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"Big Brother, there's something I've always wondered. We both came from Huaxia to this world, yet why did you become so ruthless—treating all living beings as mere ants?"
Xiao Yan asked this as he recalled meeting Qian Renhan's family, who had ascended from the lower realm. He had hoped for a reconciliation, but during the encounter, he realized that Qian Renhan's relatives were completely different in character—and, even more puzzling, they were afraid of him. This deeply confused Xiao Yan.
"Why? That's simple," Qian Renhan replied coldly. "It's because I'm not the protagonist of this world. Since I am not the one chosen by this heaven and earth, since I have no destiny protecting me, this world can crush me at will and destroy everything I hold dear. So I had no choice but to be ruthless, to hold back nothing, and do everything in my power to rise up—until I could stand shoulder to shoulder with heaven and earth, until no one could control my future."
He looked at Xiao Yan's stunned expression and added, "Xiao Yan, don't you find your own cultivation journey a bit strange?"
"Strange?"
"Have you ever felt that sometimes your luck was too good to be true? Have you noticed how, no matter how rare or impossible the opportunity—be it once in a hundred years, a thousand years, or even ten thousand—you always happen to encounter it? And in times of crisis, even when you shouldn't have a chance, your Dou Techniques work perfectly, and you somehow manage to refine even the most difficult pills?"
As Qian Renhan spoke, Xiao Yan felt as if a giant bell had struck his mind—ringing with realization. Indeed, his journey had been filled with unbelievable luck. Even when he was just a Dou Huang, he had successfully unleashed the Flame Lotus fused with Heavenly Flames—something that even Dou Zong or Dou Zun experts couldn't manage due to their inability to fuse beast flames.
At the Alchemist Convention in the Jia Ma Empire, despite his furnace exploding, he broke through on the spot while refining a fifth-tier pill—successfully producing a peak-grade Triple-striped Green Spirit Pill without a cauldron.
During the final battle at the Yunlan Sect, facing Yun Shan's Wind Demon Tyrant Technique, he had once again performed miracles in desperate conditions, unleashing a Dou Technique despite his Dou Qi being uncirculated.
So many such moments... Was he really the protagonist of this world?
"Think about it, Xiao Yan. You've survived every life-threatening situation, sailed through every crisis, and no one has ever stabbed you in the back in this ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest world. That's because you are this world's chosen one. That's why you've been able to remain true to yourself."
Xiao Yan bit his lip and asked, "But that doesn't make sense. We're both transmigrators—why would this world choose only me?"
"Heh… It's not a matter of this world choosing you," Qian Renhan sneered. "It's about what you have that made this world choose you. Since you've reached the Dou Di realm, you should've sensed it—there are stronger worlds beyond the Dou Qi Continent."
"Every world needs to grow. If it doesn't, it'll wither and fade away. This world couldn't even produce a Dou Di before. So think carefully—what do you have that made the Dou Qi Continent choose you? What allowed you to reach the Dou Di realm?"
"Burning Technique!"
At this point, if Xiao Yan still couldn't figure it out, he'd be a fool. His rise to power, aside from Yao Lao's guidance, was thanks to the Burning Technique. Even the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's Dou Di inheritance was given to him because he practiced it.
Qian Renhan said calmly, "Now that you understand… do you think this world, already torn apart by me, can help you this time?"
"The Dou Qi Continent has shown me great kindness," Xiao Yan said solemnly. "If I survive today, I will repay it one day. Big Brother—let's end this!"
Xiao Yan took a step forward. A flame imprint appeared on his forehead, and beneath his feet, the Central Continent's ground cracked open with a deafening rumble. A massive chasm emerged, and from within it, crimson magma surged upward like a geyser, rising high into the sky before freezing in midair—transforming into a colossal tidal wave of lava.
Flames condensed into dazzling fire lotuses that rained down like a fiery storm toward Qian Renhan.
The black energy beneath the rain of fire lotuses ignited and burned away. The blazing sun returned to the Central Continent once more.
"This quality of Dou Qi… after receiving Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance, the Burning Technique has truly reached the Emperor level. Killing Sword Domain!"
Scarlet sword intent erupted wildly. Fire lotuses exploded in the air like firecrackers, crackling across the sky. The black energy around Qian Renhan vanished, replaced by crimson killing intent. Against the Soul Heaven Emperor, he had only used the power of the Fallen Angel. But now, as a true sword cultivator, this was his full strength.
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, and thirteen different flames emerged—green, blue, black, brown, gray, pale white, and gold—each distinct in hue and terrifying in aura.
He gathered them into his palm, with the fifth-ranked Golden Emperor Burning Flame at the center. The flames compressed together as Xiao Yan poured his Emperor-level soul power into them.
"Boom! Boom!"
The thirteen types of Heavenly Flame compressed violently, creating an energy storm that howled with destructive force. The multicolored vortex covered half the Central Continent's sky. Even the Killing Sword Domain's sword energy couldn't withstand the heat—it burned just by approaching the vortex.
"The Buddha's Wrath Lotus, huh?"
Qian Renhan raised his Shura Sword high. All the sword energy of the Killing Sword Domain converged upon it. Though no aura leaked from the sword, any cultivator below Dou Di felt like countless needles were stabbing their eyes just by looking at it.
As more Dou Qi poured into the vortex, visible ripples formed within it. A lotus bud slowly took shape—vague but terrifying. Even Xiao Yan felt his heart tremble from the energy waves radiating out.
This was the Buddha's Wrath Flame Lotus, formed from thirteen types of Heavenly Flame—powerful enough to truly destroy the world.
A massive fire lotus hovered above Xiao Yan's head. The moment it fully formed, a blinding light like a second sun filled the sky, illuminating the entire Central Continent.
"Go—Destruction Flame Lotus!"
Xiao Yan hurled the giant lotus forward. Wherever it passed, space was incinerated, and even the ultra-high-temperature lava was burned to nothing.
"Slash!"
Qian Renhan's eyes gleamed blood-red. Just as the thirteen-colored lotus neared within a foot of him, he swung the Shura Sword down. A blood-red sword light cleaved through the world, crashing into the flame lotus. Flames and crimson energy exploded outward, shattering space across a ten-thousand-zhang radius.
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, veins bulging across his forehead, while Qian Renhan roared loudly.
"Boom!"
The flame lotus split in half. Thirteen types of fire exploded, turning the sky into a sea of flames. Xiao Yan's ultimate move was destroyed, and he vomited blood. The blood-red sword energy sliced through the fire lotus and continued forward, cutting through everything in its path.
From the heart of the Central Continent to the coastline, a massive ravine—thousands of zhang wide—scarred the Dou Qi Continent. One could only wonder: if Qian Renhan had launched that strike from the coast, would the entire continent have been split in two?
(End of Chapter)