Corrupt Creations

Huo Shihong released all the Mana he had, creating a very bright and strong blast around himself. However, that was just the beginning. 

As a bright explosion was occurring in front of them, Third Shadow and Fifth Shadow didn't try to stop at all, they kept charging forward while using their Mana to protect themselves. 

But suddenly, they felt there was something off with those flames. They were brighter than normal. 

Shihhhhh! 

The darkness energy they were using as protection, started to dissolve after entering in contact with Huo Shihong Purifying Flames. It was an effect caused by a higher plane of Phoenix Flames. It would start to take one of the main effects that Ancient Beast was proud of. The purification effect. 

After deciding to spend everything, till the very last drop of energy on that attack, Huo Shihong was able to step on that level on his Phoenix Flames. 

Third Shadow and Fifth Shadow abruptly stopped, retreating at full speed after they noticed they might get burned if they stood in the range of that explosion. 

But Huo Shihong's skill didn't limit itself to that explosion, the real power behind his skill was that it would spread those purifying flames towards the whole area. And that was what was about to happen. 

Boom! 

The heat rose to unbearable levels and everything started to burn. Third Shadow and Fifth Shadow were caught by his flames and were forced to release all their aura in order to resist it. 

The new effect those flames had acquired, were proving to be really useful, since even Third Shadow had to put a lot of attention into retreating and protecting his body. 

While he and Fifth Shadow ran the farthest they could, they felt a searing pain in their skin, as if something was trying to purify their darkness. 

Huo Shihong was thoroughly spent after using all his Mana, however he achieved what he desired and the path was clear for him. He didn't think twice before running towards the flame barrier, where he would be safe, at least for now. 

When he was only a few meters away from it, almost touching the barrier, he suddenly felt a sense of impending doom. He trusted a hundred percent on his instincts, throwing Yuyin towards the barrier with all his might, while turning back to defend against a possible attack. 

Pah! 

Seventh Shadow arm, coated with a thick layer of darkness punctured a hole in the middle of his chest. He was able to leave his cocoon of darkness in time to stop Huo Shihong with whatever he was trying to do. 

The flames Sect Master Huo left behind, extinguished, letting him leave in stealth. He took that opportunity to way for the right time to act. 

Huo Shihong didn't have a single drop of Mana and could only receive that strike head on, suffering a fatal wound right in the middle of his chest. His body dropped down and his life signs started to get feebler. However, he was able to move his head to see Yuyin's body reaching the barrier. 

When she was about to collide with it, the energy creating that fire wall parted, making a gap wide enough to fit her body, open up, allowing her to pass through it. After that, the barrier once again closed, not letting anyone enter it. 

Yuyin fell on the ground and with the impact, she finally woke up from her sleep. She put both hands in her head, trying to remember what happened with her. Moments before she blacked out, she was staring towards the horizon from the windows of her bedroom, when she turned around and saw three men standing inside her room. After that, she fell unconscious, only waking up at the present moment. 

"Uhhhgrr... My head hurts..." 

She opened her eyes and saw an environment she recognized. It was the interior of the Fire Labyrinth, a place she once visited hidden from her father. 

When she was about to stand up, she suddenly heard a very feeble voice. 

"Yuyin... go... inside..." 

She turned her head towards the direction that voice came from, just to see the figure of her father lying down on the floor while looking at her direction. He had no more strength and could only try to talk with her from afar, but he was actually rejoicing that Yuyin was already inside the flame barrier area. 

Yuyin saw her father at the other side of what seemed to be a curtain of flames and immediately stood up, running towards him, trying to reach his location. But after walking only five steps, she collided with the internal surface of that barrier. She kept knocking with both her closed fists, but nothing she did was able to dispel that surface separating them. 

"Yuyin... stop... go... in..." After saying those words, he closed his eyes and stopped talking. 

"Dad! Please! Dad!" 

Seventh Shadow suddenly approached Huo Shihong, lifting him from the ground. 

"How did you do it?! How were you able to create a gap on that barrier?" He started to shake Sect Master Huo's body, but he didn't receive a response. 

"Stop! Put my dad down!" Yuyin's eyes were already soaking wet. Her tears were uncontrollable, making her vision get cloudy. 

"Tch! How did you..." 

Swoosh! 

Suddenly, just where Seventh Shadow was, a person suddenly appeared, kicking the side of his abdomen while using a very powerful layer of flames. Those flames coiled around Seventh Shadow's body, launching him far away. 

Bang! 

Seventh Shadow released his grip over Huo Shihong, flying like a cannon ball all the way where Third and Fifth Shadow were. His body was entirely covered in flames, that were burning his skin and his dark attribute energy. 

Fifth Shadow caught him in the air, while quickly using his Profound Mana initial-stage cultivation to put the fire out. If not for him acting quickly, Seventh Shadow would have been cooked alive by those seemingly normal flames. However, his situation was not that good too. He had a great part of his skin covered in varying degrees of burns. 

Seth's figure appeared beside Huo Shihong, grabbing his body and already channeling his Evergreen Essence inside of him. Sect Master Huo injuries started to heal in a slow pace, but Seth felt that it wasn't right. Even though he made sure to stop his grave wound from bleeding, Huo Shihong didn't seem to show any signs of getting better. 

"What is happening?" 

"His lifeline has been consumed. There is no way you will be able to save his life." Lexi appeared to clarify things for Seth. She was able to feel the flow of energies inside Huo Shihong. 

"His lifeline? Why was it consumed? How can something consume his lifeline in the first place?" 

"Do you think a Mana Perception cultivator like Huo Shihong would stand a chance against Profound Mana cultivators? There was no chance he could fight them if not for a forbidden technique. He used a forbidden technique to amplify his powers to a very high degree, and he is now paying the price with his life." 

"No... This can't be..." Seth continued to infuse his Evergreen Essence inside Sect Master Huo, making him wake all of a sudden, however, his situation didn't get a single point better. 

Cough! Cough! 

Huo Shihong coughed up blood and was able to open his eyes briefly, noticing the figure of a person holding him. With a lot of difficulty, he recognized it was Seth, but he was too weak to even move a single muscle. 

He was only able to mutter some words before closing his eyes once again. 

"Take... care... of them...." 

After he closed his eyes, his life signs stopped. 

The glorious Sect Master of the Blazing Phoenix Sect, was finally able to rest in peace. 

"DAD!" 

Yuyin kept wailing and calling for her father, while Seth was still holding his body. Everything seemed like a lie for him. A very tragic lie. 

"Seth?! What is he doing here?!" 

"Seth?" 

"Did any of you tell him about this operation?" Third Shadow asked his companions, but he knew that that was impossible. None of them would dare to go against any of Velgor wishes. 

"No." 

"You shouldn't be focused on that. Actually, why did he kick me? What is he trying to do with that man?" Seventh Shadow recovered from the attack he suffered and came towards his companions, asking about those things. However, his appearance was nothing like before. 

Suddenly, they noticed that Seth as able to kick a Mana Control peak-stage powerhouse, something that required a similar power in order to do it. All three of the Twelve Shadows released their aura, probing Seth's strength. 

"What?!" 

"He is at the Mana Control peak-stage Realm?" 

"How the hell did he advance so fast?" 

While his enemies were shocked by the strength he had, Seth carried Sect Master Huo body, bringing him to a more distant place. He started to feel many different emotions after the fact of Huo Shihong's death dawned on him. It hit him as hard as a metal hammer, pounding right in the middle of his chest. 

Huo Shihong being targeted by Velgor and the Twelve Shadows was partly because of him and that was something that was weighing down on his heart. How would he be able to face Lilian and Yuyin now?