With that subtle crack echoing through the void, every movement within this realm came to an abrupt halt—even the battle-worn Master Mu Gu and Elder Qiu Ling, who had been engaged in fierce combat, simultaneously retreated several steps and swiftly turned their gaze toward the location of the Three Thousand Yan Fire. At the point where everyone's attention converged, the colossal flame dragon, its body vast and spanning the void, remained poised. The intricate black line runes that had previously adorned its scales were now completely gone. Though the brilliance in the dragon's eyes had dimmed slightly due to the unsealing of the seal, the fierce, almost destructive aura it radiated left no one in the room daring to underestimate it. "Damn it..." Elder Qiu muttered, his face grim as he stared at the now-unsealed Three Thousand Yan Fire. He knew the situation had grown complicated—without the combined efforts of the three major powers, no one else could possibly stand against the unleashed dragon. "Ha ha..." Compared to the pale, unimpressive expression of the hilly-faced elder, Master Mu Gu's face was filled with excitement. With a step forward, he smiled and said, "Congratulations on your escape! However, regarding the arrangements we had previously discussed—will those still be fulfilled? Rest assured, as long as you remain with my Soul Palace for one full year, you will be free to go. I can guarantee that without a single doubt." The elder's tone clearly treated the Three-Thousand-Flame-Blaze as a truly powerful force—and indeed, the flame, now endowed with intelligence, lived up to that expectation. "Heard this, Master Mu's lips twitched slightly, and his smile gradually faded. 'So you're backing out now?' he said. 'Hmph. You humans—always the same. Want me to believe you? That's like dreaming!' The cold glint in the eyes of the Three Thousand Yan Flame Dragon deepened. Though it didn't fully grasp the strength of the Soul Palace, it knew well enough that others merely wanted its primal flame. Master Mu's expression grew completely somber. Though he had anticipated difficulties, he hadn't expected the Three Thousand Yan Flame to back out so swiftly. The hilly terrain also noticed this development, hesitated slightly, then gave a subtle signal to Xiao Yan and the others. Together, they gradually stepped back. If Master Mu Gu and the Three Thousand Yan Flames were to engage in a fierce battle, that would be ideal—given Master Mu Gu's strength, he would certainly be no match for the Three Thousand Yan Flames. After their intense clash, the external troubles should naturally be resolved as well. Then, with the Dan Tower's elite warriors stepping in, both Master Mu Gu and the Three Thousand Yan Flames could surely be dealt with. Though the retreat of Xiao Yan and his companions caused a slight frown on Master Mu Gu's brow—he clearly understood their intentions—but at this moment, it wasn't the time to dwell on it. Though the Three Thousand Yan Flames were formidable, today they would surely be brought back to the Huan Dao. The withered hands in his sleeves gently unfurled, and the tone of Mu Gu Elder grew unusually stern. "Crack!" As soon as the Elder finished speaking, a dark figure tore through the space, generating a terrifying surge of scorching wind pressure and slammed directly into his head. The sudden assault startled the Elder, who swiftly shifted his position and materialized ten or more zhang away. With a沉沉 gaze fixed upon the three thousand Yan Yan Fire figures, whose massive dragon tails swayed, he grasped his hands, and a brilliant silver jade plaque suddenly appeared in them. Then, with a sudden motion, he crushed the plaque. As it shattered, an immensely powerful spatial force surged forth, instantly distorting the space around the Elder and carving a deep fissure. Just as the fissure began to take shape, three figures wrapped entirely in black robes emerged slowly from within the crack. As that figure stepped forward, three vast essences surged forth like a storm, suddenly sweeping across this otherwise empty space. Under the force of this immense storm, even the three thousand Yan Fire flames within the giant's eyes flickered with a sense of gravity. "Senior of the Soul Palace!" As the three mysterious black-robed figures materialized, Xiao Yan's expression immediately changed. He hadn't expected that Master Mu Gu would possess such a move. What weighed most heavily on his heart was the realization that these three black-robed figures were not only equally strong—indeed, their prowess was no less than that of Master Mu Gu himself. Four Dao Masters—such a lineup—was something even the top-tier powers in the Central Plains had not easily assembled. Yet the Soul Palace had effortlessly presented this strength. At that moment, Xiao Yan had to elevate his assessment of the Soul Palace's formidable nature once again. "The Spatial Jade Scroll... Indeed, the Soul Pavilion has clearly prepared thoroughly for the Three Thousand Yan-Yan Flames." Qiong Ling stared darkly at the three figures stepping through the spatial rift, gritting his teeth in approval. Xiao Yan blinked, mentally noting that the Spatial Jade Scroll must have been the artifact shattered by Master Mu Gu earlier. Yet at this moment, he didn't care much about such details. With such a powerful reinforcement suddenly appearing from Master Mu Gu's side, facing four Dao Resonance masters, even the Three Thousand Yan-Yan Flames might find it difficult to hold their ground. Though the Three Thousand Yan-Yan Flames have stood up against the three major clans of the Dan Tower for so long, that doesn't necessarily mean they now possess the true strength to match or challenge those three giants. After all, the three clans have consistently sought to seal them—sealing and eliminating are two very different things. Though the Three Thousand Yan-Yan Flames are said to be the Immortal Flame, the Three Titans of Dan Tower truly have the means to subdue it—though they simply choose not to. For each of these unique flames, rare and precious to alchemists, have taken thousands or even tens of thousands of years to fully form; to destroy them casually would be a great waste. Of course, the Three Titans are willing to invest so much effort in constructing a stellar domain to seal the Three Thousand Yan-Yan Flames rather than destroy them outright. But the Hún Palace is not such a cooperative party—they never allow what they cannot have to be enjoyed by others. "Mu Gu, your efficiency in handling matters this time has truly been sluggish. We waited for so long before finally receiving your spatial imprint summons." The three figures stepping out of the spatial rift spoke, one of them with a slightly hoarse voice. "Do you really think Dan Tower is merely competent at handling things?" Master Mu frowned, speaking coldly, "Enough chatter—we don't have much time. Once the external disturbances are settled, the three major dynasties of Dantai will surely move in. With just us four, we won't stand a chance against those three." "Agreed—let's move swiftly. The Hall Master has placed great importance on this plan. If anything goes wrong, I'm certain none of you will be spared." The other black-robed figure added, his tone equally calm. Upon hearing the mention of the Hall Master, the others fell silent. Master Mu's face trembled slightly, and a clear sense of apprehension flickered in his eyes. "Proceed—follow the plan. As long as we secure the primordial flame of the Three Thousand Yan Fire, our mission will be accomplished." Taking a deep breath, Master Mu cast a dark, penetrating gaze toward the distant group of Xiao and his companions. While he harbored a strong desire to eliminate them, he knew now was not the time for vengeance. Thus, he firmly suppressed the rage simmering within. "Form the array, blocking the absorption of the three thousand Yanyan Flames of stellar energy!" The elder Mu issued a cold command, stepping forward first, followed by the other three who swiftly moved to separate positions, encircling the vast throng of three thousand Yanyan Flames. "The Ten-Souls Consume-Spirit Array!" A cold roar erupted from each of the four, as an eerie black mist surged forth from their bodies, rapidly spreading outward. Within the mist, an intense cold prevailed, and from time to time, piercing, sharp, and mournful cries echoed through the darkness. As the black mist expanded, the stellar energy seeping in from the surroundings was instantly severed. "Damn humans!" The three thousand Yanyan Flames roared in fury, having just broken free from their seal and unwilling to return to the eternal darkness of sleep. "Pfft!" "His mouth opened wide, and a surge of deep purple and black flames erupted like pillars, rippling through the space and leaving behind twisted trails wherever they passed." "Crackling!" Facing the relentless onslaught of the Three Thousand Yan Fire, the four members of Mu Gu's team grew serious, their hand seals shifting rapidly. Suddenly, from the cold black mist, a series of clanking sounds of iron chains resonated. "Ssshh, ssshh!" The mist rippled, and then hundreds of thick black chains—each as wide as a person's thigh—burst forth, piercing straight through the surging flame pillars. They then surged out like great serpents, sweeping across the sky, ultimately forming an immense network that enveloped the Three Thousand Yan Fire. "Baseless beast! You've chosen to walk your own path to destruction instead of taking the easy one. Today, I shall make it so!" With a fierce glare in his eyes, the elder Mu Gu roared, his voice sharp and commanding. "The Ten-Thousand-Souls Heavenly Chain!"