The soul-fire-forged wheel, known as the "Annihilation Wheel," shot forth like a bolt of lightning, crashing into the monstrous wall of flames released by the Three Thousand Burning Flame. As it moved, the surrounding violet-black fire was instantly sliced apart by the seemingly delicate wheel, its speed so astonishing that even the source flame had no time to react. Before it could mount any defense, the wheel struck its core dead on.
A shrill screech rang out from the miniature dragon of flame—its true spirit—shuddering violently as the wheel impacted. Though the Annihilation Wheel disintegrated upon contact, it left behind a rippling cascade of soul-fire, which didn't vanish. Instead, it condensed once more, forming a transparent tower of light that enveloped the source flame entirely. This new technique was another manifestation of the Nine Revolutions Soul Refining Art: the Soul Refining Tower.
To refine a Heavenly Flame of such high intelligence and power, one must first erase its will. Furthermore, within its core still lingered a soul imprint placed by the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. These two obstacles were the true reasons why no peak Dou Zun had ever succeeded in taming the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Fortunately, Xiao Yan possessed the Nine Revolutions Soul Refining Art—his strongest soul technique. Even if that failed, he still had his trump card: the Ancient Heaven-Refining Array. But judging from the current situation, the Soul Refining Tower alone would suffice for this battle of wills.
"Boom!"
As the tower enclosed the core flame, the violet-black fire dragon within sensed mortal danger. It began slamming furiously against the tower walls, its body radiating with searing fury. But Xiao Yan, now a Tian Stage soul wielder, had infused the tower with an impenetrable might. Perhaps the full form of the flame could challenge it—but just the essence alone? It was utterly powerless.
Under the merciless burn of Xiao Yan's soul fire, the Three Thousand Burning Flame's consciousness began to flicker and weaken. Just as the last vestige of its will was about to be erased, a golden radiance burst forth from within its body. A deep and resonant dragon's roar echoed in the empty space—a final, desperate resistance triggered by the ancient dragon imprint.
Outside, Xiao Yan's face remained calm. He extended a finger, and a stream of pitch-black energy spiraled out, entering the flame's body and transforming into a massive black dragon. With a ferocious sweep, it shattered the golden light to pieces. The moment the imprint was destroyed, the fire dragon's eyes turned dull and lifeless, its mind completely vanquished.
With both its divine will and soul mark eliminated, Xiao Yan sat down cross-legged, opened his mouth, and swallowed the source flame whole. At the same moment, the flame spirit, Xiao Yao, stationed within him, activated her power and began refining the invading violet-black flame at full force.
Though the Three Thousand Burning Flame ranked ninth among the Heavenly Flames, Xiao Yan—now a Seven-Star Dou Zun—already housed ten fused Heavenly Flames within his body. Combined with his Tian Stage soul and Xiao Yao's assistance, refining it was no impossible feat.
Outside the domain, Yao Lao and the Pill Tower elders waited anxiously. A full day passed, and concern grew heavier. When they attempted to tear open the space to check inside the Star Region, a shocking discovery halted them—the entire region had been sealed. Even Yao Lao, a Half-Saint, could not break through it.
This unexpected twist startled all three Pill Tower elders. If even Yao Lao couldn't breach the space, then Xiao Yan was truly trapped within. Despite repeated attempts, nothing worked. Left with no other choice, they began searching the Pill Tower archives for another way to rescue him.
While the outside world panicked, within the sealed Star Region, Xiao Yan's refinement had reached its final stages. Inside a sea of roiling violet-black flame, a massive fire dragon coiled around the heart of the inferno. At its core, sitting calmly atop a verdant lotus, was Xiao Yan—his black hair floating in the scorching currents, eyes closed in focused meditation.
As time passed, the massive fire dragon's form grew thinner and thinner. Finally, it vanished entirely, consumed by Xiao Yan's strength. At that moment, Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, and an invisible shockwave pulsed from his body. His aura surged like a volcanic eruption, leaping past the threshold of Eight-Star Dou Zun and stabilizing directly at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zun!
"Hoo… peak of Nine-Star Dou Zun." Xiao Yan let out a long breath as he absorbed the boundless new power coursing through his body. A faint grin tugged at his lips. As expected of one of the top ten Heavenly Flames—the Three Thousand Burning Flame had directly elevated him two stars in rank. That kind of leap was practically unheard of at such a high level.
Back when he refined the Bone Chilling Flame, he had also gained two stars. But to leap from One-Star to Three-Star Dou Zun was far easier than ascending from Seven-Star to Nine-Star Dou Zun. The gap between ranks at the higher levels was a chasm, yet the Three Thousand Burning Flame had bridged it for him in one stroke.
Elsewhere in the world, even Nalan Yanran was progressing—having broken through to Nine-Star Dou Fighter and now making her push toward Dou Master. Everyone was advancing, but Xiao Yan stood at the forefront.
Still, reaching the pinnacle of Nine-Star Dou Zun was not the end. The true bottleneck loomed ahead—breaking through the fabled "Nine Turns to Saint." This threshold had trapped countless Dou Zun powerhouses. In his past life, Xiao Yan had relied on the power of the Bodhi Ancient Tree to pass this stage. But in this life, that opportunity had not yet come. The Bodhi Tree wasn't due to reappear for some time.
That said, Xiao Yan wasn't unprepared.
"Hm… the surrounding space has been sealed," Xiao Yan murmured, scanning the area with his spiritual senses. His brows briefly knit in thought before a smile crept across his lips. "Well, this isn't bad. Looks like I found myself the perfect place for a secluded cultivation session. Since I can't leave, I might as well refine the rest of those Heavenly Flames."
"Xiao Yao."
At his call, the flame spirit Xiao Yao emerged on his shoulder. Because of her link to the Three Thousand Burning Flame, her fiery form now held faint violet-black streaks that shimmered ominously. Sharing a deep soul connection with Xiao Yan, she knew exactly what he wanted. With a wave of her hand, five more Heavenly Flames materialized in the air—each one once stolen from the ancient clans within the Fire Python Saint's tomb.
Each of these flames ranked high on the Heavenly Flame list. Unlike the lower-ranked ones, refining them would not be fruitless. Quite the opposite—they could yield another major leap forward. Moreover, if all five were successfully fused, Xiao Yan's core flame—the Holy Flame of the Demonic Lotus—might evolve to rival even the top three on the Heavenly Flame list.
He calmed his thoughts and banished all distractions from his mind. Sitting cross-legged once more, he raised his hand. A soft flicker danced through the air—a brownish flame that gently floated toward him. It was the Earth Spirit Sky Flame, which he had taken from Yao Tian. Though its ranking was lower than the others, it was ideal for beginning this next stage of refinement.
And so, within the sealed Star Region, as the outside world worried for him, Xiao Yan entered a deeper, uninterrupted state of cultivation, chasing after an even more terrifying evolution.
(End of Chapter)
---
New Fanfiction Launched on Patreon.
Douluo Dalu: Blue Silver Creation Lightning.
Go Check it Out.
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Memebers on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.