Plucking a Lotus from the Fire! Bronze Fragments Appear!

The crimson-gold Dragon Phoenix Flame, like the mantle of supreme majesty worn by an emperor, flowed and burned silently around Xiao Zhan, radiating a light that was both gentle and inviolable. It acted like a loyal guardian, silently annihilating the final remnants of the violent, rampaging magma, allowing this chaotic space to return to a brief moment of tranquility.

Within the subterranean space, the scorching heat waves still churned like wild horses, as if recounting the heart-stopping battle that had just occurred. Yet, the destructive storm of the collision had already subsided, leaving behind only a scene of devastation. Only the massive whirlpool remaining on the surface of the magma lake, like a deep, dark eye, silently stared at it all; the shocking melting marks on the rock walls were like scars carved by time, silently yet powerfully speaking of the terrifying might contained in that world-shaking punch—a power that seemed capable of tearing apart the heavens and shaking the very foundations of the earth.

The peak Tier 5 Magma Guardian Beast had completely dissipated, turning into a few strands of unwilling yet helpless dark red light deep within the lake, like a fading legend, gradually vanishing into the scorching magma. The entire space was so quiet that only the gurgling sound of the slowly churning magma remained—a sound that felt like the heavy sigh of the earth. And then... there was the Green Lotus Core Flame, suspended in the center of the lake, glowing with intense green light, as if emitting a silent, furious roar! It stood like the king of this space, radiating an awe-inspiring aura.

At this moment, the Heavenly Flame seemed completely enraged, like a primordial beast awakening from its slumber! Its twelve jade-like lotus petals swayed frantically, as if brandishing angry blades; the deep green liquid flame at the heart of the lotus pulsed and expanded violently, like a heart on the verge of exploding, containing boundless energy. A terrifying high temperature and destructive energy fluctuation, far exceeding what had come before, erupted suddenly, as if millions of bombs had detonated at once, shaking the entire space.

The entire magma lake seemed as if millions of bombs had been dropped into it, instantly boiling over. Countless thicker, more violent pillars of magma fire shot into the sky, like angry fire dragons, piercing the firmament. The fire pillars were no longer dark red, but stained with a heart-stopping deep green, as if eroded by an evil force, exuding a dangerous aura. The air was ignited instantly, emitting crackling explosions, as if the heavens themselves were roaring in fury. Space was distorted to the extreme, even developing fine black cracks like a shattered mirror, sending shivers down one's spine.

This was the true power of the Green Lotus Core Flame! A power capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, enough to make even a Dou Emperor turn pale; it was as if it were the most terrifying existence in the world, both awe-inspiring and deeply coveted.

"ROAR--!!!"

Accompanying the violent, raging fury of the Heavenly Flame, a dragon roar—majestic, ancient, and distant, as if traveling from the depths of the long river of time—suddenly erupted from within Xiao Zhan's body! This dragon roar did not come from Xiao Zhan's mouth, but originated from the seemingly delicate Seven-Colored Little Snake on his wrist.

At some point, this Seven-Colored Little Snake had completely awakened. Its small body was taut, like an arrow ready to be released. Its seven-colored scales shimmered with light, as if inlaid with countless brilliant gemstones, radiating a mysterious and enchanting luster. Its pale purple snake eyes stared fixedly at the enraged Heavenly Flame; far from showing any fear, they erupted with a purer, more tyrannical desire to devour, born from the depths of its bloodline, as if the Heavenly Flame in its eyes were nothing more than a delicious meal about to be consumed.

The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python! The ancestor of all snakes! In the world of serpents, it was the supreme existence. To it, the Heavenly Flame of the world was also precious nourishment for evolution, a powerful aid to help it climb to even higher peaks. At this moment, the sleeping will of Queen Medusa was completely ignited by the homologous Heavenly Flame, like a dormant volcano erupting, unstoppable.

"Good! Let us join forces and subdue it!" Xiao Zhan keenly sensed the intense intent coming from the little snake, an intent filled with determination and courage. His eyes burned with even greater battle intent, like a raging fire, illuminating this scorching subterranean space. He did not hesitate for a moment longer, taking a step forward; his stride was steady and powerful, causing space to ripple like water disturbed by a stone, and his figure instantly appeared at the edge of the violent sea of green fire.

The Seven-Colored Little Snake on his wrist seemed to feel the call of its mission; it broke free from its restraints, turning into a brilliant seven-colored stream of light, like a shooting star piercing the night sky, and instantly merged into the contract mark on Xiao Zhan's forehead. That mark acted like a mysterious conduit, connecting the souls and powers of the two.

"HUM--!"

An indescribable, vast power, carrying the majesty of the ancient wilderness, surged through Xiao Zhan's entire body like a tidal wave. His eyes underwent a strange transformation: one burned with the crimson-gold Dragon Phoenix Flame, scorching and majestic, as if capable of incinerating all evil in the world; the other had eerily turned into a pale purple snake eye, mysterious and profound, as if hiding endless secrets. His aura surged wildly, expanding like a balloon being inflated, instantly breaking through the boundary of the early-stage Dou Zong and approaching the peak of the Dou Zong, the powerful aura causing the surrounding air to tremble. On the crimson-gold dragon scale phantoms, wisps of dreamlike seven-colored radiance began to entwine, as if draping the scales in a gorgeous neon garment.

The Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art and the origin power of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python merged perfectly under the bond of the contract, as if two different yet complementary forces had found their home, erupting with unprecedented power.

"BURN!" Xiao Zhan let out a low shout, his voice filled with resolution and confidence, as if he intended to completely conquer the Heavenly Flame of this world.

Xiao Zhan (his will now deeply fused with the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python) slowly spat out an ancient and majestic syllable, a sound that seemed to have existed since the dawn of time, carrying the weight and mystery of traversing space-time. Immediately after, he slammed his hands together in a seal, his movements fluid and natural, as if echoing some supreme truth of the heavens and earth.

In an instant, it was no longer the pure Dragon Phoenix Flame of before, but a crimson-gold fire fused with seven-colored radiance, surging out from his body like a breached dam. The fire, crimson-gold with dreamlike seven-colored light, seemed to gather the most brilliant colors of the world, transforming into a massive palm that blotted out the sky, burning with seven-colored golden flames.

On this giant hand, dragon scales faintly emerged, like the armor of an ancient divine dragon, carrying an indestructible texture; phoenix patterns flowed incessantly, like the gorgeous trail left by a phoenix spreading its wings, exuding a noble and elegant aura; it also carried the tyrannical will of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python to devour all things, a will like an invisible blade capable of severing all obstacles. It ignored the green fire pillars capable of incinerating refined gold—those pillars were like fragile grass before it; it also ignored the twisted and crumbling space—the spatial rifts beside it seemed like insignificant flaws. Carrying the terrifying momentum to suppress everything, like the giant hand extended by a god, it grabbed fiercely toward the violently pulsing Green Lotus fire seed!

"SCREECH--!!!"

The Green Lotus Core Flame seemed to sense a fatal threat, emitting a sharp, soul-piercing shriek. The sound was like a wail from hell, or perhaps a desperate cry. The lotus heart fire seed spun frantically, like a high-speed vortex, condensing into a deep green fire spear refined to the extreme. That spear, like a divine punishment meant to split the heavens and earth, carried the resolution to incinerate all things, exuding a bone-chilling aura as it thrust fiercely toward the descending seven-colored golden flame palm!

"BOOM--!!!!!"

This was a collision that could not be described in words! The seven-colored golden flame and the deep green fire spear collided fiercely; at that moment, time seemed to freeze, and space seemed to stagnate. No sound came, for the sound was annihilated by the terrifying energy the moment it was born, as if it had never existed. There was only a pure, extreme energy storm, expanding and sweeping outward from the center of the collision like a supernova explosion. The storm, carrying world-destroying power, devoured everything in its path, as if intending to reshuffle the entire world.

The entire underground space seemed to be shaken violently by an invisible giant hand, falling into intense tremors. The rock walls, originally incredibly hard and seemingly capable of resisting any impact, now crumbled and melted on a large scale like fragile biscuits under the impact of the terrifying energy, with rocks and magma flying everywhere. The originally churning surface of the magma lake was completely evaporated by this vast force, revealing the scorching magma churning like an undercurrent below, as if hiding endless secrets and dangers. Spatial rifts, like a frantically spreading spider web, expanded and intertwined at high speed, as if intending to tear this space into pieces.

The brief stalemate lasted only for an instant!

The deep green fire spear, condensed from the origin of the Green Lotus Core Flame, possessed power sufficient to pierce the defenses of a Dou Zong expert, like a blade from hell carrying endless destructive intent. Yet, under the dual suppression of the Dragon Phoenix Origin and the devouring power of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python contained within the seven-colored golden flame palm, it was as fragile as an icicle hitting a boulder. The deep green fire spear shattered inch by inch, its fragments disintegrating and annihilating in the energy vortex, turning into specks of green light that dissipated into this scorching and chaotic space.

The seven-colored golden flame palm did not lose its momentum; like an immovable mountain, it grabbed the violently struggling, green-flame-surging Green Lotus fire seed firmly in its palm with destructive force. The Green Lotus fire seed seemed unwilling to be captured, twisting and struggling frantically, green flames surging out like a tidal wave, attempting to break free from the palm's restraint.

"SEAL!"

Xiao Zhan (his will now perfectly fused with the mysterious power) shouted again, his voice ringing out like a great bell, echoing in the trembling space. The seven-colored golden flame palm contracted violently, as if an invisible cage were tightening. Countless strands of seven-colored radiance fused with Dragon-Phoenix Runes erupted from the palm, like the toughest chains of law, instantly entangling the violent green fire seed. The fire seed struggled and burned frantically, attempting to break free; the seven-colored radiance chains flickered, emitting a teeth-grinding tension, as if they might snap at any moment. But the dual supreme origin powers contained within acted like a cage of heaven and earth, trapping the fire seed firmly inside, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.

At the same time, a pure yet violent and unruly origin power of fire flowed along the seven-colored radiance chains like a rushing river, pouring continuously into Xiao Zhan's body. That power, carrying the heat and wildness of the Green Lotus Core Flame, as well as the mystery and strength of the Dragon Phoenix and the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, flowed wantonly through Xiao Zhan's body, as if intending to completely reshape his physique.

[Warning! High-purity Heavenly Flame origin—Green Lotus Core Flame—detected, forcibly infusing! Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art is operating at overload; meridians are nearing their limit, like a bowstring stretched to the breaking point, ready to snap at any moment!]

[Warning! The origin will of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python and the Heavenly Flame origin are clashing with increasing intensity, like two surging torrents colliding! Host's soul load is increasing sharply, like a lone boat in a storm, teetering on the edge of collapse!]

The system's alarm sounded like sharp steel needles, exploding deep within Xiao Zhan's mind, stinging every one of his nerves. The violent Heavenly Flame energy was like millions of red-hot steel needles, carrying heat and destruction, frantically impacting his meridians. Under the ravages of this terrifying energy, his meridians were like fragile water pipes, being constantly squeezed and impacted, emitting painful groans.

Furthermore, a violent will originating from the Green Lotus Core Flame's essence, like a mad beast, roared and crashed in the depths of Xiao Zhan's soul. It was like a caged demon, longing to break free and incinerate everything around it into ash. The devouring will of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python was equally tyrannical, like another fierce beast, tearing frantically at the will of the Green Lotus Core Flame within him, neither willing to give an inch.

Excruciating pain! It was a pain that felt like his soul was being torn apart, like sharp daggers instantly sweeping through Xiao Zhan's entire body. His face turned paper-white, and the crimson-gold scale phantoms on his skin flickered violently, like a candle flame in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment. A trace of pale golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, the blood seemingly containing endless pain and struggle. His body felt as if it had been thrown into a purgatory furnace, enduring torture beyond what a normal person could imagine.

"SUBDUE... FOR ME!!!"

Xiao Zhan's eyes were blood-red, as if two scorching flames were burning within them, and a beast-like low growl erupted from his throat, his voice filled with resolution and defiance. The Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art operated to an unprecedented limit, like a high-speed machine, emitting a dull roar. His soul power was like a raging sea, surging and billowing, guarding the last trace of clarity in his mind, refusing to let the two mad wills consume him.

He frantically guided and refined the Heavenly Flame origin pouring into his body, like a master craftsman attempting to tame this violent energy. At the same time, he used his own will as a bridge, forcibly reconciling the two water-and-fire-incompatible yet equally tyrannical wills within him, like a wise mediator striving to make them coexist peacefully.

This was an extremely dangerous process; every step was like walking on the edge of a cliff. A moment of carelessness would result in shattered meridians and a collapsed soul, like falling into an endless abyss, beyond redemption.

Time seemed to be gently gripped by an invisible giant hand and frozen in place. In this deep, silent subterranean space, only the faint sound of magma flowing like a babbling brook remained, along with the intermittent trembling of Xiao Zhan's body from the unbearable pain. He stood like a divine statue tempered through a thousand trials in the raging flames, standing silently, enduring this inhuman torment, every inch of his skin and every nerve trembling in agony.

It was unknown how much time had passed—perhaps it was only a brief moment, or perhaps an entire century had elapsed.

"HUM--!"

A crisp yet heavy humming sound drifted out from within Xiao Zhan's body. The energy storm that had been clashing wantonly and raging like thunder within him finally began to subside, like a receding tide. The originally scorching, dazzling crimson-gold light and the gorgeous, eye-catching seven-colored radiance on his skin began to retract and merge, finally transforming into a deep, restrained dark-gold luster, like a sword that had been tempered, its edge hidden but appearing all the more steady and mysterious.

At the contract mark on his forehead, the phantom of the Seven-Colored Little Snake flashed like a brilliant bolt of lightning and vanished. Immediately after, it coiled back onto Xiao Zhan's wrist; its aura seemed a fraction stronger than before, yet it carried a thick sense of exhaustion, like a champion who had fought a great battle, having exhausted all his energy, and it fell into a deep slumber once more.

Xiao Zhan slowly opened his palm; in the center of his palm, a cluster of incredibly docile deep green flames burned silently. It still radiated a bone-chilling, terrifying heat, as if it were a small sun ready to explode at any moment. But the once violent and destructive aura had vanished without a trace, replaced by a docile submission and a nimble spirituality. At the core of the flame, a miniature Green Lotus phantom was faintly visible, like a brilliant pearl inlaid within.

Green Lotus Core Flame, successfully subdued!

[Ding! Special Mission: Subdue the Green Lotus Core Flame completed!]

The system's prompt sounded like a crisp bell in Xiao Zhan's mind.

[Reward issued: Heaven-Tier Low-Grade Fire Control Technique Flame Emperor Art (Fragment I)! Affinity with fire-attribute origin significantly increased!]

[Host has successfully refined the Heavenly Flame origin (partial), Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art has broken through to 'Entry-Level' (30%)! Dou Qi cultivation has advanced to the peak of the Two-Star Dou Zong!]

This series of prompts, like a magnificent musical movement, announced that Xiao Zhan had achieved a glorious victory in this heart-pounding adventure.

A massive torrent of information, carrying the profound and mysterious essence of the Flame Emperor Art fragments, surged into Xiao Zhan's mind. He felt as if thousands of stars were flickering within his brain, with countless arcane fire-control techniques and Dou Qi circulation methods churning like a tidal wave. Feeling the surging, unceasing Dou Qi within his body—now several times purer and more vigorous than before, coursing through his meridians like roaring dragons—and the green flame in his palm that obeyed his every command as tamely as a pet, a powerful and firm confidence sprouted in the depths of his heart like a new bud breaking through the soil in spring.

With a slight shift of his intent, the green flame in his palm seemed to be imbued with life; it transformed into a nimble, elegant little green snake that coiled lightly around his fingertips as if playing with him. In a flash, it shifted again into an exquisitely crafted green lotus, hovering before him and emitting a faint, serene glow. This mastery over fire far exceeded anything he had previously imagined, much like a highly skilled painter capable of sketching the scenes in his mind at will. This was the initial control granted by the Flame Emperor Art, making him feel as though he had grasped the very soul of fire.

"Time to leave." Xiao Zhan's gaze slowly swept over the devastated, crumbling underground space. The collapsed rock walls and scorching magma seemed to recount the thrilling battle that had just taken place. He did not linger; with a thought, the Green Lotus Core Flame turned into a brilliant streak of light, instantly sinking into his Dantian and being firmly nurtured by the powerful forces of the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art and the Flame Emperor Art, as if placed in a warm cradle. His figure moved, transforming into a dark golden streak of light like a meteor piercing the night sky. He shot upward against the collapsing rock layers, heading toward the quicksand vortex passage he had come through, and vanished into the vast darkness.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan sat steadily cross-legged on a stone bed, his mind completely immersed in the mysterious soul space within the black ring. That mysterious Bronze Fragment floated silently within, the dark golden runes on its surface flowing like living things. It emitted a pure and vast energy, like a brilliant galaxy, continuously nourishing the dim soul cluster of Yao Lao.

The light of that soul cluster was a sliver brighter than before. Although it remained as weak as a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment, this visible recovery speed made Xiao Yan tremble with excitement. His hands clenched involuntarily, and his eyes shone with excitement and anticipation. This fragment was truly the hope for his teacher's revival, like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the path ahead.

"Teacher... you must wake up soon..." Xiao Yan prayed devoutly in his heart, every thought filled with deep concern for Yao Lao. He focused all his attention, carefully guiding more pure energy to flow like a babbling brook toward Yao Lao's dim soul cluster, as if protecting the most precious treasure in the world.

Just then, the seemingly ordinary black ring on his finger pulsed again without warning—a pulse extremely faint, yet as clear as the brightest star in the night sky! This time, the pulse did not point toward the vast world outside, but rather... like an invisible hand, it pointed toward a specific direction deep within the oasis.

"Hm?" Xiao Yan opened his eyes abruptly, a flash of suspicion crossing them. His gaze seemed to pierce the void before him, seeking the source of the pulse. This pulse... it felt so similar to when that mysterious Bronze Fragment had first merged with the ring! Could it be... that other Bronze Fragments were hidden within the oasis?

This thought spread like a wildfire, instantly burning in his mind and occupying all his focus. One had to know that a supreme treasure capable of repairing his teacher's soul was already a heaven-defying opportunity; if there were more... Xiao Yan felt his heartbeat accelerate suddenly, as if a deer were crashing about in his chest.

He could no longer calm his mind to cultivate, so he stood up abruptly and rushed out of the stone chamber like the wind! The pulse from the ring became clearer and stronger, like an invisible thread pulling him tightly toward a group of ancient ruins in the northwest corner of the oasis, a place designated as a forbidden zone by the Snake-People Tribe. Along the way, his steps were hurried and firm, as if every step brought him closer to that unknown opportunity.

When he finally arrived before these ruins, the sight before him moved him deeply. This was a ruin eroded beyond recognition by ruthless winds and sands, like a pearl lost in the river of time, having shed its former luster. Broken, massive stone pillars were half-buried in the sand, resembling the fallen bodies of giants and carrying a sense of vicissitudes and tragedy. Broken stone walls carved with snake totems had become blurred by the erosion of time, yet they still stubbornly recounted the glory and honor of the past. The air was filled with an ancient and weathered aura, as if the whispers of history were telling the stories of what had once happened on this land.

Xiao Yan's figure appeared at the edge of the ruins like a ghost. The moment his feet touched the ground, the black ring in his hand suddenly became scalding hot, like a red-hot branding iron, and began to vibrate violently. The pulse reached its peak like a surging tide! Following this intense guidance, the direction pointed squarely at the very core of these ruins—a dilapidated altar with only half its base remaining!

This altar was built from a strange, pitch-black rock, its surface covered in crisscrossing cracks of time, as if left by the ruthless chisel of Old Man Time. In an inconspicuous corner at the center of the altar's base, half-buried in yellow sand and dust, a corner was vaguely visible... a dark golden metallic luster. Though the light was faint, it was like a glimmer of dawn in the darkness, instantly capturing Xiao Yan's attention.

Xiao Yan felt his heart pounding wildly, almost bursting through his chest. He didn't care about the grit of the sand and dust, nor did he have time to find tools; he began to dig frantically with his bare hands. Every handful of yellow sand he threw up carried his full anticipation; every friction between his fingertips and the soil felt like knocking on the door of fate. Soon, a palm-sized Bronze Fragment, almost identical to the one inside his ring, appeared before his eyes, and he slowly dug it out from the sand!

The fragment felt cold and heavy in his hand, as if he were holding a piece of thousand-year-old ice. Its surface was covered in thick verdigris and sand grime, like an old man who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, covered in the dust of time. But that same ancient, weathered aura acted like an invisible bond, tightly connecting the fragment to the black ring. The violent resonance coming from the black ring, like a stirring battle anthem, powerfully proved his judgment—this was the second Bronze Fragment!

The moment Xiao Yan clutched the fragment in ecstasy, it was as if he had triggered some mysterious mechanism!

"Buzz—!!!"

A sudden change occurred; a terrifying and mysterious power erupted instantly like a surging tidal wave!

The black ring on his left hand, like a ignited mysterious star, and the Bronze Fragment he had just dug from the sand in his right hand simultaneously erupted with a fierce and intense dark golden light. The two rays of light, like intelligent spirit snakes, instantly intersected and intertwined in the air, weaving a series of bizarre and fantastical scenes.

Following this, a fragment of an indescribable ancient will, as if a primordial god that had been sleeping since the dawn of time, quietly awakened. Accompanied by countless chaotic, blurry, and dreamlike images, as well as a vast stream of energy information that was nearly suffocating, it crashed into Xiao Yan's mind like a broken dam with the force of a landslide.

"Ugh—!" Xiao Yan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. His vision went black instantly, and his head ached as if thousands of steel needles were piercing it simultaneously. Countless shattered images flashed madly in his consciousness, like a bizarre nightmare: a broken bronze giant gate covered in mysterious runes, seemingly telling unknown secrets; a corner of a massive palace spanning the vast galaxy, exuding a solemn and majestic aura that inspired awe; fragments of a battlefield burning with chaotic flames, where the sounds of war and shouting shook the heavens, as if he could hear the tragic cries of ancient warriors; and a sorrowful sigh that seemed to come from eternity, weeping and pleading, carrying endless vicissitudes and sorrow...

This information was too vast and complex, like a surging tide, instantly exceeding the limits of Xiao Yan's soul. His body trembled uncontrollably, as if he were a lonely boat in a violent storm.

"Thump!" Xiao Yan clutched his head and fell to his knees in pain, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and soaking his clothes. The light from the fragment and the ring in his hands gradually faded, but the massive influx of information continued, leaving his consciousness in chaos and his soul feeling as if it were being torn into countless pieces by this powerful force.

"Yan'er!" Just then, a low and majestic shout exploded like a thunderclap, echoing in Xiao Yan's ears. Immediately after, a gentle yet vast soul power, like the warm sun of spring, surged into Xiao Yan's body. This power forcibly smoothed out the violent turbulence of information in his mind, like a loving elder gently soothing his injured soul.

Xiao Zhan's figure appeared beside Xiao Yan like a ghostly phantom, silent yet swift as lightning. His face was as heavy as ink, as if pressed by an invisible mountain. Just moments ago, he had returned to the oasis and keenly sensed the abnormal energy fluctuations and the aura of Xiao Yan's painful struggle. Burning with anxiety, he had instantly utilized his movement technique to arrive.

"Fa... Father..." Xiao Yan's face was as pale as paper, drenched in sweat, looking as if he had just been fished out of water. He raised his head weakly, his eyes filled with lingering fear and confusion as he looked at Xiao Zhan, his lips trembling slightly as he said, "This fragment... and the ring..."

Xiao Zhan's gaze instantly locked onto the newly unearthed Bronze Fragment in Xiao Yan's hand and the mysterious black ring on his left hand like a sharp arrow. Especially the ring—the moment Xiao Zhan's gaze touched it, a faint yet clearly perceptible pulse came from the depths of his soul. That pulse originated from the Dragon Phoenix Origin, as if it had encountered some existence of the same level, yet mysterious and unfathomable, in a distant place.

His expression remained unchanged, but he secretly exerted force and reached out to beckon. The new fragment in Xiao Yan's hand flew into his palm as if pulled by an invisible thread. At the same time, his powerful soul force, like the most precise probe, swept over Xiao Yan's black ring with an unstoppable momentum.

"Buzz!"

A faint ripple appeared on the surface of the black ring. The ripple, like tiny circles of waves, seemed to instinctively resist Xiao Zhan's probe, but this resistance was merely a flash in the pan before the ring returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

"Bronze Immortal Palace..." Xiao Zhan stared intently at the ancient patterns on the edges of the two fragments in his palm that could vaguely fit together. Those patterns were like mysterious codes left by time, containing endless mysteries. He felt the fragments of laws and the vast aura contained within, which far exceeded his understanding—an aura as mysterious and powerful as the stars in the depths of the universe. After a long while, he slowly spat out these four words. This was the only clear concept he had captured from the complex thoughts after forcibly sorting through the shattered information stream in Xiao Yan's mind.

These four simple words, as if carrying the weight of ten thousand tons of thunder, pressed heavily upon the air! It made Xiao Zhan, this newly promoted Dou Zong powerhouse, feel an unprecedented weight, as if an invisible mountain were looming over his heart.

"Bro... Bronze Immortal Palace?" Xiao Yan's eyes were dazed, and he repeated it subconsciously, looking as if he were lost in a fog, unable to find his way.

"The karma and secrets involved in this object far exceed what you or I can imagine!" Xiao Zhan's tone was unprecedentedly serious, every word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. He looked deeply at the mysterious black ring on Xiao Yan's hand, his gaze filled with a trace of vigilance and worry. "Everything regarding this fragment and this ring must never be mentioned to a third person! Even if Yao Lao wakes up in the future, you must be extremely cautious and not speak of it lightly! Before you possess sufficiently powerful strength, the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes. It is like touching an unknown beast in the darkness; one slight mistake, and you will be beyond redemption!"

Xiao Yan looked at the unprecedented gravity in his father's eyes, and his heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, shaking violently. He nodded heavily and said with a firm gaze, "Yes, Father! I understand! I will definitely be cautious in my words and actions!"

Xiao Zhan slowly put away the new fragment and was just about to say something more when his brow suddenly furrowed tightly! His powerful soul perception, like an invisible radar, instantly swept toward the southeast of the oasis.

There, a powerful aura, sharp and ruthless like a hawk and carrying intense hostility, was piercing through the seemingly solid defensive perimeter of the oasis at an astonishing speed, like a sharp blade, and rushing straight toward the core area—the resting area where Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian were located!

"Dou Emperor?!" A cold light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, his gaze like a cold blade, filled with killing intent. This aura, carrying the sharpness of the wind attribute and the pressure of one who had long held a high position, was neither the soft and cunning nature of the Snake-People Tribe, nor the cold, evil, and chilling aura of the Soul Hall. Was it someone from the Misty Cloud Sect? How could they have found this place so quickly? And their target was so clear, as if they had long since locked onto their trail. What kind of conspiracy was hidden behind this?

"Watch the fragment! Stay put!" Xiao Zhan threw down this resonant sentence, his figure flashing and instantly merging into the faint spatial fluctuations, vanishing without a trace like a ghost, leaving behind the shaken and trembling Xiao Yan. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes fixed on the direction his father had disappeared, his heart filled with worry, as if a heavy stone were pressing down on his chest.

At this moment, a green streak of light, like a brilliant sword piercing the night sky, carried a sharp momentum and violently broke through the thin, veil-like defensive light curtain on the oasis perimeter, descending above the valley entrance. The light dissipated like fireworks, revealing a graceful and luxurious figure, like a fairy walking out of a moon palace.

The woman wore a moon-white palace dress with cloud patterns, the hem fluttering gently in the wind like clouds drifting from the sky. Her figure was graceful and curvaceous, her temperament as cold and aloof as a fairy in the moon palace, untainted by the dust of the world. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, her eyebrows like distant mountains containing emerald, outlining exquisite contours; her nose was straight and delicate, like jade carving; her lips were rosy, like cherries. But at this moment, in her deep, pool-like eyes, cold anger burned, as if it could freeze everything around her, and a trace of imperceptible anxiety flickered in the depths of her eyes. The majestic pressure of a Dou Emperor powerhouse radiated from her, like an invisible mountain, forcing back the poison mist permeating the valley entrance by several feet, as if declaring her inviolability.

The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect—Yun Yun!

Her gaze was like lightning, sharp enough to pierce through any obstacle, instantly locking onto the slender figure sitting on a black rock deep within the valley, surrounded by gray-white poison mist. Her powerful soul perception, like the most precise detector, allowed her to confirm the target instantly—that was the legendary Woe Poison Body! And there were the residual traces of Dou Qi annihilation belonging to Elder Yun Sheng, like silent evidence, recounting everything that had happened here.

"So you are here!" Yun Yun's voice was as cold as ice, carrying a bone-chilling chill, as if it were a cold wind from the Nine Netherworlds. "Hand over Xiao Yan! Surrender immediately! Otherwise, do not blame this Sect for leveling this place!"

Cold killing intent, like a tangible cold wave, surged from her body, instantly sweeping across the entire Poison Barrier Valley, making the air in the valley feel as if it had frozen, filled with a murderous atmosphere.