Whenever it saw the Seven Deadly Sins, the flame simply devoured it.

On that day, cultivators all over Yingzhou Celestial Isle who were working hard to capture the Seven Deadly Sins began to notice something strange.

They would painstakingly gather some of it and seal it inside wooden magic artifacts, only for a flash of black light to pass before their eyes, and all of it would vanish.

One time, two times, three times.

As this kept happening more and more frequently, the black flame grew larger and larger.

It could no longer be called a small flame.

Its increasing size meant its appetite was growing as well.

It was no longer satisfied with chasing food around.

Instead, following its instincts, it spread out into a net of fire, covering an area as large as several houses, swallowing everything within in one bite.

After digesting that portion, it would expand again using the energy it gained and continue burning toward more food.

The first to witness this were a group of cultivators and ordinary people who had been confirmed to be infected with the Seven Deadly Sins.

They had been gathered together and sealed within a barrier, waiting for the time when they would be executed.

They suddenly saw a mass of black flames descend from the sky, covering an area of dozens of meters and burning intensely.

These people had their cultivation sealed and their storage bags confiscated.

They had no ability to resist.

They thought the execution had begun.

As they waited in despair for death to arrive, they were shocked to discover that the flames caused no harm at all.

Neither people, buildings, nor objects within the fire were damaged in the slightest.

The dim barrier around them, after being touched by the flames, began to shine brightly again.

Everyone stared in astonishment.

Those with sharper senses faintly felt that some kind of fortune had descended upon them.

Sure enough, after burning briefly around them, the flames spread outward in an instant.

Just like before, they did not harm any people, animals, buildings, or objects.

Yet wherever the black flames passed, everything seemed to have been wiped clean of dust, becoming brighter and more vibrant.

"Is it just me? I have felt weak since yesterday, but now my body seems to have recovered."

"Mother, I can stand up again."

"Big brother, the Seven Deadly Sins inside my body is gone."

"Father, your body is better now."

Countless ordinary people without spiritual roots, feeling their conditions improving, could not help but fall to their knees in gratitude.

"Thank you, divine fire, for burning away the plague and evil!"

"Many thanks for the blessing of the divine fire!"

"Divine fire descends from the heavens, burning away all filth and corruption!"

Some of the imprisoned cultivators who had been watching coldly were also affected by the scene.

With stiff movements, they knelt down and kowtowed in thanks to the divine fire.

As if encouraged by the people’s worship, though in truth it had already accumulated more power, the Terrestrial Fox Black Flame suddenly flared up violently.

The original net of fire expanded several times over, spreading across a much larger area.

Wherever the black flames passed, the same transformation occurred.

Panic and desperate attempts to flee turned into overwhelming relief and gratitude.

In just a few breaths, people went from fear to kneeling in thanks.

Such a dramatic change naturally alarmed Emperor Yingzhou and the others.

Emperor Yingzhou felt that this day had been thoroughly unpleasant.

After great effort and heavy cost, he had finally persuaded Island Master Ying to join forces with him to subdue Jian Li.

Li Peiyi had even volunteered to secretly implant a treasure into Jian Li’s body that could damage the sword energy of his life-bound sword.

After much trouble, they had finally seized the Vermilion Bird Flame.

Originally, they had planned to keep this matter secret.

After all, their actions were disgraceful and had offended the number one sect of the mainland.

Yet somehow, those stubborn bald monks from Fanghu Mystic Isle had discovered the truth and spread it across all of Yingzhou Celestial Isle.

So, everyone now knew about it.

Fanghu Mystic Isle had even publicly declared that if the Vermilion Bird Flame was not returned and Jian Li’s foundation not restored, they would withdraw from Yingzhou Celestial Isle entirely.

This was nothing short of trampling his and Island Master Ying’s dignity into the ground.

Emperor Yingzhou was an extremely domineering man, yet in this turbulent time for the island, he had no choice but to endure it.

He sent people to placate Fanghu Mystic Isle while also delivering generous gifts to Island Master Ying.

At the same time, he began gathering spiritual flames to feed the Vermilion Bird Flame.

But just as he had used up all the spiritual flames in the national treasury, his subordinates who had gone out to collect more reported something shocking.

All the spiritual flames in the shops across Yingzhou Celestial Isle had been bought out by the rumored old man from a few days ago and not a single flame could be found outside.

Before he could even recover from this blow, another report came.

On Heavenly Street, something strange was happening.

The Seven Deadly Sins that people had captured was mysteriously disappearing.

Before he could make sense of that, yet another report arrived.

A divine fire had descended from the heavens.

Everything was turning into chaos.

Emperor Yingzhou felt as though his hair was about to turn white from stress.

Before he could make a decision, another report came in.

His only daughter, the Crown Princess, had already led people to deal with the so-called divine fire.

Deal with the divine fire?

The very term "divine fire" already made him extremely wary.

Upon hearing that his daughter had gone there, an ominous feeling rose in his heart.

With a sweep of his wide imperial sleeves, he said, "I will personally go and see this so-called divine fire."

"Prepare the carriage!"