In the Heavenly SkyFire Realm, flames soared into the sky. A crimson light shot up to the heavens, and within it, a massive immortal city manifested in the void. Crimson flames engulfed the entire city, making it appear like a sea of fire. The sight was so overwhelming that it shook the soul, leaving one unable to calm their heart.
Within the city, upon a massive throne of flames, a majestic figure sat upright, radiating an invisible pressure—none other than the SkyFire Emperor. Above his head in the void, an enormous cloud of golden merit hovered. Upon that cloud stood the true spirit of fate belonging to the Fire Clan—a colossal deity enveloped entirely in flames.
It had the shape of a human, similar to the Human Race, but beneath its feet coiled a fire dragon, exuding an awe-inspiring aura as if it could burn down the sea of heaven itself. This was the progenitor of the Fire Clan—the Flame Ancestor. Legend said he was born from primordial fire itself, able to gather into human form or scatter into a boundless sea of fire. His might was unparalleled, capable of destroying heaven and earth. He was truly invincible.
Naturally, the Fire Clan's Empire dynasty used their Flame Ancestor as their true spirit of fate.
And now, that spirit shone with unmatched majesty, sweeping across the world.
"That's the SkyFire Emperor!"
"That city must be Heavenly Fire City, the Emperor capital of the SkyFire Dynasty. It's said this city possesses unimaginable power—even Dao Platform realm cultivators can't easily shake its defenses."
Niu Gao and Xue Kunlun exchanged glances, both seeing the same heaviness in each other's eyes.
Even though the SkyFire Dynasty was fated to fall, they dared not underestimate the SkyFire Emperor. He was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse. As the ruler of a fate-bound dynasty, he deserved the respect and gravity owed to any true emperor.
"I am the ruler of the SkyFire Dynasty—the SkyFire Emperor."
"Today, the SkyFire Dynasty shall perish. My people may withdraw and escape. But as the emperor, I shall die with my nation."
"Yi Sage King, come forth and fight!"
"Even if I die today, I shall still be… the SkyFire Emperor."
He looked calmly in the direction of Da Yi, speaking each word with steady clarity. Within his voice burned the unyielding will of an emperor. He could have retreated to the ancestral court. But he would not. As the emperor, his people could flee—he could not. If he left, he would never be able to live with himself. He would be tormented day and night by his conscience, asking, "Why did you abandon your people?"
Even if he survived, he would merely be living in disgrace.
And that—he would never accept.
Even if he died, he would die as the ruler of a dynasty, a sovereign emperor. As a king, he would rather fall in battle than flee. He would rather stand and die than kneel and live.
If he was to die, then let it be a death befitting an emperor.
He had once withdrawn from the battlefield because there were still matters left unresolved. But now—there was nothing left to hold him back. He had accepted death.
Of course, if he was to die, he would prefer to fall by Yi Tianxing's hand.
In the void, atop the Iron-Blood Great Wall, the Emperor War Chariot tore through the sky. Yi Tianxing stood tall upon it, gazing toward the SkyFire Emperor. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:
"You and I are enemies. There is no right or wrong—only victory and defeat.If you wish to battle, then I, the Sage King, shall personally send you on your way."
"Good. Yi Sage King lives up to his name. This time, my defeat is not in vain.Since you're willing to grant me my final wish, then I shall leave this Heavenly Fire City to Da Yi.It is the greatest treasure of the SkyFire Dynasty."
The SkyFire Emperor smiled upon seeing Yi Tianxing appear and burst into hearty laughter.
Indeed, the Heavenly Fire City was the SkyFire Dynasty's most prized treasure. That was no exaggeration. Any Emperor city of a fate-bound dynasty could rival the mightiest artifacts, even comparable to the Eternal Heaven Ark. Not even innate spiritual treasures could destroy such a city. It contained many miraculous powers—its value was immeasurable.
If Yi Tianxing had not arrived, the SkyFire Emperor would have destroyed it himself at the last moment, letting it die with him. But now that Yi Tianxing was here, he would gift the city to Da Yi—as a token of respect, and as a final gift of dignity.
It was a cost the emperor was willing to bear.
He was an emperor, and he would die by the hand of another emperor—Yi Tianxing.
This was the pride and dignity of a ruler.
Yi Tianxing naturally understood the hidden meaning in his words. He glanced at Heavenly Fire City and nodded internally. Such an Emperor city was exceedingly difficult to forge, and its value was astronomical. If it were destroyed, it would be a massive loss. Gaining it intact would be a tremendous boon.
"As the ruler of a dynasty, I must personally send you off.Even without the Heavenly Fire City, I would do the same.To respect you is also to respect myself."
Yi Tianxing spoke calmly.
The SkyFire Emperor's choice was worthy of the title of emperor. He deserved this respect.
"Very good. This battle will be the last of my life.I, the SkyFire Emperor, have no regrets—fight!!"
He threw his head back and laughed wildly, stepping forward without hesitation.
Boom!
Above him, a crimson cloud of auspicious light appeared. Within it, heavenly fire churned. Fire dragons flickered through the flames—this was the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Cloud. Atop it stood a towering altar radiating a domineering aura.
The altar had five levels, each emanating a different kind of flame energy. It was clearly forged with various rare fire-type materials, each distinct in origin, but fused into a unique Great Dao. The aura was that of a flame emperor—noble and awe-inspiring.
Atop the altar burned a five-colored divine flame. Within it coiled a five-colored fire dragon—this was the source of the emperor's power: the Five-Colored Heavenly Fire, which contained the five elements within.
With the five elements present, nothing could escape its flames. It was peerlessly tyrannical.
Even a single strand of aura emanating from the altar distorted the surrounding space. Ordinary people looking directly at it would cough up blood from the pressure. It was a crushing force of absolute difference in levels—a fundamental transformation in the essence of life.
"My name… is the Heavenly Fire Emperor."
"This strike… is the Heavenly Fire Doomsday Blade!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The emperor stood from his throne and stepped forward. Behind him, fire surged. Beneath his feet, the road of no return stretched out. With each step, his aura rose dramatically.
First step: flames erupted from his body.
Second step: his body turned into a flame blade—man and blade became one.
Third step: the divine fire cloud merged with the blade, fire dragons dancing on its surface.
Fourth step: the Fire Altar merged into the blade, Five Elements Fire burst forth in five-colored light.
Fifth step: the massive blade rapidly grew, and the dynasty's fate and merit surged into it like a tide.
100 zhang…300 zhang…800 zhang…In the blink of an eye, it reached over 10,000 zhang.
The giant flaming blade nearly connected heaven and earth, radiating a terrifying sense of destruction—a blade to shatter heaven, to burn the world. It contained not only sword intent but a devastating flame Dao—a world-ending will, a power ordained by the heavens.
Supreme Divine Ability — Heavenly Fire Doomsday Blade!!
Infused with the entire foundation of the Fire Dynasty, this blade was like a solid force of nature. It was destruction incarnate.
"I would die if I faced that blade," Xue Kunlun said gravely."Terrifying… Truly, no emperor is ever simple.Push them to their limits, and they can destroy the world."
Even a Dao Platform cultivator would be annihilated instantly. Even a Dao-Proving powerhouse would not dare to meet it head-on. It was truly a world-ending blade.
In the void, fire covered the sky. Endless waves of fire surged.
Sun and moon lost their light.
"Good!!"
Yi Tianxing nodded solemnly and uttered a single word.
"I have a blade… that can split light from darkness."
As he spoke, a pair of black-and-white scissors appeared before him. They split the air, transforming into two flood dragons—one black, one white. The primal Dao of Yin and Yang naturally emanated from their bodies.
The dragons danced and intertwined through the sky. Each time they crossed, a golden dragon-shaped arc tore through the void, slicing space itself. All creation dimmed before it.
Innate Yin-Yang Eyes — Yin-Yang Shears!!
The twin flood dragons clashed directly with the Heavenly Fire Doomsday Blade.
DING!CRACK!
A crisp sound rang out—like metal striking metal—followed by a sharp shattering noise, as if something had been split.
The twin dragons vanished into the void.
All that remained was the massive flaming blade—now frozen in place.
Silence spread across heaven and earth.
"What a divine ability… I concede."
From within the flaming blade came a quiet voice.
Then came a final cry to the heavens:
"My name… is Tiānhuǒ (Heavenly Fire)!!"
With that, the massive blade shattered. The void became a sea of flames.
Within that sea, a broken altar burned.
Atop it—only a single flame remained.