Far from the Danbula Grasslands where Heiming Ba and others had teleported Ye Jingyu to, this enemy territory was now engulfed in roaring flames. For dozens of li around, an apocalyptic inferno burned with towering fire columns that reached thousands of zhang into the sky. The entire heavens blazed crimson red as searing temperatures warped the air into shimmering heat waves that made everything appear like a hallucination.

This unprecedented blaze had drawn attention from all creatures nearby, though none dared approach such a deadly firestorm. Yet not far away, members of the Tagar tribe caught sight of these unnatural flames.

Heiming Shixuan, just returning from deep within the plains, also spotted the sky-darkening conflagration and rode his black wyrm straight toward it. Liang Xiaoke, Jiulit Ta, and several others of nine-pearl cultivation level were swiftly approaching too, though even they halted their advance at a distance when confronted with this apocalyptic inferno.

Yet Heiming Shixuan and her mount kept darting into the fire's heart, only to be forced back out immediately - unable to breach its core.

When Ye Jingyu finally arrived, he found Liang Xiaoke, Heiming Shixuan, Jiulit Ta, Wu Yuan, Wu Hui, Wu Qing, the three brothers, and Yuehen gathered at the outer perimeter watching this celestial firestorm with rapt attention.

At their sudden arrival, everyone froze in surprise. None had expected these three new figures accompanying Ye Jingyu - especially Heiming Ba's overwhelming aura that caused Jiulit Ta, Wu Yuan/Hui/Qing, and Yuehen to recoil in apprehension. Liang Xiaoke, however, immediately fixated on Medusa and Shidai with a calculating gaze before settling entirely on the latter. After all, though he might someday dare to possess Medusa, this sudden appearance of the drought goddess presented a much more attainable target...

Shidai wore an elegant deep crimson gown that concealed her perfect form yet enhanced her allure tenfold. Her seemingly innocent face occasionally flashed flirtatious glances, making her the ultimate fantasy for any man.

Jiulit Ta and others would already have been captivated by this beauty had it not been for Heiming Ba's oppressive aura. But Liang Xiaoke - that shameless ghoul - completely ignored the dark lord's presence entirely as his eyes remained locked onto Shidai, a river of drool flowing continuously from his mouth.

When Heiming Shixuan caught sight of them, her bright eyes suddenly lit up and she immediately leapt toward her father.

"Father! How did you come?" The young girl askedly, flinging herself into Heiming Ba's waiting arms. For the first time, Ye Jingyu got a clear look at this dark lord - his handsome face radiated imperial authority like an earthly monarch. Yet instead of his usual coldness, Heiming Ba now wore a warm smile more paternal than any mortal father.

No one could believe this was the infamous Purple Flame Demon King of the eight demon clans. In this moment, he simply looked like a humble father reuniting with his wayward daughter.

"Haha! My precious child has been away so long, isn't it only natural I come visit?" Heiming Ba gently scratched his daughter's nose through loving laughter - an act that made even more unthinkable the recent memory of him tearing apart Vampiric King Xuebulas with bare hands.

"But Father," Heiming Shixuan teased, her big eyes twinkling mischievously, "I was only away a few months! You never came when I left much longer before."

"Haha! My clever little imp!" Heiming Ba laughed heartily.

"Hmph! If you don't act soon, that one might actually explode from the flames!" The girl muttered petulantly.

At her words, Heiming Ba finally snapped out of his fatherly daze and placed his daughter back on the ground before vanishing into the inferno in a flash. A colossal column of violet flame erupted instantly, smothering the crimson firestorm above it.

Jiulit Ta and others immediately recognized Heiming Ba's identity from this display - their eyes widening with both terror at encountering the demon lord and confusion over his alliance with Ye Jingyu.

Liang Xiaoke meanwhile was already striding toward Shidai. Wiping the long trail of drool from his face, he fluffed his hair dramatically before striking a self-proclaimed pose: "Beautiful lady, I am Liang Xiaoke - Ye Jingyu's elder brother! A bachelor with broad shoulders and generous heart. Will you allow me to be your eternal protector?"

He delivered this declaration with Oscar-winning gravitas that would melt any ordinary girl... but Shidai was no ordinary being. Though she'd lost much of her memory, deep in her soul remained the primordial essence of a zombified ancestor.

To see such an insignificant little ghoul - barely reaching flying night-jackal cultivation and in her eyes merely a tiny worm - dare to proposition her? Her temper flared instantly.

"Get. Lost." Shidai spat out, her palm snapping forward with blinding speed. Liang Xiaoke's head snapped sideways from the impact before he was hurled through the air like rag doll debris.