Six Heavenly Flames merged into a single Heavenly Flame clone, each clone potent enough to incinerate any Eight Trigrams Heavenly Scholar within this Grand Heavenly Aperture into ash. These two Heavenly Flame clones possessed their own consciousness and could manipulate the flames of the world; the inferno constantly burning in the sky of the Grand Heavenly Aperture was naturally no exception.

The two Heavenly Flame clones casually reached out, grasping two seas of fire, each spanning dozens of acres, and crushed them down upon the gnome without ceremony.

Before the gnome could finish speaking, he found himself enveloped by a sky full of flames. The most intense power within the Grand Heavenly Aperture was that of fire. Clones formed purely from Heavenly Flame thrived like fish in water here. A joint effort from the two Heavenly Flame clones was something the gnome simply could not handle. Even as the vast sea of fire engulfed him, the gnome roared loudly, attempting to intimidate Ji Changkong with the threat of the Demon Cave.

Ji Changkong merely sneered, his main soul body remaining motionless, choosing only to employ his newly formed Heavenly Flame clones against the gnome.

Each Heavenly Flame possessed its own awareness, sourced directly from Ji Changkong himself. Ji Changkong's own divine soul excelled at the "Fusion" Art from the Grand Void Secret Records, allowing the Heavenly Flames to merge with one another, regenerating a consciousness that was larger and more formidable.

Humanoid Heavenly Flames were easier to maneuver and far more adept at unleashing various forms of flame power. When these humanoid Heavenly Flames gained a stronger life consciousness, they transcended mere offensive tools; they became true extensions of the main soul body—Heavenly Flame Clones! The two Heavenly Flame clones sprang into action, diving into the sea of fire, instantly vanishing from sight. Without waiting for the gnome's curses to subside, the two clones that entered the inferno immediately infused the sea of fire with a stronger, more violent flame power.

The Heavenly Flame clones released their flame power into the fiery expanse, rendering the sea of fire not only immensely destructive but also imbued with the power to bind souls. The gnome from the Demon Cave knew remaining in the flames was unwise, yet he found himself utterly unable to break free. All he could do was allow his mental strength to be gradually depleted under the might of the Heavenly Flames.

Ji Changkong's main soul, which had emerged from the demonic energy sphere using the Split Soul Skill from the Aoluo Divine Cult’s Nebula Soul Refining Art, refrained from intervening, content to watch the gnome slowly burn to death.

“Oh!” Ji Changkong murmured softly in his heart, turning his gaze toward the spectral soul of the Dead Assessment that was hurtling toward him.

The Dead Soul, drifting like a will-o'-the-wisp, moved with extreme speed, arriving before Ji Changkong in the blink of an eye.

“Undying Soul!” A violent soul tremor emanated from the Dead Soul. He suddenly halted, subtly assessing Ji Changkong with his soul aura. “If you tell me the cultivation method for the Undying Soul, I will forgo your Nine Luminaries Life Tree. Not only that, I can even help you eliminate those who wish you harm and escort you back to the Five Elements Continent!”

This Dead Soul from the Death Alliance clearly held an immense fascination for the Split Soul Skill of the Aoluo Divine Cult’s Nebula Soul Refining Art. The fact that he would give up the Nine Luminaries Life Tree for this technique demonstrated the profound allure of the soul-splitting method.

The life form of a Dead Class Heavenly Scholar differed significantly from ordinary people; they seemed to exist in a pure soul state. This suggested their understanding of soul power must be exceedingly deep. If the Death Alliance masters were to obtain the cultivation method for soul division, they would likely ascend to an even higher plane, progressing much further along the path of soul power exploration.

“Don’t tell him!” Shang Bingjie arrived, her demeanor slightly frantic, her soul thoughts scattered:

“The Death Alliance’s understanding of soul power far surpasses that of other Heavenly Scholar factions. It was their covetous desire for the Undying Soul cultivation method of the Aoluo Divine Cult’s leader that led them to attack that leader years ago! These people are equally ambitious. If the Death Alliance acquires the Undying Soul method, their alliance could surpass Tian Lu, becoming the most powerful force in the Solar Star Domain!”

“Although Tian Lu’s methods are vicious beyond measure, the Death Alliance is even more ruthless and cold-blooded. Their ascendancy would spell disaster for every Heavenly Scholar continent in the Solar Star Domain. Do not, under any circumstances, reveal the Undying Soul cultivation method to them!” Shang Bingjie urged anxiously.

“Naturally!” Ji Changkong laughed lightly, shrugging. “A soul technique that has entered my hands—would I ever willingly pass it to another!”

“Damned woman, you’re asking for death!” The chilling, merciless killing intent burst forth from the Dead Soul from the Death Alliance. He didn't immediately attack Ji Changkong, but suddenly shifted direction, fixing his target on Shang Bingjie.

As the killing intent of the Dead Soul manifested, the faint ghost fire began to flicker wildly. With each flicker, more ghostly flames drifted out, and in moments, dozens of faint spectral fires materialized, each containing a soul steeped in murderous intent.

The auras of the dozens of souls were identical as they instantly encircled Shang Bingjie, then simultaneously expelled their soul essence, drowning her completely.

A look of shock crossed Shang Bingjie’s exquisitely beautiful face, but she did not appear overly nervous. The Soul Sword of the Cold Cicada she held in her hand was raised, and the sword instantly dissolved into a swarm of cold cicadas. The chilling aura emanating from these cicadas formed a peculiar defensive barrier that immediately enveloped Shang Bingjie.

The collective killing intent generated by the dozens of souls converged, forming a whirlwind of soul energy, violently assaulting the Shang Bingjie at the center. This Heavenly Scholar from the Death Alliance unleashed various death-seeking convictions, driving them towards the autonomous thoughts of the enemy’s soul.

The power of the Dead Soul was terrifying, even slightly stronger than the Demon Cave gnome, and far surpassed that of the hideous woman Ji Changkong’s Heavenly Flame clones had incinerated. After releasing all its death energy, the Dead Soul began drawing the death energy residing within the Grand Heavenly Aperture, pulling it from all directions to converge upon him.

Before the eight Minor Heavenly Apertures had merged, each one was saturated with a strange, death-tinged aura rising from the sea of Heavenly Flames. Previously, within his own aperture, Ji Changkong had to carefully evade these strange, death-infused essences.

Yet, this Dead Soul from the Death Alliance possessed the power to control these death essences. Now that the eight apertures were merged, the concentration of death energy in the Grand Heavenly Aperture was incredibly dense—numbering over a hundred streams.

Under the Dead Soul's manipulation, over a hundred streams of this death-infused aura surged forth, pouring into the soul vortex he had created, relentlessly battering the defense formed by Shang Bingjie's Cold Cicada Soul Sword.

Without the infusion of the death energies from the Grand Heavenly Apertures, the defense shield formed by the Cold Cicada Soul Sword was incredibly solid. However, once the death energies from the Grand Heavenly Apertures were integrated, Shang Bingjie immediately began to falter. The cold cicadas chirped mournfully, gradually drawing closer and even clinging to Shang Bingjie’s elegant body. While they adorned her like beautiful, strange accessories, the peculiar power within them was steadily waning.

“Heh heh, little lady, let’s see how you escape now!” Cackling sinisterly, the old man from the Joyous Union Valley, who had accompanied the Dead Soul, reached into the soul vortex and mixed in the unspeakable, lustful power of the subtle soul.

Shang Bingjie’s expression drastically changed. Her icy eyes fixed on the old man from the Joyous Union Valley:

“I will kill you, and you will meet a horrible end!”

“I won’t let you die a horrible death; I’ll keep you alive, letting you live perpetually under my soul’s favor. Soon, I will use the unique power of my Joyous Union Valley to completely seize control of your soul, implanting the deepest thoughts of love for me within your spirit, making you my slave for life, forever thinking of and yearning for me, devoted entirely to my service!” The repulsive old man cackled triumphantly.

“Old fool, you dream too sweetly! Is my woman someone you dare to touch?” Ji Changkong roared, abandoning the Demon Cave gnome, who was still entangled with his two Heavenly Flame clones. With a flash, his figure moved, his boundless mental energy condensing into a soul gleam, shooting directly toward the disgusting old man from the Joyous Union Valley.

The old man let out a strange laugh, just preparing to retort, when he suddenly sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, and incredibly strange energy bolt toward him like lightning.

The repulsive old man immediately abandoned his plan to implant evil thoughts into Shang Bingjie’s soul and dodged in panic. However, the soul gleams Ji Changkong unleashed this time were not only numerous but incredibly dense! Although the disgusting old man managed to evade the majority, about a dozen gleams struck him, causing him to shriek continuously as his soul’s mental power grew increasingly weak.

“If you give me the cultivation method for the Undying Soul, I will release this woman immediately and even help you return to the Five Elements Continent!” The Dead Soul’s thoughts resonated through the air. “But if you refuse, I will instantly shred this woman’s soul. You should realize she cannot hold out much longer. The only reason she hasn't died is because I held back my true strength!” The Dead Soul spoke no lies; Shang Bingjie was indeed on the verge of collapse.

The cold cicadas materialized from her Cold Cicada Soul Sword were now clinging tightly to her graceful form, serving as dazzling adornments. While beautiful, the peculiar power within them was fading moment by moment.

Trapped within the soul vortex, Shang Bingjie’s exquisite face maintained its customary icy composure, as if the person facing imminent death was not her at all. She looked calmly at Ji Changkong, the corner of her mouth lifting into a peculiar angle, transmitting a soul message: “Kill this Dead Soul, and I will not blame you!”

“Foolish woman!” The Dead Soul roared in fury. Without waiting for Ji Changkong to agree, he seemed prepared to move instantly to annihilate Shang Bingjie; this Dead Soul appeared to have lost all patience.

Shang Bingjie remained coldly arrogant, though her gaze towards Ji Changkong held a trace of softness that others could scarcely detect. Her soul thoughts drifted faintly: “Your name is Ji Changkong, correct? I think... I...”