Chapter 221 – The Power of the Monarch Flame!
"Misty Cloud Sect elders, enforcers, disciples—listen to my command! Form the Cloudmist Sun-Covering Formation!"
In the sky, Yun Yun's voice rang firm and loud. A beam of Dou Qi burst from her body and pierced the heavens.
Simultaneously, the remaining elders of Misty Cloud Sect activated their Dou Qi. The enforcers and disciples also responded swiftly.
Before long, the Cloudmist Sun-Covering Formation was complete.
"Xiao Yuan!"
Yun Yun gave him a firm nod.
Xiao Yuan instantly understood. With Yun Yun not participating directly in the battle, it was clear she would instead use the formation to boost him in combat.
"Got it!"
With a grin, Xiao Yuan shifted his Dou Qi from Mystic Ice back to wind attribute.
A moment later, the formation's energy surged into him under Yun Yun's guidance.
Feeling the flood of power filling his limbs again, Xiao Yuan clenched his fists tightly.
Below, Jia Xing Tian stared blankly at the boy who, moments ago, was brawling to the death with Yun Shan and now had the support of the entire Misty Cloud Sect.
"This kid's too outrageous…"
He muttered in disbelief.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. He'd been worrying about Misty Cloud Sect growing too dominant lately—now Soul Hall's appearance had fixed that "problem" for him.
Of course, facing a five-star Dou Zong like Wu Protector wasn't something he could just jump into. He wasn't like Xiao Yuan—a monster who could fight several levels above his own.
Even the sect's disciples were confused, but deep down they all knew—this arrangement, though absurd, was the most sensible one right now.
The remaining elders didn't object either. With so many of their ranks killed and the former sect master dead, the sect would be weakened for a long while. Xiao Yuan, once engaged to the former heir and now tied closely to their current sect leader… well, some things just went without saying.
"Kehehe… Yun Shan really raised a fine disciple. If that little boy hadn't injured him so badly, I wouldn't have had such an easy time taking him down!"
Wu Protector mocked, as the dark mist retreated into his body.
"You tempted my teacher and killed our elders. Even without today, you would've done the same eventually—maybe even worse. As the ninth generation Sect Master of Misty Cloud Sect, I hereby declare that from this moment forward, we are enemies of Soul Hall. We will not stop until your blood pays for our disgrace!"
Yun Yun didn't flinch. She bit her lip and glared at Wu Protector with deadly intent. Then she funneled more energy into Xiao Yuan.
"Wind's Apex—Falling Sun Execution!"
Without hesitation, Xiao Yuan unleashed another devastating strike, the same technique that had once brought Yun Shan to his knees.
"Kehehe! I'm not some trash like Yun Shan!"
Wu Protector sneered as he whipped out his three-part soul-lock chains again. This time, they were clearly reinforced.
Even with the formation's aid, Xiao Yuan could only barely hold his ground against this five-star Dou Zong. The fallen elders had taken much of the formation's power with them.
Still, even now, he could clash head-on with a three-star Dou Zong—but against Wu Protector? It was all he could do to stay alive, let alone counterattack.
"Trash."
Xiao Yuan deflected the incoming chains with a flick of his sword, spitting the insult without hesitation. He then shot higher into the air.
With Yun Shan dead and no longer able to suppress sect techniques, he didn't need to hold back. Time to go all out.
He rapidly formed hand seals. Above him, vast amounts of dark green Dou Qi gathered and condensed into a massive long sword.
Though dull and without shine, the sheer weight of energy caused visible ripples in the surrounding space.
Once the energy peaked, Xiao Yuan's eyes gleamed with killing intent. He changed his seal and roared:
"Wind Shatter – Annihilating Edge!"
The sword shrieked to life, spinning violently as its cry echoed across the sky.
"Go!"
Xiao Yuan pointed, and the spinning behemoth shot toward Wu Protector at a speed that ripped through space.
Yun Yun looked at him with awe. She had once taught him this technique in secret. Back then it was selfishness, but now? It had saved them all.
If she hadn't "trained" Xiao Yuan in advance, the Misty Cloud Sect might've been obliterated today.
But could he really defeat Wu Protector?
"I'll admit, not bad—but too bad."
Wu Protector chuckled darkly. If he weren't using a secret technique, he might have taken damage from that—but right now, he was more than just brute Dou Qi.
He lifted his sleeve. Inky black mist erupted, spreading into a heavy black cloud overhead. Even the sun was swallowed.
The heavens turned dark, and Wu Protector vanished within the mist. The battlefield fell into unnatural silence, thick with dread.
The whirling greatsword vanished into the mist—devoured completely.
Xiao Yuan's face darkened. His carefully prepared strike had simply… vanished. Infuriating.
A strange wind whispered behind him. Goosebumps rose. His pupils shrank.
Boom!
A flaming fist smashed backward. The pale-brown flames surged with it, creating a shockwave.
Clang!
From the black mist, Wu Protector appeared, clashing fists with Xiao Yuan in midair. Their collision shattered the silence.
Then, both disappeared again—reappearing hundreds of meters away in a series of thunderous exchanges.
Black clouds roared. Only when powerful ripples tore them open did light leak through. But even that sunlight felt cold.
Jia Xing Tian could no longer follow the battle. Frankly, he was numb.
He had a hunch: Xiao Yuan would win.
Yun Yun, meanwhile, watched with deep worry. That dark mist was corrosive and creeping into the formation. Within minutes, some disciples would run dry on Dou Qi.
She clenched her fists. Could Xiao Yuan really endure this?
High above, two blurs clashed again—this time within a single shaft of light.
Boom!
A sonic shockwave exploded across the sky. Many covered their ears in pain. Some bled from them.
The strike had the power of a mystic-tier Dou Technique.
Two figures were sent flying in opposite directions. Yun Yun heard a faint grunt—Xiao Yuan was hurt!
"Your bones are tough!"
Wu Protector growled. Normally, his attacks would've broken most Dou Zongs. But Xiao Yuan's body and refined Dou Qi? Insane.
"How long can you keep this up?"
Xiao Yuan smirked.
"Longer than you."
"Hah! Sharp tongue. Let's see what happens when your secret technique runs out. When it's just you—a peak Dou Wang—against me, a Dou Zong... then what?"
Wu Protector resumed his assault.
Xiao Yuan didn't respond. Instead, he hurled another pale-brown flame, knocking away the chain and surrounding himself in a sea of fire.
Something… was different.
The surroundings grew brighter. Others noticed too—but assumed it was just the firelight.
But Xiao Yuan… he knew this flame. He studied it carefully.
Monarch Flame.
He remembered the scroll: The Monarch Fire rises above, bringing illumination. Its essence resides in the heart and brings clarity like the sun itself.
This fire was sunlight. Pure and blazing.
With that, Xiao Yuan withdrew his Yin-Yang Flame, letting the Monarch Flame rise alone. It turned from pale-brown to a vivid orange-red.
As soon as it flared on its own, the dark mist began to visibly retreat.
The crowd gasped. The flame was too bright to look at. Like a second sun in the sky.
"Another Heavenly Flame?" Fa Ma muttered in disbelief.
Though weaker in raw power than his earlier flames, this one had effectiveness.
Wu Protector's face twisted in anger. What kind of flame was this?! It was eating his mist!
Xiao Yuan didn't hesitate. He changed his seal.
"Leaving Flame Burn!"
The sea of fire surged like a tsunami.
The dark mist burst open—burned away by the roaring blaze. It crumbled, evaporated…
And Wu Protector, finally, was forced back into view.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1