As they watched the pharmacist elder’s body gradually engulfed in a milky white flame, Xiao Yan was filled with dread. He knew well how difficult it was to dispel the demonic fire burning within the body. Had he not possessed five different types of heavenly flames, he would have suffered severe injuries when the demonic fire ignited earlier. Even though the pharmacist elder was also a Dou Sage, without the protection of the heavenly flame, if the demonic fire took advantage and invaded his body, he would surely be gravely wounded! “Hiss!” Amidst Xiao Yan’s shock, his figure instinctively flashed, appearing beside the pharmacist elder. He slammed his palm onto the elder’s back, and a low roar escaped his lips!
This shout was imbued with soul vibrations, carrying the waves through the sound, directly into the ears of the pharmacist elder, crashing heavily on his soul, causing his face to turn pale instantly, and his tightly closed eyes snapped open.
Breathing heavily, the pharmacist elder looked at Xiao Yan and gasped, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as he said, “The Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire is truly terrifying, deliberately setting up hallucinations to incite emotional fluctuations and then self-inflicting damage. If it weren’t for you waking me up, I would have been in dire straits.”
Xiao Yan forced a bitter smile, then swept his gaze around and said, “The fog here is peculiar. We should leave this area first.”
“What about the Fire Cloud Ancestor and the others?” The pharmacist elder frowned, a trace of worry creasing his brow. The demonic fire space was too eerie, fraught with deadly crises everywhere. Even a Dou Sage would be in perilous situations.
“I’ve already checked. This area doesn’t have their figures, and Xun’er and the others are nowhere to be seen,” Xiao Yan shook his head, thinking for a moment before adding, “Most likely, they are together with Xun’er and Zi Yan. They are strong, so it shouldn’t be hard for them to break out of the illusion.”
“Alright.” The pharmacist elder nodded slightly. Being in such a place, even if they wanted to rescue, it was nearly impossible. Their only consolation was that they hadn’t brought a large group, or they would likely all be dead or injured by now.
“Let’s go.” Xiao Yan waved his hand, casting a glance at the others trapped in the illusion, and then swiftly headed towards the edge of the mist. He didn’t feel like playing hero and saving everyone. Most people here were rivals, after all, and Xiao Yan didn’t want to draw any trouble to himself with a momentary act of kindness.
Xiao Yan and the pharmacist elder broke free from the illusion and did not linger. After just a few minutes of flight, they emerged from the area covered by the mist. As they exited the mist, both Xiao Yan and the pharmacist elder felt a bit lighter, turning to look at the expanse of eerie, milky white fog with a sense of relief.
“Brother Xiao Yan…”
Just as they left the mist, a joyful voice came from a short distance ahead. Xiao Yan looked up and saw a huge platform suspended in the air, with a giant white gate at its end. On the platform, Xun’er and the others gathered, their gazes filled with joy as they looked at Xiao Yan and the pharmacist elder emerging from the mist.
Seeing Xun’er, Zi Yan, and the others, Xiao Yan slowly descended, exchanged a glance with the pharmacist elder, and suddenly, his eyes flared with fire. Yet, the scene before him did not change.
“It’s not an illusion.” Relieved, Xiao Yan smiled and asked, “Are you all okay?”
“We’re fine,” Xun’er and the others quickly approached, shaking their heads and saying, “I didn’t think the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire could release the Nightmare Sky Fog. It seems its strength has greatly improved in these past thousand years…”
“Nightmare Sky Fog?” Xiao Yan was taken aback.
“It’s the fog that traps people in endless illusions. Originally, this was the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint’s signature move. Rumor has it that once, the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint used this to cover an entire city, making the people feel they had lived there for centuries. When the fog lifted, they realized those centuries were but a dream,” Ancient Nan Hai smiled softly, then sighed, “A thousand years ago, the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire couldn’t use this move. This expedition is indeed perilous.”
“Purifying Lotus Demon Saint…” Hearing the name, Xiao Yan recalled the light orb in his mind. This must be the Demon Saint’s doing, but strangely, the orb, which had always reacted strongly to the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire, became quiet here.
“Where are the others?” Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the group, then looked around, realizing that, except for their party, the square was deserted.
“The Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire rules this space. Once we entered, we fell into its hands. Where it sends us next depends on its will,” Xun’er said.
“It intentionally grouped us together. This space is extremely bizarre. I’ve tried; if we forcibly break through, even I might suffer a backlash. This is a very solid prison; tearing it apart is impossible!” Ancient Nan Hai shook his head, looking at the tightly sealed gate, and said, “According to clan elders, if we follow the path beyond the gate, we’ll naturally meet the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire. But obstacles will block the way. To see it, we must break through.”
“Forcing our way here won’t be easy,” Xiao Yan frowned.
“This is the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire’s territory. Until we see it, we must follow its rules,” Ancient Nan Hai smiled, about to say more when the space around them began to fluctuate violently. A terrifying heat slowly spread from all directions.
“Be careful!” Seeing this, Ancient Nan Hai’s brows furrowed, and he warned.
Without needing the reminder, Xiao Yan and the others were already on high alert, warily observing the increasingly distorted space. This demonic fire space was too eerie, and they had to proceed with extreme caution.
*Boom! Boom!*
As the space twisted more, cracks suddenly appeared, and from them, waves of milky white flames surged forth. Following closely, a tide of figures enveloped in milky white flames poured out from the numerous cracks, filling the sky above the square in the blink of an eye.
These figures, their bodies shrouded in flames, wielding fiery spears, gazed emotionlessly at Xiao Yan and the others. Xiao Yan, surprised, noticed that these figures had physical forms and each emitted a formidable aura.
“Be careful, these are Fire Slaves, powerful beings refined by the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire, equivalent to a different kind of puppet,” Ancient Nan Hai said gravely.
With a furious roar, thousands of flame figures charged at Xiao Yan and his group, the spectacle earth-shaking.
Seeing the fierce attack, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed, and he lashed out, dispersing a terrifying wave of energy, shattering nearly a hundred flame figures. As Xiao Yan attacked, Xun’er and the others also unleashed their powers, each a Dou Sage, and their combined might was formidable. The flame figures vanished in droves, yet, no matter how ferociously Xiao Yan and the others attacked, the cracks continued to spew out an endless stream of Fire Slaves, seemingly inexhaustible.
“Killing them like this is useless. We must go in!” Ancient Nan Hai shouted.
Xiao Yan’s brows knitted, pondering for a moment, then nodded, “Let’s go!”
With a tap on the ground, Xiao Yan shot forward, any Fire Slave approaching within ten feet exploding on contact. The group plowed through the flames, striking the giant gate with a final powerful blow.
*Boom!*
Faced with the combined might of so many powerful individuals, the giant gate exploded open. At the same time, the endless horde of Fire Slaves halted their pursuit, hovering in the air.
“Go! According to the clan elders, the Purifying Lotus Demonic Fire itself is at the end of this hall!” Ancient Nan Hai yelled.
Looking at Xiao Yan, the pharmacist and the others immediately turned to him. Xiao Yan frowned, glanced back at the unending horde of Fire Slaves, and then at the great gate, finally nodding. “Let’s go!”
At his nod, Ancient Nan Hai also nodded, moving first into the gate. Xun’er and the others quickly followed.
Staring at the figures disappearing through the gate, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed. Staying here meant being trapped by the endless army of Fire Slaves. Only by pushing forward could they break this impasse…
Yet, for some reason, an unease gnawed at Xiao Yan. This demonic fire space was far too eerie…
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