Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

When everything finally calmed down, the colossal tower disappeared, gradually shrinking back to its original form, hanging quietly on Jiang Yun's chest. 

At this moment, Jiang Yun had already fainted from the previous clash. He lay quietly inside a shimmering protective shield, drifting aimlessly in the chaotic currents of time and space.

"Will this child be the hope of the Xieling Clan?" Within the small tower, 'Jiang Hong' appeared once more. As the tower spirit of this sacred artifact, he looked at the figure sitting silently and asked in a whisper.

The figure was none other than the chief of the Xieling Clan, Jiang Ya. His form appeared somewhat illusionary at this time, as he was originally just a soul fragment sealed within the tower. The previous attack had consumed most of his power.

He stared blankly at the small figure outside, muttering to himself as if seeking confirmation, "Will you be?" As time passed, the confusion in his eyes gradually turned into determination. "You will be!"

The tower spirit remained silent. As a weapon, it had no human emotions and was unaware of Jiang Ya's hopes for Jiang Yun. Who would want to be raised as a slave? Or to be trained into a machine that only knows slaughter? To be thrown away as cannon fodder?

Jiang Ya didn't want to change the Xieling Clan's predicament, but his hope was too faint, forcing him to compromise. Fortunately, the special clan member Jiang Yun gave him a glimmer of hope.

Who would want to hide in the dark corners if they could live under the sun?

"Thank you for trusting me!" 

At this moment, Jiang Ya looked at the tower spirit and said. As an extraordinary sacred artifact of immortal quality, it had already birthed its own spirit. The spirit would not easily allow anyone other than its owner to leave power within it.

The tower spirit slowly shook its head and said expressionlessly, "It's all for the master!" 

Jiang Hong had altered Jiang Yun's course on his own, blatantly opposing the Holy Emperor of the Demon Empire, which meant certain death. Jiang Hong underestimated the Holy Emperor, thinking a single flame, combined with the power left within the small tower, would be enough to subdue the emperor, nearly resulting in disaster.

Fortunately, Jiang Ya played both emotional and rational cards, and Jiang Hong's survival instinct prevailed, allowing Jiang Ya to leave a shred of power. Now, it seemed the Holy Emperor was far more terrifying than they had imagined, and this secret move likely saved Jiang Hong's life.

Jiang Ya nodded indistinctly, then glanced at the Holy Demon Flame suppressed at the bottom of the tower. He whispered, "I will take away the soul mark within the flame. The flame itself can be left as nourishment for Jiang Yun's growth. I entrust him to you now."

The tower spirit slowly nodded and said solemnly, "Rest assured, he is the grandson of the master. I will definitely protect him." 

Seeing the tower spirit's assurance, Jiang Ya said no more, walking slowly toward the bottom of the tower. As his figure completely disappeared, a voice echoed, "In order to grow, the tempering between life and death is essential. I hope one day, I can see him on the stage of the Heavenly Sovereign."

With those words, Jiang Ya vanished entirely from that layer. The tower spirit pondered over his last words.

"Boom——" 

Accompanied by a terrifying tremor, a horrendous time-space storm erupted where Jiang Yun had left, leaving a swath of ravaged space.

In the dark clan's territory, a massive hall filled with darkness and swirling black gas gave off an eerie and sinister vibe, as if it could devour all life. 

On the grand hall's exterior was inscribed the name "Holy Heaven." This was the sleeping chamber of the Holy Emperor of the Demon Empire.

Inside the hall, a massive black stone throne sat a figure, shrouded in a terrifying flame. The flame fluctuated between pitch-black and pure white light, making it extremely eerie.

From within the flame, an emotionless gaze emerged, now with a hint of astonishment. 

"So, we have lost contact? Interesting!" An ethereal and deep voice floated out from the flame, carrying a trace of surprise.

The next moment, a horrifying divine light shot out from the Holy Demon Hall, causing many Demon Kings within the Demon Domain to secretly speculate who had provoked the Holy Demon Emperor.

"Was it a spatial current outburst?" 

Long after, the figure within the flame slowly closed his eyes and murmured, "Forget it! It was just a pawn. If he can stand at the pinnacle, he will eventually come before me. If he doesn't return, then it's nothing after all!"

In a vast and endless mountain range with boundless forests, tall trees stretched skyward, and the rustling branches swayed under the breeze, creating waves of green in the ocean of trees. The primal and wild aura permeating the region made it unusually silent.

Above, a luminous object wrapped in green light descended from the sky at an astonishing speed.

It appeared suddenly, as if materializing from space. In an instant, it formed a massive crater, obliterating the trees, vegetation, and creatures within the area at an unimaginable rate.

"Boom——" 

As the object plummeted, it created a large crater and sent up a plume of dust.

The sudden noise in this tranquil region was akin to an earthquake, generating massive disturbance.

This disturbance awakened numerous colossal beings from afar.

"Treasure has emerged."

In an instant, numerous terrifying figures rushed toward the region.

At the crash site where Jiang Yun had landed, before he could react, new changes were underway.

"Thud——" 

"Thud——" 

"Thud——" 

"Roar——" 

A terrifying beast's roar resonated as a massive 'wild boar,' about five meters tall, charged toward the area. Its thick black fur indicated its tough hide, and its green, ferocious eyes gleamed with greed.

It opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp tusks before charging towards the bottom of the crater.

"Damn it, I'm not a 'little cabbage.' You got the wrong person!" 

With a heartbreaking, childish roar, a small figure leaped several meters high, covering its back with both hands, and sprinted rapidly away on its short legs.

"Roar——" With an angry roar, the massive 'wild boar' appeared, its eyes blood-red, chasing after Jiang Yun.

Not long after they left, more terrifying beast shadows appeared at the 'crime scene.' Some beasts couldn't hold back and started fighting each other, while others followed the traces, pursuing Jiang Yun.