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After Soul Emperor watched Gu Yuan leave, he did not leave immediately, but continued to wait for a while.
Beside him, space distorted, and black flames surged out.
Void Swallowing Flame's cultivation and abilities were the Soul Clan's biggest secret. Many subsequent plans, including the snatching of the ancient jade, required Void Swallowing Flame's assistance.
Under Gu Yuan's soul scan, Void Swallowing Flame would likely be discovered immediately once he got close… It would be difficult for him, whose Soul Realm was a level lower, to hide.
Therefore, Soul Emperor did not let him go together at first, but instead had him wait at a greater distance, to avoid Gu Yuan noticing.
The black flames slowly converged, forming a figure cloaked in black robes.
Void Swallowing Flame stood in place, closing his eyes, and used his unique perception as a Heavenly Flame to probe his surroundings.
"Fire…" He fell into a peculiar state, murmuring softly and unconsciously.
"I sense the aura of flames."
"Very familiar…"
"Yet seemingly not quite the same…"
"Heavenly Flame, it's a Heavenly Flame!"
"Thunder… the unvented wrath of the heavens and earth…"
He uttered confused and disordered ramblings, continuously speaking coherent and incoherent words from his mouth.
After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes and quickly said:
"I sensed the aura of different Heavenly Flames, many, many… It's him!"
Void Swallowing Flame's expression turned somewhat horrified, as some unpleasant memories surged into his mind.
Soon, he calmed down again: "No, it's not, it's a bit off…"
Void Swallowing Flame withdrew from that state of communion with the heavens and earth, took a deep breath, and tried his best to calm his emotions.
He said softly: "There were Heavenly Flames present here just now, and more than one kind! And… it seems the Nether Lotus Demon Flame also appeared.
"This Nether Lotus Demon Flame is very weak, not the one from the Demon Flame Space; it's newly born!"
Soul Emperor was not concerned about Heavenly Flames other than Void Swallowing Flame, and said softly:
"I remember the top three Heavenly Flames are said to be so terrifying in power that only one exists in the entire World… Is this the reason for the heavens and earth's wrath?"
Void Swallowing Flame nodded: "That's likely the case."
Soul Emperor questioned: "Since the heavens and earth do not allow a second one to appear, it naturally wouldn't nurture it. So how did this second Nether Lotus Demon Flame come to be?"
Void Swallowing Flame thought for a moment and replied:
"It might have been artificially created, or perhaps that fellow Nether Lotus wanted to escape from the Demon Flame Space and deliberately separated a sub-flame, which then underwent an unknown mutation, gained sentience, and became a true nascent Nether Lotus Demon Flame."
"Who was the 'him' you just mentioned? And what's with the multiple Heavenly Flames? Will it affect our plans?" Soul Emperor continued to ask.
Black flames flickered in Void Swallowing Flame's eyes, and he said calmly:
"I don't know… The time I've existed is far, far longer than the time I've had complete sentience and memories…
"During those ancient years when I was born but couldn't yet clearly perceive this World, some of the things that happened around me exist as memory fragments within my body.
"Occasionally, when I encounter special people or events, they surface. But they are often very fragmented; some bring ancient knowledge, while others do not."
Soul Emperor deeply gazed at Void Swallowing Flame, not pressing the matter, and said in a gentle tone:
"If you need it, I can mobilize the entire clan's strength to help you find that person and seize the Heavenly Flames on him."
Void Swallowing Flame shook his head: "Regarding that person, I'm not sure if what I saw was something that happened here recently, or a flash of an old memory.
"Moreover, devouring Heavenly Flames carries too high a risk, even for me… Let's stick to the original plan. I am only one step away from Nine-Star Dou Saint."
Soul Emperor nodded: "I respect your wishes."
The two of them did not linger for long before tearing space and returning to the Soul Realm.
Before leaving, Void Swallowing Flame once again gazed at the scene, his eyes profound.
What he had just told Soul Emperor was half-truths and half-lies… He had his own interests, which were not entirely consistent with the Soul Clan.
Furthermore, his long-term interactions with Soul Emperor had given him a considerable understanding of his true nature, and he had never let down his guard when cooperating with him.
On matters concerning his own origins and Tuo She Ancient Emperor, he was unwilling to speak too clearly.
After returning to the Soul Clan, the two separated. Void Swallowing Flame continued his seclusion, seeking to break through to Nine-Star Dou Saint. Soul Emperor, on the other hand, summoned a Dou Venerate from the Soul Clan.
"Clan Leader!" The newcomer respectfully saluted, awaiting orders.
"Go inform Soul Destruction Life to monitor the mountain range near Blood Blade Sect where anomalies occurred today. Additionally, pay attention to anyone who might possess multiple Heavenly Flames, and any news regarding the Nether Lotus Demon Flame."
"Yes."
The Dou Venerate withdrew.
In the depths of Soul Emperor's exceptionally bright eyes, a hint of displeasure flashed: "Heh… Void…"
He felt that Void Swallowing Flame should know more, but was hiding it from him. If it were an ordinary matter, he wouldn't care, but this time it involved this World, and a power that even made him feel alarmed, which made it impossible not to take seriously.
Perhaps… there was more than one way to break through to Dou Emperor… Soul Emperor thought to himself.
…
In the Ancient Realm, Black Nirvana King, Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan, and a group of Ancient Clan Elders were still in the meeting room, not yet dispersed.
A dark rift appeared, and Gu Yuan, looking somewhat solemn, walked out of the rift.
"Clan Leader, what happened?" Gu Dao asked with some concern, seeing his rather grim expression.
Gu Yuan said in a deep voice: "I met Soul Emperor."
Upon hearing that name, all the Elders' pupils constricted. The name Soul Emperor was not unfamiliar to any high-ranking member of the Ancient Eight Clans; everyone harbored a sense of apprehension, even fear, towards him.
Black Nirvana King's voice was steady: "Did you clash?"
"No, we didn't. We just talked for a while. He told me the Xiao Clan has a problem," Gu Yuan replied.
"The Xiao Clan has a problem?" Black Nirvana King looked puzzled.
Gu Yuan recounted what Soul Emperor had said and his own conjectures, then instructed:
"Have everyone in the clan who experienced that period of time think carefully about any other 'missing' individuals from the Xiao Clan who haven't returned."
Gu Dao said: "I will compile a list later."
"Black Nirvana King, send someone to bring that girl Xun Er back…"
Gu Yuan had just finished speaking when he immediately changed his mind:
"No, never mind. I'll go myself… I haven't seen her in a long time, and I miss her quite a bit.
"I might stay there for a longer period this time. If anything changes, contact me immediately… Pay more attention to the clan's security."
"Yes." Black Nirvana King nodded slightly.
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