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In the dim void, energies of various colors floated erratically, occasionally stirred by sharp gales.
Rumble… Deafening thunder continuously resounded, and a boundless lightning pool illuminated the darkness. The silver-white lightning bolts resembled dancing dragons and snakes.
Within the lightning pool, the lightning had turned deep black; this was Black Demon Lightning, each bolt possessing power that even a Dou Saint would not dare to ignore. Deeper still, at the very core of the lightning pool, a golden giant dragon lay coiled.
A dark-skinned, iron tower-like strong man arrived at the edge of the lightning pool, his eyebrow raised as he gazed at the surging lightning snakes ahead:
"Hmph, I never expected such a place to exist in the void. It seems I really shouldn't stay cooped up at home for too long; I need to go out and explore more… I wonder how many good things I've missed."
The strong man strode towards the center of the lightning pool. The thunder seemed to be enraged by his actions, rushing towards him in competition.
But these lightning bolts, imbued with terrifying energy, seemed to encounter a black hole when they approached the strong man, instantly being absorbed by him.
Soon, he passed through the silver-white lightning layer and arrived at the area where the Black Demon Lightning raged.
One after another, Black Demon Lightning bolts struck, yet they seemed no different from the ordinary lightning before, leaving no marks on his body.
The strong man opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and actually swallowed a large area of Black Demon Lightning ahead like a whale.
"Hahaha, these are more invigorating," he laughed, continuing forward, a satisfied smile appearing on his face when he saw the terrifying Nine Profound Golden Lightning emanating from the center.
"Not bad, not bad. Refining you might allow me to advance further… I heard someone refined a ninth grade golden pill at the Yao Ceremony before. I really regret not going then; otherwise, if I had obtained the Nine Profound Golden Lightning from the pill's completion, I should also be able to become one of the most peak existences in this world."
The golden lightning dragon sensed the threat, changing its original prostrate posture, raising its dragon head, and letting out a deafening roar at the strong man.
A lightning ball condensed in its mouth, transforming into a beam of light that burst forth.
The strong man waved his right hand, directly dispersing the beam of light. He took a step forward, instantly appearing above the golden giant dragon's head.
"Lightning Tribulation Palm!"
The rough, broad palm slammed down fiercely, lightning gathering in its palm to form a lightning cloud reduced countless times in size. The lightning cloud trembled like a beating heart, and a lightning glow palm print burst forth from within the lightning cloud, striking the giant dragon's head.
The giant dragon, formed by the Nine Profound Golden Lightning, wailed and collapsed to the ground.
The strong man formed a hand seal, and dark golden lightning glow emerged from his body, transforming into a dark cloud that enveloped the giant dragon.
The golden giant dragon struggled incessantly, but to no avail. This dark cloud seemed like an unbreakable prison, firmly trapping it.
The dark cloud contracted, continuously shrinking, finally returning to the strong man's chest and disappearing.
...
In the Soul Realm, a towering mountain peak stood on a vast, empty plain. The expansive plain was barren, with only brown rocks of varying sizes exposed on the ground.
The entire Soul Realm was filled with a chilling aura, with only this particular spot having a hint of dryness in the air.
Tiny black lines permeated the air, these black lines resembling greedy insects, constantly devouring the energy between heaven and earth.
At the top of the mountain peak, black flames burned quietly. The sky was dim, devoid of any sound, as if even light and sound had been swallowed by the black flames.
In the middle of the flames, a black figure covered in mysterious runes sat quietly. He slowly exhaled and stood up.
Void Swallowing Flame had just consumed a Ninth-Rank Mysterious Pill, completely healing his injuries, but the lost origin could not be compensated. He still remained at the peak of an Eight-Star Dou Saint, not having fully recovered.
"Indeed, without reaching Nine-Star Dou Saint, it's too difficult to completely seal off the large spaces where ancient races reside."
Previously, the Soul Clan, taking advantage of the Gu Clan's attention being diverted by the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and their relaxed surveillance, annihilated the Shi Clan.
The sealing of the space was accomplished by Void Swallowing Flame and the Three Sword Saints together, but even with their combined efforts, the sealing was extremely difficult, almost allowing the Shi Clan's patriarch to escape.
Hun Xunzi's figure emerged behind Void Swallowing Flame. He bowed slightly, respectfully saying:
"Our actions have probably been discovered by the Gu Clan. After all, due to the fall of the Four Demon Saints, to compensate for the lack of combat power, we dispatched a considerable number of forces, making too much of a commotion."
"Is that so? What does Hun Tiandi plan to do next?" Void Swallowing Flame asked.
Hun Xunzi replied, already prepared: "The patriarch said to temporarily hold back and see how the Gu Clan will respond…
"If they don't immediately gather forces to attack, then we will seize the opportunity to snatch the Nether Lotus Demon Flame.
"The patriarch himself will act. After defeating the Nether Lotus Demon Flame, he will give its origin to you to help you return to your peak."
Void Swallowing Flame pondered for a moment, then nodded:
"Nether Lotus's origin, huh… It's worth a try. Even if he has been imprisoned by the Nether Lotus Saint, he shouldn't be too weak."
...
Deep within the Heavenly Tomb, Xun'er looked at the ancient stone tablet with a faint sense of worry.
Two and a half years had passed since Xiao Yan entered seclusion, but there was still no movement from within. Time was almost up.
Once the time was up, the Heavenly Tomb would forcibly send people out. If one was still cultivating at that time, they would be forcibly interrupted, not only wasting the opportunity but also potentially causing a backlash.
"Don't be impatient, trust him. All we can do is wait." Xiao Xuan, sitting cross-legged on top of the stone tablet, smiled and comforted her, then closed his eyes again.
The last time he fought with the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb, he seemed relaxed, but in reality, he had overdrawn his strength. Although the consequences were not as severe as self-igniting his soul, he was still seriously injured.
After this period of recovery, he was somewhat better, but there were still faint cracks on his body, as if he could collapse at any moment.
Just then, a vast spirit power permeated from within the stone tablet, and a terrifying pressure surged outwards, overwhelming everything.
Xun'er, caught off guard, turned pale. Under this pressure, she felt as if her soul was about to be crushed.
Xiao Xuan came to her side, shielding her from the pressure, his eyes revealing a look of pleasant surprise. This was the pressure belonging to the Emperor Realm; Xiao Yan had succeeded!
The stone tablet emitted a ray of light, and Xiao Yan slowly walked out, the pressure on his body gradually receding. However, he still lacked some refinement and could not control it freely, with an unmistakable layer of spirit power constantly lingering around his body.
Upon seeing his ancestor, Xiao Yan respectfully bowed: "Thank you, Ancestor, for your guidance. I have not failed you!"
"Hahaha… Good, good." Xiao Xuan revealed a relieved smile. He scrutinized Xiao Yan for a moment, then his gaze became somewhat peculiar, lingering on his shiny bald head.
Xiao Yan: "..."
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