Above the horizon, the intangible fire serpent suddenly grew ethereal, under the countless stares of awe. As its form became more translucent, a strange, seemingly formless yet distinctly perceptible flame radiance began to intensify, glowing with an eerie brilliance at a specific point beneath the serpent's massive jaws. Watching the colossal figure of the fire serpent grow increasingly ethereal, Xiao Yan finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief, wiping away the sweat that had streamed down his face like a gentle stream. With his spirit slightly relaxed, he now felt the lingering burning pain that had accumulated from his close exposure to the fallen heart flame—despite the shielding effect of the Qinglian Earth-Heart Flame, the direct contact had still taken a significant toll. "After manifesting its form, the fallen heart flame will enter a period of weakening, during which it will be your prime opportunity to strike. I had originally intended to wait until others pressured it into this state, but it seems the outcome ultimately relied on you," the Elder's laughter echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. Nodding slightly, Xiāo Yīn focused intently on the increasingly ethereal, intangible fire serpent soaring in the sky. Beneath his feet, a silver glow flared once more. "Securing the unique fire is no easy task. If all else fails, I shall summon the full extent of my available power—this will ensure you stand at least on par with Han Feng in direct confrontation. Though it may reveal my presence, the Heart of the Fallen Flame—you must obtain it." Yàolǎo remained silent for a moment, then murmured thoughtfully. Hearing this, Xiāo Yīn hesitated slightly before slowly nodding, his fists clenched tightly, and in his mind whispered softly, "Rest assured, Master. You've protected me for so many years. Now, it's time for me to take over." "Ah, yes." The elderly soul hidden within Xiao Yan's body gently smiled, a subtle warmth radiating out, causing a faint shimmer to emanate from the soul's form. Though he had once gone blind, the heavens had been kind, sparing him from enduring the same suffering again. The deep, aching pain of betrayal by someone closest to him had seeped into his very bones. "Chirr!" A sharp, piercing cry suddenly echoed across the heavens, and the all-pervading, intangible flame vanished abruptly—disappearing as if it had never existed. As the vast flame receded, the intense heat of the world gradually cooled, yet no one noticed this change. Instead, everyone's gaze was fixed on the spot where the intangible fire serpent had disappeared—there, a peculiar flame, about half a zhang in size, was slowly rising. Though seemingly formless, anyone who observed it felt a tangible, unusual presence. Within the flame, something was gently flowing, like ethereal spirits. Though it appeared merely as a cluster of flame in form, it exuded an eerie sensation—seeming to possess the wisdom and grace of a human being. The sky remained silent, every person gazing at the intangible flame, their faces filled with astonishment. Was this the true essence of the strange fire? Su Qian, who had long been closely watching the strong figures of Hei Jiao Domain such as Han Feng, grew visibly stern upon seeing Han Feng's actions. With a sweeping motion of his sleeve, he roared loudly. During the period when Han Feng, Xiao Yan, and the Falling Heart Flame were engaged in intense struggle, the senior elders of the Inner Court had also taken the opportunity to restore their internal qi. Thus, when Su Qian shouted, a series of figures instantly rose into the sky, their qi-powered wings flapping vigorously, forming solid walls of people wherever Han Feng passed. With the re-convergence of both armies, the chaotic battle in the sky erupted once more! Su Qian, his face darkened, gazed at the breached protective net. As he prepared to act, two figures darted forward—golden and silver in hue—none other than the two foremost elders of Black Angle Domain. "Ha ha, Su Elder, isn't it just a bunch of flames? Does it really require such desperate efforts?" the golden-robed elder smiled warmly at Su Qian, while the silver-robed elder chuckled in agreement beside him. His eyes blazing with fury, Su Qian stared at the two elders. After a moment, the anger on his face gradually subsided, and with both hands emerging from his sleeves, he spoke calmly yet coldly: "It seems that the Southland Academy has been overly kind to Black Angle Domain over the years—indeed, they've now come right down upon us. Well… it's been quite some time since the great battle of old. Perhaps a more decisive event is needed. Then, let us begin with you two." As Su Qian Yin fell, waves of ripples surged around her, and a mighty aura gradually surged forth from within her body. The sheer magnitude of this aura was such that nearly no one in the arena could match it. Feeling Su Qian's aura, which had been pushed to its absolute peak, the two elders—Jin and Yin—gently exchanged glances, their faces subtly shifting. They interlaced their hands, merging their auras together, just barely managing to hold off Su Qian. Though they claimed to be capable of standing par with a Douzong-level powerhouse, when facing a particularly formidable Douzong, they often found themselves at a disadvantage—after all, the gap between Douhuang and Douzong was simply too vast. Though the core of the Fallen Heart Flame stood motionless in the sky, the terrifying heat it emitted continuously distorted the surrounding space, forcing Xiao Yan to swiftly channel the Qinglian Earth-Heart Fire to solidify a sturdy, jade-like armor of blue flames across his body. With the protection of the Qinglian Earth-Heart Fire, Xiao Yan gradually approached the Fallen Heart Flame, his vision passing through the armor to gaze at the nearly touchable, intangible flame—so close it felt as if he could reach out and grasp it. Even with his usual composure, his breath grew rapid at that moment. A surge of blue flame rushed swiftly across his palms, coalescing into a massive flame hand. As Xiao Yan reached out to grasp the Fallen Heart Flame with it, his face beneath the armor suddenly flushed crimson, and his entire body instantly stiffened! Within Xiao Yan's body, at the site of his heart, a strangely appearing blaze of intense, fiery heat erupted, then unleashed a powerful, destructive high temperature without restraint—its intensity seemed destined to burn everything within Xiao Yan to ash. This heart flame was stronger than any he had previously experienced, yet instead of aiding in the refinement of his battle energy, it radiated a destructive force entirely unfamiliar to Xiao Yan before. Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan's body remained utterly still, for he could feel the inner flame within him growing increasingly intense and terrifying as he drew closer to the fallen heart flame. "Shriek!" Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind burst forth from behind him as Xiao Yan was locked in tense stillness with the inner flame. Startled, he broke the standoff without further hesitation, a silver glow flashing beneath his feet. Instantly, his form vanished, reappearing several meters beyond the fallen heart flame. Only after stepping back a safe distance did the inner flame gradually subside. With a cold glance, Xiao Yan turned his head, just in time to catch Han Feng, who had broken through the barrier, clearly the one who had launched the earlier attack. Gazing at Han Feng, who surged forward with great force and was now directly heading toward the core of the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. The emerald fire in his palm swirled vigorously, and a cold, lethal intent flashed briefly across his gaze. This man was so eager to charge in—yet he didn't realize that the closer he got to the Fallen Heart Flame, the more dangerous it would become, and that would precisely be the moment when Xiao Yan could strike and eliminate him. "Boom!" At the very instant Han Feng's body went rigid, Xiao Yan's figure vanished like a ghost from afar, leaving only a soft rumble of thunder echoing across the sky. And as that thunder rolled, Han Feng, whose body had gone stiff, suddenly turned pale!