The sky burned crimson.
Flames stretched across the heavens like divine dragons, turning the entire battlefield into a sea of fire. Mountains collapsed, space cracked, and terrifying energy storms swept across the land.
At the center of this apocalypse stood a single figure.
A young man dressed in black robes.
Nine different flames floated around him like celestial spirits.
Each flame possessed power capable of destroying entire sects.
Together they formed the legendary Nine Heavenly Flames Formation.
His name was Xiao Tian.
Across the Dou Qi Continent, his title shook countless powers.
The Heavenly Flame Emperor.
Thousands of experts surrounded him in the sky.
Leaders of the Ancient Clans.
Dou Sheng experts.
Peak cultivators who ruled the continent.
Yet none dared move.
Because the man before them had once slaughtered entire sects alone.
He had risen like a comet.
Too fast.
Too terrifying.
Xiao Tian slowly lifted his head, his deep eyes scanning the crowd.
But his gaze eventually stopped on a single figure.
A girl dressed in golden robes.
Her beauty was ethereal.
Her long black hair danced in the wind like flowing silk.
Even among the countless experts present, she shone like the brightest star.
She was the woman Xiao Tian loved more than his own life.
Gu Xuner
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Xuner… it's finally over."
His voice echoed across the sky.
"For you, I destroyed the Hall of Souls."
"For you, I challenged the Ancient Clans."
"For you, I gathered the Heavenly Flames."
"After today…"
"No one in this world will be able to separate us again."
The battlefield fell silent.
But strangely…
Gu Xuner did not smile.
Her beautiful face remained calm.
Too calm.
Her golden eyes looked at Xiao Tian as if she were looking at a stranger.
Something about that gaze made Xiao Tian's heart tremble slightly.
"Xuner…?"
He stepped forward.
But before he could move another step—
A cold voice echoed through the air.
"Xiao Tian."
Her tone was completely different from the past.
There was no warmth.
No affection.
Only indifference.
"You've worked hard all these years."
Xiao Tian froze.
Worked hard…?
Before he could understand the meaning behind those words—
A golden sword suddenly appeared in Gu Xuner's hand.
Then—
She moved.
Her speed was unbelievably fast.
Even Xiao Tian, who had reached the Emperor realm, was caught completely off guard.
SHHHK!
The sword pierced straight through his chest.
Blood splattered across the sky like red rain.
Time seemed to freeze.
Xiao Tian slowly lowered his head.
The blade had passed through his heart.
Warm blood flowed down the sword.
His pupils trembled.
"You…"
"Xuner…?"
Gu Xuner stood only inches away from him.
But the warmth he once felt from her had completely vanished.
Her eyes were cold.
Almost emotionless.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
"But you were always just a tool."
Those words hit Xiao Tian harder than the sword.
"A… tool…?"
His voice trembled.
Gu Xuner slowly pulled the sword out.
Blood sprayed into the air.
"Yes."
"For years you helped me collect Heavenly Flames."
"You fought countless enemies for me."
"You even offended the Ancient Clans."
"But everything you did…"
"…was exactly what I needed."
Xiao Tian's mind went blank.
Everything he believed in began collapsing.
"But why…?" he whispered.
"Why did you do this…?"
Gu Xuner looked toward the distance.
Her cold expression softened slightly.
Because someone was walking forward.
A young man dressed in simple robes.
His eyes were calm yet confident.
A faint flame danced on his fingertip.
He was the legendary genius who shook the continent.
Xiao Yan.
Gu Xuner's voice became gentle.
"The one I love…"
"…has always been Xiao Yan."
The words felt like thunder exploding in Xiao Tian's mind.
His entire world shattered.
So all those years…
All those sacrifices…
All those battles…
They meant nothing?
Xiao Tian suddenly began laughing.
His laughter grew louder and louder.
Soon it echoed across the heavens like a madman's roar.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Good…!"
"Good!"
"So the Heavenly Flame Emperor…"
"…was nothing but a clown!"
His aura suddenly exploded.
The nine Heavenly Flames around him began raging violently.
The surrounding experts immediately retreated in shock.
"He's going berserk!"
"Stop him!"
But it was too late.
Xiao Tian's cultivation had already begun collapsing.
The flames devoured everything around him.
Space cracked apart.
Mountains turned to dust.
Yet in the middle of this destruction—
Xiao Tian's vision slowly grew blurry.
His life force was fading rapidly.
But just before darkness swallowed him completely…
He heard a voice.
A voice filled with despair.
"XIAO TIAN!"
Through his fading sight, he saw a figure rushing toward him.
A woman with silver hair.
Her aura was terrifying.
Behind her was the phantom image of a gigantic purple serpent.
It was the queen of the Snake People.
The ruler of the Tagore Desert.
Medusa.
Her usually cold and proud face was now filled with panic.
Tears flowed down her cheeks.
She held Xiao Tian's dying body.
"Why…?"
"Why did you do this for her…?"
Her voice trembled.
Xiao Tian stared at her.
For the first time…
He truly saw her eyes.
Eyes that had always been watching him.
Protecting him.
Waiting for him.
But he had never noticed.
Because his heart had been blinded.
By Gu Xuner.
A bitter smile appeared on Xiao Tian's face.
"So… the one who truly cared…"
"…was you."
Medusa's tears fell onto his face.
"You idiot…"
"If you had just looked at me once…"
"…I would have followed you to the ends of the world."
Regret pierced Xiao Tian's heart like a thousand blades.
But it was already too late.
Darkness slowly swallowed his consciousness.
His final thought echoed in his mind.
If I could live again…
I would never make the same mistake.
Then everything went black.