"Phew... it's finally over." As he watched those three figures being utterly shredded by the power of Mortal Annihilation, Xiao Yan let out a long breath. Then an overwhelming weakness suddenly surged from deep within his body, leaving him swaying and almost pitching headfirst onto the ground.
But just as he was about to fall, a hand suddenly steadied him. While Xiao Yan was wondering how there could possibly be anyone else in this space, he noticed that the hand's owner looked almost exactly like him. It was none other than the Flame Emperor, whom his Mortal Annihilation should have defeated just moments ago.
"Don't get worked up. We're not fighting you anymore." As Xiao Yan reeled in shock, the Flame Emperor smiled. Then a stream of pure Spiritual Power flowed from his palm into Xiao Yan's body, restoring his utterly exhausted body to peak condition.
Moreover, Xiao Yan had already been at the peak of the Sixth-Rank Supreme level, needing only a few more days of secluded cultivation to break through. This battle, however, had completely drained his Spiritual Power, leaving him like a lamp whose oil had run dry. Under those circumstances, the sudden infusion of such powerful energy actually helped him break through to Seventh-Rank Supreme in one stroke.
"You're not fighting me anymore? Does that mean... I passed the third trial of the Nine Nether Secret Realm?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. He had originally thought he was facing nothing more than a few mindless phantoms, but unexpectedly, this fellow actually possessed awareness. That meant communication between them was possible.
"The third trial of the Nine Nether Secret Realm is actually about defeating yourself." The Flame Emperor shook his head. With a light tap of his finger, a screen of light appeared before them, showing Qingtan fighting