You have only one choice now: defeat him.

Lin Xuan's words were met with no direct response from Su Luo. Instead, Su Luo declared,

"Lin Xuan, today marks your death. Not long ago, I obtained immense power from this very pearl. I feel stronger than ever before—prepare to die!"

A sinister laugh followed.

The reply was clearly disjointed, a mismatch to the conversation.

Lin Xuan wasn’t particularly surprised. If anything, it only proved how cautious Su Luo was.

Even with no one else around, Su Luo meticulously played the role of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s disciple, leaving no room for error—at least in speech.

Perhaps only after the Heavenly Demon Sect’s destruction would Su Luo finally reveal his true self.

"If that’s how it is, then I understand. Come at me." Lin Xuan assumed a battle stance.

As usual, combat was imminent, though Lin Xuan knew it wouldn’t last long.

There was little anticipation in his heart.

Meanwhile, the Fire Fiend Great Emperor within the Soulbinding Pearl was utterly baffled.

Had he missed something?

This Su Luo claimed to have just drawn power from the pearl?

What nonsense! How could he not know about it?

And did Su Luo even need power from the Soulbinding Pearl? He was already overwhelmingly strong.

And why were they fighting so abruptly? Did they have some grudge?

And how could they carry on such a disjointed conversation?

A flood of questions made the Fire Fiend Great Emperor wonder if he’d overslept and was hallucinating.

But he dismissed that thought. After some consideration, he realized—

None of it mattered. What mattered was that another potential host for possession had appeared.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor’s gaze burned with desire as he stared at Lin Xuan.

Though Lin Xuan was inferior to Su Luo and clearly a poor match for possession, there was no other choice left.

Wait—why did this guy have another soul inside him?

Being in a soul state himself, the Fire Fiend Great Emperor could easily perceive souls.

Instantly, he realized Lin Xuan wouldn’t be an easy target either.

But if he missed this chance, would there even be another?

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor hesitated to gamble.

This was truly difficult.

Yet, he believed an opportunity still existed.

If Su Luo killed Lin Xuan, the moment Lin Xuan’s soul hovered between life and death would be the perfect time for possession.

Without prior erosion of the body through power, forcibly seizing it would come with severe consequences.

But there was no choice now.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor didn’t dare look away, his focus locked onto the impending clash between Su Luo and Lin Xuan.

The battle would be decided in an instant.

Su Luo would undoubtedly win—he was far too powerful.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor steadied himself, gathering strength in his soul form, ready to lunge at the perfect moment.

But then—

Su Luo merely exchanged a single punch with Lin Xuan before being sent flying, crashing to the ground, motionless.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor, mid-charge, froze in shock.

This wasn’t right. Su Luo hadn’t been this weak earlier.

Was Su Luo all bark and no bite?

Su Luo, of course, had no need for theatrics. With no audience around, a single decisive strike sufficed.

With a suction force, Su Luo drew the Soulbinding Pearl toward him and hurled it at Lin Xuan.

"You’re the one, Fire Fiend Great Emperor! Use Flame Jet!"

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor materialized from the pearl in a daze, his soul flickering unsteadily.

"No—I can’t be out here!"

He lunged back toward the pearl, only to be repelled.

"Quick, let me back in!"

Panic set in—lingering outside too long would lead to his dissipation.

In the original course of events, he had emerged to fight Lin Xuan only after Su Luo had prolonged the battle, exhausting his power while Su Luo exploited it, accelerating the erosion.

By the time Su Luo was defeated, the erosion was nearly complete.

To preserve Su Luo’s body, he had no choice but to leave the pearl.

His plan had been flawless—kill Lin Xuan, seize his body, and revel in his triumph.

But then Lin Xuan had turned the tables and slain him instead.

Now, exposed to the world, the Fire Fiend Great Emperor’s soul burned like embers. If this continued, he would vanish forever.

He wanted to stand firm, but he didn’t want to die. Desperate, he turned pleading eyes to Su Luo.

But Su Luo had no intention of helping.

"Your only choice is to defeat him."

Su Luo laid out the path clearly.

Right—kill Lin Xuan, then forcibly possess his body.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor felt humiliated, but time was running out.

He launched his assault on Lin Xuan.

Su Luo lay back, watching indifferently. The rest was no longer his concern.

Facing the Fire Fiend Great Emperor’s onslaught, Lin Xuan didn’t dare underestimate him. His instincts screamed danger.

"Elder Yan, what is this?"

"Likely an ancient remnant soul. Don’t hold back—he’s formidable."

Time ticked by.

The battle grew fiercer.

But the Fire Fiend Great Emperor only grew more desperate.

No matter how hard he struck, Lin Xuan refused to stay down, rising again and again with renewed vigor.

With another soul aiding him from within, Lin Xuan was even harder to finish off.

Lin Xuan, too, was suffering. This foe was stronger than any he’d faced before.

But he couldn’t afford to lose here.

He unleashed another surge of power.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor roared, "Enough!"

"Not yet! I’ll be the one to end you!"

They clashed once more.

As more time passed, the Fire Fiend Great Emperor suddenly halted.

It was too late. Even if he killed Lin Xuan now, there wasn’t enough time left for possession.

A wave of sorrow washed over him. After clinging to life for so long, this was his end.

How laughable.

His soul blazed—time was up. But he refused to go quietly.

"You damned fools! If I’m burning out, you’re coming with me!"

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor gathered every last shred of his power for one final strike.

Lin Xuan showed no fear. "Let’s see whose flames reign supreme."

His eyes burned with resolve as flames erupted around him.

"Nine Thousand Flaming Strikes!"

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor laughed. Even in death, someone dared challenge him in fire? How laughable. He staked his pride on this.

"Abyssal Blackflame Annihilation!"

He aimed not just at Lin Xuan, but Su Luo as well.

He’d held back before, clinging to hope. But now that it was gone, why spare Su Luo?

He willingly burned his own soul for greater power.

Su Luo glanced at the flames rushing toward him—only for them to flicker and die on their own.

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor couldn’t believe it. How could flames possess will and extinguish themselves?

But his distraction cost him. Lin Xuan’s attack was already upon him.

BOOM!

Two overwhelming forces collided. Though both were flames, they clashed like fire and water.

"Remember this, boy! I am the Fire Fiend Great Emperor! None surpass me in the art of flame!"

"Hmph. If even I can kill you, you’re unworthy of the title."

The Fire Fiend Great Emperor seethed. If only he’d been at his peak...

But there was no time for last words. His soul scattered into nothingness.