In the Chu Yun Empire, within the Sky Scorpion Sect.
Inside a cavern thick with poisonous miasma, Xie Shan, the Master of the Sky Scorpion Sect, stood with his body slightly bowed, respectfully facing Xie Biyan.
At that moment, Xie Biyan was reading through an intelligence report.
After a long while, he waved the report in his hand and asked, "Xie Shan, what do you think of this report? Or rather, how do you think this Yao Jun should be dealt with?"
[Yao Jun = Medicine Lord]
Xie Shan pondered for a moment before replying, "Elder Xie, I believe that even if the war with the Poison Sect is brought forward, we still need to eliminate Yao Jun as soon as possible."
After a brief pause, his tone became more solemn.
"If he were merely an ordinary seven-star Dou Emperor, it would be one thing. But he is a high-tier alchemist, and that means we cannot afford to delay. After all, it's impossible to predict just how much influence a high-tier alchemist can exert."
"And what are you planning to do?" Xie Biyan continued.
"An ambush."
A sharp glint flashed through Xie Shan's eyes as he said coldly,
"Thanks to Wu Ya, we've obtained both intelligence and the initiative. Tomorrow, Yao Jun will be traveling to subdue the Chu Yun Imperial Family on behalf of the Poison Sect. I intend to personally lead several Elders to intercept and kill him."
"If we can capture him alive and force him to serve the Sky Scorpion Sect in the future, that would naturally be the best outcome. Otherwise, we must ensure that his soul returns to the underworld."
Xie Biyan nodded approvingly.
"Very good. As the Master of the Sky Scorpion Sect, this decisiveness and ruthlessness are exactly what you should possess."
"However..."
He gently shook the intelligence report in his hand.
"There's one thing you failed to consider."
Xie Shan's expression tightened.
"Elder Xie are you saying this intelligence may not be genuine?"
"Who can guarantee that it is?"
Xie Biyan replied meaningfully.
"How do you know this isn't a trap?"
"Can you guarantee that Wu Ya hasn't been exposed?"
"Can you guarantee he hasn't betrayed us?"
"Don't forget, his position within the Poison Sect is anything but insignificant."
Xie Shan carefully asked,
"Then Elder Xie, are we abandoning the plan to ambush Yao Jun?"
"Heh."
Xie Biyan let out a cold laugh.
"I didn't tell you all this to make you timid."
"I told you so that you'd understand one thing. The force you're bringing isn't enough."
"If you're going to make a move, then you should go all out."
Hearing this, delight immediately appeared in Xie Shan's eyes.
"Elder Xie you mean..."
"That's right."
Xie Biyan nodded, a crafty smile appearing in his eyes.
"I'll accompany you myself."
"If this isn't a trap, then we'll capture Yao Jun and bring him back. A high-tier alchemist is valuable enough for this old man to personally take action."
"And if it truly is a trap laid by the Poison Sect, then the only person they can rely on is the Heavenly Poison Women."
"I'll deal with her."
"As for the rest of you, seize that alchemist while I keep her occupied."
At this point, Xie Biyan sneered.
"I don't care whether this is fishing or not."
"As long as the fish is big enough, nothing else matters."
"Yes, Elder Xie. Thank you for your guidance."
Not long afterward, five streams of light shot out from the Sky Scorpion Sect, speeding toward Chu Yun Sacred City, the capital of the Chu Yun Empire.
The Following Morning
"If the Sky Scorpion Sect intends to strike, then by now they should already be lying in ambush."
Lin Yuan glanced toward the brilliant sun hanging in the sky and murmured softly,
"Then, it's time for me to depart."
Without further hesitation, he spread his twin Azure Flame wings and soared into the sky from Sky Poison City, streaking across the heavens like a bolt of azure lightning toward Chu Yun Sacred City.
At the same time, beside the stone pool within the Poison Sect's forbidden grounds, faint spatial ripples spread outward.
The Little Fairy Doctor, who had been meditating on a stone platform, vanished instantly.
Lin Yuan leisurely flew through the sky, admiring the unique scenery of the Chu Yun Empire along the way.
Eventually, when he reached a valley midway between Sky Poison City and Chu Yun Sacred City, several concealed auras entered his perception.
His flaming wings trembled lightly, and his rapidly moving figure immediately came to a halt in midair.
He calmly looked toward the valley ahead.
His voice was gentle, yet it echoed clearly throughout the valley.
"Those hiding in the valley, there's no need to remain concealed."
"I'm an alchemist, after all."
"You can't hide your auras from me."
Before his words had fully faded.
Whoosh!
Five figures burst from the valley like ghosts, instantly forming a five-direction encirclement around Lin Yuan.
Leading them was a middle-aged man with a gloomy expression dressed in luxurious robes.
Stepping forward, he spoke loudly, "We've employed an exceptionally profound aura-concealing technique this time, yet you still discovered us."
"As expected of the newly appointed Vice Master of the Poison Sect."
"Quite impressive, Mister Yao Jun."
"The Master of the Sky Scorpion Sect, Xie Shan?"
Lin Yuan examined the middle-aged man with interest.
Xie Shan cupped his fists.
"Indeed."
"We've come here today specifically for you. We sincerely invite you to visit our Sky Scorpion Sect as our guest, where we'll certainly offer you proper hospitality."
However, before Lin Yuan could respond, a cold voice echoed from deep within space.
"Heh."
"You wish to invite my Vice Master to the Sky Scorpion Sect as a guest?"
"Xie Shan with nothing more than this group of trash, you're hardly qualified."
Before the words had finished, space rippled gently.
A graceful figure, fluttering like a violet butterfly, leisurely appeared.
It was the Little Fairy Doctor.
The instant she emerged, she casually flicked her sleeve.
A violet-gray streak of Dou Qi shot through the sky like a falling meteor, heading directly toward Xie Shan.
Xie Shan's expression changed slightly.
Yet rather than panic, relief flashed across his eyes.
Just as the violet-gray energy was only several meters away. An elderly, slightly stooped figure suddenly appeared before him like an immovable mountain.
It was Xie Biyan.
He slammed his walking staff heavily against empty space.
Boundless Dou Qi surged out from his body, forming a massive energy barrier.
The violet-gray Dou Qi struck the barrier, sending ripples spreading across it like waves on water.
Moments later, the attack dissipated.
The barrier, however, remained completely unshaken, vividly demonstrating the difference in strength between the Little Fairy Doctor and Xie Biyan.
The Little Fairy Doctor flashed forward, positioning herself before Lin Yuan.
Her cold gaze swept across Xie Biyan and his group.
"So, old man..."
"You really did come."
"If I hadn't. Xie Biyan calmly replied, wouldn't the upper echelon of the Sky Scorpion Sect have been wiped out in one fell swoop today?"
"So it truly was a trap."
"Was Wu Ya the one who betrayed us.
or had you already discovered him?"
The Little Fairy Doctor sneered.
"You'll learn the answers to those questions one by one, after you've become this Master's prisoner."
Xie Biyan immediately flew into a rage.
"Arrogance!"
"When this old man dominated the Chu Yun Empire, you were probably still playing in the mud somewhere!"
"Even if the younger generation eventually replaces the old, this old man hasn't been washed away yet!"
The Little Fairy Doctor's face revealed a contemptuous smile.
"Using your age to boast is laughable."
"On the Dou Qi Continent strength speaks, not age."
Xie Biyan looked at her gloomily before letting out a cold laugh.
"Strength?"
"Very well."
"Today, this old man shall teach you that there is always someone stronger."
As he finished speaking, his slightly hunched back slowly straightened.
Immediately afterward, Dou Qi roared through his body like a raging flood.
An overwhelming aura capable of shaking even space itself erupted outward.
The several Dou Emperors beside him immediately felt crushing pressure descend upon them, forcing their bodies to bend slightly.
Yet when that fierce aura reached Lin Yuan and the Little Fairy Doctor.
It was no more than a gentle breeze, merely lifting a few strands of their hair.
"Sect Master."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
"Although this wasn't my original intention, it seems the decisive battle has arrived ahead of schedule."
"That's fine."
The Little Fairy Doctor nodded.
Her icy gaze swept across the members of the Sky Scorpion Sect.
"Once they're eliminated the Anti–Poison Sect Alliance and every remaining faction will surrender without a fight."
"The Chu Yun Empire can then be unified at the lowest possible cost."
"That should greatly benefit your future plans."
"Then let's begin."
"You keep Xie Biyan occupied for a while."
"I'll end this quickly and deal with those five trash Dou Emperors."
"Mhm..."
Watching Lin Yuan and the Little Fairy Doctor converse as though no one else existed, anger flashed across the faces of Xie Shan and the others.
"'Trash Dou Emperors?' You arrogant brat!"
Xie Shan stared at Lin Yuan with a dark expression and shouted coldly. With a twist of his palm, a deep-blue long staff appeared out of thin air, its tip pointing directly at Lin Yuan.
"Today, this Master will show you that even among Dou Emperors, there are differences in strength!"
Lin Yuan paid him no attention whatsoever. He merely gave the Little Fairy Doctor a slight nod.
Seeing this, a sharp glint flashed across the Little Fairy Doctor's violet-gray eyes. Dangerous dark-purple flames coiled around her body as her figure moved, transforming into a blurred streak of purple light that shot explosively toward Xie Biyan.
"The Nether Poison Flame?"
A trace of seriousness flashed across Xie Biyan's eyes as he said in a deep voice,
"I shall keep the Heaven Poison Women occupied. Proceed according to the plan."
As he spoke, his withered hand tightened around his walking staff. Dou Qi surged violently through his body as he burst forward. His speed was so great that numerous afterimages appeared in the sky.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the two Dou Ancestor experts collided violently in midair before instantly engaging in a fierce battle. The waves of energy released by every exchange shook the surrounding space violently.
Seeing this, Xie Shan's eyes turned cold.
"Everyone, follow the plan. Capture Yao Jun!"
At the same time, to ensure that Xie Shan's group would not be interfered with, Xie Biyan unleashed his Dou Qi with the advantage of his superior cultivation, forcibly drawing the Little Fairy Doctor away from this battlefield.
Meanwhile, under Xie Shan's leadership, the several Dou Emperors of the Sky Scorpion Sect charged toward Lin Yuan like starving wolves pouncing upon their prey.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan was momentarily speechless before the corners of his lips curled upward slightly.
A battle like this was truly rare.
Dou Emperors not only refusing to avoid him, but actually charging at him of their own accord.
"A group of Dou Emperors daring to fight me without the support of an array formation..."
"Heh..."
With an indifferent smile, Lin Yuan faced the charging experts. His figure moved with extraordinary agility, weaving freely across the battlefield like a silver dragon. With every step and every shift of his body, he effortlessly avoided all incoming attacks.
At the same time, he silently circulated his Dou Qi while concealing it beneath his Soul Strength, directing a stream of Dou Qi toward his throat.
The two battlefields had both erupted into full-scale combat.
On the Dou Ancestor battlefield, devastating waves of energy erupted from time to time.
As for the Dou Emperor battlefield.
Not a single one of the five experts from the Sky Scorpion Sect had managed to touch Lin Yuan even once.
"This man's movement technique is incredible!"
After his blue staff pierced through yet another afterimage, Xie Shan could no longer suppress his frustration.
"Brat!"
"If you're really a man, then fight us head-on!"
As he shouted, he gathered the remaining four experts, and the five of them charged together toward Lin Yuan, intending to overwhelm him in a single assault.
To their surprise, Lin Yuan seemed to have been provoked by Xie Shan's taunt.
He actually stood motionless in place as Dou Qi gathered in his palm, assuming a stance to confront them head-on.
A trace of delight appeared on Xie Shan's face.
"He's actually that foolish?"
The five of them exchanged glances before charging at Lin Yuan simultaneously.
However, when they were only about thirty meters away, Lin Yuan suddenly opened his mouth slightly.
A world-shaking dragon's roar erupted from his mouth.
The nearly tangible sound waves spread outward like lightning, centered on Lin Yuan.
"Eight Heavenly Dragon Sounds, Shock!"
The terrifying sonic waves, accompanied by overwhelming dragon's might and an immensely powerful Soul Strength fluctuation, struck the charging experts head-on.
Caught completely off guard, the two Sky Scorpion Sect Elders, whose strength was only at the two-star Dou Emperor level, instantly lost consciousness.
The Dou Qi gathered by the remaining experts was completely shattered, while their souls felt as though they had been struck by an enormous hammer, leaving them dazed and disoriented.
Immediately afterward a thunderclap echoed.
Lin Yuan appeared behind Xie Shan as though he had teleported.
His hand sliced downward like a blade, its tremendous force and perfectly controlled power striking the back of Xie Shan's head.
Bang!
With a dull thud, the focus vanished from Xie Shan's eyes.
His massive body collapsed instantly, falling toward the ground like a kite with its string cut.
The instant Xie Shan fell, Lin Yuan's figure had already vanished once more, appearing ghost-like behind another unconscious Dou Emperor.
His hand struck again.
Bang!
Another Dou Emperor plummeted toward the ground.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A rapid series of dull impacts echoed within only a few short moments.
Each sound marked the defeat of another powerful expert.
Thus, under Lin Yuan's incredibly simple yet overwhelmingly efficient fighting style, the battle came to a swift conclusion.
Lin Yuan calmly watched the five falling figures before forming one hand seal after another without the slightest hesitation.
"Heavenly Flame Seal!"
Five streaks of azure light shot from his palms, each entering the body of one of the five Dou Emperors.
They transformed into solid seals that completely locked away their Dou Qi, reducing the unconscious experts into powerless ordinary people for the time being.
"A soul-attacking sonic Dou Technique..."
"It's truly the ultimate technique for fighting groups."
A trace of satisfaction flashed across Lin Yuan's eyes as he looked at the five defeated experts.
Sensing the sudden change on this battlefield, Xie Biyan erupted with Dou Qi, forcibly driving back the Little Fairy Doctor before immediately rushing back.
The Little Fairy Doctor also flashed through the air, landing beside Lin Yuan.
Although both of their auras fluctuated slightly, they remained steady.
After all, neither of them had intended to fight to the death.
Xie Biyan had merely been stalling for time while waiting for Xie Shan and the others to capture Yao Jun.
As for the Little Fairy Doctor. She possessed absolute confidence in Lin Yuan.
However, what had happened here was far beyond Xie Biyan's expectations.
His gaze swept across the five Dou Emperors of the Sky Scorpion Sect lying unconscious on the ground before finally settling upon Lin Yuan's calm, expressionless face.
"Who exactly are you?"
Xie Biyan asked gravely.
Lin Yuan's strength had exceeded all of his expectations.
Xie Shan and the others were by no means weak.
Yet before this fellow, despite all being Dou Emperors, they had been as helpless as infants.
"Who I am isn't important."
Lin Yuan looked calmly at Xie Biyan.
"What matters is how this matter will be resolved."
"Xie Biyan, why not surrender now?"
After thinking for a moment, he continued,
"Oh, right."
"I didn't kill the five below, but I did make a few arrangements inside their bodies."
"So don't even think about rescuing them in front of me."
"Otherwise you'll regret it."
As if to prove his words, Lin Yuan casually snapped his fingers.
Bang!
A muffled explosion suddenly sounded from inside one of the unconscious Dou Emperors.
Immediately afterward, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and his aura instantly weakened considerably.
"Xie Yun!"
Xie Biyan's pupils contracted before he glared furiously at Lin Yuan.
"Don't worry."
Lin Yuan smiled gently.
"That little trick won't kill him. But if you act recklessly, then I can't guarantee the same."
A gloomy expression appeared in Xie Biyan's eyes.
After remaining silent for a moment, he finally spoke in a deep voice.
"Remove whatever you've done to Xie Shan and the others."
"This old man will lead the Sky Scorpion Sect out of the Anti–Poison Sect Alliance and acknowledge the Poison Sect's position as the supreme power of the Chu Yun Empire."
After all, if Xie Shan and the other five Dou Emperors were lost, then even if the Sky Scorpion Sect defeated the Poison Sect, they would never be able to unify the Chu Yun Empire.
"Heh."
Lin Yuan laughed mockingly.
"The position of hegemon over the Chu Yun Empire. If I want it, it's already within my grasp."
"This is the first time anyone has tried to bargain with me empty-handed."
"Xie Biyan you certainly have courage."
"And what exactly do you mean?"
A dangerous light flashed across Xie Biyan's eyes.
"Join the Poison Sect."
"Submit to me."
Lin Yuan looked at Xie Biyan seriously.
"I intend to conduct some rather interesting experiments. You've spent many years researching poisonous Dou Qi."
"You may prove useful."
"That's why, I'm willing to give both you and the Sky Scorpion Sect a chance to live."
Hearing this, Xie Biyan did not mock him.
Instead, he stared deeply at both Lin Yuan and the Little Fairy Doctor.
He had just realized something extremely important. Between the Little Fairy Doctor and Yao Jun...
It was apparently Yao Jun, the one with lower cultivation and lower status, who was actually the one in control.
This man is absolutely extraordinary.
To make the Little Fairy Doctor willingly follow his lead. And with strength like his. Thinking this, Xie Biyan's heart grew heavier.
He cautiously probed, "If this old man joins the Poison Sect. what benefits will I receive?"
Sensing the probing intent behind Xie Biyan's words, Lin Yuan merely smiled indifferently.
His tone contained both temptation and unmistakable threat.
"Heh."
"Benefits?"
"Naturally."
"If everything proceeds smoothly then in the future, you may obtain the entire Chu Yun Empire and perhaps even much more."
"As for now you'll obtain the chance for both yourself and the Sky Scorpion Sect to continue existing."
"But."
"If you're unwilling to join the Poison Sect and unwilling to submit to me then, although it would be somewhat regrettable."
"I'll simply reduce both you and the Sky Scorpion Sect to dust."
----
For additional chapter's
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu