, and billowing black mist surged forth, enveloping his body completely.
"Pill Fusion Sky!"
The Pill Tower's ancestor's childish face tightened. He pricked his finger, releasing a drop of golden blood that radiated dazzling brilliance.
But the Refining Sky Ancient Formation's might, accumulated over millennia, was far beyond what they could resist. As the light dimmed, Liu Xi, now restored to his true self, walked leisurely within the formation.
He strolled calmly to the Pill Tower ancestor. The boyish figure, stripped of all power by the formation, was no different from an ordinary person. Yet Liu Xi's gaze remained serene, without a trace of greed.
"The ancient clans are not common sects. You've offended them all; your end won't be pleasant," the Pill Tower ancestor said softly, his eyes showing pity—as if saddened to see Liu Xi stepping into a doomed path.
"Thank you for the reminder. Forgive me, senior."
Liu Xi's tone was calm. His hands formed seals, and Spiritual Power surged forth, enveloping the old ancestor.
A gentle light emanated from the boyish figure. His form gradually dissolved within the glow, compressing into a single azure pill that floated in Liu Xi's palm.
Intricate pill patterns coiled around it, pill mist spiraled gently, radiating soft light and a faint medicinal fragrance that invigorated the spirit.
A 9th Tier Mysterious Pill.
Liu Xi quietly put away the pill, producing a jade bottle and carefully sealing it within, layer upon layer of barriers, ending with one formed of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
It was only a pill, after all. Liu Xi believed that in time, he could refine even 9th Tier Golden or Emperor Pills. But for now, with greater plans ahead, he could only let the Pill Tower ancestor "rest" for a while.
After putting the bottle away, Liu Xi turned.
Hun Mo, Gu Nanhai, Yao Wangui, Huo Yao, Gu Xun'er, Hun Feng… regardless of how strong they once were, the Refining Sky Ancient Formation had stripped them of all power. Now, they were no different from ordinary mortals.
"Liu Xi?"
Gu Xun'er recognized him, disbelief flickering across her beautiful face. Her only prior connection with him had been through Xiao Yan, and at one point she had even thought of becoming his enemy for Xiao Yan's sake. But that thought had long since faded.
Liu Xi raised an eyebrow, smiling lightly. "To think that Miss Xun'er still remembers me—that's quite an honor."
"Liu Xi, do you know who I am?! Release me at once, or the Hun Clan will never let you go!" Hun Feng snarled.
"Let us go," Huo Zhi said coldly. "Name your price. Resources, Techniques—anything you want, you can have it."
"The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame can belong to you," Yao Tian added in panic. "Even my Turtle Spirit Earthly Flame can be yours. Just let us leave, and the Yao Clan will forever be in your debt!"
Liu Xi smiled faintly, ignoring their pleas and threats alike. His hands began to form seals.
At first the movements were slow, almost awkward, but as the seals shifted, his speed quickened. The rhythm grew fluid, leaving afterimages in the air.
"Nightmare Heavenly Fog! Fall into the dream and sink into oblivion."
The milky-white flames coiled outward. Everyone knew how dreadful this Soul Technique was, yet with their power stripped away, they couldn't even move.
Within moments, all of them fell into illusion. The white flames wrapped their bodies one by one. Liu Xi, with the Pure Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance, had no intention of killing them.
Turning them into Flame Slaves would make for powerful assets—and, if necessary, useful hostages. The living puppet art was truly remarkable.
He still remembered how Xiao Chen had once been made into a Flame Slave for a thousand years, growing stronger over time, and eventually regaining his sanity.
At this moment, Ah Long and Ah Huang dragged the unconscious Hun Miesheng back, placing him before Liu Xi. The once-mighty Hall of Souls' Hall Master was in a pitiful state—his skull misshapen, body covered in burns, his flesh still sizzling faintly with the smell of charred meat.
Though a 5-Star Dou Saint, he had been brutally beaten by two 6-Star Dou Saints. Were it not for the durability of a Dou Saint's physique, he would have long since turned to ash.
"Hopeless. Let him die."
Liu Xi shook his head, sighing with mock regret. To be beaten to death by two 6-Star Dou Saints—such a death was almost an honor.
After finishing, he dusted off his robes and strode toward the edge of the formation. He had left Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin outside for safety, not wanting to involve them in this battle.
Originally, his goal had been only the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. Who would have thought things would go so smoothly? Now, not only did he possess the Pure Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance and the Heavenly Flame itself, but he had also wiped out the ancient clans' elites in one fell swoop—and gained five Heavenly Flames in the process.
His rise was now unstoppable.
"Young Master, are you all right?"
"Young Master, you're not hurt, are you?"
The moment he exited the Refining Sky Ancient Formation, Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin rushed to his side, fussing over him with worried eyes.
Liu Xi couldn't help but smile, warmth stirring in his chest. "I'm fine," he said. "But we have serious matters to attend to. I've pulled off something big this time, so I can't show myself for a while."
"You two, however, must go. Leave with the others trapped in the desert's illusion. The ones I detained will cause chaos when word spreads."
He paused, his voice turning lower. "Spread some rumors—say that Hun Miesheng was actually a 5-Star Dou Saint, that Hun Mo also entered the flame space, and that Hun Miesheng and Hun Feng both possessed the Void Devouring Flame capable of consuming others' Dou Qi and bloodline. Keep it vague—don't get yourselves caught up in it."
He spoke swiftly, giving instructions with precision. Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin exchanged uncertain looks, but eventually nodded with resolve.
Countless people had entered the flame space, yet only a fraction had ever seen the true Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. The rest had been trapped in the desert illusions—and while connecting with the Refining Sky Ancient Formation, Liu Xi had discreetly altered those illusions.
Truth and falsehood intertwined—every clue would now point toward the Hun Clan.
There was no need to spell everything out. With such rumors, and given the Hun Clan's already tainted reputation, any wise clan leader among the Gu, Lei, Yan, and Yao Clans would know something was wrong.
"Go find Zi Yan. No matter how chaotic things become, none of the ancient clans would dare bring their wars into the Beast Region. Protect yourselves… and wait for my return."
(End of Chapter)
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