The Northern Frontier — one of the borders of the Great Thousand World.
In ancient times, when the Immortal Emperor sealed away the Heavenly Evil Monarch, he halted the invasion of the Extraterritorial Evil Race, yet half of the Great Thousand World was still occupied. The corrupted half was tainted by demonic energy, transformed entirely into the Demon Region.
Between the Great Thousand World and the Demon Region now lies a natural barrier — a membrane-like layer of chaotic matter that separates the two realms. This barrier stretches across the east, south, west, and north, holding the two worlds in a tenuous balance.
Powerful Demon Emperors can still tear through this barrier, sending their armies into the Great Thousand World. Every thousand years, a bloody war inevitably brews, meant to bleed the strength of the Great Thousand World dry.
If not for this relentless cycle of calamities, the number of Sovereign-level experts in the Great Thousand World today would be unimaginable.
The sky burned a deep crimson, filled with blazing clouds. The air shimmered with heat as fiery Spiritual Energy surged between heaven and earth.
Standing beside Liu Xi, Xuan Pao spoke with fiery enthusiasm.
"Master, we've entered the Northern Frontier. The northern territories are dotted with countless continents, but at the farthest edge lies the Burning Heaven Continent."
"It was once the greatest volcano of the Great Thousand World. After tens of thousands of years of endless eruptions, the volcano finally calmed. The molten lava that once flooded the lands eventually cooled and solidified, forming what is now the Burning Heaven Continent."
Liu Xi nodded slightly. That region was the later Endless Fire Territory—the most saturated source of fire-element Spiritual Energy in the entire Great Thousand World, and thus the perfect place to stabilize his realm.
"Continue," Liu Xi said calmly.
Xuan Pao's expression turned solemn, his voice heavy.
"It's also one of the major battlefields between the Great Thousand World and the Extraterritorial Evil Race. The invaders never gave up. Every millennium, they tear open the world's barrier to launch another invasion."
"Because of the violent fire Spiritual Energy, few can inhabit the Burning Heaven Continent besides the Flame Swallowing Clan. Over time, that land became one of the battlefronts."
Liu Xi already knew this much. Every millennium, the Great Thousand Palace would summon the Heavenly Sovereigns of the world to jointly activate the Great Thousand Demon-Slaying Formation, eroding the Evil Monarch's origin power bit by bit.
The Evil Race always retaliated during this time, sending their legions in a desperate attempt to rescue the sealed Evil Monarch. For forty-eight thousand years, they had never once succeeded. According to the cycle, in just a few centuries, when the formation completes its forty-nine-thousandth cycle, the Evil Monarch's origin will finally be extinguished.
The Immortal Emperor's foresight was indeed remarkable. He not only sealed the Evil Monarch but also left behind a formation that, once operated for forty-nine millennia, would erase its existence entirely.
Only—history had yet to see whether this final effort would succeed or fail.
Xuan Pao continued, "Because of this, the Flame Swallowing Clan to the south of Burning Heaven Continent serves as our forward defense line. To the north dwell the Flame Demon Clan of the Evil Race. The two sides constantly clash, though full-scale wars are rare."
"Let's go take a look."
Liu Xi smiled faintly. He had come to consolidate his realm and temper his strength — a battlefield was precisely what he needed.
"As you command!" Xuan Pao bowed.
The next moment, Liu Xi, Bodhisattva, and Xuan Pao shot forward like streaks of lightning, heading for the northernmost reaches of the Great Thousand World.
The Burning Heaven Continent had no spatial teleportation arrays. Even if one existed, the violent fire energy would have long corroded it. The only way there was to fly.
Half a day later—
Beneath the crimson sky, a faint shadow appeared on the horizon. Liu Xi's eyes flickered — that was it, the Burning Heaven Continent, the northernmost edge of the Great Thousand World.
Moments later, the trio descended upon the skies above the continent. Liu Xi could feel the scorching Spiritual Energy surging everywhere.
"What a dense fire attribute presence…"
The concentration of fire Spiritual Energy here even surpassed that of the Skylaw Continent. It was the perfect cultivation ground for him.
As for Xuan Pao and Bodhisattva, both were beyond affected — Xuan Pao as a Perfect Earth Sovereign could withstand the heat easily, and Bodhisattva's calm presence was unmoved.
Below them stretched endless crimson plains. The earth itself shimmered red, and every few thousand li, an active volcano smoked, reminding all that the land itself breathed fire.
"Master," Xuan Pao explained, "the core of this continent lies within the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Its largest volcano, Burning Heaven Mountain, sits closest to the border between the Great Thousand World and the Demon Region."
Liu Xi's gaze burned with interest. "Let's go."
It didn't take long before a massive mountain appeared in sight — tens of thousands of zhang tall, coiling like a sleeping fire dragon. Torrents of thick smoke rose endlessly from its crater, accompanied by violent streams of flame-aspected Spiritual Energy.
Liu Xi felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring, while even the Azure Flame within him flickered restlessly, yearning to absorb the raging power below.
Standing midair, Liu Xi stared down at the molten abyss. Beneath the endless sea of magma, a wisp of crimson-golden flame floated quietly, radiant and sacred like a miniature sun.
It released blinding brilliance and overwhelming heat. Even from afar, the power within surpassed his own by hundreds, thousands of times.
'So the rumors were true… Beneath the Burning Heaven Volcano lies the Burning Heaven Spirit Flame, ranked second among all divine flames of the Great Thousand World. A flame of saint-level power—truly extraordinary.'
His heart burned with desire. With this flame, his advancement to Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign would be within reach.
But he wasn't in a rush. The flame had existed here for countless years untouched — proof that none beneath the Saint Grade could withstand its might.
Raising his head, Liu Xi turned his gaze northward. Beyond the Burning Heaven Mountains, a magnificent aurora-like light curtain divided heaven and earth. Yet through that glowing barrier, he could still feel a faintly sinister aura leaking through.
Xuan Pao's expression darkened. "Master, beyond that light curtain lies the territory of the Flame Demon Clan of the Extraterritorial Evil Race. The last invasion was led by them — nine Abyss Demon Emperors and three Profound Demon Emperors. It cost the Great Thousand World dearly to drive them back."
Liu Xi's eyes remained calm. The Burning Heaven Spirit Flame was what held the demons at bay. If he wanted to claim it, he would need a perfect plan.
(End of Chapter)
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