With a single, decisive step, Xiao Yan focused all of the Flame King's energy within him. The red fire surrounding his body began to blaze outward with an intensity like never before. His entire body radiated such light that even the creatures from the Realm of the Abyss began to retreat, feeling threatened by the pure and immense energy.
Every cell in Xiao Yan's body seemed to burn with limitless power. With one final push, he unleashed the greatest fire attack ever, destroying all the open gates and driving back the creatures that had emerged from the dimension. The fire shot forward, faster than anything he had ever imagined, destroying everything in its path.
But as the gate finally closed, Xiao Yan collapsed to the ground, exhausted and nearly unconscious. The immense sacrifice he had made to close the Realm of the Abyss had taken a great toll on him. The Flame King's fire, now gone, had left deep marks on his body, and even a part of his soul was lost along with the energy he had released.
In the distance, Zhou Li fell, his body restrained by the overwhelming power Xiao Yan had just unleashed. Zhou Li's eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"It… it's over," Zhou Li said, his voice full of defeat and disbelief.
With the gate closed and the threat from the Realm of the Abyss stopped, the world returned to a moment of calm. But even though the immediate danger had passed, Xiao Yan knew that this sacrifice was just the beginning of a much greater journey. The world might have been saved, but the price had been too high. What would Xiao Yan's next path be? What would happen to him after losing a part of himself?