The elite army of the Shelua Empire advanced swiftly, climbing the hundreds of stone steps that led up to Tianluo Temple.
The thunder of their footsteps echoed across the mountainside, mixed with the clashing of weapons and the heavy pressure of spiritual energy weighing down the air.
At the very front of the formation stood a towering general with a terrifying aura.
The pressure around him was so dense that the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
He was a Taigu-level general.
His cold gaze swept across the small group standing in the temple courtyard.
Lin Yuan snorted softly beside the emperor.
"Old Emperor, you'd better not die here," he said casually.
Xiang Tianxuan glanced at him.
"You'd better say that to yourself instead."
"Otherwise… I won't have any excuse when I face Lin Tianhai."
Lin Yuan merely raised an eyebrow.
On the other side—
Lu Xiao and Yun Wu stood on either side of Xue Yunxue.
The two of them were like living walls protecting the girl.
No matter what happened—
they would never allow anyone to touch her.
Meanwhile, Xue Yunxue opened her storage space and took out several bottles of potions.
Some were spiritual energy recovery potions.
Others were body protection elixirs.
But one bottle with a dark red liquid—a combat enhancement potion—she quietly put back.
She knew that potion was too dangerous.
If she drank it now, her power would indeed increase dramatically.
But once the effect ended—
there was a high chance she would lose control and collapse.
In a situation like this—
that would be the same as suicide.
Xue Yunxue took a slow breath.
She had to stay conscious.
On the other side of the courtyard—
Xiang Shuai stood beside Grand Priest Shen Qiyun.
The aura of his silver serpent slowly flowed around his body.
His golden eyes stared coldly at the approaching army.
A few seconds later—
Xiang She's troops finally reached the final steps.
But the moment they stepped into the temple courtyard—
the sky suddenly filled with light.
Thousands of ice swords shot downward like a violent storm.
At the same time—
dozens of black blades formed from shadow energy streaked forward with deadly speed.
The attack came from two directions.
Lin Yuan.
And Lu Xiao.
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion of energy erupted across the temple stairs.
Dozens of elite soldiers were instantly blasted backward.
Some even tumbled down the stone steps.
Holding the high ground gave them a huge advantage.
However, the Taigu general leading the army merely snorted coldly.
With a single swing of his hand—
a gigantic energy shield formed before the troops.
Most of the ice swords and shadow blades shattered against the barrier.
But before the soldiers could reorganize—
two shadows had already shot down from the temple courtyard.
Lu Xiao.
Lin Yuan.
The two of them directly intercepted the Taigu general.
Lu Xiao's dense black aura clashed violently with Lin Yuan's blue water aura.
Meanwhile—
the Taigu general drew his long sword.
Golden-yellow energy enveloped his body.
His Taigu power exploded outward like a raging storm.
Lin Yuan raised his hand.
Moisture from the air gathered instantly, forming a gigantic ice spear.
Lu Xiao did not wait either.
The black mist he released transformed into a massive shadow claw that tore through the air.
At the same moment—
Lin Yuan's giant ice spear struck from the opposite direction.
BOOOOM!
A terrifying collision of energy exploded in the middle of the temple stairs.
A wave of spiritual power swept across the entire slope of Mount Tianluo, causing trees to sway violently while rocks cracked and tumbled down the cliffs.
A high-level battle had truly begun.
Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao fought together against the Taigu general leading the army.
Ice blades spun like a storm around Lin Yuan's body.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao's black mist transformed into deadly shapes—
claws, spears, even chains of shadow.
That Taigu general was clearly no easy opponent.
Every swing of his sword shattered their attacks and split the stone ground of the temple stairs.
But facing two opponents at once slowly began to push him back.
After all, Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao were both above Level Ninety, opponents strong enough to rival a general who had only just entered the early Taigu stage.
On another side of the battlefield—
Xiang Shuai was not idle either.
His body moved swiftly among the elite soldiers.
His silver tail whipped through the air like a deadly lash.
In a short moment he had already knocked down more than a dozen elite warriors.
Some were even flung down the mountain steps.
Meanwhile—
Yun Wu had already transformed into a giant black wolf.
He always moved close to Xue Yunxue.
His dark fur stood on end.
His fangs gleamed beneath the sunlight.
He leapt into the soldiers' ranks like a raging storm.
His claws and fangs tore through the soldiers mercilessly.
Several spears managed to pierce his body.
Blood flowed from his shoulders and back.
Yet this mad wolf seemed—
the more wounded he became, the fiercer and more dangerous he grew.
His wolf eyes turned red.
His roar echoed across the entire mountain.
Amid the chaos—
Grand Priest Shen Qiyun finally moved.
He did not even use a weapon.
With a single wave of his hand—
a surge of pure white energy swept across the temple courtyard like a storm of light.
Dozens of soldiers were blown away like leaves in a hurricane.
Some even lost consciousness before they hit the ground.
At the center of the battlefield—
Emperor Xiang Tianxuan stood like a war god.
His body transformed into a colossal ancient black serpent.
His black scales gleamed like obsidian beneath the sky of Mount Tianluo.
His eyes burned with terrifying imperial authority.
With a single motion—
his massive body shot into the enemy ranks.
His jaws opened wide and instantly devoured several Level Ninety officers standing at the front line.
Their screams never even had time to sound before their bodies were crushed by that overwhelming power.
On another part of the battlefield—
Xue Yunxue did not remain idle either.
Her spiritual energy flowed violently into the ground.
In an instant—
golden vines burst from the earth like living serpents.
The vines wrapped around the legs and bodies of the rebel soldiers.
Some of the stronger soldiers managed to slash apart the vines with their weapons.
Shen Qiyun looked at the girl with a meaningful gaze.
Plant element power…
But the weaker soldiers—
were instantly dragged down and swallowed into the earth by the living roots that moved like savage beasts.
Screams filled the air.
The battlefield descended into chaos.
Xiang She's army formation began to collapse.
From a distance—
Xiang She watched everything with a gloomy expression.
His gaze was cold.
With the presence of Grand Priest Shen Qiyun, the Emperor's side had gained an enormous boost in strength.
Yet Xiang She did not appear panicked.
Instead—
he stepped forward.
Behind him, the other two Taigu generals also moved.
Their auras spread outward like mountains pressing down upon the sky.
Even the soldiers still fighting felt their breathing grow heavy.
Xiang She smiled coldly.
His body suddenly transformed.
In an instant—
he turned into a gigantic green serpent, its emerald scales gleaming brilliantly.
The massive body shot into the battlefield like lightning.
He went straight for Emperor Xiang Tianxuan.
The two colossal serpents faced each other.
Their auras collided like two raging storms.
Then—
they lunged.
The black serpent and the green serpent coiled around each other.
Their massive bodies slammed together, shattering the stone tiles of the temple courtyard.
They battered each other with brutal force.
It was a terrifying battle between father and son.
The ground cracked.
The air trembled.
Xiang She's strength was indeed lower—far below that of the old emperor.
However, the emperor had only just recovered from poison and prison torture.
His power had not yet returned to its peak.
Although Xiang She was only Level Ninety, while the emperor had already reached the early Taigu stage—
he was still able to keep up with the battle.
But Xiang She possessed something extremely dangerous.
Poison.
His body could generate and evolve numerous deadly toxins of different types.
Suddenly—
the giant green serpent opened its jaws wide.
CRAAACK!
His sharp fangs sank into the body of the black serpent emperor.
The fangs pierced through the scales.
Thick green poison was immediately injected into the emperor's body.
The enormous black serpent trembled violently.
Xiang She laughed coldly.
"This poison…"
"can paralyze the nerves instantly."
"Even a Taigu creature cannot resist it for long."
Emperor Xiang Tianxuan's body began losing strength.
His black scales trembled.
The aura of his power weakened rapidly.
A few seconds later—
the massive serpent body staggered.
Then—
it crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.
The enormous body of Emperor Xiang Tianxuan slammed against the stone floor of the temple courtyard.
Dust exploded into the air.
The giant black serpent slowly shrank…
The once-glimmering obsidian scales now looked dull.
Within seconds—
he returned to his human form.
The old emperor lay on the ground.
His breathing was heavy.
His face pale.
As if all the strength in his body had been drained away.
"Father!"
Xiang Shuai's voice echoed across the battlefield.
He tried to break through toward the emperor—
but more than a dozen elite soldiers blocked his path.
Swords and spears flashed from every direction.
Xiang Shuai swung his silver tail, deflecting their attacks.
But he could not advance.
On the other side—
Xue Yunxue had already started running toward the emperor.
But before she could reach him—
the gigantic green serpent Xiang She moved.
His long body coiled with lightning speed.
WHOOOSH!
In a single motion—
his massive emerald tail wrapped around the fallen body of Emperor Xiang Tianxuan.
The coils sealed the space like a living wall.
Emerald scales overlapped tightly, forming a barrier that seemed nearly impossible to break.
Xue Yunxue stopped abruptly.
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
Without hesitation—
she slammed her palm onto the ground.
Her spiritual energy surged violently into the earth.
BOOOOOM!
The stone courtyard cracked like shattered glass.
From the cracks in the ground—
massive plant vines exploded outward like golden dragons erupting from beneath the earth.
For a moment—
the entire battlefield froze.
The soldiers, the priests, even the generals—
all felt the surge of life energy erupting from the ground.
That burst of power spread outward for hundreds of miles.
The vines moved wildly, yet with purpose.
At the same time—
the priests of Tianluo Temple quickly formed an ancient formation.
Their spiritual energies merged like rivers joining into a single current.
Their white aura pulsed in unison.
With a combined strike—
a massive wave of energy exploded toward Xiang She's army.
BOOOOOM!
Several Level Ninety officers were blasted backward instantly.
Their bodies shattered under the overwhelming pressure of spiritual power.
On another part of the battlefield—
Grand Priest Shen Qiyun stepped forward.
He did not even raise a weapon.
Just one motion of his hand.
A flash of white energy so pure it was almost invisible.
In the next instant—
one of the three Taigu generals attacking them suddenly stopped moving.
His eyes widened.
His body trembled briefly.
Then—
he collapsed to the ground without a sound.
Dead.
No one truly understood how Shen Qiyun had done it.
Even the other generals were shocked.
The Taigu general now lay lifeless in the temple courtyard.
Meanwhile—
the remaining Taigu general was beginning to falter under the relentless assault of Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao.
Lin Yuan's ice swords spun like a ferocious snowstorm,
while Lu Xiao's black mist transformed into razor-sharp shadow blades striking from every direction.
Their attacks came one after another—
leaving their opponent no time to breathe.
Slowly, however, the attention of the entire battlefield began to focus on a single figure—
Xue Yunxue.
The plant vines she had summoned moved like living creatures.
Their movements were graceful.
Yet deadly.
The vines were covered with long poisonous thorns that gleamed faintly green beneath the sky of Mount Tianluo.
In an instant—
the vines shot forward like living spears.
They wrapped around the gigantic serpent body of Xiang She.
CRAAACK!
The sharp thorns pierced through his emerald scales.
Some even sank deep enough that thick blood dripped onto the stone ground.
Xiang She slowly turned his head.
For the first time—
his cold eyes showed a hint of surprise.
That little girl…
was actually capable of injuring him.
His gaze immediately locked onto Xue Yunxue.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting…"
"This girl is clearly not ordinary."
But without warning—
WHOOOOSH!
His massive tail lashed toward Yunxue like a gigantic whip.
The pressure of the wind alone from the swing was enough to shatter stone.
Yet just before the attack struck Yunxue—
the ground beneath her feet suddenly moved.
Moa reacted faster.
A gigantic vine burst out of the earth and lifted Yunxue high into the air.
A split second later—
Xiang She's tail smashed into the spot where Yunxue had been standing.
BOOOOOM!
The stone floor of the temple shattered like glass.
Dust and fragments exploded into the air.
At the same moment—
another vine had already wrapped tightly around Xiang She's serpent tail with tremendous strength.
The enormous body was restrained.
The vines dragged him backward like living chains.
For a moment—
Xiang She could not move.
Yet he only smiled faintly.
He let out a sharp whistle.
A short signal.
In the next instant—
the remaining Taigu general shot forward.
His aura erupted like a collapsing mountain.
His sword flashed through the air.
CRAAAAK!
With a single slash—
the massive vine was cut clean in half.
The wave of energy from that strike swept across the entire temple courtyard.
The whole Mount Tianluo trembled violently.
Trees along the mountainside shook fiercely.
Xiang She slowly transformed back into his half-human form.
His upper body returned to that of a man.
But the lower half of his body remained a massive emerald serpent tail coiling across the ground.
He looked toward Xue Yunxue in the distance.
His gaze was like that of a predator that had just discovered extremely fascinating prey.
Meanwhile—
Xue Yunxue was still floating several meters in the air, supported by Moa's vine.
Her face remained calm.
But her mind was moving quickly.
She carefully observed every movement of Xiang She.
Every swing of his tail.
Every fluctuation of his aura.
And gradually—
she realized something.
Xiang She was extremely deadly in close combat.
The speed of his serpent body was brutal.
But when forced to fight at long range—
his movement became far more restricted.
On the other hand—
Xiang She also began to realize something.
This battle was beginning to drain too much of his energy.
His elite troops were struggling against this small group.
He had even already lost two of his generals.
He did not want to drag this out any longer.
With a casual motion—
his serpent tail moved again.
The emerald coil slid across the ground.
Slowly—
he lifted the body of Emperor Xiang Tianxuan from the ground.
The emperor's weakened body was raised high into the air like a helpless puppet.
Xiang She smiled faintly.
His voice echoed across the chaotic temple courtyard.
"Surrender…"
"or I will kill this old man."
The emerald coil tightened slowly around the emperor's body.
The faint sound of bones being crushed could be heard.
"Release him!"
Xiang Shuai shouted angrily.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
"You bastard! You rotten snake!"
The entire temple courtyard suddenly fell into a tense silence.
But suddenly—
the emperor's voice rang out loudly.
"Don't listen to him!"
Xiang Tianxuan shouted despite his nearly shattered body.
"If I must die…"
"then let me die!"
"Never surrender to this bastard!"
But at that moment—
Xiang She's tail suddenly trembled slightly.
Cold sweat began forming on his forehead.
His eyes narrowed.
What… is this?
Only now did he feel something strange in his body.
A burning sensation.
And numbness slowly spreading through the flow of his spiritual energy.
Poison.
The thorns of Xue Yunxue's vines had contained poison.
The effect was only beginning to spread now.
Xiang She gritted his teeth.
He had to finish this right now.
Up in the air—
Xue Yunxue's eyes narrowed.
She saw that small change.
Lu Xiao emerged from a cloud of black mist and appeared beside her.
Yun Wu also leapt closer.
"What happened?" Lu Xiao asked.
Xue Yunxue stared sharply at Xiang She.
"He's been poisoned."
The three of them exchanged glances.
They all realized the same thing.
The poison was working.
But before they could take advantage of the situation—
Xiang She suddenly laughed softly.
The laugh was cold and hoarse.
He lifted Emperor Xiang Tianxuan slightly higher with the coils of his emerald tail.
The emperor's weakened body looked as though it might break at any moment.
"Looks like you've forgotten something."
His voice echoed across the courtyard.
"I'm still holding a hostage."
His gaze fell once more on Xue Yunxue.
A cold aura filled the air.
"Little girl."
"Let's make a deal."
The entire temple courtyard instantly became tense.
"Surrender yourself to me."
"And I will release this old emperor."
The atmosphere froze.
"No!"
Lu Xiao spoke immediately, his voice cold.
The black mist surrounding his body trembled violently.
"Don't listen to him."
Yun Wu also growled.
"He only wants to capture you."
"The moment you surrender—he will kill all of us."
Even Grand Priest Shen Qiyun slowly shook his head.
"Young girl."
"Do not do that."
"The fate of this world cannot be decided by the threats of a tyrant."
But Xue Yunxue did not answer immediately.
Her eyes remained fixed on Xiang She.
She could see something others might not have noticed.
Xiang She's body was beginning to weaken.
The movement of his tail was no longer as powerful as before.
The poison was working more deeply than she had expected.
But Xiang She also realized that his time was running out.
He gritted his teeth.
Suddenly—
a small red light flashed across one of the scales on his serpent tail.
A signal.
He had just sent out a distress signal.
To whom?
There was no need to guess.
Noctar's forces.
Lu Xiao immediately realized it.
His eyes turned cold.
"He called for reinforcements."
"If the rebel army arrives…"
"we will truly be surrounded."
The situation became even worse.
But at that moment—
Xue Yunxue unexpectedly stepped slightly forward in the air.
"I agree."
Everyone instantly turned toward her.
"Xue'er!"
Xiang Shuai shouted in shock.
"Don't do this!"
Yun Wu growled.
"If you move one more step I will drag you back myself."
But Yunxue only said softly,
"Trust me."
Her gaze was calm.
But behind that calm expression—
her mind was moving rapidly.
She only needed to stall for time.
A few seconds.
That was all.
Meanwhile—
on the other side of the battlefield—
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes.
He carefully observed Xiang She.
Cold sweat was forming on Xiang She's forehead.
Is that snake… in pain?
It seemed Xiang She's mind was no longer stable.
Which meant—
this was the opening.
Lin Yuan slowly raised his hand.
There was no massive aura.
No obvious attack.
Only an extremely subtle mental wave.
He directed his psychic power straight into Xiang She's consciousness.
Suddenly, Xiang She felt the world around him sway.
The sounds of the battlefield grew distant.
His vision trembled.
It was as if he had stepped into an illusion.
He saw shadows.
The shadow of the Emperor.
The shadows of his brothers.
Shadows of a past filled with hatred.
"What… is this…?"
He growled softly.
But the poison in his body had already weakened his mental defenses.
The hallucination began creeping into his mind.
The Taigu general standing beside him looked uneasy.
"Your Majesty, what's happening?"
In the air—
Xue Yunxue noticed the tiny opening.
Her eyes narrowed.
Now.
Without warning—
she moved her finger.
A thin golden vine shot out from the ground like lightning.
Its target was not Xiang She.
But—
the last Taigu general.
The man had just stepped forward to protect Xiang She.
But he never even realized what was happening.
CRAAACK!
The razor-sharp golden vine stabbed straight into his shoulder.
Piercing through his energy armor.
Piercing through flesh.
The general staggered backward, his eyes wide.
Blood sprayed from the wound.
He did not die.
But the wound was deep and dangerous.
His Taigu aura immediately became unstable.
For a moment—
Xiang She's entire army formation collapsed.
Even the soldiers felt intimidated.
Amid the chaos—
Lu Xiao moved as fast as a shadow.
The emerald coil that had restrained the Emperor had already weakened from poison, constant attacks, and Xiang She's mental instability.
With a powerful strike—
CRAAACK!
A shadow blade from Lu Xiao's hand sliced through the remaining coil.
The body of Emperor Xiang Tianxuan was freed.
Lu Xiao caught him instantly before he could hit the ground.
At the same moment—
Grand Priest Shen Qiyun raised both of his hands.
Pure white energy flowed from his body, pulsing like moonlight.
The air in the temple courtyard trembled.
Before the temple stairs—
a spatial rift slowly opened.
The air looked as if it had been torn apart like cloth.
Behind the rift—
dark mist and an ancient aura poured outward.
The Gate to the Snake King's Tomb.
Shen Qiyun's followers immediately moved.
They formed a circular defensive barrier around the gate.
One by one—
they began entering the rift.
Xiang Shuai supported his father and carried him into the portal.
The followers of the Grand Priest followed behind.
Yun Wu also jumped in after making sure no enemies were approaching.
But just as Xue Yunxue was about to step into the portal—
the air above the temple courtyard suddenly trembled.
A circle of light appeared in the sky.
A powerful teleportation fluctuation swept across the battlefield.
The next second—
Noctar appeared.
He arrived with a small group of elite soldiers.
The man's aura instantly pressed down on the surrounding air.
His gaze fell directly on the figure standing before the portal.
"Xue Yunxue."
His voice was deep and heavy.
Yunxue's heart began beating faster.
Her eyes looked at him with cold hatred.
Noctar stood calmly, as if the chaos around him meant nothing.
"Either way…"
"you won't be able to escape from me."
His voice was calm.
But the threat within it was unmistakable.
Xue Yunxue did not answer.
She simply stared at him for a moment.
Then turned and walked into the portal with an indifferent expression.
Behind her—
Lu Xiao followed.
His gaze toward Noctar was filled with murderous intent.
As if he was only waiting for the chance to tear that man apart with his own hands.
The last one to enter was Grand Priest Shen Qiyun.
The moment he stepped through—
the spatial rift immediately closed.
The portal to the Snake King's Tomb disappeared completely.
The energy barrier protecting them collapsed instantly.
The air returned to silence.
Xiang She slowly regained his consciousness.
If it had lasted any longer, Lin Yuan's mental power might have shattered his mind completely and driven him insane.
In the ruined courtyard—
Xiang She fell to the ground.
His body trembled from the poison spreading through his energy channels.
He immediately sat cross-legged.
The emerald scales on his body began glowing faintly green.
He forced his body to generate an antidote.
His rare ability.
The poison inside his body was slowly absorbed and neutralized by a new toxin he produced himself.
The process was painful.
But it accelerated his recovery.
After a while—
he stood up again, his face slightly pale.
Meanwhile—
Noctar stood quietly, observing the remains of the battlefield.
Without needing to ask—
he could already guess what had happened.
From afar he could sense the lingering fluctuations of a massive battle that had just occurred.
But what truly brought him here was not the battle.
Nor the SOS signal from Xiang She.
It was a very faint and gentle energy fluctuation he had suddenly sensed.
An energy that felt familiar.
An energy very similar to that of the fox girl.
Xuxu had once reported that the girl he was searching for was named—
Xue Yunxue.
Xiang She stabilized his breathing and looked sharply at Noctar.
"You know that girl?" he asked.
Noctar smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"A very interesting fox girl."
"I'm trying to capture her."
Xiang She frowned.
Tch…
So this man was also targeting that girl.
He clenched his teeth inwardly.
But before he could say anything—
Noctar spoke again.
"The girl you've been searching for across the entire empire…"
"Is it her?"
Xiang She's face paled slightly.
But he did not answer.
He knew very well—
Noctar's power and influence stood far above his own.
Not to mention if Noctar truly joined forces with that person.
If that happened—
no one in this world would dare oppose him.
Noctar looked at him coldly.
"Don't ever think about possessing her."
"That girl…"
"is more suited for me."
Without waiting for a reply—
Noctar raised his hand.
Teleportation light flared again.
In an instant—
he and all of his troops vanished into the air.
What remained was only the ruined courtyard of Tianluo Temple.
And Xiang She's surviving army.
Out of the thousands of soldiers who had arrived—
more than half had died.
They had lost two powerful generals.
And nearly two thousand elite troops.
What should have been an easy victory—
had turned into a bitter defeat.