Kapitel 42: Chapter 42: Soul Confrontation!
As Jiang Yun's words fell, the surroundings returned to silence!
This space seemed to freeze, and the oppressive atmosphere filled the underground area. Qing Ming's expression was unprecedentedly solemn, staring intently at Jiang Yun, watching his every move, fearing any mishap.
Time ticked away second by second!
The silent space lasted for several minutes when suddenly, the Holy Heavenly Demonic Flame within Jiang Yun's body emerged uncontrollably. The flame flickered gently, creating ripples. At the same time, a light laugh slowly emanated.
"Little one, how did you find me?"
The appearance of this voice made Qing Ming's entire being tense. The Qing Ming Tower began to revive instinctively, the little power it had roared like a flood, prepared to unleash a torrential assault at the slightest movement!
Even if it meant shattering completely, unable to suppress the Holy Heavenly Demonic Flame at the bottom of the tower, turning the entire Black-Corner Region into scorched earth, Qing Ming was willing to pay such a price!
"Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor!!!" Even though he was prepared, Qing Ming couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart upon seeing him.
At this moment, the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor didn't spare any attention to Qing Ming but looked at Jiang Yun with great interest, as if trying to see through him, to understand why the latter could detect his presence.
One must know, even Jiang Ya didn't discover him. Yet, how did Jiang Yun, a mere Dou Ling, find him? This puzzled him greatly.
Unlike Qing Ming, Jiang Yun wasn't nervous. Instead, he stared directly into the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's eyes, and after a moment of silence, said calmly, "Perhaps it's talent."
"When I first saw Fallen Heart Flame last time, I noticed the flaw, and I had the answer in my heart."
Jiang Yun's answer was outrageous, talking about talent in front of the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor?
But the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor actually nodded in approval. "You are indeed talented, but unfortunately," his voice suddenly turned cold, "all traitors to my clan deserve to die—"
"No need to intimidate me, Holy Heavenly Emperor. I guess your current power isn't much stronger than mine, is it?"
The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's sudden change made Qing Ming even more nervous, but Jiang Yun remained calm, saying something that even made the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor dazed.
"You are indeed clever!" the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor said faintly.
"You've answered your question. May I now ask mine, Holy Heavenly Lord?"
Under Qing Ming's puzzled gaze, Jiang Yun and the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor started having an "equal" conversation.
Humans are indeed complex!
At this moment, the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's interest in Jiang Yun, this special member of the Evil Spirit Clan, grew even more. He nodded.
"Why is it that after Jiang Ya's clan head and Qing Ming Senior extinguished the will within this flame, it still persists?"
"Haha—" Jiang Yun's question made the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor display a sneer. "How could Jiang Ya and this tiny tower understand my methods? Your biggest mistake was keeping that flame. As long as the flame exists, so do I!"
Qing Ming, hearing this answer, felt somewhat embarrassed. They thought they had done well yet had been operating under someone else's watchful eye.
"But Senior, you must have suffered significant damage as well, right?" Jiang Yun spoke up to save some face for Jiang Ya and Qing Ming. "Otherwise, why would it take the Fallen Heart Flame to awaken even a hint of consciousness?"
"Annoying brat!" the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor said coldly but did not refute.
"Second question, what exactly is the Fallen Heart Flame?" At this moment, Jiang Yun's expression turned serious. This question might unveil the mysterious veil of the Dou Qi Continent.
The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor looked at Jiang Yun with a faint smile and said, "Nothing much, just the origin flame of a defeated member of my clan."
Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Jiang Yun's eyes, and he blurted out, "The previous owner of the Indestructible Immortal Flame!"
"Indeed, the Great Thousand World has ten original dharma bodies with the potential to break through boundaries. Unfortunately, five of them were destroyed by my clan fifty thousand years ago, one of which was the Indestructible Immortal Flame!"
The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor spoke casually as if destroying five original dharma bodies was a commonplace occurrence for them.
"I didn't expect that after his fall, such a unique flame would arise on this continent!"
Upon learning the answer, Jiang Yun felt relieved and had a rough plan in mind, but he decided to put it into action after surviving this ordeal.
"My questions are finished; next, would you please die, Great Emperor?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned murderous. The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor asked curiously, "Since you know so many secrets, you might have guessed that while absorbing the Holy Heavenly Demonic Flame, your soul has been contaminated with my aura. My death would mean yours."
Jiang Yun was too entangled with the Holy Heavenly Demonic Flame. By absorbing it, he advanced rapidly but also contaminated his soul with the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's aura. If it continued, once the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's power accumulated, he could entirely refine Jiang Yun, turning him into his fire slave.
This was why Jiang Yun acted decisively to eradicate him upon discovery.
"That's why I came here!" Jiang Yun smiled mysteriously, revealing his card.
Seeing Jiang Yun's calmness, Qing Ming immediately tensed up, but Jiang Yun stretched out his hand calmly, "Life itself is a miracle. Compared to my body, you are ultimately an outsider."
"Even ants strive to live; never underestimate any being's desire to seek truth, Great Emperor!"
"Underestimate them, and—"
"Even a dragon can be devoured by ants!"
As his words fell, Jiang Yun waved his hand, and the cyan barrier shattered. Seeing it, the heart flame of the Fallen Heart Flame emerged, coldly watching him. To eliminate the will of the Holy Heavenly Demonic Flame within his body, Jiang Yun needed the Fallen Heart Flame, which directly attacked the soul, to cleanse his body and spirit.
"You should know this method relies on whose willpower is stronger. Even a slight mistake could lead to soul annihilation. Are you confident in surpassing me?" The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's gaze was strange, his previously approving look now turning into one as if he was watching an idiot.
"You want to compete in willpower with me, an old monster living for tens of thousands of years?"
Jiang Yun didn't seem to catch the mockery in the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor's words. He stretched out a palm and said calmly, "Life itself is a miracle. Compared to my body, you are ultimately an outsider."
"Even ants strive to live; never underestimate any being's desire to seek truth, Great Emperor!"
"Disdain them, and—"
"Even a dragon can be devoured by ants!"
As his words fell, Jiang Yun waved his hand, the cyan barrier shattered at the sound, and the heart flame of the Fallen Heart Flame saw it, showing ferocity in its snake-like eyes, and terrifying formless flames started to rise from it, rushing towards Jiang Yun.
"Evil Spirit Binding!"
With a loud shout, a vertical eye suddenly opened on Jiang Yun's forehead, emitting an infinite purple light that transformed into a purple soul chain, winding towards the flame snake.
"Cree!"
A high-pitched, angry screech echoed, and the formless flame snake suddenly showed fear in its eyes, sensing extreme danger.
The surrounding flames suddenly surged, and the outside's red-hot lava unexpectedly boiled, countless bubbles rolling continuously before bursting.
"Useless effort!"
This kind of attack was perilous and could lead to soul annihilation even with the slightest mistake, so not even the Evil Spirit Clan used it often.
Directly targeting the soul also meant it was much harder to guard against!
The purple chain, like a swimming dragon, instantly pierced through the Fallen Heart Flame's defense, turning transparent.
A palm-sized, milky-white small flame snake with formless flames in its eyes kept flicking, appearing very agile.
Now, its snake eyes shone with ferocity, eyeing Jiang Yun, and terrifying formless flames slowly rose from its body.
"Come!"
Jiang Yun's eyes brightened, and with a slight smile, his hand's imprint changed. In the fearful gaze of the other, many purple soul chains tightly wrapped it.
"Cree!"
Sharp screeches continuously rang out, the purple glow containing a frantically darting small flame snake.
"Come, this is the moment of victory or defeat!" Jiang Yun glanced at the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor watched over by Qing Ming.
His face returned to stillness, but unprecedented determination shone in his eyes, an infinite soul power forming an illusory purple lotus throne beneath him.
As Jiang Yun slowly sat cross-legged, the formless flame snake wrapped in the purple glow moved slowly into Jiang Yun's forehead.
"Hah—interesting, truly interesting, Jiang Yun. I must say, in terms of courage, no one in the Great Thousand World can match you." Seeing Jiang Yun's challenge, the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor showed a curious smile.
Then he laughed out softly, "Let this seat see how capable you are!"
As his words fell, his figure slowly faded, transforming into black-and-white interwoven Holy Heavenly Flame, heading towards Jiang Yun's forehead.
"Cloud..." Watching the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor vanish, Qing Ming looked worriedly at the eyes-closed Jiang Yun. Until now, he felt the world had gone mad, with someone daring to confront the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor in a battle of wills, and worse, that someone was a child!
No time to worry, Qing Ming took the remains of the Bodhi tree Jiang Yun had prepared before he fell asleep, placing them behind Jiang Yun. Instantly, a gentle aura descended, merging into Jiang Yun's purple vertical eye.
Having provided his final aid, Qing Ming stared intently at Jiang Yun, murmuring softly, "You must succeed!"
Regardless of Qing Ming's worries, at this moment, Jiang Yun's soul space had turned into a battlefield.
"Roar—"
A huge formless flame snake roared angrily, anxiously eyeing the black-and-white flame just appearing, sensing both extreme threat and attraction.
Under this roar, the entire space's formless flames surged wildly.
"Long-lost aura!" The Holy Heavenly Flame turned human-like, showing a nostalgic smile as if reminiscing.
"How would you compete?" The Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor turned, looking at the small soul figure, Jiang Yun.
Now he appeared noble, mysterious in purple, coldly eyeing the Fallen Heart Flame and the Holy Heavenly Emperor.
"In my domain,"
"It's all about suppression!"
As Jiang Yun's domineering voice echoed, the formless soul space turned purple. Upon closer look, one would see faint black-and-white stripes in the purple space.
A purple soul fire appeared, surging towards both, aiming to rival them alone?
"Hahaha—fine, this senior will humor you!" Seeing this, the Holy Heavenly Emperor let out a hearty laugh, transforming into black-and-white Holy Heavenly Flame, rushing towards the Fallen Heart Flame and the purple soul fire that Jiang Yun had turned into.
"Roar—" The attacked Fallen Heart Flame let out an angry roar, its flames surged, attacking both.
The battle began, and an extreme pain struck Jiang Yun, feeling his soul torn to pieces. Amid the shaken soul, a cooling sensation from deep within his soul stabilized him.
The entire soul space turned into a sea of flames, with purple, black-and-white, and formless flames intertwining.
On closer observation, one would notice subtle differences among the three sides.
The Fallen Heart Flame was the strongest, occupying most of the space, followed by the Holy Heavenly Flame with the Demonic Emperor as backup, and lastly, Jiang Yun...
Only held a small area, about one-tenth in size!
But under fierce attacks from the other two, the purple flame stood unmoved, like a mountain.
Though all three attacked indiscriminately, it seemed the strongest Fallen Heart Flame instinctively targeted the Holy Heavenly Emperor more, causing the latter to continuously draw black-and-white threads from the purple barrier, gradually freeing Jiang Yun from the Demonic Emperor's grasp.
In the purple sea of flames, Jiang Yun's soul figure opened his eyes slightly before sinking into a meditative state.
As time passed, Jiang Yun retained his one-tenth area, while the black-and-white threads on the surrounding barriers slowly dispersed. Amid the intense struggle, neither the Fallen Heart Flame nor the Holy Heavenly Demonic Emperor noticed countless tiny purple flames slowly emerging on the edges.
In the underground space, Qing Ming watched nervously; Jiang Yun sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, a massive formless flame snake in front of him, trapped in an eerie stillness.
Now Qing Ming noticed Jiang Yun's body violently trembling from time to time.
Receiving direct soul attacks from the Fallen Heart Flame, brought inside his soul sea, now fighting against it and the Holy Heavenly Flame, it was a miracle Jiang Yun hadn't crumbled immediately.
Each collision scorched Jiang Yun's soul, unimaginable pain to ordinary people.
Qing Ming had no idea how Jiang Yun persevered, maintaining a confrontation with both the Fallen Heart Flame and the Holy Heavenly Flame while enduring soul scorching pain.
"Jiang Ya, I can now firmly say this child is indeed the Evil Spirit Clan's hope."
"Cloud, will definitely lead the Evil Spirit Clan to glory!"
A faint murmur echoed, Qing Ming's complex gaze fixed on the sweat-drenched Jiang Yun, seeing a vast future in him.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
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