Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

A stunning piece of news quickly spread throughout the Great Thousand World.

Recently, Wu Zu, the rising star and master of the Wu Territory in the extreme south, suddenly visited the Ice Spirit Clan.

It was revealed that Wu Zu's wife, Ying Huanhuan, the mistress of the Wu Territory, was actually a member of the royal family of the Ice Spirit Clan who had wandered into the lower planes. She had grown up alongside Wu Zu and had later sacrificed herself in a battle against the Evil Clan from beyond.

Fortunately, due to her royal lineage, a part of her spirit had been preserved within the Ice Spirit Monument, the sacred artifact of the Ice Spirit Clan.

Wu Zu sought to retrieve this spirit fragment to resurrect his wife, offering generous gifts in return. Despite the mutually beneficial nature of the proposal, the Ice Spirit Clan not only refused but also greatly humiliated Wu Zu.

In a fit of rage, Wu Zu stormed into the ancestral land of the Ice Spirit Clan single-handedly.

As a newly advanced Heavenly Sovereign of the Spirit Grade, he not only broke through the clan's protective formation with a single strike but also fought the Ice Spirit Clan's Patriarch and two other visiting Heavenly Sovereigns—Snow Demon Elder and Dragon Sovereign—all by himself.

The three combined forces attempted to expel Wu Zu from their ancestral land.

Wu Zu, single-handedly, gravely wounded all three Heavenly Sovereigns. Out of respect for the fact that the Ice Spirit Clan was his wife's homeland, he refrained from excessive measures. He left behind 20,000 Demon Slaying Points and took the clan's sacred Ice Spirit Monument before leaving.

Although the Ice Spirit Clan's strength had been waning in recent years, it remained one of the renowned ancient clans of the Great Thousand World with deep foundations.

To think that such an ancient clan was breached by Wu Zu alone, with even its ancestral Heavenly Sovereigns crushed by him, was staggering.

Wu Zu's actions catapulted him to fame, placing him on par with long-established prodigies of the world.

From then on, when discussing the prodigies and potential Holy Grade seeds of the Great Thousand World, his name would inevitably occupy a seat.

Shortly after, another piece of news further fueled Wu Zu's fame.

Following Wu Zu's invasion, the former leader of the Ice Spirit Clan resigned in disgrace and invited Ying Huanhuan, now known as the Ice Empress and a royal member who had been wandering the lower planes, to assume the position of the clan head.

The combination of a flourishing new power with a declining ancient clan shocked many.

This news left countless forces in the Great Thousand World dumbfounded, some cursing the Ice Spirit Clan for its shamelessness, for seeking alliance with the very person who had just attacked them. Such conduct certainly befitted a clan with a heritage of tens of thousands of years.

Others, however, begrudgingly acknowledged the Ice Spirit Clan's foresight.

Wu Zu, the master of the Wu Territory, had attained the level of a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign and a grandmaster of Spirit Grade spiritual tools in less than thirty years of cultivation. His future achievements likely included becoming a Holy Grade powerhouse.

The Ice Spirit Clan was securing a powerful ally well in advance!

Ice Spirit Clan: Do you agree, Fire Spirit Clan?

Fire Spirit Clan:

Within the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, a terrifying demonic shadow appeared behind Jiang Yun. The shadow bore some resemblance to Jiang Yun but had an unusual feature—a half-opened eye in the middle of its forehead, brewing a destructive aura.

Once fully opened, its power could destroy the heavens and earth.

As Jiang Yun continued his cultivation, the shadow grew more solid, emanating an immortal, indestructible aura.

After an unknown duration, Jiang Yun's gradually rising aura finally steadied. He suddenly opened his eyes, a divine light flashing through the hall.

Simultaneously far away on the Tianluo and Chiyan Continents, Jiang Yun's main and secondary avatars seemed to sense something and opened their eyes, looking in the direction of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

"It's done, at last!" Jiang Yun sighed in relief. He had prepared meticulously for this moment, his physical body trained to its peak, and his Supreme Sea within expanded to the utmost limit.

Had he not been waiting for the completion of his demon avatar, he would have already ascended to the Holy Grade. Now, finally, the time had come.

Jiang Yun stood up, gazing at the dazzling flame ahead, walking slowly forward.

Sensing Jiang Yun's approach, the Flame of World Destruction erupted with spiritual fluctuations, its extreme heat surging towards him.

"My Reincarnation Demon Flame has reached the Holy Grade after years of assimilating other flames, making it nearly invincible in the Great Thousand. But it still lacks an edge over the Holy Demon Flame of the Holy Sky Demon Emperor."

"The Flame of World Destruction, forged by eons on the Chiyan Continent, contains such immense spiritual power that it rivals the peak of Holy Grade. With this supreme divine flame, my Reincarnation Demon Flame can surpass the Holy Demon Flame, becoming the strongest flame in the Two Realms."

As Jiang Yun pondered, his gaze grew increasingly heated. He approached the Flame of World Destruction, whispering softly, "The Chiyan Continent is unified under my rule. The Chiyan Temple has completed its tasks. It's time for you to rest."

As he spoke, Jiang Yun stretched out his hand towards the Flame of World Destruction. Instantly, terrifying and intense heat swept over, as if to incinerate his hand to ashes.

Jiang Yun remained calm. With the Reincarnation Demon Flame protecting him and his body refined to the level of indestructibility through the source of the Endless Light Body, even the Flame of World Destruction couldn't easily burn him.

"Woosh~~~"

Exhaling a breath, Jiang Yun leaped into the Flame of World Destruction. The flame erupted violently.

Jiang Yun had communicated with it for nearly a decade, and his top-tier flame affinity had long made them familiar with each other.

However, this familiarity was only under the premise of not trying to refine it. If Jiang Yun intended to absorb and refine it, its spiritual instinct would naturally resist.

Jiang Yun leaped in, enduring the extreme heat. With lightning speed, he found the flame's core.

"Help me reach the true peak!"

Grasping the core tightly, he swallowed it. The rampant, terrifying flames flowed like magma within him.

However, Jiang Yun wasn't an easy target. The Reincarnation Demon Flame erupted within him, frantically refining the opposing flame. His body became a battlefield for two top-tier flames. His face turned crimson instantly, and his body emitted white smoke from the burns.

Indestructible!

Enduring, Jiang Yun sat in the magma for an entire year.

Jiang Yun's expression remained calm, but his aura accumulated to the limit like a volcano suppressing immense, rampaging spiritual power, destined to shake the heavens and earth once unleashed.

During this time, the Chiyan Temple and the Ancient Heavenly Palace rapidly went on high alert, led by Xiaodianc and Qinglin, sensing something amiss.

The actions of the Chiyan Temple and the Ancient Heavenly Palace naturally caught the attention of many spies, but none dared act due to Jiang Yun's lingering prestige.

However, rumors about Jiang Yun spread even faster.

Then, one day.

Jiang Yun's internal power reached its limit. The volcano erupted, and his cultivation broke through to the Holy Grade Heavenly Sovereign, propelling him upward with unstoppable momentum!

An overwhelmingly oppressive and formidable aura surged from the Chiyan Mountains after a year, transforming the Chiyan Continent.

Purple Reincarnation Demon Flames enveloped the entire supercontinent like a dream, seemingly setting it ablaze…

From the Chiyan Temple, Ling Jingtian and other Heavenly Sovereigns flickered into the sky, astonished by the anomaly over the Chiyan Continent. Upon closely sensing Jiang Yun's overwhelming aura, they shared a glance of shock and delight.

"The Temple Master has broken through to the Holy Grade!"

"This unrivaled aura surpasses even some elders of the Great Thousand Palace and rivals the True Dragon Emperor. The Temple Master must have achieved the Holy Grade."

"The Temple Master has ascended so quickly! He could already defeat the Demon Emperor before; now, as a Holy Grade Sovereign, he should be invincible across the Two Realms. I believe we might witness the return of the ancient lands soon."

"I believe the Temple Master can achieve it."

…

Meanwhile, on the Tianluo Continent, the Ancient Heavenly Palace disciples, led by Xiaodianc and Qinglin, also sensed the formidable aura emanating from the Heavenly Emperor Palace.

The combined presence in the north and central regions, carrying Jiang Yun's supreme aura, immediately alerted almost all the powerful beings in the Great Thousand World. They instantly realized Jiang Yun had broken through to the Holy Grade.

Old rumors of him being severely injured instantly fell apart; Jiang Yun hadn't been injured but was in seclusion for his Holy Grade breakthrough.

Under the Chiyan Mountains.

Radiating a terrifying aura, Jiang Yun sat casually in the magma, ripples emanating from him, exuding an authority that seemed to surpass the heavens.

At a certain moment, as Jiang Yun's aura peaked, he suddenly opened his eyes, purple flames flickering within them.

In an instant, the violent magma sea calmed.

"The Holy Grade truly surpasses the Immortal Grade immensely. Only by truly breaking into this level can one sense the qualitative difference, not just in power but in the leap of life essence."

Standing in the magma sea, Jiang Yun felt the changes in his body, a smile tugging at his lips, as his overwhelming aura vanished.

"The Holy Grade path will be complete in ten years. Then, it will be time to seriously consider breaking into the Sovereign realm."

Jiang Yun looked up at the void. With his thorough preparations, he directly advanced to the late Holy Grade, now unmatched in the Two Realms. Following the proper course, in ten years, when all three of his bodies reached the peak of the Holy Grade, he would be unstoppable.

By then, he could, like the future Xiao Yan, Lin Dong, and the Immortal Emperor of fifty thousand years ago, inscribe his name on the Celestial Ranking, achieving the Sovereign realm.

However, reaching this point, Jiang Yun began to ponder if such sovereignty was the transcendence he truly desired.

Shaking his head with no immediate answer, there was still time to discover the underlying mysteries before the true upheaval.

A gentle breeze blew past, and the magma world underground had long lost Jiang Yun's presence, returning to eternal tranquility. Perhaps, after countless years, it might birth another terrifying innate divine flame.

"Creak~~~"

A sound echoed as a massive door within the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons slowly opened, releasing a blast of terrifying airflow.

The Holy Sky Demon Emperor, originally seated on the throne, swiftly turned his head, eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.

He raised his head blankly, eyes fixated on the door. Amidst overwhelming demonic energy, a slender figure emerged into his vision.

The figure's robes fluttered lightly, and as he raised his eyelids, he revealed a pair of pitch-black, pure eyes.

Big, bright, and filled with confusion, they were untainted by the outside world, pure as a blank slate, giving him a mysterious, indescribable aura.

He quietly watched the Lord of the Holy Sky Demon Empire, his calm gaze causing the latter's heart to skip a beat.

"Cloud..." At that moment, a gentle voice from behind Jiang Yun interrupted. Jiang Hong also walked out from the door, respectfully bowing upon seeing the Holy Sky Demon Emperor, greeting him.

"Grandfather!" Before Jiang Hong could salute, Jiang Yun raised his hand to stop him. Under his confused gaze, Jiang Yun looked at the Holy Sky Demon Emperor and calmly said, "I wish to take Grandfather back to our clan. You won't object, will you, your excellency?"