Chapter 13: Defeat the Flame Demon

Yuan Qing, upon hearing the noise, awoke from his recovery state and looked toward Xiao Yan standing beside him. Rising with a grateful expression, he clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully, saying,

"Thank you for saving my life. I am deeply grateful."

Yuan Qing naturally assumed that Xiao Yan had been lurking nearby, but now that Xiao Yan had rescued him, Yuan Qing felt compelled to ask further, "May I know your name?" Yet before he could finish, he sensed that a direct question might be inappropriate. Adopting a flattering tone, he continued, "I believe I know many scions of great families on this continent, but today I see that you, so young, have attained such strength. I am truly curious about which force you hail from. Please forgive my presumptuous inquiry."

Xiao Yan smiled in response to the thanks and then replied with equal cheer, "Haha, what you say is a bit ridiculous. To be honest, I am Xiao Yan, and I have only just arrived. I sensed fluctuations in fighting spirit here, so my curiosity brought me. I merely saw a half-human, half-ghost trying to kill you and decided to intervene. It was nothing more than convenience—nothing special."

Yuan Qing took this in stride. After all, they had only just met, and the fact that Xiao Yan had not taken advantage of him was enough for mutual pleasantries. However, as soon as Xiao Yan stated his name, the words reached the ears of the old Flame Demon, who had just emerged from a pile of rocks.

In an instant, the old demon's eyes flew open; he glared at Xiao Yan in shock, breathing heavily, his scarlet eyes flashing with greed and bloodthirst.

The old demon Yan Mo fixed his wide, scarlet gaze on Xiao Yan—as if fearing Xiao Yan might flee—and bellowed in a bloodthirsty tone, "Xiao Yan? So, your name is indeed Xiao Yan? Hehehehe! You have finally arrived. You really made me wait for you! Hehehehe!"

"Wait for me? I don't seem to have any business with you, do I?"

Xiao Yan frowned at these words. In that instant, a sense of entrapment surged within him—a dangerous feeling that made him think of the long-dead Emperor Hun Tian, as if the road ahead had been preordained by someone. His eyes turned colder as he fixed his gaze on the old demon Yan Mo.

"Hehehe, Xiao Yan, die!"

In a flash, the old Flame Demon moved to Xiao Yan's left and suddenly struck his head with an open palm. Xiao Yan countered by punching out with his right hand, meeting the attack head-on.

"Boom!"

Their fists collided with a resounding impact, sending a rolling wave of air cascading between them. Spatial cracks rippled through the void, and the ground beneath their feet crumbled inch by inch, forming a spiderweb of cracks several feet wide. Even the tall mountain nearby trembled slightly.

As their fists separated, Xiao Yan remained standing in the same spot. The ground beneath him had turned into a thick layer of dust that would swallow his feet if he stepped upon it—forcing him to stand in the void. The Flame Demon, engaged in the clash, was forced to retreat hundreds of steps before finally halting. He looked at Xiao Yan—standing resolute in the void—with a serious expression. In the earlier exchange, the Flame Demon had been suppressed from the start; he had been the aggressor, seizing the initiative. But when he felt the strength of Xiao Yan's fist, he realized the true meaning of initiative. Under Xiao Yan's absolute power, even if he and Yuan Qing united, they might not be able to prevail.

After pondering repeatedly, the old demon roared as if having made a crucial decision, "Mysterious Soul Devouring Palm!"

In response, the lean figure of the Flame Demon Old Ghost surged into the sky. His hands formed seals as fast as lightning, accompanied by waves of energy. The black mist that had mostly dissipated around him rose once more, enveloping his body in a thick protective shield.

Yet the assault was not over. The seals in the old demon's hands continued to change—faster now than before—using some unknown method to increase their speed in an instant. Judging by his trembling form, the price he paid was high. When Xiao Yan sensed the fluctuations of fighting spirit released from the seals, his expression grew solemn; it was clear that an extremely powerful fighting skill was being unleashed.

Unfortunately, although the distance between Xiao Yan and the Flame Demon Old Ghost was now short, the latter's speed suggested that by the time he closed in, he might already have prepared a devastating blow.

The old Flame Demon smirked cruelly as he observed the impending clash. In the next moment, he suddenly lunged down toward Xiao Yan and Yuan Qing.

Xiao Yan watched the old Flame Demon approach, and the solemn look on his face was quickly replaced by worry and anxiety. He glanced at Yuan Qing, whose expression was one of dejection. With a swift movement, Xiao Yan and Yuan Qing vanished from that spot and reappeared ten feet away, where they immediately erected a Dou Qi shield.

Yuan Qing regarded Xiao Yan—dressed in snow-white—with surprise and unspoken questions. Was there any difference between this place and where they had just been?

Then, with a resounding "Boom!" the old Flame Demon, now less than ten feet from Xiao Yan, paused in the void. The seals in his hand, which had been constantly shifting, suddenly became chaotic. In an instant, a violent energy storm, mingled with traces of soul power, bombarded the Dou Qi light shield that Xiao Yan had set up. The shield shuddered and buzzed. Just as Xiao Yan was about to dismantle the shield to assess the situation, a sudden misfortune struck.

A piercing pain, as if his head were splitting open, erupted from the depths of his soul's origin. Huo Yi, previously merged within Xiao Yan, suddenly emerged. Both clutched their heads and screamed.

However, Xiao Yan was a being whose soul power had reached the Emperor Realm—and also an accomplished alchemist. Promptly, his formidable soul power dispelled the pain.

Xiao Yan glanced at Huo Yi and Yuan Qing, who lay on the ground writhing in pain, frowned, and swung his sleeves forcefully. A potent soul force bombarded the two until they gradually recovered. Before Yuan Qing could fully recuperate, Xiao Yan drew Huo Yi back into his body. After all, Huo Yi was a spirit born of heaven and earth, and if others discovered his true nature, it would surely invite trouble.

When Yuan Qing eventually regained his senses, Xiao Yan was greatly surprised. Yuan Qing, having just come to, felt an overwhelming emptiness throughout his body. Were it not for Xiao Yan's immensely powerful soul power, he might have mistaken Yuan Qing for merely an incarnation.

Xiao Yan stared in astonishment at Yuan Qing, who appeared to have left his body—an occurrence impossible for a cultivator unless it was merely the release of soul power to sense the surroundings. Yuan Qing's phenomenon resembled that of his half-incarnation during the Nine Transformations, or perhaps it was akin to the state of powerful cultivators who died with their souls intact. Xiao Yan was about to inquire further, but then noticed Yuan Qing swiftly withdraw a jade bottle from his ring and vanish into it.

Xiao Yan watched, dazed, until Yuan Qing disappeared completely—leaving only a jade bottle behind. After blinking several times, the jade bottle flew toward Xiao Yan and landed in his hands. A weak voice then emerged from it as Yuan Qing said,

"Fellow Daoist Xiao Yan, please temporarily secure my soul in the ring for safekeeping. Thank you."

Without waiting for a reply, the voice faded, and Yuan Qing's soul slipped into a deep slumber.

"Huh?" Xiao Yan stared for a long while, wanting to speak but ultimately only sighing helplessly. He cradled the jade bottle in his arms and turned his attention to the black figure lying amid the ruins.

"Boom!"

With the sound of breaking rocks, the old Flame Demon reappeared. As soon as he emerged, he spat several mouthfuls of blood with a "puff." His entire body trembled as if on the brink of death.

The old demon's scarlet eyes burned with resentment as he glared at a black flame figure lying motionless just three feet away from Xiao Yan. That figure was none other than Hei Yan, who had arrived earlier than Xiao Yan. It was Hei Yan's sudden appearance that had disrupted the old demon's techniques and led to the severe backlash he now suffered.

Now, Xiao Yan was unharmed, but the old demon Yan Mo himself was gravely injured and could no longer fight. It was nearly impossible to capture Xiao Yan alive and exchange him for a reward, so the only option was to relay the news of Xiao Yan's arrival to the Ghost Killing Gate in hopes of trading it for something useful.

Harboring deep resentment, the old Flame Demon took advantage of the moment—when Xiao Yan was busy checking on Hei Yan's injuries—and fled swiftly.

With that, the conflict reached its temporary end, leaving behind a scene of shattered stone, spilled blood, and quiet ruin.