288: Embers Reborn, the Guide to the Southern Region

Although the calamity of the Yan Realm had subsided for seven days, the scene of world-ending destruction and despair from that day was still seared into the hearts of every surviving Yan Clan member. The original site of the Ancestral Land Fire Altar, which once spewed dark red karma fire, was now only a smooth, massive pit, thousands of feet deep and dozens of miles wide. At the bottom of the pit, a faint but incredibly pure crimson flame was slowly recovering its vitality, nurtured by the Origin Qi of several Yan Clan Grand Elders taking turns, like a newborn infant—tender yet containing infinite potential.

While the Yan Shen Hall was not directly destroyed, the heavy and murderous aura emanating from Clan Chief Yan Jin made the atmosphere of the entire hall as oppressive as a lead block. Yan Jin himself was seated on a prayer mat below the main seat, rather than his usual Clan Chief throne. His aura was still weak, and his Five-Star Dou Sheng Late Stage Realm was subtly unstable. His body was wrapped in an unrelenting residue of scorching desolation and Nirvana aftereffects—wounds left by forcibly connecting to the Rampaging Karma Fire and subsequently enduring the peripheral cleansing of the Power of Gui Xu. Yet, his spine was held straight, and when his gaze swept over the people in the hall, while it lacked the fiery dominance of the past, it held a profound depth and determination forged by tribulation.

Inside the hall, besides the core Yan Clan Elders, Li Ao, Gu Xun'er, Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Gu Hai, and the Gu Clan Reclusive Elder who had just secretly arrived in the Yan Realm—Gu Ting, a Four-Star Dou Sheng Late Stage expert—were also present. Gu Ting had silver hair and beard, a lean face, and an aura contained like an ancient abyss. When his eyes opened and closed, there was a faint hint of thunder, marking him as a peer of Gu Yuan and a figure of great respect. His decision to lead the team personally demonstrated the Gu Clan's seriousness regarding this matter.

“Everyone,” Yan Jin spoke, his voice hoarse but clear, “The Yan Clan’s survival this time is entirely due to Hall Master Li Ao risking his life to save us, the strong assistance of the Gu Clan and Medicine Clan, and the full support of our peers from the Ruins Hall. This kindness, everyone in the Yan Clan will engrave in their hearts and never forget.”

He stood up and solemnly bowed to Li Ao, Gu Xun'er, Gu Ting, and the others. Behind him, all the Yan Clan Elders, including Law Enforcement Elder of the Yan Clan Yan Sha, who was still heavily injured but managed to support himself and attend, bowed deeply in unison.

Li Ao's complexion remained pale, the few strands of white hair at his temples particularly jarring, and his aura was only at the level of an Early Stage One-Star Dou Sheng, and unstable at that. He raised a hand to gently support them. “Clan Chief Yan Jin and all Elders need not be so courteous. We are one Alliance, and mutual aid is only proper. What I did was merely fulfilling my duty.”

Gu Xun'er also said softly, “Clan Chief Yan Jin, please do not stand on ceremony. The Hun Clan is the common enemy of all our Ancient Clans. The calamity that struck the Yan Clan today might fall upon another clan tomorrow. Working together is the right path.”

Elder Gu Ting nodded slightly, his voice peaceful yet carrying undeniable power. “Clan Chief Gu Yuan stated that after this battle, the Gu Clan, Yan Clan, Medicine Clan, and Ruins Hall have formed a true Life-and-Death Alliance. Since the covenant is established, we shall advance and retreat together.”

Yan Jin straightened up, a fire burning deep within his weary eyes. “Elder Gu Ting speaks truly. Following the matter of Huo Zhi, our clan has undergone a thorough internal cleansing. We have uncovered twenty-seven individuals implicated with her, including three Elders, nine Deacons, and the rest being Disciples and servants. They have all been imprisoned in the Yan Prison for strict interrogation. Huo Zhi herself suffered severe trauma to her Soul from the Restriction within her body, and her memory is chaotic and fragmented, but she has confessed to some channels and secret codes used for contacting the Hun Clan, as well as the location of a secret stronghold outside the Yan Realm. The relevant intelligence has been compiled into a dossier and will be shared with our allies immediately.”

He waved his hand, and an Elder immediately distributed several crimson Jade Slips to Li Ao, Gu Xun'er, and Gu Ting. The Jade Slips contained not only Huo Zhi’s confession but also a detailed assessment of the Yan Clan's losses in personnel and resources during this tribulation, as well as a list of the combat power and resources the Yan Clan could currently deploy—a level of transparency that was astonishing.

“Although our clan suffered heavy damage, the loss of top-tier combat power was not great. However, our middle-tier strength has been reduced by nearly thirty percent, the Ancestral Land Fire Altar was destroyed, and the Origin of the Red Lotus Karma Fire is weak, requiring long years of nurturing. In the short term, we may struggle to provide large-scale military power to the Alliance.” Yan Jin’s tone was heavy, but then turned resolute. “Nevertheless, the blood essence of the Yan Clan’s children remains! We will spare no effort in supporting the Alliance in terms of resources, intelligence, and Artifact Refining (the Yan Clan is also skilled in forging fire-attribute weapons)! If there is a battle, the Yan Clan will be the vanguard and will never retreat!”

This statement acknowledged the current predicament while also demonstrating an uncompromising attitude, earning silent nods from Gu Ting and the other Gu Clan Elders. Having endured this great disaster, Clan Chief Yan Jin was clearly more mature and pragmatic.

“Clan Chief Yan Jin, you need not worry too much,” Elder Gu Ting said. “The Gu Clan has already mobilized a batch of Sacred Medicine for healing, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials for stabilizing the Origin, and some elite guards, who are currently en route. Elder Dan Chen of the Medicine Clan has also sent a message, stating he will personally lead a team of Alchemists, bringing some refined medicinal power from the ‘myriad medicine cauldron furnace’ to assist in nurturing the Red Lotus Karma Fire Origin and treating your clan’s wounded. The power of the Alliance is gathering.”

Li Ao also said, “Although the Ruins Hall’s Foundation is still shallow, we can contribute in terms of intelligence gathering and coordinating forces in the Central Plains. The Hun Clan’s current scheme was thwarted, but they will never give up. Their next actions may be more secretive and vicious, and their target might shift to other members of the Alliance, or they might seek a new ‘Node’.”

“Hall Master Li speaks truly.” Yan Jin nodded, looking at Li Ao with unconcealed concern and guilt. “Hall Master Li burned his Origin to save my clan, suffering severe damage. In our clan’s ‘Yan Heart Secret Realm,’ there is still a pool of ‘earth core fire marrow milk’ accumulated over ten thousand years. It has miraculous effects on repairing the Origin and Reinforcing the Foundation and Cultivating the Origin. Although it is not comparable to the Sacred Medicine of the Gu Clan or Medicine Clan, it is a token of our sincerity. Please, Hall Master Li, you must accept it for your recovery.”

The Yan Heart Secret Realm is the Yan Clan's Forbidden Ground, second only to the Ancestral Land Fire Altar, and the earth core fire marrow milk is one of its most precious reserves, with only one drop condensing every century. Yan Jin’s gesture was full of sincerity.

Li Ao did not refuse; his injuries indeed required such Heaven and Earth Rare Treasure. “In that case, I thank the Clan Chief.”

“It is what we should do.” Yan Jin waved his hand and looked at Gu Xun'er. “Miss Xuner, regarding the concrete advancement of Alliance affairs and the subsequent strategy for dealing with the Hun Clan, the Gu Clan must take the lead, and we will fully cooperate. Does Clan Chief Gu Yuan have any instructions?”

Gu Xun'er said solemnly, “My father has three instructions: First, immediately establish the Supreme Joint Council of the Four-Party Alliance, with the leaders or plenipotentiary representatives of each clan participating. Set up a permanent location in ‘Heavenly Alliance City’ in the Central Plains, responsible for daily liaison, intelligence collection, and strategic decision-making. Second, launch the ‘Soul Purification Plan.’ Learning from this experience, conduct a deeper level of screening and reinforcement of protection for all members within the Alliance, especially high-level and critical departments, and share the Countermeasures against Hun Clan Secret Techniques. Third, actively seek out and unite all forces that can be united, including but not limited to the remaining Ancient Clans, top-tier forces in the Central Plains, and... some reclusive special existences.”

She paused and looked at Li Ao. “My father specifically mentioned that the Mysteries of High Antiquity investigated by Hall Master Li, such as the ‘nirvana source core’ and the ‘bridge of the other shore,’ may have a great connection to the Hun Clan’s ultimate scheme and the key to dealing with the Void Swallowing Flame. The Alliance will fully support Hall Master Li in continuing his investigation.”

Upon mentioning the “nirvana source core” and the “bridge of the other shore,” Li Ao’s heart stirred slightly. He sensed the “nirvana ancient talisman” within his body, which seemed more active after the Nirvana fluctuation in the Yan Realm, and slowly spoke, “Clan Chief Yan Jin, everyone, I do indeed have a matter to inquire about.”

“Hall Master Li, please speak.”

“The Yan Clan has a long Legacy. Do you have any knowledge of legends or records concerning the Extreme South of the Continent and the ‘bridge of the other shore’?” Li Ao asked. “The sensation from my internal nirvana ancient talisman has become increasingly clear recently, and it points precisely to the Extreme South of the Continent.”

“The Extreme South of the Continent?” Yan Jin and the oldest Grand Elders exchanged glances, all showing signs of contemplation.

An Elder, Yan Zhuo, whose red eyebrows hung down to his chest, mused, "The Utmost Southern Land... this old man has seen scattered records of it in some extremely ancient incomplete clan histories. That place is not the Southern Region in the traditional sense on our Fighting Qi Continent; it is much further south. It is a desolate land isolated by endless 'Void Astral Winds' and 'Eternal Frozen Fire.' Legend says that in the ancient era, there was once a 'bridge' relic there that connected different worlds or planes, called the 'Bridge of Guidance' or the 'bridge of the other shore,' but it had long since collapsed and vanished in the turbulence of space and time. Our clan's progenitor once traveled the continent and might have approached that area, but the records are vague, mentioning only eight characters: 'Fire nears, then declines; Silence nears, then resonates' ( Fire weakens when it gets close.， When silence is near, it will chirp.). This seems related to the power of flame and a certain aura of Nirvana."

"Fire nears, then declines; Silence nears, then resonates..." Li Ao silently repeated the eight characters, deep in thought. The reaction of the nirvana ancient talisman seemed to confirm this. That area might suppress or repel fire-attribute power, yet it would resonate with existences related to Nirvana.

Another Grand Elder added, "The ancient texts also mention that deep within the Extreme Southern Desolate Land, 'Phantom Fire Tides' occasionally appear. Where the tides pass, space warps, sometimes revealing fragmented, bizarre scenes, suspected to be projections of Ancient Ruins. However, the environment there is too harsh and dangerous; even a Dou Sheng expert who ventures deep will face certain death. Almost no one has set foot there since the ancient era. Hall Master Li, if you intend to go there, you must be extremely cautious."

Li Ao nodded, "Thank you, Elder, for the guidance. This matter concerns the Foundation of the Guixu Great Dao; I will naturally be careful."

The deliberation continued for several hours, confirming many specific matters, including the initial structure of the Alliance, principles for resource allocation, and intelligence sharing mechanisms. It was finally decided that Elder Gu Ting would temporarily remain in the Yan Realm to help stabilize the situation and represent the Gu Clan in initial Alliance affairs; Gu Xun'er and Elder Gu Hai would accompany Li Ao back to the Ruins Hall in Central Plains first, to prepare for the "Heavenly Alliance City" joint conference, while Li Ao needed to recuperate quickly; the Yan Clan would be personally supervised by Yan Jin for reconstruction and internal reorganization, and after the Red Lotus Karma Fire stabilized slightly and Yan Jin's injuries recovered somewhat, he would then proceed to Heavenly Alliance City.

After the meeting concluded, the crowd dispersed.

Inside the Yan Heart Separate Courtyard, Li Ao consumed the three drops of "earth core fire marrow milk" sent by Yan Jin, and, combined with the sacred healing medicine provided by the Gu Clan, began to enter seclusion for treatment. The milky white marrow milk entered his body, transforming into a vast and gentle warm current that permeated his limbs, bones, and Soul Origin. Wherever it passed, the subtle damage, like Ice Crack on porcelain left by the burning of the Power of Gui Xu, began to be slowly nourished and healed. The nirvana star core also rotated slightly, releasing pure Nirvana Power, complementing the medicinal effects.

Medusa guarded outside the quiet room, never leaving, a rare seriousness etched on her enchanting face. Xiao Yi Xian silently prepared some gentle medicinal meals to regulate Origin Qi and soothe the Soul. Gu Xun'er and Elder Gu Ting, meanwhile, were busy coordinating various affairs with the Yan Clan.

Ten days quietly passed amidst the intense healing and busy construction of the Alliance.

On this day, the stone door of the quiet room slowly opened.

Li Ao stepped out. Although his complexion was still somewhat pale, it no longer carried the previous sickly appearance, and his aura had stabilized at the Early Stage of the Two-Star Dou Sheng Realm. He was only slightly more unstable than his previous Peak, clearly indicating that his Origin damage had not fully recovered, but he was out of danger. The few strands of white hair at his temples had not turned black; instead, they had become a special mark, adding a touch of vicissitude and mystery. Deep within his eyes, the Gui Xu vortex faintly appeared, seeming deeper and more reserved than before. Having experienced that life-risking strike in the Yan Realm, which was close to self-Nirvana, his understanding of the Guixu Great Dao seemed to have deepened by another layer.

"Brother Li Ao." Gu Xun'er was the first to greet him, her beautiful eyes filled with joy and concern. "How are your injuries?"

"They are stable, about sixty to seventy percent recovered. The rest requires time and patience." Li Ao nodded slightly and looked at everyone. "Prepare yourselves, we should return to Central Plains now."

"Return to the Ruins Hall?" Medusa asked.

"Yes." Li Ao looked towards the southern horizon, his gaze distant. "However, before returning to Central Plains, we still need to go to one place to retrieve an item."

"What item? Where?" Gu Xun'er asked, puzzled.

"kongming jade marrow," Li Ao uttered the four words. "This item is a top-tier rare material for stabilizing space and nourishing the Soul body, and it is crucial for my next step. As far as I know, one of the places on the continent most likely to contain this item is 'Kongming Mountain,' located in the buffer zone between the 'Southern Region' and the 'Extreme Southern Desolate Land.' Space there is chaotic, and 'void meditating stone' is often produced, and the kongming jade marrow is the core of the void meditating stone vein."

He paused, then continued, "The sensation from the nirvana ancient talisman also points toward the extreme south. This trip is twofold: first, to gather materials, and second, to conduct an initial investigation of the periphery of that Desolate Land. The Yan Clan's ancient records state, 'Fire nears, then declines; Silence nears, then resonates.' My Power of Gui Xu might lead to a discovery there."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xun'er pondered for a moment: "Kongming Mountain... there are indeed such rumors. But that place is a mix of Dragons and Snakes, the environment is perilous, and it is frequented by desperate criminals and powerful experts exploring ruins. Brother Li Ao, your injuries are not yet healed; to go now..."

"It's fine." Li Ao's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable resolve. "The injuries do not affect my actions. The sensation from the nirvana ancient talisman is growing clearer, and the Hun Clan's movements will only accelerate. Some things must be done in advance. Furthermore..."

He looked at Xiao Yi Xian: "Xian'er's Chaos Poison Body, after absorbing some of the Soul Burning Poison Fire Miasma, seems to have a stronger ability to convert fire poison and Soul poison. Kongming Mountain has a unique environment; perhaps we can find some special toxins or energy there to help her further comprehend the Law of 'Converting Poison into Spirit'."

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded gently.

Medusa gave a cold snort. "If we are going, let's go. Why the fuss?"

Seeing that Li Ao's mind was made up, Gu Xun'er stopped trying to dissuade him and simply said, "Then Elder Gu Hai and I will accompany Brother Li Ao. Elder Gu Ting will continue to remain in the Yan Realm. However, this trip is perilous, so we must make full preparations."

"Naturally." Li Ao nodded. "Before leaving, we still need to bid farewell to Clan Chief Yan Jin and inquire whether the Yan Clan possesses any more detailed maps or clues regarding the Utmost Southern Land."

That afternoon, Li Ao and his group bid farewell to Yan Jin.

Although Yan Jin was worried when he learned that Li Ao intended to go to Kongming Mountain and even the Extreme Southern Desolate Land, he knew he couldn't stop him. He took out an extremely ancient incomplete map, tanned from the hide of a fire beast, and solemnly handed it to Li Ao: "Hall Master Li, this is a fragment of a map personally drawn by our clan's progenitor when he traveled the continent. It marks some ancient paths and dangerous areas leading to the Utmost Southern Land. Although the era is distant and the terrain may have changed, the general direction and the markers for some eternally dangerous places should still hold reference value. Please keep it safe and proceed with caution."

"Thank you, Clan Chief." Li Ao took the fragment of a map, sensing a trace of ancient fire intent remaining in the beast hide, proving it was extraordinary.

"Furthermore," Yan Jin clapped his hands, and two Flame Dragon Guards carried in a heavy crimson jade box. "Inside the box are ten sets of specially made 'Fire Resisting Heart Guard Armor' and one hundred 'Flame Blast Thunder Beads.' The Fire Resisting Armor can withstand a certain degree of high temperature and fire poison erosion, and the Flame Blast Thunder Beads possess power comparable to a strike from a low-star Dou Sheng. They may be able to assist Hall Master Li in times of crisis. Please do not decline this small token of our sincerity."

Li Ao thanked him again. The Yan Clan was truly making a full effort to repay him this time.

Bidding farewell to Yan Jin, Huo Xuan, and the others, Li Ao, Gu Xun'er, Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Elder Gu Hai—five people in total—left this world of flames, which had just undergone Nirvana and Rebirth, via the teleportation array within the Yan Realm.

Their next destination was Kongming Mountain, a perilous land situated on the edge of the Southern Region of the continent, where chaos and opportunity coexisted.

Not long after they left the Yan Realm, an urgent secret message from the Gu Clan's Heavenly Alliance City Preparatory Office traversed space and was delivered into the hands of Elder Gu Ting, who remained temporarily in the Yan Realm.

The content of the secret message caused this powerful expert, a Late Stage Four-Star Dou Sheng who had seen many storms, to suddenly change color.

"The Myriad Beast Blood Pool in the Beast Region has undergone a mutation! Xiao Yan and Qing Lin are missing! Strong traces of Hun Clan activity were found at the scene, along with... suspected Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire aura!"

"The fringe forces of the Lei Clan and the Shi Clan (if still existing) have simultaneously suffered unknown attacks, losses unknown!"

"The Hun Clan... has begun to move comprehensively!"

The storm, as expected, never ceased, and it was now sweeping in with even greater ferocity.

In the spatial tunnel leading to Kongming Mountain, Li Ao seemed to sense something. He looked back toward the Yan Realm, then gazed at the unknown chaotic land in the south, his eyes calm as an abyss.

The road ahead was perilous, but the Dao of Gui Xu was inherently about seeking Rebirth within Nirvana, and forging a future within the ultimate end.

Kongming Mountain, Extreme Southern Desolate Land, I have arrived.