"I choose... to protect!"
These five simple words were not a passionate declaration, yet they carried a decisive firmness, like a boulder thrown into a turbulent stream, appearing exceptionally clear and powerful amidst the chaotic and greedy starry sky.
The Flaming Sun Sect disciples madly attacking the restriction paused slightly in their movements, and Yan Feng turned to cast a mocking glance as if looking at a fool. Those wavering disciples from the Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land showed complex expressions. Mu Qingfeng, Liu Yun, and others felt their spirits lift, their gazes toward Xiao Qi filled with relief and the determination of kindred spirits.
The demon's whisper let out a sneer of unclear meaning, seemingly finding this choice utterly foolish.
However, Xiao Qi paid no heed to any of this. When he uttered those five words, it was as if some shackle within his heart had been broken. All this time, the desire for power, the confusion about his origins, the hatred toward the demon, the fear of his own uniqueness... all these distracting thoughts were washed away and clarified in this moment by this purest intent of "protection."
He no longer looked at the infinitely tempting "Purification Essence," nor was he overwhelmed by the pure grief brought by his father's phantom's miserable state. His gaze, clear and determined, seemed to pierce through appearances and see deeper connections.
Why did his father Xu Zhan's phantom appear here, wrapped in demonic energy and sealed together with this Purification Essence on the altar?
Why would the demon's remnant soul incite everyone to fight for this essence?
What was the meaning of this altar, this restriction, this entire secret realm... what purpose did their existence serve?
One thought after another flashed through his mind like a mirror. The warmth from the jade pendant, the flow of the Purification Source, the transcendent perception brought by the "Concentration Art," and the philosophy of universal balance and vitality contained in the "Tai Chu Qing Hua Record"... all merged into clarity at this moment.
He had an enlightenment.
This wisp of separated Purification Essence was absolutely not masterless! It was very likely the foundation of the Xu family's "Purification Source," the core that his father Xu Zhan and generations of ancestors had protected! And his father's phantom being wrapped in demonic energy here was no accident—it was more like... a seal! Using Xu Zhan's soul and part of the corrupted Purification Essence as a catalyst, combined with this ancient altar, they jointly sealed that demon's remnant soul!
The demon incited everyone to plunder the essence, not with the true intention of kindly granting power, but to use everyone's hands to break this balanced seal! Once the essence was taken, or the altar destroyed, the seal would loosen, and the demon's remnant soul could break free!
And his father's phantom, struggling in pain, was enduring the dual torment of the seal's backlash and demonic energy erosion!
Understanding all this, Xiao Qi no longer had any confusion in his heart, and completely abandoned any thought of forcibly seizing the inheritance. That would not only fall into the demon's trap but might also cause his father's remnant soul to completely dissipate!
His Dao was protection. So at this moment, what he wanted to protect was not just this wisp of essence, but his father's remnant soul sealed here, this altar that maintained the balance, this world from being ravaged by the demon!
He no longer tried to assault that terrifying restriction, but instead slowly restrained all his own sharpness and hostility. He operated the "Concentration Art," letting his mind enter an unprecedented state of tranquility and inclusiveness, while fully guiding the jade pendant at his chest to release the Purification Power that originated from his bloodline and was of the same root, in an extremely gentle, life-filled, and soothing manner, slowly releasing it.
This power was no longer for confrontation or breaking, but like a trickling stream, like spring wind and rain, carrying the purest goodwill and protective intent, spreading toward the massive altar, trying to... soothe, communicate, and purify the demonic energy wrapped around his father's phantom!
His goal was not to break the restriction and seize power, but to use himself as a bridge, with power of the same source, to alleviate his father's pain and weaken the demon's control over his father's remnant soul!
This action surprised everyone.
"What is he doing?" A Flaming Sun Sect disciple stopped attacking and asked in astonishment.
"Fool! Not seizing the essence, but wasting power on such useless efforts!" Yan Feng spat in disdain and attacked the restriction even more vigorously.
Even Mu Qingfeng and Mu Xue showed a trace of confusion in their eyes, but they chose to trust Xiao Qi.
The demon's whisper sounded again, this time carrying a barely concealed shock and anger: "Boy! You're seeking death! You dare touch my forbidden ground!"
Clearly, Xiao Qi's action had touched its true sore spot!
However, Xiao Qi turned a deaf ear to all this. His entire mind was immersed in the faint connection with the altar, with that wisp of essence, and especially with his father's remnant soul.
His Purification Power, like the gentlest light, brushed over the cold altar stones. The ancient runes flowing upon them seemed to slightly ease their rejection because of this same-sourced and goodwill-filled power. Strands of purification aura penetrated through the minute gaps in the outermost restriction, like countless invisible hands, gently and carefully reaching toward Xu Zhan's phantom.
When that pure Purification Power touched the demonic energy rolling on Xu Zhan's phantom—
"Hiss hiss..."
Amidst almost imperceptible sounds, several strands of the densest demonic energy began to slowly melt and retreat like ice meeting sunlight!
And Xu Zhan's phantom, tormented by demonic energy and struggling in pain, suddenly trembled at the moment the pure power touched it! In those eyes filled with pain and chaos, that buried clarity suddenly expanded! He seemed to sense something, his struggling movements paused, and his blurred gaze turned toward Xiao Qi's direction!
In that gaze was filled with incredible shock, and... a trace of faint but real hope, like seeing a candle flame in darkness!
It was working!
Xiao Qi's heart shook wildly, not daring to slacken, fully maintaining the output of Purification Power, his mind tightly connected to that wisp of hope.
"Father... hold on... I will save you..." he shouted silently in his heart.
At this moment, he completely understood. The true meaning of power lay not in conquest and plunder, but in understanding, tolerance, and protection. When he let go of obsession and used power with a protective heart, that power was no longer a cold tool, but a bridge filled with warmth and life.
His Dao-heart, in this unprecedented enlightenment and practice, became more transparent and solid than ever before. That nascent Crimson Flame Sword Intent embryo, though not yet triggered, its core "protective" will perfectly aligned with this moment's action, quietly growing stronger.
Under the starry sky, the youth used himself as a candle to illuminate his kin and resist the demonic atmosphere. This seemingly small action seemed to touch the most fundamental laws of this realm, triggering deeper changes.