First Clash with the Demon Fleet, Thunderflame Shatters the Array

A streak of purple-gold light tore across the sky. The assault squad led by Xiao Yan plunged into the World-Devouring Demon's fleet formation like a razor-sharp arrowhead. Seven Heavenly Flames intertwined behind him into enormous wings, purple-black fire interwoven with lightning. Every beat sent out waves of heat that could burn everything to nothing, reducing the demon soldiers charging toward him to ash.

"Leave the left flank to me!" Ye Feng's voice thundered through the communication Jade Slip. The longsword in his hand erupted with dazzling golden light, tearing a breach straight through the Demon Warships. He drove the Ye Family's Burning Heaven Art to its utmost, sending golden flames surging like a tide toward the bone-spiked vessels. The demon marks on their hulls sizzled in the flames, giving off acrid black smoke.

Xiao Yan fixed his gaze on the Rift-Splitting Demon Mothership at the front. Purple-black flames condensed into a spear in his palm. "Wang Yue, take a squad and keep the other two capital ships occupied. I'll go meet the Rift-Splitting Demon!" A dark-robed figure moved at his command. The Heavy Sword in Wang Yue's hands stirred up towering waves, and water dragons intertwined with flames to form a barrier, blocking every attack from the other two enormous ships.

Meanwhile, Yao Qing Lin led the Yao Clan disciples in setting up a Healing Array in the rear. Emerald light fell like spring rain, slowly mending the wounded soldiers' injuries. "Watch out for demonic qi corrosion!" As she distributed the newly refined Pure Essence Pills, she scanned the battlefield with her soul power. "Demon soldiers are breaking through to the northeast. Requesting support!"

Xiao Yan did not look back. The purple-black flame spear had already left his hand. It traced a purple-gold trail through the air and struck the bow of the Rift-Splitting Demon Mothership with perfect precision. Boom! A violent explosion rang out. The Demon Mark Defense Array on the bow shattered instantly, exposing a core device shimmering with spatial fluctuations.

"Interesting." A hoarse voice drifted from the enormous ship as the Rift-Splitting Demon's figure slowly took shape within a spatial rift. Jet-black scales covered his entire body, and his hands were sharp bone claws. Most striking were his eyes, which shimmered with spatial ripples as though they could see through every illusion. "Of all the human cultivators, you're the first to break through my defenses."

Xiao Yan hovered in midair, purple-black flames blazing around him. "The Rift-Splitting Demon? It's time to settle the debt for hunting down the Dream Soul Flower back then." The Rift-Splitting Demon let out a sinister cackle. "That little flower? A pity I never caught it, but devouring your soul should make up for that regret." He swept a bone claw through the air. The surrounding space abruptly warped, and countless spatial blades sliced toward Xiao Yan.

Purple-gold light flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as he pushed the Eye of Laws to its full power. The once-invisible spatial blades became perfectly clear to him, like knives whirling through the air. His figure flickered as he slipped nimbly between them, while dozens of purple-black flames condensed at his fingertips and shot toward the Rift-Splitting Demon like homing missiles.

"A few paltry tricks." The Rift-Splitting Demon snorted in disdain. His body suddenly turned into a black shadow and merged into a spatial rift. The flames struck empty air, leaving only a few burning spatial ripples. "Within my Spatial Domain, you have nowhere to escape!" His hoarse voice echoed from every direction. The surrounding space began to contract violently, as though it meant to crush Xiao Yan into dust.

Rather than panic, Xiao Yan closed his eyes. He pushed his soul power to its limit, sensing every tremor in the spatial fluctuations. When the Rift-Splitting Demon's bone claw stabbed out of a spatial rift behind him, he spun around and brought down a longsword condensed from purple-black flames. Screech! The bone claw collided with the flaming sword, producing a piercing sound. The Rift-Splitting Demon was forced out of hiding, a scorched wound left across his chest.

"You can see through my Spatial Technique?" The Rift-Splitting Demon was both shocked and furious, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes. Xiao Yan did not answer. With an upward flick of his sword, purple-black flames spread along the Rift-Splitting Demon's arm, melting every jet-black scale in their path. "Aaargh!" The Rift-Splitting Demon screamed in agony. He had no choice but to sever his own arm and retreat into the enormous ship through a spatial rift.

"Trying to run?" How could Xiao Yan let this opportunity slip away? His Azure Luan Wings spread, and he streaked after him in a flash of light. Twisted passages filled the ship's interior. Countless glowing magic cores were embedded in the walls on either side, exuding dense demonic qi. He circulated the Flame Mantra, and the purple-black flames automatically protected him, purifying all the demonic qi that approached.

In the ship's Command Room, the Rift-Splitting Demon was using demonic qi to restore his severed arm. When he saw Xiao Yan pursuing him, viciousness flashed in his eyes. "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!" He slammed his hand onto the Control Panel. The entire ship suddenly shook violently, and countless demon marks rose from the floor, forming an enormous Demonic Array in midair.

"This is the World-Devouring Demon's Teleportation Array. What are you trying to do?" Xiao Yan's heart jolted. He could feel the spatial energy within the array soaring, as though it was about to open an even larger spatial rift. The Rift-Splitting Demon laughed wildly. "Once my main forces arrive, the entire Central Plains will become our pasture! You think your meager strength can halt Lord World-Devouring Demon's advance?"

Xiao Yan's expression grew grave. He knew he could not let the Rift-Splitting Demon's plan succeed. All seven Heavenly Flames erupted within him at once. Purple-black flames intertwined with the four-symbol heaven-burning flame into an enormous fireball, which smashed toward the Demonic Array's core. Boom! The fireball collided with the array, unleashing heaven-destroying, earth-shattering energy. The entire ship shook violently, threatening to break apart at any moment.

"No!" The Rift-Splitting Demon let out a desperate howl. The energy shock wave hurled him away, slamming him into a wall and knocking him unconscious. Xiao Yan seized the opportunity, condensing purple-black flames into chains that bound the Rift-Splitting Demon tightly. He looked around and, finding that the Demonic Array's core had been destroyed, breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Wang Yue's anxious voice came through the communication Jade Slip. "Xiao Yan! The other two capital ships are self-destructing. Get out now!" Xiao Yan's heart tightened. He grabbed the Rift-Splitting Demon, turned, and flew out of the ship. Two tremendous explosions sounded behind him. Under the demon soldiers' control, the other two enormous ships turned into gigantic fireballs and hurtled toward the Defensive Formation of the Black Wind Mountain Range.

"Stop them!" The Grand Elder's voice rang out above the battlefield. The Spirit Gatherers of the Ancient Realm acted together, condensing countless Spatial Runes into an enormous barrier in the air. The fireballs struck it and erupted in dazzling light, staining the sky over the entire Central Plains red.

When the light faded, cracks covered the barrier, and it teetered on the verge of collapse. Watching demon soldiers crawl through the cracks, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with resolve. "Assault squad, follow me! Clear out the fish that slipped through the net!" Purple-black flames erupted once more, purifying the surviving demon soldiers one after another like the scythe of death.

The battle lasted three full days and nights. When the first rays of sunlight rose over the Central Plains, peace finally returned to the battlefield. Although the Black Wind Mountain Range's Defensive Formation had suffered severe damage, it had ultimately held against the World-Devouring Demon's first offensive. The purple-black glow of the Heaven-Burning Barrier had dimmed considerably, but it still stubbornly guarded the Spatial Barrier.

Xiao Yan sat on the devastated battlefield, looking at the unconscious Rift-Splitting Demon in his grasp. There was not the slightest joy of victory on his face. Though they had repelled the enemy, the allied forces had paid a terrible price-Ye Feng was gravely wounded and unconscious, Wang Yue's arm had been corroded by demonic qi, and Yao Qing Lin had nearly exhausted her soul power treating the wounded.

"We must interrogate the Rift-Splitting Demon as soon as possible." Leaning on his jade ruler, Xuan Kongzi struggled over to Xiao Yan. Blood stained his white robes; clearly, he too had endured a bitter battle. "Perhaps we can learn about the World-Devouring Demon Main Force from him." Xiao Yan nodded and handed the Rift-Splitting Demon over to the Ancient Realm's elders for safekeeping. "I'll go check on Qing Lin and Wang Yue."

Inside the hastily erected Medical Tent, Yao Qing Lin rested against a corner, her face as pale as paper. Wang Yue sat beside her, her arm wrapped in bandages soaked with medicinal liquid. The black demonic qi was slowly receding. Seeing Xiao Yan enter, Wang Yue managed a faint smile. "Did we win?"

Xiao Yan walked over to them and handed Yao Qing Lin a freshly refined Soul-Returning Pill. "For now, but this is only the beginning." He looked at the demonic qi on Wang Yue's arm, purple-black flames dancing at his fingertips. "Let me purify it for you." Warm flames enveloped Wang Yue's arm. She gave a soft hum of relief, and a faint blush rose on her pale face.

Just then, an elder of the Ancient Realm hurried in, his expression grave. "Elder Xiao Yan, the Rift-Splitting Demon has awakened, but what he said... we can hardly believe it." Something stirred in Xiao Yan's heart. "What did he say?" The elder swallowed, his voice trembling slightly. "He said... the World-Devouring Demon's main forces have already torn open a spatial rift in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. They'll reach the heart of the Central Plains in three days at most!"

Xiao Yan sprang to his feet, shock flashing in his eyes. The Ten Thousand Demons Cave was the weakest point in the Central Plains' defenses. If it fell, the consequences would be unimaginable. "Send word immediately. Abandon the Black Wind Mountain Range and have the entire army fall back to defend the Ten Thousand Demons Cave!" His voice carried unquestionable authority. "Qing Lin, lead the wounded out first. Wang Yue, gather every soldier who can still fight. We must reach the Ten Thousand Demons Cave within three days and set up a new Defensive Formation!"

Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue exchanged a glance, then nodded together. They knew the true test was only beginning now.

As the allied forces began moving toward the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, Xiao Yan stood alone atop the Black Wind Mountain Range, looking at the distant lands polluted by demonic qi. The Rift-Splitting Demon's words echoed endlessly in his ears like an alarm bell. He could sense an aura a hundred times stronger than the Rift-Splitting Demon's slowly awakening in the direction of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. It belonged to the vanguard of the World-Devouring Demon Main Force—a true Dou Sheng-level fiend!

"It seems I must break through to Dou Sheng as soon as possible." Xiao Yan clenched his fists, purple-black flames blazing in his palms. He raised his head and looked toward the Ancient Realm. The Spirit Source Pool there still gave off a faint glow. Perhaps it held the final opportunity he needed to break through to Dou Sheng.

But now, he had no time to return. The battle at the Ten Thousand Demons Cave was imminent. He had to lead the allied forces and stop the World-Devouring Demon's next offensive. This time, they had no path of retreat. They could only fight with their backs to the river.

As the sun sank in the west, the allied forces disappeared along the road to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. Xiao Yan glanced back at the Black Wind Mountain Range, where so many warriors had left their blood and their lives. He took a deep breath, turned, and caught up with the main force. Purple-black flames left a long trail of light behind him, like a beacon in the darkness guiding the way forward.

The battle for the Central Plains was still far from over. Xiao Yan knew that only by becoming stronger could he protect this land and the people beside him. His desire to break through to Dou Sheng burned more fiercely than ever before.