Though unsettled by the strange and terrifying ocean of purification that Xin Yu wielded, Hun Mie Sheng shifted his intentions as he fought her.
"Even if I cannot suppress you, I can still delay you—and while I hold you here, the others will slaughter your elders and disciples." Hun Mie Sheng's laughter was eerie, cold venom dripping from every word.
Xin Yu's eyes narrowed into slits as her gaze swept across the battlefield. The elders and disciples of her Moonlit Chaos Mansion were resisting the Hall of Souls' army with all their strength, yet the clash was brutal.
Among them, her personal disciple, Shui Lanxin, had already activated the second divine shift of Xin Yu's secret technique.
Lanxin's tall and slender figure now shimmered with a crystalline glow, like moonlight upon snow-draped mountains. Her skin gleamed with an ethereal sheen, delicate as frosted glass, while her hair flowed like strands of ice, shimmering with a deep sapphire radiance.
Upon her head rested a delicate ice crown, formed from the Seed of Celestial Ancient Frost. Her robes, transformed, had taken on a solid, crystalline beauty—intricate frost-patterns spreading across them like the delicate carvings of nature's hand.
Her strength, once at the initial level of Dou Zong, had surged and ascended into the realm of Dou Zun, allowing her to battle against numerous experts of equal rank from the Hall of Souls.
Xin Yu inhaled deeply. Her serene eyes, normally as calm as a tranquil lake, now surged with furious waves like a storm-tossed ocean. Rage boiled within her, her figure trembling with suppressed wrath.
To see such bloodshed, to witness her disciples—her family—struggle and bleed while giving their all… it filled her heart with both pride and anguish.
Saint Tian Huo was clashing fiercely with Gu You, while the high-ranking elders struggled against other Ban Sheng elites. From the looks of it, none of them could secure victory in a short span of time.
Even Mei Ling and Wei Jie, restrained by the vice-chief and the other Dou Sheng experts of the Hall of Souls, wore unsightly expressions. Their eyes burned with fury as they occasionally glanced at the battlefield where the Mansion's lower-ranking elders and disciples were locked in bloody struggle.
Xin Yu's gaze, however, was the most terrifying. Her eyes were colder than the deepest winter, sharper than a divine blade, and brimming with hatred and murderous intent that seemed more demonic than human.
Hun Mie Sheng felt that piercing gaze and smiled darkly, as though savoring her rage. Raising his hand, the human-faced cluster of black flames widened its maw and bit into his palm. A torrent of Dou Qi erupted from his body, only to be devoured by the sinister fire.
His complexion paled as the Dou Qi within his body drained away, yet the black flames swelled with terrifying force. With a shrill howl, its head-sized form expanded into a towering figure a thousand feet tall, its flames raging across the sky like a sea of darkness.
The surrounding experts trembled. They could feel the Dou Qi within their own bodies faintly stir, as though yearning to escape. Alarmed, they hurried to suppress it, unwilling to disgrace themselves before such a sight.
Hun Mie Sheng narrowed his eyes. He knew that if Xin Yu, in her fury, unleashed herself recklessly, he would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses. Thus, he had prepared this monstrous force precisely to withstand her inevitable assault.
Xin Yu stepped forward, the void trembling beneath her feet. For the first time, true fury shook her composure. This time, she intended to kill him swiftly—no matter the cost—so that her Moonlit Chaos Mansion's elders and disciples would not fall any further.
But just as she was about to unleash her fury, a wild laugh rang out across the battlefield.
"Ha ha! Rest assured, Lady Xin Yu—we have finally arrived! Let us help rid the world of these wretches who are neither human nor ghost!"
A scorching gale swept into the Chaos Realm, carrying with it searing heat. A brilliant crimson light burst forth near the battlefield where elders and disciples struggled.
The radiance scattered, revealing a group of people. At their forefront stood an old man with blazing red hair, his presence glaring and overwhelming. The instant he appeared, a monstrous aura erupted like a tide, so fearsome that even Gu You—locked in battle with Saint Tian Huo—was forced to acknowledge it.
"You are… Huo Yun? What business does Burning Flame Valley have meddling in the affairs of the Hall of Souls?"
The vice-chief of the Hall of Souls narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing the old man who had suddenly appeared. What unsettled him most, however, was the realization that Huo Yun's strength had already reached the same level as his own!
He had heard that Xiao Hua had provided Huo Yun with a medicinal pill to heal his injuries and stabilize his Dou Sheng foundation. Yet never did he expect this man to not only recover but to advance even further in strength.
"Ha ha! My Burning Flame Valley and the Moonlit Chaos Mansion stand in alliance. Tell me, what's wrong with me appearing here?" Ancestor Huo threw back his head and laughed wildly, savoring the vice-chief's grim expression.
The surrounding experts erupted into noise and restlessness. None of them expected two powerful factions in the Central Plains to truly form an alliance.
Still, the more experienced elders quickly calmed their shock. They knew well how heavily Ancestor Huo had once suffered at the hands of the Hall of Souls, and how he had not dared to retaliate due to their mysterious, unfathomable power. Considering this, such an alliance was not entirely surprising.
"As expected… the Moonlit Chaos Mansion and Burning Flame Valley truly are in alliance."
The vice-chief's expression darkened. Though unsurprised, his heart grew heavier. Unlike the astonished onlookers, the Hall of Souls had already anticipated this possibility ever since learning that Xiao Hua had refined a pill for Ancestor Huo and his successor.
Even so, this development caught them off guard. They had not expected reinforcements to arrive so quickly.
Suppressing the Moonlit Chaos Mansion had already become troublesome, especially after the shocking reveal of Ming Cheng, Li Mei, and Xin Yu's strength. The three of them were so fearsome that even Hun Mo and Hun Qian Mo were forced into a stalemate, finding it exceedingly difficult to suppress them.
"So what if you've allied with them? Do you truly believe your Burning Flame Valley alone can stop us from erasing the Moonlit Chaos Mansion from existence? You are deluding yourself!"
The vice-chief of the Hall of Souls clenched his teeth, his roar echoing with fury. They had mobilized and prepared everything for this campaign—annihilating the Moonlit Chaos Mansion was inevitable. Naturally, the appearance of one Burning Flame Valley was far from enough to make them retreat.
"Ke ke… If Burning Flame Valley alone is not enough, then what about my Pill Tower?"
As his voice fell, a ripple of spatial fluctuation spread out beside the Burning Flame Valley's forces. In the next instant, several figures stepped forth from the distortion—none other than the First Elder and Xuan Kong Zi's group.
"Pill Tower!"
The crowd trembled in disbelief, their expressions shaken to the core. If the alliance between Burning Flame Valley and Moonlit Chaos Mansion was already shocking yet somewhat understandable, then Pill Tower's appearance was nothing short of earth-shattering.
For countless years, Pill Tower had remained neutral, never joining any side or camp since its founding. Though they loathed the Hall of Souls to the depths of their bones, the chance of persuading them to formally take up arms had always been slim.
Yet now, against all expectations, they had stepped into the fray—forming an alliance with Moonlit Chaos Mansion and Burning Flame Valley.
That the Moonlit Chaos Mansion had managed to draw in such a long-standing force, one that had always remained aloof from worldly strife, was a revelation none had foreseen.
"I would have never expected the Pill Tower to join in this alliance…"
Even the vice-chief of Hall of Soul finds their appearance extremely unexpected. It is not only him but even the other experts Hall of Souls also felt the same. Though they have received a report of possibility that Pill Tower might join in this alliance, they simply ignore it since they knew the nature of the Pill Tower.
After all, they have killed and capture alchemists for their powerful soul. Yet, despite this action of theirs, the Pill Tower has never made a move against them and simply bitterly enduring it. Hence, the reason for the vice-chief's reason for his unexpected reaction to join this alliance.
"First Elder, Ancestor Huo—thank you for coming. Please aid the elders and disciples. As for the vice-chief of the Hall of Souls, I will handle him myself." Wei Jie cupped his hands with a faint smile.
Ancestor Huo and the First Elder of Pill Tower did not hesitate in the slightest. Since they had come, they would naturally lend their full strength. Abandoning Moonlit Chaos Mansion was never an option—not after the Mansion had already proven its strength through blood and fire.
Even so, they were inwardly astonished. For the Hall of Souls to dispatch so many Dou Sheng experts against a rising force like Moonlit Chaos Mansion was unthinkable. What shocked them even more was that, despite such overwhelming might, Moonlit Chaos Mansion was only at a slight disadvantage—and that solely due to numbers.
With a single nod, Ancestor Huo and the First Elder exchanged glances before raising their hands. In the next breath, the combined forces of Burning Flame Valley and Pill Tower surged forward, scattering across the battlefield to reinforce the weary defenders of Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
"Go—assist them!" Ancestor Huo's voice was like thunder, his command leaving no room for delay.
"Stand firm. From this moment, Pill Tower stands with Moonlit Chaos Mansion!" the First Elder's words resounded with solemn weight, igniting a spark of hope among the defenders.
With the order given, the battlefield shifted drastically as reinforcements surged into the fray.
Meanwhile, after dispatching their forces, Ancestor Huo and the First Elder shot forth like streaks of light, rushing toward the core battlefield where Wei Jie and Mei Ling were locked in combat against the Hall of Souls' numerous Dou Shengs—including their vice-chief.
Upon arrival, they wasted no words. Each locked onto an enemy with killing intent, and without hesitation, they plunged into the clash, their auras tearing apart the heavens as new battles erupted.
With the tide shifting on two fronts, the other three battlefields too began to change rapidly.
…
On the field where Ming Cheng clashed with Hun Qian Mo, their battle raged like a storm, neither giving way. After a final violent exchange, both were forced back several hundred meters, their gazes turning toward the battlefield's sudden transformation.
"I did not expect Burning Flame Valley and Pill Tower to arrive so swiftly," Hun Qian Mo muttered, his brows sinking at the sight of the new alliance.
"It is not their speed you should blame," Ming Cheng sneered, his voice echoing across the skies. "It is your incompetence. Despite bringing such an army, you failed to swiftly crush us. Tell me—has the Hall of Souls become nothing more than a nest of decrepit old dogs, able to bully with numbers yet lacking true strength?"
Mocking laughter spilled from his lips, brimming with unrestrained disdain. He made no effort to suppress his voice, allowing it to resound across the mountain range.
Countless experts heard him clearly, and many secretly agreed. Despite the overwhelming numbers the Hall of Souls had brought, they had yet to secure even the slightest advantage. In contrast, the resilience of Moonlit Chaos Mansion astonished them.
None had imagined that this newly risen faction possessed such power—that they could stand toe to toe with the mysterious, long-standing Hall of Souls. What struck them even more was the Mansion's ability to draw the Pill Tower, a faction renowned for its neutrality, into their camp. That feat alone left many deeply shaken.
If the Hall of Souls suffered humiliation and disgrace, then the prestige of Moonlit Chaos Mansion only soared higher.
Hun Qian Mo's expression turned grim. Never in his life had he imagined that a youth of the younger generation would dare mock him—and the Hall of Souls itself—so brazenly, without the slightest hesitation.
Hong!
Just as his killing intent was about to erupt uncontrollably, both he and Ming Cheng abruptly froze. Their expressions shifted as they turned toward the empty void beside Ming Cheng.
"This is quite the unexpected sight. Who would have thought that a mere youth could drive you, Hun Qian Mo—an old fellow refusing to die—into such a pitiful state?"
The surrounding space trembled as an ancient and weathered voice echoed out, carrying a weight that pressed against the very air. Ripples spread violently across the void, distorting the heavens themselves.
In the next instant, a green-clothed figure emerged, stepping out from the undulating void.
The newcomer's attire was nothing more than coarse, plain cloth. His eyes were limpid and clear, his face tender and youthful. By appearance alone, he looked like a boy barely in his teens—yet the faint pressure around him hinted at something utterly unfathomable.
"Old demon from the Small Pill Tower!"
Hun Qian Mo's heart trembled violently, his expression shifting in shock. Never had he expected the appearance of the Small Pill Tower's ancestor in this place.
His voice, filled with disbelief, spread rapidly across the battlefield, causing countless experts to stir. Those who recognized the name were struck with astonishment—few had ever imagined they would witness this legendary figure with their own eyes.
"The ancestor of the Pill Tower... to think we would see such a legendary existence today..."
"It's rumored his true body is a Tier 9 Xuan Pill—likely the only one of its kind in the world. If someone were to refine him..."
"Silence! Do you seek death? The Pill Tower's ancestor has long reached unfathomable heights of power. Though there may be a handful in this world who could contend with him, to truly refine him is nothing short of madness..."
"Heh... but should one truly succeed, the fortune obtained would be enough to..."
The whispers rolled like wildfire, and the mountain range seethed with commotion. Even the experts of the older generation revealed grave expressions, their gazes flickering with both awe and dread as they stared at the green-clothed youth.
For all his unassuming appearance, none could forget the truth behind him: a living Tier 9 Xuan Pill. Such a temptation was enough to drive even an elite Dou Sheng into madness, eyes bloodshot with desire.
The ancestor of the Pill Tower cast a glance at Ming Cheng, who was still reeling from his sudden appearance, before laughing lightly.
"The Pill Tower, too, stands within the alliance of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion and Burning Flame Valley. Though our alliance has yet to bear a name, our intent is clear—glory and ruin shall be shared alike. As the Pill Tower's guardian, how could I remain apart from this matter?"
His smile deepened slightly as he added, "Moreover, Young Wei Jie and Young Mei Ling are members of the Small Pill Tower's Elder Council. Naturally, I must act."
"Many thanks, Ancestor!" Ming Cheng cupped his fists in gratitude. He had long known of this mysterious figure yet never imagined their first meeting would come under such circumstances.
The Pill Tower's ancestor, his tender-looking face calm as ever, gave Ming Cheng a nod. Yet, in his eyes flickered an indescribable light. Having lived for countless years, his insight had long been honed razor-sharp. He naturally saw through the deeper reasons behind this alliance—reasons tied not to Moonlit Chaos Mansion, but to Xiao Hua himself.
What shocked him most, however, was the strength this youth now displayed. To force Hun Qian Mo into such a wretched state—bloodied, battered, and disheveled—was already inconceivable. Though Ming Cheng too was stained with blood, his wounds were swiftly mending at a pace visible to the eye. It was clear who held the upper hand.
One must remember, Ming Cheng belonged to the younger generation, having only recently stepped into the Dou Sheng realm. Yet, with nothing but his thunderous might, he pressed Hun Qian Mo without yielding an inch.
Even for him—the ancestor of the Pill Tower—such dominance, if faced at an equal level, would not have been easy to achieve.
"Old ghost, so you intend to pit yourself against my Hun Clan..." Hun Qian Mo's shriveled face darkened, his frown deepening as his hoarse voice echoed coldly. "In the past, my Hun Clan stayed its hand from the Pill Tower for your sake. Your choice today is... unwise."
"Haha! Undying old thing, spouting such hollow words before me—isn't it laughable?" The ancestor of the Pill Tower smiled faintly, his tone carrying ridicule and disdain.
"If the Hall of Souls had ever grasped a true opportunity, it would have struck long ago. Do you think I am blind to your ambitions? Enough—save your breath. It has been many years since I last crossed hands with you... I wonder, in your current state, can you withstand the two of us together?"
"Hmph! I will let you know!"
A strange glow surged within Hun Qian Mo's eyes, growing brighter by the breath. His voice became eerie, its distance indistinguishable, as his body gradually turned illusory.
The ancestor of the Pill Tower merely smiled faintly at Hun Qian Mo's action. After a brief exchange of glances with Ming Cheng, the two ascended higher into the sky, where the oppressive air grew thin and the battlefield vast.
The three figures charged forth, and in an instant, boundless Dou Qi erupted like a raging sea, colliding head-on with earth-shattering force.
Bang!
A dreadful shockwave exploded from their clash, shaking heaven and earth. Mountains crumbled into dust beneath the rippling destruction.
As Ming Cheng and the Pill Tower's ancestor pressed down upon Hun Qian Mo, driving the battle toward its conclusion, another struggle on the field was also reaching its peak—the duel between Li Mei and Hun Mo.
Boom!
Two figures were hurled backward in miserable condition. After steadying themselves midair, their forms came into view—Hun Mo and his puppet, the Soul Curse Toad. Both were bloodied and disheveled, their bodies marred by countless cuts, some shallow, others carved deep.
Hun Mo's aged eyes burned with murderous fury and searing hatred as he glared at the graceful figure before him—a woman whose sword radiated an aura sharp enough to freeze one's breath.
Li Mei, however, stood unmoving, her expression devoid of emotion. Like an indifferent cold goddess, she seemed as though she were passing judgment upon a mortal's fate, unshaken by his rage.
Those who witnessed this sight could not help but draw in sharp breaths. Despite fighting in unison, Hun Mo and the Soul Curse Toad had utterly failed to suppress Li Mei. On the contrary, they had suffered grievous losses, and the tide of the battle was clear.
"Have you finished praying for forgiveness to those you have wronged? Because I will be the one to settle this…" Li Mei's voice was soft, yet carried an icy indifference that cut sharper than any blade.
"Hmph, arrogant girl! Do you think this old man is so easily slain?!" Hun Mo's face turned cold as he spat out his retort.
Though his words dripped with defiance, the force behind them rang hollow. His heart tightened in caution as Dou Qi surged within him, flooding his meridians like a raging torrent. Countless swirls of Dou Qi rippled across his body, as though preparing to withstand an incoming storm.
Bang!
Li Mei wasted no words. From her slender figure erupted a torrent of Celestial Thunder. The heavens above quaked as the power gathered, turning the clear sky into a maelstrom of silvery-white clouds. Arcs of lightning danced within them like divine serpents, and frigid hail poured down, blanketing the surrounding peaks in snow.
As the clouds unfurled, the very world seemed to change. Heaven and Earth solidified under her will, a boundless, biting cold pressing down as though eternal winter had descended.
Within this frozen dominion, even the natural energy between Heaven and Earth ceased to flow, locked in stillness.
"What… what is this?!"
Hun Mo's face contorted in shock as he realized the truth. The energy of the world itself had turned rigid, and even the Dou Qi in his body moved sluggishly, heavy and unresponsive, like mud struggling through a mire.
This was unthinkable.
The true terror of an elite Dou Sheng was not merely the vastness of their Dou Qi, but their ability to command the energy of Heaven and Earth without restraint. Yet before Li Mei, that foundation itself was being stripped away.
The sudden, unexpected change struck Hun Mo with overwhelming shock, disbelief, and fear. His heart grew restless, for this meant he could no longer unleash his full strength to defend against the incoming strike.
Even the experts watching from afar felt it—the natural energy around them had solidified, while the Dou Qi in their own bodies crawled like thick mud. The realization brought a dense wave of fear and dread into their hearts.
Li Mei offered no chance for reprieve. She wasted no words, nor would she grant Hun Mo even a breath to react. The instant the Celestial Thunder in the heavens reached its peak, she raised her sword. With a single, chilling motion, she brought it down. Her voice, cold and divine, resounded like the decree of a goddess delivering judgment upon a mortal:
"Celestial Thunder—Shatter the Heaven and Earth!"
The sword cleaved downward in a freezing arc. The silvery-white clouds above blazed with dazzling brilliance as pillars of Celestial Thunder roared down, crashing toward Hun Mo with unstoppable might.
Bang!
The void itself collapsed. Heaven and Earth fell into chaos. Snow-capped mountains shattered, reduced to nothingness under the violent eruption.
Those who witnessed the scene felt their scalps go numb, every hair standing on end. The destructive force within that thunder was enough to obliterate even an elite Dou Sheng—rending their body, scattering their soul, and erasing their path to samsara. To be struck by it was to face a true and eternal end.
Countless gazes shifted toward Hun Mo. His expression had turned pale with fear, his eyes reflecting the shadow of death itself.
Would he be able to resist?
If not, then the Hall of Souls would lose a formidable pillar of its ancient might—a loss that even the Hun Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans, would not find easily replaced.
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