It didn't take long.
A person named Soul Castle was plundered from the Spirit Race Minor World.
"Master Xutian Shenhuo, it has been checked. It's confirmed dead inside," the man in black reported with a respectful cupped-hands gesture.
"Okay," Xutian Shenhuo nodded. "Where is the next target?"
"Returning to Lord Xutian Shenhuo, the next place is the Yao family," the man in black from Soul Fort replied.
"Move!"
Immediately, the members of the Void Sky Divine Fire and Soul Castle rushed to their next destination.
Boom boom boom!
Boom boom boom!
One Minor World after another was decimated by the Void God Fire.
Hundreds of millions of lives, under its slaughter, turned into ash and lifeforce spirits, all harvested by Soul Castle.
It was the darkest day in the history of the Fighting Continent.
Black fire filled the sky, blocking out the sun and casting the entire continent into a hellish red hue.
The DouZhan Continent appeared to be consumed by flame. As far as the eye could see, everything was bathed in fire.
Family after family, sect after sect—those who once stood tall across the continent were eradicated by the people led by Xutian Shenhuo and absorbed into Soul Castle.
Xutian Shenhuo needed only one punch to obliterate so-called defensive barriers.
Then he raised his hand, unleashing infernos from the sky.
They rained down like a firestorm, engulfing everything, reducing cities and clans to burning ruins, and turning living beings into cinders.
The momentum was unstoppable—domineering and merciless.
Following behind, the people of Soul Castle handled the aftermath.
They swept through the battlefields, hunting down survivors—those who were not yet dead or tried to flee and hide.
Their efficiency was chilling.
Wherever they went, no one was spared. Cultivators, elderly, weak, women, and children—all fell and were massacred.
Spirit Clan, Medicine Clan, Stone Clan…
The eight ancient clans were crushed one after another.
More than a hundred million lives were lost in this calamity.
Even the supreme Danzong, a super-powerful force, could not escape and was forced to retreat.
The three giants of Danzong were bloodied and overwhelmed, staining the earth with their blood.
The entire Dan Zong was swallowed by unending waves of black flame.
…
…
Now, it was dusk.
Dressed in black, hair scattered loosely, Void God Fire strode across the scorched land.
Hundreds of Soul Fort disciples followed closely behind.
Their arrogance was boundless. Wherever they went, all living beings trembled in fear.
"Master Xutian Shenhuo, your divine power is unmatched. After today, none in this world will dare defy you!"
"Master Xutian Shenhuo, you are truly invincible!"
"What ancient eight clans? What Danzong? Aside from our Soul Refining Clan, they're nothing more than ants!"
"When the patriarch of our clan, the Dark Heavenly Emperor, uses the collected life spirits to break through into the Dou Di Realm, and joins forces with Lord Xutian Shenhuo, who in this Battle Continent could possibly oppose them?"
A Soul Refining Clan member flattered Xutian Shenhuo shamelessly.
Xutian Shenhuo smiled slightly. Though he didn't reply, he clearly enjoyed the praise to the fullest.
Born from Innate Fire, how could he not revel in such adoration?
"You juniors know how to talk. There will be rewards for you when we return," he said, clearly pleased.
The words sparked a storm of cheers from Soul Castle followers, who began applauding and heaping praise onto Xutian Shenhuo.
His pride swelled. He couldn't help but envision himself presenting the harvested life spirits to the Dark Heavenly Emperor and watching as the emperor broke through. In that moment, he would surely be elevated into the realm of Dou Emperor himself.
As he indulged in that fantasy—
Suddenly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something.
At the far edge of the horizon, at the limits of vision, a young man appeared.
He wore a black Xuanbird Emperor robe. His long hair flowed, his gaze was deep, and his face betrayed no joy or sorrow.
He stood alone, suspended in the sky above the heavens.
"Huh? Who is that?" Xutian Shenhuo frowned.
He had been basking in his momentum and adoration. That someone would stand before him now ignited his displeasure.
At this stage, who in the Fighting Continent did not recognize his might? Who dared not step aside?
Who did not tremble at his approach?
And this man dared obstruct his path?
With a flick of his wrist, he led his Soul Castle troops to approach rapidly.
He didn't even speak.
One of the Soul Castle followers shouted, "Who stands ahead? In the face of Soul Castle, how dare you not make way?"
The black-haired figure in the Emperor robe slowly raised his head.
His eyes met theirs.
"So… you're the ones who instigated this world-scale battlefield?"
"Where did this madman come from? Which world are you from?" the Soul Castle man scowled.
He had no patience left.
But his instincts screamed—this man was no ordinary person.
He was a War Emperor-level powerhouse.
With rage and killing intent surging, the War Emperor unleashed a palm strike, the energy condensing in his hand.
It swept toward the figure in black.
Bang!
Before the Soul Castle man could even get close, his body was sliced apart by invisible threads—his flesh and bones scattered into countless pieces in an instant.
"Is this the fighting spirit? So weak…"
Shen Lian shook his head, disappointment flashing in his eyes.