Xiao Chen, Wake Up!

Seeing the fierce attack of the crowd, Xiao Yuan frowned and struck out with his palm. The terrifying energy spread out and instantly turned hundreds of fiery figures into blood mist.

While Xiao Yuan attacked, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and the others also launched their own attacks. All present were Dou Sheng Expert, so their attacks were naturally devastating. Those fiery figures were reduced to nothingness in swathes. However, no matter how fierce their attacks were, Fire Slave continued to pour out of the cracks, an endless stream! "Killing them like this is useless; we have to go inside!"

Gu Nanhai said in a deep voice.

Xiao Yuan didn't hesitate at all and said directly, "Let's go!"

As the voice faded, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, and in a flash, his figure shot forward. The Fire Slave that tried to block his way exploded automatically when they were within ten feet of him. The group broke through the flames like a hot knife through butter, and finally each of them unleashed a palm strike, slamming it hard against the giant gate.

"Bang!"

Faced with the combined onslaught of so many powerful figures, the giant gate burst open with a deafening roar. At the instant the gate shattered, the endless Fire Slave behind it also stopped their pursuit, hovering densely in mid-air.

"Let's go. According to our ancestors, the demon fire itself is located at the end of this Demon Fire Grand Hall!"

Gu Nanhai shouted.

"Alright, let's head straight to the deepest part then!"

Xiao Yuan nodded and said.

Within the vast hall, milky-white flames filled the eye. On this massive plaza, nearly several thousand feet wide, countless fiery figures stood upright. They made no sound, yet an extremely terrifying aura permeated the space. That aura seemed to merge together, transforming into a giant fiery dragon that hovered above the heads of these fiery figures, exuding murderous intent.

At one end of the main hall, Xiao Yuan and the others looked at the scene before them, their brows furrowing involuntarily. This wasn't the first time they'd seen something like this—since entering that giant gate, Xiao Yuan and his group had already passed through three almost identical main halls. However, the further they went in, the stronger the Fire Slave became! For example, the Fire Slave in front of them now, according to Xiao Yuan and the others' senses, probably each possessed the strength of Dou Zun.

A single Dou Zun is insignificant in the eyes of Xiao Yuan and the others, but when their numbers reach ten thousand, even Dou Sheng Expert has to be on high alert. In particular, the Fire Slave cooperate perfectly with each other, and their combined power is extremely terrifying.

"Elder Gu, was the Pure Lotus Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Purifying Lotus Demon Flame stronger a thousand years ago, or is it stronger now?"

Xiao Yuan looked at the Fire Slave in front of him and asked in a deep voice.

"Well, although the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame from a thousand years ago was not captured in the end, it was also seriously injured. However, a thousand years should be enough time for it to heal. Judging from the Nightmare Sky Mist, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame should be stronger now."

Gu Nanhai hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I see." Xiao Yuan raised his head, gazing at the sky above the giant palace, his eyes flickering slightly. "It seems this Purifying Lotus Demon Flame intends to toy with us like puppets."

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned slightly. Being toyed with by a Heavenly Flames was something that was hard to accept.

"Keep going!"

Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment, then waved his hand lightly, his voice returning to calm.

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, then nodded again. With a swift movement, they continued to destroy the Fire Slave army in the hall with overwhelming force. Then, they transformed into light and shadow, appearing at the end of the hall in a few flashes. They smashed through the giant door once more and rushed inside.

The following time was still filled with tedious challenges, and the challenge mode was extremely monotonous. In each giant hall, there were identical Fire Slave. The only difference was that the Fire Slave became stronger as they progressed. The group's journey was no less arduous than fighting against multiple Dou Sheng Expert, and the consumption of energy was considerable.

"Bang!"

The massive palace gate was shattered by Xiao Yuan's expressionless palm strike. Amidst the flying stone chips, another giant palace appeared. Upon seeing this palace, everyone felt a sense of weariness. How long would this endless challenge last?

"Huh?"

Xiao Yuan's gaze swept across the massive hall, but he immediately exclaimed in surprise, for he discovered that the hall was devoid of the densely packed Fire Slave! "Is the trial over?"

Xiao Yan and Xun'er also noticed this situation and were immediately surprised.

"No."

Gu Nanhai slowly shook his head, his gaze fixed on the center of the giant hall, where a somewhat thin figure stood upright. Surprisingly, there were no flames swirling around his body. His eyes were closed, and a powerful aura, as if Mount Tai were pressing down, emanated from his body!

"Four-Star Dou Sheng!"

Gu Nanhai and Zi Yan trembled slightly, their faces slowly hardening with solemnity. Although they were both Four-Star Dou Sheng, the gaunt figure in the hall was even stronger than them! "Is this also Fire Slave?"

Xiao Yan exclaimed in disbelief, "Just how terrifying is this Purifying Lotus Demon Flame? It can actually turn Four-Star Dou Sheng into Fire Slave?" "He can be considered Fire Slave, but he possesses his own intelligence. Compared to those Fire Slave completely controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, he has a great deal of autonomy," Gu Nanhai said solemnly. "It seems this is the final hurdle. Passing through it will allow us to reach the location of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame!"

Xiao Yuan sensed it carefully for a moment, then waved to everyone, "No need for that trouble, I'll take care of it."

He then walked directly into the main hall.

"Hey! Wait for me!"

Seeing this, Zi Yan thought Xiao Yuan was about to act recklessly, so she quickly followed him.

Seeing this, the others exchanged glances and followed suit.

As everyone stepped onto the main hall, the figure slowly opened its tightly closed eyes. Its pair of dark pupils were indifferent and ruthless, but compared to the Fire Slave they had encountered before, it was noticeably more lively, only a little too cold.

"Bang!"

In the quiet hall, the ground suddenly trembled violently. The gaunt figure gently grasped the air in front of him, and a massive, blood-red axe, several meters in size and with an extremely exaggerated and bizarre shape, appeared out of thin air. Against the backdrop of this giant axe, his gaunt figure looked somewhat comical, but everyone present could clearly feel the terrifying power hidden within his gaunt body.

"This person is very competitive."

The crowd's expressions were solemn; they simply couldn't believe that such a powerful figure could be controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

Gazing at the blood-red giant axe, Gu Nanhai frowned slightly, as if deep in thought.

However, Xiao Yuan simply walked over.

He knows this person very well.

"Xiao Chen, wake up."

Xiao Yuan walked straight up to the blood-axe figure, where the crimson-gold Clan Mark between his brows was radiating light.

At the same time, the gaunt man, who had been suppressed by Xiao Yuan's terrifying soul power and was unable to move, finally showed a flicker of emotion on his zombie-like face.

"Xiao Chen."

Upon hearing this, he looked at Xiao Yuan in front of him, and gradually, a strange connection appeared in his heart. That familiar feeling was the bond of blood ties.

"You know me?" The gaunt man's mouth opened slightly, and a hoarse voice finally came from his lips, "Then who am I?"

"You are Xiao Chen, Blood Axe Xiao Chen. When you disappeared back then, Xuan Ge'er searched for you for a long time."

As Xiao Yuan spoke, he reached out and pressed his hand against Xiao Chen's brow.

The surging soul power, accompanied by golden flames, rushed straight into Xiao Chen's body.

"Blood Axe Xiao Chen?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanhai exclaimed in surprise.

"Elder Gu, do you know this senior?"

Xun'er asked in surprise.

"I don't recognize it, but I have seen this blood-red axe in ancient books. Back then, the Xiao Clan produced a person of extraordinary talent. His famous weapon was an extremely large blood axe, and this person was called Xiao Chen!" Gu Nanhai stared at Xiao Chen and continued, "Xiao Chen has amazing talent and is considered Xiao Xuan's cousin. However, he is not good at restraint and is unpredictable. Before he became famous, countless strong people died under his axe. But later he disappeared without a trace. No matter how the Xiao Clan searched, they could not find him. I never expected that he would appear here."

"By the way, shortly after his disappearance, news of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame appeared."

As if remembering something, Gu Nanhai suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Xiao Xuan 'Ancestor's cousin"

Xiao Yan, who was standing to the side, paused for a moment and frowned slightly. So, this person could also be considered one of his ancestors.

"However, he also escaped a major calamity for the Xiao Clan here, so it's hard to say whether it was a blessing or a curse."

Gu Nanhai came to Xiao Yuan's side and sighed.

A moment later, the mark left by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame within Xiao Yuan's body was forcibly refined away by Xiao Yuan.

"Call"

Xiao Chen took a few deep breaths, and after a moment he raised his head, looking at the Clan Mark on Xiao Yuan's forehead with a complicated expression. He asked in a hoarse voice, "Brother Yuan, how is the Xiao Clan now?"

Xiao Yuan remained silent, then said softly, "The Xiao Clan no longer exists."

He then briefly described the current situation of the Xiao Clan.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Xiao Chen remained silent, but drops of crimson blood slowly slid from his clenched fist. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly, "Even Brother Xiao Xuan has perished."

Looking at Xiao Chen, who was clenching his fists and looking down, Xiao Yuan sighed inwardly. He knew that the former was filled with regret, but even if he stayed in the Xiao Clan, the Xiao Clan would probably still not escape that fate.

Gu Nanhai, who was standing to the side, fell into deep thought.

Was he just hallucinating?

How did Xiao Chen address Xiao Yuan? Xiao Yan wasn't surprised that Xiao Yuan knew about the super-generational advancement.

"Although Xuan Ge'er has perished, his soul still remains. I will find a way to revive him." After offering a word of comfort, he added, "Xiao Yan needs the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Please take us there."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen paused for a moment, then asked, "The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame is very strong. Are you confident in its power?"

"You must have sensed it just now, right? Although I am not as strong as Xuan Ge'er at his peak, it should not be difficult for me to deal with the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame."

Xiao Yuan said with a smile.

"Okay, follow me."

Xiao Chen raised his head, looked at Xiao Yuan for a moment, and finally slowly got up, then turned and walked towards the last palace gate.

"Keep up."

Xiao Yuan didn't say much, just waved his hand lightly and followed. Gu Nanhai opened his mouth but didn't say anything, so he could only follow.

"Creak!"

The group silently followed behind Xiao Chen, watching him slowly push open the giant door. Behind the door was a staircase that stretched to the end, and at the end of the staircase, a huge altar stone platform could be vaguely seen.

Looking at the altar stone platform at the end, Xiao Yuan smiled faintly, took the lead in stepping onto the stone steps, and then walked step by step towards the end. Behind him, the others hesitated slightly, but quickly followed.

The group climbed the stone steps in silence. After about ten minutes, they finally approached the altar. Xiao Yuan looked up and saw a huge throne standing silently on the altar. On the throne, a figure dressed in white robes sat quietly, with wisps of milky white flames swirling around him, constantly changing into various shapes.

The white-robed figure simply sat quietly, without emitting any aura. However, in the eyes of Xiao Yuan and the others, that figure was incredibly strange.

As everyone stepped onto the altar, the figure in white robes finally opened his eyes, revealing a stunning smile on his handsome face.

"Defeat me and you will obtain the Demon Fire Source; otherwise, you will remain here forever as my Fire Slave."

His voice was soft and kind, yet it seemed to make the entire space tremble.

Gu Nanhai's expression was solemn, yet a sense of defeat welled up within him. The person before him actually gave them a feeling of being utterly invincible! "Hoo..."

The silence lasted for a moment, and then Xiao Yuan finally let out a long breath. His face was tired, and his deep voice slowly rose.

"Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. It seems you have obtained all of the Purification Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to cultivate Nightmare Sky Mist to this level. I must admit, the illusions you create are even more realistic than the Bodhi Ancient Tree. However, no matter how realistic an illusion is, it is still an illusion."

Xiao Yuan's deep voice echoed quietly on the altar, and the gentle smile on the handsome man's face gradually froze.

The smile on the handsome face of the white-robed man slowly faded, replaced by an eerie chill. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Yuan, and although he did not speak, the surrounding space trembled violently like ripples on water.

"However, this is fine too. Now that you have obtained the entire inheritance, I should be able to obtain those inheritances by extracting your soul, right?"

Immediately afterward, Xiao Yuan's words made the white-robed man's expression turn even colder and more sinister.