"Xiao Yan, brother, if these people of yours don't possess at least the strength of a half-Saint, let them withdraw first. To subdue Qinglian Spirit Fire, numbers alone won't suffice." As one after another of the figures surged into the shattered space, Xun'er turned to Xiao Yan and said. "Hm." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Though these elite members of the alliance were indeed among the top-tier warriors, many of them were already drenched in sweat simply standing outside the space, some even having to draw upon their qi to counteract the intense heat. If they charged in blindly, only a handful—perhaps ten—might survive. "You all return to the alliance immediately and strengthen the defenses!" The Yeold turned to them, speaking in a firm tone. "Yes!" "Heard this, the numerous strong warriors from the alliances immediately exhaled in relief, quickly agreeing and then retreating in an orderly fashion. Though they were slightly disappointed not being able to enter the space to witness the appearance of the phoenix fire, they knew that even this disappointment was far preferable to losing their lives. With their own strength, they were well aware of the chances of survival should they venture into that dragon's den and tiger's lair. "Brother Xiao Yan, it's said that the Qinglian Demon Fire can be awakened within a human body by drawing upon one's emotions, and once the fire takes root inside, even the soul will be consumed and vanish. Therefore, after entering that space, no matter what you see, try to maintain a calm mind—remain unbothered by joy or sorrow, and suppress any emotions of joy, anger, grief, or frustration. Otherwise, these emotions will attract the Demon Fire and bring it upon you!" Xun'er nodded and solemnly added. "Oh?" Upon hearing this, the faces of Xiao Yan and the other elders, including Yao Lao, slightly changed. The Qinglian Demon Fire was indeed mysterious, even the alchemists among them knew little about it. Yet they hadn't expected it to be capable of being triggered by human emotions—such an extraordinary ability truly lived up to its reputation as a Demon Fire. "Hmm. Everyone, stay alert and proceed." Xiao Yan exhaled slowly, then said nothing more, merely waving his sleeve and stepping forward, his form transforming into a streak of light, swiftly darting into the circle of light. Behind him, Xun'er and the others followed closely. Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and the unusual fire within him slowly surged outward, enveloping his entire body. The intense heat that had previously caused his blood to boil gradually subsided. "Is this the space where the sealed Pure Lotus妖fire is contained? Where are Xun'er and the others?" He frowned, glancing around the empty expanse. He should have entered this space together with Xun'er and the group, yet here he was, alone. His brows remained tightly furrowed as he hovered in midair, unwilling to touch even the slightest of the milky-white flames. Though these flames were not the pure essence of the Pure Lotus妖fire, they were still formidable. Moreover, the atmosphere felt strangely eerie—calm on the surface, yet teeming with hidden dangers. Caution, he thought, was always the wisest course. "We'll deal with this later," he said, scanning the surroundings. With a subtle point of his foot against the void, his form materialized. The space continued to unsettle him, so for now, finding the others remained his top priority. Xiao Yan's figure swiftly darted through the sea of flames. Though protected by the extraordinary fire, the intense heat radiating from the surrounding areas still brought sharp stings to his skin. In this space, even the air had been completely evaporated, leaving behind an utterly desolate, unrelenting atmosphere. As Xuanyin was pondering, a faint voice of conversation suddenly echoed from not far ahead. At this, he felt a surge of delight, swiftly moving and darting forward. However, just as his body had advanced a short distance, he abruptly halted. Before him, not far away, three dark silhouettes stood suspended in the air, their gaze cold and mocking. "The Master of the Soul Palace?" The three figures were indeed the trio of the Soul Palace's Master. They had unexpectedly appeared here—seeming to have been waiting specifically for him! "How is it that you're here?" Xuanyin said, his eyes fixed firmly on the three figures, as his internal qi began to circulate and flow steadily beneath his breath. "There's nothing special, let me show you something..." The Hall Master of the Soul Temple smiled gently, and suddenly black mist surged from his palm. The mist rolled and swirled, then coalesced into a somewhat ethereal figure of a man. Upon seeing this figure, Xiao Yan was struck dumb, murmuring, "Father?" Xiao Zhan! The figure pulled out by the Hall Master was indeed Xiao Zhan—yet now, he existed only as a soul-body. "Xiao Yan?" Hearing Xiao Yan's murmured words, Xiao Zhan himself trembled, lifting his head to gaze in disbelief at the slender young man. "Xiao Yan has opposed our Soul Clan—his fate is only one: the collapse of his family and the destruction of his lineage!" The Hall Master's face broke into a calm, detached smile. Then, slowly placing his palm upon Xiao Zhan's head, he said softly, "Since you're about to capture him, he no longer serves any further purpose." "Stop!" Seeing the Hall Master's actions, Xiao Yan's eyes blazed crimson. Yet, as the Hall Master of the Soul Palace calmly smiled at Xiao Yan's roar, he clenched his palm, and Xiao Zhan's soul was instantly shattered, dispersing into shimmering light points that eventually vanished into nothingness under the scorching heat. Xiao Yan stared in stunned silence at the scattered light points, his body suddenly trembling violently, a terrifying wave of murderous intent surging forth from the depths of his heart. As if sensing the boundless, frenzied rage radiating from Xiao Yan's soul, the Hall Master's face took on a strangely serene smile. "Pfft!" Xiao Yan's eyes were now bloodshot, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He fixed his gaze firmly on the Hall Master, stepping forward with determined resolve—only for his body to freeze mid-step at that very moment. Suddenly, streams of milky-white flames burst forth from countless pores across his body, raging violently within him. "Astral Fire?" The sudden, intense pain radiating from within suddenly restored some clarity to Xiao Yan's mind, causing him to be startled and quickly lift his head. To his surprise, the three elders of the Spirit Palace had vanished entirely. "Trouble! They've set a trap—everything here is a scene designed to stir emotional reactions!" This development left Xiao Yan momentarily stunned, but then he quickly regained his composure and finally grasped the unusual nature of what had unfolded. "Though the妖fire is powerful, no one has deliberately controlled it. To completely consume me with it is far from easy!" Grasping his teeth tightly, Xiao Yan rapidly shifted his hand seals. The newly formed, hybrid fire—fusing five distinct rare flames—began to surge powerfully throughout his body, spreading wildly across every part of him. In response to the fierce counterattack from within, the pale flame initially held firm, then gradually retreated inch by inch, eventually being completely driven out through every pore of Xiao Yan's body. Only when the milky-white flame withdrew from his body did Xiao Yan finally breathe a sigh of relief, drenched in sweat. Fortunately, he possessed a high resistance to fire, coupled with his strong physical constitution; otherwise, the mere disturbance would have reduced his internal meridians to powder. "Indeed a divine fire—its created illusions are no less impressive than those of the Bodhi Ancient Tree." Xiao Yan wiped away the sweat, and with a subtle mental effort, the inner flame surged swiftly into his eyes. As the flame flowed, the world before him transformed instantly: the milky-white sea of fire vanished, replaced by a dense, ethereal mist spanning roughly thirty zhang. Within this mist, nearly a dozen figures swiftly glided through the air, each with distinct expressions. Some even had their bodies enveloped by the milky flame, which ultimately turned them to ash in a series of piercing cries of agony. Xiao Yan swiftly scanned the milky mist, instantly understanding that these illusions were caused by the strange vapor. "Master!" His gaze froze in the next instant, halted at an elderly figure standing not far ahead—clearly Master Yao. Yet at this moment, Master Yao appeared deeply in pain, with faint milky flames beginning to rise subtly across his body, clearly the prelude to the flames of the beast spirit!