The sky above the Black Domain was torn apart by golden flames and green evil light. Driven by the evil light, the remnant souls surged toward Xiao Yan like a tide. These remnant souls contained a strong resentment and corrosive power. They crashed into the flame barrier and made a "sizzling" sound. The light on the surface of the barrier dimmed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"You think you can stop the Ten Thousand Soul Devour the Heart with just this little flame?" The Void Envoy's voice was mocking. He pressed down hard with his right hand, and the evil power in the black crystal surged again. The phantom of the remnant soul instantly condensed into a giant lion made of resentment. The giant lion roared, and the black liquid dripping from its fangs could easily corrode the space.
Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn. The Heaven Burning Sword spun rapidly in his hand, six-colored flames flowing along the sword's patterns, condensing into a spiraling flame tornado in front of him. " Heaven Burning Nine Forms - Sixth Form - Heaven Burning Spiral!"
The fiery tornado, with its all-consuming power, collided with the vengeful lion. Golden flames continuously purified the vengefulness, while the lion's fangs tore at the flames frantically, and for a moment, it was impossible to determine which was stronger.
"Interesting." The black hole in the Void Envoy's left eye suddenly expanded, and a suction force several times stronger than before erupted from the black hole. Xiao Yan felt that the Law of Flame in his body was being forcibly pulled out, and even the tremors of the Heaven Burning Sword became disordered.
"This is... spatial devouring?" Xiao Yan was shocked and quickly circulated the power of the Heart-Clearing Jade to stabilize the laws. He could sense that the Void Envoy's methods were far more complex than those of the Law-Devouring Beast King and the Soul-Eroding Monarch. The opponent could not only control evil objects, but also had a strange control over the laws of space.
"Try this." The Void Envoy raised his left hand, and several black spatial rifts appeared out of thin air around Xiao Yan. Countless bone claws extended from the rifts, attempting to drag him into the void.
Xiao Yan tapped his toes, his body spinning like a top. The Heaven Burning Sword drew a golden arc, and wherever the arc passed, spatial rifts were burned and closed by flames, and the bone claws were reduced to ashes. "Trying to trap me? Not enough!"
He seized the moment the crack closed, his body suddenly accelerating, the Heaven Burning Sword pointing directly at the Void Envoy's brow. On the sword, the prototype of the seventh move was taking shape—this move was created by him by combining the " Flame Realm Collapse " in the remnant of the Flame God with the insights of the Old Ghost Heaven Burning, named " Heaven Burning Explosion ", which uses the compression of the Law of Flame as a price to obtain the ultimate explosive power in an instant.
"You're courting death!" The Void Envoy's eyes flashed with green light, the black crystal suddenly shattered, and countless evil forces surged into his body. His body began to twist, and dense black scales appeared on his skin. Six pairs of bone wings sprouted from his back, and he completely transformed into a half-human, half-demon form.
"This is my true form!" the Void Envoy roared, flapping its bone wings and instantly appearing in front of Xiao Yan. Its sharp claws, carrying the power to tear apart laws, fiercely grabbed at Xiao Yan's heart.
At the critical moment, Xiao Yan fully activated the " Heaven Burning Explosion ".
The six-colored flames, compressed to their limit, exploded at the tip of the sword, forming a miniature fire singularity. The space around the singularity twisted violently, and the golden flames, like a raging dragon breaking free of its restraints, erupted outwards from Xiao Yan. This power was so violent that even he himself was shaken, his blood surging and blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. But in return, he gained an impact force powerful enough to tear apart any defense.
"Pfft!"
The fiery singularity collided with the Void Envoy's claws, instantly shattering the scales on the claws. Golden flames spread along the claws, igniting half of his body. The Void Envoy let out a shrill scream, thrown backward by the impact, crashing into the remaining bone altar, causing it to collapse again.
"You... you actually managed to hurt me?" The Void Envoy was both shocked and furious, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. He could feel the golden flames constantly devouring the evil power within his body, a power that even the laws of space could not suppress.
Xiao Yan gave him no chance to catch his breath, enduring the excruciating pain of the backlash, and pressed forward. Although the flames on the Heaven Burning Sword were weakened by the " Heaven Burning Explosion," the gentle power of the Heart-Clearing Jade was constantly repairing the sword, making the flames more resilient.
"Prepare to die!" Xiao Yan slashed out with his sword, and flames transformed into a long whip, wrapping around the bone wings of the Void Envoy.
"Don't even think about it!" A resolute glint flashed in the Void Envoy's eyes. He ripped off the bound bone wings, black blood spurting out, and his figure, using the recoil, transformed into a wisp of black smoke, fleeing into the depths of the Black Domain. "Boy, I'll remember this grudge! When the demonic army descends, I will grind you to dust!"
The black smoke moved extremely fast, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Yan did not give chase. He knew that in his current state, forcibly pursuing would only lead to greater danger, and the situation deep within the Black Domain was unknown, so it was not advisable to act rashly.
"Deputy Commander, are you alright?" The team members quickly surrounded him, and seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, they all looked worried.
"I'm fine." Xiao Yan waved his hand, circulating his spiritual power to suppress the churning blood within his body. "Immediately clear away the remaining Soul-Devouring Vine and purify the altar remnants with the Soul-Suppressing Nail. We must leave the Black Domain as soon as possible."
The group immediately sprang into action. Without the control of the Void Envoy and the energy support of the black crystal, the Soul-Devouring Vine's activity decreased significantly, and it withered rapidly under the purification of " Heaven Burning Purification." The team members evenly inserted the Soul-Suppressing Nail into the altar ruins; the runes lit up, and the remaining evil power was completely suppressed.
As the last Soul-Devouring Vine turned to ashes, the sky above the Black Domain seemed to brighten slightly. Xiao Yan gazed in the direction the Void Envoy had fled, his brows still furrowed.
The Void Envoy's final words served as a warning—the army of demons was not far off.
Upon returning to the All-Heavens Hub, Xiao Yan immediately reported his encounter in the Black Domain to the Grand Elder and the Blazing Sun Realm Lord. When he heard the words " Void Envoy," the Grand Elder's expression became extremely solemn.
"It really is them." The Grand Elder sighed. " The Void Envoy are the core fighting force of the Outer Realm Demons, the ' Shadow Clan.' Each messenger possesses at least three different evil arts and can establish contact with the demon army's ' Void Mothership.' It seems the real invasion is just around the corner."
"Then what should we do?" the Blazing Sun Realm Lord asked in a deep voice, "Should we summon all the Sovereign and launch a preemptive purge of the Black Domain?"
The Grand Elder shook his head. "No. The Shadow Clan excels at concealment and ambush; a hasty extermination would only alert them. The most urgent task is to quickly perfect the ' All-Heavens Defensive Array ' and accelerate the training of the Realm Lord Realm cultivators, especially those skilled in purification and defense laws."
He looked at Xiao Yan: " Xiao Yan, the fact that you were able to injure the Void Envoy this time proves that your Law of Flame have a special restraining effect on demons. From today onwards, in addition to being in charge of the affairs of the Stargazing Platform, you will also serve as the head instructor of the ' Purification Camp,' teaching your fire purification techniques to more team members."
"Yes!" Xiao Yan solemnly accepted the order.
In the days that followed, Xiao Yan became exceptionally busy. During the day, he taught the key points of " Heaven Burning Purification " at the Purification Camp, and felt somewhat gratified as he watched the team members' purification abilities gradually improve. At night, he guarded the Stargazing Platform, studying the last two forms of the Heaven Burning Nine Forms while closely monitoring the movements in the All-Heavens Mirror.
He could sense that the atmosphere in All Heavens and Myriad Realms was becoming increasingly tense. More and more news of demonic invasions was coming from the smaller worlds. Although they were all suppressed in time by the All-Heavens Guard, the types and numbers of demons were constantly increasing, and some figures that looked like Shadow Clan scouts even appeared.
Late that night, Xiao Yan was practicing his sword techniques at the Stargazing Platform when the All-Heavens Mirror suddenly trembled again. An unfamiliar Star Domain appeared in the mirror, and in the center of the Star Domain, a huge warship made of black metal was slowly taking shape. The surface of the warship was covered with evil runes of the same origin as those of the Void Envoy, and it was surrounded by countless small flying vehicles—the very " Void Mothership " that the Void Envoy had mentioned.
At the bow of the mothership, a familiar figure stood proudly—the Void Envoy who had escaped. He seemed to sense the All-Heavens Mirror ' spying, looked up at the outside of the mirror, a strange smile playing on his lips, and then slowly raised his right hand, pointing towards the All-Heavens Hub.
"Warning! Warning! High-intensity spatial fluctuations detected!" The Stargazing Platform's alarm suddenly sounded.
Xiao Yan's pupils shrank sharply. He could clearly feel a terrifying spatial tearing force rapidly approaching the All-Heavens Hub —it was the Void Mothership's " Space Cannon "!
"Quick! Activate the highest defense!" Xiao Yan roared, simultaneously summoning the Heaven Burning Sword and pouring all the power of the laws within his body into it.
Golden flames shot into the sky, merging with the defensive barrier of the All-Heavens Hub.
The next moment, a black beam of light pierced through the heavens and earth, traversing endless void and slamming heavily into the defensive barrier.
The entire All-Heavens Hub trembled violently, and countless runes of law shattered inch by inch under the impact of the pillar of light.
The great war broke out ahead of schedule.