Purging the Remnants, a New Dawn for the Central Plains

The sails of the homebound ship billowed in the sea breeze. Xiao Yan stood by the railing, gold-and-black flames swirling around his fingertips. This new energy, a fusion of otherworldly demon origin and purification power, pulsed gently with his will, sometimes flowing like a docile stream, sometimes erupting with a force that could burn the heavens and annihilate the earth.

"Brother Xiao Yan, the Sixth Elder sent word that a secret Otherworldly Demon Hall outpost has been discovered in the Black Wind Mountain Range." Yao Qing Lin approached with a communication Jade Slip in her hands, the sea breeze lifting the hem of her emerald skirt. "They say it contains the magic core stockpile left behind by the twelve hall masters, along with quite a few deathsworn deeply corrupted by demonic qi."

Xiao Yan drew back his gaze, and the flames quietly died at his fingertips. "A perfect chance to test this new power." He looked at Wang Yue. "The Wang Family has operated in the Black Wind Mountain Range for years. You should know the terrain well, right?" Wang Yue nodded, dou qi stirring faintly beneath her black robes. "There's an abandoned mine on the western side of the mountains. Rumor has it that it connects to the Otherworldly Demon Altar. That might be the entrance to the outpost."

Three days later, on the western side of the Black Wind Mountain Range, a clearing had been cut into the once-lush forest, where alliance members were setting up a temporary camp. Xiao Yan stood at the mine entrance, his soul power probing deep inside like a searchlight. He could clearly sense the layout of the three underground levels-a web of intersecting tunnels, each ending in a faint glimmer of demonic qi.

"There are seventeen concentrations of demonic qi inside. The strongest has reached the Peak Dou Zong level." Xiao Yan shared his findings with everyone. "Wang Yue, take a team through the left tunnel and flank them. Qing Lin, handle the right wing. I'll break through the center. Keep in contact, and call for help immediately if you encounter danger."

"Don't worry." Wang Yue tightened her grip on the Heavy Sword at her waist. Behind her, the Wang Family disciples drew their weapons, their black-clad figures darting through the forest before vanishing into the left tunnel. Meanwhile, Yao Qing Lin led the Yao Clan alchemists in distributing Purification Pills. "These are improved Pure Essence Pills. They can resist demonic qi corruption for an hour."

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, and the Yellow Mystic Flame ignited in his palm once more. Unlike its former pure gold, faint black markings now curled around its edges, breathing as though alive. He leaped into the mine and swept his Heavy Sword across, the gold-and-black flames instantly burning away every demon mark at the entrance.

A pungent, bloody stench filled the tunnel. Black slime seeped from the rock walls, and low-level otherworldly demons occasionally lunged from the shadows. Xiao Yan did not use his dou qi. With a light touch of the flame at his fingertip, the demons melted like ice and snow beneath the sun, leaving only wisps of smoke.

It really is different now. Delight stirred in Xiao Yan's heart. This guided purification was more efficient than outright destruction, and it left the underground spiritual veins unharmed. He quickened his pace toward the deepest concentration of demonic qi. The tunnel walls along the way were covered in the Otherworldly Demon Hall's sacrificial runes, recording their evil arts of devouring souls and converting them into demonic qi.

"These runes must be completely erased." Xiao Yan stopped and formed seals with both hands. Gold-and-black flames flowed from his fingertips like sentient vines, spreading rapidly across the walls. Wherever they passed, the black runes were enveloped in fire and gradually transformed into pure energy that nourished the parched stone.

When he reached the third underground level, he saw an enormous Demon Wolf guarding a stone door. The wolf was pitch-black, demonic qi seeping from his fur and crimson light gleaming in his eyes. He was the vicious beast raised by the twelve hall masters-the Dark Shadow Demon Wolf, whose strength rivaled a Peak Dou Zong.

"Roar!" At the sight of Xiao Yan, the Demon Wolf let out a deafening roar and swung his black claws with enough force to tear space apart. Rather than retreating, Xiao Yan advanced. His gold-and-black flames condensed into a spear that thrust straight between the wolf's brows.

Squelch! The spear sank into the Demon Wolf's body, where golden purification power violently clashed with black demonic qi. The wolf screamed in agony, his massive body convulsing. His black fur gradually faded, revealing its original silvery-white color. When the last trace of demonic qi had been purified, the crimson vanished from his eyes. He had become a docile silver wolf. With a soft whimper toward Xiao Yan, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

"He still has his reason?" Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. It seemed this guided purification could not only eliminate demonic qi but also preserve a creature's original consciousness. He stepped forward and pushed open the stone door. The chamber beyond was packed with magic cores. On a stone platform in its center sat twelve crystals radiating dense demonic qi-the life-bound magic cores of the twelve hall masters!

Ten black-robed deathsworn also stood inside the chamber. Their eyes were vacant, and chains coiled around their bodies. They were clearly puppets controlled by the magic cores. "Kill!" At the sight of Xiao Yan, they lunged like walking corpses, their long sabers gleaming with eerie green light.

Xiao Yan did not strike to kill. His gold-and-black flames became a curtain of light that enveloped all the deathsworn. The flames seeped into their bodies and entered a tug-of-war with the magic cores' controlling power. The process demanded immense concentration. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xiao Yan's forehead as he focused his soul power, guiding the flames to strip the demonic qi from their bodies little by little.

An hour later, the curtain of light slowly dispersed. The deathsworn's black robes crumbled piece by piece, revealing pale faces beneath-they were disciples of the great families who had gone missing during the war! "Is this... Ye Feng of the Ye Family?" Xiao Yan recognized one of them. He was Ye Gucheng's cousin, who had reportedly died in the battle on the Frozen Wasteland.

Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes, the confusion in them gradually clearing. When he saw the magic cores in the chamber, his expression changed sharply. "I... how did I get here?" Xiao Yan handed him a Purification Pill. "The twelve hall masters' magic cores were controlling you. You're safe now."

Just then, Wang Yue and Yao Qing Lin arrived with their teams. Seeing the deathsworn's true faces, Yao Qing Lin exclaimed, "Those are Pill Tower disciples! And Yao Clan elders!" Wang Yue's expression was equally grave. "It seems the Otherworldly Demon Hall controlled far more people than we imagined."

Xiao Yan approached the stone platform and studied the twelve life-bound magic cores. "These cores contain the hall masters' origin power. They must be completely purified." He extended both hands, and gold-and-black flames surged out like a tide, enveloping all twelve cores at once. Within the flames, golden purification power intertwined with black demonic qi, forming a ceaselessly spinning vortex.

The process lasted an entire day and night. When the final magic core was purified, dazzling light burst through the chamber. The twelve cores became twelve streaks of light and merged into the rock walls of the third underground level. Clear spring water seeped from the once-parched stone, and the exhausted spiritual veins stirred back to life. The entire Black Wind Mountain Range felt the pure energy, and withered trees sprouted tender green shoots.

"It worked!" Yao Qing Lin cried excitedly. Ye Feng and the others stepped forward and bowed to Xiao Yan. "Thank you for saving our lives, Master Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yan waved a hand. "Our priority now is to find the other outposts and rescue more people."

Over the next three months, Xiao Yan led alliance members in a large-scale purification campaign across the Central Plains. They cleared thirty-seven otherworldly demon outposts, rescued more than two hundred controlled experts, and purified countless stretches of corrupted land.

Throughout the process, Xiao Yan's strength steadily increased. His mastery of the gold-and-black flames grew ever more refined. Not only could they purify demonic qi, but they could also be used to refine pills and weapons. Using purified magic cores, he forged the Pure Resonance Immortal Sword for Yao Qing Lin. A faint gold-and-black glow flowed along its blade, automatically dispelling demonic qi.

Under Xiao Yan's guidance, Wang Yue also reforged her family's inherited Heavy Sword, infusing it with purification power and greatly increasing its might. The three worked together with ever greater harmony, becoming the Three Purification Heroes celebrated throughout the Central Plains Continent.

That day, Xiao Yan was in the Yao Clan's pill-refining chamber, using his gold-and-black flames to refine an entirely new medicine-the Soul-Returning Pill. Developed from the origin memories of the first Otherworldly Demon Hall master, it could repair souls damaged by demonic qi. Inside the cauldron, medicinal ingredients slowly melted within the flames. A thread of black energy curled through the golden medicinal liquid, the key to guided purification.

"Almost done." Anticipation flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as his hands rapidly formed seals. Nine pill patterns appeared above the cauldron, gold and black alternating as they spun like living things. When the patterns fully condensed, the cauldron gave a soft chime. Three perfectly rounded pills slowly rose into the air, emitting soul fluctuations that made the heart tremble.

"It worked!" Yao Qing Lin pushed open the door, delight flashing in her eyes at the sight of the pills. "With the Soul-Returning Pills, those who were deeply controlled can recover completely!" Xiao Yan placed the pills in a jade bottle. "The timing is perfect. The Sixth Elder just sent word that they found the last outpost in the far northern Ice Plains of the Central Plains. There may be a controlled Dou Sheng Expert there."

Wang Yue also entered, a few snowflakes clinging to her black robes. "We're ready. We can leave at any time." Xiao Yan nodded and distributed the Soul-Returning Pills between them. "Our opponent may be very powerful this time. Be careful."

The three left the Yao Clan and raced toward the far northern Ice Plains. The scenery along the way was utterly different from three months earlier. Towns had regained their prosperity, crops filled the fields, and children chased one another beside the roads. Alliance patrols occasionally passed by. Everything brimmed with life.

"This is the world we protect." Xiao Yan gazed at the scenes below, his heart filled with emotion. Yao Qing Lin nodded. "Soon, even the far northern Ice Plains will be this beautiful." Wang Yue tightened her grip on her Heavy Sword. "To preserve this beauty, we have to win."

The outpost in the far northern Ice Plains was hidden beneath an enormous glacier. The demonic qi here was denser than anywhere else. A thick layer of black ice covered the glacier, radiating a bone-piercing chill. Probing with his soul power, Xiao Yan sensed an immensely powerful presence deep within, more terrifying than all twelve hall masters combined-the controlled Dou Sheng Expert!

"This is the place." Xiao Yan stopped, gold-and-black flames kindling in his palm. "The Dou Sheng inside has had his mind controlled by a magic core. Let's try not to kill him. We'll see whether the Soul-Returning Pill can wake him." Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue nodded. All three struck at once, gold-and-black flames, emerald sword qi, and a black Heavy Sword intertwining to cleave through the thick black ice.

Beneath the ice stood an enormous ice palace. On the ice throne at its center sat an old man in golden armor-the former Pill Tower master, Xuan Kongzi, who had been missing for years! His eyes were tightly shut, and a pitch-black magic core embedded between his brows radiated dense demonic qi.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi!" Liu Changkong arrived as well, grief flashing in his eyes when he saw the old man. "To think he's been controlled for so long!" Xiao Yan motioned for everyone to retreat and approached alone, gold-and-black flames slowly revolving in his palm. "Senior, wake up! The Central Plains needs you!"

Xuan Kongzi slowly opened his eyes, crimson light gleaming within them. His Dou Sheng aura erupted instantly. "Otherworldly demons... must... be destroyed..." With a sweep of his hand, a black wave of energy crashed toward Xiao Yan. Not daring to take it head-on, Xiao Yan turned his gold-and-black flames into a barrier. He barely blocked the attack, but its force still sent him staggering backward.

What terrifying power! Xiao Yan was inwardly shocked. Is this the true strength of a Dou Sheng? He drew a deep breath and took out a Soul-Returning Pill. Wrapped in gold-and-black flames, it became a streak of light that flew toward the magic core between Xuan Kongzi's brows.

"Roar!" Xuan Kongzi roared, and the magic core between his brows burst with blinding black light, colliding with the Soul-Returning Pill. Gold and black light clashed violently throughout the palace, forming an enormous energy vortex. Xiao Yan could feel Xuan Kongzi's soul fiercely resisting the magic core's control.

"Senior, hold on!" Xiao Yan poured all his soul power into the gold-and-black flames, guiding the Soul-Returning Pill's medicinal power into Xuan Kongzi's body. Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue stepped forward to help. Emerald sword qi and black dou qi revolved around the energy vortex, forming a sturdy barrier to keep the demonic qi from escaping.

Two hours later, the magic core between Xuan Kongzi's brows finally began to loosen, its black radiance gradually dimming. He let out an agonized roar, and dazzling golden light erupted from within him, forcing the core entirely out of his body. The magic core released a piercing scream in midair before Xiao Yan's gold-and-black flames purified it completely.

Xuan Kongzi slowly opened his eyes. The crimson faded, and clarity returned. When he saw everyone around him, a trace of confusion crossed his eyes before turning to guilt. "I... I've failed the Pill Tower. I've failed the Central Plains..." Xiao Yan offered him a Soul-Returning Pill. "Senior, let the past remain in the past. The Central Plains needs you."

Xuan Kongzi accepted the pill and swallowed it, then took a deep breath. "Thanks to you, I didn't become an otherworldly demon puppet forever." He looked at Xiao Yan, wonder flashing in his eyes. "Your flames... can actually fuse with otherworldly demon origin? This is the true path of purification!"

With the final outpost cleared, the Central Plains Continent finally welcomed true peace. A month later, the Central Plains Alliance held a victory celebration at its headquarters. Tens of thousands gathered in the square, and when Xiao Yan, Yao Qing Lin, and Wang Yue appeared, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

The Sixth Elder stepped onto the platform, his voice ringing out. "Today, we give thanks to three heroes. They led us in eradicating the otherworldly demon remnants and gave the Central Plains new life!" He waved his hand, and an enormous stone monument slowly rose. Engraved upon it were the names of Xiao Yan and his two companions, along with those of countless heroes who had fallen in the war.

Xiao Yan gazed at the monument, a thousand emotions stirring in his heart. He knew peace had been hard-won, and protecting it would require the efforts of many more people. He turned toward Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue. The three exchanged smiles, their eyes shining with anticipation for the future.

After the victory celebration, Xiao Yan did not stop moving forward. With Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue, he began traveling throughout the Central Plains, using his gold-and-black flames to purify lingering demonic qi and teaching people how to guard against otherworldly demon corruption. Their footsteps spanned mountains and rivers, and wherever they passed, life flourished.

Throughout their travels, Xiao Yan's strength continued to break through new limits. His mastery of the gold-and-black flames grew ever more refined, and he faintly touched the threshold of Dou Sheng. He knew his legend was still unfolding, while the rebirth of the Central Plains Continent had only just begun.

As the sun sank in the west, the three stood atop the highest peak in the Central Plains, overlooking the vibrant land. Gold-and-black flames flickered gently in Xiao Yan's palm, illuminating his young, resolute face. "Tomorrow will be another new day," he said softly, his voice filled with hope. Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue nodded. Their shadows stretched long beneath the setting sun, forming a painting of surpassing beauty.