Crimson Lotus Karma Flame

"What is that, Teacher?" Xiao Yan stared at the blood-red lotus a thousand zhang away.

"Tut, tut, tut. Shaped like a red lotus, colored like blood; within a thousand zhang, the heat is uniform, scorching like the sun. There's no mistake—eighth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame!"

Xiao Yan looked at the blood-red lotus, a flicker of excitement passing through his eyes, though there was even more helplessness. "It's that high? Can we get it, Teacher?"

"You brat, your fortune runs deep. If it were any one of the top ten, we could only turn and run. But this Crimson Lotus Karma Flame is the one exception—I have a way..."

"You mean we can take it?" Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with excitement. No one could ignore a Heavenly Flame ranked in the top ten, much less Xiao Yan at this moment.

"Listen carefully. Beyond the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame itself, what matters most is its ability to test one's heart. To those burdened by grave sins and countless killings, it is even more terrifying than the top three Heavenly Flames. But for those with kind hearts, it is much easier to subdue. You're still young, and there aren't many lives on your hands. You have a chance to subdue it."

Seeing the excitement practically spilling from Xiao Yan's eyes, Elder Yao continued, "But it is still a top-ten flame, and remains incomparably dangerous. My Bone Chilling Flame and a piece of Ten-Thousand Year Cold Marrow Jade I acquired in my early years can let you approach it, but once it enters your body, the odds of success are fifty-fifty. And once you begin, there will be no chance to give up. Kid, what will you choose?"

"Teacher, what will happen to this Heavenly Flame if we don't absorb it?"

"The news of the Heavenly Flame hasn't spread yet, and anyone below the Dou King realm can't get close. No one should come within three days. After three days, we'll basically have no right to interfere. After five days, it will have nothing to do with the Gamma Empire."

Xiao Yan pondered briefly before immediately answering, "How could I possibly let an opportunity delivered right before my eyes slip away? Master, what should I do?"

"Hahahaha! As expected of my, Yao Chen's, disciple. First, we must..."

Cloud Mist Mountain, Cloud Mist Sect.

"Why hasn't Xiao Yan come yet?"

"He's scared, obviously. The Young Sect Master is a nine-star Dou Master. Is a nobody who was just a Dou Practitioner three years ago even worthy of her?"

"Exactly. There hasn't been the slightest news of Xiao Yan for three years. The people stationed with the Xiao family have already reported that not a single message from him has reached the Xiao family in all that time."

"Everyone, we have truly made you watch a joke today. That brat from the Xiao family likely doesn't dare attend the appointment." Yun Ling cupped his hands toward the distinguished guests in the stands.

"It's no matter. Yanran is so outstanding that it is only natural for him not to come and humiliate himself. Still, old Nalan truly has good fortune."

Nalan Jie's expression did not change in the slightest. "Elder Jia, you flatter her. The Little Princess is already a leading figure among the younger generation of alchemists. Other than Master Gu He's prized disciple, who could surpass her?"

"Speaking of which, that youngster seems interested in Yanran as well. Would Patriarch Nalan be willing to take in such an excellent son-in-law?"

"Ah, the marriage contract I made with my old friend Xiao has already given me a terrible headache. Let the younger generation deal with their own affairs."

Jia Xingtian said to the several clan heads in the stands, "Let today's matter end here. Why don't you all—"

Before he could finish, Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma exchanged a glance. "A not-weak surge of Dou Qi is charging straight toward Cloud Mist Mountain."

"At Cloud Mist Mountain, state your name."

"Xiao family, Xiao Yan. I have come to fulfill the three-year agreement." The black-clad youth in midair appeared somewhat thin as he spoke indifferently.

At that moment, every gaze in the vast Cloud Mist Sect plaza gathered on Xiao Yan.

"Dou Qi Wings? A Dou King?"

"That brat reached the Dou King realm within three years? Can Senior Sister Nalan defeat him?"

Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yan and smiled. "His Dou Qi is unstable. He clearly only recently raised his realm. That brat's fortunes are deep. That must be a flying Dou Technique."

Upon hearing this, Nalan Jie's hanging heart settled considerably. "Flying Dou Techniques are extremely rare. There hasn't been any news of one in ten years."

"I thought you wouldn't dare come." Nalan Yanran's sword tip angled toward Xiao Yan in the air.

"The humiliation of having my marriage annulled is something I have never forgotten, day or night. Today, I, Xiao Yan, will demand an explanation from the Cloud Mist Sect."

"Then come." Nalan Yanran's formidable Dou Qi surged forth.

"Three years ago, my Xiao family was weak, and I was mocked as trash. The marriage contract my grandfather arranged was annulled. Everything came from a lack of strength."

As soon as Xiao Yan said this, everyone in the stands looked toward Nalan Jie. Sure enough, his expression had already turned ugly. The Nalan family had indeed acted improperly in this matter.

Xiao Yan, speaking like this will make things difficult for you today. Jia Xingtian thought to himself.

"I can understand Miss Nalan's desire for freedom, but how is my Xiao family supposed to bear it when you use power to oppress us?"

Nalan Yanran's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

"But you were young, and I can understand that as well. Yet those who supported you are truly unforgivable. Xiao Yan of the Xiao family challenges Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect, today, to wash away this humiliation!"

Boom! With a single sentence from Xiao Yan, the vast Cloud Mist Sect plaza was completely set ablaze.

If challenging Nalan Yanran had already left the Cloud Mist Sect disciples incredulous, then at this moment, everyone could only wonder whether there was something wrong with their ears.

"What?" Jia Xingtian had always prided himself on his steady temperament, but cracks had already appeared in the teacup in his hand.

Nalan Jie's eyes widened as he muttered, "Xiao Lin, what is wrong with your grandson?"

"The ignorant fear nothing. Has this young man become this arrogant?" Gu He looked at Xiao Yan. Even his own disciple had a proud and unruly temperament, but compared to Xiao Yan, Gu He suddenly felt that Liu Ling could be described as modest.

In an unnoticed corner, space suddenly rippled.

"Miss, this boy is different from what you described."

For a while, none of the Cloud Mist Sect's leaders made a move. They had clearly been stunned by Xiao Yan's challenge.

"Brat from the Xiao family, are you talking in your sleep?" As the Cloud Mist Sect's First Elder, Yun Leng was the first to recover.

"Yun Yun, do you dare fight me?" Xiao Yan directly ignored Yun Leng.

"Brat, you are too arrogant." The wings behind Yun Leng beat once, revealing the Dou Qi of a Dou King without question. He clawed at Xiao Yan, powerful force tearing through the air.

Jia Xingtian and the others in the stands changed expressions as well. They had not expected Yun Leng to disregard his status and directly attack Xiao Yan. But before they could say anything, everyone abruptly rose from their seats.

Facing Yun Leng's claw, Xiao Yan grinned. Blood-red flames coiled around his body, and the veins in his right arm bulged. Anyone near Xiao Yan could even see the blood rushing through his veins at a sharply increased speed.

High Xuan Class—Eight Extremities Collapse.

A tyrannical blood-red fist smashed down. Yun Leng's Cloud Claw held for only an instant before dispersing, and then fist and claw collided.

Crack! The front half of Yun Leng's hand shattered, while the rear bent grotesquely. Then he was blasted into the ground at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow.

When everyone recovered from the shock of that outcome, they saw dust billowing from the ground. Yun Leng had been driven three inches into the earth, with cracks spreading across the hard stone floor. The flesh of his right hand was mangled beyond recognition.

At that moment, the Cloud Mist Sect disciples could not help but secretly swallow. "What terrifying strength."

"Yun Yun, do you dare come out and fight me?" Xiao Yan's indifferent voice rang out.

Jia Xingtian stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. After a long moment, he squeezed out two words: "Dou Emperor?"