In an instant, the once lively banquet hall was engulfed in a boundless inferno. The members of the Fire Spirit Clan retreated in an orderly manner—clearly, they had long been prepared for this very moment.
From the shadows, four figures flickered into view. Each formed complex seals with their hands, their faces grave as immense Spiritual Energy surged out of their bodies, coalescing into a violent Spiritual storm that swept across the entire hall.
They were the true controllers of the Fourfold Flame-Spirit Demon-Slaying Array. A Grandmaster-level Spiritual Array was far beyond the control of ordinary Masters, so the Fire Spirit Clan had stationed four Master-level Array Experts to share the burden—each controlling a quarter of the array, working together to unleash its Heavenly Sovereign-level might.
The four flame spirits roared in unison—dragons, tigers, birds, and tortoises—all cloaked in terrifying flames that radiated an overwhelming aura of destruction.
Each of these flames had been nurtured by the Fire Spirit Clan for tens of thousands of years, passed through dozens of hosts. When those hosts perished, they would pour all their remaining Spiritual Energy back into the flame, allowing its power to endure and grow stronger across generations.
If any one of these Divine Flames had appeared in the Dou Qi Continent, they would rank among the top three on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Although the clan's descendants had weakened over the ages, relying on these four Divine Flames alone, even ordinary Heavenly Sovereigns would hesitate to cause trouble on the Fire Spirit Continent.
Such deep heritage was indeed formidable.
Huo Yan now stood tall amid the gathered experts of his clan, looking majestic and proud. His eyes locked onto Liu Xi, who sat calmly within the formation, and a glint of arrogance flickered across his face.
'Now, he's nothing more than a trapped beast.'
"So what if you're a Heavenly Sovereign?" Huo Yan sneered. "The Fire Spirit Clan has stood in the Great Thousand Worlds for tens of thousands of years. Even Heavenly Sovereigns have been suppressed by our ancestors before!"
Turning to one of the Array Masters, he barked, "Huo Yi! Begin the suppression. There's no better day than today—capture him now and send him to the Ancient Maha Clan!"
The one called Huo Yi—a white-haired elder in crimson robes—was among the most skilled Array Masters in the clan, known for his deep attainments in the art.
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
Though even he felt the oppressive weight of Liu Xi's aura, he did not hesitate. Together with the other three Array Masters, he began to change his hand seals rapidly.
Instantly, the surging flames within the array blazed higher. The four flame spirits' auras intertwined and erupted, releasing power equivalent to that of a Heavenly Sovereign.
Even Liu Xi raised an eyebrow. Within these flame spirits, he could sense the presence of true Divine Flame essences—no wonder the heat was so intense.
"Since Clan Leader Huo Yan shows no kindness," Liu Xi sighed, "don't blame me for being ruthless."
His body began to change—his form transformed into his Heavenly Sovereign Spiritual Body. Boundless Spiritual Energy erupted like a tide, spreading outward in all directions.
Boom! Boom!
The explosion of power struck the array like a tempest, shaking its very foundations. Under the torrent of pressure, the intricate formation began to flicker and distort.
The four Array Masters' faces paled. A crushing force pressed upon them, and though each was an Earth Sovereign, they felt as if they stood before a primeval beast.
"Flame Spirits, suppress the demon!"
The four flame beasts roared as torrents of fire surged from their maws, crashing toward Liu Xi from all directions like waves of molten destruction.
The flames sealed off every path of escape, but Liu Xi made no attempt to dodge. Instead, a calm azure flame rippled across his body, protecting him like a divine barrier.
Moments later, the fiery deluge consumed him completely, the sea of fire burning hot enough to incinerate all living beings to ash.
Yet neither the Array Masters nor Huo Yan dared relax. Though they had faith in their ancestral array, they knew better than to assume it could subdue a Heavenly Sovereign so easily.
Then, deep within the sea of fire, the flames began to twist, forming a colossal vortex. All surrounding fire surged toward its center—then vanished entirely.
"Not good! The flames are being devoured!" one of the Array Masters cried in alarm.
"How can he do that? Even a Heavenly Sovereign would never dare absorb multiple conflicting fire attributes—does he not fear his Spiritual Energy will collapse?!"
But their disbelief was short-lived.
When the flames finally dissipated, Liu Xi's silhouette reappeared—calm, unscathed, still seated cross-legged in the same spot. Azure flames coiled around him gently, his smile faint but cutting.
"What pure fire-element Spiritual Energy," he murmured. "Even purer than what flows beneath the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Truly, a fine gift of experience."
Rising slowly, Liu Xi's sleeves fluttered as he unleashed an even greater storm of Spiritual Energy. The flames transformed into a blazing dragon tornado that surged through the array.
Crack! Crack!
Sharp snapping sounds echoed. Though faint, they made every Fire Spirit clansman's face drain of color. Panic spread rapidly.
"Steady the array! Hold it!" Huo Yi shouted desperately.
But their Spiritual Energy, even united, could not compare to Liu Xi's. The entire formation trembled violently, on the verge of collapse.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Huo Yan roared. "The Fourfold Flame-Spirit Demon-Slaying Array once suppressed a Spiritual Grade Heavenly Sovereign! In ancient times, it even slew a Demon Emperor from the Extraterritorial Evil Race! How could it fail so easily?!"
He refused to believe his eyes. Liu Xi's Spiritual Energy was far too abnormal—both in quantity and in density. It was nothing like that of a normal Heavenly Sovereign.
Then came the final snap. The intricate runes forming the array shattered into countless motes of light. The colossal formation crumbled to nothingness.
Without the barrier, Liu Xi's terrifying power surged freely across the heavens.
The entire Fire Spirit City quaked beneath the pressure. Every living being turned toward the royal palace, their faces stricken with disbelief.
A colossal blaze consumed the palace, devouring everything in sight—stone, metal, and flesh alike.
"Someone dares wreak havoc in Fire Spirit City?!"
"That's the aura of a Heavenly Sovereign! Has the Fire Spirit Clan provoked such a being? This is a calamity!"
Panic swept through the city.
Within the ruins of the palace, Liu Xi hovered calmly in midair. Azure flames coiled around him like dragons, casting him in divine majesty. Even the rampaging fires around him dared not draw near.
His gaze pierced the inferno. With a flicker of insight, he locked onto four hidden energy signatures buried deep within the fire.
The corners of his lips curved upward.
"Found you. Trying to run?"
With a sweep of his sleeve, his Spiritual Energy surged, condensing into a colossal hand that plunged straight into the blazing sea—into fire so intense that even an Earth Sovereign would never dare touch it.
Moments later, he withdrew his hand.
Resting on his palm were four miniature flame spirits—a dragon, a tiger, a bird, and a tortoise. They were the condensed essences of the four Divine Flames.
"Not bad," Liu Xi mused. "Each of these Divine Flame essences holds power nearing that of a Spiritual Grade Heavenly Sovereign. The Fire Spirit Clan truly failed to understand their own treasures."
With a light grip, he compressed the four flames and sealed them within his Sovereign Sea.
Only then did he glance around. The once-grand Fire Spirit Palace was now nothing but scorched ruins.
The Fire Spirit Clan… had suffered devastation beyond repair.
Just then, a trembling voice cried out from the rubble—filled with fear and hatred.
"Father! Please—kill him!"
It was Huo Yan, bloodied but alive, screaming for aid from the depths of despair.
(End of Chapter)
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