163: Raging flames engulf the heavens, burning with hatred!

Inside the Lost Water Realm, the world had been turned upside down!

The mountains, rivers, forests, and swamps that once existed had all collapsed, transforming into primordial, fundamental torrents of energy particles, vanishing into nothingness!

The sky shattered, the earth crumbled.

All living beings, whether powerful or weak, were mercilessly erased before this supreme power that crushed all ages and was irresistible!

All matter, all life, seemed to have been thrown into an invisible furnace.

Melted down, decomposed!

Finally, all the energy in this world converged into a single point, forming an unimaginably vast sphere of Source Power!

This sphere emanated terrifying pressure, its light intensely bright, illuminating this desolate void!

"Boom—!"

The next instant, the sphere exploded!

An indescribably vast Source Power, like a bursting galaxy, swept and surged in all directions.

Under the scouring of this Source Power tide, new land began to coalesce, new oceans began to churn, and new forests rose from the ground.

Mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, sun, moon, and stars all seemed to be redefined at this moment.

Newborn flowers, plants, insects, fish, birds, and beasts, bathed in the rich Source Power, their forms and habits all bore the unique imprint of this nascent world.

However, this newborn world seemed to lack some core element.

The wild and pure fire world origin energy that once filled the secret realm's volcanic area was completely consumed during the process of regularization.

They did not disappear but transformed into the purest fire-attributed Source Power, integrating into every corner of this new world.

Temple ruins.

Amidst the intense Source Power tide, a dark red mass of flesh wriggled, painstakingly absorbing the scattered fire-attributed Source Power from its surroundings.

Gradually, the flesh condensed, bones regenerated, outlining a blurry human figure!

It was the High Priest!

His shattered body, in this baptism of destruction and rebirth, miraculously began to reassemble.

Rich fire-attributed Source Power surged wildly into his body, repairing his injuries and reshaping his physique.

A powerful aura, far surpassing his previous state, even to the point of being a completely different person, slowly rose from him.

"Ugh ah—!"

The High Priest suddenly opened his eyes and let out a painful roar to the sky.

The sound shook the heavens!

He could clearly feel that the flame power originating from the world origin within him was completely confined and stripped away by an invisible force.

In its place was this so-called fire-attributed Source Power.

His body, his soul, were completely transformed by this new power.

A card slot mark also appeared on his chest!

His aura soared!

Sixth-Tier peak!

Seventh-Tier initial stage!

card Venerable!

The High Priest slowly lowered his head, feeling the surging power within him.

Was it a blessing or a curse?

A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.

Finally, all emotions transformed into an extreme hatred that pierced to the bone!

"Bedrock—!!!"

He gnashed his teeth.

"And those damned invaders! Damned ants!"

"You destroyed my world! Destroyed everything I had! Severed my foundation!"

"I want you all... to pay in blood! To suffer eternal damnation!"

The High Priest suddenly raised his hand, attempting to activate the familiar incantations of the past.

However, most of the ancient incantations vanished the moment they left his mouth, unable to stir even a trace of the world's power.

The rules of this world had completely changed.

"Heh... hehe... haha..."

The High Priest let out a low, self-mocking laugh.

"Even the foundation of my power has been completely severed, forcibly changed? Good! What a rebirth!"

Near-despairing ashes flickered in his eyes, but then, a thought flashed through his mind.

He remembered the Flame Sprite clinging to Lu Yuan's pant leg, disappearing together into the spatial通道.

That was the continuation of his bloodline!

The High Priest suddenly clenched his fists, and light rekindled in his eyes.

"Bloodline Tracking!"

A relatively simple incantation was painstakingly uttered from his mouth.

This time, the incantation succeeded!

Although its effect was greatly diminished due to the change in world rules, it still stirred a faint, ethereal connection.

"Chirp..."

A faint, almost imperceptible whimper, transcending endless space, reached his senses.

That was Little Red's voice!

It was still alive!

Although its life origin was as weak as a flickering candle in the wind, it was indeed still alive!

Still breathing!

"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!"

The High Priest roared with laughter, making the temple ruins tremble!

"Heaven does not forsake me! Heaven does not forsake me!"

"Bedrock! You cannot escape! No matter where you flee, to the ends of the earth, this High Priest will drag you out, tear you to pieces, and obliterate your soul!"

The light of revenge completely ignited in his eyes, and the terrifying aura of a Seventh-Tier Venerable erupted from him!

"Open—up!"

The High Priest suddenly tore his arms apart, and divine power burst forth!

The void before him, like fragile cloth, was directly ripped open into a dark dimensional rift!

Dense spatial turbulence spewed out from within.

The High Priest stepped into the rift without hesitation.

He would follow that faint bloodline connection and trace it back!

The direction, surprisingly, pointed towards the distant Mobei Province!

...Yao Family.

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

In the main seat, Old Master Yao Zhenchuan sat with his eyes closed, his tightly furrowed brows revealing his inner turmoil.

Below, Yao Tianbi's eyes were bloodshot, his expression haggard, and his once upright body seemed somewhat hunched.

He occasionally looked out the window, at the gray sky.

The other Yao Family elders and core disciples were also silent.

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

Tomorrow was the day when the regularization of the Lost Water Realm would be complete, theoretically allowing for renewed exploration.

It was also their last hope.

"Father..." Yao Tianbi spoke, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow... is there really still hope?"

"Tianbi, hold steady."

He said in a deep voice, "That child Lu Yuan is not destined for a short life. I believe he is blessed with great fortune."

Despite his words, how could he not be worried in his heart?

The anomaly in the Lost Water Realm was too sudden and too perilous... In Yao Xiao's room.

"Wuwu... Lu Yuan..."

The girl's small body was curled up in the brocade quilt, her eyes already swollen from crying, her voice choked, gasping for breath.

She tightly clutched the Nine-Tailed Illusion Heart Fox card in her hand.

"You promised me... you said you'd teach me how to use this card..."

"You can't break your promise..."

"You must come back..."

She couldn't eat or drink.

These past few days, she had almost been weeping constantly.

The only thought in her mind was for Lu Yuan to return safely.

Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open.

A tall, slightly weary figure walked in.

It was Yao Tianxiao.

He was covered in dust, clearly having just rushed back from Jiangcheng.

Seeing his daughter in such a state, Yao Tianxiao's heart ached.

He walked to the bedside and gently patted his daughter's shoulder.

"Nickname, don't cry."

"Dad's here."

He didn't say many comforting words, just quietly stayed with his daughter.

A moment later, he got up and left the room, going to the council hall.

"Old Master." Yao Tianxiao bowed to Yao Zhenchuan.

"Tian Xiao, you finally decided to come back." The Old Master nodded.

"Mm."

"Third Brother, you've worked hard."

Yao Tianbi shook his head, not speaking.

"Old Master, tomorrow, after the Lost Water Realm opens..."

"I, Yao Tianxiao, will go in personally!"

"If he's alive, I want to see him! If he's dead, I want to see his corpse!"

...Mobei Province.

Deep within a desolate Gobi desert, beneath a sand dune, a secret base of the "Kindling" organization was hidden.

Inside the base, a teleportation array shimmered with light.

Bedrock's figure stumbled out of the teleportation array, his face pale, a trace of blood still on the corner of his mouth.

Mid-to-long distance teleportation carried risks!

His Source Power was greatly depleted, and his spirit was listless.

But! It was faster than flying!

At least he made it through!

"Lu Yuan... Nine Heavens Secret Realm..."

He took out a specially made compass from his懷, and the needle on the compass trembled slightly, pointing in a vague direction.

That was the faint sensation remaining from the "Blood Soul Guiding Spell."

"Indeed, I was right!"

Bedrock licked his dry lips, immediately pulled out his phone, and dialed a string of numbers.

A moment later, a slightly magnetic male voice came through:

"Lord Bedrock? Why would you suddenly use this base's emergency communication?"

"Less nonsense!" Bedrock's tone was impatient.

"I am currently executing a crucial secret mission and need to enter the Nine Heavens Secret Realm immediately."

"Arrange a path for me at once, no mistakes allowed!!"

Silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

"Lord Bedrock..." The person in charge's voice was somewhat hesitant.

"The Nine Heavens Secret Realm is the core stronghold of Mobei Nine Heavens Academy, and its defenses are extremely strict. Especially these days, during the students' mission period, outsiders are strictly forbidden to enter."

"Our organization's power in Mobei is limited; a forced infiltration carries too much risk."

"Moreover, you don't seem to have reported this operation in advance..."

"This is an order!" Bedrock rudely interrupted him.

"I don't care what method you use, within one day, I must enter the secret realm!"

"If the mission fails, you cannot bear the consequences!"

He invoked the hierarchical suppression within the "Kindling" organization.

The person in charge on the other end fell silent again.

Although he was dissatisfied with Bedrock's cross-level command and irregular actions, Bedrock's identity and the strict rules of "Kindling" prevented him from disobeying.

The "Kindling" laws were severe, with both rewards and punishments being heavy!

"...Yes, Lord Bedrock." The person in charge finally compromised.

"I will do my best to arrange it. But specific operational details still require time for planning."

"I'll only give you twelve hours." Bedrock said coldly. "In twelve hours, I want to see results."

After speaking, he directly cut off the communication and took out the dying Little Red from his backpack.

"Little one, your mission isn't over yet."

"When I get the flame heart crown, I'll give you a quick death."

He shoved Little Red back into his backpack, his eyes glinting with a mad determination to succeed.

The flame heart crown! Lu Yuan!

This time, neither of you will escape!