On the ground, Jinyao was protecting his daughters. Cao Yun's flying swords were focused on them to defend them, while the three leaders and Shaman Heiyan were fending off other attackers with minimal help from Cao Yun. To be fair, Shaman Heiyan had more help than the three brothers. Moreover, they were all much more powerful than Jinyao. That being said, they wouldn't be able to keep on fighting for very long. It was pretty obvious that the Raging Volcano tribe was about to win.
Sadly, a few Flameborns from the Ancient Obsidian tribe had already been injured or even killed during the chaotic fight. Even Cao Yun couldn't protect everyone, nor did he want to save absolutely everyone. He had made peace with this. Cao Yun wasn't a child hoping to bring salvation to all. However, he knew that he was now strong enough to actually choose his fate and uphold his will.
In the air, Cao Yun could feel that Hongyu would probably arrive too late. At the same time, he was facing Rong Shan. The chieftain had exhaled incredibly hot air, but it wasn't meant to just push Cao Yun away. The air also came out of his own body. Slowly, parts of his body turned into literal fire. A golden crown appeared above his head, made of molten metal. Ten large wings of fire erupted and covered all the sky. Rong Shan had almost become a star, illuminating the world around him. Incredible heat spread all over the place. Besides the heat, there was a kingly aura. Everyone felt the need to prostrate themselves toward the essence of Fire itself.
Rong Shan had clearly gone all-out. He didn't want to let this fight linger and was ready to eradicate Cao Yun now that he had seen his actual strength. Assuming that Rong Shan wasn't hiding anything else, Cao Yun was now certain that he wouldn't be able to win. There was absolutely no doubt anymore. Even now, he barely saw any opening. If they had been outside of the Broken Fire World, Cao Yun was confident. But here, the Dao of Fire was much too strong, and Cao Yun's meager understanding would fail him. Thus, he had no other choice.
For a short moment, Cao Yun wondered if he should keep on fighting in order to assess his opponent and learn more about the Dao of Fire and how Rong Shan used it. In the end, he didn't want to endanger the lives of Jinyao and his daughters any longer than necessary. There was no need to take such a risk. Although the Broken Fire World gave a huge advantage to Rong Shan, the Ancient Obsidian tribe had already given Cao Yun absolute hegemony over all Flameborns. In this place, Cao Yun had no way of losing.
Suddenly, Cao Yun flew higher and higher. Rong Shan thought he was trying to flee and was about to pursue when Cao Yun stopped all of a sudden. He was observing the entire battleground. His spiritual senses spread all over the place, and his voice directly entered the minds of everyone.
"Rong Shan, I gave your Raging Volcano tribe a way of surviving. You could have become one of the most powerful and influential tribes in the Broken Fire World. Instead, you chose obliteration. Your Raging Volcano tribe will disappear in the raging fires of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. From your ashes, my ancestor's tribe will be reborn. The Ancient Obsidian tribe will spread far and recover the glory it lost. It will know victory.
"You had your chance. You should have taken it. But do not worry, the Ancient Obsidian tribe won't be cruel in victory. Those who submit will be spared and will know glory and prosperity. All those who oppose us will suffer the same fate you will encounter this very day. If you have any last words, Chieftain Rong Shan, let them echo, or stay silent for all eternity as you reunite with the eternal furnace."
Rong Shan's men were scoffing and almost laughing. However, Rong Shan could sense something sinister. He couldn't really put his finger on it, but he knew that Cao Yun was preparing something. So he acted immediately, without leaving Cao Yun any time to do anything. Unfortunately for him, it was already too late.
The ground below shook. Powerful tremors literally sent shock waves through the air. Many days ago, Cao Yun had done something to this place. Obviously, Dian Mo remembered, but he wasn't completely sure what Cao Yun had done until now. Suddenly, words from Emperor Nuwa emerged in his thoughts, and he realized that Cao Yun had always controlled the situation. Indeed, no one could challenge him within the confines of the Ancient Obsidian tribe. To be more accurate, no Flameborn could challenge Cao Yun's authority here and survive.
Intense tongues of fire erupted from the ground and flew directly into Cao Yun's hand. The very next instant, Cao Yun was holding a broken spear instead of his own 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear'. It was a golden rod that could almost be completely covered by both of Cao Yun's hands. And yet, everyone could somehow guess that it was supposed to be a spear. Strange engravings on the golden rod depicted the pieces of a star flying apart as if the star itself had been shattered. All the Flameborns felt a terrifying presence as the broken spear shaft appeared in Cao Yun's hand. Rong Shan literally stopped midair. Even Shaman Heiyan, who knew what Cao Yun was, couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Among everyone else, Shaman Heiyan was the only one to have a clue as to what had just happened.
With his spiritual senses and array formations, Cao Yun felt a stir underground. The old presence under the Ancient Obsidian tribe got excited. But Cao Yun didn't care at all. He wielded the Sun-Severing Spear, Emperor Nuwa's most powerful weapon ever. At the very least, within the Broken Fire World, no known weapon could hold a candle to the Sun-Severing Spear. When it was wielded within the confines of the Ancient Obsidian tribe's ancestral grounds, it was absolute. Even a God would have been afraid of such a weapon when it had been complete. Despite its current state, the Sun-Severing Spear was still powerful enough to protect Cao Yun from everyone within the Broken Fire World, in particular the Flameborns.
"Rong Shan, you've been warned. You always chose death and destruction. Although I offered you life and prosperity, you were unable to discern the path to survival. By the authority of the Ash Bringer, I bring upon you the ultimate judgment. Let your life fire flow back into the eternal furnace!"
Then, Cao Yun just raised the Sun-Severing Spear. At this very moment, Rong Shan was seized with terror and awe. He could literally feel his life slipping away from him. His life fire itself was being pulled toward the Sun-Severing Spear. The flames he had summoned, which were his actual body turned into flames, were slowly being sucked into the Sun-Severing Spear. Terrified, Rong Shan tried to fly away, but the pull became stronger and stronger. The more Rong Shan tried to fly away, the stronger the pull on his very life.
On the ground, all the Flameborns were terrified as well. Only Shaman Heiyan knew what the Sun-Severing Spear was. According to legends, the Ash Bringer had a mystical weapon that could snuff out any fire. Nothing made of flames could resist it. Since Flameborns were quite literally beings of pure fire, this weapon was their bane. Unfortunately, this weapon had been shattered, and most of it had been destroyed. Even the Ancient Obsidian tribe had been convinced that the weapon was lost.
What Shaman Heiyan didn't know was that Cao Yun had spent many days looking for pieces of this weapon throughout the Ancient Obsidian tribe. Using Emperor Nuwa's notes, he knew exactly where to look because she had hidden it before leaving the Broken Fire World. Despite its current state, this weapon was still incredible. Sadly, it was almost useless outside of the Broken Fire World. Otherwise, Emperor Nuwa would have kept on using it against Demon God Da Mo on the Piaolu planet. Because she didn't need it anymore, she left it behind in several pieces, ensuring that no one could find it without her approval.
After some time, Cao Yun had found all the remaining pieces. Earlier, he had placed the pieces in the ground, getting ready to summon the Sun-Severing Spear in order to deal with Rong Shan if need be. Of course, Cao Yun would have preferred to solve this situation by any other means. In fact, he even would have preferred a fight. Unfortunately, he knew that he couldn't beat Rong Shan, and he certainly couldn't defeat everyone at the same time. Even if Cao Yun hadn't lost, which was more than likely, Rong Shan would have lived and would have become a threat. Thus, it was better to get rid of him just as Cao Yun had gotten rid of his son.
Rong Shan was screaming in frustration and anguish as his entire being was quite literally sucked into the Sun-Severing Spear. For everyone below, it was absolutely terrifying and chilling. All fights had stopped. Even the Flameborns of the Ancient Obsidian tribe were scared of Cao Yun at this moment. Shaman Heiyan and Jinyao's family were the only ones who didn't fear Cao Yun. Shaman Heiyan had always been expecting something as brutal and tyrannical from a descendant of the Ash Bringer, while Jinyao and his daughters trusted Cao Yun.
In a few seconds, Rong Shan had been completely swallowed by the Sun-Severing Spear. A very powerful Flameborn had been unable to do anything as his very body was being consumed whole. Obviously, no one here could face Cao Yun. Or rather, no one could face the Sun-Severing Spear Cao Yun was holding. The human had only won through treachery and trickery. Besides, he had committed a horrendous crime by snuffing out their chieftain's fire. Not even ashes remained of their chieftain. Ashes were so important to Flameborns that it felt like desecrating a corpse. Cao Yun could have flayed the corpse of a king before his very capital, and his crime wouldn't have been as severe.
All the Flameborns of the Raging Volcano tribe were enraged. Many of them abandoned their fight and flew toward Cao Yun to slay the abomination. Without an ounce of hesitation, Cao Yun triggered the Sun-Severing Spear once again. This time, the pull was even stronger, as if Rong Shan's flames had whetted the Sun-Severing Spear's appetite. It wanted more, and it would be satisfied. Suddenly, all the Flameborns attacking Cao Yun felt a terrible pull on their life fire. Even now that they knew what to expect, the force was unbearable and irresistible. All of their flames were swallowed by the Sun-Severing Spear in a matter of breaths, not even seconds. Their entire bodies followed soon after.
In less than a minute, everyone from the Raging Volcano tribe had been obliterated. At the very least, all those who had attacked Cao Yun were gone. A handful of Flameborns had stayed on the ground. They were either weak or simply dumbfounded, so they didn't fly toward Cao Yun. Now, they were staring at the Sun-Severing Spear, wondering what their fate would be.
"Submit or die!"
Cao Yun's words were absolutely clear. The remaining Flameborns knelt before Cao Yun. The Ancient Obsidian tribe felt at ease. They had won. Then Cao Yun's words echoed in their direction as well.
"Submit!"
The three leaders could tell that those words were meant for them and no one else. Now that the Raging Volcano tribe had lost its leaders, Cao Yun was turning his attention toward the Ancient Obsidian tribe that had mistreated him. The three leaders couldn't claim that they didn't understand Cao Yun's anger. Huilu was certain that Cao Yun would kill him anyway. However, he decided to bend the knee and much more. Huilu kowtowed.
"This miserable one failed to recognize the noble descendant of the Ash Bringer. This pathetic one deserves death. Let the wisdom of the Ash Bringer decide this one's fate."
Huishou was next. However, Huichi didn't want to submit at all. He was ready to die if need be. Remembering the horrible and undignified death of Rong Shan, Huichi thought more carefully. Then, he heard Shaman Heiyan's voice and finally decided to kneel. Still, he didn't imitate his brothers and didn't completely kowtow. Although it was ridiculous and childish, he was still trying to show rebellion against the absolute Cao Yun.
"Survivors of the Raging Volcano tribe, you will be my messengers. As you can see, the Ancient Obsidian tribe is under my dominion, and thus my protection. As punishment for plotting against my Ancient Obsidian tribe, your leadership has reunited with the eternal furnace. Go tell whoever remains in your Raging Volcano tribe that I will personally visit them if they refuse my conditions."
As he spoke, Cao Yun made sure to showcase the Sun-Severing Spear. He would visit empty-handed. But no one would remain after his visit.
"The Raging Volcano tribe will dissolve and fully merge with my Ancient Obsidian tribe. All your territories are ours, and you will submit to our rules and to my commands. Either bring back this message or die here. Your choice."
Immediately, the Flameborns stood up, keeping their heads as low as possible, and ran away as if whips were following them.
Finally, Cao Yun turned his attention toward the three leaders and Shaman Heiyan. As he did, he felt a terrifying presence coming closer and closer. This was Cangfeng. Since Cao Yun had taken out the Sun-Severing Spear, the presence of the old monster had grown considerably. Moreover, it was clearly coming in that direction. Despite its tremendous strength, Cangfeng was also very weak, so it took him a lot of time.
Honestly, Cao Yun wasn't sure how it would turn out, but he was curious to see what Cangfeng would actually do.