113: Memory Anchor 2

"What is that?" Xun'er felt an inexplicable palpitation.

Yao Chen's expression turned extremely grim: "Seven Seals... This is a memory Seal set by someone!" He moved closer to observe the bubbles, "Look at the images inside!"

In the last flickering bubble, a four- or five-year-old Xiao Yan could vaguely be seen held in the arms of a gentle woman. The woman's face was blurred, but it was clear she was crying, while little Xiao Yan clutched her clothes tightly, refusing to let go. In the background, there seemed to be others forcibly separating the mother and son...

"This is... Flame Brother's mother?" Xun'er turned to Yao Chen in shock, "Senior Yao, do you know about this?"

Yao Chen shook his head, his ethereal figure trembling slightly: "Xiao Yan never mentioned this memory... No, to be more precise, this memory was intentionally Sealed!" He pointed to the chains, "Look at the runes on them... This is the technique of high-level spiritual Dou Techniques!"

The black heart seemed to sense the intruders and suddenly began to beat violently! More black threads surged out, attacking the two! At the same time, the light of the last memory bubble rapidly diminished, on the verge of being swallowed!

"Not good!" Yao Chen shouted, "The seed of chaos is accelerating its consumption of this core memory! Once it falls, Xiao Yan will be completely lost!"

Xun'er rushed towards the bubble without hesitation, her Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame fully erupting, forming a golden wall of fire to block the black threads: "Senior Yao, I'll stabilize the memory; you figure out how to deal with that heart!"

Yao Chen nodded, his Bone Chill Cold Fire transforming into a silver long spear, stabbing directly at the black heart! However, as soon as the spear tip touched the surface, a terrifying suction force emanated, almost swallowing his entire spiritual body! He hastily retreated, his expression even grimmer: "No... direct attack will be counterproductive!"

On the other side, Xun'er had already arrived before the last memory bubble. Upon closer inspection, she found that the bubble's surface was covered with tiny cracks, and black threads were seeping in through the fissures. The images inside became increasingly blurry, and little Xiao Yan's cries were almost inaudible.

"Flame Brother..." Xun'er gently placed her hand on the bubble, her Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame gently enveloping it, "Don't give up... I'm here..."

She transmitted her emotional memories through the Heavenly Flame—the curiosity of their first meeting, the reluctance of their separation, the joy of their reunion, and... that unchanging affection.

A miracle occurred! The bubble stopped dimming, and its light slightly intensified! The images inside became clearer, and little Xiao Yan seemed to sense something, looking up in Xun'er's direction!

"It's working!" Xun'er was overjoyed, increasing her energy output. However, just then, a black thread ten times thicker than the others suddenly shot out from the heart, heading straight for her back!

"Xun'er, be careful!" Yao Chen had no time to rescue her and could only shout a warning.

At this critical moment, a silver light slashed down from above the memory labyrinth, precisely severing the black thread! Ling Xiao's voice echoed in the spiritual world: "Big Brother! Wake up! We can't hold on outside!"

In the real world, the situation had become extremely critical.

Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable floated above the Magic Beast Mountain Range, her white hair like snow, with twelve white-robed Elders arrayed around her, forming the Absolute Zero Formation. The entire mountain range was freezing at a visible speed; trees, rocks, and even moisture in the air solidified into ice crystals. The defense Formation of Yao Chen's hut was mostly shattered, barely holding on with the strength of Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao.

"Hold on..." Xiao Bing's left half of his body was covered in ice crystals, while his right half burned with crimson flames. The two forces no longer conflicted but formed a perfect balance, "Give Young Miss Xun'er and Senior Yao a little more time!"

Ling Xiao's silver hair had lost its luster, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth: "Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable's power... is far beyond expectations..." He looked into the hut; the ritual was still ongoing, "The Purification Sect has come out in full force this time... They are determined to eliminate Big Brother..."

Outside the hut, Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable coldly looked down at the two struggling figures: "Surrender, erroneous existence. Accepting purification is your only salvation."

She waved her hand, and the twelve Elders simultaneously exerted their power. A hundred-zhang diameter ice-blue light pillar descended from the sky, striking the hut directly! Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao gritted their teeth and met it, their ice flames and Spirit of the Plane power merging to form a red, blue, and silver three-colored barrier!

"Boom!"

At the moment of impact, the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range trembled! Countless cracks appeared in the barrier, and Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood, kneeling on the ground. The difference in strength was too great...

"Last chance." Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable's voice was like ice, "Hand over the corrupted one, and you can die painlessly."

Xiao Bing supported himself with his ice flame longsword, shakily standing up: "Dream on... He is my Big Brother..."

Ling Xiao also struggled to his feet, the nexus seed already showing cracks: "If you want to touch Big Brother... you'll have to get past us first..."

A hint of impatience flashed in Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable's eyes: "Foolish." She formed hand Seals, and the Formation's energy gathered again, "Then let's all be destroyed together."

Just at this critical moment, a starlight suddenly streaked across the night sky, precisely hitting a key node of the grand Formation! This was followed by a second, a third... twelve rays of starlight, like precise surgical knives, instantly dismantled parts of the Formation's structure!

"Who's there?!" Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable demanded sharply.

Her answer was a Star Arrow, aimed directly at her glabella! Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable hastily dodged; the arrow grazed her cheek, leaving a bloodstain. She touched her face in shock; how many years had it been since anyone could injure her?

In the starlight, more than a dozen figures cloaked in starlight silently appeared. They used neither Dou Qi nor spiritual energy, but an ancient and mysterious power of the stars. The leader was a woman, holding a starlight longbow, her face vaguely visible beneath her hood.

"Star Watchers..." Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable's expression turned grim, "You dare to interfere with Purification Sect affairs!"

The leading woman did not answer but removed her hood. Under the moonlight, a beautiful face, seven-tenths similar to Xiao Yan's, stunned everyone—especially those eyes, which were exactly like Xiao Yan's!

Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao were also dumbfounded: "This..."

The woman looked at the hut, complex emotions flashing in her eyes: "Yan'er... I finally found you..."

Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable seemed to recognize her, her expression growing even uglier: "It really is you... Star Clan remnant! It was a mistake to let you escape back then!"

The woman drew her bow and nocked an arrow, starlight condensing at her fingertips: "Xuan Frost, you've pursued my son for so many years; today, it's time to settle the score."

These words exploded like thunder! Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao's eyes widened: "Son? She's Big Brother's... mother?"

Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable sneered: "Do you think you can counter Absolute Zero with just this Star Power?" She waved her hand, signaling the Elders to reform the grand Formation, "Today, we'll purify you all together!"

The battle erupted again, with Star Power and extreme cold ice flames intertwining in the night sky. With the mysterious woman's reinforcements, Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao's pressure greatly reduced, but they were more concerned about the situation inside the hut...

In the spiritual world, Ling Xiao's intervention gave Xun'er and Yao Chen a moment to breathe. The last memory bubble stabilized under Xun'er's efforts and even began to self-repair. The black heart seemed enraged, violently contracting and expanding, releasing even more black threads!

"Senior Yao!" Xun'er shouted, "I have an idea! Since direct attack is ineffective, can we use these anchor memories..."

Yao Chen immediately understood: "Build an emotional network? That's too risky! If it fails, we'll all be lost!"

"But it's the only way!" Xun'er said firmly, "Flame Brother taught me—in the most dangerous times, bet everything!"

Yao Chen looked at the stubborn girl, vaguely seeing the young Xiao Yan. He gave a wry smile: "That kid really has... good taste." His Bone Chill Cold Fire suddenly expanded, "Come on, girl, let's make some noise!"

The two acted separately; Xun'er was responsible for protecting the last core memory, while Yao Chen shuttled between the anchor points, connecting them with his Bone Chill Cold Fire. As one anchor point after another was activated, more and more brightly lit areas appeared in the spiritual world, effectively curbing the spread of the black threads.

The black heart seemed to sense the crisis, suddenly shrinking to half its original size, then violently exploding! Countless black threads shot out in all directions like a torrential downpour! Yao Chen and Xun'er hastily defended, but some black threads still broke through their defenses, piercing into the last memory bubble!

The bubble vibrated violently, and the images inside began to distort! Little Xiao Yan's figure became blurry, and the woman's face almost completely disappeared! Xun'er threw herself forward desperately, using her body to block most of the black thread attacks! The Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame directly collided with the Chaos energy, and she let out a painful groan, but she did not budge an inch!

"Flame Brother... quickly remember..." Blood oozed from the corner of Xun'er's mouth, "The you who never gives up... the you who makes me proud..."

In a trance, little Xiao Yan in the bubble seemed to lift his head, his eyes meeting Xun'er's in reality...

In the real world, Xiao Yan in the hut suddenly trembled violently! The black threads in his right eye rapidly receded, and the black runes on his skin also began to fade! Yao Chen's main body suddenly opened his eyes: "It worked! He's waking up!"

At the same time, the battle outside the hut also entered a fierce stage. Xiao Yan's "mother"—Xing Lan—displayed astonishing strength; each of her Star Arrows could repel a white-robed Elder. But Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable's Absolute Zero was simply too powerful; Xing Lan's right arm was already covered in a layer of frost, and her movements began to slow.

"Star Clan Bloodline is nothing special." Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable sneered, a long ice crystal spear condensing in her palm, "I'll send you to meet your husband!"

The long spear broke through the air, heading straight for Xing Lan's heart! At this critical moment, a cyan-black wall of fire suddenly appeared, evaporating the ice spear entirely!

Everyone simultaneously turned their heads, looking towards the hut.

The door opened.

Xiao Yan stood there, his right eye still having black threads, but already clear. His gaze swept across the battlefield, lingering on Xing Lan for a moment, then locking onto Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable.

"Those who harm my family..." Cyan-black flames rose from his feet, forming towering waves of fire, "Die!"

Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable showed a solemn expression for the first time: "How is this possible... The seed of chaos was actually suppressed?"

Xiao Yan wasted no words, his figure flashed into mid-air, and the flames transformed into a giant Dragon, pouncing towards the Purification Sect members! At the same time, Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao also regrouped and joined the battle. Xing Lan looked at her son's mighty back, tears welling in her eyes: "Exactly like his father..."

With the three brothers and the mysterious reinforcements, the tide of battle instantly turned! Xuan Shuang Celestial Venerable saw the unfavorable situation, gritted her teeth, and ordered: "Retreat!"

The Purification Sect members quickly gathered and disappeared in a burst of icy mist. Xiao Yan did not pursue but turned to look at Xing Lan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xing Lan wanted to say something, but suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, swaying and falling. Xiao Yan instantly appeared beside her, supporting her: "You..."

"Yan'er..." Xing Lan weakly raised her hand, wanting to touch her son's face, "Finally... I've seen you..."

Xiao Yan held her hand, his voice trembling slightly: "Are you really... my mother?"

Xing Lan nodded, and wanted to say more, but fainted due to her severe injuries. Xiao Yan hastily carried her back to the hut, and Yao Chen immediately stepped forward to treat her.

"Depleted Star Power combined with extreme cold invasion..." Yao Chen said after his examination, "She needs special treatment."

Xun'er returned from the spiritual world, her face pale but her eyes bright. Seeing Xiao Yan recover his clarity, she showed a relieved smile: "Flame Brother..."

Xiao Yan looked at her, then suddenly stepped forward and hugged her tightly: "Thank you... I remember everything..."

Xun'er nodded gently in his arms, her tears soaking his clothes.

Outside the hut, dawn finally arrived. After a night of fierce battle, the Magic Beast Mountain Range was scarred, but the spark of hope had been rekindled. Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao stood at the doorway, watching the reunion scene inside the hut, exchanging smiles.

"It seems our family's story..." Xiao Bing said.

"Is even more complicated than we imagined." Ling Xiao finished.

In the sky, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the hut. More difficult battles lay ahead, but at this moment, this hard-won reunion and memory were enough to give them the courage to move forward.