The Infernal Sovereign shuddered at the thought of those two spells being unleashed by Youming Lao Gui. His already profound apprehension deepened further - had he just glimpsed a depth to this ancient fiend that was utterly unfathomable? As one who had ascended through centuries of calculated maneuvering to reign over the Infernal Expanse, his instincts were honed sharper than any blade. Since unraveling Youming's secrets eluded him for now, he saw no need to rush. Let the flames settle first.

After all, could Lady Xian truly sit idly by while her beloved daughter was slain? No, she'd already set off toward them, his instincts whispered. Better let her gauge this youth before moving against the flame essence. With a mere flick of his titanic wings, he vanished into the void before the incense stick had burned halfway through.

He materialized at the Molten Lake's core depths, where an otherworldly space housed a blazing sphere nearly a dozen zhang in diameter. The inferno pulsed with raw power, baking the cavern walls into molten arcs that seemed to mimic celestial vaults. As he strolled mid-air like a nobleman in his garden, his voice carried quiet authority: "Infernal Sovereign Xian, your reign ends here."

Meanwhile below, Thunderwave completed dividing spoils with three Dantian cultivators who now revered him not merely for equitable distribution but for revealing cultivation's essence through their shared trials. Wu Ji led them downward past the Molten Lake legend - a prodigy of Flame Sovereign who ascended to Transcendent Godhood before his descent into madness...

When they reached the chasm, sixfold solar fire erupted from the abyss in serpentine blue flames. Thunderwave's divine awareness ensnared a chunk of flame-violet ore as it sank into those searing depths...