The moment the beam of light tore through the gray-black threads, the entire star trembled. The flames of the Heaven Burning Sword intertwined with the Power of Order, carving out a golden passage in the decaying ocean. The tentacle-like threads melted like ice and snow upon touching the light, emitting a sizzling sound.
"Those who blaspheme against Nirvana, die!"
The will emanating from the vortex carried unprecedented rage. The vortex, which had been rotating slowly, suddenly accelerated, and countless gray-black energy beams shot out like spears, each containing Power of Decay enough to make Transcendence Realm cultivator tremble.
Xiao Yan neither dodged nor evaded, but pushed the power of the "Balance" Seed to its limit. A gray-white light formed an indestructible barrier in front of him. The energy beams crashed into the barrier, producing a deafening roar, but they could not advance an inch.
"These things alone can't stop me!"
He let out a low shout, his figure moving like an arrow, rushing straight to the center of the vortex through the passage opened by the pillar of light. Along the way, the awakened Rotten Realm Spider surged in from all directions. They were no longer lazy as they were when they were sleeping, but had transformed into pure killing machines, their claws and fangs gleaming with the cold light of death.
Xiao Yan's Heaven Burning Sword was like a spinning wheel, with golden flames intertwined with emerald Power of Life. Each swing purified a large area. The Rotten Realm Spider touched by the power of the Seed of Life no longer had their bodies directly annihilated, but instead became strangely stiff and shattered, as if their life force had been instantly drained and forcibly given back, ultimately collapsing in contradiction.
This is a new move he created by combining three Seed of Creation— " Cycle of Life and Annihilation "—which uses the power of life to break through decay and the power of destruction to sever the root of the problem, specifically designed to counter the life forms of the Rotten Realm Spider.
After a fierce battle lasting half an hour, Xiao Yan finally reached the edge of the vortex. His armor was now riddled with cracks, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes burned with even greater intensity. At the center of the vortex, a fist-sized, dark gray crystal was slowly pulsating. Countless fine threads were wrapped around the crystal, connecting it to the very veins of the Sea of Deathly Silence —this was the Annihilation Origin Core.
The Power of Decay emanating from the source core had reached its limit, even causing the barrier formed by the Power of Order to slightly distort. Xiao Yan's sea of consciousness was also experiencing waves of stinging pain, as if countless voices were tempting him to give up his resistance and merge into this eternal annihilation.
"This is the origin of decay..." Xiao Yan gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly. The three Seed of Creation within the Heart of the Flame Realm pulsated violently, as if resisting the power of the Source Core. "No wonder it could give birth to the Rotten Realm Spider. This power... can directly distort the essence of life."
He took a deep breath, gathering the last vestige of Power of Order within him at the tip of his sword. "Genesis predecessors, forerunners, watch me!"
" Heaven Burning Nine Forms - Final Chapter - Order Heaven Burning!"
This sword strike embodies the creation of "life," the harmony of "balance," and the order of "order," and further incorporates his complete understanding of protection. The golden flames are no longer pure destruction, but transform into countless runes of order, surging towards the Annihilation Origin Core like a tide.
The instant the rune made contact with the source core, there was no earth-shattering explosion, only a silent contest. The gray-black threads on the source core twisted wildly, attempting to devour the rune; while the rune, like tenacious vines, tightly bound the source core, continuously infusing it with the Power of Order.
"No--!"
The will within the vortex let out a shrill roar, and the source core suddenly erupted with blinding black light, unleashing a Power of Decay far exceeding anything before, which backlashed at Xiao Yan. This power was too domineering; Xiao Yan's barrier of order shattered instantly, and he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the rocky wall of the star.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, and the light of the Heart of the Flame Realm dimmed slightly. But he did not give up, still using his will to control those order runes, clinging tightly to the source core.
"Even if it costs me my life, I will destroy you!"
A resolute glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. He slammed his chest and forcibly burned his own primordial essence. In an instant, his aura surged, and the three Seed of Creation in the Heart of the Flame Realm simultaneously erupted with unprecedented light. The order runes wrapped around the source core also surged, and the golden light almost swallowed the entire vortex.
"Laugh--!"
A crack appeared on the surface of the source core, from which a dark gray liquid seeped out—the source core's "blood." As the liquid flowed out, the entire Sea of Deathly Silence trembled violently, and the hissing in the Decaying Realm Spider Nest became chaotic and terrified, clearly indicating that the damage to the source core had also affected them.
"Now!"
Xiao Yan seized the opportunity, channeling all the power he gained from burning his essence into the Heaven Burning Sword. Dragging his battered body, he charged toward the source core once more, plunging the sword fiercely into the crack.
" Power of Order, give me—Break!"
Golden flames surged wildly from the sword tip into the source core, engaging in a final battle with its Origin of Decay. The source core throbbed violently, cracks spreading across its surface like a spiderweb, before finally shattering completely with a mournful cry of despair!
As the source core shattered, the entire Sea of Deathly Silence seemed to lose its support and began to slowly dissipate. The Rotten Realm Spider in the Decaying Realm Spider Nest lost their source of power and turned into ashes; the star debris stopped disintegrating and began to emit a faint light; even the gray-black ocean gradually became clear under the purification of the Power of Order.
Xiao Yan slumped to the ground, his power completely exhausted, the backlash from burning his essence blood causing his vision to blur. But as he watched the dissipating Sea of Deathly Silence, a relieved smile appeared on his face.
Finally... I did it.
Just then, a soft light descended from the sky, enveloping his body. He felt a familiar power healing his injuries. Looking up, he saw three phantom images of the Seed of Creation hovering above his head, and within the phantoms, the smiles of the Creators and Forerunners faintly appeared.
"Thank you all," Xiao Yan said softly, his consciousness gradually fading.
When he awoke again, he found himself lying in the Stargazing Hall of the All-Heavens Hub. Outside the window, the sun shone brightly, monks practiced in the square, and children's laughter was clear and melodious—a scene of peace.
The Grand Elder carried in the medicine and, seeing that he was awake, smiled with relief, "You're awake, little one. The Sea of Deathly Silence has completely dissipated, and the barriers of law All Heavens and Myriad Realms are stronger than ever before."
Xiao Yan sat up and felt that although the power in his body had not fully recovered, the three Seed of Creation in the Heart of the Flame Realm were more rounded and their connection with the Core of the All-Heavens was becoming closer.
Is it all over?
"At least for now, it's over." The Grand Elder sat beside him, his eyes filled with emotion. "But no one knows what the future holds. However, I believe that as long as there are guardians like you, the heavens will never lose hope."
Xiao Yan looked out the window, the sunlight shining on his face, warm and bright. He knew that the road of protection had no end, and perhaps there would be new challenges in the future, but he was ready.
Because his sword not only burns with flames, but also carries the order and hope of the heavens.
He gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly in his hand, its blade gleaming in the sunlight, reflecting a brand new future belonging to the guardians.