Chapter 81: Declaring War on My Hun Clan?
"Heh, the continent's number one alchemist, the Medicine Sovereign Yao Chen, is nothing more than this!"
In the sky, Yun Yi lightly brushed his sleeve robe, dispersing the last remnants of the energy shockwave spreading before him. A cold sneer surfaced on his refined face.
Somewhat out of breath, Yao Chen looked icily at Yun Yi, who seemed completely unspent. After a long moment, he slowly inhaled and said coldly, "Brat, you're still too green to capture this old man!"
As his voice fell, the bone-white flames around Yao Chen suddenly surged. With a violent sweep of his sleeve, the flames churned madly in the air. Centered around the flame, the spiritual energy of the world began to riot, as if a terrifying giant maw was ravenously devouring the natural energy.
"Cauldron Rules the Mountains and Rivers!"
Yao Chen shouted. The berserk natural energy coalesced into a bizarre, transparent great cauldron with three legs and two ears. Strangely, a peculiar pill fragrance drifted through the air, and the great cauldron exuded an aura as if it could suppress all of heaven and earth.
After unleashing this Dou Technique, Yao Chen's figure became increasingly transparent, as if he might scatter and vanish at any moment.
"A Dou Technique of the Yao clan!" Gazing at the strange great cauldron swelling in the wind, a sharp light flashed through Yun Yi's eyes. He sneered, "An abandoned son of the Yao clan, always swearing he has no ties to them. To think in the end, you still need the Yao clan's Dou Techniques to save your life."
Yun Yi wasn't surprised that Yao Chen knew a Yao clan Dou Technique. Even if Yao Chen was an abandoned son, his parents were not. Having spent so many years in the Yao clan, knowing one or two of their techniques was plausible enough.
Since Yao Chen hadn't exposed it before, the Yao clan simply turned a blind eye. Moreover, when executed through the Bone Chilling Flame, who could still claim this was a pure Yao clan technique?
However, that did not stop Yun Yi from mocking him with words!
"You seek death!"
Sure enough, hearing Yun Yi's words, the killing intent in Yao Chen's eyes instantly surged. Immediately, the great cauldron fiercely smashed toward Yun Yi.
Yun Yi could feel it: this Dou Technique was inherently more akin to suppression and sealing. But with the augmentation of the heavenly flame, the destructive power carried by the great cauldron was also terrifying.
"Today, watch me shatter your pride!"
As the cauldron approached, Yun Yi suddenly punched out. Surging blood and qi power, carrying a terrifying energy storm, slammed heavily against the great cauldron with a resounding "Boom!"
"Bang—"
The descending momentum of the great cauldron was stopped. Yao Chen watched this scene with an ugly expression and shouted fiercely:
"Refine—"
Instantly, a terrifying sea of bone-white flame suddenly spewed from the cauldron, surging toward Yun Yi.
"Soul's Funeral!"
Rumble!
A colossal sound, like thunder, shook heaven and earth. An utterly terrifying black tide, like a mountain torrent bursting forth, spread out from behind Yun Yi. In the blink of an eye, a strange black radiance expanded, surging toward Yao Chen.
The darkness came utterly and thoroughly. Even the moon in the sky seemed to vanish into thin air at that moment. The entire world was abruptly and completely filled with darkness.
"What is that!"
In the distance, Xiao Yan, who had already been found by Ling Ying, and Xiao Zhan, who had joined them, watched in disbelief as the great cauldron in the distant sky was swallowed by the darkness. Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan felt their souls tremble, as if they might be consumed by that darkness at any moment.
"That is... the Yao clan? And the Hun clan?"
Compared to the two, Ling Ying was far more knowledgeable. Although still limited, his guess was nearly spot on.
"What Yao clan? Hun clan? Senior, could I beg you to go save my teacher?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan remained utterly bewildered. This person, suspected to be a Dou Wang (Dou Huang), had just appeared and saved him and his father. Thinking of Yao Chen's predicament, Xiao Yan looked pleadingly at Ling Ying.
Hearing Xiao Yan's plea, Ling Ying remained impassive and said stiffly, "My apologies, I am only responsible for your safety. As for other matters, the young lady gave no such orders."
"Young lady?"
"Whose young lady is she?"
Xiao Yan still wore a confused expression, though a flicker of understanding passed through Xiao Zhan beside him.
Ling Ying did not answer Xiao Yan's question, for they had now arrived at a gathering point where all members of the Xiao family were assembled.
The commotion on the back mountain was so great that the Xiao family members were all trembling with fear. To prevent any mishaps, they gathered here, far from the back mountain, a temporarily safe location.
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
Seeing Xiao Yan return safely, Gu Xun'er in the crowd felt a wave of relief. She immediately came to Xiao Yan's side and carefully looked him over.
"Xun'er!"
Looking at Gu Xun'er, a warmth flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes. At this moment, Ling Ying silently retreated to stand behind Gu Xun'er, warily scanning the surroundings.
And the people nearby cast awed glances their way from time to time. Everyone had seen Ling Ying's blatant Dou Qi wings, and seeing his attitude toward Gu Xun'er, now everyone looking at Xiao Yan had eyes so envious they were practically turning green!
"Xun'er, could you ask this senior to go save my teacher?"
Xiao Yan was quick-witted. Seeing Ling Ying's actions, curiosity about Xun'er's background immediately arose in his heart, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Teacher?" Gu Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan with some puzzlement, then turned back to look at Ling Ying.
Promptly, Xiao Yan recounted everything that had just happened in full detail.
"Brother Xiao Yan, did you just say that person called your teacher Yao Chen? And Senior Yao Chen said that man is from the Soul Hall?"
After hearing the account, Gu Xun'er's expression immediately became grave. She fixed her gaze on Xiao Yan and asked solemnly.
Though unsure why Xun'er wore such an expression, Xiao Yan nodded heavily.
"Xun'er, is the Soul Hall very strong?" After a moment of hesitation, noting Gu Xun'er's change in demeanor, Xiao Yan asked somewhat reluctantly.
Ultimately, Yao Chen was just a teacher he had only just formally acknowledged—and the very culprit behind his cultivation's regression. When it came to feelings, his childhood sweetheart Xun'er naturally held a much deeper place.
If this matter put Xun'er in a difficult position, Xiao Yan would only choose to stand by her side.
"No, Brother Xiao Yan. Xun'er will send someone to save your teacher right away!"
The sharp-minded Gu Xun'er immediately sensed Xiao Yan's worry. Her heart rejoiced, and she smiled sweetly.
"Ling Lao, have Elder Lin take action and rescue Senior Yao Chen!" As her words fell, Ling Ying hesitated. These Dou Zun Elders were Gu Xun'er's final protective force. Were they to be used like this?
"Miss, this..."
"Hm~" Ling Ying's hesitation immediately made Gu Xun'er's demeanor turn cold. Her clear voice suddenly rang out: "Do you intend to disobey orders!"
Golden flames flickered in her eyes. Ling Ying's body trembled, and he bowed. "Yes!"
Watching Ling Ying leave to summon the person, Gu Xun'er turned to Xiao Yan with a smile as beautiful as a flower: "Brother Xiao Yan, Senior Yao Chen will be alright very soon!"
At that moment, Xiao Yan was still immersed in the domineering authority Gu Xun'er had just displayed. Commanding a Dou Huang at will—just how powerful was Xun'er's clan? And what was Xun'er's own status?
Belatedly, as Xun'er drew near, a sense of inferiority arose in Xiao Yan's heart. Could he truly be worthy of such an outstanding girl?
Xiao Yan's subtle change made Xun'er furrow her brows slightly, but it vanished immediately. She affectionately nestled close to Xiao Yan's side.
"Mister Yao Chen, it seems I am the victor!"
In the sky, as the black mist dispersed, Yun Yi was seen holding a nearly transparent soul body in one hand, a mocking laugh escaping him.
With a motion of his hand seals, Yun Yi swiftly pulled the Bone Flame Ring from Yao Chen into his palm. Using soul power to violently break the seal on it and sensing the Burning Art and the method to control the Calamity Poison Body within, he nodded in satisfaction.
With the backing of the Hun clan, Yao Chen's alchemist legacy no longer held such great attraction for him. The only things on Yao Chen's person that interested him were the heavenly flame, the complete Burning Art, and the method to control the Calamity Poison Body.
"Cough, cough, cough—"
"This old man will absolutely not fall into the hands of your Soul Hall again!"
Yao Chen's violent coughing came through. He spoke weakly, his eyes full of hatred as he stared at Yun Yi. Deep within his soul, the Bone Chilling Flame began to pulse strangely at that moment, and the surrounding natural energy suddenly began to stir restlessly.
"Thinking of self-destructing the heavenly flame?" Sensing the anomaly, Yun Yi sneered coldly, "You're only bringing pain upon yourself!"
As his voice fell, Yun Yi's palm suddenly thrust into Yao Chen's soul body. The pitch-black flame in his palm shot directly toward the Bone Chilling Flame within the other's soul origin.
"Ah—"
Having his soul suddenly suffer such damage, even someone with Yao Chen's iron will let out a pained wail.
Within Yao Chen's soul origin, the Bone Chilling Flame, which had just been about to self-destruct, began to tremble madly the moment it touched that black flame, as if a mouse had encountered a cat.
It was ruthlessly suppressed, its energy being savagely plundered!
"Nihility... Nihility Devouring Flame!"
Sensing the Bone Chilling Flame's abnormality, Yao Chen stared at Yun Yi in disbelief and cried out in shock.
"Heh!" The only reply Yao Chen received was a cold, icy sneer!
"Since when has the Hun clan's reach stretched so far?" Just at that moment, a calm voice rang out. In the next instant, an ancient, large hand stretched across the sky, exuding a terrifying pressure. With heaven-reaching might, it descended toward the space where Yun Yi stood.
"Heh!"
"How my Hun clan acts is none of your Gu clan's business!"
In the next moment, a black-robed figure suddenly appeared behind Yun Yi. Facing the giant hand, there was not the slightest fear on his face, only a cold sneer.
From beneath the robe, a pale, skeletal hand reached out toward the giant hand and grabbed hold of it. Black mist surged violently, corroding it directly into nothingness...
"A Hun clan Dou Zun!"
A surprised voice rang out as a figure with white hair and black robes slowly appeared, hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing the two before him.
Even though his opponent outranked him by two stars, he showed no trace of fear. This was the pride of what he considered the foremost emperor clan!
"Yao Chen—my Gu clan wants him!"
He glanced coldly at the two and spoke with an arrogant tone, as if stating a matter of course.
"What are you supposed to be?" With a cold laugh, Yun Yi spoke icily. Exerting slight force with his palm, he tore the Bone Chilling Flame directly from Yao Chen's soul origin and looked indifferently at the Gu clan Dou Zun.
"Should I take this to mean that you intend to declare war on my Hun clan on behalf of the Gu clan?!!"
"Whoosh—"
The cold night wind howled past. Never before had the Gu clan Dou Zun felt the night to be so chilling.
Don't be ridiculous. Declaring war on the Hun clan on behalf of the Gu clan? Even Lady Xun'er didn't have that authority. Only a unanimous decision by the Elder Council and the Clan Leader could determine such a thing.
"Heh—"
Seeing the Gu clan member's reaction, the look of mockery on Hun Chi's face was utterly unconcealed.
The Gu clan—nothing but dried bones in a tomb!
"Enough talk! Hand over Yao Chen!"
Feeling Hun Chi's ridicule, a flash of anger appeared on the Gu clan Dou Zun's face. Realizing he had been played for a fool, he immediately roared furiously.
"A mere seven-star Dou Zun—who gave you the nerve!"
Hun Chi's smile also faded, his expression instantly turning icy as he spoke coldly.
"Heh, let you mongrels of the Hun clan have a taste of my Gu clan's methods!"
As the final syllable of his words fell, the Gu clan Dou Zun stepped on the void and then appeared directly not far before Yun Yi and Hun Chi, his aged face filled with a sinister smile.
"Seeking death!"
Hun Chi responded with a vicious expression. A savage look flashed in his eyes. He stomped fiercely on the void, and strange black mist materialized from nowhere, transforming into over a dozen black chains that tore through space, shooting toward his opponent with lightning speed.
Seeing this, the white-haired elder smiled. With a clench of his fist, vast, deep-yellow Dou Qi surged out, directly forming a thick earthen wall before him. Amid a series of muffled thuds, it blocked all the chains completely.
"Rock Dragon Strangulation!"
The Gu clan Dou Zun stomped on the void. Deep-yellow Dou Qi coiled around him and, amid roars, transformed into ferocious earthen dragons. With low growls and violently quaking space, they lunged to kill Hun Chi.
"Hundred Soul Slash!"
Faced with such a ferocious attack from the Gu clan Dou Zun, Hun Chi's face instead revealed a wild, crazed grin. With a tyrannical air, he condensed a large blade and slashed straight at his opponent.
"Boom!"
In the sky, the two figures collided with lightning speed, producing a heaven-shaking sound. As time passed, the two fought farther and farther away, as if both were wary of something, completely failing to unleash the true power befitting Dou Zuns.
As the distance widened, both sides successively burst forth with their full strength. The Gu clan Dou Zun slowly fell into a disadvantage; the gap of two stars was not so easily bridged.
"Imperial Seal Art: Mountain Splitting Seal! Sea Overturning Seal!"
As he fell into a disadvantage, the Gu clan Dou Zun suddenly roared in fury. Dazzling green crystalline light burst from his withered palm, and a series of profound hand seals rapidly transformed!
With a violent sweep of his arm, the mysterious palm seal, covered with countless strange black threads before him, fiercely shot out!
The moment this energy palm seal appeared, the natural energy of this region of the world abruptly rioted. Even the clouds on the horizon were churned up and roiling!
"The Imperial Seal Art!"
Regarding this famous Imperial Seal Art of the Gu clan, Hun Chi was naturally aware. It was a Dou Technique created by the Gu clan's Dou Di. As long as members of the Gu clan who possessed the ancient emperor's bloodline cultivated it, they could achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Thus, even though the Imperial Seal Art was only an Earth Class technique comparable to a Heaven Class one, nearly everyone in the Gu clan knew it. A technique with such immense power yet so easy to learn was naturally in high demand.
"Soul's Funeral: Hundred Evil Palm!"
Black mist rapidly condensed in Hun Chi's palm. In the next instant, accompanied by waves of wailing soul lamentations, Hun Chi's figure shot out, appearing before the mysterious palm seal in the next heartbeat. With a solemn expression, he fiercely slammed out a palm strike!
The moment the palm was unleashed, the surrounding world seemed to turn much colder, giving one an eerie, chilling sensation. The soul's sea of consciousness also had to endure the torment of those continuous wailing sounds.
"Boom—"
Under the watch of countless gazes in the dark night, the two great experts, like meteors streaking across the horizon, collided spectacularly in that split second! A heaven-shaking sound reverberated throughout the world!
The terrifying energy storm spread from the horizon. Pitch-black fissures, nearly a hundred meters long, silently appeared like ravines across the void space. That scene was like a ferocious giant maw suddenly splitting open in the sky, chilling the hearts of all who saw it.
The spread of the energy storm also brought a heaven-sweeping hurricane. In the surrounding forests, countless giant trees were uprooted and sent flying into the distance. The scene resembled an apocalypse.
Yun Yi withdrew his gaze. From the previous clash, he had already judged that Hun Chi had gained the upper hand and would soon achieve victory. What was most pressing now was dealing with the figure ahead.
At some unknown time, on a distant mountain peak, a graceful azure figure stood poised. Her skirt fluttered gently, like a fairy among the clouds, carrying an ethereal air. Her coldly beautiful face watched Yun Yi with indifference.
Three thousand strands of black hair fluttered in the wind, otherworldly and transcendent. And that beautiful countenance made even this stretch of the world seem dim. A pair of captivating, intelligent eyes held a vacant, ethereal meaning. Although due to her young age her figure was not particularly striking, she was already a peerless beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms!
Among the women Yun Yi had seen, only Medusa Queen and Zi Yan could compare to her.
"Gu Xun'er!"
The peerless beauty did not draw Yun Yi's attention. His expression remained cold and detached as he looked at Gu Xun'er, his tone icy, like frozen depths that could freeze the spirit itself.
"Release Senior Yao Chen. Otherwise, even if you are from the Hun clan, today you will not leave here alive!"
Toward any man other than Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er spared no pleasantries, her voice clear and cold as she spoke.
"Heh!"
"Just based on your mere nine-stage Dou Zhi Qi strength?"
Hearing Gu Xun'er's words, a cold sneer surfaced on Yun Yi's face, a flash of contempt in his eyes.
In her childhood, because a wisp of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame had been sealed within her body, Gu Xun'er often suffered painful torture, and her meridians were very fragile. Thus, the Dou Zhi Qi stage cultivation was not fast for her.
This was why the possessor of a divine-grade bloodline had initially been slower to improve than Xiao Yan.
However, all of this was worth it. In the later stages, Gu Xun'er's strength never lagged far behind Xiao Yan's, all thanks to the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
"Hm?"
Gu Xun'er frowned slightly at his words. Just moments ago, she had wanted the hidden experts to act, but the response she received was that there were still Hun clan members lurking nearby. It was not suitable to fully erupt into battle with the Hun clan. Therefore, they would only guarantee her personal safety. As for other matters... they found it difficult to comply!
Thinking of Xiao Yan's request, then considering her own situation, Gu Xun'er took a deep breath. A sudden killing intent appeared in her eyes as she stared coldly at Yun Yi. "All of this is your fault!"
"Clearly..."
"We clearly still had a few years!"
As she spoke, a pitch-black scroll suddenly appeared in Gu Xun'er's hand, and she crushed it forcefully. As the scroll exploded, violent spatial fluctuations erupted in the vicinity.
"Riiip—"
Under countless horrified gazes, the sky split open! And then, a gentle, refined middle-aged man slowly walked out from within.
The instant the middle-aged man appeared, everything around him seemed to freeze. The hidden Gu clan and Hun clan Dou Zuns were all forced to reveal themselves. Then, with a single sweeping glance from him, the Hun clan's Dou Zuns were torn into nothingness before they could even utter a scream.
"Heh, Gu Yuan, how utterly shameless! The dignified Clan Leader of the Gu clan, actually striking against a junior!"