Black flames shrouded the sky, blotting out the sun and the very essence of the realm. Under the blanket of these infernal flames, the people below suddenly felt their internal energy gradually dissipate, as if some invisible force were relentlessly devouring their power.
This realization instantly sent waves of fear through the crowd. From the grim fate of those who had tried to flee earlier, it was clear that the Soul Race had no intention of leaving any survivors. As a result, the entire mountain range erupted into chaos. No one could have predicted that this gathering, which was supposed to be a peaceful exchange, would devolve into such a nightmare.
“Be cautious. Tiny Void Devouring Flames are floating in the air. These things can even absorb your internal energy…” Xiao Yan placed his hand on Elder Pharmacist’s shoulder, enveloping both of them in a protective pink fire shield. Deep within his eyes, the lotus of flames spun slowly. Through his vision, he could see countless tiny, almost imperceptible black dots floating everywhere. These specks clung to people’s bodies like leeches, continuously devouring their life force. Even if these people tried to shield themselves with their internal energy, it was utterly ineffective; the black dots would melt through the defenses without a sound…
“The space is sealed. The Soul Race seems determined to leave no survivors,” Elder Pharmacist said with a grave expression.
“It seems these guys, after remaining dormant for so long, are finally ready to make their move,” Xiao Yan frowned. Their luck, indeed, was quite poor, having fallen right into the hands of the Soul Race. But there was little they could do. Even if they had foreseen the Soul Race attacking the Alchemist Clan, they never imagined it would happen at such an unexpected time.
“Seems the Soul Race’s recent low profile has much to do with this. They were unusually quiet when the Stone Clan vanished the last time,” Elder Pharmacist said, somewhat chagrined. He had not anticipated this, thinking that the union between the Alchemist, Flame, and Lightning Clans would be a formidable enough force to dissuade the Soul Race from acting rashly.
“Sure enough, the Soul Race allowed the Heavenly Alliance to defeat the Spirit Temple and did not send out strong reinforcements afterward. Apart from being wary of the Gu Clan, they were also planning to strike at the Alchemist Clan,” Xiao Yan nodded. Now, previous puzzles started to make sense. It wasn’t that the Soul Race did not want to kill him; it was just that they had more significant objectives.
Between eliminating Xiao Yan and dealing with the Alchemist Clan, the Soul Race naturally chose the latter. In their eyes, although Xiao Yan was powerful, he was far from reaching the status of the Alchemist Clan…
“What should we do now?” Elder Pharmacist asked gravely. If things went wrong today, both master and disciple might meet with disaster. The fact that the Soul Race had silently annihilated the Spirit Clan and the Stone Clan suggested that their strength far exceeded any expectations.
“We can only watch and wait. If the Soul Race really attacks, the Alchemist Clan will surely resist. We’ll find an opportunity to escape then,” Xiao Yan whispered, not harboring any grandiose thoughts of saving the Alchemist Clan. They were barely self-preserved, with no time or energy to worry about anyone else. Whether the Alchemist Clan could survive this calamity, only fate would decide.
Elder Pharmacist nodded silently. Although he was part of the Alchemist Clan, the relationship was too distant. Despite feeling distressed by the Alchemist Clan’s plight, he would not force Xiao Yan to risk everything for them. For him, Xiao Yan’s safety was far more important than this estranged and cold clan!
Yao Dan floated in the air, gazing at the immense black flame that spread across the horizon. His face darkened, sensing a terrifying aura emanating from it.
“All members of the Alchemist Clan, activate the Heaven Transformation Medicine Array!” Yao Dan took a deep breath, his resolute voice echoing through the air. This was the first time he sensed a crisis threatening the very existence of the Alchemist Clan.
With Yao Dan’s command, every member of the Alchemist Clan felt a chill. The Heaven Transformation Medicine Array, a protective relic of the clan, was being activated for the first time since ancient times, indicating the imminent peril.
“Buzz! Buzz!”
All the elders of the Alchemist Clan swiftly conjured beams of light, shooting them into the mountains. The earth shook, and massive pillars of light pierced through the rock, weaving into a colossal and strange array in the sky. As the array formed, nearly half of the precious medicinal herbs in the mountains withered, releasing boundless energy to power the array.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Almost all the Alchemist Clan members channeled their internal energy into beams of light, pouring them into the array. The array’s light intensified, and a terrifying pressure, akin to a sleeping dragon awakening after millennia, stirred. As the pressure rippled out, the entire spatial realm trembled, with waves of energy converging towards the array.
“Such overwhelming pressure…” Even Xiao Yan, standing within the array, gazed at the dazzling array with a grave expression. This pressure rivaled that of an eight-star Dou Sage, truly showing the Alchemist Clan’s formidable foundation.
“This is the Alchemist Clan’s protective array, never before activated. Who would have thought…?” Elder Pharmacist looked at the glowing array with mixed emotions. “It’s said that this array was created by the Alchemist Clan’s ancestor, containing a fragment of his soul. If activated, it might be able to resist the Soul Race.”
“Ancestor…” Xiao Yan’s eyes twitched. The only figure who could be called the Alchemist Clan’s ancestor was the Dou Emperor who founded the clan.
“Hehe, so this is the Alchemist Clan’s protective array. Its power is indeed much stronger than that of the Spirit and Stone Clans,” outside the array, Hun Xu Zi smiled, looking at the energy swirling beneath him. Turning to face the towering black flames, he bowed respectfully, “Lord Void, this array may require your intervention to unravel…”
As Hun Xu Zi spoke, the black flames behind him began to undulate, gradually forming a human figure. The figure, wreathed in black flames and adorned with eerie black runes, had eyes like black holes, radiating a terrifying devouring force. Standing in the sky amid the black flames, his face was slightly indistinct, but upon his appearance, an extremely ancient and eerie aura pervaded the realm.
“Whoo! Whoo!”
At the sight of the black-flame figure, the myriad of Void Devouring Flames emitted a peculiar sound, as if welcoming their master. “Void Devouring Flame…”
Xiao Yan’s gaze fixed on the demonic figure, his heart pounding. With his perception of the hetero-flames, he immediately recognized that this was the actual body of the Void Devouring Flame!
“This Void Devouring Flame has also formed a spirit of the Flame.” Elder Pharmacist glanced at Xiao Yan, his mouth dry. This Void Devouring Flame, like the Fairy Lotus Flame, was a similar entity, but even stronger!
“Such a fearsome presence, this guy is even stronger than Yao Dan!” Xiao Yan licked his lips, his mind reeling. This was the most powerful hetero-flame he had ever encountered. Its existence probably predated the Fairy Lotus Flame by a great deal!
Under the shocked gazes, the mighty, god-like figure slowly lowered its head, casting a glance at the vast, powerful array below. With a wave of its sleeve, the towering black flames surged, transforming into a dense rain of black fire, engulfing the array.
“Sizzle! Sizzle!”
As the black fire rained down, the array erupted in plumes of white mist, and everyone could feel the array’s energy being devoured by the fiery downpour.
“Alchemist Clan, surrender, and you will live. You still have a use for us,” the black fire rained down, turning the verdant mountains brown in an instant, as if all life had been sapped away. Simultaneously, a hoarse, chilling voice echoed from the god-like figure.
“Not so easy to swallow my Alchemist Clan!” Yao Dan’s face contorted with ferocity. Roaring, he directed several beams of light from the mountain, piercing directly into the array. Xiao Yan, with keen eyes, saw that the beams contained countless medicinal pills. The sheer number was staggering, suggesting the Alchemist Clan had brought out all their reserves.
As the pills poured into the array, determination filled Yao Dan’s face!
“Countless Pills Form Heaven, in the name of the Pill, Ancestor Reclaim!”
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