Chapter 235: Elders, Don't Attack It's Me!
"Taixu Ancient Dragon…" Yang Hao massaged his face, which was still sore from the earlier punch, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. Although the situation remained unclear, at this level of conflict, it seemed that this person was likely a friend rather than a foe.
"Damn it!" Yang Hao grumbled angrily. Can't things be resolved with words? Did he really have to start a fight? If I could beat him, I'd have killed him already!
In the distance, a dragon's majestic roar echoed. The enormous dragon shaped bell, shrouded in dark golden light, began to form. Layer after layer of ancient and heavy scales emerged, creating a towering sense of awe and reverence that seemed to suppress the very air.
In an instant, the forest fell silent. Beasts stopped moving, and birds disappeared from the sky, all trembling under the oppressive dragon's might.
Swish!
As the massive golden bell materialized, the dark gray beam of Xiao Xun'er's Great Annihilation Finger descended from the sky like a comet. The attack, brimming with destructive energy, slammed into the dragon bell with tremendous force.
Clang !
The instant the two forces collided, a deep and resonant chime reverberated through the heavens and earth.
The ensuing shockwave exploded outward, razor sharp soundwaves slicing in all directions. Countless trees were severed at their trunks, their smooth cross sections gleaming in the light.
Far above the Western Continent, two figures traversing the sky abruptly halted. With surprised expressions, they turned their gaze toward the source of the sound.
"Someone's fighting!"
"And it's no small battle!"
"Shall we go check it out?" The two figures Elder Mu Gu and Elder Zhai Xing exchanged glances before changing their direction to investigate.
Having lost track of their target, the two had been aimlessly wandering like headless flies. Now, with the sounds of a fierce battle drawing their attention, they couldn't afford to ignore it. What if it was their target locked in combat with someone?
At the very least, they could ask for directions. The Soul Hall was always polite after all, extracting a soul and questioning it was a surefire way to get honest answers. Surely, the combatants would be happy to cooperate. In the Western Continent, who dared disrespect the Soul Hall?
In the forest…
The Black Abyss Army soldiers, carrying the bloodied and mud covered Third Commander Yang Hao, fled the scene as fast as they could. Even so, their eyes remained fixed on the radiant clash of purple gold light and the gray beam of annihilation energy.
The Dou Qi Continent hadn't seen a Taixu Ancient Dragon in countless years. When the Ancient Clan had been an unremarkable faction among the many ancient lineages, the Taixu Ancient Dragons had already been a formidable force dominating the magical beast world.
Their reign over the magical beast clans of the Dou Qi Continent predated the Ancient Clan's rise. While the Black Abyss Army soldiers firmly believed in their clan's unparalleled supremacy, they still harbored deep curiosity about the Taixu Ancient Dragons.
Which was stronger: the Dou Di bloodline, or the legendary Taixu Ancient Dragon?
In the sky, Xiao Xun'er's face beneath her veil had turned pale. As Lü Bu had suspected, unleashing a Heaven tier Dou Technique while not yet a Dou Zun had inflicted a significant toll on her.
"Still… it was worth it," Xiao Xun'er thought, her golden eyes blazing as they locked onto the golden bell below. This was her first time using the Great Annihilation Finger in combat. Her earlier practice had never felt as smooth as this moment thanks to Lü Bu. He forced me to perfect this technique during our battle!
Boom!
From below, the golden dragon bell emitted a blinding flash of purple gold light. A deafening explosion followed as Xiao Xun'er's Great Annihilation Finger shattered into fragments, leaving behind only a cracked and dim bell.
Even so, the remaining aura of the bell was imposing and solemn, spreading an atmosphere of reverence.
"It blocked it…" The two Ancient Clan Dou Zun elders hidden in the void wore serious expressions. Although the bell had been heavily damaged and its divine radiance dulled, the fact remained it had blocked the Great Annihilation Finger!
"The Grand Commander… lost?"
The Black Abyss Army soldiers erupted in disbelief. Xiao Xun'er was the Ancient Clan's most talented individual in a thousand years and the strongest of her generation. Yet her Heaven tier Dou Technique had been countered?
How… is this possible?
A faint hum resonated as the golden dragon bell began to dissolve, leaving behind only shimmering traces of its presence.
"Not bad. You almost beat me!" Lü Bu smirked, holding his thumb and forefinger a small distance apart in a mocking gesture.
Xiao Xun'er clenched her teeth, her chest heaving with frustration. The stinging pain on her face only fueled her anger.
Had she taken a closer look, she might have noticed Lü Bu's fading dragon scales and the diminished intensity of his aura. His Dou Qi level was merely that of a Dou Huang, while Xiao Xun'er herself was likely a high ranking Dou Zong, possibly even at the peak of that stage.
"Dou Di bloodline is amazing…" Lü Bu sighed inwardly. If he hadn't used his trump cards, he wouldn't have stood a chance against her.
Swish!
Two figures suddenly appeared in the sky above.
Xiao Xun'er, still catching her breath, pointed at Lü Bu and shouted, "Elders, seize him! This scoundrel dared to attack my Black Abyss Army. If we don't teach him a lesson, others might follow his example!"
The two elders exchanged a glance, their expressions odd. The young mistress is… using this as an excuse to settle personal grievances, isn't she?
Still, that didn't matter. Capturing this audacious troublemaker took precedence.
The two Four Star Dou Zun elders turned their predatory gazes toward Lü Bu and grinned wickedly. "Boy, you've got guts to challenge the Black Abyss Army. Surrender now, and we might let you live!"
"Elders, wait don't attack! I'm one of you!" Lü Bu shouted hastily. With a swift motion, he produced a Black Abyss Army Eight Commander insignia from his storage ring and wiped his face, revealing his original, handsome features.
He grinned sheepishly. "See? I'm part of the Black Abyss Army too an Eight Commander, recruited by your young mistress herself. Isn't that right, Xun'er?"
As if to confirm, Lü Bu gestured toward Xiao Xun'er in the sky.
Lin Lao and Guan Lao froze mid action, stunned. He's dropping the act? Just like that? What now?
Both elders instinctively turned to Xiao Xun'er, silently seeking her guidance.
"Ridiculous! When did I ever recruit an Eight Commander? Everyone knows the Black Abyss Army is exclusively made up of Ancient Clan members!" Xiao Xun'er's fury boiled over as she denied it outright. I should never have given this scoundrel that insignia!
"Elders, arrest him "
"Xun'er, don't forget our days at the Jia Nan Academy, those nights under the moonlight when it was just the two of us…" Lü Bu interrupted, raising his brows suggestively.
The Black Abyss Army soldiers and the two Dou Zun elders exchanged confused glances. What was that? I didn't hear anything.
Yang Hao twitched at the corners of his mouth. He firmly believed Xiao Xun'er had no such relationship with this man her fists had made that abundantly clear.
"Silence!" Xiao Xun'er shouted, cutting him off. Furious, she raised her hand and fired a blast of Dou Qi at his feet, sending dirt and smoke flying.
Lu Bu shrugged his shoulders. What a fiery temper. At this rate, you're going to have trouble finding a husband in the future.
"All units, continue the miss " Xiao Xun'er took a deep breath, calming herself down, and chose to completely ignore Lu Bu.
However, before she could finish her sentence, her expression suddenly shifted as she turned to look toward the distant horizon. Someone was coming.
The two Ancient Clan Dou Zun elders exchanged sharp glances. The approaching figures… seemed to belong to the Soul Hall. Even from afar, they could sense the foul stench of countless sins carried by these soul laden presences.
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow and immediately grinned. It seemed the battle's shockwaves had attracted Zhai Xing Old Ghost and Elder Mu Gu.
This was perfect. He wouldn't have to rack his brain trying to provoke a fight between the two sides anymore. With the Ancient Clan's people encountering the Soul Hall, a battle was inevitable.
And just like that, his identity as an Eight Commander of the Black Abyss Army gave him the perfect cover. Those two Soul Hall Dou Zuns would never suspect it was him.
Lu Bu smirked. What a brilliant turn of events!
"Stay alert!" Xiao Xun'er commanded coldly. The ten Black Abyss Army soldiers instantly stood at attention, their auras interlinking as they swiftly activated a formation for combined defense.
Lu Bu flicked his fingers, popping a radiant pill into his mouth. As the medicinal power spread through his body, it began to replenish the energy he had expended during the earlier fight.
"Hahaha… My friends of the Western Continent, this old man is Zhai Xing " A loud laugh echoed from above as Zhai Xing Old Ghost and Elder Mu Gu appeared in the sky.
But before he could finish his sentence, his expression stiffened. These people… were not the Western Continent natives he had expected. Instead, they were…
"The… Black Abyss Army?"
Jia Ma Empire, Yunlan Mountain!
Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian stood atop a mountain peak, waiting quietly, their expressions filled with tension.
"She… she should succeed, right?" Xiao Yi Xian bit her lip, unable to suppress her concern.
"With the Seven Colored Primordial Stone, breaking through to the nine star Dou Zong level shouldn't be a problem for Medusa. But… I'm worried she might get impatient…" Yun Yun said, her face full of worry.
Right now, Lu Bu was being hunted. If Medusa acted rashly, trying to force her way to the Dou Zun level in one go, it could lead to disaster. The Dou Zun level was not something that could be reached so easily.
In truth, though Yun Yun spoke of Medusa's potential impatience, it was she herself who felt the most anxious. Among the three women, her strength was the weakest. Even with the accelerated training from the Fallen Heart Flame, she was still only at the Dou Huang level.
Yun Yun took a deep breath to calm her restless heart. The path of cultivation couldn't be rushed. She was already at the peak of nine star Dou Huang. With the Breaking Zong Pill Lu Bu had given her, breaking through to the Dou Zong level wouldn't be a problem. All she needed to do now was refine her foundation before making the leap.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble lightly. Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian exchanged glances, realizing that Medusa was about to emerge from her retreat.
As if on cue, the trembling earth fell silent. Moments later, Medusa gracefully stepped out of the distant cave.
The two women glanced at each other. Due to the gap in their cultivation levels, they couldn't discern Medusa's exact strength. However, the stable and powerful aura emanating from her gave them relief. Thankfully, she hadn't let her emotions cloud her judgment.
Medusa was the strongest among them. If something had gone wrong, it would not only have been a blow to the Snake People Tribe but also to their hopes of reuniting with Lu Bu in the future.
"Peak Dou Zong," Medusa said with a slight nod. The Seven Colored Primordial Stone had proven useful, though its effects this time weren't as pronounced as the last.
"What are your plans next?" Yun Yun asked. What she really wanted to know was when Medusa intended to go looking for Lu Bu. Would they really have to wait a whole year?
"I'll protect you both while you absorb what Lu Bu entrusted to you," Medusa replied calmly. "Afterward, I'll expand our territory and secure resources. I'll fight to consolidate my cultivation and prepare to break through to the Dou Zun level."
She held a Heavenly Fortune Pill left behind by Lu Bu, and with her innate talent as a Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, she had a solid chance of breaking through to Dou Zun.
Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun nodded slightly. Medusa's plans to seize resources were ultimately for their benefit as well.
Their priority now was to fully increase their own strength within the year, to be of better help to Lu Bu.
"Shall we start?"
"Let's." Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun nodded. With a flip of their hands, they each retrieved a scroll. The rich soul essence emanating from the scrolls immediately invigorated their spirits.
Western Continent, South of the Forest!
"The… Black Abyss Army?" Zhai Xing Old Ghost's eyes bulged as he let out an involuntary, high pitched shriek.
The Black Abyss Army itself wasn't terrifying. What was terrifying was the powerful experts they could summon at any time. And in this case… they didn't even need to summon anyone. The two elders in the sky were clearly already here.
"Damn it! How didn't you notice them earlier?" Zhai Xing Old Ghost hissed at Elder Mu Gu, his face pale.
"I sensed them, but how was I supposed to know they were the Black Abyss Army?" Elder Mu Gu shot him a glare. Soul perception could detect presence and intent but couldn't reveal what someone was wearing or their affiliations.
"Oh… Zhai Xing Tianzun, Elder Mu Gu, I recognize you two!" Elder Lin chuckled from above, his tone dripping with mockery. His gaze shifted to Elder Mu Gu, noticing something off about his appearance. Is he… injured?
"Honored elders, ahem… we're just here looking for someone," Zhai Xing Old Ghost said with a forced smile, clutching his fist to his mouth as he coughed lightly. "Since they're not here, we'll take our leave!"
"Oh? And where do you think you're going?" Before they could retreat, a figure blurred into view, blocking their path. Lu Bu hovered midair, blue fire wings flaring behind him as he grinned playfully.
"Respected Soul Hall Dou Zuns, you think you can come and go as you please? Do you think the Black Abyss Army is empty?"
Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes at the sudden shift. Just moments ago, this guy was proclaiming "I'll beat the Black Abyss Army," and now it had turned into "We of the Black Abyss Army"?
"Heh, the Eight Commander is right," Elder Guan said with a sly smile, his black robes fluttering as a silver glow appeared on his forehead. A mysterious rune emerged, and his aura instantly surged, rising from a Four Star Dou Zun to the level of a Five Star Dou Zun.
While still not as powerful as Zhai Xing Old Ghost's overwhelming presence, it wasn't far behind.
A clan rune… Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. From his understanding, the Ancient Clan's runes were divided into four levels: silver, gold, purple gold, and seven colored gold.
The fact that Elder Guan only possessed a silver rune indicated his bloodline wasn't particularly potent.
Elder Lin chuckled sinisterly, locking his gaze onto Elder Mu Gu. "Old Guan, keep Zhai Xing Old Ghost occupied. I'll deal with Mu Gu and then come to assist you!"
The color drained from Zhai Xing Old Ghost and Elder Mu Gu's faces simultaneously. This is bad very bad!
(End of Chapter)
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