Author's Note (Clarification About Xu Lian & Ye Tianlan)
Some of you may have noticed that in earlier chapters, the protagonist was referred to as Xu Lian, but in later ones, he's called Ye Tianlan.
To clarify — they are the same person.
Xu Lian was his birth name, the last surviving heir of the Xu Clan, who once lived peacefully in the Great Xu Empire before tragedy struck.
When the Seven Realms destroyed his clan and family, Xu Lian died that night — not in body, but in soul.
During his awakening in the Shadowed Abyss, he shed his old name and past identity.
The world now knows him as Ye Tianlan, the Overlord's Shadow — reborn through vengeance, walking the path that defies fate itself.
If you still see "Xu Lian" in some scenes, it refers to his past life or internal memories, before he accepted his true power.
From Chapter 15 onward, his name will remain Ye Tianlan, the name that even the heavens will one day fear.
Thank you for reading and for catching the detail — your support keeps this story alive!
— Author: King_Fuzu
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Chapter 14 – The Purifiers Descend
The forest was quiet after the slaughter.
Only the rustle of wind and the distant cry of crows lingered where Ye Tianlan stood among corpses of the Venom Fang disciples.
Their blood still steamed on the cold earth.
He looked at his reflection in the crimson puddle beneath his feet — and for a brief moment, he saw Xu Lian, the boy who once smiled under his mother's gentle hand.
That boy was gone.
All that remained was Ye Tianlan, born from the ashes of vengeance.
( "The weak pray to Heaven," he murmured. "The strong make Heaven kneel." )
He turned and began walking down the dirt road leading out of Ironfang.
Rumors were already spreading.
Each step he took sent ripples across the Earth Realm — whispers carried by fear.
---
Far above the mortal world, in the White Lotus Realm, a vast golden temple floated amidst an endless ocean of light.
Inside, thousands of robed monks chanted beneath a massive lotus throne where the Saintess of Purity sat, her serene face illuminated by divine fire.
A young priest knelt before her.
"Saintess," he said, trembling, "the Heavenly Oracle confirms it. The last Xu bloodline lives. The heretic now bears the mark of the Golden Dragon."
The Saintess opened her eyes. They were calm, holy, and utterly pitiless.
"Ye Tianlan…" she whispered. "A cursed child of rebellion."
A faint smile curved her lips — pure and cruel.
"Summon the Twelve Purifiers. The heavens must remain pure. Erase his existence… and cleanse the Earth Realm."
The monks around her bowed low. "As you command, Saintess."
---
Three days later…
The border between Ironfang and the Western Peaks erupted with celestial light.
Ye Tianlan sensed it before he saw it — the pressure of divine qi, sharp as blades, oppressive as mountains.
The Twelve Purifiers had arrived.
Each of them wore white armor etched with lotus petals. Their faces were hidden behind veils of gold.
Even their footsteps echoed like temple bells.
The leader, a tall man with pale golden eyes, stepped forward. "Ye Tianlan of the Xu bloodline," he said, voice calm yet thunderous, "by decree of the White Lotus Saintess, your existence defies the Heavenly Order. Kneel, surrender your soul, and your death will be merciful."
Tianlan stood still, unflinching. "Mercy?"
He raised his head, and the faint golden aura around him flared like a storm. "Your heavens showed me none. You came to purge me once — and failed."
The air shook.
The Golden Dragon mark on his chest glowed through his torn robe.
With one thought, his qi erupted — waves of molten gold devouring the forest.
Trees bent, stones cracked, the sky itself darkened.
The Purifiers moved as one. Swords of divine light shot forward, each carrying the weight of a realm's blessing.
Ye Tianlan met them head-on. His blade — the Heavenbreaker Edge — sliced through the first beam, scattering holy fire like sparks.
When he struck again, thunder echoed across mountains.
Boom!
Two Purifiers were sent flying, their armor cracking like porcelain.
The leader's calm expression finally faltered. "Impossible… he's only at the Earth Realm!"
Tianlan stepped forward through the smoke, eyes glowing like molten suns.
"I am not bound by your realms."
He clenched his fist — and golden lightning split the sky.
Crack!
The ground shattered. The remaining Purifiers scrambled to reform their array, chanting holy mantras — but Tianlan's aura drowned them out.
With a roar that shook heaven itself, the Golden Heavenly Dragon manifested behind him — colossal, divine, furious.
Its roar scattered clouds, and its golden scales reflected the light of ten suns.
The Purifiers' formation broke instantly.
Some tried to flee.
None succeeded.
When the storm settled, the forest was gone — only scorched land and the faint glow of dragon fire remained.
Ye Tianlan stood at the center, his aura fading slowly, his breathing steady.
He gazed upward, toward the heavens where his enemies watched.
His voice was cold and steady.
( "If Heaven wishes to purge me, then I shall purge Heaven first.")
---
Far above, in the Celestial Phoenix Realm, thunder rolled across divine palaces.
The Celestial Emperor stood at the edge of his balcony, his expression unreadable.
"Golden Dragon bloodline," he murmured. "Born again in defiance of Heaven's will."
He turned toward the glowing horizon.
"Let it be so. If he seeks war with the heavens, we shall grant it."
The age of divine silence was ending.
And Ye Tianlan — once Xu Lian, son of ashes — had just declared war on the Seven Realms.