Outside the demonic flame space, the twisted sky had finally settled. The intense heat that had engulfed the entire area gradually subsided, and the molten desert below ceased its boiling, solidifying into chunks of white stone.
In the sky, figures stood suspended in the air, their expressions filled with reluctance. With the space portal gone, they could no longer sense that other realm.
"We really escaped death this time!"
"How unfortunate that Elders Hun Mo and Hun Ji perished within the demonic flame space!"
"Let's go..."
After lingering for a while, Hun Miesheng caught sight of Zi Yan's gaze. Without hesitation, he left with Hun Feng and the others. He dared not risk whether this terrifying girl would strike again and kill them all. This journey for the demonic flame had brought great renown to Zi Yan, showcasing the might of the Ancient Void Dragon clan to the world once again.
"Miss Zi Yan, what exactly did the Young Clan Leader instruct you before? Could you share it with us so that this old man can ease his worries?" asked Gu Nanhai, his expression anxious.
Inside the demonic flame space, energy was too violent for even a Five-Star Dou Saint to survive. If anything happened to Gu Fei, Gu Nanhai would have no face to return to his clan.
"Sister Zi Yan, please tell us more. I'm really worried about Brother Gu Fei!" Xun'er, her eyes teary, anxiously asked Zi Yan.
"Brother Gu Fei only said he wouldn't be in danger. He didn't say much else," Zi Yan shook her head, not minding the way Xun'er referred to her.
"Can Brother Gu Fei really be so sure that he'll be fine, even facing such a powerful heavenly flame?" Xun'er, still uneasy, questioned again.
"I believe Gu Fei won't be in trouble. He gives off an air of absolute steadiness," suddenly said Xiao Chen, usually a man of few words, expressing his confidence in Gu Fei.
A young man like him was rare in the world.
"But…"
"Stop worrying! Do you wish for Brother Gu Fei to be in trouble?" Zi Yan, unable to bear Xun'er's fretful tone, interrupted her, adding, "I left a dragon seal on him, so I'll know if anything happens."
Hearing this, Xun'er fell silent.
"Do any of you know if there are still any descendants of the Xiao Clan left today?" Xiao Chen asked earnestly.
"The Xiao Clan…" Xun'er and Gu Nanhai hesitated at the question.
"Xiao Chen, the Xiao Clan's Dou God bloodline has long disappeared, leaving only a branch family. If you go to a place called Wu Tan City in the Jia Ma Empire of the North-western region, you will find out more," Gu Nanhai explained slowly.
"Thank you for the information!" Xiao Chen didn't waste time. After learning this, he immediately set off.
"Miss Zi Yan, please wait here for a while. I must return to the clan and report the events to the elders..." Gu Nanhai said as he prepared to leave. However, when he tried to take Xun'er with him, she refused to go.
"Elder Nanhai, you go ahead. I want to stay here and wait for Brother Gu Fei to return..." Xun'er firmly replied.
"Miss, stop being unreasonable. Miss Zi Yan can handle things here. What can you do by staying?" Gu Nanhai's tone was laced with impatience, as Xun'er had repeatedly acted against his advice recently.
"Did you hear that? If you stay, you'll only cause trouble!" Zi Yan mocked Xun'er without holding back.
"If you insist on staying, I'll have no choice but to forcefully take you away!" Gu Nanhai's voice grew stern.
"Fine, I'll go..." Xun'er replied quietly, her spirits low.
At that moment, she felt completely dejected, as if no matter what she did, it was always wrong. Despite her good intentions, she seemed to be nothing but a burden to others.
...
Inside the demonic flame space.
When the massive explosion occurred at the core, Gu Fei had already retreated to a distance. Now, as he surveyed the empty surroundings, both the Demon Saint and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame had disappeared.
However, Gu Fei was not worried. He knew that the Demon Saint's purpose was merely to take away the demonic flame's current intelligence and memory, not to completely destroy it.
"What a pity. Such a powerful being, once capable of reaching the rank of Dou God, was held back by the lack of Origin Qi in the world..." Gu Fei sighed to himself, then moved toward the site of the explosion.
Looking down, he saw a white lotus flower covered in pink veins slowly drifting on the vast magma sea. As it moved, the energy of the entire sea seemed to flow continuously toward it.
"The demonic flame's essence!" Gu Fei's face lit up with satisfaction. If he could refine this, his power would surely rise to a new level.
He descended carefully, stopping a few meters away from the white and pink fire lotus. This Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame was now completely different from before- once violent, now calm and serene.
Unlike before, the flame did not attack as Gu Fei approached. The demonic flame had reverted to its pure, original state, untainted by any external influence.
"With my current strength and all the preparations I've made, refining the demonic flame shouldn't be a problem..." Gu Fei thought to himself.
He then took out several materials and set up a large formation around the area. When the formation was complete, waves of cold energy began to descend from the sky, forming frost on the flame's surface.
Next, Gu Fei retrieved a pill from his storage ring. As soon as the pill appeared, the surrounding air filled with a bone-chilling mist.
This pill was the Nine Yin Yellow Spring Pill, which Gu Fei had prepared specifically for refining the demonic flame.
With a flick of his finger, the pill flew toward the flame, and upon contact, it melted away quickly.
Layers of ice formed on the surface of the flame, only to be evaporated by the extreme heat moments later. As the cycle of freezing and evaporation continued, wisps of white vapor began rising steadily from the demonic flame.
"Hu..."
Gu Fei took a deep breath, and in the next moment, he appeared directly in front of the demonic flame.
The lotus petals of the flame had fully opened, revealing a pink flame at its center, coiled like a newborn baby.
A searing heat, so intense it could make one's soul tremble, radiated from the pink flame.
Gu Fei's eyes burned with desire as he stared at this flame.
This was the true essence of the Purifying Demonic Lotus flame!