In the black void Myriad Devourings Hall, the auras of Xiao Yan and his companions clashed fiercely with the Realm Lord aura of the Realm-Devouring Demon, forming visible energy ripples that slightly distorted the space itself.
"You four mere upstarts at the Dominator Realm dare to boast of killing me?" The Realm-Devouring Demon's voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm. The Law Core atop its head rotated slightly, and countless black tentacles extended from behind it, the eyes at the tips of the tentacles gleaming with greedy light. "I have devoured at least eighty or a hundred Sovereigns. Your Law Power is nothing more than a dessert to me."
"Whether it's dessert or not, you'll only know after you try it!" Lin Dong roared, his lightning laws surging around him, condensing into a thousand-foot-long lightning spear, " Lin Dong - Thunder Prison!"
The spear, carrying the power to tear the heavens apart, pierced towards the head of the Realm-Devouring Demon. Wherever the spear tip passed, the black mist was purified by lightning, leaving behind a dazzling golden trail.
"A mere trick." The Realm-Devouring Demon scoffed disdainfully, whipping out a tentacle that unleashed layers of spatial folds that easily entangled the Thunder Spear. The lightning power on the spear was absorbed instantly by the tentacle, like a mud ox sinking into the sea.
"What?!" Lin Dong's pupils shrank. He could feel his lightning laws being devoured and assimilated by the tentacles.
"Be careful, it can absorb the power of laws!" Xiao Yan hurriedly warned, while simultaneously summoning the Burning Heaven Cauldron. Six-colored Heavenly Flames spewed from the cauldron, transforming into a long river of flames that swept towards the tentacles. The purifying and destructive power contained within the Heavenly Flames was the nemesis of deathly energy.
"Sizzle--"
The river of flames collided with the tentacles, producing a piercing scorching sound. The black mist on the tentacles quickly melted away, revealing the true form within, flowing with fragments of golden laws. The Realm-Devouring Demon let out a painful groan and hurriedly retracted its tentacles. The fragments of laws at the severed ends wriggled wildly, quickly reforming into complete tentacles.
"Interesting flames." The Realm-Devouring Demon's voice held a hint of seriousness. "It seems you are the so-called ' Flame Dominator,' possessing six different kinds of Heavenly Flame Origin within you. This certainly piques my interest."
It suddenly opened its mouth, and a pitch-black vortex formed within it. The vortex emitted a terrifying suction force, which not only pulled at the four people's bodies, but also slowly devoured the surrounding space and laws.
"Space Reversal!" Luo Li pointed her finger swiftly, and countless spatial runes condensed in front of her, forming a distorted spatial barrier. The barrier redirected the vortex's suction force in the opposite direction, temporarily alleviating the crisis. However, her face instantly turned pale, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth—using the devouring power of the Realm Lord Realm Dominator Realm was extremely taxing on her.
" Mu Chen, make your move!" Xiao Yan seized the brief opening and shouted to Mu Chen.
Mu Chen was already poised to strike. He placed his hands on the void, unleashing the full power of his spiritual energy. "All Spirits Return to One!"
The primal power of various planes in the Outer World Domain, through the previously laid-out Myriad Spirits Great Formation, continuously converged into his body. These life forces from different planes intertwined, transforming into a beam of emerald green light that pierced through the heavens and earth. Within the beam, one could vaguely see the phantoms of countless beings from different planes, carrying an indomitable will, as it slammed fiercely towards the Realm-Devouring Demon.
"Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Realm-Devouring Demon, clearly not expecting Mu Chen to be able to summon such a massive amount of life force. It dared not be negligent, and a shield composed of countless fragments of laws appeared around its body, with black mist flowing on its surface, attempting to block the pillar of light.
"Boom!"
The emerald green beam of light collided with the black shield, producing a deafening roar. The fragments of law on the shield trembled violently, and even developed tiny cracks. The Realm-Devouring Demon was forced back a hundred feet, and the light from the core of law above its head dimmed slightly.
"You've got some skill." The Realm-Devouring Demon's voice finally carried a hint of seriousness. "It seems that if I don't show you my true abilities, you little guys will really underestimate me."
It suddenly raised its head, and the core of the law above its head erupted with a dazzling black light, which instantly enveloped the entire Deathly Stillness Realm. The originally thin black mist became thick again, and countless pained faces emerged from the mist, which were the remnants of souls of the devoured beings from the other plane.
"Ten Thousand Souls Devouring the Sky!"
With the Realm-Devouring Demon's low roar, countless remnant souls transformed into black streams of light, swarming towards the four. These remnant souls contained dense deathly energy and resentment; once tainted, they would cause the laws of the universe to become disordered, or even the Dao heart to collapse.
" Heavenly Flames - Purification!" Xiao Yan made a decisive move, and the six-colored Heavenly Flames formed a flame barrier around the four of them. The remnant souls crashed into the barrier, like moths to a flame, and were instantly burned to ashes, leaving only wisps of green smoke.
However, the number of remnant souls was simply too great, like an endless tide, causing the light of the flame barrier to dim at a visible speed.
"This can't go on," Luo Li gasped. "Our power is constantly being depleted, while it can recover by drawing upon the essence of the Deathly Stillness Realm."
"We must find its weakness." Xiao Yan stared intently at the Law Core atop the Realm-Devouring Demon's head. "That core should be its source of power. As long as we shatter the core, its Realm Lord Realm power will collapse."
"Easier said than done," Lin Dong said while resisting the remnant soul. "That core is surrounded by tens of thousands of fragments of laws, each containing devouring power, making it impossible to get close."
A glint of inspiration flashed in Mu Chen's eyes. "Perhaps... we can try using the ' Origin Fire '."
" The Origin Fire?" Xiao Yan and the other two looked at him simultaneously.
"That's right." Mu Chen nodded. " The Great Thousand World Origin Fire is condensed from the beliefs of all living beings, and it is specifically designed to counter this kind of evil power that devours everything. However, it consumed too much energy when dealing with the Evil Clan Sovereign, and it needs the primordial power of the four of us as a fuse to re-condense it."
"I agree." Xiao Yan made the decision immediately. " Luo Li, you use the laws of space to buy us time; Lin Dong, you use the laws of thunder to protect our minds; Mu Chen, you guide the faith of all beings; I will provide the Heavenly Flame Origin!"
The four had a clear division of labor. Luo Li gritted her teeth and pushed the spatial laws to their limit, forming a thick spatial barrier around them, temporarily blocking the impact of the remnant soul. Lin Dong transformed the lightning laws into four chains of light, which wrapped around the four of them respectively. The power of lightning constantly washed over their sea of consciousness, resisting the erosion of the resentment of the remnant soul.
Mu Chen formed complex hand seals and chanted ancient incantations. His voice resounded through the Myriad Spirits Great Formation to every plane in the Outer World Domain, and countless beings in those planes, responding to his call, poured their faith into the array.
"Will of Flame, burn away the darkness!" Xiao Yan shouted, channeling the six-colored Heavenly Flame Origin into his palm, intertwining it with Lin Dong's lightning essence, Luo Li's spatial essence, and Mu Chen's spiritual essence. The four essences formed a rotating energy vortex in the center of the four, and a golden flame gradually emerged in the vortex—the prototype of the Great Thousand World Origin Fire!
"Not good!" The Realm-Devouring Demon sensed the threat of the golden flames, and a hint of panic flashed in its eyes. It abruptly contracted all its tentacles, protecting the core of the law in the center, while simultaneously increasing the power of the Ten Thousand Soul Devour Heaven. The black remnant souls crashed against the spatial barrier like a tsunami, and the cracks on the barrier increased, on the verge of collapse.
"Give it your all!" Veins bulged on Xiao Yan's forehead. More than 70% of the Heavenly Flame Origin in his body had been consumed, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered. Nourished by the four sources, the golden flame gradually grew into a burning lotus flower. The light emitted by the lotus flower grew brighter and brighter, and even the black mist of the Realm-Devouring Demon was constantly retreating.
"Now!" The moment the golden lotus bloomed to its fullest, Xiao Yan and the other three released their grips simultaneously. The lotus transformed into a golden streak of light, ignoring the countless remnants of souls and spatial barriers, and shot precisely toward the core of the Realm-Devouring Demon's laws at a speed exceeding the speed of light.
"No--!" The Realm-Devouring Demon let out a desperate roar, frantically activating its core of laws to defend itself. But the power of the beliefs of all living beings contained within the golden lotus was precisely its nemesis in devouring everything. The lotus landed on the core, and like boiling oil meeting fire, it instantly exploded.
"Boom!"
Golden flames, centered on the core of the law, rapidly spread throughout the Realm-Devouring Demon's entire body. The Realm-Devouring Demon's tentacles continuously melted in the flames, and fragments of the law scattered like meteors. It let out a painful howl, and its massive body began to collapse and disintegrate.
"I am not reconciled! I devoured ninety-nine planes, and I was only one step away from becoming a true Realm Lord. Why did I lose to you!" The Realm-Devouring Demon's voice was filled with endless resentment and unwillingness.
"Because you don't understand." Xiao Yan's voice was calm yet firm. "The true essence of power is never about devouring, but about protecting."
As Xiao Yan finished speaking, the golden flames erupted completely. The Realm-Devouring Demon's body transformed into starlight within the flames, eventually dissipating into the void. The core of law atop its head was tempered and purified within the flames, ultimately transforming into a crystal that shimmered and floated above the ruins of the Myriad Devourings Hall.
The crystal contains pure insights into the laws of the Realm Lord Realm, as well as the primordial power of the ninety-nine devoured planes.
With the death of the Realm-Devouring Demon, the black mist in the Deathly Stillness Realm quickly receded, revealing the original void. The devoured dimensional remnants began to regain their vitality, clearly due to the primal power within the crystals.
The four of them slumped in mid-air, panting heavily. They were all exhausted and didn't even have the strength to lift their hands. But on their faces, there were relieved smiles.
"We... won?" Luo Li's voice was weak, but filled with undisguised joy.
"We won." Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, his gaze fixed on the floating crystal. "Moreover, we received an unexpected gift."
Lin Dong and Mu Chen also looked at the crystal, a flash of understanding in their eyes. The insights into the Realm Lord Realm contained in this crystal would be of unimaginable help to their future cultivation.
Several days later, all the plane leaders from the Outer World Domain gathered at the ruins of the Myriad Devourings Hall. When they saw the crystal emitting a soft light and the surrounding plane remnants that had been revitalized, they cheered.
Xiao Yan held up the crystal and said to everyone, "This ' World Lord Crystal ' contains the primal power of ninety-nine planes. I propose that we return this primal power to those planes that were devoured, helping them to be reborn. As for the insights into the Realm Lord Realm within, the four of us will study them together, and once we have gained something, we will share it with the entire Outer World Domain and the Great Thousand World."
His proposal was met with everyone's approval. Over the next month, Xiao Yan and his companions joined forces, using the Dominator Power to guide the primal energy within the crystal, awakening the devoured planes. When the first rays of sunlight shone once more upon the reborn land, countless beings knelt before the void, venerating Xiao Yan and his companions as the " Four Masters of the Outer World."
After dealing with matters in the Outer World Domain, Xiao Yan and his companions returned to the Great Thousand World.
At the top of the Burning Heaven Palace in the Endless Fire Domain, Xiao Yan, Lin Dong, Mu Chen, and Luo Li stood side by side, gazing at the prosperous scene below. In the distance, the void of the Outer World Domain and the barrier of the Great Thousand World gradually merged, clearly indicating that the origins of the two worlds were embracing each other.
"What are your plans next?" Lin Dong asked, toying with a fragment he had peeled off from the World Lord Crystal, his eyes gleaming with longing for a higher realm.
"I plan to go into seclusion for a while to digest the insights gained from reaching the Realm Lord Realm," Mu Chen said. "Perhaps it won't be long before we truly step into the Realm Lord Realm."
Luo Li nodded. " The Luo God Clan also needs time to integrate the spatial laws and the insights of the Realm Lord. I will stay in Luo Shen Valley for seclusion."
The three looked at Xiao Yan, awaiting his decision.
Xiao Yan gazed at the fragment of the World Lord Crystal in his hand, then at the six-colored Heavenly Flames burning quietly within the Burning Heaven Cauldron, a resolute glint in his eyes. "I will integrate my insights from the Realm Lord Realm into the ' Nine Revolutions Primordial Array ' of the Endless Fire Domain, allowing all beings in the Great Thousand World and the Outer World Domain to share this power. As for breaking through..."
He looked up at the distant void, where a wider world seemed to exist.
"The path to breakthroughs always lies ahead. But before that, I must first protect the world before me."
The four exchanged a smile, needing no further words, understanding each other's sentiments. Their paths may differ, but their ultimate goal is to safeguard this hard-won peace.
Under the setting sun, the four figures were stretched long. The light of the Burning Heaven Cauldron, the roar of thunder, the flow of spiritual energy, and the ripples of space intertwined to create a picture belonging to the ruler.
Their legend continues. This story, spanning two realms and enduring countless battles and acts of protection, will continue to write new chapters in the long river of time, until it reaches its magnificent million-word end, yet it seems to have no end. Because the belief in protection is undying, the journey will never cease.