Every corner of the vast expanse is enveloped in a milky, ethereal妖fire, radiating an indescribable, terrifying heat. Here, even a four-star or five-star Battle Saint of supreme strength cannot endure for long—the temperature is so intense that even the battle energy itself begins to burn. Xun'er hovers in the heavens, golden flames continuously surging from within her body. Though protected by the Golden Emperor's Flame of Incineration, she is drenched in sweat. Fortunately, her internal battle energy has not ignited or self-combusted—this clearly demonstrates that the Golden Emperor's Flame of Incineration has earned its esteemed rank for good reason. Her gaze is fixed upon the distant sky, where the heart of the fiery sea lies. There, a lotus flower of unusual aura slowly rotates, its hue shifting continuously between deep crimson and white with each turn. Near the base of the flaming lotus, "Xiao Yan" remained standing with his arms folded, a subtle aura of dignity gradually spreading out. Of course, Xun'er knew well that this unfamiliar dignity emanated from the ethereal image hovering upon his body. The glow around the phoenix lotus gently intensified, and the roar of the pure lotus divine flame echoed from within. "I only wished to prevent you from ultimately succumbing to self-destruction. It was I who transformed you into this state. Then, let me be the one to conclude everything..." The ethereal form gazed upon the phoenix lotus, shifting her hand seal. Suddenly, the two vast arrays enveloping the heavens surged upward and downward in unison, and a massive curtain of flame erupted from the center of the arrays, swiftly forming a square prison of fire that encased the phoenix lotus. "I shall reclaim the spiritual wisdom and memories I bestowed upon you. From now on, you shall once again possess the purity I first discovered in you." "Divine Saint of the Pure Lotus, you cold-hearted fool! I shall not allow you to achieve your wish!" "Among the yōren, a roar of fury once again echoed, and then the yōren suddenly began to spin at an extraordinary speed. Waves of terrifying crimson flames burst forth from within the yōren. Facing these strange crimson flames, the fiery curtain formed by the great array began to warp violently. "When my fate was nearing its end, I had intended to erase your memories, yet I could not bring myself to act, so I sealed you instead—believing you could temper your inner rage and murderous intent. Yet now it seems, after thousands of years of imprisonment, your resentment has only deepened. Then, if that be so..." The Jinglian Yōshin, gazing at the wildly struggling Jinglian yōren flames, sighed softly and changed her hand seal. Instantly, the vast array spanning tens of thousands of li began to crumble, starting from the outside and working inward. Yet as the outer layers of the array collapsed, the pillars sealing the Jinglian yōren flames grew increasingly solid. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Facing the operation of the great array, the Qinglian Demon Fire launched furious attacks upon the flame curtain. The thunderous impacts resonated so powerfully that even the golden flames on Xun'er's body began to dim at a distance. "Heaven-Forging Ancient Array—sever!" With a gentle sweep of her ethereal palm, Qinglian Demon Saint saw dense streams of fire burst forth from within the curtain, forming a network of fire that deeply penetrated the heart of the Demon Lotus. This fire network then slowly rose, gradually forcing out fine streaks of blood-colored mist from the core of the Lotus. "Ah!" As the blood mist ascended, a piercing, agonized cry erupted from within the Demon Lotus. It spun wildly, yet no matter how immense the energy it released, it could not breach the array's flame curtain. "The ancient celestial array, having absorbed energy over thousands of years, is now erupting in a complete and overwhelming surge—there's no way you can withstand it, little spirit. Follow me," said the Pure Lotus Immortal, steadily guiding the flames and gradually pushing out the bloodish mist that symbolized the memories and spiritual intelligence of the Pure Lotus Immortal's flame from her essence, her voice calm and steady. "Pfft! Without memories and without spirit, the Pure Lotus Immortal flame will lose its consciousness. What difference does that make, compared to killing me? You've repeatedly claimed you don't wish to take my life, yet every action you've taken has been aimed at my demise. How very insincere of you!" Feeling the growing emptiness in his mind, Jinglian Yāohuǒ grew increasingly frightened, roaring, "Once my memories and spiritual intelligence are completely drawn away, I shall truly be 'dead.' You are so fiercely temperamental—now that you've inherited my lineage. If you break through the seal unchecked, it will surely bring about a great disaster. This very calamity, which I have summoned, must be ended by me." The ethereal form of Jinglian Yāohuǒ shook her head slightly and then said no more. With a change of hand seal, numerous fire threads within the fire curtain suddenly crossed through the body of the yāolian. Forced out of his true form, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame hurriedly descended, eager to re-enter, yet the Pure Lotus Demon Sovereign didn't grant him the chance. With a simple grasp of his hand, the flame curtain rapidly contracted, eventually shrinking into a prison of one zhang in size. "Master! Master! Please forgive me this time—I promise to change from now on!" Though the flame body writhed violently, it could not break free from the prison, and grew increasingly fearful. Freed from his true form, his strength had dwindled to only one-tenth, making it utterly impossible to challenge the Pure Lotus Demon Sovereign. Thus, he quickly knelt before the Sovereign, pleading for mercy. Watching the Pure Lotus Demon Flame's persistent appeals, the ethereal form of the Sovereign gently sighed. With a sweep of his sleeve, the ethereal form drifted out of Xiao Yan's body and then floated into the fire prison, settling before the flame. "Brother Xiao Yan..." Seeing the Pure Lotus Demon Sovereign finally leave Xiao Yan's body, Xun hurried over, swiftly seizing him. "Why haven't you left?" Xiao Yan hadn't lost consciousness—he had merely had his soul suppressed by the Pure Lotus Immortal Saint. Now, once freed, he gently scolded Xun'er, recalling how she had just sent the ancient South Sea Sea King flying, leaving him behind. Seeing Xiao Yan unharmed, Xun'er was already filled with joy and didn't mind his scolding. She tightly grasped his hand, then her gaze turned toward the blazing curtain. Seeing this, Xiao Yan sighed, and reached over to firmly hold her delicate, smooth hand. "Little immortal, I do not hate you. Even when you once turned against me, I never held resentment. Throughout my life, I have had no disciples or children—throughout all these years, you have always been the one person closest to me..." The Pure Lotus Immortal Saint gently stroked the head of her Pure Lotus Immortal Flame, and a warm, compassionate smile appeared on her slightly ethereal face. "But I do hate you!" "Net Lotus Demon Flame suddenly lifted its head, blood-red eyes fixed firmly on Net Lotus Demon Saint. Blood mist surged forth instantly, enveloping the Demon Saint completely, seeping in relentlessly and eroding deep into its body. A storm swept across heaven and earth, creating a colossal fissure stretching tens of ten thousand li across—so vast that the surrounding molten seas could not fill it in an instant. At the far horizon, only after the violent energy storm gradually subsided did Xiao Yan and Xun'er step forth, locking eyes, then swiftly darting toward the epicenter of the explosion. "Xiao Yan couldn't help but curse, for in pursuit of the Qinglian Spirit Flame, he had gathered ancient maps over a dozen years and patiently waited for three full years—only to end up with such a result? "Xiao Yan, look!" However, just as Xiao Yan was filled with growing resentment, Xun'er suddenly pointed with her jade finger toward the molten sea below, her voice filled with excitement. Xiao Yan immediately turned his gaze in the direction she indicated, his heart instantly squeezed tightly. Amidst the endless expanse of molten sea, a white lotus, its entire body veined with delicate pink patterns, was drifting slowly. As it moved, it seemed as though the energy of the entire sea was continuously flowing toward it. "The essence of the spirit flame..." Staring at the pale, softly pink lotus, Xiao Yan's body trembled with excitement, unable to contain his emotions.