Scarlet magma, as if eager to devour the world, surged and roared with boundless fury. The vast heavens and earth were drowned in waves of burning lava stretching thousands of feet high. Oppressive heat transformed the realm into a gigantic furnace. Both armies scrambled to retreat from the colossal tidal wave, their eyes wide with terror as they gazed toward the depths of the magma. At this moment, even they could feel it… a terribly fearsome being hidden deep beneath the sea of molten rock.
Gul He and Hun Tiandi halted their fierce battle, watching warily the ocean of fire below. Under that brutal and savage aura, even they felt a chilling danger.
“It seems Xiao Yan’s words were truly accurate,” Gul He said grimly, eyes flickering uneasily. “This ancient palace does indeed possess a mysterious guardian.”
“Roar—!” A massive torrent of magma shot skyward like a waterfall, then crashed violently back down, crashing into the sea of flame. Tremendous waves surged forth, engulfing distant peaks until nothing remained. As the fiery tide fell away, a great shape rose slowly from the lava, an immense body clad in brilliant violet-golden scales breaking partially through the infernal sea. Though only a portion was revealed, its sheer size was awe-inspiring. Its head—rearing out of the magma’s depths with glimmers of both menace and dominion—fixed its eyes upon the assembled figures hovering in the skies. Within those colossal eyes flashed surprise.
“Unexpected indeed. There are actually individuals capable of obtaining the Tuoshe Gu Di Jade and awakening this imperial sanctuary from its damned exile…” The monstrous being’s giant gaze scanned the sky and paused on Gul He and Hun Tiandi. Though the air buzzed with countless spectators, only these two held his attention.
The two elder monarchs observed the mysterious creature with solemn vigilance. Despite their extensive knowledge and experience, even together, they could not recognize the identity of this beast—their perception barely revealing more than the smallest tip of a grand abyss.
“I am Gulan Yuan,” Gul He raised his hands in greeting, voice low but commanding. “Might I inquire your honorific name?”
Hun Tiandi, wary that Gul He might conspire with this strange entity, hurriedly added his own introduction—his tone unusually courteous.
“Gulan? Hun clan?” A thunderous growl rumbled forth, shaking droplets of molten fire into pillars of volcanic light. “Indeed, you were once but small clans amidst the great ages. Never did I imagine such insignificant houses would come to acquire the Tuoshe Gu Di Jade!”
Upon hearing this, both men paled. Judging from the creature’s manner of speech, its existence spanned countless eons—even predating their clans when they had yet to reach supremacy tens of thousands of years ago.
“Hmm. Who is the one that has awoken the Emperor’s Domain?” The creature disregarded their shock and asked casually. “Truth be told, I owe a small favor for such a revival…”
At these words, expressions shifted drastically—Gulan Yuan darkened with dread while Hun Tiandi brightened.
“This kind gentleman possesses the jade,” Hun Tiandi declared smugly. “It stands to reason that only I summoned the Imperial Sanctum.”
The creature’s eye fell upon him, flaring with radiant light. Instantly, its immense bulk began to shrink swiftly until finally—a flash—transformed into a middle-aged man adorned with flowing golden-violet hair. His eyes burned with regal golden pupils locked onto Hun Tiandi’s countenance. With the trace of a smirk he murmured: “I accept your debt, and though under ordinary circumstances I’d owe allegiance—I have pressing obligations elsewhere. Perhaps later we may settle this.”
A relieved sigh passed through Gul He’s clenched jaw. On the contrary, Hun Tiandi’s expression twisted faintly; a glint of killing intent simmered deep within his gaze.
Unfazed by their tension, the newly transformed nobleman cast his golden sight across the aerial battlefield, halting abruptly upon one individual—a coldness seeping rapidly through his irises.
In midair, Xiao Yan, filled with wariness, noticed his sudden spotlight and his heart raced instantly. Could it be…this creature still remembered him?
“You!” The nobleman bellowed, arm thrust forward with dragon-like resonance erupting from the palm outward—an enormous golden claw soaring through space directly at Xiao Yan.
“Damned brute,” Xiao Yan cursed fiercely; face contorting, he retreated urgently, unleashing simultaneously his spirit avatar and channeling Yellow Spring Divine Wrath.
The wavefront slammed powerfully against the golden talon—but not even a single quiver disturbed the opposing force.
“The honored one, perhaps Xiao Yan unknowingly incurred some grievance?” Gul He stepped forward anxiously, shouting across the chaos.
“If you involve yourself with matters that do not concern you,” the figure snarled frostbitten words, “then expect my wrath upon you too.” Days prior, his son’s essence had coursed unmistakably through Xiao Yan’s veins—a power exclusive to members of their lineage. Now staring before him: an unequivocal human vessel—suggestive of only one terrifying reality. This boy must’ve assimilated or slaughtered one of his offspring!
The implications ignited unrestrained malevolence in the creature’s glare. “Foolish child… prepare to die.”
“Heavenly Flame Supreme Decapitation!” An elegant roar split the firmament above. Brilliant golden flames erupted from the sky converging into kilometer-high lances aimed straight for the hostile figure.
Golden light met fist—itself meeting the blazing ray head-on, dispersing it without resistance—as effortless as tearing cloth.
“Just a trivial stunt,” the assailant murmured coolly before returning his burning focus toward Xiao Yan. With swift steps, he blurred across intervening space between them. Before Xiao Yan could finish evading, his opponent loomed closer—palm poised to snatch life from flesh.
“Die now!” The stranger roared.
“Crack!” As impact seemed imminent, a streak of vibrant nine-colored brilliance surged overhead—snatching Xiao Yan just before devastation struck, pulling him forcefully backward.
“A Nine-Colored Heaven Devouring Python? Unbelievable! To think that such creatures yet lingered beyond time!”
The interruption stalled recognition within the attacker long enough for him to shift his view toward the coiled leviathan above, bewilderment overtaking his features momentarily.
Then came a woman’s furious cry.
“KIMTI FLARE SLASH!!”
Radiant golden fire cascaded across the skies, condensing into a thousand-meter beam slashing downward. The mysterious figure simply turned his head toward the attack—and swung a palm forward, unleashing a seemingly ordinary wind of fists which instantaneously shattered destruction apart with ease.
“A childish display!” He remarked with contempt before locking his golden gaze back onto Xiao Yan, striding forth effortlessly through the air like an apparition cloaked in malice itself.
“There is nowhere left to run.”
As Xiao Yan stared defiantly at the encroaching killer, the space surrounding suddenly constricted. The attacker released a violet-golden emblem pulsating with raw annihilation towards both Xiao Yan and Qing Lin standing protectively nearby.
There was no escape.
Facing impending doom, Xiao Yan changed tactics drastically, his eyes flashing with desperate determination. Without hesitation, he struck hard upon Qing Lin—who flew away free beyond entrapment while he allowed himself instead to expand outward violently, intending self-destruction!
Though not mortal to beings of Xiao Yan’s caliber—should the body implode completely, irreparable harm could follow—including potential ruination of cultivation foundations itself! But there was no alternative path.
“No!” Qing Lin cried, pallor stealing her usual poise as her voice broke shrilly in horror.
“Well fought,” even the attacker murmured admiration amid assault, yet showing no restraint at all.
Before final implosion, a shimmer ignited on Xiao Yan’s hand—the mark left by Zi Yan surging radiantly in response, a signal detectable in grave situations.
“Don’t destroy yourself!”
A voice rang from the insignia—an urgent female outcry followed by blinding golden rays pouring forth from the rune, encasing Xiao Yan momentarily to stall self-detonation temporarily.
Slicing through space near Xiao Yan’s form, a gaping fissure opened widely and a dazzling golden dragon emerged—twisting in motion around Xiao Yan tightly.
“Zi Yan! Step aside!”
Recognizing its form, Xiao Yan recoiled sharply. If struck directly, even the strongest physique might burst entirely to viscera-laden mist.
And then—
“Buzz!” Amid the coalition’s stunned gazes and the Huns’ triumphant exultation, the purple-gold seal descended ominously over the colossal dragon’s head—yet…
Just before expected carnage…
…it stopped. The seal cracked apart, dissolving chaotically into ambient illumination casting across the mysterious stranger’s face—and his body convulsed uncontrollably as if seized by madness.
“My…my dear son……”
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