Xinyi did not look back.
She ran.
She ran as fast and as far as her legs could carry her, her breath ragged, her heart pounding violently in her chest, each step echoing with fear.
"If I want to save my child… I must run," she whispered to herself.
She did not know when everything went wrong.
She did not know how the enemy learned their secrets.
Nor did she know whether they already knew that Wang Yun had ascended.
All she knew was this—
Staying meant death.
Behind her, Wang Fang twisted his small head slightly.
His young eyes reflected a scene he would never forget.
Elder Mu Ziyan's head was severed in a flash of cold light.
Disciples of the Eternal Flame Sect were cut down like grass before a scythe.
Blood soaked the earth. One flame after another flickered… then died.
Fear seized Wang Fang's heart.
But beneath that fear—
Something else stirred.
So this is what you meant…
You mysterious being who allowed me to reincarnate…
Opportunity comes with survival through trials.
So this… is my trial.
This world is ruthless.
Cold.
Cruel.
Now I understand what my father meant…
Before he could finish his thought—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted behind them.
The shockwave roared like a collapsing mountain, swallowing everything in its path.
"Shhh—!"
Xinyi screamed as the force caught up to them.
Her body was thrown forward violently.
In that instant, she burned through every remaining drop of Qi, forming a barrier around Wang Fang and pulling him tightly against her chest.
The impact struck.
They were sent flying.
Far away—high above the battlefield—
The approaching cultivators of the Void Star Pavilion saw the explosion bloom across the land.
"What terrifying power…" several disciples muttered in shock.
Elder Du Qinghan's expression changed instantly.
"This is no ordinary explosion."
She was about to rush forward—
When several figures suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
"Hahaha… we've been waiting for you," a man said mockingly.
Du Qinghan narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you?"
The man smirked.
"We are from the Blood Sect. I am Yang Wu. And those over there—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Du Qinghan's voice turned cold.
"Finish your sentence. Who are they?"
Yang Wu hesitated for a fraction of a second, then sneered.
"The Silence Moon Sect."
Du Qinghan's heart sank.
Silence Moon Sect… they dared participate too?
She raised her hand sharply.
"All Void Star Pavilion disciples—draw your swords!"
Before the command could be completed—
The world froze.
A presence descended.
It had no physical body—only a vast spiritual form, oppressive and boundless, as if it existed between heaven and void.
"You dare… disturb me in my slumber?"
The voice thundered like divine lightning.
Everyone trembled.
"What—what is that?!"
"Who dares speak like that?!"
Yang Wu laughed nervously, forcing arrogance into his voice.
"Hah! Just a soul-form. The Blood Sect fears nothing!"
In the next instant—
His head fell.
So did every Blood Sect disciple beside him.
No screams.
No struggle.
Death arrived in a single blink.
The spiritual being stepped forward.
Each step seemed to land upon nothing, as though it walked upon the void itself.
Elder Du Qinghan's face drained of color.
She immediately bowed deeply.
"This junior apologizes for disturbing Senior. Please forgive us and our disciples."
Meanwhile, several Silence Moon Sect disciples whispered among themselves.
"It's only a soul…"
"He must have used an artifact."
"Yes—must be an artifact!"
But their sect general, Chan, said nothing.
His entire body trembled.
What Du Qinghan and Chan perceived…
…was not something a Blood Refinement Realm cultivator could ever comprehend.
The spiritual being spoke again, its voice calm yet absolute.
"Leave this region."
"Return only if you are prepared to leave this world forever."
Silence followed.
No one dared disobey.
Meanwhile—
Mo Wu and Hei Zun stood amid the ruins.
They had survived the explosion only by activating the protective artifact taken earlier from Feng Lu.
Mo Wu sneered coldly.
"They must be dead."
Hei Zun nodded confidently.
"Even I wouldn't have survived that blast without this artifact."
He looked around at the ashes, at the broken land.
"The Eternal Flame Sect… destroyed."
"Now," Mo Wu said, his eyes glinting with malice, "find the sect token."
"It will serve as proof.
"Proof that one of our oldest and most powerful enemies
has been erased