Chapter 614: The Butterfly Has Been Flapping Its Wings for a Long Time

"Holding off Yao Wan Gui, a Four-Star Dou Saint, and nearly killing Yao Tian?!"

Although Xiao Yan had stopped, everyone now stared at him in stunned silence, then at the other 'Xiao Yan' whose body crackled with silver thunder, swallowing hard.

"That must be the forbidden technique of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion, the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body—how could a Earth Rank Advanced Grade technique produce a clone with the power of a Dou Saint?" Someone noticed the thunder-illusion Xiao Yan; the clone, shimmering with lightning, was identical to Xiao Yan, and its cultivation level matched his exactly—Three-Star Dou Saint Initial Stage.

If the two Xiao Yans fought together, even Yao Wan Gui would be no match.

"That's not just the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body—Xiao Yan's thunder illusion has fused Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, but more importantly, his Soul Force has reached Heaven Realm Great Perfection," explained a Lei Clan elder to the young generation beside him.

The Lei Clan also had a similar Body Technique, one even more advanced than the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body, yet none could achieve such solidity or replicate a Three-Star Dou Saint's cultivation realm like Xiao Yan's.

"With Heaven Realm Great Perfection Soul Force, Three-Star Dou Saint cultivation, and fused multiple Strange Fires, Xiao Yan is determined to claim the Pure Lotus Demon Fire," murmured Huo Zhi, her veiled eyes gleaming with wisdom, then scanning the figures behind Xiao Yan—Cai Lin and Zi Yan.

Xiao Yan's faction was no weaker than the Gu Clan or the Soul Sovereign—among the strongest contenders in this struggle for the Demon Fire.

Huo Zhi's companion, Elder Huo Xuan, frowned deeply; he knew well that Xiao Yan possessed the miraculous cultivation method to fuse Strange Fires, and the Yan Clan held the most Strange Fires of all—even back when Xiao Xuan and Hun Tian Di fought, he had already been an Elder of the Yan Clan, privy to many secrets.

He felt a faint danger—not to himself, but to his entire clan. After all, even the seventh-ranked Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire was held by their Clan Leader.

The Soul Sovereign had established the Soul Temple to capture Alchemists across the Dou Qi Continent, and even members of the Yao Clan occasionally vanished; though the Soul Sovereign hid their tracks, everyone knew they were the culprits.

If not for the Yan Clan's strength, Xiao Yan might have already moved against them!

Xiao Yan's battle with the Yao Clan ended in the blink of an eye; after those few brief exchanges, all present gained a deeper understanding—and greater wariness—of this fallen Dou Emperor Family's Young Clan Leader, the one destined to revive his lineage.

Once they thought Xiao Yan relied solely on his status as an Alchemist, but now it was clear: his pill alchemy was merely auxiliary—his true power was the foundation of his clan's resurgence!

The entire sky fell utterly silent; countless eyes stared in shock—at once fearful, astonished, indifferent, or furrowed with caution.

And of course, some with rage.

Yao Tian's lips dripped blood, his eyes bloodshot; this humiliation stung worse than death.

"You—you dared strike me!"

Silence lasted an instant—then Yao Tian snapped back from shock and fury, his eyes blazing crimson. He glared wildly at the Soul Avatar before him, and a torrent of earth-brown flame erupted from his body, roaring like thunder, coalescing into the shape of a colossal tortoise—its entire body bristling with sharp fire-spikes, its monstrous maw lined with blade-like fangs.

"Turtle Spirit Earth Flame—the thirteenth-ranked Strange Fire."

"When Turtle Spirit Earth Flame surges, it takes the form of a giant tortoise, its body covered in sharp fire-spikes, its monstrous mouth lined with blade-like fangs. Its flame is earth-brown, born within the earth's strata, forged through countless tectonic compressions, fusions, and condensations, finally emerging as a sentient flame of the earth," Xiao Yan recited like a master listing treasures, instantly identifying Yao Tian's Strange Fire.

This Turtle Spirit Earth Flame was a dual-element earth-fire Strange Fire; after refining it, one's Dou Qi gained earth attributes, and when activated, a layer of rock-like armor resembling a tortoise shell formed over the body, greatly enhancing defense.

Though less destructive than some Strange Fires, Turtle Spirit Earth Flame was the only one that enhanced defense—and it naturally possessed a Spiritual Flame Fusion.

Seeing Yao Tian consumed by rage, his reason drowned in fury, Yao Ling hurriedly cried out: "Brother!"

A pulse of Soul Force struck Yao Tian's mind like a soul-bell, slowly restoring his composure.

Hearing Yao Ling's shout, Yao Tian did not attack Xiao Yan again, but gritted his teeth—never in his life had he suffered such disgrace.

Others at least spoke before fighting—this Xiao Yan was ruthless, silent, and struck without warning!

"Xiao Yan, I, Yao Tian, remember this! Don't think the Yao Clan lacks strong ones—our elders are bound by the Dou Emperor Family pact and cannot intervene. Wait until you reach Five-Star Dou Saint—then see how you boast!" Yao Tian snarled, eyes twisted with malice.

The Yao Clan's Supreme Elder, Yao Wanhuo, was a Six-Star Dou Saint; their Clan Leader had reached Star Seven. The higher the rank, the harder it was to overcome a level gap—especially since their Clan Leader, Yao Dan, trained the Yao Clan's highest-grade cultivation method and Dou Technique!

When cultivation methods and Dou Techniques are equal, only cultivation level decides victory.

"Xiao Yan, don't get cocky! Though the Yao Clan keeps a low profile, anyone who dares to challenge us without real power will meet a grim end!" Yao Wan Gui, equally furious, turned ashen.

Xiao Yan smiled, unperturbed. "With elders like you leading the Yao Clan, and a boastful, useless Alchemist like him—whether I meet a good end, I don't know. But you? You're doomed."

"You—!" Just as Yao Wan Gui opened his mouth to retort, Yao Ling suddenly grabbed his arm and shook his head.

Arguing now served no purpose. On the Dou Qi Continent, agreements restricted them—the strongest Yao Clan member below Five-Star was Yao Wan Gui, and he'd just lost. They had no choice but to retreat.

Clinging to pride would only backfire—if they broke the rules, the Soul Sovereign would seize the excuse, and the consequences would be catastrophic.

With no choice, Yao Wan Gui and Yao Tian swallowed their rage, shot Xiao Yan a venomous glare, then swept their sleeves and withdrew far away.

Seeing Yao Wan Gui's humiliating retreat, the crowd let out a collective sigh of disbelief, then stared at Xiao Yan's group with astonishment—they had never imagined Xiao Yan could force a Dou Emperor Family into such a humiliating defeat alone.

The Stone Clan's elders nearby also frowned; their Stone Clan's strength was nearly equal to the Yao Clan's. For every Dou Emperor Family, the resurgence of the Xiao Clan was a disaster—Xiao Yan's Yan Alliance could legitimately compete for resources, reclaim Xiao Clan's former lands, Secret Realms, and sacred sites.

Would they surrender them—or fight to the death?

This chaotic interlude ended with Yao Wan Gui's group retreating in defeat; Xiao Yan's group had displayed such power that many powerful experts and factions now took notice—finally, everyone believed: the fallen Xiao Clan had truly returned!

Xiao Yan might become the next Xiao Xuan—if he claimed the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, he might even surpass Xiao Xuan!

As the chaos subsided, all attention returned to the fractured space far away, where the milky-white radiance now poured down like liquid, turning the desert below into a sea of milky magma, occasional bubbles bursting to spew out scorching heat.

"Boom—Boom!"

This wait continued for roughly three more hours, until the fractured space expanded from several zhang to dozens of zhang; faint, strange sounds now drifted from within.

As the fractured space swelled to nearly a hundred zhang, it finally stabilized—within it, a milky-white ring began to form.

The instant the ring took shape, every powerful expert present snapped open their eyes—they felt the temperature of this realm surge nearly a hundredfold.

Xun Er also opened her eyes, gazing at Xiao Yan, whispering: "Brother Xiao Yan, the Pure Lotus Demon Fire is about to break the sealing."

Her words carried a spellbinding power—no sooner spoken than the air around them erupted with sharp wind-splits; long, powerful figures shot from afar like lightning, racing straight into the milky-white ring amid a chorus of howls.

Afraid of being a second too late.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, his dark pupils flickering with fire.

The Pure Lotus Demon Fire—at last, the day has come!

"Heh, Brother Xiao Yan, we'll go ahead then!"

Far off, Huo Xuan bowed respectfully toward Xiao Yan, then, under Elder Huo Xuan's lead, moved swiftly into the milky-white ring and vanished.

Then, the Soul Temple's leader cast a subtle glance at Xiao Yan before leading Vice-Leader Hun Zhu and Hun Feng into the Pure Lotus Demon Fire Space.

Xiao Yan had seen Hun Mie Sheng's gaze; after waiting ten seconds until Hun Mie Sheng's group entered the Demon Fire Space, he said: "Let's move."

"Brother Xiao Yan," Xun Er nodded gravely, "legend says the Pure Lotus Demon Fire uses human emotion as a trigger, igniting within the body. Once the demon fire takes root, even the Spiritual Soul is burned to nothing. So, once inside, no matter what you see, keep your heart calm—neither elated nor grieved. Control every joy, anger, sorrow, or resentment—otherwise, these emotions will draw the demon fire to you!"

Hearing Xun Er's warning, Cai Lin and Zi Yan both furrowed their brows; for demons, Soul Force and emotion—such intangible things—were their greatest weakness. Their bodies were powerful, capable of offense and defense, even without Dou Qi.

But triggering emotion was extremely dangerous.

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and threads of transparent Heart Fire rose gently within every heart. "Though the Falling Heart Flame ranks fourteenth, it too can stir emotion. Heart Fire will offer you some protection."

"Everyone, be cautious—move out!"

Xiao Yan slowly exhaled, then without further words, swept his sleeve and surged forward, transforming into a streak of light that shot like lightning into the light ring; behind him, Xun Er and the others followed closely.

"By the way, Brother Xiao Yan, have you gathered all the Ancient Maps?" Just as the group flew toward the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Space, Xun Er suddenly sent a mental message.

Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Xun Er beside him, a faint smile in his eyes, and whispered, "The Pure Lotus Demon Flame has descended many times before, yet this time, just as it's about to appear, the Ancient Treasure Pavilion brings out a Residual Map for auction—could it really be such a coincidence?"

"Ancient Treasure Pavilion, Ancient Treasure Pavilion—Ancient, Treasure. Could it have something to do with your Gu Clan?"

Don't think Xiao Yan is a fool—the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Residual Map would never be put up for auction! After all, if you could collect them all, you'd have a chance to obtain the legendary Pure Lotus Demon Flame!

Unless the owner of the Residual Map knew he could never collect them all.

And yet, just two or three years before the Pure Lotus Demon Flame was set to emerge, the Ancient Treasure Pavilion just happened to bring it out for auction.

Xun Er said nothing, only smiled faintly, her expressive eyes blinking at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan gave her a look, helplessly saying, "You little brat."

With a sharp hiss, Xiao Yan shot ahead toward the gap in the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Space; just as he was about to enter the Demon Fire Space, his peripheral vision caught a common creature fluttering its wings slightly—a faint, barely-there breeze brushed his cheek.

"Butterfly?"

With a sharp hiss, before Xiao Yan could think further, as his body shot into the light ring, his entire skin suddenly tightened. Passing through the ring took only an instant; when the light before his eyes flickered slightly, Xiao Yan realized the surrounding space had changed.

"Infernal Heat."

The change in space brought Xiao Yan his first sensation: as if stepping into an oven. His gaze swiftly scanned around, and he found himself inside a strange space filled with milky-white flames—every part of this space was shrouded in milky-white flame, the Infernal Heat radiating from which made even him, who had swallowed eleven Strange Fires, feel unbearably parched.

Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and his Strange Fires slowly surged from within his body, wrapping his entire form; only then did the scorching heat, which had made his blood seem to boil, lessen considerably.

(End of Chapter)