Xu Liehuo suddenly felt power surging through his entire body, and every strike of his sword grew sharper and more ferocious.
In a short time, the Fire Domain Sovereign was forced into retreat again and again by them.
"Impossible! How can you both be this strong?" A flicker of fear flashed through the Fire Domain Sovereign’s eyes.
But he was still a peak-level expert of the Marrow Refining Realm, and he quickly stabilized his stance.
He sneered coldly, and the flames on the Burning Heaven Emperor Sword suddenly burned brighter, as if they were about to melt the entire cavern.
"Fools, traitors—do you really think this is enough to defeat me? How laughable!"
The Fire Domain Sovereign burst into mad laughter as the Fire Phoenix on his Burning Heaven Emperor Sword flew out, transforming into a streak of fire that charged straight at Xu Liehuo and Su Xian.
This time, Xu Liehuo and Su Xian could no longer fend it off; the Fire Phoenix’s power was far too overwhelming, and their defenses were instantly shattered.
Both were grievously injured, their blood soaking through their robes.
"Xu Liehuo, we..."
A glimmer of resolve flashed in Su Xian’s eyes. She understood that neither of them could turn the tide of this battle, but she didn’t want Xu Liehuo to die with her.
However, Xu Liehuo gripped her hand tightly, his gaze firm: "Su Xian, through life and death, I will never leave you."
Just as they were moments away from certain doom, Su Xian suddenly bit her finger and began to draw a complex array on the ground.
It was her Gridding Array, a formation capable of binding all living beings.
As Su Xian finished chanting the spell, beams of light shot skyward, freezing the Fire Domain Sovereign, Xu Liehuo, and Su Xian in place.
Fortunately, Xu Liehuo and Su Xian were confined within the same grid of the array. Though severely injured, they could at least lean on each other for support.
The Fire Domain Sovereign, however, was trapped in a separate grid of the array, unable to inflict further harm on them.
"Su Xian, you..." Xu Liehuo looked at Su Xian, his eyes full of gratitude and tenderness.
Su Xian smiled faintly, a trace of bitterness crossing her face:
"Xu Liehuo, as long as I can be with you, even death doesn’t frighten me."
Their gazes met, as if exchanging a thousand unspoken words—words they found unnecessary to voice aloud.
In this moment of life and death, their bond deepened.
Meanwhile, the Fire Domain Sovereign, though bound by the array, stared at them with eyes blazing with fury and murderous intent.
He knew that this array would not hold him forever. Once he broke free, Xu Liehuo and Su Xian would face an even more terrifying revenge.
Time was running out for everyone. Gu Sheng released the Verdant Vine Demon Soul to assist in studying the array patterns, aiming for an escape.
Although Su Xian could control the opening and closing of the array, she could only fully open or fully close it.
If the Gridding Array was opened, the Fire Domain Sovereign would also be set free, leading to an even greater danger.
Thus, they pinned their hopes on breaking the array from within to make an isolated escape.
At this time, the Fire Domain Sovereign kept cursing the pair, demanding that Su Xian release him from the array.
"Haha, remarkable? Hardly. I simply refuse to let such fine scenery go to waste," Gu Sheng laughed heartily, clinking his cup with hers.
The sound of their laughter and clinking cups echoed through the cavern, as though they were mocking the Fire Domain Sovereign.
The Fire Domain Sovereign trembled with rage, feeling as though he were being toyed with by the two of them, his fury blazing ever brighter.
Gu Sheng and Su Xian seemed to have utterly ignored his existence. As they dined, they also practiced the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.
In the illusory world conjured by the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, they held hands, whispering sweet nothings, as though the entire world consisted solely of the two of them.
The Fire Domain Sovereign could see everything from within the array, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
He roared and bellowed, but the array’s constraints held firm.
In his rage, he suffered a backlash, coughing up blood repeatedly.
Gu Sheng seized the moment, rising suddenly, his eyes gleaming with brilliance.
He activated the Seven Stars Array, and an immense surge of power further constrained the Fire Domain Sovereign.
Seeing this, Su Xian quickly seized the opportunity and opened the Gridding Array.
The two of them darted out of the cavern’s entrance and sealed it behind them.
"Haha! Fire Domain Sovereign, enjoy the gracious hospitality of the Seven Stars Array!"
Gu Sheng laughed triumphantly as he and Su Xian disappeared beyond the cavern’s exit.

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