Feeling the furious killing intent surging forth from Xiao Yan’s body, everyone in the city turned to gaze at him with a mix of astonishment. Even Tian She was surprised, then thoughtful—seeming to realize that Xiao Yan had likely harbored a long-standing grudge against the Soul Palace. "Ha ha, quite a strong killing intent—much better than when he used to merely rely on others' strength, pretending to be powerful by borrowing their power," the black mist gently rippled as the Wu Protector's cold laughter echoed out. Xiao Yan’s eyes burned crimson, fixed firmly on the Wu Protector. After a long pause, he deeply inhaled, trembling as he steadied his hands to suppress the rage surging within him. His voice, strained by emotion, came out hoarse. "You shall die." "As to whether I shall die—or not—it's far from your place to speak such bold words," the Wu Protector scoffed. "I was able to capture and bring back Yao Chen myself. How much more so, then, with a disciple still so immature as you?" Xiao Yan's face was cold. With a wave of his hand, the earth demon puppet, radiating brilliant silver light, materialized before him. As the earth demon puppet appeared, ripples of disturbance spread through the black mist surrounding Wu, the guardian. A surprised voice then echoed, "It's a puppet? I didn't expect that even after all these years, you still rely solely on external support." "Heh, Wu, this puppet is capable of matching an eight-star battle cultivator. But don't worry—once I take charge of it, you only need to capture this young man..." Tian She smiled gently and spoke calmly. "Then it will be a great favor to Tian She Elder. Rest assured, once I have this young man secured, I'll personally deliver him to the Elder to settle the score." Wu, hearing this, responded with a cold smile. Though he didn't fear the puppet himself, his current strength made it somewhat troublesome to manage. With Tian She's assistance providing a steady presence, he found the situation much more manageable. "Rest assured, I don't need the deputies to intervene yet." Xiao Yin's eyes flashed a touch of scorn. He could sense that the current Wu Protector had grown considerably stronger since his days as a young man—according to his expectations, he should now be an Eight-Star Daoist. Such a rapid progression was already quite impressive, suggesting that capturing the Ye Elder and bringing him back to the Hún Palace had granted him significant advantages. Now, the Wu Protector's strength even surpassed that of the Tian She beside him, though merely on this basis, he still wasn't at a loss. This man before him was the one Xiao Yin had resented the most over the years. It was precisely because of him that the Ye Elder had been captured again by the Hún Palace and subjected to endless suffering. "Still as sharp-tongued and keen as ever..." Wu Hufa smiled faintly, slowly advancing his foot. A rustling sound of golden metal echoed from within the black mist, and then a black chain, writhing like a venomous serpent, emerged from the mist, coiling around Wu Hufa's body. At its tip, a cold, shimmering glow pulsed. "Rest assured, you'll soon meet Yao Chen. By then, I'll make that old man understand—everyone the Hall of Souls seeks will never escape!" Xiao Yan tightly gripped the heavy staff, his eyes remaining utterly still. With a gentle step, a black lightning bolt surged directly from the space, brushing past his shoulder and streaking off. As the black chain lance vanished, Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed, and his feet swiftly retreated several steps, the Heavy Scroll suddenly drawing arcs of unusual elegance. "Six Harmonies Flowing Body Scroll, Six Harmonies Fire!" A residual image emerged, and the Scroll was suddenly swung, causing a flame to bloom at its tip, then rushing forth with sharp, piercing momentum. Just as the Scroll's tip separated from the Scroll, the space before him warped violently, and the massive chain lance burst through the air, generating a powerful gust of wind, crashing directly into the Scroll's blade in the midst of countless gazes. "Boom!" A thunderous sound erupted, and waves of immense energy radiated outward in concentric rings. Xiao Yan's feet shimmered with silver light as he hurried back. "Only a two-star Battle Sect strength—dare to clash with me directly? Truly, you're asking for death!" The Jue Protector smiled coldly, his fingers flashing with black light, then sharply pointed at the void. "Divide!" Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! As the sound of Wuhu's incantation settled, a sudden gust of wind erupted within the rapidly spreading energy ripples, and then ten black silhouettes surged forth like black lightning, swiftly targeting the vital points of Xiao Yan's body. Feeling his body locked in place, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed slightly. Yet, with his seasoned experience, he remained calm and composed, swiftly moving his heavy staff to generate a dense network of staff-shadows that formed a solid defensive barrier. With the black chains launching relentless attacks, the dense waves of shadow swiftly began to dissipate. Though, by his own strength, Xiao Yan indeed found it difficult to match the power of a Eight-Star Dao Sect master, his true combat prowess far exceeded his apparent rank. At the very moment the final wave of shadow collapsed, a brilliant silver glow surged within him, and his body trembled, transforming into multiple fragmented images that darted away in a flash! Silver flashes danced through the air, and Xiao Yan appeared a hundred meters away, ignoring the shouts of Wu Fufa. He lifted his head, offering the latter a grim smile, then formed hand seals before suddenly shifting. "Third Heavenly Fire Transformation—First Phase!" As the hand seals were formed, a surge of jade-colored flames erupted from within Xiao Yan and swiftly receded. The jade flames receded, and Xiao Yan's aura surged dramatically in an instant. "Secret technique? A mere trifle!" Wu Fufa returned a cold smile, showing no concern at all. "This... the Heavenly Fire Three-Phase Transformation of Fenyan Valley?" said the celestial serpent, slightly startled upon seeing Xiao Yan's display, then exclaimed in amazement. "Wu Fu, you'd better be careful. This Tian-Huo San-Xuan Transformation is the pinnacle secret technique of Burned-Inn Valley. I have no idea how it ended up in this young man's hands. When fully executed through three transformations, it can elevate a practitioner to at least three-star strength. However, those capable of achieving all three transformations—such figures are truly rare even within Burned-Inn Valley..." "This youngster actually possesses two unique flames—no wonder he achieves such a terrifying enhancement with the Third Heaven Fire Transformation!" Tian She's expression grew slightly serious. A Heaven Fire Transformation featuring two unique flames—this even seems beyond the capability of Tang Zhen from Burned Flame Valley. "No wonder he dares to come to the Central Plains—he truly has some reserves..." The Wù Sect Master said firmly, yet as he spoke, a subtle sense of growing unease stirred within him. The Heaven Fire Transformation has three stages. After completing two stages, Xiao Yan had already reached nearly six-star level. If he were to perform the third stage, wouldn't that push him at least to seven-star level?" "It's said that each transformation of the Heavenly Fire Triple Evolution in Burned Flame Valley releases an exceptionally violent energy surge—so intense that even some of their senior elders hesitate to unleash the third transformation. With this young man's capabilities, he should still be far from reaching that level..." After reassuring himself like this, Wu, the protector, felt a bit more at ease. Yet, as he raised his head, he immediately saw Xiao Yan once again forming a new hand seal. His face instantly went rigid. Xiao Yan fixed his gaze on Wu, whose black mist was rapidly swirling, and the grim smile spreading across his face gradually widened. At the same time, a pale, sharp flame erupted suddenly from within Xiao Yan, blazing forth in the midst of countless stunned onlookers. "The Third Transformation of the Heavenly Fire Triple Evolution!"