Battle Through the Heavens: The Holy Sun Immortal Venerable

Chapter 281 Blood Axe Xiao Chen!

The terrifying strength that Lin Ran unleashed in an instant shocked everyone present.

Blood Axe Xiao Chen, who had activated the power of his clan's markings, was a solid five-star Dou Sheng. Yet Lin Ran was able to forcefully fight against him. Such terrifying combat power was truly frightening.

However, Lin Ran's outcry also awakened the shocked Gu Nanhai.

"Commander Lin, you have great strength and a solid foundation. I'll come to your aid!"

Gu Nanhai let out a sharp shout, and a clan mark appeared between his brows. He waved his hands, and azure light emerged.

"The Imperial Seal Technique!"

"Mountain-Opening Seal! Sea-Turning Seal! Earth-Covering Seal! Heaven-Annihilating Seal! Ancient Emperor Seal!"

"Five seals superimposed! Imperial Seal Palm!"

Five palm prints overlapped one after another, and a light imprint emerged.

A strange crystalline layer slowly spread out from the surface of the light seal, then completely enveloped the light seal and crashed down on Xiao Chen!

"Great Sun Holy Sun Palm!"

Seeing Gu Nanhai's impressive performance, Lin Ran didn't hesitate at all and immediately unleashed a Great Sun Holy Yang Palm.

The Azure Crystal Palm Print and the Emperor's Seal Technique roared simultaneously, slamming into Blood Axe Xiao Chen, sending him flying.

But after only a few breaths, Xiao Chen stood up again, and there was not a single wound on his body!

"hiss……"

Upon witnessing this scene, everyone present gasped in shock.

The Emperor Seal Technique, with its five seals stacked together, is comparable to a Heaven-rank combat skill. Add to that the Great Sun Holy Yang Palm, which is itself a genuine Heaven-rank combat skill.

The Heaven-Rank Battle Techniques of these two top-tier Battle Saints failed to injure this demonic fire puppet. Just who is this guy?!

"He is Xiao Chen, Blood Axe Xiao Chen!"

Suddenly, Gu Nanhai seemed to have thought of something and roared.

Lin Ran turned her head, looked at Gu Nanhai who was staring at her incredulously, and said, "Xiao Chen?"

"Xiao Chen..."

Upon hearing such a name, the gaunt man frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

"Elder Gu, do you know this senior?" Xun'er asked in surprise as she rushed over.

"I don't recognize it, but I have seen this blood-red axe in ancient books. In the past, the Xiao clan produced a person of extraordinary talent. His famous weapon was an extremely large blood axe, and this person was named Xiao Chen!"

Gu Nanhai stared at the gaunt man and said, "Xiao Chen has amazing talent. He is Xiao Xuan's cousin, but he is unruly and capricious. Before he became famous, countless powerful people died under his axe. However, he disappeared without a trace. No matter how the Xiao clan searched, they could not find him. I never expected that he would appear here."

"Oh right, not long after he disappeared, there was news of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame..." Gu Nanhai suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something.

"However, he has managed to escape a major calamity for the Xiao clan here. I just don't know if he is a human or a ghost now."

"The Great Festival of the Xiao Clan..."

Upon hearing Gu Nanhai's voice, Xiao Chen's face showed a hint of struggle, as if he were resisting something.

"He is resisting the control of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame."

Upon seeing this, Gu Nanhai was startled and whispered.

In the arena, Xiao Chen leaned on his giant axe, his body trembling constantly, while faint milky-white flames gradually emerged from his pores.

Just as everyone was watching, Lin Ran suddenly touched his forehead with his hand, and the ball of light in his mind emitted a faint fluctuation at this moment.

The sudden movement of the ball of light startled Lin Ran. He then silently sensed the subtle fluctuations, and after a moment, his eyes suddenly flickered.

"Aran!"

Xun'er, who was standing to the side, exclaimed in surprise when she saw Lin Ran pause and then suddenly walk towards Xiao Chen.

In response to her startled cry, Lin Ran simply waved her hand, quickly walked to Xiao Chen's side, and suddenly slapped Xiao Chen on the shoulder.

When his palm touched Xiao Chen's body, Xiao Chen's trembling body strangely stopped, and the milky white flames that were about to burst out of his body slowly dissipated.

"call"

Xiao Chen took a few deep breaths, and after a moment, he raised his head, looking solemnly at everyone present. His voice was hoarse as he asked, "The ancient clan's insignia... how is the Xiao clan now?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"The Xiao clan no longer exists."

Gu Nanhai pondered for a moment. The Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan were allies, so it seemed that Xiao Chen was completely unaware of what was happening outside. He then briefly recounted the situation of the Xiao Clan at that time.

As Gu Nanhai recounted his story, Xiao Chen listened quietly, but drops of crimson blood slowly slid from his clenched fist. After a long while, he said in a trembling voice, "Even Brother Xiao Xuan has perished."

"The Soul Clan is so powerful that we are helpless against them," Gu Nanhai sighed softly. "This is the Demon Flame Space. Senior Xiao Chen, could you perhaps lead us to the location of the Demon Flame?"

"You are no match for the Pure Lotus Demon Flame." Xiao Chen shook his head, his voice still hoarse.

"Staying here won't save you either," Lin Ran said calmly, her voice attracting Xiao Chen's attention.

"You little rascal..."

His gaze fell on Lin Ran, and after scrutinizing him for a long time, he finally nodded, slowly stood up, and then turned to walk towards the final palace gate.

"Come with me."

"Keep up."

Lin Ran didn't say much, just waved his hand lightly and followed. Gu Nanhai opened his mouth but didn't say anything, so he could only follow.

"Creak!"

The group silently followed behind Xiao Chen, watching him slowly push open the giant door. Behind the door was a staircase that stretched to the end, and at the end of the staircase, a huge altar stone platform could be vaguely seen.

Looking at the altar stone platform at the end, Lin Ran smiled faintly, took the lead in stepping onto the stone steps, and then walked step by step towards the end. Behind him, Xiao Chen, Xun'er and the others hesitated for a moment, but quickly followed.

The group climbed the stone steps in silence. After about ten minutes, they finally approached the altar. Lin Ran looked up and saw a huge throne standing silently on the altar. On the throne, a figure dressed in white robes sat quietly, with wisps of milky white flames swirling around him, constantly changing into various shapes.

The white-robed figure simply sat quietly, without emitting any aura. However, in the eyes of Lin Ran and the others, that figure was incredibly strange.

As everyone stepped onto the altar, the figure in white robes finally opened his eyes, revealing a stunning smile on his handsome face.

"Defeat me and you will obtain the source of the demonic fire; otherwise, you will remain here forever as my fire slaves." His voice was gentle and kind, but when it rang out, it seemed as if the entire space trembled.

Gu Nanhai and the others had solemn expressions, but a sense of defeat welled up in their hearts. The person in front of them actually made them feel like they were invincible!

"call."

The silence lasted for a moment, then Lin Ran finally let out a long breath. His face was tired, and his deep voice slowly rose.

"Pure Lotus Demon Flame... It seems you have already obtained the inheritance of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. Otherwise, you would not have been able to cultivate Nightmare Heavenly Mist to this level. I have to admit that the illusion you created is more realistic than the Bodhi Ancient Tree. However, no matter how realistic an illusion is, it is still an illusion."

Lin Ran's deep voice echoed quietly on the altar, while the gentle smile on the handsome man's face gradually froze.

The smile on the handsome face of the white-robed man slowly faded, replaced by an eerie chill. His eyes were fixed on Lin Ran, and although he did not speak, the surrounding space trembled violently like ripples on water.

"An illusion?"

Xun'er and the others were also startled by Lin Ran's words, then seemed to suddenly understand: "You mean we're still in an illusion?"

"How could this be...?"

Everyone present was stunned. In their senses, they were absolutely real, and there was no illusion involved!

"We are all real."

Lin Ran's gaze was also fixed on the white-robed man, and he said softly, "But we have indeed fallen into an illusion, which is the most terrifying part of the Nightmare Heavenly Mist. If we continue to follow the arrangement of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, we will only sink deeper and deeper until we become its fire slaves. Even if we fight a great battle here and kill it, we will still remain in the illusion."

"So you mean that all those fire slaves we encountered, including Xiao Chen... were illusions?" Gu Nanhai frowned, but suddenly looked at Xiao Chen, who was silent to the side, and asked.

"There is truth within falsehood, and falsehood within truth. That is what makes the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame so terrifying. Xiao Chen is not an illusion; he is real as well." Lin Ran shook his head, looked at Xiao Chen, and said softly, "However, his mind is mostly controlled by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame."

Xun'er and the others looked at each other, then cautiously scanned their surroundings, but no matter how they investigated, they could not detect the slightest fluctuation of the illusion.

"Back then, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint was known as the peak expert who was closest to the Dou Di, but in the end, he was devoured by the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, which led to his demise."

"After his fall, the Pure Lotus Demon Flame inherited his legacy, and Nightmare Heavenly Mist is the Pure Lotus Demon Saint's signature technique. When this Demon Saint used this move, he could make millions of people in a city live in an illusion for hundreds of years. The miraculous effect of such an illusion is beyond the imagination of ordinary people." Lin Ran sighed softly, his voice also showing a hint of surprise. Just thinking about such an illusion was terrifying. The Pure Lotus Demon Saint truly deserved the title of Demon Saint.

"The previous Pure Lotus Demon Flame didn't have this ability," Gu Nanhai said in a deep voice. No one had encountered such a troublesome situation after the previous appearances of the demon flame.

"A thousand years can change many things, and it can also allow the Pure Lotus Demon Flame to gradually learn all the methods of the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. In a sense, he can now be considered an alternative 'Pure Lotus Demon Saint'."

Lin Ran's gaze was fixed on the white-robed man whose expression was growing increasingly cold, and he said softly.

"Why do you know so much about Nightmare Mist?" The white-robed man on the throne finally spoke slowly, his voice somewhat sinister.

Lin Ran smiled, but did not answer his question.

Having possessed the fragments of the Demon Flame Map, it was only natural that he could control all of this, not to mention that he already knew everything that would happen beforehand.

"It seems you've been creating this illusion for the past thousand years. Of course, if nothing unexpected happens, you will win big this time. I think no one will be able to discover the secrets of this place."

"But unfortunately."

The white-robed man stared coldly and ruthlessly at Lin Ran. Wisps of milky-white flames slowly emanated from his body, and instantly, a destructive heat gradually enveloped the space.

Upon seeing the white-robed man's imposing manner, Xun'er and the others' expressions changed slightly. They quickly huddled together, their faces showing vigilance.

"Since it's an illusion, how do we break free? This guy feels incredibly real to us," Yao Chen whispered. He completely believed Lin Ran's words; they had fallen into an illusion. However, the flames surrounding the white-robed figure ahead told them that if they were killed here, they would still perish completely.

"No matter how realistic it is, an illusion is still an illusion. As long as you have a strong belief in him, he will never be defeated. Here, his strength depends on our thoughts," Lin Ran said in a low voice.

"court death!"

As soon as Lin Ran finished speaking, the handsome face of the white-robed man changed drastically. With a roar, he moved and appeared above Lin Ran and the others. He clenched his fist, and the milky white flames transformed into a huge flaming spear. With a swing of his arm, the spear tore through space, carrying a destructive aura, and shot fiercely towards Lin Ran and the others.

Under such destructive power, everyone's faces turned pale.

"Don't use your fighting spirit to defend yourself. Treat him like a useless dog in your mind, or you'll all die!"

Upon seeing this, Lin Ran roared like thunder.

The thunderous shout that rang in their ears made everyone's hearts tremble violently. They couldn't care less about Lin Ran's amusing analogy, and hurriedly suppressed their fear. Then, they gritted their teeth and absorbed all their battle qi into their bodies.

"Bang!"

A massive flaming spear descended from the sky, crashing down with destructive force into the group. However, just when they thought they were about to suffer severe injuries, the flaming spear suddenly vanished!

"You bastard!"

In the sky, a look of fury appeared on the handsome face of the white-robed man. His body even became somewhat illusory at this moment. He did not expect that Lin Ran could find a way to weaken his power so quickly.

"Nightmare Illusion, Break!"

Lin Ran pointed with two fingers, and a stream of essence blood shot out from his fingertips. The essence blood quickly moved across his fingertips, forming a strange blood talisman.

"A talisman to dispel nightmares? How could you have that?!"

Upon seeing the blood talisman, the white-robed man's face immediately darkened.

"go!"

Lin Ran ignored him, pointed his finger, and the blood talisman shot out, finally sticking hard to the void in front of him.

Instantly, the space began to fluctuate violently, and finally, to everyone's surprise and delight, it exploded with a bang!

(End of this chapter)