Three days later, Xiao Yan followed the Grand Elder to the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws deep within the All-Heavens Hub. This palace was entirely constructed of dark golden law crystals, and above the palace gate hung an ancient plaque inscribed with the four characters "All Laws Return to the Source," exuding an aura that suppressed eternity.
"This is the very foundation of the All-Heavens Guard." The Grand Elder pushed open the hall doors, and a vast torrent of laws rushed towards them. "The hall has nine levels, each containing the insights into the laws of a All-Heavens Guard ancestor, ranging from the Realm Lord Realm to the Supreme Realm. At your current level, you can enter the sixth level, where you'll find the legacy left by a predecessor skilled in the Law of Flame."
Xiao Yan entered the hall and found a rotating pillar of light in the center, surrounded by eight passageways, each corresponding to a different floor. Following the Grand Elder's guidance, he stepped into the passageway leading to the sixth floor.
The walls on both sides of the passage were covered with runes of the Law of Flame. The runes seemed to pulsate with life, constantly surging into his sea of consciousness. Xiao Yan could sense that these runes were more refined than the Law of Flame he had comprehended before, faintly touching the origin of the law.
Upon reaching the sixth level, one finds a spacious stone chamber. On a stone platform in the center of the chamber, a dancing golden flame floats, enveloping a wisp of remnant soul—the very will of that senior who Law of Flame.
"Young man, your presence here signifies a connection between us," the remnant soul spoke, its voice aged yet majestic. "My name is the Old Ghost Heaven Burning, who once commanded the Flame Battalion of the All-Heavens Guard, battling Outer Realm Demons for a millennium. This is my lifelong understanding of the Law of Flame; take it."
The golden flames transformed into a stream of light, merging into Xiao Yan's sea of consciousness. Instantly, countless mysteries of the Law of Flame exploded in his mind: how to use fire to simulate the laws of space for teleportation, how to combine the Law of Flame with the laws of life to nurture a seed of fire, how to use the Law of Flame to sever the shackles of the river of time...
These insights were like a sudden awakening, instantly elevating Xiao Yan's understanding of the Law of Flame to a new level. The Heart of the Flame Realm within his body began to operate wildly, and the power of the six-colored Heavenly Flames and the Heart-Clearing Jade fused perfectly. His realm, which had been stagnant at the Intermediate Realm Lord, began to loosen, showing faint signs of a breakthrough.
"Thank you for passing on your knowledge, senior!" Xiao Yan bowed solemnly.
The remnant soul of the Old Ghost Heaven Burning smiled, "I am greatly gratified that my insights can be carried forward in your hands. Remember, the true meaning of fire is not only destruction, but also protection. Although the Outer Realm Demons are powerful, as long as one holds the thought of protection in their heart, the laws will possess infinite power."
The remnant soul gradually dissipated, leaving behind a crimson jade slip on the stone platform. Inside was a set of sword moves called " Heaven Burning Nine Forms," which was the signature technique of the old Old Ghost Heaven Burning.
Xiao Yan put away the jade slip, sat cross-legged in the stone chamber, and began to digest the inheritance. He combined the Heaven Burning Nine Forms with his own Flame Realm: Heaven Burning Slash, making his sword moves more refined and his power increase several times over.
Seven days later, Xiao Yan emerged from the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws, his aura having steadily reached the Late Realm Lord Realm. The Heaven Burning Sword trembled slightly in his hand, and the six-colored flames on its blade flowed more condensed, showing faint signs of breaking through to seven colors.
"It seems you've reaped considerable rewards." The Grand Elder stood waiting outside the hall, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Perfect timing! News has come from the Stargazing Platform that demonic disturbances have appeared in the ' Mystic Ice Realm.' Go and handle it."
Xiao Yan accepted the mission jade slip, which described the anomalies in the Mystic Ice Realm: the world, which was originally frozen for thousands of miles, suddenly saw large areas of melting ice fields, and the ice water contained a black, viscous substance that would cause any living creature that came into contact with it to become violent and bloodthirsty.
"This is ' Heart-Corroding Black Water '," the Grand Elder explained. "It's a technique used by the ' Soul-Defiling Race ' among the Outer Realm Demons, capable of corrupting the minds of living beings. The guardians of the Mystic Ice Realm have already sent out a distress signal; you must go and provide support immediately."
Xiao Yan accepted the order and immediately assembled a fifty-man Heaven Battalion squad, which then traveled to the Mystic Ice Realm via a teleportation array.
Upon entering the Mystic Ice Realm, a bone-chilling cold swept over them, but this cold was mixed with a strange warmth—clearly the work of the Heart-Corroding Black Water. Sure enough, large areas of the distant ice plains had melted, revealing the black earth beneath, with several streams of black water meandering across the land, exuding an ominous aura.
"Deputy Commander, we've spotted traces of the Soul-Defiling Race ahead!" a team member shouted, pointing to an ice mound in the distance.
Looking over, Xiao Yan saw dozens of black, octopus-like monsters pouring the Heart-Corroding Black Water into the ice field. Their tentacles were covered with eyes, staring intently at Xiao Yan and the others.
" The Soul-Defiling Race excels at mental corruption, everyone be careful!" Xiao Yan warned, simultaneously summoning the Heaven Burning Sword, " Heavenly Flames - Wildfire!"
The six-colored flames transformed into a sea of fire, sweeping towards the Soul-Defiling Race. The sea of fire contained the gentle power of the Heart-Clearing Jade, which could purify spiritual pollution. When the Soul-Defiling Race came into contact with the flames, they immediately let out a shrill scream, and their black bodies continuously melted away in the flames.
However, the number of Soul-Defiling Race far exceeded expectations, and they could merge with the Heart-Corroding Black Water to teleport, constantly launching sneak attacks from all directions. One team member was accidentally splashed with Heart-Corroding Black Water on his arm, and his eyes instantly turned blood red, causing him to attack his companions nearby.
"Not good!" Xiao Yan hurriedly took action, his Heaven Burning Sword drawing a fiery arc to separate the team member from the Heart-Corroding Black Water, while simultaneously using the power of the Heart-Clearing Jade to purify the pollution within his body.
"This can't go on," Xiao Yan frowned slightly. "We must find the source of the Soul-Defiling Race!"
He activated the Heart of the Flame Realm, and the flames on the Heaven Burning Sword flickered slightly as he began to sense the flow of the Heart-Corroding Black Water. Soon, he discovered that all the black water originated from an iceberg in the center of the icy plains.
"Follow me!" Xiao Yan took the lead and charged towards the iceberg.
The most concentrated Heart-Corroding Black Water was around the iceberg, where dozens of enormous Soul-Defiling Race guarded the foot of the mountain. Their tentacles were wrapped with black runes, radiating an aura several times stronger than before.
"It's the Lord of Corrupted Souls!" a team member exclaimed.
Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened, and he instantly unleashed the first move of the Heaven Burning Nine Forms, " Heaven Burning Break." Six-colored flames condensed into a sharp flaming spear, instantly piercing through the defenses of a Filthy Soul Lord and pinning it to the ice mountain.
"Kill!"
The team members followed closely behind, their various laws intertwining as they engaged in a fierce battle with the Lord of Corrupted Souls. Xiao Yan seized the opportunity to rush up the ice mountain and discovered a huge black hole at the summit, from which Heart-Corroding Black Water was continuously gushing out.
"This is it!" Xiao Yan summoned the Soul-Suppressing Nail and threw it into the black hole. The Soul-Suppressing Nail lit up, emitting a powerful purifying force. The Heart-Corroding Black Water in the black hole instantly solidified and stopped flowing out.
Deprived of the nourishment of the black water, the aura of the corrupted soul lord at the foot of the mountain plummeted, and it was quickly wiped out by the team members.
Xiao Yan stood on the mountaintop, gazing at the gradually solidifying Heart-Corroding Black Water, but his brow remained furrowed. He could sense a familiar aura emanating from the depths of the black hole—similar to the core essence of the Law-Devouring Beast King, yet even colder and more eerie.
"It seems the Soul-Defiling Race is just the vanguard," Xiao Yan murmured. "The real main force is probably already on its way."
After clearing out the remaining Soul-Defiling Race of the Mystic Ice Realm, Xiao Yan left some of his team members to assist the local guardians in rebuilding their homes, while he led the main force back to the All-Heavens Hub.
After reporting the situation in the Mystic Ice Realm to the Grand Elder, the Grand Elder's expression became extremely solemn. "It seems the invasion of the Outer Realm Demons has begun. Issue the order: the All-Heavens Guard are to enter a state of high alert; all members must be ready to fight at any time!"
The alarm bells of the All-Heavens Hub rang out loudly, echoing throughout the entire nexus. Countless members of the All-Heavens Guard, dressed in black, poured out from every corner, and the light of laws intertwined above the nexus, forming an indestructible defensive barrier.
Standing on the Stargazing Platform, Xiao Yan gazed at the demonic anomalies constantly appearing in the All-Heavens Mirror, and gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly in his hand. On the sword, the inheritance of the Old Ghost Heaven Burning and the lingering will of Yun He seemed to resonate, giving him boundless power.
He knew that a great war sweeping across the heavens was inevitable. And he would stand at the forefront, using his sword to protect the world he cherished.
As night deepened, the light of the All-Heavens Hub shone brighter than ever before, like an inextinguishable star guiding the way through the endless void.