Chapter 168

Shi Ran took a deep breath, broke free from Xiao Muyu's support, and step by step walked toward that cluster of Annihilation Flame. With each step closer, the power inside her boiled a fraction more, and intense pain surged like a tide; the voice of the Demonic Abyss, full of menace and temptation, in her sea of consciousness grew ever clearer.

"Return……merge with Annihilation……become the new ruler……"

She forcibly steadied her mind, focusing all her will on the Nirvana Feather in her hand and the Balance Power within her body. Upon reaching about ten zhang before the Annihilation Flame, she could advance no further; the pressure and corrosive force there could instantly kill a Nascent Soul cultivator.

She stopped, sat cross-legged, placed the Nirvana Feather on her knees, and formed a profound hand seal with both hands— not any seal of Burning Heaven Valley, but one she unconsciously condensed according to the state of the three forces balanced within her body, a peculiar sigil containing demonic patterns, gloomy light, and pale flames.

She closed her eyes, extending her divine sense once more—but this time, it was not a faint thread; instead, it carried all her mental will and the strange Balance Power within her that had fused the three forces, like a dark-gold and pale-white intertwined ribbon, bravely thrust toward that cluster of Annihilation Flame!

Hum——

The entire altar shuddered violently! The Annihilation Flame rippled like a lake struck by a stone! The chaos fire seed at its center suddenly accelerated its beating!

At the instant Shi Ran's divine sense touched the Annihilation Flame, a flood of information and energy feedback, thousands of times stronger than before, surged into her sea of consciousness!

"Ah——!" she couldn't help but let out a painful groan; blood began to seep from her seven orifices, fine cracks appeared on her body's surface, as if porcelain were about to shatter.

"Ran'er!" Ling Xiao and the others were anxious beyond words, yet unable to intervene; this process could only rely on her herself.

At that moment, the Nirvana Feather on her knee burst forth with unprecedented light; a warm force brimming with endless vitality surged into Shi Ran's body, forcibly repairing her injuries and stabilizing her sea of consciousness. At the same time, the red silk wrapped around her wrist heated to the extreme, and the summons of the Demonic Abyss and the Annihilation Flame's great dao principles produced a strange resonance, helping her comprehend and organize those chaotic law fragments!

Gradually, Shi Ran's consciousness seized a thread of clarity amidst the storm of destruction and rebirth. She no longer resisted, but tried to understand and to guide.

She "saw" that the Annihilation Flame was not merely destruction; at its extreme end it harbored the seeds of rebirth. The power of the Nirvana Feather was precisely the key to catalyzing that rebirth. Her demonic power, in this ultimate annihilation environment, seemed to undergo a transformation, shifting from pure chaos and erosion to a quality that bore annihilation and returned to nothingness.

The three forces, under the guidance of her will and the Nirvana Feather, began to revolve around the projection of that "Chaos Fire Seed," constructing within her body a tiny, stable cyclic system!

Outside, the fluctuations of the Annihilation Flame on the altar began to weaken, and the terrifying aura it emitted gradually steadied. The rhythm of that pale-white fire seed's beating also became regular.

"Effective! She did it!" Yan Jin was beside himself with excitement, even tears glimmering in his old eyes. The ancient crisis of Burning Heaven Valley seemed to have glimpsed a dawn of resolution.

Outside the altar, the Crimson Flame Dragon Python also sensed the change in the Annihilation Flame; its attacks gradually ceased, and in its huge lava eyes, fury slowly ebbed, replaced by scrutiny and doubt, as it fixed its gaze on that tiny human figure on the altar.

However, just as everyone let out a slight sigh of relief, an anomaly arose again!

The hidden ace—Elder Chi Xun, who had ostensibly been fully resisting the dragon python while secretly preparing—flashed a look of ruthlessness and determination in his eyes!

"Now!"

He abruptly abandoned his defense against the dragon python, his silhouette turning into a dark‑red stream of light, burning his essence blood as the price, his speed surging, instantly breaking through the defensive circle of Yan Jin, Ling Xiao and others, lunging straight at Shi Ran, who was at a critical moment!

His target was not to interrupt Shi Ran, but——the impending‑stabilizing "Chaos Fire Seed", and Shi Ran herself!

"Chi Xuan! You dare!" Yan Jin and Ling Xiao exploded in fury, two massive torrents of energy blasting toward Chi Xuan's back.

But Chi Xuan didn't dodge or evade at all, he bluntly endured the two's attacks, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, his momentum undiminished, a mad grin on his face, he grabbed with one hand for the pallid fire seed at the core of the Extinction Flame, and with the other hand lunged at Shi Ran!

"The Chaos Fire Seed is mine! This perfect vessel of Extinction is also mine! Once I fuse them, I shall become the new Lord of Extinction!"

Just as his finger was about to touch the fire seed and Shi Ran——

Shi Ran suddenly opened her eyes!

Her left eye was a bottomless, all‑devouring demon abyss; her right eye was an ice‑cold, bone‑piercing flame that incinerates all things, a pallid blaze.

She looked at the charging Chi Xuan, her gaze devoid of joy or sorrow, only an aloofness that transcended all things.

She raised her hand, pointed lightly at Chi Xuan.

Without any earth‑shaking spectacle, only a fine, pallid fire line existing between being and non‑being shot from her fingertip.

The fire line silently pierced through the layers of protective spirit light Chi Xuan had set up, pierced his palm, pierced his chest, pierced all his defenses and vitality.

Chi Xuan's forward motion froze abruptly, the mad grin on his face solidifying. He lowered his head, looking at the tiny hole in his chest; at its edge, flesh, bone, spiritual power, and even his soul were silently and inexorably annihilated in an unfathomable way, reduced to the most primal void.

"Extinction…… Dao……" His eyes filled with incredulous fear and bewilderment; he opened his mouth but emitted no sound. The next instant, his entire body, like a weathered sand sculpture, crumbled inch by inch from head to toe, finally dissipating completely into the air, not a speck of dust left behind.

The Grand Elder of Flaming Heaven Valley, a peak late‑stage Nascent Soul expert, Chi Xuan, thus had both body and spirit annihilated!

This scene shocked everyone!

One finger! Just one finger! A peak late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivator has fallen!

Yan Jin and the elders of Flaming Heaven Valley stared agape, their gazes toward Shi Ran filled with endless fear and awe. Ling Xiao, Luo Changfeng, and Xiao Muyu also stood frozen, having never witnessed Shi Ran display such terrifying, aloof power.

Shi Ran slowly withdrew her finger; the demonic light in her left eye and the pallid blaze in her right eye gradually faded, replaced by a profound fatigue. The power within her had been nearly exhausted by that finger, and the tiny circulation she had just established became perilously fragile.

The Extinction Flame at the altar's center stabilized completely, the fire becoming gentle, no longer emitting a chilling aura. The Chaos Fire Seed slowly sank into the depths of the flames and vanished from sight.

The crimson‑scaled dragon python gave Shi Ran a deep look, a flicker of something like… approval? crossing its massive eyes. It let out a low hum, its huge body slowly sinking into the subterranean river of lava and disappearing.

The crisis seemed to have been resolved.

The altar lay in dead silence. Everyone gazed at the exhausted girl swaying on the verge of collapse, their feelings utterly complex.

She had saved Flaming Heaven Valley, yet also displayed a power far beyond their comprehension, one that terrified them. Her body contained demonic qi, linked to the demon abyss, yet she also wielded a portion of the authority over the Extinction Flame.

What lies ahead for her?

Shi Ran's body went limp and she toppled backward, only to be gently caught by Ling Xiao, who had appeared beside her in an instant. Looking at her pale, exhausted yet unusually peaceful sleeping face, Ling Xiao's eyes filled with heartache, worry, and a hint of resolve.

No matter what she becomes or what power she gains, she will always be his disciple, Ling Xiao's.

He lifted Shi Ran, then said lightly to Yan Jin: "Sect Master, our business here is concluded; we take our leave."

Yan Jin opened his mouth, ultimately letting out a long sigh, stepping aside to clear the path: "…Thank you, young friend, for saving my life. Flaming Heaven Valley owes you a tremendous favor. Should you ever need assistance, Flaming Heaven Valley will not shirk its duty."

Ling Xiao nodded, said no more, and together with Luo Changfeng and Xiao Muyu transformed into three streaks of light, swiftly departing from this molten‑fire heart that had just undergone a cataclysmic upheaval.

Only the members of Flaming Heaven Valley remained, facing a sect's holy ground riddled with scars and an unknown future, silent for a long while. And Shi Ran's legend, along with the secret within her that balances the demon abyss, Extinction, and Nirvana, has only just begun to unfold.

Ling Xiao carried the exhausted, unconscious Shi Ran, and together with Luo Changfeng and Xiao Muyu turned into three streaks of light, without pausing, shot straight out of the molten‑fire heart, passed through the outer protective grand formation of Flaming Heaven Valley, and raced toward the outside of the valley.

Along the way, some disciples left behind in Flaming Heaven Valley saw the earth‑shaking commotion from deep within the valley just subside, then witnessed Ling Xiao and the others hurriedly departing with the unconscious Shi Ran; though puzzled, none dared to step forward to stop them. Earlier, the terrifying pressure and blazing white light that had swept through the entire Flaming Heaven Valley had already left them trembling with fear; now, seeing that not even the sect master nor several elders had appeared to block them, they dared not meddle further.

Only after completely leaving Flaming Heaven Valley's sphere of influence, in a desolate, fire‑scorched mountain range, did Ling Xiao gradually lower his form, find a concealed cave, and lay down layers of concealment and protective wards.

"Master, Junior Sister…" Xiao Muyu looked at the pallid, weak‑breathing Shi Ran in Ling Xiao's arms, her eyes full of worry. The scene of Shi Ran's aloof finger annihilating Chi Xuan with Extinction still lingered in her mind, a power utterly different and heart‑pounding.

Ling Xiao gently laid Shi Ran on the prepared soft cushion, carefully examining her pulse and internal condition, his brow furrowed.

"The situation is very complex." He said in a low voice, "The three forces within her, stimulated by the Extinction Flame and harmonized by the Nirvana Feather, seem to have truly formed an extremely fragile balance cycle. But this cycle… is highly unstable and full of unknowns."

He could sense that in Shi Ran's dantian and meridians, the originally distinct and clashing demonic qi, the source of Extinction (and a trace of the Extinction Flame), and the Nirvana power were now flowing in a mysterious manner, forming a tiny vortex interwoven with dark gold, pallid, and seven‑colored hues. This vortex spontaneously absorbs the thin ambient spiritual qi of heaven and earth to sustain itself, yet it is like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

"What about just now…" Luo Changfeng recalled Shi Ran's instant‑kill finger on Chi Xuan, his heart still pounding.

"It was her unconsciously drawing forth that trace of the Extinction Flame's source within her body, combining it with her preliminary grasp of the Extinction Dao, and the characteristic of demonic qi to carry annihilation." Ling Xiao's tone grew grave, "The power is indeed terrifying, but the burden on her is enormous. Were it not for the Nirvana Feather protecting her heart meridians and sea of consciousness at the critical moment, she likely would have been shattered by that very force's backlash even as she slew Chi Xuan."

He took out several supreme-grade spirit pills for nourishing souls and stabilizing Nascent Souls, carefully fed them to Shi Ran, then gently poured his own pure and vast ice spiritual power into her body, helping to mend the minor injuries caused by the turbulent circulation and fortify that fragile balance.

"What should we do now?" Xiao Mu Yu asked, "Blazing Heaven Valley..."

"Blazing Heaven Valley has suffered heavy losses in this battle, its vital energy greatly wounded; the Scarlet Blaze faction is leaderless, and the Flame Ashes need time to settle internal affairs, so they should have no spare attention for him in the short term." Ling Xiao analyzed, "But they will certainly not truly abandon their concern for Ran Er. The abilities she has displayed, especially being able to stabilize the Annihilation Flame and initially grasp its power, are of too great significance to Blazing Heaven Valley. So-called human sentiment, in the face of absolute profit and power, who knows how long it can last?"

He looked at the dim sky outside the cave, his eyes sharp: "This place is not suitable for a long stay. We must return to Profound Heaven Sect as soon as possible. Only by returning to the sect, relying on the Mountain-Protecting Grand Array and the power of the various patriarchs, can we ensure Ran Er's safety and then plan long-term to find a way to completely eliminate the hidden danger in her body."

"But Master, Junior Sister Shi Ran is in this condition; a long journey would be..." Luo Chang Feng worriedly looked at the weakly breathing Shi Ran.

"I can't worry about that much now." Ling Xiao said resolutely, "I will shield her with the Ice Soul Cold Light Shield, as much as possible isolating external disturbances and slowing the fluctuations of her internal circulation. You two stay close by my side, vigilant for any possible developments. I suspect that not only Blazing Heaven Valley, but perhaps... the Demon Abyss has also sensed something."

His last words were spoken extremely low, yet they made Luo Chang Feng and Xiao Mu Yu's hearts jolt. The demonic light in Shi Ran's left eye, the abnormal red thread winding around her wrist, and the echoing call from the Demon Abyss in her sea of consciousness all foretell an inseparable bond between the Demon Abyss and her. This time her internal power underwent a drastic change, the nature of her demonic qi seems to have been elevated as well, making it hard to say it won't draw deeper attention from the Demon Abyss.

Just as Ling Xiao was about to set off again with Shi Ran, his expression suddenly shifted; he flipped his hand and took out a constantly vibrating communication jade talisman. Spiritual light flickered on the talisman, displaying the urgent seal of Profound Heaven Sect.

Upon probing with his divine sense, after a moment Ling Xiao's face turned extremely grim.

"Master, has something happened to the sect?" Xiao Mu Yu asked anxiously.

Ling Xiao put away the talisman, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "The sect is fine. This is an urgent bulletin sent by the Cultivation World Alliance. Recently, demonic qi disturbances have been frequent everywhere; many ancient seals on demonic caverns show signs of loosening, suggesting that high-ranking demons may be attempting to break the seals. The Alliance demands that all factions heighten vigilance, dispatch additional personnel to patrol the borders, and summon experts to reinforce the seals at several key nodes."

He paused, looking at the unconscious Shi Ran, his tone heavy: "The bulletin also specifically mentions that, according to the deductions of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the source of this demonic qi disturbance may be related to... the turmoil of the Annihilation Demon Abyss. The Alliance has already sent out inspectors to visit each sect to check for abnormalities, especially... those bearing demonic qi or who might have a connection with the Demon Abyss."

The cave fell into dead silence for a moment.

Blazing Heaven Valley's troubles have not yet been completely resolved, and the gaze of the Cultivation World Alliance has turned toward us again. Shi Ran's current condition is practically a textbook example of "bearing demonic qi" and "being linked to the Annihilation Demon Abyss"! If the Alliance inspectors discover her...

"We must leave at once!" Ling Xiao hesitated no longer, waved his hand to collect the seal, then summoned the Ice Soul Cold Light Shield, carefully placing Shi Ran inside. The shield emitted a soft, icy white light, forming an independent small space that almost completely isolated Shi Ran's aura from the outside world.

"The road back to Profound Heaven Sect may not be peaceful." Ling Xiao drew a deep breath, transformed into a streak of icy sword light, wrapped the Ice Soul Cold Light Shield around himself, and shot up into the sky, racing toward Profound Heaven Sect. Luo Chang Feng and Xiao Mu Yu exchanged a glance, saw the gravity in each other's eyes, and without hesitation followed.

Not long after they left—about half a day later—several figures radiating powerful auras, dressed in uniform Daoist robes, appeared outside Blazing Heaven Valley. The leader, with an ancient countenance and deep eyes, his aura profound like the sea, was indeed a Void God expert! He held a compass in his hand; the needle trembled slightly, pointing in the direction Ling Xiao and the others had gone.

"What a pure Annihilation Will, yet mixed with a hint... of the Demon Abyss's pulling sensation." The Void God expert frowned slightly, "In Blazing Heaven Valley, the turmoil of the Annihilation Flame has just been quelled, yet this person departs carrying such an aura... It seems the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's deduction was not baseless."

Behind him, a Late Nascent Soul cultivator respectfully asked: "Inspector Sir, should we enter Blazing Heaven Valley to inquire for details?"

The Void God Inspector shook his head: "Blazing Heaven Valley has just experienced internal strife; the Flame Ashes must be in disarray now, so questioning him may not yield the truth. Moreover, our target is the bearer of that aura." He gazed sharply into the distance: "Pursue! We must intercept him before he returns to Profound Heaven Sect, seize him, and clarify the situation! If he is indeed related to the Annihilation Demon Abyss... better to mistakenly kill than to let him go."

"Yes!"

Several streams of light instantly tore through the void, chasing after the direction Ling Xiao and the others had taken, their speed surpassing his by more than a notch!