Rescuing Xiao Chen

"Boom!" The spatial distortion intensified, and cracks suddenly appeared as if torn apart by a tremendous force. Milky white flames surged out like a raging torrent. Then, countless figures, enveloped in milky white flames, rushed out of the cracks like a tide, instantly filling the sky outside the plaza.

These figures, their bodies wreathed in flames, gripped flaming spears tightly in their hands. Their eyes were empty and lifeless, yet they exuded a chilling indifference as they stared intently at Xiao Yan and the others, as if they wanted to devour them alive.

Xiao Yan gazed silently at the surging flames and figures, secretly marveling at how these people possessed tangible forms and exuded extraordinary auras. They were clearly powerful individuals refined by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, resembling a different kind of puppet.

"Be careful, these are Fire Slave!" Medusa warned in a low voice upon seeing the fiery figures, her eyes flashing with vigilance, as if she were ready to deal with a sudden attack at any moment.

"Roar!" As soon as Medusa finished speaking, thousands upon thousands of fiery figures suddenly roared, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth. They moved in unison, sweeping towards Xiao Yan and the others in an overwhelming manner. The sheer scale of their attack was truly earth-shattering.

Faced with such a surging attack, Xiao Yan frowned, a resolute glint in his eyes. He waved his hand, and terrifying energy surged forth, instantly crushing nearly a hundred fiery figures into dust, as if a gust of wind had swept away fallen leaves without a trace.

At the same time, Medusa also launched an attack. As a Dou Sheng, her attack was naturally incredibly powerful. Brilliant Dou Qi surged from her body, transforming into sharp sword beams. Flaming figures vanished in front of her, as easily as harvesting wheat.

However, no matter how fierce Xiao Yan and the others' attacks were, Fire Slave continued to pour out of the crack, seemingly endless and impossible to kill! This scene filled people with despair.

"This can't go on, we have no choice but to break in!" Medusa said in a deep voice, her tone revealing an unwavering determination, as if she were prepared to burn her bridges.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded. "Alright, let's go in!" His eyes flashed with determination and resolve, as if he was ready to face any challenge.

Before he finished speaking, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure as fast as lightning, and he rushed out first. The Fire Slave that blocked his way exploded automatically when they got within ten feet of him, turning into balls of milky white flames that dissipated in the air.

The group broke through the flames like a hot knife through butter, and each of them unleashed a palm strike, the force of which was terrifying, slamming it hard against the giant gate.

"Bang!" Under the combined onslaught of numerous powerful figures, the giant gate shattered, scattering into countless fragments.

The moment the giant gate shattered, the endless Fire Slave behind it also stopped their pursuit, densely packed and suspended in mid-air, as if bound by an invisible force.

"Let's go! It's said that the true form of the Demon Flame lies at the end of this Demon Flame Hall!" Medusa shouted, her gaze turning to Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with trust and expectation, as if she could already see the dawn of victory.

Xiao Yan frowned, glanced at the endless Fire Slave behind him, then looked at the unknown area beyond the giant gate. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded. "Alright, let's go in!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if he was ready to face any challenge.

Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Medusa also nodded slightly, and with a swift movement, she took the lead and rushed into the giant gate. Xiao Yan and the others followed closely behind, quickly advancing like a group of brave warriors.

Within the vast hall, milky-white flames filled the air, illuminating the entire space. On the massive plaza, thousands of feet wide, countless fiery figures stood silently, yet an extremely terrifying aura permeated the space, as if an invisible pressure made it hard to breathe.

That aura seemed to merge into one, transforming into a giant fiery dragon that hovered above the fiery figure's head, exuding murderous intent, as if it would pounce down at any moment to devour everything.

Xiao Yan and the others frowned as they looked at the scene before them. This was not the first time they had seen such a sight. Since entering the giant gate, they had passed through several almost identical halls, but each time it was more difficult.

"There is no other way. The Demon Flame Space has been cultivated by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame for a thousand years, so it is naturally a den of dragons and tigers." Medusa shook her head, her voice revealing a hint of helplessness and emotion. She knew that this path was full of hardships and dangers, but they had no way out.

Xiao Yan's eyes flickered. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Let's continue! But we can't keep blindly wandering around. We must think of a way." His eyes shone with wisdom and determination, as if he had already found a way to defeat the enemy.

"What are your plans?" Medusa looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with inquiry and expectation. She knew that Xiao Yan could always come up with a solution at crucial moments.

"I know of the existence of the Fire Slave, and I also know that they are powerful beings refined by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame," Xiao Yan said slowly, revealing his purpose. "Perhaps, I can use the Emperor Flame to try to devour these Fire Slave, thereby increasing our strength."

Upon hearing this, Medusa and the others were all shocked. Devouring Fire Slave? This was an unprecedented attempt! But then they thought about it again. Xiao Yan's Emperor Flame was the king of Heavenly Flames, so perhaps he really had such an ability. Thus, a hint of expectation and trust flashed in their eyes.

"Alright, as you say!" Medusa nodded, her eyes filled with determination and resolve. "We'll try with you!" Her voice was strong and clear, as if she were ready to fight alongside Xiao Yan.

Next, Xiao Yan and the others began to try to devour the Fire Slave with the Emperor Flame. Whenever they encountered a large army of Fire Slave in a giant hall, Xiao Yan would activate the Emperor Flame. The Emperor Flame would pounce on the Fire Slave like a hungry Emperor Flame, devouring them one by one. The power of the Emperor Flame was such that nothing could escape its incineration. Under the Emperor Flame's devouring power, the Fire Slave were transformed into pure energy, which merged into Xiao Yan's body, continuously increasing his strength.

Medusa and the others stood guard beside Xiao Yan, vigilantly watching their surroundings to prevent him from being disturbed during the absorption process. Their figures were as steadfast as rocks, providing Xiao Yan with a solid support.

Finally, after countless devouring and battles, they arrived at the last great hall. In this great hall, there were no densely packed Fire Slave, only a gaunt figure standing straight, like an ancient statue.

There were no flames swirling around him, but an aura as powerful as Mount Tai pressing down emanated from his body, inspiring awe in all who beheld him.

"Four-Star Dou Saint!" Medusa and Xiao Yan both trembled, their expressions growing increasingly solemn. They knew that this gaunt figure was far more powerful than any Fire Slave they had ever encountered before, and this was an unprecedented challenge.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination. "This person has the Xiao Clan Mark, so he is a member of the Xiao Clan, but he has been controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. We must help him break free." His voice was filled with concern and determination for his clan.

Medusa nodded, and the two of them moved, landing simultaneously in front of the gaunt figure. Xiao Yan stared intently at the gaunt figure wielding a huge blood axe, his mind already made up—this person was none other than the ancient powerhouse of the Xiao Clan, Blood Axe Xiao Chen.

"Senior Xiao Chen, I am Xiao Yan, a member of the Xiao Clan!" Xiao Yan shouted, trying to awaken Xiao Chen's consciousness, which was controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. His voice was filled with respect and expectation for his senior.

However, Xiao Chen merely glanced at Xiao Yan indifferently, then swung his blood axe down with a devastating gust of wind. Xiao Yan dodged the attack with a swift movement. He knew that Xiao Chen was now completely controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and had lost his self-awareness.

Just then, Medusa appeared in a flash, her eyes sharp and her body radiating a powerful aura. She shouted, "Xiao Yan, I'm here to help you!" Her figure moved like lightning, rushing straight towards Xiao Chen, attempting to awaken him with her power.

Xiao Yan's heart stirred. He knew that it would be difficult to restore Xiao Chen's consciousness by simply relying on brute force. So, he took a deep breath and mobilized the power of the Emperor Flame within his body. The Emperor Flame rapidly condensed in his palm, transforming into an incomparably beautiful lotus flower, shimmering with dazzling light.

"Emperor Flame Lotus Blossom!" Xiao Yan shouted, hurling the magnificent lotus towards Xiao Chen. The lotus drew a beautiful arc in the air before accurately enveloping Xiao Chen, completely enveloping him.

The power of the Emperor Flame was incredibly hot, instantly forcing back the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame surrounding Xiao Chen, as if an invisible force was fiercely fighting against the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame power within his body.

"Senior Xiao Chen, hold on!" Xiao Yan shouted encouragingly, his voice filled with trust and expectation for his senior. He believed that Xiao Chen would definitely be able to overcome the power of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame within him and regain his self-awareness.

With Medusa and Xiao Yan's combined efforts, a sliver of clarity gradually returned to Xiao Chen's eyes. He looked at Xiao Yan, a bitter smile playing on his lips, "Xiao Yan, I never thought I would see the Xiao Clan again." His voice was filled with emotion and relief.

"Senior, now is not the time for sentimentality. We must fight the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame together!" Xiao Yan said urgently, his eyes flashing with determination and resolve. He knew that they must unite as one to defeat the powerful Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

Xiao Chen nodded, knowing full well that his current state couldn't last long. So, he took a deep breath, adjusted his internal energy to its optimal state, and prepared to fight alongside Xiao Yan Medusa.

At this moment, the white-robed man, who was the incarnation of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He flashed and appeared on the altar. A cold smile was on his handsome face, as if he were watching a farce. "Xiao Yan, do you think you can defeat me with just a few of you?" His voice was full of mockery and disdain.

Xiao Yan stared at him coldly, a resolute and determined glint in his eyes. "How will you know if you don't try?" His voice was strong and clear, as if he was ready to fight the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

Medusa, Xiao Chen, and Xiao Yan stood side by side, their auras converging to form a powerful force.

The man in white robes smiled slightly, and milky white flames rose from his body, enveloping the entire altar in an eerie glow.

The smile on the handsome face of the man in white robes gradually dissipated like morning mist, replaced by a chilling and enigmatic expression. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan like those of a hawk, and although he did not utter a single word, the surrounding space rippled violently, like water being swept by a gale.

"Are we still in an illusion?"

Medusa and the others were struck dumb by Xiao Yan's words, as if struck by lightning. Then, they seemed to realize something. "You mean, everything before our eyes is still just an illusion?"

"I am a real being!" Zi Yan argued urgently, her intuition like a guiding light, telling her that she was absolutely real and there was no illusion whatsoever.

"We are all real..." Xiao Yan's gaze was fixed on the white-robed man like a sharp sword as he spoke softly, "But we are indeed trapped in an illusion, the most terrifying power of the Nightmare Sky Mist. If we continue to follow the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's instructions, we will only sink deeper and deeper until we become its Fire Slave. Even if we experience a thrilling battle here and slay it, we will still be trapped in this illusion..."

"So you mean that all those Fire Slave we encountered, including Xiao Chen... were just illusions?" Medusa frowned, her brows heavy as mountains, and suddenly looked at Xiao Chen, who was silent beside her, and asked in confusion.

"The intertwining of illusion and reality, the blurring of truth and falsehood—that's what makes the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame so terrifying. Ancestor Xiao Chen wasn't an illusion; he was a real being." Xiao Yan shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness.

Medusa and the others exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with doubt and wariness. They then cautiously scanned their surroundings, but no matter how they investigated, they could not sense any fluctuations in the illusion, as if it were all incredibly real.

"Back then, the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint was hailed as the strongest expert closest to becoming Dou Di. However, in the end, he was devoured by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and perished in the sky... After his fall, the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame inherited his legacy, and the Nightmare Sky Mist is the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint's peerless divine skill. When this Demon Saint used this move, he could make millions of people in a city live in an illusion for hundreds of years without realizing it. The power of such an illusion is beyond the imagination of ordinary people." Xiao Yan sighed softly, his tone filled with awe for the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint.

"The previous Purifying Lotus Demon Flame didn't have this ability to manipulate events like this..." Medusa said in a deep voice. She had never encountered such a troublesome situation in the previous times the demon flame had appeared.

"A thousand years is enough time for the ocean to turn into mulberry fields, and it can also allow the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame to gradually master all the methods of the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint. In a sense, it is now an alternative ' Purifying Lotus Demon Saint '..." Xiao Yan's gaze was fixed on the white-robed man whose face was becoming increasingly cold, and he spoke softly.

"Why do you know so much about Nightmare Sky Mist?" The white-robed man on the throne finally spoke slowly, his voice as cold as ice, as if it could penetrate one's soul.