The Ancient Emperor Guards Descended

Central Plains, the border of the Fire Domain, Red Rock Canyon.

The setting sun glowed like blood, and scorching winds howled. Xiao Yan strode upon flames, his Windfire Emperor Body still unleashed, Nine Nether Wind Flame coursing around him like a coiling dragon. He had just fused with a fragment of the Fallen Heart Flame, sending his combat power soaring, but it had also stirred the Gu Clan's deepest fears.

"They're here." Xiao Yan suddenly stopped, his gaze sharpening as he looked toward the horizon.

Six streaks of golden light tore through the void like meteors crashing to earth. They landed with a thunderous impact, raising a thousand-zhang wave of dust. Six figures stood upon the scorched rocks, their auras deep as abysses, their bodies clad in gold-patterned battle armor, the Gu Clan's imperial insignia branded upon their brows—the Ancient Emperor Guards, the Gu Clan's sharpest blade, born solely to slay those who threatened its imperial lineage!

Their leader wore crimson-gold battle robes and held the Ancient Emperor Scepter, his aura bearing down like a volcano overhead—Gu Yue, commander of the Ancient Emperor Guards, a Nine-Star Dou Zun at the Half-Step Dou Sheng realm.

"Xiao Yan," Gu Yue said coldly, "you used the power of Heavenly Flames to forge the Windfire Emperor Body, violating the Gu Clan's taboo. Today, you shall be executed!"

Xiao Yan sneered. "The Gu Clan has barred the path to emperorship for ten thousand years, forbidding the myriad flames from returning to their origin. You're the true heretics!"

"Impudence!" a guard on the left roared. "A mere Dou Zong dares pass judgment on the Gu Clan? Today, you'll learn what it means to face the Might of the Imperial Guards!"

Before his words faded, all six formed hand seals, activating the Ancient Emperor Guards' formation!

"Six Ancient Emperor Seals—Seal!"

Six golden seals descended from the sky like six crushing volcanoes. Space fractured and laws warped as they sought to seal Xiao Yan and his flames completely!

"Hmph!" Xiao Yan snorted, fully unleashing his Windfire Emperor Body. Nine Nether Wind Flame surged into the sky, forming a massive windfire shield that met the six seals head-on!

Boom!

The deafening blast shook the heavens. Shock waves swept across a hundred li, magma surged backward, and mountains collapsed! Xiao Yan was driven back seven steps, each leaving a burning footprint on the ground, yet his eyes blazed fiercer and his fighting spirit burned hotter!

"So these are the Ancient Emperor Guards? Nothing special!"

He abruptly raised his hand, merging Nine Nether Wind Flame with the Fallen Heart Flame fragment. Wind and fire condensed into a thousand-zhang blade of light as he growled, "Nine Flames Return to Origin Art—Second Form, Windfire Heaven-Splitting Slash!"

Boom!

The blade of light slashed down. Gu Yue swung his scepter to meet it head-on, only to be driven back three steps, a crack splitting his golden armor!

"What?!" The other five guards were aghast. "He forced the commander back with nothing but a Dou Zong's cultivation?!"

"Be careful!" Gu Yue roared. "He's no ordinary Dou Zong anymore! The Windfire Emperor Body lets him fight above his realm! Form up—Six Ancient Emperor Seals: Annihilation!"

The six surrounded him again, their golden seals overlapping into one enormous golden seal that crashed down with world-annihilating might!

Xiao Yan's eyes shone crimson-gold, and his windfire power burned wildly, but the gap between their realms was simply too great. His Emperor Flame Seed began to destabilize, and his meridians showed faint signs of rupturing.

At this rate, I'll lose! Realizing the danger, he was about to forcefully invoke the power of his Emperor Blood.

Just then—

"Yan'er, get back!"

A commanding voice rang from the void like thunder through their ears, shattering the golden seal!

Boom!

A streak of crimson-gold fire descended from the sky, taking human form before Xiao Yan—Xiao Ze!

Dressed in black robes, with Nine Nether Wind Flame swirling in his palm, he swept his fiery gaze over the six guards. "Gu Clan, you have some nerve, daring to touch someone of my Xiao Clan!"

"Xiao Ze?!" Gu Yue's pupils abruptly contracted. "You actually dared show yourself?!"

"Why wouldn't I?" Xiao Ze sneered. "Hunting my nephew makes you my enemies. Today, I'll show you—the Wrath of the Nine Nether!"

He formed seals with both hands and growled, "Nine Nether Chain Formation—Activate!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Nine underground fire veins erupted simultaneously. Phantoms of nine volcanoes rose from the ground, trapping the six guards within the formation. Wind and fire intertwined into nine layers of fiery imprisonment, twisting space and throwing laws into chaos!

"Is this... an ancient formation?!" one guard cried in terror.

"No, it's a simplified version of the Nine Nether Emperor-Burning Formation!" Gu Yue roared. "Break out, now!"

But it was already too late.

Xiao Ze stepped forward, and Nine Nether Wind Flame transformed into a thousand-zhang fire dragon that lunged straight at Gu Yue! Seizing the opening, Xiao Yan unleashed Windfire Heaven-Splitting Slash at the two guards on the left!

Father and son joined forces, wind and fire sharing one origin!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fire dragon burned the heavens, and the blade of light split the earth. The Ancient Emperor Guards' formation shattered in an instant! Two Dou Zun guards were torn apart by windfire power, burned to ash on the spot!

"No!" Gu Yue roared, swinging his scepter as he tried to flee.

"Trying to leave?" Xiao Ze sneered. "Nine Nether Wind Flame—Soul-Burning Chains!"

Nine fiery chains extended from the void, binding Gu Yue's limbs. Nine Nether fire climbed along the chains and burned his soul!

"Aaah!" Gu Yue screamed. "You dare burn my primordial spirit with Heavenly Flames?!"

"This is only the beginning." Xiao Ze's cold gaze was sharp as a blade. "Tell the Gu Clan—the imperial path has reopened, and the nine flames shall return to their origin! Whoever obstructs my Xiao Clan will end up just like you, their soul burned and spirit destroyed, forever denied rebirth!"

With that, the Nine Nether fire detonated!

Boom!

Gu Yue, his golden armor, his scepter, and his primordial spirit all turned to ash. Only an Ancient Emperor Token Talisman remained, falling to the ground.

Xiao Yan picked up the talisman and looked at Xiao Ze. "Uncle, you used too much Emperor Blood power. Your injuries..."

Xiao Ze waved a hand. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he smiled. "It's nothing. Your Windfire Emperor Body is complete. You can fight a Dou Zun now. Next, it's time to head to the Central Plains."

He looked toward the Central Plains and murmured, "The main Fallen Heart Flame is waiting for you there."

"And I will—sweep away every obstacle in your path!"

In the Gu Clan's ancestral lands, nine golden chairs shook violently.

"Xiao Ze! Xiao Yan!" an elder roared. "They actually slew six of our Ancient Emperor Guards, including a Half-Step Dou Sheng! If we don't avenge this, how can our Gu Clan retain its dignity?!"

"Pass down the order—issue the Ancient Emperor Token and launch an all-out hunt for Xiao Yan!"

"And notify the Hall of Souls Venerable Elder—Xiao Ze has used his Nine Nether Origin. He won't last much longer. The time has come!"

Wutan City, the Xiao Clan Ancestral Shrine.

Xiao Ze sat cross-legged at the formation's core, Nine Nether Wind Flame flowing slowly around him. He cast the Ancient Emperor Token Talisman into the formation and murmured, "Nine Flames Return to Origin—we have obtained three: wind, heart, and space. Six flames remain... Yan'er, go. The flames of the Central Plains are burning for you."

He raised his head toward the horizon, as though he could see a fiery figure striding upon flames, heading straight for the Central Plains.

Next chapter preview: "Flames Rise in the Central Plains"

Xiao Yan entered the Central Plains. With the appearance of the Nine Nether Windfire Token, prodigies from every faction answered its summons, and the Heavenly Flame Tournament began. The Gu Clan offered a ten-billion bounty, while the Hall of Souls laid a deadly trap. With his Windfire Emperor Body, Xiao Yan defeated formidable foes one after another and seized a Heaven-tier Dou Technique. The name of the Nine Nether resounded across the continent!