65: Burning Heaven Purgatory 2

"Heart of Chaos..." Ling Xiao murmured softly, his eyes reflecting the brilliant red light.

Just as Xiao Bing was about to step forward, the cave suddenly lit up like daylight! A flame barrier rose, isolating the Heart of Chaos within. In the flames, a tall figure slowly took shape—red hair like fire, golden eyes like the sun, clad in crimson battle armor, with an oppressive aura as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea.

"Flame Lord's remnant Soul!" Ling Xiao exclaimed, instinctively shielding Xiao Bing.

Flame Lord's gaze fell upon the two, his voice thundering like lightning: "Ten thousand years of waiting, and finally, I see the successor of the plane of origin."

Xiao Bing took a step forward and bowed respectfully: "Senior, the Source World is in peril. We need the Heart of Chaos to combat the Chaos Devourer."

Flame Lord was noncommittal, flames swirling in his golden eyes: "The Heart of Chaos is no ordinary item. To obtain it, you must pass three trials. The first is courage, the second is wisdom, and the third is true heart. Do you dare to try?"

Ling Xiao and Xiao Bing exchanged glances, then nodded simultaneously: "Please enlighten us, Senior."

"Good." Flame Lord waved his hand, and the flame barrier parted, creating a gap. "The trial of courage: enter this sea of fire and retrieve a petal of heart flame."

Xiao Bing stepped forward without hesitation, but Ling Xiao pulled him back: "I'll go. The Spirit of the Plane has greater resistance to flames."

Before Xiao Bing could object, Ling Xiao had already flashed into the sea of fire. Xiao Bing could only watch helplessly as his brother's figure was swallowed by the flames, his fists clenching audibly.

Ling Xiao's muffled groans came from within the sea of fire, indicating he was not having an easy time. Xiao Bing was burning with anxiety but dared not rush in, fearing he might interfere with the trial. Time passed minute by minute, the flames growing fiercer, yet Ling Xiao did not emerge.

"Ling Xiao!" Xiao Bing finally couldn't help but shout.

Just as he was about to force his way in, the flames suddenly parted, and Ling Xiao stumbled out, holding a small golden flame in his hand. Most of his silver hair was singed black, and his skin was covered in burns, yet he wore a victorious smile: "I got it..."

Flame Lord nodded: "Your courage is commendable. The trial of wisdom—answer my question: Why did the plane of origin split?"

Xiao Bing answered without thinking: "To protect the Source World and prevent its power from being seized by the Chaos Devourer."

"Wrong." Flame Lord's voice turned cold. "That is merely the surface, not the essence."

Ling Xiao frowned in thought, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "It was for 'choice'! A complete plane of origin has no humanity and cannot understand the joys, sorrows, and emotions of living beings. Only by splitting and reincarnating as humans can it truly comprehend the meaning of protection!"

Flame Lord showed a satisfied expression: "Good. The final trial, the trial of true heart."

The cave's scenery suddenly changed, and the three appeared in a strange space. On the left was the sight of the Source World collapsing, with billions of living beings wailing in Chaos; on the right was Ling Xiao bound by chains, struggling in pain.

"Trial of true heart, choose one of two." Flame Lord's voice echoed through the space. "Save the Source World, and the Spirit of the Plane will be imprisoned forever; save the Spirit of the Plane, and the Source World will be destroyed. Choose."

Xiao Bing felt as if struck by lightning, looking at the scenes on both sides, then at the real Ling Xiao beside him. His brother gently shook his head at him, his eyes full of pleading: "Brother, choose the Source World. I was meant to be Sealed anyway..."

"No!" Xiao Bing sharply interrupted. "There must be a third option!"

Flame Lord repeated coldly: "Choose one of two."

Cold sweat seeped from Xiao Bing's forehead, dripping onto the icy surface with a faint "tap" sound. He looked at the myriad beings of the Source World, then at Ling Xiao, and suddenly smiled: "I choose the third option—I will take Ling Xiao's place in imprisonment, and let him return to save the Source World."

Ling Xiao's eyes widened in shock: "Brother! You..."

A glimmer of surprise flashed in Flame Lord's golden eyes: "Why?"

"Because this is the true meaning of protection." Xiao Bing said calmly, "Sacrifice is acceptable, but it must be voluntary. Ling Xiao is my brother, and protecting him is my responsibility; the Source World is my home, and protecting it is also my responsibility. If someone must bear the pain, it should be me."

The space suddenly froze, then shattered like a mirror. The three returned to the cave, the Heart of Chaos still suspended in its original place, but the flame barrier had disappeared.

Flame Lord's figure was much more ethereal, but his face held a look of relief: "Ten thousand years of waiting, and finally, I have met one who understands the true heart. The plane of origin's choice of master was indeed not wrong."

He waved his hand, and the Heart of Chaos slowly floated towards Xiao Bing: "He who holds this heart must remember the true meaning of protection. Power is the boat, true heart is the rudder; neither can be lacking."

Xiao Bing respectfully received it with both hands. The moment the Heart of Chaos touched his skin, it transformed into a red light and merged into his body. There was no imagined sharp pain or energy shock; instead, it felt like a long-lost wanderer returning home, warm and peaceful.

"Senior..." Xiao Bing wanted to ask something, but found that Flame Lord's figure was dissipating.

"My mission is complete, and I can finally rest in peace." Flame Lord's voice grew fainter and fainter. "Remember... the most terrifying aspect of the Chaos Devourer is not its power... but its... Gu..."

As the last word fell, Flame Lord's remnant Soul completely vanished, leaving only a few sparks dancing in the air.

Ling Xiao let out a long breath, and just as he was about to speak, his body suddenly stiffened, and a strange black light flashed in his eyes!

"Ling Xiao?" Xiao Bing noticed the abnormality and reached out to support him.

Ling Xiao abruptly recoiled, his silver hair moving without wind, his expression becoming unfamiliar and cold: "Finally... this moment has come..."

Alarm bells rang in Xiao Bing's heart: "You're not Ling Xiao! Who are you?"

"Ling Xiao" curled his lips into an eerie smile: "Who am I? I am the one you have been fighting against, my dear... brother..."

He raised his hand and waved, and a jet-black energy shot straight at Xiao Bing's chest! The distance was too close for Xiao Bing to dodge; he was hit head-on, sent flying backward to crash heavily against the cave wall, nearly dropping the Heart of Chaos!

"Chaos Devourer..." Xiao Bing coughed up a mouthful of blood, looking at the "brother" in front of him in disbelief, "When did you..."

"From the very beginning." "Ling Xiao's" voice became multi-layered, as if countless people were speaking at once. "The Spirit of the Plane was Sealed for tens of thousands of years; loneliness, despair, anger... these negative emotions are the best nourishment. I had already parasitized deep within his Soul before you even met."

Xiao Bing struggled to his feet, his mind rapidly replaying every moment he had spent with Ling Xiao—those occasional moments of incongruity, those fleeting black glimmers... everything now made sense.

"Then why are you exposing yourself now?" Xiao Bing secretly mobilized the power of the Heart of Chaos, trying to buy time.

"Ling Xiao"—or rather, the body controlled by the Chaos Devourer—let out a piercing laugh: "Because the Heart of Chaos must be corrupted for me to use it! Why do you think Flame Lord warned you?"

He raised his hand again, and this time the entire cave began to collapse, countless black tentacles extending from the Void Realm, lunging towards Xiao Bing!

Xiao Bing fused the power of the Heart of Chaos with his own Extreme Ice Power, forming a red and blue intertwined armor on his body. The tentacles crashed against the armor, emitting a grating "hissing" sound, unable to Breakthrough for a moment.

"It's useless, Brother." "Ling Xiao" slowly approached, the black light in his eyes flaring. "Hand over the Heart of Chaos, and I can leave you a complete corpse. Otherwise..." He revealed a cruel smile, "I will let you watch with your own eyes how I torment the Soul of this 'brother' of yours."

Xiao Bing's heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. Fight, and he might harm Ling Xiao's body; flee, and the Chaos Devourer would succeed. Just as he was caught in this dilemma, he suddenly noticed a subtle movement of "Ling Xiao's" left pinky finger—that was the secret signal the real Ling Xiao had agreed upon with him!

In a flash of lightning, Xiao Bing understood—Ling Xiao's consciousness was still there, fighting the Chaos Devourer for control of his body!

"Hold on, Ling Xiao!" Xiao Bing shouted, "I know you can hear me!"

"Ling Xiao's" body suddenly stiffened, his facial expression changing drastically, at times ferocious, at times pained. The singed black parts of his silver hair began to fall off, revealing new silver strands underneath.

"Brother... hurry and go..." Ling Xiao's own voice squeezed out intermittently, "I can't control it... for too long..."

How could Xiao Bing abandon his brother? He seized this fleeting opportunity, condensed the power of the Heart of Chaos in his palm, and with a swift step, rushed forward, gently pressing it against Ling Xiao's forehead!

"By the Heart of Chaos, I drive out evil and bind the malevolent, return my true spirit!"

Red light erupted, and Ling Xiao let out a scream that was not human, as a large amount of black mist surged out from his seven orifices, condensing in the air into a blurry, terrifying face.

"You... deserve to die...!" The face in the black mist roared, "But it's not over yet... the Spirit of the Plane's Soul has already been corrupted by me... you... will never... completely destroy me...!"

As the last wisp of black mist was purified by the red light, Ling Xiao's body softly collapsed. Xiao Bing caught him, finding his brother's face as pale as paper, his breathing faint but steady.

"Ling Xiao? Ling Xiao!" Xiao Bing gently patted his cheek.

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes, the stars in his silver eyes much dimmer: "Brother... I'm sorry... I should have noticed sooner..."

Xiao Bing shook his head and carried his brother on his back: "Don't say anything more. We need to get back quickly. Xiao Yan and the Source World need the Heart of Chaos."

Ling Xiao nodded weakly, and whispered on Xiao Bing's back: "Brother... the Chaos Devourer was right... there's still its corruption within me... after we go back... you have to promise me one thing..."

Xiao Bing's steps faltered: "What?"

"If... I lose control again..." Ling Xiao's voice was barely audible, "Kill me..."

Xiao Bing's body stiffened. He did not answer, only held his brother tighter, and strode out of the cave.

Behind them, the volcano of Burning Sky Purgatory began to erupt, as if announcing the end of an era.