While Li Mei and Hun Mo clashed fiercely, Hun Mie Sheng's gaze turned cold as he stared at the graceful figure standing calmly before him. His expression grew grave, his eyes flicking toward the two distant battlefields. A gloom settled in his heart.
Never had he imagined that these two elders would fail to gain the upper hand against Ming Cheng and Li Mei. What was supposed to be a simple mission entrusted by the clan head had turned into something far more troublesome than he had ever anticipated.
From the flow of battle, he could already see it clearly—the serene lady before him was anything but simple. She was a mountain hidden in mist, one not easily shaken. His eyes swept subtly toward the rear of his army, a fleeting calculation flashing across them, before he withdrew his gaze.
Drawing in a deep breath, his voice dropped into a commanding chill.
"Vice-chief, lead the other Dou Sheng elites and attack the other two. Gu You, take the remaining forces—crush their elders and disciples."
"Understood!"
Both the vice-chief of the Hall of Souls and Gu You clasped their fists in salute. Their expressions were stiff, unease flickering within their eyes. The strength Ming Cheng and Li Mei had revealed was far beyond their expectations, leaving them both shaken and fearful.
But retreat was no longer an option. This matter could not be resolved half-heartedly.
At the vice-chief's signal, the concealed Dou Sheng elites of the Hall of Souls—those below the level of three-star—erupted with suppressed auras. One after another, they surged forward like a tide, rushing toward Wei Jie and Mei Ling.
Naturally, Wei Jie and Mei Ling responded in kind. With a single step, their figures shot forth, their bodies erupting with terrifying fiery auras that scorched the air and twisted the void to its very limits.
Murderous intent surged from their eyes like blades. These two had no intention of holding back. Every strike would be soaked in blood. Tonight, none of the Hall of Souls' Dou Shengs would escape their slaughter—each kill would carve their names deeper into this battlefield.
Following closely behind, the elders and disciples of Moonlit Chaos Mansion surged forward without hesitation. Not a single one faltered before the army commanded by Gu You.
With resolute cries, disciples and low-ranking elders activated their Secret Techniques, their bodies blazing with radiance as their strength erupted in a sharp ascent—disciples stepping into the realm of Dou Zong, while the elders soared into the might of Dou Zun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions of Dou Qi thundered through the battlefield as countless clashes broke out at once. Shockwaves tore the sky and split the earth. No matter which front one looked upon, solemnity weighed heavily on the hearts of all who witnessed this war. Those who once sneered, believing Moonlit Chaos Mansion would crumble before the Hall of Souls, now pressed their lips shut. Not a single one dared to voice such arrogance again.
As Gu You and the vice-chief of the Hall of Souls threw themselves into battle, Hun Mie Sheng finally raised his gaze toward Xin Yu. Though she stood serenely, her figure like a still painting, an oppressive danger radiated from her being—vast, unfathomable, and perilous. It was the silent dread of a boundless ocean, calm on the surface yet ready to drown all creation once stirred.
"Have you stare enough?" Xin Yu's voice broke the stillness, her tone sharp as frost. Impatience laced her words, her cold gaze locked on Hun Mie Sheng. "If so, allow me to see for myself whether the chief of the Hall of Souls truly deserves his reputation—or if he is nothing more than a man who cannot contend with those above his own level."
"Hmph. Lass, you dream too much if you think this meager resistance is enough to stop us from razing your mansion to the ground!" Hun Mie Sheng's cold snort was followed by a low, sinister laugh.
"This chief shall personally witness the true strength of the Hall Master of Serene Lake Hall." A strange glint flickered in his eyes as he swept his sleeve, stepping forward with measured yet crushing weight.
Countless gazes within the mountain range trembled as if pierced by blades when they fell upon the advancing figure of the Hall of Souls' chief. The ferocious name of Hun Mie Sheng had long spread across the Central Plains, his reputation so dreadful that even a whisper of it could chill the bones.
Though he had receded into seclusion for many years, fading from the public eye, his ruthless renown had not dimmed in the slightest. Even now, if one were to rank the supreme individuals of the Central Plains, Hun Mie Sheng would undoubtedly claim the highest seat!
As he advanced, the void beneath Xin Yu quivered, rippling outward like the surface of a tranquil lake stirred by an unseen wind. A faint, icy smile curved on her lips, calm yet cutting.
"I wonder," her voice was serene but sharp as frost, "if the Hall of Souls has a second chief prepared to succeed you once this one is reduced to a cold corpse."
"Ha ha, little girl." Hun Mie Sheng's laugh echoed, filled with disdain. His expression twisted into a dark smile. "You should concern yourself more with your own survival—and that of your mansion. When the Hall of Souls makes a move, none are left alive."
His body erupted with killing intent, cold and suffocating, as he continued darkly, "Perhaps today shall be remembered as the fall of a so-called rising power—one that dared to provoke an ancient faction like us."
"Or perhaps," Xin Yu replied smoothly, her tone calm and steady, as if untouched by his oppressive aura, "it will be remembered as the day an old faction was humiliated—failing to crush us even with an army overflowing with so-called experts."
The hearts of those watching stirred with excitement at the fierce exchange of words. This battle was no ordinary clash—it was the pinnacle confrontation of the day. One side stood the chief of the Hall of Souls, a figure whose name alone shook the Central Plains. Opposing him was Xin Yu, one of the founding leaders of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
In terms of reputation and strength, neither was beneath the other. The only difference lay in their years.
Hun Mie Sheng no longer wasted words. Dark-black Dou Qi seeped from his body like a rising tide of shadows. His voice was low and sinister:
"Let me see if you truly possess the ability you claim. This chief is curious about the one who dares to stir storms while I was occupied with the affairs of my Hall of Souls."
Chi!
Xin Yu answered not with words but with action. Raising her jade-like hand, she lightly pressed against the void. In an instant, terrifying torrents of floodwaters burst forth, surging with unstoppable momentum toward Hun Mie Sheng, as if seeking to drown all existence. Heaven and earth immediately grew heavy with moisture, and the void itself trembled violently.
In the blink of an eye, the overwhelming flood bore down upon Hun Mie Sheng. Even his usually unshaken composure flickered with a trace of surprise. At once, the dark-black Dou Qi covering his body condensed, instinctively forming a set of sinister black armor.
Guuooo!
Yet the floodwaters did not halt. They crashed mercilessly into the armored figure, unleashing a violent might that is akin to an endless tsunami. The force pressed down upon Hun Mie Sheng, as though the very heavens were intent on swallowing him whole.
Hun Mie Sheng's black armor groaned under the crushing deluge. For a moment, it seemed as though the flood would consume him entirely. But then, his lips curved into a cold, cruel smile.
"Do you think this alone can hold me?"
Boom!
Cracks spread across the dark armor, leaking eerie radiance. From within, countless wailing shadows erupted, their anguished cries piercing straight into the soul. These were no illusions, but the tortured remnants of countless spirits refined within the Hall of Souls. Twisting and writhing, they surged outward like a tide of resentful phantoms.
Each shriek gnawed at the mind, corroding Dou Qi and will alike. Like locusts, the phantoms threw themselves into the oncoming flood, clawing and rending it apart with fang and talon.
But in that instant, the raging flood roared in defiance. Its waves surged fiercer than before, and the dark-black light entwined within began to shift—slowly bleaching into white, before scattering into the heaven and earth.
Hun Mie Sheng's brows furrowed. He quickly understood: this flood carried a purifying power. The souls he had enslaved writhed in resistance, slipping from his control, yearning for release.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Hun Mie Sheng raised his hand and clenched his fist. At once, the dark light exploded. The wailing souls were torn asunder, their cries cut short, and the vast floodwaters shuddered before scattering, granting him reprieve from their oppression.
Chi!
Yet just as relief threatened to touch him, Xin Yu's figure flashed forward. The moisture of heaven and earth rushed to her call, condensing in a rapid surge. Droplets coalesced and fused, agglomerating into a blue-coloured elegant sword—its blade exuding a chilling sharpness that seemed capable of severing mountains and rivers itself.
"To think you won't even let them enter samsara… even the vilest scum is better than you, old dog!"
Xin Yu brandished her azure sword, cleaving downward toward Hun Mie Sheng's head, the blade carrying killing intent so fierce it seemed intent on severing both flesh and soul. Rage burned within her strike, fueled by his cruelty.
"Haha! I told you—anyone the Hall of Souls sets its eyes on, whether to capture or kill, will never escape our grasp!"
Hun Mie Sheng's dark laughter rolled out, unshaken by her fury. He did not evade, nor did he raise a defense. Instead, he thrust his palm forward, meeting her sword head-on. Dense black Dou Qi surged and condensed upon his hand, its oppressive might enough to shatter mountains.
But Xin Yu did not falter. Her sword pressed forward, unwavering, as if no force in this world could halt its path.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, palm and sword collided, unleashing a thunderous shockwave that shook heaven and earth. Yet only a breath later, the beautiful blade erupted in dazzling radiance. Brilliant light devoured the darkness, and Hun Mie Sheng's dense black Dou Qi melted away as though ice beneath the scorching sun.
Hun Mie Sheng's brows furrowed as he felt the overwhelming purity surging through Xin Yu's strike—not merely the sword, but the waters that forged it. His body trembled faintly, scattering afterimages across the battlefield before he reappeared high above. His expression darkened, solemn, as his gaze fell to his palm.
A long, deep cut marred his flesh, blood seeping slowly from the wound. Yet he paid it no heed, though the shadow in his eyes grew heavier.
"Just what is the nature of her Dou Qi… and this water?"
His murmur carried a trace of disbelief. In all his countless years, he had never seen, read, or even heard of such a strange and terrifying power of purification from this water.
His expression turned unsightly as his gaze lingered on the wound. It was not serious, but to be injured at the very start of battle left a bitter taste.
Even the spectators struggled to believe what they had just witnessed. Their hearts trembled in shock—Hun Mie Sheng, the Hall of Souls' fearsome protector, had already suffered three setbacks in succession.
First, he had been forced back by Xin Yu's flood. Second, he was compelled to detonate the countless souls he had painstakingly collected over the years, lest they be cleansed and escape his grasp. And now, on the third exchange, he had actually been wounded by her sword, however lightly.
How could such a sight not leave the onlookers dumbfounded by Xin Yu's strength?
None among the spectators would have believed it—this lady who radiated tranquility and purity could, in truth, be so fierce and terrifying once she drew her blade.
Hun Mie Sheng raised his head, eyes narrowing at the serene figure before him. His teeth ground together in fury, yet he dared not look down on her any longer. From the previous clash, he had learned well—direct confrontation would only bring him loss.
A surge of black Dou Qi burst forth from his body, spilling into the sky. Before countless stunned eyes, the Dou Qi condensed into innumerable illusory spirits. They formed a strange, sinister array around him, kneeling in worship, their faces etched with fanatical devotion. From their mouths, waves of spiritual resonance poured forth, intertwining into dreadful ripples of sound.
"Ten Thousand Worshiping Souls!"
The myriad sonic waves gathered into a sharp, pitch-black arrow, shooting toward Xin Yu with speed and force enough to pierce the heavens.
Xin Yu's eyes glimmered coldly. Her lips curved into a faint, scornful smile as her voice cut across the battlefield:
"Worship? All I see are pitiful slaves groveling before a beast. Let me show you how easily I shatter such false reverence!"
Her hand form a mysterious and strange seal, and the void behind her rippled. A soft blue radiance bloomed outward, unfurling into an endless, crystal-clear ocean—untainted, tranquil, and sovereign even amidst battle.
"Tranquil Humming of the Blue Ocean!"
As her cry rang out, a pure and graceful hum resounded, like water droplets falling upon jade leaves, like waves gently rolling across the shore. Yet within that beauty lay unstoppable force—the serene tide swept forth faster than light itself, crashing against the arrow of souls with immeasurable might.
Honglong!
The two spiritual sonic waves collided, and instantly, the entire mountain range trembled. The heavens seemed to hum as if resonating with the clash. Countless experts turned pale; several spat out fresh blood as the overwhelming spiritual fluctuation swept through them, forcing them to stagger back with horrified expressions. Just the aftershock alone had left them utterly defenseless…
The sonic waves tore across the sky. Yet instead of shattering, the illusory spirits encircling Hun Mie Sheng were enveloped by Xin Yu's radiance—purified one after another. Their twisted faces eased into serenity before dissolving into motes of light, returning peacefully to heaven and earth.
Pu!
A mouthful of blood burst from Hun Mie Sheng's lips as his body shuddered beneath the impact of the spiritual wave. Only then did he realize—Xin Yu's Soul State had already reached the Perfect Heavenly State, surpassing his own. In their clash, it was he who suffered the backlash.
He had believed it impossible for someone of her strength to make her soul to reach such a level. But he had miscalculated. Among the sworn siblings, aside from Xiao Hua, Mei Ling, and Wei Jie—the three alchemists—none could rival Xin Yu in the soul and spiritual strength.
Chi!
Xin Yu did not hesitate. Her figure flashed forward, seizing the opportunity to end the battle. In an instant, she was before Hun Mie Sheng, her sword raised high before descending in a decisive arc—swift, merciless, seeking to finish him and turn her blade to aid the others.
Hun Mie Sheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, eyes narrowing into a vicious glare. His form blurred as he retreated a hundred miles in a breath. Yet as he withdrew, the tip of Xin Yu's sword flared with sudden brilliance—an unassuming streak of light that shot after him.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary, yet Hun Mie Sheng's heart clenched. From that radiance he felt the aura of death and an overwhelming force of purification. If struck, he knew—even if he survived—it would leave him gravely wounded!
Gnashing his teeth, Hun Mie Sheng suddenly spat out a strange, black flame. The instant it emerged, the flame shot forward and clashed against Xin Yu's streak of light.
Chi!
A bizarre suction force erupted from within the black fire, devouring the streak of light whole before swiftly retracting back into his body. Hun Mie Sheng's lips curled into a twisted smile as he raised his head, a sinister gleam flickering in his eyes.
Xin Yu's gaze tightened as her pupils shrank. Staring at the flame, recognition dawned upon her, a faint surprise flashing across her heart.
"Nihility Devouring Flame… I never imagined the Hall of Souls would actually possess the second-ranked Heavenly Flame."
The surrounding experts stiffened, unease flashing across their faces. The Fallen Mountain Range, which had been quaking moments earlier, now fell into a suffocating silence. The Nihility Devouring Flame was far too mysterious—known to exist, yet rarely seen. Only a scant few could recognize it, while the majority were left bewildered at the sight of that black fire within the Hall of Souls' chief's grasp.
But the moment Xin Yu's words rang out, countless hearts quivered violently, as if struck by thunder. None of them had ever expected Hun Mie Sheng to wield one of the fabled Heavenly Flames.
"Ke ke… as expected, you've recognized it." Hun Mie Sheng's laughter was eerie, his tone mocking rather than surprised. "To force me to reveal this flame… that alone is an accomplishment."
With a slow wave of his hand, a cluster of black fire floated above his palm. The flames churned strangely, and within them, the vague outline of a twisted human face flickered in and out, wailing without sound.
Xin Yu's lips curved into a disdainful smile. Her eyes never wavered as she coldly said, "And you dare act arrogant with this?"
Her tone carried ridicule as sharp as a blade. She shook her head, her voice calm yet unyielding.
"This so-called Heavenly Flame of yours… is not the Nihility Devouring Flame."
Her declaration left many utterly stunned. A heavy silence descended, broken only by gasps of disbelief. Other than the Nihility Devouring Flame, what other Heavenly Flame could wield such devouring power?
"Oh?"
Hun Mie Sheng raised his brows slightly, but his expression remained calm. He glanced at the black fire, his gaze briefly deepening, before returning to Xin Yu. His lips twisted into a smirk.
"If this isn't the Nihility Devouring Flame, then why don't you enlighten me? If you're so confident, tell me—what exactly is this flame?"
Xin Yu's eyes remained locked on him, unwavering. She herself possessed neither Heavenly Flames nor Primordial Heavenly Flames, but she had long been surrounded by those who did—Xiao Hua, Mei Ling, Wei Jie. More than that, she had discussed and talked with Lady Azure.
Because of this, her experience far exceeded most. Something within that black flame was wrong. The aura it released—twisted, tainted, incomplete—was not that of the true Nihility Devouring Flame.
She remembered well the time when Xiao Hua had gifted countless flame seeds to Wei Jie and Mei Ling. That familiar purity of fire essence was missing here.
The human-faced flames writhing in Hun Mie Sheng's palm might share a connection to the Nihility Devouring Flame, but Xin Yu was certain:
This was not the true Nihility Devouring Flame.
"The devouring power of this flame cannot be faked. It is indeed a trait of the Nihility Devouring Flame. Yet, its strength is far too lacking. The fact that it devoured so slowly and weakened after receiving my strike is proof enough. Should I assume this little spark is merely a seed flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame?"
Xin Yu's gaze locked onto the chief of the Hall of Souls as she posed the question. Though it sounded like an inquiry, the certainty in her tone made all who listened believe her words without doubt.
Moreover, the faint fluctuation in Hun Mie Sheng's eyes at the mention of "seed flame" was evidence enough—her judgment struck true.
Yet, within Hun Mie Sheng's heart, another turmoil stirred. His flame truly had weakened after clashing with Xin Yu's strike. Though it was only a seed flame and far inferior to the true Nihility Devouring Flame, it still carried extraordinary might.
'Just what kind of unique water treasure does she wield, to be capable of wounding even this flame?'
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