144: Break through the barrier and enter the final battle!

Boom!

The world trembled. High above Central Plains, a crimson light exploded, and the Demonic Flame Space hidden within was fully exposed.

Crack!

The ethereal Demonic Flame Space shattered, turning into thousands of fragments that fell directly to the ground.

Almost immediately after the disturbance, Ancestor of the Pill Tower and Old Man Shennong appeared below the Demonic Flame Space.

"The Heaven and Earth Tide has not arrived, so why is the Demonic Flame Space acting up?"

Ancestor of the Pill Tower had been stationed near the Demonic Flame Space for hundreds of years, aiming to prevent a catastrophe when the Demonic Flame appeared. For this, he had examined many records concerning the Purification Lotus Demon Flame, and the latter had never appeared at any time other than during the Heaven and Earth Tide... Before the two could ponder further, in the next moment, the Void Realm shattered, revealing two vast armies within it.

"Imperial Clan, why have they come?"

Without any sign of acknowledging Ancestor of the Pill Tower, the two armies immediately surrounded the Demonic Flame Space high in the sky.

Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi stood opposite each other, their gazes fixed on the Demonic Flame Space. During the previous disturbance, both of their Emperor Realm Souls had simultaneously sensed a familiar aura.

"Xiao Lei, how long do you plan to hide?"

It was unclear who spoke first, but as soon as that sentence fell, the Demonic Flame Space completely broke open, and a figure stepped out from within.

The figure was elegant and composed, with a faint smile. He naturally surveyed the surroundings, his gaze finally resting on a cluster of black flames behind Hun Tiandi— Weird and profound. (Note: The Chinese phrase ' Weird and profound' means 'eerie and profound'. Since it's not in the glossary, I will translate it directly as 'eerie and profound'.)

"Everyone, long time no see, are you all well?"

Xiao Lei's words were calm, as if he intended to reminisce, yet a green light suddenly leaped in his pupils when his gaze swept over the person who had spoken earlier.

To the shock of everyone present, that person instantly died!

A Dou Sheng expert couldn't even withstand a single attack from Xiao Lei!

The deceased was a member of the Yan Clan, and Yan Jin immediately erupted in fury, his entire body engulfed in flames, transforming into a Fire Phoenix. Accompanied by a sharp Phoenix cry, it charged towards Xiao Lei.

"An ant trying to shake a tree!"

Looking down from above, Xiao Lei gripped the hilt of his saber. As the long saber unsheathed, a cold light spread out, like a Protective Aura soaring to the sky, instantly scattering the clouds on the horizon.

In the next instant, the long saber was sheathed. Apart from a few individuals above the Eight-star Dou Sheng Rank, the others couldn't even clearly see Xiao Lei's move.

The next moment, a fierce saber light burst forth, carrying an unparalleled offensive, instantly tearing apart the Fire Phoenix. Its momentum undiminished, it pressed towards Yan Jin.

Yan Jin's pupils suddenly constricted. In such a brief moment, he couldn't even activate his defensive Dou Technique before the attack was upon him.

"Get out of the way!"

Yan Jin had even begun to entertain thoughts of death, but in the next moment, Gu Yuan had already blocked in front of him.

The saber light and the palm print in Gu Yuan's hand collided with a thunderous crash!

The world trembled, and the immense energy aftermath forced the other Dou Shengs nearby to retreat!

At the same time, the laws of the world seemed to be triggered. The Hades Emperor Slash (Note: This is a proper noun, but not in the glossary. I will keep it as Purgatory Emperor Slash.) Purgatory Emperor Slash, having obtained the complete Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame, once again broke through its own Rank, immediately causing a celestial phenomenon.

Golden Lightning appeared!

"Celestial phenomenon—Nine Profound Golden Lightning!"

"It's a Heaven Rank high-grade Dou Technique appearing!"

At this moment, Lei Ying and the others finally reacted, "Everyone! Attack, kill him!"

Since they had already engaged, there was no longer any room for restraint!

Upon hearing this, everyone present rushed towards Xiao Lei without any hesitation.

At this moment, even the grievances with the Hun Clan were temporarily set aside. After all, Xiao Lei had targeted the Geniuses of their clans, and had also caused the great battle in the Ancient Wilderness Domain, where countless Imperial Clan Geniuses had fallen.

Furthermore, Xiao Lei now possessed the last piece of ancient jade, which directly related to whether the Hun Clan could later open the Ancient Emperor Immortal Cave. The Four Clans' allied army, however, had no one who wanted to open the Ancient Emperor Immortal Cave.

Looking at the charging experts of the Four Clans, Xiao Lei merely shook his head gently, "No matter how many ants there are, they are still ants!"

Then, Xiao Lei suddenly concentrated his Soul Strength in his pupils. The Purification Lotus Demon Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame simultaneously appeared, and a bloody hue emerged in his originally emerald pupils.

"I have read all the pupil techniques under heaven, ventured into the Bodhi Illusion Realm and the Nightmare Sky Mist, and comprehended a pupil technique. Please, everyone, evaluate it!"

"Pupil Technique—Gray Memory!"

As his voice fell, boundless pupil light radiated across the world, and countless experts from the Five Great Imperial Clans simultaneously fell into an illusion.

At the same time, the thunderclouds in the sky intensified again, completely shedding their black color and emitting boundless golden light, magnificent and dazzling!

Another peerless Dou Technique appeared. At this moment, even heaven and earth found it difficult to define its Rank!

Because this Dou Technique was not aimed at strength, but at the inner heart!

Everyone's life has its dark moments, whether it's a Dao Heart collapsing or encountering a major setback... And Gray Memory pulls everyone back to these moments, making them truly re-experience that deep despair!

If one's mind is not firm, they will perish in the illusion. If one's mind is as firm as a rock, then this move will be like a gentle breeze, having no effect!

However, Golden Lightning wouldn't care so much. For such a Dou Technique, heaven and earth should give the highest respect!

The Golden Lightning was vast, its aura even comparable to Gu Yuan's!

Fortunately, Xiao Lei still had his little pet, so he wouldn't be struck by lightning.

The Nine Profound Golden Dragon rushed into the thunderclouds, twisting and turning, lightning exploding, and its cultivation also surged at a Heaven-Defying speed.

Xiao Lei, on the other hand, looked at the people below with interest, "If you want to become a Dou Di, if you can't even achieve an invincible mind, then you are completely dreaming!"

Bang!

In the next moment, within the Gu Clan, Gu Nanhai suddenly fell to the ground, his aura completely gone!

In the illusion, he encountered Soul Mie Sheng, who was unleashing his full power, and was chased with no escape, no way out, falling into despair, his mind perishing!

Subsequently, Ancestor of the Pill Tower also suddenly fell.

Even though he had carried his Soul through countless years of Reincarnation, living a hundred lives in countless stillborn bodies, he still couldn't forge an invincible state of mind. In the illusion, he returned to the day of Alchemy, when Hun Xuzi suddenly rebelled and assassinated his master.

Ancestor of the Pill Tower was a spiritual intelligence born from the fusion of a Ninth-Rank Profound Pill, created by the founder of the Pill Tower. Even after countless years, he still couldn't calm the bewilderment, disappointment, and even... despair of that day!

This alternative continuation, born of obsession, would eventually dissipate due to that obsession... Immediately after, countless Dou Shengs from the Five Great Imperial Clans died one after another.

One might ask, whose life doesn't have its own nightmare, its own moment of despair?

And how many people can walk through it again without their minds becoming unstable?

No one had that qualification. Only those who truly faced Xiao Lei's attack and personally walked out of Gray Memory were qualified!

In the next moment, Lei Ying and Yan Jin were the first to awaken!

"Even if I, Yan Jin, die, I have no fear. What is an illusion!"

"I, Lei Ying, have always been forthright. What is there to fear in a matter of conscience!"

The effect of Gray Memory also depended on a person's life experiences. Lei Ying and Yan Jin had been Geniuses within their clans since birth, their lives filled with smooth sailing. Perhaps their only setback was their inability to Break through to the Nine-star Dou Sheng Rank, but this was not enough to trap them.

In the next moment, the four living dead behind Hun Tiandi also all awakened.

Death Qi surged around their bodies. Although there was still some restlessness deep within their Souls, the four had finally woken up.

"Xiao Xuan, even if you killed us! A thousand years have passed, and we still exist, while you have already turned to dust..."

"What is there to fear from the dead!"

Lei Ying and Yan Jin looked at Gu Yuan, originally intending to combine their strength to confront Xiao Lei together, but they were horrified to discover... Gu Yuan remained in the illusion, showing no signs of awakening!

...