Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

"Is this your 'little demon'?" Su Baichen pointed vaguely at the white-robed figure outside, his tone somewhat strange.

“This…” A hint of embarrassment flashed across the illusory face of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint.

"Perhaps it is the thousands of years of confinement that have made his temperament more extreme; he was not like this back then..."

He sighed softly, gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the flames, a look of reminiscence and regret rising in his eyes.

"Well, let's see what happens. The people who come this time are much stronger than before."

"Wasn't it because you were too famous back then?" Su Baichen shook his head.

"Who doesn't know the name of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint? Even this demonic fire has become a legend that the world is vying to pursue."

"Yes..." The Pure Lotus Demon Saint's gaze was distant, as if piercing through the ages.

"I became famous throughout the world because of him, ascending to the rank of semi-emperor; he also became known to the world and coveted by the world because of me."

"In the end, all the causes and effects are tied to this ill-fated relationship... I don't resent his backlash, I only hate that I failed to truly teach him what power and character are back then."

His voice trailed off, as if he were lost in a distant memory:

"The day I first met him, he was just a tiny, innocent flame leaping in the chaos, pure, fiery, and full of curiosity about everything in the world..."

Su Baichen remained silent, listening quietly as time flowed slowly within this mental space, while outside, a storm was brewing.

Within the illusion, Cao Ying's eyes suddenly shone with a bright soul light, drawing an ancient blood talisman that transformed into a stream of light and struck a certain point in the void!

Click!

As if glass had shattered, the surrounding scenery instantly distorted and peeled away.

Everyone felt a sudden jolt of dizziness, and when they regained their senses, they had returned to the real world. The "Xiao Chen" who had been guiding them blurred, and several struggling, milky-white flames erupted from his body!

Immediately afterwards, the blood talisman turned again, transforming into an invisible force that pierced into "Xiao Chen's" chest.

"Ugh—!"

A low growl, a mixture of pain and relief, rang out, and streaks of milky white flames were forcibly forced out, hissing and dissipating in the air.

Xiao Chen, whose gaze had been clouded at times, finally regained his clarity. A genuine sense of fear and gratitude appeared on his weathered face as he bowed respectfully to Cao Ying.

However, the crisis was not over.

The illusion shattered, and all the powerful beings trapped within it awoke.

When they realized that everything just now was controlled by the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, and that everyone had been fighting and killing each other without even realizing it, a chill ran down their spines.

The absolute disparity in strength forced the forces, which originally harbored their own agendas, to temporarily join forces.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Soul Palace Master Hun Miesheng proposed a method of combining formations, using the power of several Battle Saints to jointly form the "Heavenly Net Demon Sealing Formation".

The countless rune chains surged out like dragons, weaving into a net of light that blotted out the sky, actually trapping the arrogant Pure Lotus Demon Flame within the pillar of light seal!

But as soon as the demonic fire was sealed, the fragile alliance instantly collapsed.

"The source of the demonic flame is mine!"

"The Soul Palace won't be able to monopolize it!"

The scene descended into chaos once again, and just as the struggle reached its climax, two figures with immense auras stepped out of the void almost simultaneously.

One was a figure with billowing black robes, a withered face, and deep black flames leaping in his eyes—the Soul Demon Elder of the Soul Clan.

The other person, however, looked like a child, sitting on the back of a blue ox, with eyes as clear as an infant's, yet as deep as stars—the Little Pill Tower Ancestor, the mysterious founder of the Pill Tower.

"I truly didn't expect that even you would come here in person." The old man of the Soul Demon grinned, his voice hoarse like the grinding of gravel.

"Sigh..." The old ancestor, who looked like a shepherd boy, patted the ox's back and sighed, "Your Soul Clan has already disregarded the agreement from back then, so how can I continue to live a carefree life?"

“It’s easy to show yourself, but it’s difficult to leave again. Our clan leader has been thinking of you for a long time.” The old man’s eyes gleamed with a ghostly light.

"Let him keep thinking about it," the old ancestor waved his small hand, his smile serene.

"I haven't lived enough yet. I want to enjoy this peaceful life for a few more years."

Having said that, he stopped looking at the Soul Demon Elder and turned his gaze to the pillar of light sealing the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, uttering a sentence that caused the entire audience to fall into a sudden, deathly silence:

"Pure Lotus Demon Flame, the show... it's time to end it. You were just deliberately sealed away, trying to use external forces to leave this demon flame space. Do you really think I can't see through it?"

Everyone was horrified and looked at the pillar of light.

The pillar of light was silent, and within it, a white-robed figure bound by chains hung its head and remained silent, as if still struggling.

The young shepherd boy shook his head, a hint of regret in his sigh. With a slight sway, he passed through space like a gentle breeze and appeared directly in front of the pillar of light.

Without making any move, he simply stretched out his tender finger and gently touched the surface of the pillar of light.

Where the fingertips land, the space ripples like water.

"Crack..."

A faint cracking sound rang out, followed by—

"boom--!!!"

The pillar of light exploded with a deafening roar! Countless sealing chains shattered inch by inch, and a terrifying wave of fire swept out, instantly vaporizing several Dou Zun powerhouses who were approaching!

At the center of the blazing light, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame slowly raised its head. Its handsome face was now completely distorted, and its silver-white pupils burned with boundless rage as it stared intently at the Shepherd Ancestor.

"It's you again... ruining my plans!!"

"I didn't mean to ruin your plans." The old ancestor stood on the back of the green ox, his robes motionless amidst the flames, his voice as calm as an ancient well.

"It is because your heart has become evil and you have become a madman of killing. Back then, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint sealed you here not to imprison you, but because he pitied you as a child born of the earth and did not want to see you become mad, nor did he want you to be born into the world and bring disaster to the Central Plains."

The Pure Lotus Demon Flame laughed wildly, its laughter maniacal, as milky white flames shot into the sky, transforming into a gigantic fire lotus that covered the heavens and earth.

"Pity me? You've sealed me away for a thousand years, and you still dare to talk about pitying me?! Today, none of you will leave—you will all become my fire slaves!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a huge fire array appeared above and below everyone's heads, engulfing them all.

Chapter 367 Cao Ying: Come out, Master!

"The Ancient Refining Heaven Formation!"

Gazing at the ancient runes that rose simultaneously from above and below his feet, intertwining to form a sky-covering array, the young shepherd boy's clear eyes suddenly darkened, and a solemn expression finally appeared on his usually calm face.

"You...you can actually control this formation?!"

Beside him, the old man of the Soul Demon's expression changed drastically.

He understood the weight of the words "Refining Heaven Ancient Formation" better than anyone else—it was the ultimate method of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, using heaven and earth as a furnace to refine all things. Even if it remained in this demon fire space, its power was far beyond what an ordinary Dou Sheng could withstand!

The Soul Demon Elder was a man of action; he made his decision in an instant.

Without the slightest hesitation, the Soul Demon Elder turned and ran towards the spatial passage. Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to the power of the Refining Heaven Ancient Array.

His escape was like throwing a heavy stone onto a taut bowstring.

Seeing this, the last glimmer of hope in the hearts of the others was completely extinguished.

Demonic fire is good, but you have to be alive to enjoy it!

In an instant, figures moved about, all wanting to follow the old man of the Soul Demon and escape.

"Hahaha! Want to leave now? Too late!"

The Pure Lotus Demon Flame stood at the center of the array, its wild laughter filled with boundless joy and cruelty. It clenched its fist, and the ancient array hanging high in the sky shone brightly. A milky white pillar of fire crashed down like a divine punishment, striking the entrance to the spatial passage with perfect accuracy!

"BOOM—!!!"

The passageway, along with that space, shattered and vanished like fragile glass.

Those who were slower to escape were caught in the aftershocks and turned to ashes before they could even scream.

There is no way out.

"Old ghost of the Soul Demon!" the young shepherd boy's voice rang out, tinged with an unusual urgency.

"Join forces to break the formation! Otherwise, none of us will escape today!"

Forced to halt his movements, the old Soul Demon's face turned ashen, black flames flickering violently in his eyes, finally culminating in a low roar: "Damn it! You broke the core of the Heavenly Array, I'll break the core of the Earthly Array!"

"Alright!" The old shepherd immediately agreed, and with a swift movement, he rushed towards the most intense cluster of light in the sky.

The old man of the Soul Demon also transformed into a black light, rushing straight towards the earth's array eye below, which was spewing magma and fire runes.

The Pure Lotus Demon Flame sneered: "A cornered beast's struggle!"

With a thought, the light of the Refining Heaven Ancient Array flowed, and countless chains of flame emerged from the void, entangling the two of them.

At the same time, the space around the altar distorted violently, and "fire slaves" of varying strengths stepped out.

Their eyes were vacant, their bodies engulfed in milky white flames, and they roared silently as they surged toward the others who were trying to help break the formation.

"Stop them!" the Pure Lotus Demon Flame coldly ordered. As long as they could keep the others occupied and concentrate on using the power of the ancient formation to kill their two strongest opponents, the rest would be no threat.

There are just too many slaves!

Moreover, they are completely unafraid of damage. Once they are forced into a corner or suffer heavy blows, they will self-destruct, and the terrifying energy of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire will sweep out, leaving everyone in a sorry state and the battle lines retreating step by step.

"Sister Cao Ying!" During a break in the fierce battle, Xun'er unleashed a golden flame to repel a fire slave, and anxiously looked at Cao Ying, who remained relatively calm beside her.

"Do you have any other ideas? Brother Bai Chen... he must have left you a backup plan, right?"

She firmly believed that with Su Baichen's foresight and care for Cao Ying, he would never allow her to face this desperate situation alone without a way to save her life.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyang, who was fighting hard on the side, also looked at Cao Ying. He had personally witnessed the methods of that mysterious senior, and he would be the first to disbelieve that Cao Ying had no support.

Feeling a little embarrassed by the two of them staring at her, Cao Ying thought about how Su Baichen had told her to shout "Master, save me!" which would then lead to her being rescued. She exchanged a glance with Xiao Yu beside her.

Xiao Yu seemed to understand something. Her lips twitched almost imperceptibly. She quickly turned her face away, pretending to focus on dealing with the fire slaves in front of her—her posture clearly meant: If you want to shout, then shout. This is too embarrassing. I'm not involved.

A few invisible black lines seemed to appear on Cao Ying's forehead.

[How disloyal! Making me do this shameful thing all by myself!]

But... shouting it out in front of so many people is just... too embarrassing!

Seeing another wave of fire slaves rushing towards them, the Soul Demon Elder and the Shepherd Ancestor were becoming increasingly disheveled under the suppression of the ancient formation. Cao Ying gritted her teeth and took out an ancient bead—the Heavenly Profound Bead.

With all her might, she hurled the bead like a stone at the center of the array, where the Pure Lotus Demon Flame was fully controlling the ancient array!

"Come out!" (shouting loudly)

The Heavenly Profound Pearl transformed into a faint stream of light, inconspicuous amidst the raging sea of ​​fire and energy storm, and shot directly at the face of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.