Under the devastation, life itself had nearly vanished. A blood-streaked cloud enveloped Zhongzhou, persisting for three months without showing any sign of abating. During this period, the once-thriving Zhongzhou had become remarkably ruined and desolate. People lived in constant fear, scrambling to find safe refuges; many even retreated deep into underground caverns, hoping that such seclusion would allow them to escape the catastrophe altogether. The thick blood cloud draped the sky of Zhongzhou, its rich, cloying scent of blood filling the air. The land itself turned a deep crimson, its viscous blood-like streams rendering Zhongzhou as if a realm of the wrathful gods. White bones floated amidst the sea of blood, and faintly, the echoes of countless piercing, mournful cries seemed to reverberate through the heavens, sending shivers down every spine. Such slaughter was exceptionally rare even when viewed against the entire history of the Qi Continent. Usually, during any major conflict, ordinary people rarely took part—yet this time, the Hún Clan had gone beyond reason, relentless in their extermination, regardless of anyone's status. "The aura of the Spirit Emperor is growing stronger and stronger. I can feel it—he's almost there..." After a moment of tense silence, Zhu Kun finally spoke slowly. Upon hearing this, several of the others couldn't help but feel their hearts sink. "Shall we simply watch him complete the final step?" Lei Ying gritted his teeth, his voice filled with an unspoken frustration. For the past period, they had been like turtles, tightly coiled within the defensive shield—this very sensation, which was already a burden for someone with a naturally fiery temperament, had become a constant source of weariness. "The great array is complete. The energy condensed within the blood clouds alone is enough to serve us a full cup of drink. To speak of advancing and engaging the Spirit Emperor in direct combat—well, that's simply beyond our reach now." Gu Yuan shook his head, his eyes brimming with deep resignation. The Spirit Emperor's strength now far surpassed theirs. Simply maintaining their own safety was no small feat; any thought of launching an offensive was, at this point, nothing but a dream. Hearing this, everyone found themselves gripping their fists tightly—facing such a situation, even they felt a sense of despair, let alone others? "In the vicinity of the Alliance, tensions are constantly escalating. The sects and power factions seeking refuge are constantly clashing with one another, all striving to secure safer positions..." Yan Jin sighed. "These useless ones! When we first went to war with the Spirit Clan, they stood by doing nothing. Now that they've tasted the bitter fruits of conflict, they want to seek shelter!" Lei Ying exclaimed angrily. Everyone shook their heads with a mixture of resignation and frustration—how could these factions dare to intervene, given the ongoing war between the Allied forces and the Spirit Clan? "We shouldn't be so pessimistic after all. We still have hope..." Gu Yuan smiled, regaining his composure. Hearing this, the crowd seemed to recall their final hope as well, their eyes glowing with faint sparks of light—indeed, they still held some hope. "Right now, all we can do is pray that Xiao Yan successfully receives the ancient emperor's legacy; only then can we turn the tide. Otherwise, the Central Plains will surely fall." In his mind, Gu Yuan gently recalled the image of the slender young man. "I actually believe that boy will perform some miracles." "That would indeed be ideal." Infecting others with his words, several individuals who had previously maintained tense expressions gradually relaxed, their faces softening and spreading a gentle smile. Three months... four months... five months... six months... The blood clouds above the sky grew deeper and thicker, sometimes even blocking the sunlight completely, making it difficult for the sun's rays to penetrate. During this time, more and more streaks of blood swept across the heavens, each surge carrying with it a wave of intense bloodiness. Yet as more and more people poured into the alliance’s protective dome, the terrifying blood streaks gradually shifted their focus, eventually beginning to strike the dome itself. Fortunately, the alliance boasted numerous strong defenders, though they could not tear through the blood clouds, they were able to maintain the integrity of the domes without much difficulty. Still, every time a blood streak impacted the dome, people remained on edge—after all, their only shelter now lay in the sky’s protective dome! Should that dome ever rupture, they would surely become part of the scattered, decaying corpses scattered across the land. In the span of six months, the period unfolded slowly, under the constant anxiety of countless people. Though no grand, earth-shattering battles erupted during this time, the persistent, suffocating bloodshed proved more overwhelming and frenzied than any such conflict. For six months, the blood clouds hovered over the Central Plains, with no powerful soul lineage cultivators appearing—neither the voice of the Soul Emperor resonating across the heavens. Yet, the fierce, almost uncontrollable aura emanating from the blood sea grew ever more terrifying with each passing day... "Ah, a most enchanting power..." The figure's eyes, previously closed, slowly opened, their deep crimson hue causing ripples to surge across the blood sea. "Hiss-hiss!" As the Spirit Emperor's eyes opened, the space behind him began to warp, and a figure enveloped in black flame emerged. "The descendants of the Ling Shi, Yao, and Yao clans have all been cast into the blood pool. The native descendants of the Spirit clan have also accounted for six or seven out of ten—this has, however, stirred considerable discontent," said Vuxu Tin, gazing at the figure whose hair had now turned crimson. The Spirit Emperor's blood-colored eyes flickered slightly, then gently smiled, his lotus of blood rotating as he fixed his gaze upon Vuxu Tin. Under the Emperor's steady gaze, Vuxu Tin's black flame in his eyes pulsed faintly, and he murmured, "What now?" "It seems the energy of the blood sea has acquired something new," the Spirit Emperor said with a serene smile. "Oh?" Vuxu Tin's black flame surged vigorously. The Hu Tian Di smiled widely. With a sudden motion, he plunged his palm deep into the sea of blood before him, then grasped it firmly—causing the entire sea of blood to surge and ripple. From his palm, black glimmers coalesced, eventually forming a cluster of black flames. "Shouldn't consuming these seed the seeds of consumption within me?" gazing at the black flame, the Hu Tian Di smiled, then turned to the void-bound Flame, saying, "It seems you and I aren't on the same page, are we?" "This is all your doing!" Fierce light flashed suddenly in the void-bound Flame's eyes. With a sudden motion, he pressed both hands firmly onto the sea of blood, sending out a ripple that instantly caused the sea to churn. Vast streams of black flames surged forth from the sea, pouring forth in a furious rush toward the Hu Tian Di. "Act now!" As the void-bound Flame moved, he suddenly roared sharply. The space around him began to ripple, and dozens of figures materialized instantly. After a brief hesitation, they all opened their mouths and expelled dense streams of black flame. These black flames swiftly coalesced, ultimately forming an eerie array over the Sea of Blood, directly descending upon the Spirit Emperor. "Ha! It seems over the years you've quietly made quite a few moves. These elders—unaware even—have all been thoroughly under your control..." The Spirit Emperor, seeing the familiar figures, was not surprised but slightly astonished. "Indeed." "Hmph. Don't even speak of these elders. Seventy percent of the Spirit Clan's members carry the bloodline imprints I've established. You really think I've done nothing in advance? As long as I so much as think of it, your Spirit Clan will suffer a severe depletion of vital energy!" The Void Devourer of Flames scoffed. "I didn't intend to go this far—yet you've shown clear intentions to eliminate me. That makes my preemptive strike all the more understandable." "Severe depletion of vital energy?" The Spirit Emperor chuckled, shaking his head, then his expression suddenly darkened. "As long as I remain, the Spirit Clan will never truly suffer such a blow." Now you, too, dare to challenge me—seeking your own demise! The Soul Emperor suddenly rose from the Blood Lotus, laughed aloud to the heavens, then opened his mouth—his powerful suction surged forth, and the massive black flame array rushing down upon him instantly transformed into streams of fire, being swallowed whole by his single breath. At the very moment the Soul Emperor acted, a presence seemingly transcending heaven and earth erupted violently from within him, instantly causing waves of tumult to ripple across the boundless expanse of the blood sea. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Dozens of senior elders from the Soul Clan saw their bodies submerged as the blood sea surged beneath them, encasing them in blood bubbles. These bubbles then tightened fiercely, and with one after another deep, resonant crack, their forms exploded into splashes of blood, merging into the sea below. These powerful Soul Clan elders had no time to react—eliminated by the Soul Emperor in a single stroke! "Have you succeeded?" the Void-Eater of Flame finally gasped, stunned by the overwhelming, celestial aura radiating from the Soul Emperor. "I've been waiting for you for half a moon now—only that—" the Spirit Emperor licked his crimson lips, then gently grasped the void with his palm, "To celebrate my ascension as the first Battle Emperor in ten thousand years, I request your primal flame." "Emperor Spirit, the lives of my entire Spirit clan are in my hands. If you dare move, know that I will not hesitate to be merciless!" the Void Devouring Flame roared. Hearing this, the Spirit Emperor paused slightly, tilted his head curiously, and said, "You've followed me this long—do you not know my nature?" The Void Devouring Flame felt a sudden chill. This man was willing to sacrifice anything, even the entire Spirit Clan, to achieve his goals. "Come then..." Yet, as the Flame began to understand and prepare to flee, he was stunned to find that his body had completely lost the ability to move. "EXPLODE!" The Soul Emperor smiled gently, lightly clenching the palm of the ethereal Yin Tian. Instantly, Yin Tian's body exploded, transforming into a swirling tide of black flame that surged wildly, scattering in every direction. The Soul Emperor glanced at the fleeing black flames, then opened his mouth—his suction force surged forth, and the flames swiftly reversed their course, all of them eventually flowing into his mouth. "Your current strength... is to me, no more than a mere insect." With barely a breath of effort, he absorbed Yin Tian entirely. With an elegant gesture, he brushed the corner of his lips, the deep crimson hue standing out with an eerie grace. "Now... it seems it's time to deal with those bothersome ones." His gaze turned toward the Central Plains, a strange, otherworldly smile spreading across his face. At the same time, a voice rich with blood and thunder rose majestically across the land. "Remember today—this is the day I, the Emperor of the Soul, claim my imperial title!"