With the Allied Forces withdrawing back to the Tianfu Alliance, an unprecedented tremor rippled through the entire Central Plains. The might of the alliance — composed of three ancient races and led by the Tianfu Alliance, the reigning overlord of the Central Plains — was so overwhelming that no words could adequately describe it. Under this tide of invincibility, any opposing power might have been crushed into oblivion. Yet the panic sweeping across all realms did not prolong for long, as whispers soon spread regarding the decisive war between the Alliance and the Hun Clan in the Buried Heaven Mountains. The epic clash between the two formidable armies was too massive not to capture attention. Consequently, no sooner had the dust settled following the final moments of that colossal battle than tidings of its outcome swept across every corner of the Central Plains alongside the retreat of the Allied Forces.
Hearing of the Alliance’s true goal against the Hun Clan, certain rival factions aligned uneasily alongside the Tianfu Alliance allowed some sense of relief. Nevertheless, their sharp instincts promptly discerned an even greater omen: a calamity unlike any in the last thousand years would soon sweep across the Central Plains—a maelstrom whose magnitude dwarfed any and every battle ever recorded. This impending storm of conflict was destined to bring ruin that would reach into even the deepest corners of the realm as powers of unimaginable potency would cross swords, potentially wreaking terrifying destruction not sparing anyone within the region.
Therefore, immediately the allied forces set camp at Tianfu Alliance’s domain, many factions in their close vicinity, seized by the fear of being caught in the crossfire, fled helter-skelter. They rushed to remove themselves from being collateral during whatever catastrophe might erupt, afraid of facing annihilation.
As for Xiao Yan and others in their faction, the great movements and alarms across the land went unnoticed. Frankly speaking, although the Hun Clan’s dark schemes have left grievous scars across the Central Plains, engaging them headlong was still improbable unless necessity dictated it — they desired to stay neutral, and Xiao Yan bore no intention of dragging other powers into their war. The mighty legions were next relocated into the Starseeker Realm, where a flurry of activity followed. Fortunately, these burdens were taken upon Old Pill Master’s and other seniors’ capable hands, for Xiao Yan was indeed rather inept and wearied by affairs entailing logistics and command organization.
Upon reaching their sanctum of stars, a sense of relief washed over Xiao Yan. Even he, formidable as he was, felt drained after experiencing battles of such unprecedented fierceness and so, when the Pill Master and his associates busied themselves attending the armies, Xiao Yan led Xiao Zhan and Xuner towards the private peak which belonged to him and his closest allies alone.
Upon their arrival, upon hearing the news of Xiao Yan’s return, Xiao Xiao came soaring toward the group and leaped straight into his embrace, cuddling affectionately to never fall back.
“Come here, dear Xiao Xiao, meet Grandfather…” Xiao Xiao now had transformed into a most lively being, inheriting an aura of natural allure even her mother would have found enviable. In her, was budding the shape of rare loveliness. It did not seem farfetched to predict that when grown, like her mother, she too might possess beauty capable of stirring storms over kingdoms.
At his words, big glistening eyes of hers blinked twice, then fixed on the aged figure before—Xiao Zhan—who, although she could not recall entirely, earned her compliant acknowledgment, when prompted, “Grandfather.”
“Ah~ my dear grandchild…” As Xiao Xiao appeared, so fixed on her Xiao Zhan became, eyes brightening with the tenderness of long-stored affection that warmed the wrinkled skin into glowing crimson. His face positively burst into joy when he finally heard sweet address from her own voice; his expression glowed anew, even creasing the corners of smiling eyes with deep glistening laughter and merriment. Witnessing thus the deeper elation with which the veteran faced Xiao Xiao compared to himself, Xiao Yan shrugged, chucking wryly. Elders tended to fall under the charm of little children, perhaps seeing life’s continuance, and a treasured symbol of familial bond and future.
“Come now… Let me give you a hug dear!” Grinning broadly, the old master gently plucked the girl gently out of Xiao Yan’s arms, brushing his beard-covered cheeks lovingly against the smooth ones of the young one. Xiao Xiao squirmed at that. “Too much beard… Hurts,” was the soft protest.
“Haha,” laughed the elder joyfully at this, so moved laughter brought tears brimming into his eyes. For decades when he suffered captivity of the Huns, hope was distant at best, and each day taught bitter truth— escape seemed ever an absurd dream. There were times when, loving and fearing for Xiao Yan’s life, perhaps the kindest fate he imagined is for the youth not to come. The task then was too perilous. Nevertheless, in this present moment, reality showed even his belief may undersell his son’s actual miracles.
To relish these sweet moments, once denied under darkness, now meant the finest pleasure he knew. Seeing thus the father beholding the granddaughter with eyes so full of warmth, fists clenched tight within Xiao Yan; both Cai Lin and Xuner felt an aching swell in hearts as their own eyes softened.
“I hope you can rest now briefly, Father… This break might let me assist in nursing you through those old wounds,” Xiao Yan gave a reassuring smile, gently adding while glancing over to Cai Lin — “Send word back to the Empire of Jarma, summon here your older brothers… Let our father meet them.”
Nodding gently, off Cai Lin strode quietly. With eyes on her vanishing silhouette and silent breath exhaled beside him in thought, words echoed in murmuring conscience: “My brothers— My promised oath… At long last fulfilled.”
In the days following the clash, peace descended unusually upon every side as Allied troops remained housed in Tianfu land without venturing widely. Yet though days passed quietly, unease in air grew thicker still instead of thinning — all knew full in their hearts—now, two vast cosmic forces prepared to meet for fate’s ultimate reckoning.
The titanic war at Buried Heaven Mountain cost both adversaries much, hence for the interim period, silence held sway between enemies: all sides seized brief opportunity as warriors reforged themselves relentlessly for that single devastating final strike meant to decide it all.
During this lull for troops’ recovery, however, higher Allied leaders could not afford rest as freely. The moment the forces arrived at the Realm of Stars, Gu Yuan secluded himself for retreat, an act known as marking that he sought to personally monitor any Hun incursions through hidden surveillance, ensuring detection of the slightest disturbance should emanate from the shadowed Hunchen plane.
Such an intent went unbroken these recent days yet brought forth nothing — as if with obtaining the Tushita Divine Amethyst, every activity stilled into absolute dormition.
In this standoff that held tenuously, before they knew it, many sunrises had passed. Upon completing preliminary recovery measures and assembling strength, the Alliance set forth anew in action, this time against The Heavenly Shrine of Souls—The Hun Temple. From within the Star Realm, in perfect order emerged battalions upon mighty battalions sweeping across space with such overwhelming intensity, each section assigned systematically, forming a net across sky and land. Beginning from the Tianfu stronghold outward, they methodically hunted down any Hun Temples hidden beneath the Central Plains.
It seemed the relentless man-hunting could not escape result: soon the Temple hidden in plain sight fell victim, its many satellite sanctuaries unearthed rapidly and unmistakably. However, upon barging into these captured sites to confront enemy resistance, the squads instead met eerily quiet and deserted halls in most of them, excepting barely a handful whose remnants of guardians stood meager against the Alliance might.
As such in but three relentless hunting days, every Hun Temple branch was razed into smoldering ruin across lands. Including were two grand and holy chambers known as the Heaven Temple and the Earth Temple – long the keystones among all shrines. Thus the once mighty empire that long wielded authority unseen crumbled from the stage of history within the Central Plains so shockingly easily. Such swift annihilation of the Hun Clan’s religious might sent dread among onlookers – how terrifyingly weak a supposed superpower must truly be when the mighty Alliance could end its legacy so suddenly.
Yet as outsiders gasped in astonishment, Xiao Yan and his generals exchanged grave and wary glances. It became evident from events how everything unfolded – the Huns had long foreseen this assault, vacating their temples with full preparedness. And most worryingly, any reserve stores of vital primal souls once contained in their various shrines were taken along entirely, leaving behind not a soul nor scrap.
Indeed, the Hun response showed remarkable decisiveness — accepting the futility in preserving all temples against this overwhelming force, they abandoned their structures, leaving the edifices of temples intact knowing that their utility already served their purposes long before today. These structures, even now shattered beyond repair, were expendable if they served as stepping stones toward their grander destiny — for after they achieved their designs, dozens more temples shall rise upon ruins of empires as entire continent bowed willingly unto their rule.
In tracking such vanquishing through razed remains, the Alliance was forced to return, reorganizing forces and focusing on setting up perimeters near Hun Dominion, ever watchful for subtle shifts heralding enemy intent. It so happened that not long into this watch, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li arrived through existing Spatial Gateways, their journey having brought them safely from the north-west plains straight into the Realm of Stars.
To have father and sons meet again summoned tear-stricken emotion not so uncommonly hidden from onlookers’ eyes. Who among these could have ever foreseen an average, modest family — once fortunate and united – would come undone by the unexpected, tyrannic appearance of a single dark race, splintering them apart and dragging them across despair?
With their long-awaited reunion and time spent enjoying domestic bliss for a span seldom experienced recently, Xiao Yan inquired about his old Flame League. Now the unrivaling sovereign governing power of the North-West, it was impressive, yet not grand by Central standards — not nearly enough weight should the Tianfu coalition ever have drawn such force into this new struggle.
In such moments of rare harmony, however, Xiao Yan inevitably returned his thoughts. The completion of the Tushtag — the divine artifact required to open the God Emperor’s sacred tomb—remained his greatest anxiety with Hun ambitions advancing.
Even though now standing atop the soul of Empire level, that past battle revealed a brutal reality—before opponents like the Void Devouring Flame, the monstrous nine-Star Dou Emperor, his strength was not nearly near adequacy. Therefore the need urged him to climb yet greater heights — gaining power as quickly as one still can, buying further edge when next his path must cross with such titans. However reaching his plateau’s brink made swift growth almost impossibly difficult — hence, upon lengthy considerations and internal conflict, Xiao Yan turned once again an eye to a sealed resource still untouched—Nine Heavens Lightning trapped sealed deep inside Immortal Healer’s sacred vessel.
He had now achieved what none might expect — a chance to finally break bonds he had previously struggled helplessly against… Xiao Yan now dared attempt subduing even Heaven and Earth in flame if needed.
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