"Arise, all of you. I am now aware of what transpired. You have suffered greatly these many years.
From this moment onward, our Fire Clan shall reappear in the world, reclaiming our past glory."
Ancestor Cui Hong nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Fire Clan members kneeling before him. Then, a mysterious fiery energy materialized, lifting those clansmen to their feet.
"Leave, now!"
The three patriarchs of the Source Fire Sect, hearing Cui Hong's words, knew that this ancestor of the Fire Clan had fully regained his memories and consciousness.
This was an ancient Deity! Once his memories and intellect were restored, they, mere demigods, would be no match for him. A Deity possessed unfathomable, profound methods. Immediately issuing the command, they led the remnants of the Source Fire Sect forces and turned to flee.
"Is our Fire Realm a place you can come and go as you please?" Cui Hong's voice boomed with authority.
He then took a single step forward. The entire Fire Realm's fire energy and fire laws surged and converged, forming massive, towering waves of flame that encircled the escaping Source Fire Sect troops.
RUMBLE...
Cui Hong swung his hand. His palm continuously expanded as it moved, blazing fiercely and radiating astonishing heat.
Aaaahhh...
Blood-curdling screams erupted one after another. Before the palm even struck them, the members of the Source Fire Sect spontaneously combusted, reduced to ashes that scattered into nothingness.
Even the Heavenly Immortals among them, facing Cui Hong's descending palm, were instantly annihilated.
The bodies of the three elders themselves began to burn. However, this combustion was self-inflicted; they were incinerating their Origin Essence Blood, attempting to unleash their utmost potential.
The auras of the three elders grew increasingly powerful as they executed their mightiest secret techniques and mantras. They tried desperately to resist Cui Hong's palm while simultaneously fleeing into the distance.
"Futile."
Cui Hong spoke softly, then abruptly accelerated his palm, striking one of the Source Fire Sect elders.
"Brothers, save me!"
This Source Fire Sect patriarch let out a shrill, piercing shriek. Then, with a *peng* sound, his body exploded into a cloud of blood mist. His already tattered soul body appeared, a mask of terror on his face. He spun around and fled towards the distant space.
But how would Cui Hong let him escape? His hand gently clenched, grasping the elder's soul body and shattering it into nothingness.
"Such a waste! That was the soul body of a Perfected Demigod!" Huang Shang cried out in dismay as he watched it dissolve.
"Nothing to be done about it," Ye Yunfei replied with a bitter smile. "I don't know him well. In a situation like this, if I were to ask him for it, he might even turn on me."
If Huang Shang could have obtained the soul body of a Perfected Demigod, it would have been an immense tonic indeed.
After slaughtering one of the Source Fire Sect elders, Ancestor Cui Hong took another step forward, crushing a large swath of panicked, fleeing sect members underfoot. Then, he threw a fist forward. His fist instantly traversed space-time, chasing down another Source Fire Sect elder with terrifying speed.
"Spare me, Senior Cui Hong!"
Sensing the terrifying fist force roaring towards him from behind, the elder was frightened out of his wits and immediately begged for mercy.
With a *peng* sound, Cui Hong's fist continued its unstoppable path, forcefully pulverizing this elder into a cloud of blood mist. Even his soul body was blasted apart.
"You also won't escape."
Cui Hong took another step forward, crushing yet another group of Source Fire Sect members. His gaze then turned to the last remaining elder. He spoke calmly, his voice reverberating throughout the entire Fire Realm, as if uttered by billions of living beings shouting in unison. It thundered and roared in everyone's ears.
"Master, a Deity is truly too frightening," Hu Miao couldn't help but exclaim. "Every single movement seems to contain an undefeatable, earth-shaking momentum."
"Of course. A Deity is not only proficient in the laws of the Great Dao but has also touched upon laws of a higher realm. With a mere thought, they can easily command the momentum of a vast area of heaven and earth. A demigod may be powerful, but before a Deity, they are as weak as ants." Hun Lao explained.
"Hun Lao, have you awakened some memories related to Deities?" Hu Miao asked curiously.
"Yes, I have recovered some information regarding Deities, but most of it is fragmented, not very complete," Hun Lao nodded.
"Don't think only your Fire Clan has ancestors! Our Source Fire Sect also has an ancestor!"
The last Source Fire Sect elder, knowing Cui Hong had locked onto him and that escaping the Fire Realm would be exceedingly difficult, suddenly recalled something in his desperation and roared.
Then, he abruptly knelt on the ground, waving his sleeve to produce an altar before him.
"I beseech the Sect Founding Ancestor to appear and slay the remaining Fire Clan traitors!"
The elder formed one bizarre fire-shaped hand seal after another with both hands, continuously imprinting them onto the altar in front of him while chanting.
The altar began to tremble gently.
"Oh? Your Source Fire Sect's Sect Founding Ancestor? Fine then. I want to see what is left of him."
Ancestor Cui Hong, originally prepared to strike and kill this elder, now halted his movement. A look of disdain crossed his face as he spoke softly.
Simultaneously, within the Source Fire Sect headquarters in the Yuanhuo Realm of the Zhongheng World Cluster.
From a simple-looking, crudely built small temple made of stacked red rocks, a powerful energy aura suddenly erupted.
On an offering table inside the small temple, a seven-story pagoda abruptly erupted with rolling divine radiance.
This seven-story pagoda had been covered in thick dust, obscuring its original color. Now, the dust was all shaken off, revealing a fiery red tower body.
Then, a figure only one inch tall walked out from within the red pagoda. Holding the pagoda aloft in its hand, it soared into the air and charged out of the simple, crude temple.
RUMBLE…
As this short figure walked forward, it continuously enlarged. Its divine radiance blazed brilliantly, and torrential flames spurted forth from its body.
"What's happening? This aura… it seems to be the Sect Founding Ancestor's presence? Could it be the Sect Founding Ancestor truly left behind an energy body guarding our headquarters? If that's truly the case, it would be immense fortune for our Source Fire Sect! In this era where Deities rarely show themselves, an energy body left by a Deity could probably run rampant through the entire Chaotic Void with no equal!"
Another elder remained stationed at the Source Fire Sect headquarters, currently in secluded meditation. He suddenly sensed an aura of terroristic energy. Stunned, he immediately opened his eyes and released his Soul Power to perceive.
With a *whoosh*, this elder rushed out of his seclusion palace and saw, deep within the headquarters, a towering figure that seemed to prop up the heavens and hold down the earth. Holding a shining red seven-story pagoda aloft in its right hand, it was rising into the air.
"It truly is our Sect Founding Ancestor! The patriarch truly left behind an energy body within the headquarters! Our Source Fire Sect shall rise in full force!"
This patriarch, trembling with excitement, roared in a voice brimming with agitation.
"Patriarch, what is happening?"
At this moment, many Source Fire Sect higher-ups, hearing the commotion, appeared and gathered around the patriarch, some asking questions.
At the same time, many members within the headquarters rushed in from all directions. The commotion caused by the hand-red-tower-wielding figure deep in the core was immense. The energy it released was making the entire headquarters shake and tremble.
"That is the energy body of our Sect Founding Ancestor! Everyone, follow me to pay our respects to our Sect Founding Ancestor!"
The patriarch shouted with excitement.
"We pay our respects to the Sect Founding Ancestor!"
The patriarch took the lead, prostrating himself towards that heaven-propping, pagoda-holding figure deep in the headquarters.
"What? This is our Sect Founding Ancestor?"
Upon hearing their patriarch's excited shouts, the Source Fire Sect members were all struck with shock.
In the hearts of these sect members, the Sect Founding Ancestor was an irreplaceable spiritual pillar.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and pay respects to the Sect Founding Ancestor alongside our patriarch!"
A man in red robes was the first to react, shouting loudly.
"We pay our respects to the Sect Founding Ancestor!"
All members of the Source Fire Sect followed their patriarch's lead and prostrated themselves.
"Never imagined the remaining Fire Clan wretches have actually broken the seal and escaped!"
The towering figure deep within the headquarters paid no heed to the sect members prostrating below. Its two eyes emitted rolling flames as it peered in the direction of the Fire Realm, muttering softly.
Then, this Sect Founding Ancestor of the Source Fire Sect took a single step forward, stirring up a sea of flames, and vanished.
In the next moment, he was traversing the Chaotic Void Sea.
His speed was so immense that with each step, he crossed vast stretches of time and space, so most ordinary beings couldn't even perceive his passing.
Some beings who happened to be directly in his path were consumed by rolling flames before they realized what was happening, turning to ashes.
Back in the Fire Realm, at the same time.
Cui Hong looked towards the outer Chaotic Void, a cold sneer appearing on his face.
"Very good. We can settle accounts thoroughly today."
Cui Hong had already seen the Sect Founding Ancestor of the Source Fire Sect speeding through the Chaotic Void Sea. Furthermore, through an advanced secret technique of deduction, he had ascertained that it was precisely this Source Fire Sect Sect Founding Ancestor who sealed the Fire Clan for so long. Intense killing intent surged within him.
Inside the Fire Realm, the one remaining Source Fire Sect elder still knelt before the altar. The altar trembled more and more violently until suddenly, a figure emitting a fearsome aura materialized above the altar.
"This aura… It's our Sect Founding Ancestor! Excellent! So it's true; our Ancestor truly left an energy body in the headquarters! Now that energy body has been awakened and is hurrying towards the Fire Realm!"
The elder shouted excitedly.
"You Fire Clan remnants just wait! Our Sect Founding Ancestor is coming! You will all die!"
The Source Fire Sect elder revealed a ferocious, twisted grin as he turned his head towards the Fire Clan members and roared.
"What? The Source Fire Sect's founding ancestor… is still alive? And is now heading towards the Fire Realm?"
Upon hearing the elder's words, Ye Yunfei's heart churned with towering waves of shock.
"A major power like the Source Fire Sect, with such a long inheritance… its ancient founding ancestor would certainly have been a Deity! Doesn't that mean… a Deity is currently heading for the Fire Realm?"
Ye Yunfei was filled with dread.
"Wasn't it said that Deities rarely appear in this era? How can one appear now? That old geezer must be bluffing, right?" The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm spoke up, clearly skeptical.
"Our Fire Clan will be just fine. Instead, it is you who will die now."
Cui Hong looked at the Source Fire Sect elder with an icy gaze. He slowly extended a palm and pressed it down towards the man.
"Oh no!"
The elder suddenly realized he was now facing an energy body left behind by a Deity! For him to utter such provoking, defiant words at this moment was simply asking for death.
Panicking, he spun around, intent on fleeing.
But Cui Hong's hand was already endlessly expanding, pressing down upon him, trapping him under its terrifying, immobilizing might.
"Who dares to lay a hand on someone from our Source Fire Sect!"
Suddenly, the figure suspended above the altar spoke up angrily.
"I am the one who will lay a hand on your people. I'll kill this one first, then wait for your arrival to exterminate you too."
Cui Hong spoke coldly, then pressed down sharply with his palm.
RUMBLE…
Vast and majestic palm force descended with overwhelming power, instantly pressing the Source Fire Sect elder flat against the ground, prostrated fully.
The figure floating above the altar let out a furious roar and struck directly, throwing a punch upward.
This figure was merely a Soul Power projection sent by the Sect Founding Ancestor across the vast distance.
With a *peng*, this projection of the Ancestor couldn't even sustain itself for half a breath before directly exploding.
Then, Cui Hong's palm smacked down, shattering the altar into fragments and pulverizing the Source Fire Sect elder's body into a mass of flesh and blood, annihilating his soul along with it.
"Damnation!"
A roar of fury echoed through the Chaotic Void Sea. The terrifying sound waves transformed into turbulent energy, instantly shattering any creatures passing nearby into bloody mist.
"Elders, Cui Xia is over there! She appears to have fainted! There's a strange human male standing beside her!"
With all members of the Source Fire Sect within the Fire Realm now wiped out, the Fire Clan members began cleaning up the world. One of them pointed towards the distant Ye Yunfei and the unconscious red-clothed woman lying on the ground as he spoke to an elder.
"All those we sent out all those years ago have disappeared… only Cui Xia remains. It's possible everyone else has perished, leaving her as the sole survivor. In that case, it is likely *he* found Ancestor Cui Hong's energy body and brought it here to break the seal. Let's go and investigate."
The elder nodded and walked towards Ye Yunfei's location. This elder was the first to have emerged from the Fire Clan Ancestral Land; he was the Fire Clan's Grand Elder.
"The Fire Clan members are approaching. Be cautious. Their stance towards you is yet unknown; friend or foe remains unclear." Hun Lao quickly sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Young man, who are you? Why are you with a member of our Fire Clan? What happened to her?"
The Fire Clan Grand Elder arrived beside the red-clothed woman and assessed her condition. Finding her not in immediate life-threatening danger, he visibly relaxed, then questioned Ye Yunfei.
Dozens of Fire Clan members subtly positioned themselves around Ye Yunfei, effectively surrounding him.