Chapter 371: Hua Sheng Fire

Xuan Guardian flushed with shame, lamenting how terrible his luck was.

After all, the Dou Qi Continent was vast beyond measure; even the Soul Hall had only a few Venerables, most of whom were stationed in Zhong Zhou with their own missions, primarily hunting Soul Bodies.

Though assigned by the Hall Master, the task was not a direct order—merely instructing subordinates to compete for all items related to the Bodhi Tree.

The Bodhi Heart was a treasure for advancing to Dou Saint; even the Soul Hall had no more than one hand's worth of Dou Saints.

Such a treasure would naturally be directly arranged by the Hall Master, but Puti Huati Yan had little connection to the Bodhi Heart—yet it still bore some link to the Bodhi Tree, so the Soul Hall's local branch in the Black Horn Region was sent to seize it.

Even funding was denied to Xuan Guardian—he was told to figure it out himself—clearly showing the Hall Master's attitude: if it came, fine; if not, no matter.

Why did he have to stumble into this factional struggle?!

Now, Xuan Guardian's mind was already playing out a Soul Hall palace intrigue drama—the factional conflict between Hun Xu Zi and the Hall Master!!

You should've told me you wanted this Puti Huati Yan—I wouldn't have come! I'm just a Guardian—how can I fight a Venerable? Especially one favored by the Dan Saint!

"Sir?" Fang Yan asked softly.

After a moment's thought, Xuan Guardian asked: "Didn't you say your Demon Flame Valley once attacked Xiao City of the Yan Alliance?"

Fang Yan froze, utterly confused by the question, but still nodded obediently: "There were some disputes in the past."

Xuan Guardian's gaze sharpened slightly, then he smiled and said: "Good. Don't worry—I'll intervene if necessary."

Hearing Xuan Guardian's promise, Fang Yan and the others rejoiced, bowing hastily: "Thank you, Sir."

"That's settled. No need to disturb the Ancestor's meditation."

"Heh, let's go. Let's meet this Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance—they say he controls a unique flame. I wonder how it compares to our Hua Sheng Fire."

Watching the three Elders of Demon Flame Valley eagerly and confidently prepare for battle, Xuan Guardian behind them revealed a knowing smile.

At this moment, Xiao Yan had also grown weary of waiting; he nodded to Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning gave a firm nod and prepared to lead the assault on Demon Flame City.

At that instant, three old men clad in Demon Flame Valley robes emerged from the city, accompanied by a large number of disciples—all three were Dou Huang Peak, and the valley also boasted many Dou Wang and Dou Huang, their colorful Dou Qi wings flickering across the sky.

The enemy doesn't surrender—they plan to counterattack us!

"Sss, the strength of Demon Flame Valley remains as terrifying as ever," some onlookers far away gasped.

So many Dou Huang—Demon Flame Valley truly deserves its reputation as the strongest Sect in the Black Horn Region!

Yet neither Xiao Yan, nor Xiao Yixian, nor Zi Yan showed any interest—even the young Lion King, just newly transformed into Dou Huang, yawned in boredom.

They're used to high-level battles!

This low-level fight is truly dull!

"Those are the three Elders of Demon Flame Valley—all Peak Dou Huang," Xiao Yu said, watching the three old men in the distance, her expression growing grave. Peak Dou Huang—there weren't many in Jia Nan Academy, and in the Black Horn Region, their names were legendary.

"Oh."

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan—she'd forgotten: this guy had already fought in several high-level battles during the Sect Grand Meeting and the Northwest Region conflict; he naturally looked down on these Peak Dou Huang.

"Master Xiao, enmities are better resolved than prolonged," Elder Fang Yan said slowly.

"No need for words—it's a war, or rather, revenge," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. "Since you dared to cross my line back then, you must pay the price."

"Xiao City doesn't seek trouble—but it doesn't fear it either!"

"All Demon Flame Valley disciples who participated in the attack on Xiao City shall commit suicide—then this matter is settled."

Xiao Yan's eyes turned icy—his father was in Xiao City. He had seized Feng City from Han Feng to give the Xiao Clan another base, so if anything happened, they could retreat from Yun Lan Mountain here.

Now someone dared to smash his home—if Xiao Yan didn't respond with thunderous force, endless disasters would plague Xiao City from now on.

He meant to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!

Xiao Yan smiled: "This is your final chance. If you insist on resisting, I have no objections—I'll grant your wish. I will crush Demon Flame City. Don't forget—you were the ones who started this war!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's casual, arms-crossed demeanor, Fang Yan's eyes flickered with cold light; he sneered: "We've long heard of the reputation of the Lord of Xiao City in the Black Horn Region. Now that we meet, you truly are a prodigy. But today, the three of us shall have to offend you."

No sooner had he spoken than Fang Yan barked: "Second Elder! Third Elder!"

At his shout, the Second and Third Elders of Demon Flame Valley immediately responded, then all three rose into the air, preparing to surround Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan shrugged. Humans always needed to see the coffin before they cried—something he was used to.

Xiao Yan used Soul Resonance to speak to Zi Yan, who was idly loitering afar: "Zi Yan, go into Demon Flame City later—break into their treasury. Even if there's nothing valuable, don't let it go to waste."

Hearing Xiao Yan, Zi Yan's twin pigtails bounced up excitedly: "Hehehe, I love this!"

"Lion King, watch over the Xiao Clan disciples—let them gain experience, but no deaths." Xiao Yan, as a responsible Young Clan Leader, still thought of giving his clan members training opportunities.

"Master, rest assured," the transformed Purple Crystal Winged Lion King nodded.

As for Xiao Yixian, she naturally sat atop the mountain, sipping tea and watching the battle—unless Di Mo the Old Ghost appeared, she wouldn't move.

Xiao Yan slowly rose into the air and said to Xiao Ning and the others below: "Go. Take Demon Flame City. Let me see the strength of our clan's elite."

Hearing this, Xiao Ning and the Xiao Clan disciples roared like they'd been injected with stimulants, charging after the young Lion King toward Demon Flame City, clashing with the Demon Flame Valley disciples.

After surrounding Xiao Yan, Fang Yan and the other two elders retreated a distance, rapidly forming hand seals. As their seals changed, three pale gray flames suddenly drifted from their bodies, responding to each other, then, after moments, detached entirely and flew toward the center of the air above them, merging together.

"We've heard the Lord of Xiao City controls a unique flame. I'm very curious—can your manufactured unique flame match yours?"

"Huh? Manufactured unique flame?" At this, Xiao Yan's interest instantly sparked—he had many unique flames, all born of heaven and earth. Manufactured unique flame? This was the first time he'd ever heard of such a thing.

As the three pale gray flames fused, within half a minute, a strange gray-brown flame slowly rose into the sky.

With the appearance of this gray-brown flame, the temperature of the surrounding sky surged sharply—even the space around the flame began to warp. The flame's heat was nearly approaching that of a unique flame.

Xiao Yan looked up at the gray-brown flame, eyes flickering with surprise, murmuring with interest: "This is your manufactured unique flame? Not bad at all."

"Hahahaha! This is our Demon Flame Valley's 'Nong Yan Jue'-created manufactured unique flame—Hua Sheng Fire!" Fang Yan laughed loudly, especially pleased by Xiao Yan's astonished expression.

Though Hua Sheng Fire caused some damage to their own bodies, its power was immense—certainly no weaker than a unique flame.

Xiao Yan nodded. The gray-brown flame hovered above his head like a gray sun, radiating a terrifying heat that warped space—its temperature was very close to that of Qing Lotus Earth Core Fire.

No wonder the people of Demon Flame Valley called this Hua Sheng Fire a manufactured unique flame—at least in temperature, it matched.

Of course, it was merely close. Unique flames were unique creations of this world, irreplicable—Xiao Yan knew this clearly. Though the so-called "Nong Yan Jue" was mysterious, it was nowhere near capable of creating a unique flame from nothing. At best, it could only approach the level of a unique flame—never surpass it!

Moreover, each unique flame possessed unique powers—those mysterious abilities were precisely why they carried the word "unique." A unique flame's strength wasn't just about high temperature.

Though Xiao Yan understood this, clearly Fang Yan and the three Demon Flame Valley Elders did not—they had great confidence in this gray-brown flame forged from their combined Dou Qi. Over the years, this "fake unique flame" had slain many opponents, including several Peak experts of the Black Horn Region.

"Lord Xiao, it's time you let me see your Strange Flame!" Fang Yan said with confidence—he didn't know whether it was from the Guardian Xuan's encouragement, or from seeing Xiao Yan was only an Eight-Star Demonic Realm, causing him to grow bolder and believe the rumors had some false elements.

Xiao Yan nodded; he had never been a man who liked to disappoint others. After a moment's thought, he summoned from his Nailing Spirit a cluster of sea-blue flame, as if selecting a concubine.

"Hai Xin Flame! That's Han Feng's Hai Xin Flame!"

"So it's true—Han Feng's Hai Xin Flame has fallen into Xiao Yan's hands!"

Some onlookers who knew Han Feng were aware he possessed Hai Xin Flame.

The Infernal Heat of Hua Sheng Flame indeed rivaled Qing Lian Earth Core Fire, but Hai Xin Flame was several levels higher. The instant Hai Xin Flame appeared, a wave of heat surged like an endless ocean, causing Space to ripple, and its temperature firmly suppressed Hua Sheng Flame.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Your Hua Sheng Flame is indeed impressive. Master Yao, now that you've lost the Falling Heart Flame, perhaps you can use this as a replacement."

The Heavenly Flame Sovereign had been reincarnated, meaning all the flame seeds he had acquired in life were gone. Xiao Yan could not return the Falling Heart Flame to him.

Without a Strange Flame to aid him, the Heavenly Flame Sovereign planned to gather other flames to perform the Five Wheel Departed Flame Art.

This Hua Sheng Flame was perfectly suitable.

Xiao Yan lightly pointed his finger forward—he was too lazy to use the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes to boost his power. Though he no longer had the Heavenly Flame Sovereign's Soul Force to assist him, he was no longer the Four-Star Demonic Realm he had been during the Sect Grand Meeting; he had now reached Eight-Star!

Moreover, his Soul Force had reached the Spirit Realm—controlling Strange Flames was now effortless.

Hai Xin Flame instantly transformed into a blue fire dragon-serpent, like a Sea Dragon King, lunging toward the three men.

Seeing the massive blue fire dragon-serpent charge, feeling its crushing pressure, Fang Yan and the other two cried out in unison, forming seals together. Hua Sheng Flame instantly became a flame bird half a foot wide, flapping its fiery wings, its sharp beak striking toward Xiao Yan like lightning.

Boom! The blue and brown fire beasts collided in the Sky, appearing from afar like a battle between dragon and phoenix.

Roar! Xiao Yan controlled Hai Xin Flame; the blue fire dragon-serpent swung its tail like a divine dragon's, smashing the flame bird, then spewing dragon flame that struck it directly.

The flame bird, scorched by Hai Xin Flame, made Fang Yan's eyes grow cold—he shifted his seal, and the flame bird swelled rapidly like a balloon being inflated, resisting Hai Xin Flame's burning.

"Combined, your lifetimes' Dou Qi and Soul Force do seem formidable—but still, too weak." Xiao Yan shrugged. A year ago, during the Sect Grand Meeting, facing three Peak Dou Huangs together, with Hua Sheng Flame's unique properties—

Xiao Yan might have truly faced trouble, needing multiple Strange Flames to defeat these three.

But times have changed.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes—he didn't bother with tricks. His Soul Force surged instantly from his body, and he roared inwardly: "Point Spirit!"

Roar!!! Suddenly, the eyes of the Hai Xin Flame dragon-serpent seemed to gain sentience—those eyes now glimmered with Spiritual Light.

The dragon-serpent's claws gripped Space, its tail lashed out, becoming a streak of light as it shot toward the Hua Sheng Flame bird, then slammed down with its dragon claws, piercing through the swollen flame bird.

Then its tail coiled around the recoiling flame bird, binding it tightly, like endless ocean waves—no matter how Fang Yan and the other two struggled, the Hua Sheng Flame could not escape Hai Xin Flame's restraint.

"How could this happen!"

"Impossible! Our Hua Sheng Flame shouldn't be weaker than a Strange Flame!"

Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "Your Hua Sheng Flame does have some power—but your so-called Flame Manipulation Scripture is far too weak in Fire Control Power, let alone your Soul Force not even reaching Common Realm peak."

To play fire with him? Xiao Yan could only think—they must have burned their brains.

Boom! Hai Xin Flame's dragon-serpent surged with power, crushing the Hua Sheng Flame into countless tongues of flame that scattered.

Puff! With Hua Sheng Flame destroyed, Fang Yan and the other two were instantly counterattacked—they spat blood, their eyes filled with horror!

Xiao Yan's power was far beyond their imagination!

No wonder he could kill Bone Child Elder!

"If you have no last words, then rest in peace," Xiao Yan said coldly.

Fang Yan's entire body turned icy—a deadly danger descended upon him instantly!

"Master, save me!"

(End of Chapter)