Before the Azure Dragon Sanctum, dwelling place of the Azure Dragon Emperor, sat four aged figures, all venerable elders of the Azure Dragon Sect. Their faces, etched with worry, betrayed the turmoil within.

From within the Sanctum echoed roars of anguish, a cacophony of torment that resonated across the heavens. Those unfortunate enough to hear it felt their very souls tremble.

“It has been over a month since His Holiness entered seclusion…” one of the elders lamented, his voice heavy with dread.

Before his companion could reply, the agonizing cries from within intensified, joined by thunderous crashes as if a titan were battering himself against the walls. The Sanctum shuddered, its ancient wards flaring to prevent its utter collapse. The four elders exchanged glances, their shared anxiety deepening into palpable fear.

Within the heart of the Sanctum, in a secret chamber, an aged figure sat in meditation. His hair was as white as snow, his frame gaunt, his face contorted in unbearable agony. Beads of sweat, like glistening pearls, dripped onto his robes as his cries of torment echoed throughout the chamber and beyond.

Eight chains of darkest iron, anchored to the chamber walls, bound the Emperor’s shoulders, legs, hips, and chest. Hovering around him were four artifacts of immense power, instantly recognizable to any member of the Four Saint Sects – the Four Primordial Relics. Emanating a blinding light, they seemed to imprison and suppress the tormented figure.

This was none other than the Azure Dragon Emperor himself! His face twisted in anguish, a grotesque bulge, almost an inch high, surged beneath the withered flesh of his right arm, snaking rapidly towards his chest before engulfing his entire body.

The Emperor’s pained cries intensified as the chains rattled against the walls. He lunged forward, smashing his head against the chamber wall.

The stone cracked, only to be instantly repaired by unseen forces. The light from the Primordial Relics intensified, conjuring spectral images of the Vermillion Bird, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, forming an ethereal prison around the Emperor.

Above him, a spectral Azure Dragon materialized, ancient and weary. Unnatural, bloodless growths marred its scales, a sight that chilled the heart.

Time seemed to lose meaning. Slowly, the Emperor’s cries weakened, the grotesque bulge receding until it vanished altogether. The chains fell silent as he settled back into meditation, gasping for breath, a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I have triumphed… once again…” he wheezed, before preparing to gather his strength. Suddenly, he snapped his head up, his gaze fixed on the distant reaches of the cosmos. A flicker of alarm crossed his face, replaced by a wild laugh that mingled joy and sorrow.

“Excellent! As I had hoped, the old crow’s choice for the Phoenix Throne is capable of rising from ashes. To awaken thrice is a feat unheard of since ancient times. Such fortune… it makes my unspeakable sacrifice worthwhile!” As his laughter subsided, footsteps echoed outside. The four elders had arrived, their voices hushed with reverence.

“We greet Your Holiness upon your return!”

With a flick of his wrist, the chains vanished, the Four Primordial Relics transforming into streams of light that merged with his body. He strode out of the chamber, his gaze sweeping over the assembled elders, before he spoke, “What tidings from the Vermillion Bird Star?”

“The ancient rift connected to the Vermillion Bird Star stirs with the awakening of an ancient god! But, as Your Holiness commanded, we have fortified the boundary with an ancient ritual, sealing the perimeter with the blood and symbols of our four clans!”

The Emperor nodded slowly, his gaze drifting into the distance, his expression a mixture of determination and trepidation. After a long pause, his eyes flashed with icy resolve. “The Kunxu Starfield has languished in chaos for too long. Let Luo Tian not be the only one who uses this time to invade. Gather all the warriors of the Four Saint Sects. I intend to reclaim the Kunxu Starfield. All renegade cultivators must either bend the knee, or face annihilation!”

The elders trembled with excitement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. They bowed in unison, their voices filled with zeal. “It shall be done!” They quickly departed to spread the decree. Soon, the Four Saint Sects would stir from their slumber.

“The denizens of the outer realms draw near… is there still time?” the Emperor whispered, his voice heavy with doubt.

Meanwhile, in the Cloud Sea Starfield, within the Seven-Colored Realm, as a cerulean Vermillion Bird soared through the sky, Wang Lin emerged from the azure flames, his eyes shining with newfound clarity.

“Fire, lightning, war, and the essence of my own truth and falsehood – should they merge, my power will surge beyond the Heavenly Tribulation. None could stand before me! Yet, one element is missing…” Wang Lin’s gaze drifted towards the deepest recesses of the realm, as if he could see a mountain piercing the heavens, its peak crowned with a hidden grotto, within which lay the key to unlocking his true potential. “The path of enlightenment… the ripened fruit… who shall pluck it?” He raised his hand, and pointed, unleashing the cerulean Vermillion Bird.

With a deafening screech, the bird hurtled forward, engulfing the sky in azure flames, carving a path of destruction towards a white-haired elder standing tens of thousands of feet away.

The elder, shielded by nine shards of ancient beast bone, barely managed to hold back the encroaching inferno. But as he stepped within range, his face hardened. The cerulean light blazed like a sun, and the heat was unbearable. The beast bones around him vibrated violently, threatening to shatter under the onslaught.

“Such terrifying fire…rare to see it in this world. This youth’s power may be limited, but this mastery of flame alone is enough to challenge a Nirvanic Shatterer, and perhaps even prevail! Alas…” The elder manipulated his energy, and channeled the powers of the Nirvanic Shattering realm into a swirling sphere between his hands. A world-shattering force emanated from within.

“His Lordship seeks this soul, not only for its purity, but also for the secrets hidden within those flames!” The elder’s eyes flashed with murder. His mission was clear, his determination absolute.

With a thrust, the sphere unleashed a howling wind. At the same time, the elder intoned in a deep, commanding voice, “I summon you, Defiers!”

At that moment, beams of seven-colored light pierced the azure flames, as if trying to overcome it. Within those beams, a phantasmal figure materialized, and a gigantic compass materialized in the sky.

A beam of seven-colored light materialized into a gigantic sword, and swiped out, like it wanted to sever the sea of blue flames.

These were the Defiers’ powers, amplified by the elder’s command, far surpassing anything that Cang Songzi could achieve.

The seven-colored sword shrieked, rushing towards the oncoming sea of flames, towards the Azure Vermillion Bird.

The Vermillion Bird screeched, hurtling towards the seven-colored light, and collided in a great roar. At the same time, the phantasmal figure in the sky swiped his sleeves, releasing an infinite cloud of murderous energy.

The energy swirled around the flames, but was pushed back by the bird. All appeared to bend or break before the might of the Vermillion Bird.

Wang Lin surged forward, becoming a streak of blue towards the elder, his left eye flickering with flame, unleashing a sea of flames towards the spinning compass.

“Break!” Wang Lin cried. The compass burst into flames, and broke apart. Wang Lin pointed down with his left hand, unleashing the power of the bird, engulfing everything nearby in flames as they consumed the white-haired elder. These events passed in a flash, cutting apart and dominating the battlefield.

The elder’s face grew somber. He lifted his arms, pointed to the sky, and cried, “As the guardian of the Seven-Colored Realm, I summon all Defiers in this place! Show yourselves!”

The sky twisted as seven-colored light emanated from the world, manifesting dozens of phantasmal figures around them.

The figures were young and old, male and female. Each was indistinct, but emanated a powerful aura, targeting Wang Lin. All at once, they emanated divine powers.

“Your flames may be strong, but you are but a Nirvanic Cleanser. Before the power of the Defiers, you shall fall! And as for your flame, I possess the Relic that His Lordship gave me. Your fire cannot break it.” The elder spoke calmly.