Chapter 108: The Team Building Begins!
"Soul Hall Dou Zuns?!"
After the three appeared, a wave of shocked uproar suddenly erupted within the Sky Serpent Holy City. Quite a few people wore expressions of utter stupefaction. In the northwest continent, even Dou Zongs were rarely seen normally.
Yet Dou Zuns, normally elusive as divine dragons whose heads and tails are never seen, had appeared one after another.
At any other time, they would have gladly joined the excitement to witness the might of Dou Zuns. But... disastrously, the ones who came this time were Dou Zuns of the Soul Hall.
Although the Soul Hall's main base was in the Central Plains, and its reputation in the northwest continent wasn't as intimidating as in the Central Plains, quite a few people present had some understanding of the Soul Hall.
This was an evil organization that spanned the entire continent. Their appearances were always accompanied by death.
Let alone, glancing around, the Soul Hall army that had surrounded the Sky Serpent Holy City, laughing with eerie jie-jie sounds—no matter how you looked at it, they were no 'friendly guests'!
After the Soul Hall members revealed themselves, the Emerald Serpent Honored Elder's figure also abruptly stiffened. Especially upon seeing one of the 'old acquaintances', his expression instantly darkened.
"Who exactly are you?! You are from the Soul Hall!"
And She Qi at the side, watching the Soul Hall's army, instantly felt his scalp tingle. He stared at Yun Yi with terrified eyes and let out a startled cry.
Compared to She Qi, the Emerald Serpent Honored Elder's gaze was firmly locked onto a blue-haired elder among the three, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes.
"Heh heh, Emerald Serpent, it's been a while! Today, you cannot escape your doom!" Facing the Emerald Serpent Honored Elder's gaze, the blue-haired elder was utterly unconcerned and smiled indifferently at him.
After speaking, regardless of the Emerald Serpent Honored Elder's ugly expression, he and the other two approached Yun Yi's side. Curiously sizing him up, in the end, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, they all bowed together.
"Soul Hall, Qing Hai..."
"Soul Hall, Qin Tian..."
"Soul Hall, Qiu Long..."
"Pay respects to the Young Hall Master!"
"We pay respects to the Young Hall Master!"
Following the greeting of the three, the surrounding Soul Hall Protectors and Envoys all bowed toward Yun Yi at the same time.
At this moment, Yun Yi stood tall, head held high upon the pitch-black war chariot. Two massive Amethyst Winged Lion Kings crouched submissively at his feet. Around him, Dou Zuns, Dou Zongs, and Dou Huangs all bowed together.
Combined with his outstandingly handsome, aloof, and cold bearing, his entire person seemed like the sovereign of this stretch of heaven and earth. It made one's heart yearn, and one couldn't help but want to kneel in submission.
"You are... you are actually the Young Hall Master of the Soul Hall!!!"
Now, the Emerald Serpent looked at Yun Yi, his eyes full of disbelief. Even though he had made guesses about the other party's origins, he had at most thought in the direction of the Four Pavilions, and at most only assumed they came from one of the Three Valleys.
Who could have imagined he was the young master of the most mysterious and unfathomable Soul Hall?!
At this moment, the Emerald Serpent felt like cursing. Wasn't the vast Central Plains enough room for you to stretch your fists and feet?!
You just had to come to my northwest continent to flaunt your might!
"Kill—"
"Leave no one—"
Yun Yi now paid no attention to the dazed Emerald Serpent Honored Elder. He looked at the crowd with an icy, detached expression. A voice utterly devoid of emotion rang out.
"Boom—"
As his voice fell, a colossal pillar of pitch-black flame shot skyward, violently exploding high in the air. Black light flickered. Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, infinite black flame seeped through from within that nothingness, and finally spread out overwhelmingly, completely blanketing the entire Emerald Serpent Holy City. In an instant, the sky darkened and the earth dimmed...
"Jie jie jie, kill! This time, I'm definitely going to collect a few more souls!"
"Jie jie jie, following the Young Hall Master is truly satisfying! This time, I won't have to worry about meeting my quota for half a year!"
"Still short a few high-level souls, then I can exchange for a Sect-Breaking Pill. Hope this place lets me fulfill my wish!"
As Yun Yi made his move, the Soul Hall Protectors and Envoys, who had long been impatient, immediately burst out with eerie, strange laughter. The clanking and ringing of chains was incessant. Like ravenous hungry wolves, they charged down toward the Sky Serpent Holy City below.
"Soul Hall—"
"Do you truly intend to commit this act of extermination?!"
Watching coldly as the Emerald Serpent Honored Elder roared furiously, Honored Elder Qing Hai revealed a cold sneer and said, "Emerald Serpent, your day of death has arrived! This old man still vividly remembers that palm strike from back then!"
"Qing Hai, you stall Emerald Serpent. Leave the rest to us. This is the Young Hall Master's first deployment. We must let him witness our strength!"
Qin Tian swept a glance over the others and turned his head to suggest. In their eyes, Yun Yi was a thick, sturdy thigh to cling to! If this mission was completed beautifully and they latched onto Yun Yi's thigh, that would be a reward richer than anything!
"Good!"
Toward Qin Tian's suggestion, neither Qing Hai nor Qiu Long had any objections. It was the fastest battlefield harvesting strategy.
Qing Hai withdrew his gaze from the battlefield, then shifted it to the icy-faced Emerald Serpent Honored Elder. A cold, piercing smile appeared, and then he lightly tapped the void with the sole of his foot. The space before him also rapidly distorted...
The Emerald Serpent sensed this as well. His expression changed. He instructed She Qi at his side: "Grand Elder, you go organize everyone in the city to act together! At this moment where lips and teeth are cold and exposed, only by cooperating is there a sliver of hope for survival..."
"You talk too much!"
Before his words even fell, the Emerald Serpent's expression changed drastically. He violently shoved She Qi away and roared: "Go quickly!"
In the next instant, the space before him was distorted. Honored Elder Qing Hai's figure materialized. His withered palm clawed at him. The space around him instantly solidified. Immediately after, he mustered his full strength and slammed a palm toward the other's heavenly spirit cap.
"Qing Hai, you mere two-star Dou Zun think you can block me?! Do you wish for death?!"
Facing the solidified space, the Emerald Serpent's entire body shook. The aura of a three-star Dou Zun fully erupted. A terrifying palm strike shot straight toward Honored Elder Qing Hai.
"Mansion Master—"
Watching the Emerald Serpent and Qing Hai locked in battle, She Qi roared in worry. Then, without further hesitation, he shouted sternly toward the surrounding Tian She Mansion elders.
"Tian She Mansion, heed my command! Form the Ten Thousand Serpent Grand Array!"
The Tian She Mansion elders trembled. The Ten Thousand Serpent Grand Array—the guardian array of the Tian She Mansion—had not been activated for who knows how many years. Who would have thought it would come to this point today.
This time, with the Soul Hall's assault, they—the former overlords of the northwest—felt a crisis they had never experienced before. This crisis made them realize that the Tian She Mansion's survival or extinction might be decided today.
As She Qi's shout fell, the numerous elders of the Tian She Mansion, as well as the many disciples who had rushed over afterward, shouted in unison. They slowly closed their eyes. Moments later, strands of various colored energies seeped out from the tops of the Tian She Mansion disciples' heads.
Transforming into energy serpent shadows, wrapping around many tamed serpent-type Magical Beasts, they rose into the air in endless streams. Centered on She Qi in midair, they slowly converged.
Finally, they practically obscured the entire sky. Seen from a glance, it was like a sea of serpents. And She Qi happened to be at the very center of this serpent sea.
"Ha!"
Feeling the majestic power he could command within his body, a sensation of invincibility beneath the heavens suddenly surged in She Qi's heart. He slowly raised the serpent staff in his palm, his hands simultaneously forming seals.
At the same time, within the array, the elders and disciples of the Tian She Mansion also formed corresponding hand seals. As their hand seals shifted, the countless serpent shadows abruptly began to fluctuate.
At the center of the serpent sea, energy rapidly condensed. Waves of terrifying hissing came from within, as if something horrifying was about to burst forth.
"Roar—"
A terrifying roar rang out. Accompanying the roar, the ten thousand serpent shadows around it vied madly to converge toward the energy center.
In the next moment, overwhelming black mist swept in. Within the black mist, a pair of blood-red triangular eyes flickered in and out of sight. An enormous silhouette prowled within, its speed unnaturally fast, like a black bolt of startling thunder, instantly piercing through. It was a giant python!
The giant python was jet-black all over, its body exaggeratedly enormous, as vast as a river or a mountain range.
Only, the giant python's entire body was somewhat illusory, as if it couldn't hold its form for long. Had it been a physical entity, it was hard to imagine the kind of oppressive feeling it would bring.
"It's actually an Ancient Heavenly Serpent!" In midair, Qin Tian and Qiu Long, who had been composed and unruffled, also changed color. They hadn't expected the Tian She Mansion's Ten Thousand Serpent Grand Array to actually be capable of summoning the phantom of an Ancient Heavenly Serpent—a legendary sovereign among serpents!
A Magical Beast supreme capable of contending with the Taixu Ancient Dragon, the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix, and the Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python!
Even though this was merely a phantom, the ferocious might within it could not be underestimated!
In the distance, Yun Yi, who was manipulating the sky-filling sea of flame and reaping everywhere, now also cast his gaze over. When he saw the phantom of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, he also glanced at the grand array with a hint of surprise.
Then, recalling the Jade-Green Snake Triple Flower Eyes, he felt no further surprise. It was perhaps the handiwork of that Tian She Mansion founder.
However, a mere phantom comparable to a five-star Dou Zun could not stop the overall momentum!
Yun Yi now shifted his gaze toward Qin Tian and Qiu Long, wanting to see how they would handle it.
"A mere phantom dares to think it can block my Soul Hall's advance!" Sensing the gaze behind him, Qin Tian fiercely gritted his teeth and immediately shouted: "Qiu Long, let's strike together and break his grand array!"
"Couldn't ask for more!" Honored Elder Qiu Long laughed darkly and eerily. The flood dragon tattoo on his arm flickered in and out of light, as if coming alive.
"Kill!"
"KILL—"
Now, accompanying She Qi's furious roar, the members of the Tian She Mansion also let out a unified, thunderous shout. Instantly, the giant python in the sky instantly tore through the black fog and opened its gaping, bloody maw to attack Qin Tian and Qiu Long. Its destructive force and impact were heart-stopping!
"Soul-Breaking Slash—"
"Horned Dragon Claw—"
With a thunderous boom, the two Dou Zuns simultaneously executed Earth Class Dou Techniques. The sheer power was practically enough to annihilate the entire Sky Serpent Holy City. In a split second, heaven and earth changed color.
A hundred-yard blade aura, carrying a giant claw shadow, fiercely blasted toward the giant python. Although the python's form was immense, the attacks of the Dou Zuns were equally formidable.
"Boom—"
The three collided, instantly generating a terrifying shockwave. The massive, dense energy impact shook the sky, causing densely packed spatial rifts to appear in midair.
"Pfft—"
Qin Tian and Qiu Long violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. But the Tian She Mansion members weren't faring well either at this moment. Their auras were listless and withered. It was uncertain how many more attacks they could launch.
"This Honored One wants to see how many more times you can unleash such an attack!" Qin Tian wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth and looked at the Tian She Mansion members with a cold sneer.
Stomping fiercely on the void with the sole of his foot, he and Qiu Long shot explosively toward the Ten Thousand Serpent Grand Array.
"Not good—" She Qi, who was presiding over the grand array, paled slightly at this. The hand seals in his hands changed at lightning speed. His expression contorted ferociously as he roared: "Serpent Spirit Guard—"
"Bang—"
While the great battle raged here, within the Sky Serpent Holy City at this moment, all had descended into chaos. Wherever the pitch-black flame passed, pile after pile of skeletal remains were left behind. In just a short while, the entire Sky Serpent Holy City seemed to transform into a hell on earth.
And the instigator who caused all this, Yun Yi, merely watched the scene with cold indifference, sitting calmly cross-legged atop the war chariot. He manipulated the flames, ceaselessly hunting. At the same time, an endless stream of pure, refined Dou Qi converged toward him in wisps along the flames.
The barrier to Dou Zong was right before his eyes!
"Ah— Help! Help!!!"
"Damn it, what kind of flame is this?! It can't even be extinguished, and it keeps devouring my Dou Qi!"
"Ah, save me! I don't want to die yet!"
"Young Hall Master! This is a grudge between the Soul Hall and the Tian She Mansion. It has nothing to do with us! Raise your hand high in mercy and let us leave. In the future, we will surely repay the Young Hall Master's great kindness!"
At this moment, the Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs, who were at the third and fourth echelons of strength, rapidly soared into the sky and hurriedly shouted respectfully. The Soul Hall's insane actions had already frightened them witless. Furthermore, the opponent's strength was simply beyond their imagination.
At this time, all they could do was pin their hopes on this Young Hall Master of the Soul Hall, hoping that in consideration of so many Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs, he would have some misgivings.
After all, the main force of the Soul Hall had already begun their wanton slaughter, their strength extremely dispersed. Presumably, even the Soul Hall wouldn't want to provoke a force like theirs, right?
Actually, if not for that terrifying net of black flames, they would have just forcibly broken through and left. Although the Soul Hall's strength was formidable, with so many of them, the Soul Hall certainly couldn't watch all fronts.
Why would they need to beg Yun Yi, this dangerous figure?!
"I said it: today, no one is leaving!" As expected, Yun Yi's appetite was enormous. He cast an indifferent glance at those dozen-plus Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs and spoke in an icy tone.
"Bastard! Brat, there are so many of us! If you want our lives, then you go die first!"
Yun Yi's words instantly enraged one of the Dou Huangs. With a roar, he raised a green great blade and hacked toward Yun Yi.
"Roar—"
"Seeking death—"
At this moment, Yun Yi, busy manipulating the web of flames formed by the Saint Demon Flame, had his attention tied up and couldn't spare a hand to deal with them.
However, he wasn't the least bit worried about his own safety. Sure enough, a lion's roar rang out. In the next instant, a purple figure flashed past. That Dou Huang violently coughed up a huge mouthful of fresh blood and was sent flying backward with the force.
"Amethyst Winged Lion King!"
Watching the massive purple lion blocking before Yun Yi, everyone felt a chill run through their entire bodies. Looking again at that Dou Huang—at this moment, a giant claw mark stretched across his chest, piercing through his entire upper body. At the wound, purple flames burned, and agonized, miserable wails echoed in everyone's ears.
"Amethyst Storm!"
While still in shock over the Amethyst Winged Lion King's strength, in the very next moment, a colossal purple flame storm fiercely smashed down upon the crowd!