Chapter 95: Overwhelming Might!
"What—"
"Rank seven Magical Beasts?"
"The overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range has broken through to rank seven?!"
The five elders behind Xie Shan, upon hearing this, immediately revealed expressions of utter shock. They stared uncertainly at the enormous forms of the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings. Among the five, two were Dou Huangs and three were peak Dou Wangs, so they deeply understood the difficulty of such a breakthrough.
All the more so for Magical Beasts. Due to their bloodlines, breaking through their own bloodline limits was even harder. That was precisely why they knew just how inconceivable this was.
"Hmph— it is by my lord's aid that I am what I am today. Xie Shan, tell Xie Bi Yan to come out. Otherwise... today we shall trample your Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect flat!"
Toward the varied expressions of the group, the Amethyst Winged Lion King swept a disdainful glance over them all, raised its neck, and spoke with an arrogant air.
As its voice fell, an intense pressure simultaneously erupted from within the bodies of both beasts, bearing down on Xie Shan and the others.
"There's another rank seven Magical Beast!!!"
Seeing the two abruptly burst forth with their aura, and that the other Amethyst Winged Lion King was also at rank seven, Xie Shan's expression also changed. Mighty Dou Qi surged violently from within his body. The five Dou Huang and Dou Wang experts behind him also shouted in unison, their palms pressing onto Xie Shan's shoulders as their Dou Qi flooded in like the tide.
Receiving such an immense infusion of Dou Qi, Xie Shan's face turned considerably redder. With a thought, the vast Dou Qi began to vent recklessly, colliding fiercely with the Dou Qi unleashed by the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
"Boom—"
After the earth-shaking explosion, Xie Shan's group ultimately lacked staying power and let out a muffled grunt, blown back several dozen meters.
"Since Xie Bi Yan won't come out, then your Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect no longer needs to exist!" As if fearing Yun Yi would grow impatient, after that one strike, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's eyes suddenly turned cold. Purple flames coiled around it, its aura becoming even more violent and berserk.
"Amethyst Flowing Fire Slash!"
A furious shout rang out. Suddenly, the purple flames around the Amethyst Winged Lion King shot explosively toward Xie Shan's group, blanketing the sky. The flames abruptly merged mid-flight, transforming into a purple flame slash. The terrifying heat actually left countless visible scars across the sky.
Seeing this spectacular attack from the Amethyst Winged Lion King, Xie Shan and his group's faces changed color again. A Dou Zong expert was indeed not someone they could contend against. The terrifying heat contained in these horrific purple flames was probably enough to burn a Dou Wang to ashes.
"Insolence—"
Just as the purple flame slash was about to reach within ten meters of them, a deep, powerful roar boomed out. The figure of an old man oddly materialized in midair. He stomped fiercely on the void with the cane in his hand. Boundless Dou Qi surged forth from his body, ultimately transforming into a screen of light that completely enveloped the space over a dozen meters before him.
"Boom—"
The purple flame slash shot forth violently, finally slamming heavily onto the light screen. The screen rippled again and again, but remained stubbornly erect, showing no signs of dissipating.
The old man was dressed in ordinary clothes. His aged face was expressionless. Yet within his murky eyes was deeply hidden a chilling, sharp gleam. In his hand, he leaned on a pitch-black cane, atop which rested an exceptionally ferocious scorpion head. At the scorpion head's forehead flickered a few barely perceptible points of purple light.
Seeing the newcomer, everyone from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect hurriedly saluted with respect. At the same time, they breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. The backbone had arrived; they no longer had to face Dou Zongs in constant fear.
"Two mere beasts dare to run wild at my Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect? Tell the one behind you to show himself! Stop this phony mysticism!"
Xie Bi Yan's murky gaze swept over the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings. Sensing that the Dou Qi within their bodies was merely equivalent to one or two-star Dou Zongs, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately spoke coldly.
"If you want to see my lord, you still—" Toward Xie Bi Yan's contempt, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was immediately infuriated.
"Amethyst!" Just then, a cold, detached voice rang out. The voice seemed to carry a strange power, making everyone present feel a sudden calm in their hearts. This state made Xie Bi Yan's heart lurch fiercely.
To achieve such an effect with voice alone showed how profound the newcomer's soul cultivation was. It seemed a truly formidable character had come this time.
Under everyone's watch, a slender hand lifted the carriage curtain, and Yun Yi slowly stepped out from within.
But his appearance caused everyone present to freeze.
Too young! Even though he looked about eighteen or nineteen, that vigorous vitality of youth still betrayed the newcomer's 'tender' age.
"Young Master!" The Amethyst Winged Lion Kings looked at Jiang Yun and lowered their massive heads, an unprecedented fanaticism shining in their eyes. That look—if Yun Yi were to tell the two beasts to die in the very next second, they would unhesitatingly rush to their deaths.
In their understanding, from the moment they had left the Magical Beast Mountain Range, their lives had no longer belonged to themselves.
This was the terrifying aspect of flame slaves. They wouldn't make you completely lose your reason—you were still you—only in your perception, one more master for whom you would sacrifice everything had been added.
The Amethyst Winged Lion Kings' attitude made Xie Bi Yan's pupils sharply contract. He completely rejected the last fantasy in his heart. The newcomer truly came from an unknown great power.
To actually use rank seven Magical Beasts as mounts—such an origin was unimaginable. If...
"Xie Bi Yan!" At this moment, Yun Yi's gaze shifted toward Xie Bi Yan. His tone indifferent, he said: "From today onward, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect shall work for me. Is that acceptable?"
The overbearing voice of the youth echoed in everyone's ears. Right from the start, there was no beating around the bush. His tone was remarkably indifferent, as if he were stating a matter of course.
At this moment, the members of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect looked up and were instantly dumbfounded.
Upon the firmament, before the pitch-black war chariot, that white-robed figure overlooked all around and slowly spoke. Two majestic and imposing Magical Beast overlords crouched submissively at his sides. In this moment, he was bathed entirely in a glow of radiant light, like a deity—noble and extraordinary.
The sunlight cascaded down, illuminating his face, making him appear heroic and dashing.
Even Xie Bi Yan, despite his extensive experience, was now stunned into a daze by Yun Yi.
"..."
Receiving no response for a long while, Yun Yi's brows furrowed slightly. An indifferent yet profound gaze swept across.
"Ang—"
In an instant, a dragon's roar resounded in all directions. Behind Yun Yi, black mist coiled and a giant, winding silhouette emerged within. It was a jet-black demonic dragon, its entire body wreathed in deep, strange pitch-black flames that blotted out the sun. This sight filled the faces of everyone present with fear and dread.
"Heavens, what is that?!"
"It's a dragon— there's actually a true dragon within that black mist—"
"The northwest continent actually has a dragon clan! Too terrifying!"
Instantly, a chorus of shocked cries rose from all around. People were utterly shaken. Besides the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings, there was actually another ace up their sleeve! Just what kind of young master was out on an excursion here!
"Submit—"
"Or die—"
In the next moment, Yun Yi's indifferent voice came through. At the same time, an aura akin to a bottomless abyss radiated from his entire body, bearing down on Xie Bi Yan.
"Mmgh—"
A muffled grunt sounded. Xie Bi Yan, forced back by Yun Yi's aura, retreated several steps.
"How is this possible—"
But Xie Bi Yan had no time at this moment to worry about his internal injuries. Instead, he stared at Yun Yi in shock.
The others hadn't seen it, but had he not seen it yet?
That was no other Magical Beast! That thing was something Yun Yi had condensed himself! And that was precisely what shocked Xie Bi Yan even more. How old was Yun Yi?!
Likely not even a fraction of his own age, yet he had already reached the same realm as him. How could he calmly accept this?
"Won't submit, then die!"
Having received no response for so long, Yun Yi was also a man of few words and fierce action. Five fingers curled into a fist. Violent air currents howled and tore, ripping at the surroundings and stretching out vast swaths of white waves.
"Rumble—"
The terrifying fist wind tore open the surrounding sky. The demonic dragon behind him shuddered, its dragon tail lightly flicking, bringing with it a sky-surging sea of flame, sweeping down toward Xie Bi Yan.
"Not good!"
Sensing that terrifying aura, Xie Bi Yan's expression changed drastically. His body shuddered. He violently swung his cane. Five foul-smelling poisonous rays shot forth from the scorpion head's mouth on the cane. In midair, they merged into an even larger poisonous python and shot toward the demonic dragon.
Boom—
The fearsome energies crashed violently in the void, erupting with sizzling sound after sound. A faint cloud of smoke also rose up.
"Soul's Funeral!"
Since blows had already been exchanged, the opponent would now face a storm-like barrage from Yun Yi.
Dou Qi condensed in Yun Yi's hand, and a strange rune appeared. As the Dou Qi gathered, the rune instantly turned a deep crimson, then, as if suddenly coming alive, it leaped into the void and vanished.
"Boom!"
A pitch-black energy vortex, fully three hundred meters wide, abruptly crashed forth from the void. As it spun at high speed, it even gave off the illusion that space itself was being sucked into it.
And upon this pitch-black energy vortex were twined thousands upon thousands of twisted, ferocious soul bodies, ceaselessly wailing and moaning outward.
Instantly, the entire stretch of sky was filled with an eerie, sinister wind.
Just a single extra glance at that pitch-black vortex felt as if one's entire soul was being drawn into it.
"Wuuu, wuuu!"
The pitch-black vortex, carrying a dark, strange crying sound and the terrifying momentum of grinding all creation to death, sped straight for Xie Bi Yan.
"Blood Soul Art!"
Seeing the incoming attack, Xie Bi Yan's expression changed drastically. With a furious roar, he stamped fiercely on the void with his cane. His clothes burst apart. The tattoo of a giant blood-red scorpion on his body wriggled as if alive.
As Xie Bi Yan's hand seals shifted, the Blood Demon Scorpion Emperor tattoo burrowed strand by strand into his body. Xie Bi Yan also underwent a tremendous transformation. His hands twisted grotesquely, transforming into two blood-red giant pincers.
Before long, he had become a half-man, half-scorpion monster, his entire body dripping with fresh blood. A brutal, murderous aura shot straight into the sky.
"This old man doesn't care where you come from or who's behind you! Since you want this old man's life, today, I'll make you the first sacrifice after the great completion of my Blood Soul Art!"
At this point, having explosively risen in strength to a five-star Dou Zong, and due to the nature of his cultivation method, Xie Bi Yan had become somewhat crazed and manic. His eyes blood-red, he stared at Yun Yi and the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings.
Carrying the surging, heaven-charging brutal and murderous aura, he brandished his blood-red giant pincers and shot explosively toward Yun Yi.
"Great Blazing Flame Palm!"
Watching the charging Xie Bi Yan and sensing the aura comparable to a five-star Dou Zong, Yun Yi's face remained expressionless. Not a trace of worry could be seen. Unhurriedly and calmly, he stretched out his right palm and pressed it forcefully toward Xie Bi Yan.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
High in the sky, the black flame dragon roared, then rapidly twisted and turned, transforming into a black flame giant hand fully three hundred meters wide. Following the motion of Yun Yi's hand, it descended fiercely upon Xie Bi Yan below.
"Damn it—"
"How can you be this strong!"
At this moment, facing the flame palm seal head-on, massive waves surged in Xie Bi Yan's heart. He never imagined the newcomer, so young, not only had profound cultivation, but even strength and Dou Techniques this terrifying.
No time to think further. That suddenly arriving, terrifying energy oppression was right before his eyes. Xie Bi Yan's expression shifted several times. Reaching out with a beckoning gesture, he fiercely pushed Xie Shan and the others behind him toward the palm seal.
"Ancestor—"
Before they could even let out miserable screams, several Dou Huangs and Dou Wangs had already met their end.
Seeing the flame giant hand not hindered in the slightest, Xie Bi Yan's face changed dramatically. Both hands danced rapidly. In the short span of just a few breaths, all the Dou Qi in his body condensed into a pitch-black energy sphere the size of a human head.
The moment the black sphere appeared, Xie Bi Yan's aura also suddenly wilted considerably. Then, fiercely gritting his teeth, he flicked his finger, and the black sphere abruptly shot out. In an instant—
It collided violently with that flame giant hand that had swept in.
"Boom—"
Two forces, both containing dreadful energies that would make even a Dou Zong expert change color, collided ferociously. But the expected stalemate did not occur. The pitch-black palm seal, like a bottomless black hole, swiftly and ceaselessly wore down the black sphere.
Before Xie Bi Yan's incredulous eyes, in just a few breaths, the black sphere was extinguished beneath the black flame giant hand. Carrying its irresistible, unstoppable might, the hand descended toward Xie Bi Yan.
"No—"
At this moment, with not even a tenth of his Dou Qi left, Xie Bi Yan had absolutely no means to resist the descending palm seal. After letting out an unwilling, furious roar—
With a "Bang—", the pitch-black giant hand instantly burned Xie Bi Yan's physical body and soul into utter nothingness, finally leaving a palm print a full kilometer wide upon the ground before dispersing away.
Everything vanished like smoke drifting away!
Only now did the disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect react. They stared at each other in a daze.
"The Sect Leader is dead!"
"It seems the Old Sect Leader is dead too!"
"What do we do then?"
"... …"
"Kill them all." After dealing with Xie Bi Yan, Yun Yi turned around indifferently and returned to the war chariot. The flat yet murderous voice that drifted out made the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings' spirits jolt.
"Roar—" Accompanied by two great roars, the Amethyst Winged Lion Kings threw themselves like 'tigers into a flock of sheep,' unleashing a massacre upon the remaining disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect.
Purple seas of flame scorched the entire mountain range red. With two rank seven Magical Beasts taking action, after all the sect's top experts had fallen, the remaining members of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect had not the slightest power to resist. All that awaited them was slaughter.
Not long later, looking at the several rings laid out on the table—the spoils of war from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect—Yun Yi gazed indifferently at the additional souls within his soul pouch.
"The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect is still too small. Amethyst, set course for the Sky Serpent Empire!"