Soul Burial Blood Sacrifice: Dual Emperor Resonance and the Moment of Brother's Counterattack

Dark clouds blotted out the sky above the Soul Burial Abyss. Hun Dan stood on the altar, the seven fragments of the Ancient Emperor Jade in his hand assembled into the complete Tou She Ancient God Pattern. Gu Yuan lay unconscious at his feet, blood flowing through the grooves in the altar and into the abyss. When Xiao Feng and the others arrived, they saw Hun Dan insert the fragments into a crack in the abyss. A hundred-foot-tall skeleton slowly rose from the black mist—it was none other than the legendary King Nine-Nether!

"Xiao Clan brats, you're right on time!" Hun Dan sneered, waving his hand. "Now you can witness the power of System Destiny!"

Xiao Feng activated Soul Movement Three Thousand, only to discover that the black mist in the abyss could devour soul power. "Watch out! This is King Nine-Nether's Soul-Devouring Domain!" He turned to Xiao Yan, only to see his younger brother staring at Gu Yuan on the altar, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"Third Brother, take Xun'er and the others back." Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler. "I'll hold them off!"

"Xiao Yanzi, your Dou Qi..." Xiao Feng realized that Xiao Yan's aura was unstable. It seemed he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Xiao Yan grinned. "Don't worry. No one's bullying my brother today—not even the system!"

Hun Dan waved his hand, and countless Soul-Devouring Insects poured out of the abyss, forming the System Legion as they swarmed toward them. Xiao Feng was about to attack when Xun'er, Gu Ling, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yi Xian charged forward together. Ancient Spirit Cold Flame and Flame Emperor Fire intertwined, temporarily forcing back the swarm.

"Big Brother Xiao, we'll help you!" Xun'er tossed out a fragment of the Ancestral Ancient Jade, and green light formed a barrier.

Yun Yun swung her sword, unleashing the White Cloud Sword Mantra. "Young Master Xiao, beware of Hun Dan's jade slip!"

Xiao Feng nodded, and Emperor Flame erupted, transforming into a Fire Lotus that slammed toward the altar. Hun Dan brought out the System Terminal, summoning a Plot Kill beam that collided with the Fire Lotus in a tremendous explosion. The shockwave hurled Xiao Feng away. The Emperor Scale on his chest cracked, and blood stained his robes.

"Third Brother!" Xiao Yan cried out, rushing over to support him. "Are you all right?"

Xiao Feng managed a weak smile. "I'm fine... Hurry and stop Hun Dan!"

Just then, King Nine-Nether let out a roar from within the abyss, and the black mist condensed into a giant hand that reached for Xiao Yan. Xiao Feng instinctively rose to shield him, but the hand struck him and pinned him to a stone pillar on the altar. His Emperor Flame was on the verge of going out.

"No!" Xiao Yan felt a stabbing pain in his heart. Images flashed before his eyes: his mother in her final moments, Xiao Zhan imprisoned, and Xiao Feng battered and bruised from protecting him. He gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and Flame Emperor Fire suddenly surged, breaking through the Dou Zong bottleneck and reaching the late stage of Dou Zong!

Ding! Xiao Yan has triggered the "Bloodline Counterattack" plot. Flame Emperor Bloodline compatibility has risen to 100%. "Flame Emperor Battle Soul" awakened!

Golden-red flames blazed in Xiao Yan's eyes. Behind him appeared the phantom of a twelve-foot Fire Lotus, each petal carved with the ancient character "Burn." He raised a hand and swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler at King Nine-Nether with earth-shattering force, severing its giant hand!

"Hun Dan, you're dead!" Xiao Yan roared. "You stole my plot, took the women I love, and even dared to hurt my Third Brother!"

Hun Dan staggered back in terror. "Impossible! You're only a supporting character. How could you break through?!"

"Because I'm Xiao Yan!" The youth soared into the air. The Fire Lotus resonated with Emperor Flame, and the Emperor Scale on Xiao Feng's chest lit up again. "Xiao Clan disciples never accept their fate!"

Their Heavenly Flames converged in the air, forming the character "Xiao," and burned a hole through King Nine-Nether's black mist. Seeing the tide turn, Hun Dan crushed a teleportation talisman to escape, but a chain of Flame Emperor Fire thrown by Xiao Yan wrapped around his ankle.

"Trying to run?" Xiao Yan sneered. "Give me back my Protagonist Halo first!"

He waved his hand and called back the "protagonist's power" that the system bug had transferred away. Hun Dan's System Terminal instantly went dark, and his cultivation plunged to the early stage of Dou Wang. Xiao Feng took the opportunity to break free of the pillar. His Emperor Flame fused with Flame Emperor Fire as he unleashed the complete Dual Emperor Sky-Breaking!

The beam of light pierced King Nine-Nether's phantom. An enraged roar rang out from the abyss, and the black mist gradually dispersed. Hun Dan fell to his knees, the jade slip scattered beside him, revealing the System Core Code within.

Xiao Yan picked up the jade slip. A sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he activated the Flame Mantra, burning the code to ashes. The system's alert rang out in both their minds:

Ding! System bug repaired. The plotline has returned to its proper course!

Xiao Feng returned all "misplaced bonds," and Xiao Yan regained his "Protagonist Halo."

Reward: "Brothers United" potion (permanent +20% to all attributes), "System Conqueror" title.

With the black mist gone, Gu Yuan slowly woke. Looking at the Xiao Clan brothers, he regarded them with approval. "Truly worthy descendants of Xiao Xuan..."

Xun'er and the others gathered around, their attention once again fixed on Xiao Yan. Xun'er handed him a healing potion, and Gu Ling chuckled. "So it was all a misunderstanding. Little Brother Xiao Yan is the one chosen by fate."

Yun Yun nodded. "With Young Master Xiao and Xiao Yan united as brothers, it is a blessing for the Douqi Continent."

Xiao Yi Xian came over with a pill in her hands. "Brother Xiao Yan, try my new medicine!"

Xiao Feng watched as his younger brother once again became the center of attention. A pleased smile lifted his lips, but he deliberately sighed. "Alas, now that I've lost my Protagonist Halo, I suppose I'll have to be a quiet, handsome man."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Third Brother, want me to share half my Protagonist Halo with you? After all..." He looked toward the distant phantom of Queen Medusa. "Someone's still waiting for you to break the contract."

Xiao Feng smiled wryly. "No thanks. Right now, I just want to focus on cultivating and stop getting screwed over by the system—especially if it means stealing your women again."

The system's alert suddenly rang out:

Ding! Queen Medusa has teleported to the Soul Burial Abyss. "Contract Termination" plot triggered!

Xiao Yan has earned the "Main Wife Certification" achievement. Xiao Feng has earned the "Best Supporting Actor" title.

Everyone turned to look. Medusa approached on her snake tail, her gaze shifting between Xiao Yan and Xiao Feng before finally settling on Xiao Yan. "Heir to Emperor Flame, I've come to fulfill my promise."

Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief, only to see Xiao Feng quietly retreating. "You two talk. I'll go check on Senior Gu Yuan."

Xun'er smiled. "Big Brother Xiao, why don't I go with you?"

Gu Ling followed along too. "I'll come as well. I can ask you about cultivating Emperor Flame."

Yun Yun shook her head with an amused smile and gave Xiao Yan a sympathetic look. "Young Master Xiao Yan, it seems your brother's romantic troubles aren't over yet."

Seeing his brother surrounded by three beauties and floundering, Xiao Yan finally burst out laughing. Yao Lao's voice came from the Storage Ring. "Boy, do you understand what your brother has to deal with now?"

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze falling on Xiao Feng, who was frantically trying to explain the misunderstanding about the contract. "Actually, this isn't so bad—at least we're all fighting for the Xiao Clan and for freedom."

The system's alert rang out again:

Ding! Main quest "Seal the Soul Burial Abyss" complete. Reward: a fragment of the "Dou Emperor Inheritance."

Deep in the Soul Burial Abyss, a black fragment quietly flew out from the ashes of the burned system code and landed in Hun Dan's hand. He watched the Xiao Clan group in the distance, a vicious smile curling his lips. This wasn't the end, but a new beginning.