"Move!" As Xiao Yan's body dissolved into nothing, Hun Cliffs' expression instantly changed. A commanding cry rang out, and immediately he turned around, rushing toward the distance with unwavering determination. Behind him, Hun Li, his face grim, followed closely. Their carefully orchestrated ambush had not only failed to yield any results but had instead been caught in the very trap laid by Xiao Yan and his companion. "We've come this far—why rush so hastily?" Yet, as the two were turning and speeding off, a figure slowly emerged from the space behind them. With a cheerful smile, it could only be Xiao Yan. "Get out of the way!" Seeing Xiao Yan blocking their path, Hun Cliffs' expression darkened. He shook his sleeve, and a thick, dark chain shot forth like a venomous serpent, slicing through the air with a continuous hiss, aimed straight for Xiao Yan's head. Observing Houn's attack, Xiao Yan merely smiled, then forcefully stomped the void with his foot. Instantly, the ground erupted, sending a massive column of molten rock soaring skyward—only to collide fiercely with the dark chain. While Houn and Houn Li were momentarily held at bay by Xiao Yan, Xun swiftly gathered the nine-star energy nuclei, flashing into position behind the two, and coldly remarked, "We've always been puzzled—nine-star energy nuclei are quite rare. If you'd discovered any, you'd surely have seized them. Yet here you are, completely indifferent. It seems you've truly intended to set a trap." Houn and Houn Li's faces darkened, their expressions cold and stern. "Having fled for nearly a month—have you grown weary of this?" Xiao Yan said calmly. "It's just becoming rather tedious—these attacks are merely an effort-saving measure. Since this strategy isn't working, then I'll simply finish you off right here... " The aura of Houni's face grew dark. Then, he turned his head and said, "I'll hold her off. Xiao Yan is yours!" "Don't worry," Houni said, his face grim. "Last time, I was caught off guard. This time, I'll cut off both of my arms!" Houni's strength was no weaker than that of the ancient beasts, and with the strange techniques of the Houni clan, it should not be difficult to defeat Xiao Yan—provided he doesn't get a chance to unleash his powerful heavenly-tier and Fire Lotus techniques. "Agreed," Houni nodded, his gaze cold as he fixed it on Xiao Yan, then suddenly turned around. A vast and powerful surge of dark aura erupted from within him, and his form transformed into a streak of lightning, rushing directly toward Xun'er. "Xiao Yan, be careful! Give me a moment!" Upon seeing Houni charging forward, Xun'er's eyes also grew cold. She lightly exhaled, and golden flames surged instantly from her jade hands, meeting Houni with equal determination. Observing the two combatants now engaged in battle, Xiao Yan slowly released a breath, his gaze calm and steady upon the fierce expression of Houni in front. Though Houni was at the level of Eight-Star Domain Sovereign, his combat strength had been somewhat diminished due to the loss of his arm. In contrast, Xiao Yan had now gained one star in strength since his previous battle against the ancient beast—making it quite difficult for Houni to overcome him. "Xiao Yan, you may have defeated the ancient beast, but that doesn't guarantee victory over me! This injury to your arm—today, you shall settle it!" As soon as the words left his lips, dark, icy mist surged violently from within Houni's body, launching black chains that pierced everything in their path, sweeping across the battlefield and relentlessly targeting Xiao Yan. Faced with the overwhelming tide of black chains, Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. With quick finger movements, streams of flame—brown-purple with a hint of pale silver—burst forth from his fingertips, cascading through the air like a rain of fire, colliding powerfully with the black chains and exploding into brilliant, vibrant bursts, much like fireworks. "Even with attacks of this magnitude, I'd still have to retract my earlier words..." Xiao Yan smiled, gazing at the blossoming explosions. "As the strange runes began to emerge, Houn Li's aura suddenly surged dramatically. Thick black mist swirled around him, taking on a tangible form. His otherwise empty right sleeve writhed violently, and from within it, a solid black arm reemerged—remarkably, if observed closely, the arm was covered in a series of fierce, haunting faces. This arm, too, had been formed from condensed souls! 'Huh, surprised, aren't you?' Houn Li chuckled, noticing the serious expression on Xiao Yan's face. 'For a fallen lineage like yours, the Xiao clan, such ancestral runes are simply beyond your reach!' As ancient, primordial beings, they rarely practiced enhancement techniques like the Three Divine Flame Transformations, because their very ancestral runes were, in themselves, the most powerful secret arts of the world. Though this secret technique demands considerable expenditure, it inflicts no wear upon the body, and cases of reverse effects—such as the body rejecting the technique—have never occurred. With such extraordinary clan patterns, other techniques that either consume blood or require self-sacrifice to enhance strength appear entirely insignificant in their eyes. At the very instant Huo Li's form vanished, Xiao Yan's fist, enveloped in a haze of purple-brown flame, slammed hard against the space behind him. However, as the fist struck the space, tendrils of black mist surged forth from within, effortlessly blocking its advance. "An attack with no force!" The black mist surged forth, and within moments, took the form of Huo Li. He glanced at Xiao Yan, a look of disdain passing over his eyes, and spoke calmly. "Skyfire Triple Transformation! First phase! Second phase! Third phase!" Xiao Yan took a deep breath, and the Skyfire Triple Transformation instantly reached its peak. Yet, as his internal qi surged, he suddenly felt a faint tingling sensation at the center of his forehead—though it passed swiftly, leaving him to believe it was merely a fleeting illusion. "Boom!" As the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation was unleashed, Xiang Yan twisted his palm, effortlessly slipping free like a eel, simultaneously retreating several steps. "What...?" As Xiang Yan retreated, Houn Li was utterly stunned, his gaze fixed intently on the mark at the center of Xiang Yan's brow. During the earlier display of the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation, Houn Li had faintly perceived a peculiar symbol shimmering there—something familiar to him as a member of the Houn Clan. This symbol was indeed the Houn Clan's ancestral emblem, the very one representing their ancient rival, the Xiao Clan. "Was that... the Xiao Clan's emblem? Impossible! The Xiao Clan's bloodline power has long since been abandoned—how could they still possess such a mark? I must have mistaken it!" Houn Li's reaction was entirely understandable. The ancestral emblem was a rare trait, possessed only by the ancient Eight Clans, as it was awakened through bloodline energy. Now, the Xiao Clan had long since lost their bloodline, making the presence of such an emblem all the more astonishing. "Doesn't matter if he's wrong—this kid has too many tricks. Kill him first! The Hún Cliffs won't hold out much longer, and that girl from the Ancient Clan is simply too strong." Hún Lì's eyes flashed, then hardened into fierce determination. A vast, ocean-like surge of qi erupted from within him, completely dispersing the energy mist within a hundred paces. "Xiao Yan, give your life!" The surge of qi surged forth, and Hún Lì stood like a divine demon, majestic in the sky. With a single movement, he summoned a dark, cold cloud of swirling blackness, shooting it at Xiao Yan with lightning speed. "It's time to test this thing's power..." The light in Xiao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and then, after a moment, his hand seal suddenly transformed! "Boom!" At the very instant Xiao Yan changed his hand seal, the ground beneath suddenly exploded, soil spraying forth as golden light poured down like a cascade. A series of solid, golden-bodied figures stood motionless in the deep crater—exactly the Tian Yao Kui Xiao Yan had fully strengthened in the Void Thunder Pool. "Ssshh—" A surge of golden light erupted, then suddenly converged upon the first golden figure. Immediately, the golden glow fully settled within the figure, transforming its skin from dark gold into an unusual purple hue. Beneath this purple, a subtle shimmer of golden light flowed visibly. As the golden light fully receded, the eyes of the celestial spirit puppet—now purple—suddenly opened. Dark golden light gently circulated within them. The figure trembled slightly and materialized before Xiao Yan in the air, gazing calmly at the surging black clouds, with golden light quietly pulsing beneath its skin. Having absorbed the power of ten celestial spirit puppets, this puppet now stood at an impressively formidable level.