Seeing that Xiao Yan had agreed so readily, the Hall Master of the Soul Palace was slightly taken aback, and gazed at him intently before smiling gently. "Indeed, you have a most generous spirit. Then, friends whose strength reaches the level of four-star Battle Saints and above—let us all join forces to eliminate the Pure Lotus Demon Flame. As for the other Flame Slaves, perhaps we shall need to enlist others to handle them." "The other Flame Slaves—we'll take care of them," Xiao Yan replied with a slight smile, turning to Zi Yan and Guo Naihai and speaking softly, "When we face off against the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, be especially cautious. Try not to exert yourselves fully, or else you might fall victim to hidden attacks." Both Zi Yan and Guo Naihai nodded in agreement. They were no ordinary figures—they well understood the current situation. By joining forces with the Soul Palace, if they were not careful and vigilant, they might very well be outmaneuvered and left with nothing at all. "Xiao Yan, I cannot participate in the assault on Jinglian Demon Fire. As soon as I approach its vicinity, your seal will lose its effect, and I will be completely controlled by it." Xicao Chen spoke with a hoarse voice. "Xicao Chen, ancestor, you needn't intervene—always keep a watchful eye..." Xiao Yan smiled, not entirely confident in the members of the Spirit Palace. Though the Palace Master would join the battle, the deputy master and the one whose presence felt particularly threatening—Hunfeng—still posed significant risks. He had to remain ever-vigilant over these two. For centuries surviving in this ethereal realm, Xiao Chen's previously volatile temperament had grown increasingly solitary—especially so now, after hearing Xiao Yin's account of the fall of the Xiao clan. Indeed, he no longer truly belonged to this era. At the very moment when the clan most needed him, he had failed to contribute even a single effort. "You are the only family member of the Xiao clan today who possesses the bloodline power. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to protect you..." Xiao Chen slowly shook his head, his gaze fixed on the young face of Xiao Yan. Seeing this younger descendant sharing the same bloodline, a gentle smile finally broke through the somewhat numb expression on his face. "Your talent surpasses mine by far. With you, the Xiao clan has a real chance at revival. I've made so many hasty decisions in the past, bringing trouble to many of my fellow clan members. Now, heaven has granted me this opportunity. I will dedicate everything I have to the Xiao clan—even my life." Xiao Yan remained silent, once again respectfully bowing to Xiao Chen before turning his gaze. His eyes swiftly swept across the sky, landing on the present warriors—eight in total with strength at the level of four-star Battle Saints or above. However, since Xiao Chen could not participate in the battle, seven of them would have to unite to face the Qinglian Demon Flame. This formation was already formidable, offering a strong chance of victory even against such a formidable opponent. As Xiao Yan calculated the odds in his mind, the Hall Master of the Soul Palace was the first to step through the void, his form trembling as he appeared just a hundred paces from the Qinglian Demon Flame. The other warriors followed suit, forming a circular encirclement that completely surrounded the Qinglian Demon Flame. The others surrounding them, witnessing this grand spectacle in the sky, exchanged serious glances and simultaneously stepped back swiftly—there was simply no room for them to intervene in such a dramatic clash. As the crowd retreated, the pure lotus spirit flame standing atop the magma pillar smiled gently, her beautiful face slowly unfolding an otherworldly smile. "It's truly nostalgic," she murmured. As the final syllable surged forth from Jinglian's divine flame, he suddenly lifted his head, opened his mouth, and a colossal wave of divine flame—stretching hundreds of li in width—erupted forth. The intense heat even caused subtle changes in the expressions of the Hall's masters, including the Hall's chief. "Let's all move together!" The Hall's chief's gaze flickered slightly, and vast streams of black energy surged from within him, rising like a rolling storm of dark clouds to collide with the flame wave. Yet, upon first contact, the black mist and clouds instantly dispersed, and the flame wave fragmented into seven towering pillars of fire, each crashing powerfully against the seven figures. Witnessing the sheer might of Jinglian's divine flame, even Zǐ Yán and the others could not afford to hesitate, their inner qi surging immediately, launching a series of powerful techniques that pierced the air. "Thud! Thud! Thud!" "The main flame that exploded skyward was as magnificent as the most splendid fireworks, yet beneath its dazzling beauty lay a force of utter destruction. 'Ding! Ding!' Above, the fireworks burst with thunderous sound. The seven figures staggered back, retreating step by step—Yao Wangui of the Yao clan and an elder of the Shi clan had their garments scorched halfway through, appearing quite disheveled. Clearly, even together, the seven had not secured a single advantage against the Qinglian Spirit's flame. 'Great Compassion Fist!' With the move successfully executed, the handsome face of the Qinglian Spirit lit up with a cold smile. Floating in the sky, he suddenly reached down with his right hand toward the molten sea below. Instantly, the molten sea erupted, and a colossal hand of magma—stretching a thousand zhang in length—burst through the waves, radiating intense heat. In a single flash, it appeared above Ziyan and the others, then descended with a powerful palm strike. 'Thud!' "The volcanic giant moved with astonishing speed. As his palm just descended, before the crowd could react, he delivered a blow so forceful it was as if smacking at flies, sending the seven of them crashing down—finally plunging into the molten lava with several soft thuds below. 'Such mere insects...' Xiang Yan and the others stared at the scene, their expressions growing increasingly stunned. Seven stellar-level warriors, each at the rank of Four-Star Battle Saints, had been defeated so humbly by the pure lotus divine fire, despite the latter's advantage of terrain. The sheer force and brutality of the assault were simply overwhelming. 'Boom! Boom!' The surface of the lava surged with explosions, and several battered figures rose once more, hovering in midair, their faces alternating between pale and flushed. In the Central Province, these individuals were among the very elite—when had they ever been defeated in such a manner?" "Several of you—should we hide any longer, we may never get a chance to act..." The Master of the Soul Palace coldly exclaimed, his expression grave. If things continued like this, they would soon have to begin losing personnel. Hearing his words, the other six members also furrowed their brows. Having been struck twice by Net Lotus' fiery assaults, each of them now bore injuries within their bodies. Particularly the lingering traces of the fire's power—something even their current strength could not yet expel. "Then we'll have to defeat Net Lotus' fire first," the group thought in unison, their expressions gradually growing serious. The seven of them now hovered around the circumference of Net Lotus' flame, their already vast energies rapidly surging. "Roar!" Zi Yan's body shimmered as she shifted, the sound of a dragon's roar echoing throughout the space. From her, a colossal dragon-phoenix form, stretching over a thousand zhang in length, materialized. The vast phoenix wings gently fluttered, stirring up fierce, scorching whirlwinds across the sky, and an overwhelming pressure descended upon the scene. "What...? How could the Tai Xiu Ancient Dragon be in such a state?" The Master of the Soul Hall stared at Zi Yan transforming her true form, also taken aback, her gaze flickering slightly. After a moment, she quickly banished her doubts, swiftly shifting her hand seals, releasing a vast surge of combat aura so powerful it shook the very heavens and earth—now, it seemed as though she was drawing upon all her strength. As the clash between Zi Yan and the Master of the Soul Hall intensified, the other five also clenched their teeth, no longer hesitating, their inner combat aura surging wildly. For a time, the skies roared with fierce winds, dark clouds gathered, thunder boomed incessantly, and even the molten sea below erupted in wild cries, surging waves of molten rock hundreds of feet high. At last, the seven Four-Star Combat Saints unleashed their full might! Feeling the sudden surge of strength from all the participants, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame raised an eyebrow, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Now this is beginning to be interesting..." "Fire Servants, eliminate the others. With these Fire Servants, we have more than enough!" The Net Lotus Demon raised her gaze slightly toward Xiao Yan and the others, a cold, composed smile blooming on her handsome face. Her voice, equally calm, resonated softly. "Roar!" As soon as she spoke, the ten Immortal Saint Flame Servants, who had floated motionless in the sky, suddenly opened their eyes. Two luminous, ethereal white flames surged from their hollow pupils. With a swift motion, they charged directly toward Xiao Yan and the others without hesitation. In an instant, the heavens stirred with wind and clouds, swirling into action.