Chapter 290: Xiao Yan, I'm a Dou Zun Now, and I'm at Tier 8!
High in the sky, a group of four winged unicorns flapped their wings, the sound of wind and thunder rumbling in the air as it reverberated between their wings.
The group wasn't large, with only about ten people, but their strength was formidable two Four Star Dou Zuns, with the rest all high tier Dou Zongs. Such a powerful lineup could easily annihilate a faction like the Four Way Pavilion.
"Hmm?" At the front of the group, Xiao Xun'er suddenly stiffened, her body shivering as a chill swept over her heart. A sense of foreboding enveloped her, sending an ominous feeling coursing through her veins.
"Miss?" Beside her, Elder Guan and Elder Lin immediately asked, alarmed. "What's wrong?"
"I suddenly feel like someone wants to harm me!" Xiao Xun'er's gaze sharpened, suspicion flashing in her eyes as she looked around warily.
Hearing this, Elder Guan and Elder Lin instantly became serious. Their auras flared as their senses spread outward, scanning the surroundings for any threats.
The Gu Clan was not at peace with the Soul Clan. While an all out war had yet to break out, skirmishes occurred frequently. Several Black Submerged Army soldiers had even sacrificed their lives in recent conflicts.
That said, while their visible strength seemed limited to Dou Zun level experts, the Gu Clan had their trump cards hidden experts constantly monitoring from the shadows. Even a Dou Sheng would think twice before attacking this group.
"Enough, don't waste energy. Let's focus on finding Brother Xiao Yan for now. We'll deal with other matters later," Xiao Xun'er said, her eyelid twitching slightly as she spoke.
It was just a feeling, after all. She hadn't actually sensed any immediate threats nearby.
"Yes!" Elder Guan and Elder Lin nodded, their auras withdrawing as they responded. With that, the group's momentum surged once again as the four winged unicorns beneath them let out a cry, flapping their wings to soar forward like streaks of lightning.
Boom!
The heavens roared as energy churned and surged, a tidal wave of elemental power cascading toward Lu Bu with the force of a mountain.
"It really is a Heaven Tier cultivation technique!" Crimson Flame Elder exclaimed in disbelief. In Burning Flame Valley, only their valley master had the right to cultivate their one Heaven Tier technique. Yet this "Xiao Yan" wielded such a treasure with ease. His talent was terrifying beyond compare.
"This man's background must be extraordinary. Not even the Pill Tower would tolerate such a peerless talent!" Crimson Flame Elder thought to himself, his expression grim.
Beside him, Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. There's definitely a misunderstanding here. Lu Bu must be up to something again. I need to get to the bottom of this!
In the distance, the Soul Hall's Qinghai Elder, his face ashen, let out an enraged roar of disbelief:
"Damn it! How do you have a Heaven Tier technique?!"
"Heh heh heh... Why wouldn't I?" Lu Bu cackled, his voice dripping with amusement as he cracked his neck. The sheer power coursing through his body made him feel invigorated beyond belief.
"You brat! Just wait for the Soul Hall to hunt you down!" Qinghai Elder bellowed. Black mist swirled around him as he abruptly retreated, his figure vanishing into the distance.
I can't win!
There was no way he could defeat this opponent not with the endless barrage of high tier techniques, nor with the Heaven Tier cultivation method that granted Lu Bu seemingly boundless endurance.
Escape was the only option. He had to survive to report back to the Soul Hall, to warn them about the existence of two "Xiao Yans" both monstrous talents with the potential to upend everything.
As for the two Soul Hall protectors and emissaries he'd brought with him? They were already forgotten.
Subordinates exist to cover their leader's retreat, don't they? Whether they lived or died didn't matter their mission to delay the enemy had already been accomplished.
But just as Qinghai Elder was about to escape, a figure clad in white silently appeared before him.
Her snow white hair danced lightly in the wind, graceful and mesmerizing. But her eyes, one gray and one purple, were cold and indifferent, exuding a chilling aura of death that sent shivers down his spine.
"Get out of my way!" Qinghai Elder roared, his voice filled with fury. Black mist surged from his body like a tidal wave, forming countless chains that shot forward like deadly arrows aimed at the woman's vital points her eyes, throat, heart, dantian, nape, and back.
The chains hissed as they cut through the air, their sharp tips leaving white trails in their wake evidence of the sheer speed at which they moved.
"Will she survive that?" Lin Yan gasped, fear etched across his face. This was the full force attack of a Two Star Dou Zun, a strike even a true Dou Zun would struggle to endure.
"I'll help!" Crimson Flame Elder roared, fire attribute Dou Qi erupting from his body. With a powerful step forward, he shot toward Qinghai Elder's back, his movements a blur of speed.
"..." Xiao Yan remained silent, his gaze focused on the white haired woman. He knew her Xiao Yi Xian. Back when he'd returned from Jia Nan Academy, she had already been a renowned Dou Zong, her poisonous Dou Qi striking fear into all of Chu Yun Empire.
Her strength had only grown since then. At Tianmu Mountain, Xiao Yan had seen her and Queen Medusa intimidate the entire Gold Swallowing Mouse Tribe together. He was confident that her current power was at least on par with Crimson Flame Elder.
Together, they should be able to hold off Qinghai Elder for a while.
But before Xiao Yan could process his thoughts further, Xiao Yi Xian calmly raised a delicate hand. Gray mist began to swirl around her fingertips, coiling like ethereal ribbons before multiplying exponentially.
In an instant, the chains that had seemed so indomitable just moments ago were wrapped in a web of gray mist.
The once deadly chains began to soften, corroded by the mist until they dissolved into droplets of black liquid that rained down from the sky like a macabre shower.
At the same time, a faintly intoxicating fragrance spread through the air, carried by the gray mist.
Plop!
Qinghai Elder suddenly staggered, coughing up a mouthful of blood. His previously pale face turned an ominous shade of gray.
"Y You... this is poison?!" Qinghai Elder stammered, his voice filled with terror as he pointed a trembling finger at Xiao Yi Xian.
Behind her, Crimson Flame Elder, who had been rushing forward, came to an abrupt halt, hastily retreating as his expression twisted in horror.
"That poison can even take down a Two Star Dou Zun... I'd die instantly if I got too close!"
"Wow, no wonder they call her the Poison Queen!" Xiao Yan muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
He had always known Xiao Yi Xian was dangerous, but he hadn't expected her to become even more ruthless after getting together with Lu Bu.
Only someone like Lu Bu, who valued beauty over his own life, would dare keep a poisonous beauty like her and a serpent like Queen Medusa by his side.
By comparison, Xiao Yan felt downright virtuous. He only loved his fiancée and childhood sweetheart.
Doesn't that make me much purer than Lu Bu?
"Damn it! Give me the antidote!" Qinghai Elder roared, his gray face flushing with dark red hues. His twisted expression resembled that of a vengeful ghost ready to devour its prey.
High above the sky, Xiao Yi Xian's lips curved into a faint smirk beneath her veil. With a flick of her sleeve, a sharp gray purple Dou Qi shot forth, roaring toward Qinghai Elder with immense force.
"A Dou Zun?!" Qinghai Elder cried out in alarm, his ghastly expression showing a mix of shock and fear.
What was happening? Why did it feel like the younger generation was suddenly filled with Dou Zun experts?
But there was no time to dwell on the thought as the attack closed in on him. Letting out a sharp cry, Qinghai Elder summoned black mist and chains to envelop himself in defense.
Boom!
The gray purple Dou Qi struck, creating a violent shockwave that rippled outward.
Qinghai Elder grunted, but to his surprise, a twisted grin spread across his face as he began laughing maniacally. "Heh heh heh... So you're actually this weak!"
The moment he sensed Xiao Yi Xian was a Dou Zun, Qinghai Elder had assumed she was as powerful as the man who had come with her, Lu Bu. Yet, after this brief exchange, he realized he had been overthinking.
She's just an ordinary One Star Dou Zun. I could crush her with a single finger!
"Heh heh heh... Prepare to die!" Qinghai Elder's twisted laughter echoed, black blood dripping from his lips, though he paid it no mind.
"Idiot..." Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes curved into a crescent, and a mocking smile appeared beneath her veil. She hadn't intended to engage him in a head on battle.
With a light step, her figure gracefully retreated, moving like a butterfly, elegant and light, effortlessly escaping the range of Qinghai Elder's attack.
Seeing her retreat, Qinghai Elder's twisted grin froze on his face. Only then did he realize, amidst his alternating joy, shock, and terror, that he had overlooked another terrifying enemy.
Before the thought could fully form, a scorching wave of heat pierced through the air, tearing through space as it approached his back.
Boom!
Flames surged through Qinghai Elder's body, and a purple black streak of light shot across the sky.
"Gah!" Qinghai Elder's blood red complexion turned deathly pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was sent flying, crashing into an invisible spatial barrier with a loud bang.
It was Crimson Flame Elder of the Burning Flame Valley who had taken action. Now that he had joined in the fight to eliminate the Soul Hall Dou Zun, he had no choice but to ensure no one survived to spread the news.
"Die!"
A thunderous sound erupted as Lu Bu's figure appeared ghost like above Qinghai Elder. His hand, wreathed in purple black flames, slammed down with scorching intensity.
The palm strike descended mercilessly, aiming for Qinghai Elder's head, threatening to incinerate even his soul.
Facing this fatal blow, Qinghai Elder's pale face was filled with terror. But a moment later, his expression turned ferocious, and a crazed grin spread across his face.
"Heh heh heh... If I'm going to die, I'll take you with me!" Qinghai Elder bellowed. His hands rapidly formed seals, and his body began to swell with a violent energy. Veins and blood vessels bulged grotesquely across his pale face.
"Not good! He's going to self destruct!" Crimson Flame Elder and Xiao Yan's expressions changed drastically as they grabbed Lin Yan and retreated rapidly.
"Hahaha... This is a special self destruction technique of the Soul Hall. Not even a Dou Sheng can stop it. Let's all die together! Hahaha..." Qinghai Elder laughed maniacally, his body swelling larger and larger.
However, before he could finish laughing, his veins and blood vessels suddenly turned a deep crimson. His grotesque face twisted as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The violent energy within him suddenly stalled, and the next moment, it dissipated like a deflating balloon. The once terrifying aura vanished completely.
"Y you... poison again?!" Qinghai Elder's bloodshot eyes widened in horror as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian in the distance, who stood gracefully like an ethereal fairy, untouched by the chaos.
Inside his body, a gray purple toxin was wreaking havoc, corroding his meridians and dantian.
"Did you really think my attack was so easy to block?" Xiao Yi Xian said softly, her tone calm. The gray purple light in her eyes faded, returning to their usual gentle and serene state.
Her task was complete. This Soul Hall Dou Zun was as good as dead.
In the distance, Xiao Yan and the others broke out in cold sweat. The poison was terrifying it could kill a Dou Zun so silently.
What kind of monstrous woman was this? She had managed to poison a Dou Zun twice without them even realizing it.
Hiss!
"Aargh!" At that moment, the two Soul Hall protectors accompanying Qinghai Elder let out bloodcurdling screams. Their scarlet eyes flickered erratically like short circuiting bulbs.
The next second, their bodies, now gray and purple, fell lifelessly from the black mist. Before their corpses could hit the ground, they dissolved into puddles of black liquid, leaving no trace behind.
Note to self: Never be alone with this woman. ×3
Xiao Yan, Lin Yan, and Crimson Flame Elder exchanged glances, each seeing the same fear reflected in the other's eyes. They all silently vowed never to be left alone with Xiao Yi Xian.
Thud!
A muffled sound echoed as a black chain pierced through Qinghai Elder's body.
"Your Soul Hall's self destruction technique isn't that impressive," Lu Bu said with a light laugh. "I've seen it a few times, and honestly, it's not that big of a deal."
With that, Lu Bu twisted his wrist, and Qinghai Elder's soul was forcibly extracted from his body.
"Y you've seen... other..." Qinghai Elder's phantom like soul stammered in terror, but before he could finish, a jade bottle flew over, sucking him inside and sealing him completely.
Lu Bu waved his hand, storing Qinghai Elder's corpse into his storage ring, his movements smooth and practiced.
Crimson Flame Elder broke out in a cold sweat. Capturing someone's soul, taking their body, and leaving no trace behind Lu Bu's efficiency was terrifying.
Could this so called "Dou Di prodigy" have killed other Soul Hall Dou Zuns before?
Just as Crimson Flame Elder's thoughts spiraled, Lu Bu suddenly appeared in front of Xiao Yan, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Hahaha, Xiao Yan, I'm a Dou Zun now!" he exclaimed, clearly eager to share the good news with his old friend.
"...I noticed," Xiao Yan replied through gritted teeth. It's just Dou Zun. No big deal. Give me some time, and I'll get there too.
"Hahaha, I've got more good news I'm an 8th Tier Alchemist now!" Lu Bu laughed, his voice booming. "On the path of alchemy, who stands at the peak? One look at Lu Bu, and the answer's clear I do!"
Xiao Yan: "..."
I'm not envious. I'm not jealous. My heart is calm. Really.
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his eyes reddening slightly as tears threatened to spill. He refused to show even the slightest reaction.
"Hahaha, Xiao Yan, I've got even more good news to share..." Lu Bu laughed again, but before he could continue, a sudden gust of wind carried the sound of wings flapping.
In the distance, several black dots appeared on the horizon.
"Hmm... Four winged unicorns?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Why is the Black Submerged Army here?"
(End of Chapter)
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