Above the Soul Burial Abyss, blood-red clouds pressed down like a pot lid. Hun Dan's body, fused with King Nine-Nether, swelled to a thousand zhang tall. System code and Soul-Devouring Insects coiled around his bones, and every breath sent hundred-zhang black waves surging outward. The allied forces led by Xiao Feng had only just reached the border of the Soul Realm when they were suppressed by the "System Rule Domain." Even Dou Zong experts could wield only the strength of Dou Wang.
"Little Xiao Clan brat, kneel and submit!" Hun Dan's voice mingled with King Nine-Nether's growl. "I've already altered the 'setting rules' of the Douqi Continent—your attacks will all become nourishment for me!"
Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, but the Flame Emperor Fire seemed feeble within the domain. "Third Brother, what do we do? His domain can absorb Dou Qi!"
Xiao Feng circulated "Soul Movement Three Thousand," his soul power touching the wall of code at the domain's edge. "This is the system's 'anti-cheating mechanism.' We have to break the rules!" He turned to Medusa, Xun'er, and the others. "Everyone, help us hold King Nine-Nether off. Xiao Yanzi and I will destroy the domain core!"
Medusa nodded, her serpent tail whipping as she summoned an army of ten thousand snakes. "Snake-People Kingdom, fight to the death with me!"
Xun'er and Gu Ling joined forces to unleash the "Ancient Spirit Illusory Heaven Array." Green light and cold flames intertwined, briefly clouding King Nine-Nether's vision. Yun Yun led the disciples of the White Cloud Sect, using the "White Cloud Chain" to bind King Nine-Nether's ankles.
Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan seized the chance to charge toward the domain core—the "System Hub" floating above the Soul Burial Abyss. It was made of countless chains of code, with the final shard of the Ancient Emperor Jade embedded in its center. Xiao Feng brought out the six shards. The Emperor Scale resonated with them, and together they pieced together the complete Tou She Ancient God Pattern in midair.
"Xiao Yanzi, ignite the shards with the Flame Emperor Fire!" Xiao Feng shouted. "Even if we have to break the rules, we have to summon the Emperor Flame!"
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and burned his bloodline to its limits. The Flame Emperor Fire became a pillar of light that shot into the sky, fusing with the Emperor Flame shards. System notifications exploded in a frenzy:
Ding! Unauthorized operation detected. System rebooting... Warning! The host is forcibly summoning the Emperor Flame and faces the risk of his soul being scattered!
The moment the pillar of light pierced the System Hub, cracks appeared in the domain, and King Nine-Nether let out a furious, unwilling roar. The true Emperor Flame slowly rose from the pillar of light: a lotus made of flames the color of chaos, each petal etched with the legacy runes of an ancient Dou Di.
"The Emperor Flame has descended!" Xiao Feng swept out his sleeve, and the Emperor Flame became a sea of fire that engulfed King Nine-Nether. "Xiao Yanzi, now!"
Xiao Yan unleashed "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaking: Final Chapter." The Fire Lotus fused with the Emperor Flame, forming a hundred-zhang giant that punched toward Hun Dan. But Hun Dan suddenly opened his enormous skeletal jaws—and swallowed the Emperor Flame itself!
"Impossible!" Xiao Yan cried. "How could the Emperor Flame be swallowed?"
Xiao Feng's pupils contracted. He discovered that the system code inside Hun Dan was resonating with the Emperor Flame—Hun Dan had exploited a loophole in the system and designated the Emperor Flame as a "consumable item"!
"Now it's your turn!" Hun Dan raised his hand and fired a beam of "System Finale," striking Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan at the same time. The two were blasted into the depths of the Soul Burial Abyss, while the Emperor Scale and Flame Emperor Fire were on the verge of going out.
"Third Brother..." Xiao Yan crawled toward Xiao Feng, coughing up black blood. "I'm sorry. I was too hasty..."
Xiao Feng managed a weak smile and clasped his brother's hand. "It's not your fault... I'm happy I could fight alongside you..." His voice grew fainter and fainter, until the patterns on the Emperor Scale went completely dark.
The system notification rang out with a harsh crackle of static:
Ding! Host Xiao Feng has fallen. The Douqi Continent storyline is on the verge of collapse... Xiao Yan has triggered the hidden "Brother's Counterattack" mission. Would you like to spend all Protagonist Halo to revive Xiao Feng?
" Yes!" Xiao Yan answered without hesitation.
Ding! Spent "Protagonist Halo" ×100 and "Confidante Favorability" ×500. Xiao Feng revived!
In a dazzling golden light, Xiao Feng slowly opened his eyes, only to see that Xiao Yan's hair had turned completely white and wrinkles covered the corners of his mouth. To bring Xiao Feng back, he had spent decades of his life!
"Xiao Yanzi, you..."
"Don't say anything." Xiao Yan shook his head. "Third Brother, this is my choice as your younger brother. Now it's time to end this."
He rose to his feet, and the Flame Emperor Fire broke through the Dou Sheng realm, a true Flame Emperor Battle Soul appearing behind him. Xiao Yan lifted a hand, and the Emperor Flame that had been swallowed flew out of Hun Dan and merged with the Flame Emperor Fire, forming a brand-new Dual Emperor Flame!
"Hun Dan, you think the system rules can trap us?" Xiao Yan strode through the air. "A true story can never be defined by code!"
The Dual Emperor Flame became a sharp sword and pierced Hun Dan's skeletal body. The System Hub collapsed completely, and countless lines of code drifted down like snowflakes. Before he vanished, Hun Dan finally showed his terror. "Impossible... How could you..."
"Because we're members of the Xiao Clan." Xiao Feng stood beside Xiao Yan, the Emperor Scale shining bright once more. "Even if we lose our halo, even if we break the rules, we'll write our own story!"
The Dual Emperor Flame exploded with a deafening roar, flattening the Soul Burial Abyss. When the dust settled, Xiao Yan had returned to his youthful appearance. He held the complete Ancient Emperor Jade in his hand, while the true Emperor Flame hovered between him and Xiao Feng, docile as a pet.
The system notification sounded again, but this time with a solemnity it had never shown before:
Ding! Hun Dan defeated. System Hub destroyed. "Chapter of Freedom" ending unlocked! Rewards: Complete "Dou Di Legacy," "All-Plane Creator" permissions, and...
When Medusa and the others arrived, they saw the Xiao Clan twins standing shoulder to shoulder, wrapped in Emperor Flame and Flame Emperor Fire, their auras having reached the Dou Sheng realm. Tears welled in Xun'er's eyes. "I'm just glad you're both all right..."
Yun Yun said softly, "Congratulations. You've accomplished something truly great."
Gu Ling chuckled. "Looks like the story of the Douqi Continent is about to be rewritten."
Xiao Feng looked at Xiao Yan, and they spoke at the same time: "Next..."
"First, come with me to break the contract." Xiao Feng gave Medusa a helpless smile.
"First, come with me back to Wutan City." Xiao Yan scratched his head. "I miss Father."
The others laughed at their words, and cheerful voices swept away the gloom over the Soul Burial Abyss. In the distance, the reborn Douqi Continent stretched beneath the morning sun, awaiting a tale of freedom all its own.
Before you continue