Hun Tiandi's heart trembled violently at Flame's words. From the very moment Flame had appeared, he hadn't dared to divide his attention even for an instant. His gaze was fixed upon him—unyielding, sharp, and wary of the slightest movement.
He knew all too well how terrifying Xiao Hua and his two avatars were. He had suffered that truth firsthand. Thus, he dared not divide his attention—lest the smallest distraction led to his downfall.
Thus, he noticed neither Lan Haoran's discreet spiritual transmission behind Flame nor the shifting tides across the other battlefields. His full focus remained locked on the burning figure before him.
But Hun Tiandi was no ordinary person. His mind, tempered by millennia, was calm and venomous. Within a breath, he regained composure. With a sharp wave of his sleeve, his expression hardened.
Whoosh!
Black mist erupted from his body, thick and corrosive, devouring even the surrounding light. It spread rapidly, shrouding his figure until not even a wisp of his aura remained visible. Then, the mist surged like a living tide, sweeping toward the younger members of the Hun Clan and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, swallowing them whole in an instant.
Flame's eyes flashed coldly. He could sense what Hun Tiandi intended to do, and fury burst from his chest like an erupting volcano. With a flick of his sleeve, heaven and earth trembled in response.
"Genesis Finger!"
His voice boomed like divine thunder.
He pressed a single finger toward the void before him. In that instant, the Heavenly Genesis Flame erupted from his body, fusing with the energy of heaven and earth. The air around him seethed, as if the world itself was boiling under his will. All the power within several hundred meters was drawn in, gathering at the tip of his finger.
A heartbeat later—
Boom!
A divine beam of blazing radiance shot forth, so bright it seemed to burn through existence itself. The heavens turned crimson; the void split apart. Wherever the beam passed, mountains dissolved into molten light, rivers evaporated into nothingness, and life itself was incinerated into dust.
Sensing the mortal danger, the black mist convulsed violently, swirling frantically to flee.
But Flame's attack was faster.
The beam pierced through the mist with unstoppable force, tearing it apart. The dark fog writhed like boiling tar, twisting and screaming as a wretched voice echoed out—one filled with agony and hatred. Then, within moments, it scattered completely, leaving behind nothing but scorched air.
"Xiao Hua, a year from now—at Burial Sky Mountain…"
"If you wish to rescue Xiao Zhan, your Hua Alliance, and the elders of Jia Nan Academy, have Xiao Yan bring me the Gu Clan's fragment of the Tou She Ancient God's Jade. If not…"
A low, sinister chuckle echoed within the air, dripping with mockery.
"…then you may come collect their corpses yourself."
As his final words faded, the thick black mist that had shrouded him twisted violently, then vanished into the rift of space he had torn open. Silence followed—cold, oppressive, and suffocating.
Flame's heart clenched. The names that emerged from Hun Tiandi's lips—Hua Alliance, Xiao Zhan, Jia Nan Academy—struck him like thunder.
Though he seldom returned to Jia Nan Academy, his connection to it had never been severed. On occasion, he had exchanged letters with his master, Old Huo, and First Elder Su Qian—simple conversations about cultivation, life, and the passage of years. To think that Hun Tiandi would target them…
A heavy gloom settled over his heart.
He hadn't imagined that Hun Tiandi would dare to split his forces so boldly—sending one to attack the Ling Clan, another to besiege the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, and yet another to capture the people of Jia Nan Academy and Hua Alliance.
"Even with First Elder Su Qian's strength as a Dou Zun and the elders reaching the Dou Zong realm… it would still be difficult for them to hold out against the combined might of the Hun Clan and Hall of Souls," Flame murmured, his voice low with restrained fury. His teeth gnashed as he struggled to contain the surging rage within.
He had been caught completely unprepared by Hun Tiandi's meticulous schemes. The weight in his chest deepened further when he realized that Hun Tiandi had also seized the Tou She Ancient God's Jade fragment that Xiao Yan possessed.
He had believed there was still time—that the final confrontation would come later. Yet Hun Tiandi had grown desperate… and that made him even more dangerous.
Given enough time, the Moonlit Chaos Mansion could indeed dominate the entire Dou Qi Continent. Hun Tiandi would never allow that to happen.
'If I include the Shi Clan and the Ling Clan fragments… Hun Tiandi already possesses four of the eight Tou She Ancient God's Jade fragments,' Flame thought grimly. His eyes darkened, reflecting the weight of that realization.
"Xiao Hua… are you all right?"
A gentle voice broke his thoughts. Flame turned, the hard lines of his face softening as he met Yun Yun's worried gaze.
"I'm fine." He smiled faintly and gaze softened—warm and kind, his tone stripped of the sharp edge that had cut through his battle with Hun Tiandi moments ago.
Yun Yun studied him quietly, her brows easing once she saw that his gloom had lessened. She nodded softly.
Flame chuckled, warmth flickering in his chest at her concern. Then, his gaze shifted toward his disciple—and those of his sworn brothers and sisters. His eyes narrowed as he took in their condition.
Aside from Yun Yun and the Flower Sect members, everyone was gravely wounded. Though color had begun to return to their faces, their auras were still weak and unstable. It was clear that they had fought desperately to protect Yun Yun, recognizing her as one of the mistresses of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
The reason the younger generation of the Hun Clan and Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe hadn't pressed the attack while Flame battled Hun Tiandi became clear as well—Lan Haoran was standing at the front, a shimmering barrier of azure light surrounding them.
It was the treasure his master, Ming Cheng—Xiao Hua's sworn brother—had bestowed upon him. A spiritual shield capable of conjuring a powerful barrier strong enough to withstand even a Dou Sheng's assault for a short time.
Even if the enemy had dared to strike, breaking through that defense would have taken time.
Knowing this, Flame had chosen to unleash everything against Hun Tiandi without hesitation.
Gudong—!
A deep rumble rolled through the heavens. Black-gold lightning split the sky, crackling violently as arcs of thunderous power tore through the void.
Before their eyes, the bolts twisted together—forming a humanoid shape that slowly solidified.
A familiar voice drifted through the thunder.
"Seems like everything has been settled," the figure said, a faint, relieved smile on his face. "I was just a bit too late, wasn't I…"
It was Ming Cheng—arriving at last.
"Teacher, you've come out of seclusion…!"
Lan Haoran's face lit up with visible relief upon seeing his teacher's familiar figure descend from the black-gold lightning. He finally exhaled the breath he had been holding and withdrew the shield treasure back into his storage ring.
Ming Cheng gave a slight nod before turning toward Flame. A flicker of guilt crossed his face as he said softly, "It seems Hun Tiandi's scheme has left you at quite a disadvantage. I should have exited my retreat sooner."
Flame shook his head, his gaze calm and steady. "It's not your fault. I was too complacent and careless—Hun Tiandi took advantage of that."
Then, his eyes shifted toward Lan Haoran, a faint glimmer of approval passing through them. "Still, I must thank Lan Haoran. Had he not informed me that you and the others had left seclusion, I wouldn't have had the chance to vent some of my anger on that bastard."
Flame's expression soon turned solemn as he cast his gaze toward Nalan Yanran, who was carefully supporting the unconscious Xiao Yan. His voice grew calm yet resolute. "We should return. I need to tend to my cousin's condition first. Only after that can we discuss Hun Tiandi's words."
Ming Cheng nodded without hesitation. He, too, had heard Hun Tiandi's words before arriving—the man had made no effort to conceal them. But this matter was too grave to discuss in an unstable battlefield. The immediate priority was to retreat and recover before dealing with the consequences.
…
Upon returning to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, Flame immediately began examining Xiao Yan's condition. His brows furrowed deeply at first but soon relaxed as relief washed over him.
Xiao Yan's injuries were severe, but not fatal. Thanks to the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill he had consumed during the auction and the Three Thousand Burning Flame he had refined earlier, his body was rapidly regenerating under the starry night sky that Xin Yu create in her Oceanic Island, where the air brimmed with star strength for the Three Thousand Burning Flame consume and increase Xiao Yan's recovery speed.
What reassured Flame most, however, was the faint yet stable pulse of spiritual light within Xiao Yan's chest—the power of the Bodhisattva Heart. It continuously nourished his soul and mended his inner wounds, preventing any lasting harm.
Flame exhaled a long breath and murmured softly, almost to himself, "Half a year of rest… that should be enough. Just barely enough time for us to follow what Hun Tiandi demanded…"
However, Flame also placed Xiao Yan within a medicinal bath infused with countless rare herbs and heavenly treasures. The bath's essence continuously seeped into his body, nourishing his meridians and flesh at an unconscious level. When he awoke, Flame was confident that Xiao Yan would not merely reach the Ban Sheng realm—but would directly ascend to the Dou Sheng class.
Xiao Yan's foundation had long been firm and flawless, so Flame harbored no worries of instability or hidden repercussions. What truly troubled him was the possibility that Xiao Yan might never open his eyes again…
As for Yun Yun and the disciples of the Flower Sect, they had long since returned to their own domain. However, as expected, Nalan Yanran remained behind in the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, unable to leave while Xiao Yan's fate was uncertain.
Though Flame had forbidden her from entering the chamber, she remained outside, cultivating silently beside the door—guarding him day and night, her heart steadfastly awaiting his awakening.
The Moonlit Chaos Mansion was now in a state of the highest alert. After all, the combined forces of the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls had dared to assault their domain.
Yet, the damages were minimal—far less than what their enemies had expected. This was because his sworn brothers and sisters had emerged from seclusion, each having made significant breakthroughs in their cultivation.
As for the Supreme Court Alliance, though they had suffered a few losses, none were fatal enough to paid attention to it.
Even the Profound River Alliance, once considered a formidable faction, had been utterly annihilated after Wei Jie and Mei Ling—enraged by their attack and ambush—went on a rampage, erasing their enemy from the map before returning triumphantly to the Mansion.
Yet, not all was well. Two major issues still weighed heavily upon Flame's mind.
The first concerned the Ling Clan, which had suffered devastating losses. Their Clan Leader had fallen, but not before activating the life-saving token gifted by Xin Yu, opening a spatial rift through which the survivors escaped.
Even so, their plight did not end there—the pursuing forces of the Hun Clan continued their slaughter. In a final act of defiance, the high-ranking elders of the Ling Clan sacrificed their lives to protect the younger generation.
Fortunately, Xin Yu and Li Mei, accompanied by Ling Chenxin, arrived just in time, eradicating the Hun pursuers and saving the remnants of the clan from complete annihilation. Even so, the Ling Clan stood on the brink of extinction.
The Jia Nan Academy, too, had suffered grievously under the sudden coordinated assault of the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls. Most of their elders and students had been captured before reinforcements could arrive.
By contrast, the Hua Alliance was spared from total devastation thanks to the wormhole that connected it directly to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion. Still, even they were not unscathed—Xiao Tao and Xiao Li had been captured during the chaos.
Months passed as Flame and his sworn siblings worked tirelessly to stabilize the situation across the four major factions—the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, Hua Alliance, Jia Nan Academy, and Supreme Court Alliance.
By the time calm finally returned, three months had already passed since the day Hun Tiandi's scheme was set into motion.
Within his office, Flame's brows were tightly furrowed, his expression heavy as countless troubling reports swirled through his mind. Each one weighed upon his heart like an invisible burden. After a long silence, he exhaled softly—then his figure flickered and vanished from sight.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared atop the mountain peak of his island, crimson robes fluttering in the sea breeze. His sharp gaze swept across the vast, bustling realm below, its once tranquil energy now carrying an undercurrent of tension.
On the brighter side, Cai Lin had finally awakened and emerged from her retreat in the midst of Huang Tian's encirclement and the Heaven Demon Phoenix's assault.
Naturally, Thunder—who had been seething with pent-up fury—unleashed his rage the instant he realized Cai Lin was no longer in danger. His thunderous wrath shook the heavens themselves as he joined forces with her. Together, the two went on a merciless rampage, slaughtering Huang Tian and several of the Heaven Demon Phoenix's high-ranking elders with overwhelming might.
However, they did not completely annihilate the tribe. After some negotiations—and a fair amount of desperate pleading from the opposing side—the Heaven Demon Phoenix tribe was forced to submit and become a subsidiary tribe of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
When Zi Yan learned of their decision, she could only grumble in frustration, scolding the two of them for making such a major decision without consulting her.
In the end, she returned to her tribe to handle the aftermath and oversee the stabilization of her people, her days consumed by endless matters of governance and reconstruction.
"Is Martial Nephew Ling well?"
Sensing the familiar aura behind him, Flame spoke without turning around, his tone calm yet edged with quiet concern.
"Chenxin is fine," came Xin Yu's elegant voice from behind him. She approached with a faint smile, her bearing as graceful as ever. "She's a strong girl—strong enough to shoulder her clan's burden and bring stability amidst the chaos."
She paused, her smile dimming into a sigh. "Fortunately, her mother and a few elders survived the onslaught. But as expected, unless another Dou Di emerges within their bloodline, the Ling Clan will eventually fall to the same level as your own clan did after its Dou Di bloodline was exhausted."
Flame's eyes narrowed slightly as he replied in a low, resolute tone, "It won't come to that. Martial Nephew Ling has you as her master and me as her Martial Uncle. With such guidance, the Ling Clan will one day produce another Dou Di—of that, I have no doubt."
Xin Yu shook her head lightly, her gaze soft yet distant. "Let's put the future aside for now. The present demands our attention."
She turned and added, "Come. Everyone is already waiting in the meeting hall."
Flame gave a brief nod. His expression steadied, though the flicker of solemnity in his eyes did not fade. Without another word, his figure blurred into a streak of crimson light as he followed her toward the meeting hall.
By the time Flame stepped into the hall, the place was already filled with people. The air seemed lively at a glance, yet beneath that surface, a heavy tension pressed upon the atmosphere, weighing down every breath.
Seated within the grand chamber were the foremost powers of the Central Plains. The gathering included the high-ranking elders of Moonlit Chaos Mansion, as well as representatives from the Supreme Court Alliance, Pill Tower, Burning Flame Valley, Flower Sect, and Falling Star Pavilion.
On the Pill Tower's side sat the Ancestor and the First Elder; from Burning Flame Valley came Ancestor Huo and Tang Zhen. The Flower Sect was represented by Fairy Qing and Fairy Hua—Yun Yun could not attend, as she had entered secluded cultivation, striving for another breakthrough with the aid of the treasures and pills Flame had personally provided.
Representing the Falling Star Pavilion was Yao Chen, who had just finished inspecting Xiao Yan's condition. A trace of relief could be seen on his face—his disciple's injuries were stable, and he could already sense that once Xiao Yan awakened, he would step into the ranks of the Dou Sheng.
From the Moonlit Chaos Mansion sat Ming Cheng, Mei Ling, and Wei Jie. Even Xun Er, Little Fairy Doctor, Ya Fei, and Cai Lin were present. At the head of the hall stood three seats of authority—one occupied by Thunder, another left for Xiao Hua, and the final one now taken by Flame.
Once Flame sat down, the crowd exchanged a few light words to dispel the oppressive silence before their expressions gradually turned solemn. The true discussion was about to begin.
The Pill Tower's Ancestor was the first to speak. He exhaled a long breath before his aged voice echoed across the chamber. "To think that Hun Tiandi was the one behind the Profound Sky Sect's formation of the Profound River Alliance… all this time, he's been manipulating events from the shadows."
Ancestor Huo Yun added with a deep frown, "And the disappearance of small cities and villages… I never would have expected that the Hall of Souls was moving through the Dou Qi Continent so erratically. Their methods are far more insidious than we imagined."
Flame gave a faint, rueful smile. "There were hints scattered across both incidents, but none strong enough to connect the dots. Even so, I can't deny—we were too complacent. Hun Tiandi played us all perfectly."
Thunder leaned forward, his expression darkening as his lightning-like eyes flickered with restrained fury. "Indeed. He covered his tracks flawlessly. By the time we saw through it, the trap had already closed around us."
A heavy silence fell once more.
Though their enemies had struck fiercely, they had failed to inflict lasting damage. The combined might of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion and their allied factions had proven too overwhelming.
Even if the Profound River Alliance had risked everything, their resistance could barely last the time of a quarter-stick of incense before being annihilated. But despite their victory, no one in the hall felt any sense of triumph—only the bitter realization of how deeply Hun Tiandi's schemes had reached.
"However," Fairy Qing spoke softly, her brows knitting together, "how did Hun Tiandi learn that Hall Master Ming Cheng and the others were in seclusion? If I recall correctly, none of us disclosed that matter beyond this circle."
A faint sigh escaped Yao Lao's lips as he lowered his gaze. "That… was my oversight," he admitted, his voice carrying a trace of guilt.
"When I spoke to Old Feng regarding some medicinal research, a few elders happened to be nearby. I thought little of it at the time. Later, when those same elders were dispatched on a mission… they were captured by the Hall of Souls."
A soft gasp escaped Fairy Qing as her expression shifted from curiosity to surprise—and then to regret. She hadn't meant to force such an uncomfortable admission.
"This is not your fault, Old Yao" Ming Cheng interrupted gently, shaking his head. His calm yet firm voice eased the tension slightly. "Even if that incident had not occurred, Hun Tiandi would still have found a way. He possesses far too many sinister methods to extract information from others. This was inevitable."
Yao Lao gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, though his eyes still reflected guilt.
At that moment, the Pill Tower's Ancestor stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "Still… this 'Key' Hun Tiandi mentioned—the one he demanded Xiao Yan to bring—what exactly is it? I've lived through many eras, yet this term is unfamiliar to me. Why is he so obsessed with it?"
His question hung heavily in the air.
Those who knew the truth exchanged silent glances. Only a few within the hall were privy to the deeper secret behind the so-called "Key." Yao Lao, too, understood its significance but remained silent, bound by the gravity of the matter.
Seeing no one speak, the atmosphere turned solemn once more. All eyes gradually shifted toward Flame and Thunder, waiting for them to reveal the truth behind Hun Tiandi's obsession—a truth tied not merely to the Gu Clan, but to the origin of the entire Dou Qi Continent itself.
Flame and Thunder exchanged a deep glance before nodding in silent agreement. When they spoke, their voices carried the weight of thunder and flame—steady, resonant, and unified.
"We shall begin once Sister Li Mei reaches the Gu Clan and informs them of the Ling Clan's situation. Only then can we discuss the 'Key' that Hun Tiandi seeks…"
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