Chapter 277: The Birth of the Demon Lotus Flame
In the Dou Qi Continent.
In the western sky of Central Plains, two crescent moons, one above and one below, quietly appeared. At the same time, nine brilliant stars aligned in a straight line in the starry sky, under countless awe-struck gazes.
The appearance of the twin moons and the alignment of the nine stars signified the tides of heaven and earth, heralding the descent of the Demon Lotus Flame!
On this day, a dazzling and intense light erupted in the northwestern sky. This light carried an extremely terrifying temperature, making the entire Central Plains and its surrounding regions feel a sweltering heat, as if a second sun had appeared in the sky.
Sensing this phenomenon, the various factions in Central Plains quickly dispatched large contingents towards the northwest.
At the same time, Xiao Tian returned to the Dou Qi Continent. As soon as he appeared in the Falling Star Pavilion, Yao Lao informed him, "Disciple, the Demon Lotus Flame has descended!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Tian immediately headed towards the location of the Demon Flame. Along the way, he encountered people from dozens of different factions. As he got closer, more and more groups halted their advance. Initially, it was Dou Zongs (Dou Ancestors), but soon even Dou Zuns (Dou Venerables) had to stop.
The temperature of the Demon Lotus Flame was so terrifying that even from a thousand miles away, a Dou Zun could barely withstand it. Within five hundred miles, an ordinary Dou Zun would likely be burned to death.
Upon entering the thousand-mile range, the surroundings turned into a vast milky-white desert, with a terrifying heat distorting the space around it.
Xiao Tian pressed on, quickly reaching the core of this area. In the shattered space ahead, a milky-white circle of light about a hundred feet in diameter hovered, radiating a temperature hundreds of times higher than the outside. Even a Half-Saint would struggle to withstand the heat here.
At this moment, the surrounding area was devoid of people, indicating that others had already entered the Demon Flame's domain. Xiao Tian flickered and stepped into the circle.
As he entered, the surroundings abruptly changed, and he found himself surrounded by milky-white flames. Having read the original novel, Xiao Tian knew this was just an illusion. Activating the Devouring Flame, the sea of fire instantly vanished, replaced by a milky-white mist stretching about ten meters in all directions.
In the mist, dozens of people were flying around with varied expressions, some bodies already enveloped in the milky-white flames, turning to ash after a few desperate screams.
Seeing no familiar faces, Xiao Tian flew further in. Upon reaching a massive platform, he saw Xun'er and others.
"Brother Xiao Tian!" Seeing Xiao Tian, Xun'er hurried over to greet him.
Xiao Tian smiled, "Congratulations, Xun'er, on breaking through to Dou Saint!"
Xun'er had not only broken through to Dou Saint but had reached the two-star Dou Saint level. Nearby was Gu Qingyang, a prodigy of the Gu Clan, who had reached the mid-stage of one-star Dou Saint, showcasing the deep foundation of the Gu Clan.
"This must be Xiao Tian," an elderly man in a blue robe with white hair and a kind smile approached. When he looked at Xiao Tian, he found that Xiao Tian seemed like an ordinary person, yet he couldn't sense him at all, a feeling he'd only experienced with Gu Yuan.
"Could he be at the same level as the clan leader?" the elder wondered but quickly dismissed the thought. "Impossible, how could someone so young reach such a level?"
Xun'er introduced, "This is Elder Gu Nan Hai of the Gu Clan."
Xiao Tian nodded. Gu Nan Hai was a four-star Dou Saint. The ancient clans had imposed a restriction that entrants couldn't exceed the five-star Dou Saint level. However, the Soul Clan secretly sent a late five-star Dou Saint.
Xiao Tian didn't bother with these minor issues. Once he refined the Demon Lotus Flame, his strength would increase significantly, making him unafraid even of Hun Tiandi's arrival.
Suddenly, the surrounding space rippled violently, and a terrifying heat began to spread. Cracks appeared, and figures engulfed in milky-white flames emerged, quickly filling the sky.
"Be careful, these are Fire Slaves, former strongmen refined by the Demon Lotus Flame into puppet-like beings," Gu Nan Hai warned.
"Black Hole, Devour!" Xiao Tian extended his hand, and countless black holes appeared, unleashing a powerful devouring force that swallowed the Fire Slaves. These slaves, filled with flames, turned into pure energy, which Xiao Tian absorbed.
"Let's go inside," Xiao Tian said to the group.
Seeing Xiao Tian effortlessly obliterate the Fire Slaves, Gu Qingyang and Gu Nan Hai were deeply shocked. These Fire Slaves, the weakest being Dou Zuns and including many Half-Saints and Dou Saints, were easily devoured without resistance.
Gu Qingyang finally understood why Xun'er chose Xiao Tian.
Inside the palace, more Fire Slaves awaited but were all devoured by Xiao Tian. After passing through several halls, they opened a gate to find an empty hall devoid of Fire Slaves.
"Is it over?" Xun'er wondered.
"No..." Gu Nan Hai shook his head.
In the center of the hall stood a skinny figure, unmoving with eyes closed, emanating a powerful aura akin to a mountain.
"Four-star Dou Saint!" Gu Nan Hai looked serious. Although he was also a four-star Dou Saint, he felt the figure was much stronger.
As they approached, they saw the figure was simply dressed, with a stiff, expressionless face and cold, icy eyes.
Suddenly, the figure raised its hand, and a massive blood-red axe appeared, looking exaggerated and monstrous.
Xiao Tian recognized him as Xiao Xuan's cousin and an ancestor of the Xiao family—Blood Axe Xiao Chen.
"Boom!" The figure swung the axe towards the group. Xiao Tian immediately immobilized him with a spatial lock.
"Roar!" Enraged, Xiao Chen roared, his forehead glowing brightly as a rune appeared, drastically increasing his aura.
"The Xiao Clan Mark!" Gu Nan Hai exclaimed, "I remember now, he's Blood Axe Xiao Chen!"
(End of Chapter)