Chapter 617: The Terrifying Dream Nightmare Mist

Xiao Yan never doubted the power of the Flame Emperor Seal, not because he had cultivated it, but because it was given to him by Xun Er.

Xun Er always gave him the best.

This was the first time Xiao Yan had ever seen the true Flame Emperor Seal—it was a Dou Technique created by a Dou Emperor, distinct from ordinary Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Arts, for it contained a trace of Emperor Might!

Xiao Yan had indeed felt the might of a Dou Emperor before; during his time in the Bodhi Ancient Tree's spirit space, he had nearly experienced it firsthand through the tree's memories, and even refined a portion of the Dou Emperor's negative emotions, while Mao Wu absorbed a faint sliver of that Dou Emperor's power, breaking through his limit to become Heavenly Emperor Fire.

Now, relying on her Divine Grade Bloodline and cultivation realm, Xun Er fully unleashed the power of the Ancient Emperor Seal, releasing a trace of Emperor Might.

The depth of a Dou Emperor Family's heritage was terrifying indeed!

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, and the Burning Scripture within him began to activate; terrifying demonic fire pressure surged from his Flame Emperor Seal, and a vortex of demonic fire slowly rotated within it.

Although the Flame Emperor Seal was not a Dou Technique created by a Xiao Clan Dou Emperor, and the Xiao Clan's Divine Grade Bloodline could not awaken Emperor Might, this was Xiao Yan's own created Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art—he was its Founder!

The instant these two different "Emperor Seals" appeared, even the surrounding Space subtly shifted.

Upon sensing just how terrifying the Dou Techniques Xiao Yan and Xun Er had unleashed, the powerful mysterious man wielding the giant axe finally revealed shock—his cold, expressionless face showed surprise for the first time.

A Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art was a trump card even among Dou Sheng; even the Clan Leader of a Dou Emperor Family had only cultivated a Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art, yet here were two young lovers, so young, already able to wield one!

As if provoked by Xiao Yan and Xun Er, the man roared—a deep, resonant bellow erupted from his throat.

In the blood-axe shadow's emotionless eyes, a wild, burning fervor suddenly surged, a flicker of Battle Intention flashed, and from his throat came a low growl; suddenly, a brilliant light shot from his forehead, and within that light, a Spiritual Energy Sealing Array Rune slowly emerged before all eyes—and as the Rune appeared, his cultivation realm surged violently.

Xiao Yan's gaze locked instantly onto the strange Rune—and then he froze, as if struck by lightning, his face blank with shock.

"This… this is the Xiao Clan Totem?"

The Rune on the forehead of the blood-axe shadow was unmistakably the unique Xiao Clan Totem!

How could this man possess the Xiao Clan Totem?!

Xiao Yan stared blankly at the Totem on the forehead of the axe-wielding shadow, his heart churning like a storm-tossed sea—under normal circumstances, the only one in the current Xiao Clan who should possess this Totem was himself, yet why had it suddenly appeared on this mysterious man?

"Xiao Clan Totem?"

Xun Er also noticed this—her startled gaze turned to Xiao Yan; even if she didn't recognize the Xiao Clan Totem, the man's Totem was nearly identical to the one on Xiao Yan's forehead, differing only in color—this was unmistakably the Xiao Clan Totem!

And the unique aura and power matched the Xiao Clan Totem perfectly; the instant the Totem appeared, the giant axe man's cultivation realm skyrocketed—though not as terrifying as Xiao Yan's, it reached Four-Star Late Dou Sheng, on the verge of Five-Star!

"Could he be some Senior Brother of the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but speculate internally.

The war between the Xiao Clan and the Soul Sovereign had occurred only a thousand years ago, and the Demon Fire appeared once every thousand years—meaning the last time the Pure Lotus Demon Fire manifested should have been shortly before the Xiao Clan's war with the Soul Sovereign!

At this moment, Xiao Yan's heart trembled violently—if the Pure Lotus Demon Fire had indeed captured a powerful Xiao Clan member during its last manifestation, it was not impossible; the thought brought a flicker of joy, but it quickly sank as he realized this emaciated man was now a Fire Slave, his mind controlled.

"Senior Brother! Can you hear me? I am Xiao Yan, the current Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan!" Xiao Yan's voice carried a peculiar resonance, infused with a trace of Huangquan Heavenly Rage, piercing through the Dream Nightmare Mist's seal and reaching deep into the giant axe man's Spiritual Soul.

"Xiao Clan…" As expected, when the Huangquan Heavenly Rage voice reached his Spiritual Soul, the giant axe man's face twisted in struggle.

Hearing that word, the emaciated man's emotionless eyes rippled with disturbance; he stared at Xiao Yan, and gradually, a strange connection formed in his heart—the familiar scent was the scent of bloodline.

"You… you're from the Xiao Clan?" The emaciated man's lips parted slightly, and a hoarse voice finally emerged.

Xiao Yan nodded urgently; judging by this, the mysterious man truly had deep ties to the Xiao Clan. "Senior Brother, what is your name? Why are you here?"

"Who am I? My name is Xiao Chen."

Upon hearing the blood-axe man's name, Xun Er's expression startled. "Xiao Chen! Could he be Xiao Xuan Senior Brother's cousin, that Blood Axe Xiao Chen?"

"Brother Xiao Yan, after we emerged from the Heavenly Tomb, I once asked Father about Xiao Xuan Senior Brother. Father mentioned that, back then, besides Xiao Xuan Senior Brother, the Xiao Clan produced another extraordinary genius—his famed weapon was a massive blood axe, and his name was Xiao Chen!" Xun Er said. "Xiao Chen had astonishing talent, but he despised restraint, was moody and unpredictable; before he became famous, countless strong warriors had perished beneath his axe. Yet later, he vanished without reason—no matter how hard the Xiao Clan searched, they could never find him. I never imagined he had come to the Demon Fire Space to compete for the Demon Fire and was captured."

"Cousin of Ancestor Xiao Xuan…"

Xiao Yan froze, his brow furrowing slightly—so this man was, in a sense, one of his own Ancestors.

"Aaaah!!!" Suddenly, Xiao Chen screamed in agony, and endless milky-white Demon Fire burst from his body, then transformed into wisps of white mist that seeped into Xiao Chen's Spiritual Soul.

"Brother Xiao Yan, that's the Dream Nightmare Mist—Senior Brother Xiao Chen is still under the control of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire's Dream Nightmare Mist!" Xun Er's eyes hardened, her voice grave. "Brother Xiao Yan, perhaps my Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame can burn away the Dream Nightmare Mist technique inside Senior Brother Xiao Chen."

The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame was a terrifying demonic fire said to burn any Dou Technique—legend claimed its first master, when wielding it, had directly incinerated a space created by a Dou Sheng into utter nothingness.

"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded firmly, and the Dou Technique seals in their hands glowed once more.

"Aaaah!! Blood Axe Splits Heaven!" Xiao Chen's eyes turned pure white as he roared; terrifying crimson Dou Qi flooded into the blood axe, as if about to cleave open heaven and earth—he gripped the axe with both hands and swung it down violently toward Xiao Yan and Xun Er.

Boom! Boom!! A blood-red scar, capable of splitting heaven and earth, tore through Space—as if the entire platform and space had been cleaved apart—the momentum did not waver.

Facing this earth-shattering axe strike, Xiao Yan and Xun Er did not retreat; they moved in perfect unison, stepping on Space simultaneously, and with flawless coordination, they thrust forward and slammed their palms out.

"Ancient Emperor Seal."

"Flame Emperor Seal!"

Although Xiao Chen's Blood Axe Splits Heaven radiated an aura as if it could cleave heaven, and his cultivation was slightly higher, both Xun Er and Xiao Yan possessed Divine Grade Bloodlines and were wielding Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Arts, and both carried terrifying demonic fires.

With their flawless teamwork, the power they unleashed could not be measured by mere cultivation levels.

As the Twin Emperor Seals struck, all surrounding Pure Lotus Demon Fire froze, its flames dimming; the Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art erupted—nothing could stand against it. A Dou Technique bearing the title "Emperor" instantly crushed all opposition.

With a thunderous boom, the two seals collided with the blood axe—everything returned to its origin; blinding light swallowed all—Puff! Xiao Chen was never in full condition—he was a controlled Fire Slave, and moreover, he did not wish to fight Xiao Yan, so he could not unleash his true strength.

Ultimately, struck by Xiao Yan and Xun Er's demonic fire, he spat blood and was flung backward; as he flew back, a strand of golden Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame slipped into Xiao Chen's body.

"Burn." Xun Er formed a hand seal, and the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame erupted, incinerating every wisp of Dream Nightmare Mist mist inside Xiao Chen.

"Aaaah!!" The golden flame burned instantly—the excruciating pain made Xiao Chen writhe in agony.

"Brother Xiao Yan, be careful!" Xun Er exclaimed anxiously.

For Xun Er's concern, Xiao Yan waved his hand and strode swiftly to Xiao Chen's side, placing a firm palm on his shoulder—upon contact, the Falling Heart Flame surged into Xiao Chen's body; Xiao Chen's trembling frame suddenly stilled, and his eyes slowly regained clarity.

"Huh."

Xiao Chen gasped several deep breaths, then raised his head; his gaze, complex, lingered on the Clan Mark on Xiao Yan's forehead—he sensed Xiao Xuan's power, and he stared deeply at Xiao Yan, realizing Xiao Yan's body contained a powerful Soul Sovereign Dou Di Bloodline.

Xiao Chen's voice was hoarse as he asked: "How… how is the Xiao Clan now?"

Xiao Yan looked into Xiao Chen's eyes, fell silent for a moment, then sighed: "Ancestor Xiao Xuan perished a thousand years ago—he now exists in the Heavenly Tomb in a special state. The former Xiao Clan no longer exists."

Then Xiao Yan briefly recounted the current state of the Xiao Clan.

Throughout, Xiao Chen remained silent, but his clenched fists slowly dripped crimson blood; after a long while, he gazed at Xiao Yan with a look of gloom.

Because Xiao Yan had not concealed the fact that the Xiao Clan had been annihilated by the Soul Sovereign, Xiao Chen firmly slapped Xiao Yan's shoulder and said gravely: "To restore the Xiao Clan to this level—you've endured much."

"This is the Demon Fire Space, Ancestor Xiao Chen—please guide us to the source of the Demon Fire." Xiao Yan did not elaborate further, asking directly.

"Even the two of you are no match for the Pure Lotus Demon Flame," Xiao Chen shook his head, his voice still hoarse.

"We came here for the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, and we have more allies than just these—let's go see," Xiao Yan smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with light.

"Then follow me," Xiao Chen lifted his head, locking gazes with Xiao Yan for a moment, before slowly rising and turning toward the final palace door.

Xiao Yan and Xun Er silently followed behind Xiao Chen, watching as he slowly pushed open the massive door. Beyond it stretched a staircase extending to the horizon, its end faintly revealing a colossal stone altar platform.

Gazing at the altar platform at the end, Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled faintly.

He stepped onto the stone steps first, walking steadily toward the end; behind him, Xiao Chen and Xun Er hesitated briefly, then quickly followed.

After about ten minutes, they finally neared the altar. Xiao Yan looked up and saw a massive throne standing silently upon it. Seated upon the throne was a figure clad in white robes, quietly meditating, tendrils of milky-white flame swirling around him, constantly shifting into various forms.

The white-robed figure sat there in perfect stillness, emitting not a single trace of aura. Yet in Xiao Yan's eyes, that figure was profoundly eerie.

As the group stepped onto the altar, the white-robed figure slowly opened his eyes, revealing a handsome face that broke into a smile so striking it took one's breath away.

"Defeat me, and you shall obtain the Demon Flame's origin and my legacy. Otherwise, you shall remain here forever as my Fire Slaves."

Pure Lotus Demon Flame?!

Silence lingered for a moment. Xiao Yan sighed and shook his head helplessly. "Pure Lotus Demon Flame... It seems you've fully inherited all the legacy of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. Otherwise, you could never have cultivated Nightmare Mist to this level. I must admit—your illusion is even more lifelike than the Bodhi Ancient Tree, even reaching the point of fabricating falsehoods indistinguishable from truth."

"But no matter how lifelike an illusion may be, it remains an illusion—and you left one critical flaw."

Xiao Yan's low voice echoed softly across the altar, and the handsome man's gentle smile gradually froze.

Meow! A sudden cat cry rang out from Space. A strange black cat emerged proudly from the void, its eyes—black as Xiao Yan's own pearl-like orbs—slowly narrowing into vertical slits, hissing as it stared at the "Pure Lotus Demon Flame" before it.

This is fake!

Though Mao Wu possesses only Heavenly Emperor Fire, not True Swallowing Flame, and is vastly inferior to the real Pure Lotus Demon Flame, even a fake Pure Lotus Demon Flame cannot compare to it.

"Nightmare Mist truly is formidable—using truth to weave falsehood," Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, for here, Xun Er and Xiao Chen were real, the space was real—yet all of it was false, like a nightmare!

(End of Chapter)