Early Dou Sheng, Purification Domain

Dense demonic qi shrouded the sky above the Ten Thousand Demons Cave like a heavy black veil. On the ground, the allied army's hastily erected Defensive Formation trembled violently. Spiderweb cracks covered its pale golden dome, which looked ready to shatter at any moment. Outside the formation, tens of thousands of World-Devouring Demon Soldiers surged like a black tide, assaulting the defenses without rest. Every strike of their claws and demonic flames drew a tortured groan from the dome.

Xiao Yan stood at the formation's core, purple-black flames blazing wildly around him. Sweat slid down his cheeks, gathered into beads on his chin, and dripped onto the scorched earth, where it instantly evaporated. He could clearly feel the Defensive Formation's energy draining at a terrifying pace. Behind him, the soldiers were utterly exhausted. Many wore blood-soaked bandages, yet an unyielding light still burned in their eyes.

"Lord Xiao Yan, the northwest corner can't hold much longer!" a soldier who had lost an arm roared, swinging his saber with his remaining left hand as he barely fended off the demon soldiers. Xiao Yan glanced over. The dome there had grown as thin as a cicada's wing. Dozens of enormous Demonic Elephants were battering the wall of light with their massive trunks, spreading cracks at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"I'll reinforce them!" Wang Yue's voice was weary. Her heavy sword was riddled with chips, and blood had stained her black robe dark red. Yet her gaze remained keen as a drawn blade. She turned and charged toward the northwest corner, her sword qi sweeping in all directions and briefly forcing the Demonic Elephants back.

Yao Qing Lin knelt on the ground, both hands pressed against the Defensive Formation's patterns. Emerald soul power poured into them in an endless stream as she tried to repair the cracks. Her face was paler than paper, her lips dry and split; she had clearly overdrawn her mental strength. "Brother Xiao Yan, the energy's almost gone..." Her voice was faint, but held a trace of stubbornness. "Just hold on a little longer, until the reinforcements from the Ancient Realm arrive..."

Xiao Yan said nothing, only pouring the last of his dou qi into the formation's core with frantic intensity. He could feel the terrifying presence deep within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave drawing closer, like the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment. It belonged to the vanguard of the World-Devouring Demon Main Force-a true Dou Sheng-level evil demon whose aura was more than a hundred times stronger than the Rift-Splitting Demon's.

"ROAR!" A deafening bellow erupted from the depths of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, and the entire earth shook violently. The Defensive Formation's dome shattered at the sound. Countless demon soldiers flooded through like water bursting a dam, and screams and sounds of slaughter instantly pierced the heavens.

"Kill!" Resolve flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. His purple-black flames erupted, forming an enormous wall of fire that briefly halted the demon soldiers' assault. He turned toward Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue, his voice slightly hoarse. "Take the wounded and retreat. I'll cover you!"

"We're not leaving!" Wang Yue planted her heavy sword against the ground and stared stubbornly at him. "If we leave, we leave together!" Yao Qing Lin shook her head as well. She took the last Soul-Returning Pill from her Storage Ring and pressed it into Xiao Yan's hand. "You need this."

Just then, a pitch-black beam shot from the depths of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. It instantly pierced the wall of fire and screamed toward the three of them. The terrifying energy within it warped space itself. It was an attack from that Dou Sheng-level evil demon!

"Watch out!" Xiao Yan shoved Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue aside, then charged straight toward the beam. Purple-black flames gathered in his palms into an enormous shield. Seven kinds of heavenly flames swirled furiously across its surface, forming a formidable defense.

BOOM! The beam struck the shield, unleashing energy that could destroy heaven and earth. Xiao Yan felt as though a mountain had slammed into him. His body flew backward like a kite with its string cut and crashed heavily into a rock wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood. He could feel that his meridians had ruptured in several places. The balance between the seven heavenly flames had been utterly shattered, and they began rampaging through his dantian.

"Brother Xiao Yan!" Yao Qing Lin let out a heart-rending cry and tried to rush over, but Wang Yue held her firmly back.

"This is humanity's greatest fighting strength?" A deep, icy voice rang out above the Ten Thousand Demons Cave as an evil demon a hundred feet tall slowly emerged. Dark golden scales covered his entire body. His head resembled a goat's, but bore four scarlet eyes, and he held a massive axe wreathed in flowing demonic qi. He was Blood Slaughter, the Dou Sheng-level evil demon leading the World-Devouring Demon Main Force's vanguard.

Blood Slaughter's gaze fell on Xiao Yan, carrying a trace of contempt. "Too weak." He swung his massive axe, sending another pitch-black beam toward Xiao Yan as he struggled to stand.

At that critical instant, dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from Xiao Yan's body. After violently colliding within his dantian, the seven heavenly flames miraculously fused into a seven-colored torrent of fire. The Flame Mantra automatically circulated to its limit, frantically absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy and demonic qi. The dou qi in his dantian surged like a tsunami.

"Aah!" Xiao Yan let out a long cry. The barrier within his body shattered with a thunderous crash, and the aura of a one-star Dou Sheng soared into the sky! Countless golden runes appeared around him. They were a simplified version of the Heaven-Burning Barrier, radiating powerful purification power.

"This is... a Dou Sheng?" Surprise flashed in Blood Slaughter's eyes. He clearly had not expected Xiao Yan to break through under such circumstances.

Xiao Yan slowly rose to his feet. Nourished by the seven-colored flame, his wounds swiftly healed. His eyes turned pure gold, as though they held the light of the entire universe. "Purification Mode, activate." He spoke softly, but his voice carried an unquestionable authority.

As his words fell, the seven-colored flame abruptly spread outward, forming an enormous golden domain. Within it, all demonic qi rapidly dissipated. The demon soldiers who had charged inside melted like snow beneath the sun, leaving only faint wisps of smoke. Golden runes danced through the air as though alive, constantly purifying the corrupted land.

"Impossible!" Blood Slaughter roared in fury. He could feel the golden domain constantly purifying his demonic qi, and his strength began to decline slowly. Swinging his massive axe, he charged toward Xiao Yan with the force to destroy heaven and earth, intent on shattering the golden domain.

Xiao Yan stood at the center of the domain and formed seals with both hands. The seven-colored flame condensed before him into an enormous longsword, golden runes flowing along its blade. He did not dodge. He slashed straight toward Blood Slaughter's massive axe.

CLANG! The ringing clash of metal pierced the heavens. The seven-colored sword struck the massive axe, releasing a dazzling burst of light. Blood Slaughter felt powerful purification power surge through his axe. Golden flames instantly engulfed his arm, and his dark golden scales began to melt away.

"Aah!" Blood Slaughter screamed and staggered backward. As he stared at his burned arm, his eyes filled with terror and rage.

Xiao Yan gave him no chance to catch his breath. The golden domain abruptly contracted, trapping Blood Slaughter within it. Seven-colored flames surged toward him like a tide, while golden runes coursed over his body, purifying the demonic qi inside him.

"I refuse to accept this!" Blood Slaughter roared in despair. His body began swelling violently. He clearly intended to detonate himself and take Xiao Yan down with him.

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened, and he slammed his palms together. The seven-colored flame instantly erupted to its utmost intensity, forming an enormous golden fireball that completely engulfed Blood Slaughter. Within it, purification power worked furiously. Before the energy of Blood Slaughter's self-detonation could erupt, it was utterly purified. Only a dark golden magic core remained, slowly descending into Xiao Yan's hand.

When the golden domain dispersed, calm had returned to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. The surviving allied soldiers stared at Xiao Yan, dumbstruck, their eyes full of awe and gratitude. Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue hurried to his side and supported him as he nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

"Are you all right?" Yao Qing Lin asked, her voice thick with tears as she examined his wounds.

Xiao Yan shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his pale face. "I'm fine now." He handed the dark golden magic core to Wang Yue. "This magic core contains pure energy. It might help you break through to Dou Zun."

Wang Yue accepted the magic core. Looking into Xiao Yan's weary yet resolute eyes, she nodded firmly.

Just then, a dense chorus of rushing sounds came from the distance. Xiao Yan looked up and saw the Ancient Realm's reinforcements approaching, led by the Grand Elder and Xuan Kongzi.

"Young friend Xiao Yan, you've broken through?" Delight and surprise flashed in Xuan Kongzi's eyes when he sensed Xiao Yan's Dou Sheng aura.

Xiao Yan nodded. "I was fortunate enough to break through and drive the enemy back for now." He paused, his tone turning grave. "But this is only the beginning. The World-Devouring Demon Main Force is still behind them. We must recover our strength and prepare as quickly as possible."

The Grand Elder sighed. "The spatial barrier has completely shattered. We have no choice but to fight them to the death here." The Grand Elder looked into the depths of the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, eyes filled with concern. "I can feel even stronger presences approaching."

Xiao Yan clenched his fist, and the seven-colored flame danced in his palm once more. "No matter how many come, we'll face them all!" His voice carried throughout the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, filling the surviving allied soldiers with fresh courage.

The sunset's lingering rays shone through gaps in the demonic qi and fell upon the ravaged earth. Xiao Yan stood at the entrance to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, with Yao Qing Lin and Wang Yue beside him. Behind him stood countless soldiers, battered and wounded, yet unwavering in their gazes. They knew the true decisive battle was about to begin, but they would not retreat.

For what they defended was their home, the future of the Central Plains. And Xiao Yan, the young warrior who had just broken through to Dou Sheng, would lead them to face the final challenge.