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**
Whoosh~
A purple-brown flame burned fiercely.
Xiao Yan continued to increase the intensity, pushing the Heavenly Flame to its limit. However, even under such scorching heat, the ancient map remained completely unharmed. As the fire blazed more and more violently, the lines on the ancient map gradually became brighter.
Then, at a certain moment, the entire map suddenly trembled. The lines upon it floated up from the surface, transforming into countless ancient symbols that hovered in mid-air before Wei Yang and the others.
Two moons appear at once to fill the sky.
Nine planets form at grand array on high.
The all engulfing tide gives birth.
Demonic flame descends again to earth.
The three of them slowly recited those ancient words aloud, shock gradually surfacing on their faces.
"What does this even mean?" Xiao Yan frowned. After all this trouble, that's it?
Yao Lao exhaled softly and said in a low voice, "It should be a clue."
"'Two moons appear at once to fill the sky, Nine planets form at grand array on high.' It refers to a rare celestial phenomenon — one that only appears once in a thousand years."
"'The all engulfing tide gives birth.' describes the natural reaction caused by that very phenomenon."
"And the last line means that on the day when the all engulfing tide gives birth appear, the Demonic flame descends again to earth."
Xiao Yan froze for a moment before saying helplessly, "Once every thousand years? Then when's the next one supposed to happen?"
"By my calculation, it's been nine hundred and ninety-seven years since the all engulfing tide gives birth. Which means, we have about three years left," Yao Lao said, stroking his beard.
"Three years?" Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief. That wasn't too long.
"I'd rather it be longer," Yao Lao shook his head, frowning. "Ten years, even eight years, would've been better. Three years is too short."
"When the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame appears three years from now, that time frame is far too tight! The time left for you to grow stronger simply isn't enough.
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame is far too powerful — not just you, even I couldn't subdue it. If you try to seize it by force, you'll likely be consumed instead."
"Only three years… far too short."
"In those three years, you must at least reach the level of Dou Sheng. Only then might you stand a small chance. Otherwise, when the Demonic Flame descends, all you'll be able to do is watch."
"Only three years, huh…" Xiao Yan's heart sank. He gave a bitter smile. "Sigh~ We've spent so many years searching for this map, paid such a heavy price, and in the end, all we got were these few lines of information?"
According to what it said, when the time came, the Demon Flame would appear on its own. When that happened, everyone across the continent would know about it and have a chance to seize it. If that's the case, then what's the point of this ancient map at all?
Yao Lao spread his hands helplessly — thinking about it that way, it did feel a little unfair.
"Sigh~" Xiao Yan sighed in frustration.
"It shouldn't be that simple." Wei Yang suddenly spoke up.
His gaze was fixed on the ancient map, still floating amidst the flames, completely undamaged — now with only a single lotus-shaped pattern remaining.
"Brother Wei, what do you mean?" Xiao Yan's heart skipped as he turned to look at him.
Wei Yang didn't reply. Instead, he raised his hand and flicked his finger. A stream of force shot out, striking the lotus pattern.
Immediately, the lotus mark quivered violently, then wriggled like a living creature before tearing free from the map and turning into a streak of lightning that shot straight toward Wei Yang's forehead.
"Hm?"
Wei Yang, already prepared, narrowed his eyes. His hand — wreathed in faint gray currents shot out and caught the streak of light with precision.
"Be careful!"
The sudden change made both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan's faces turn pale.
"Brother Wei, are you alright?"
The change had come too abruptly. Even though they were standing close to him, both of them were caught completely off guard.
"Wei Yang, how are you?" Yao Lao asked urgently, his tone anxious and his face pale.
That map was far too strange — who knew whether that thing just now was a blessing or a curse?
"I'm fine," Wei Yang said with a light shake of his head, slowly opening his palm.
In the center of Wei Yang's palm, a fist-sized orb of light hovered quietly. Around the orb, faint gray streams of energy swirled, wrapping tightly around it.
Seeing this, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan didn't dare let their guard down. They instantly mobilized their Dou Qi and soul power, locking their gazes on both the light orb and Wei Yang himself.
Wei Yang glanced at them, a little surprised. "Why do you both look so nervous?"
"When the three of us first met, how old were you?" Yao Lao asked abruptly, not answering the question. His eyes stayed fixed on Wei Yang.
"Uh, I was eighteen, and Xiao Yan was fifteen," Wei Yang replied.
"Where was that?" Yao Lao asked again.
"The back mountain of the Xiao Clan," Wei Yang answered without hesitation. Then, realizing what Yao Lao was getting at, he couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. "Master, you're not thinking I got possessed by someone, are you?"
Hearing that, Yao Lao finally exhaled and smiled wryly. "I was worried you might've been ambushed, that someone forcibly seized your body.
According to ancient records, there were cases of powerful beings from antiquity whose souls survived through special means, escaping the erosion of time. Some of those with great strength could even devour another's soul and take over their body entirely."
"Uh, like that guy, Ah Da?" Xiao Yan raised a brow.
"Ah Da was from our own era. He didn't even live a thousand years. He's no ancient monster," Yao Lao said, stroking his beard.
"Relax, this thing didn't even touch me." Wei Yang tilted his chin slightly, pointing toward the orb in his palm.
The light orb floated there, completely enclosed by the faint gray airflow, not a trace of it touching Wei Yang's skin.
"You reacted quickly," Yao Lao said after a careful glance, nodding in approval.
"What exactly is that thing?" Xiao Yan asked, his expression grave as he stared at the orb.
"This orb just sent me a wave of information—four words in total," Wei Yang said slowly. "Master, have you ever heard of Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint?"
"Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint?" Yao Lao froze for a moment, then fell silent in thought. After a short while, he lifted his head again, his eyes narrowing slightly as they fixed on the orb.
He nodded faintly and said, "I've read fragments about that name before. The Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint was a top-tier expert from ten thousand years ago—and he was once the master of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame."
"The master of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame… from ten thousand years ago?" Xiao Yan was shocked.
That meant this Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint was unbelievably powerful—strong enough to command such a terrifying Heavenly Flame. From the name alone, it was clear the two were deeply connected. Purifying Demonic Lotus, indeed.
"I've also seen brief mentions in ancient texts," Wei Yang nodded. "Ten thousand years ago, he was one of the most powerful figures of his time—rumored to be the one closest to reaching the realm of Dou Di." He glanced at Xiao Yan. "Someone on par with your Xiao Clan ancestor, Xiao Xuan."
"Hiss~ the one closest to Dou Di…" Xiao Yan sucked in a sharp breath, his hand tightening unconsciously.
He hadn't expected the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint to have reached such a terrifying height. Truly extraordinary!
Yao Lao also nodded solemnly. To be known as the one closest to Dou Di—that was not a title anyone could claim lightly.
"And this thing here," Wei Yang said softly, looking at the orb floating in his palm, "should be something left behind by the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint himself."
"In other words," Yao Lao murmured, "This ancient map must have also been crafted by him."
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