Chapter 401: The Eight Extremes Collapse, Usable from Dou Practitioner to Dou Venerate
In the sky above, a massive black shadow streaked past, accompanied by a roaring wind and booming sound.
"Damn it..."
Some of the travelers below cursed loudly, and a few hot tempered ones even prepared to attack.
However, as they focused their gaze, they immediately clamped their mouths shut in fear. The shadow belonged to a nearly hundred meter long Nine Netherworld Python, exuding an icy and ferocious aura that permeated the heavens and earth, sending chills down their spines.
What was even more terrifying was that four figures were riding atop the giant python. At first glance, they appeared ordinary, without any outward strength.
But who among those traveling to the Mysterious Ancient Region was a fool?
Anyone capable of commanding a Nine Netherworld Python as a mount could hardly be an ordinary person.
The group gasped, quickly abandoning any reckless thoughts. They activated their movement techniques and sped away, trying to distance themselves from Lu Bu and his companions as much as possible.
"Young Master, Sister Yao Zi mentioned there's a town on the outskirts of the Mysterious Ancient Region called Wild Desolation Town. Should we stop there to gather information?" Qing Lin asked.
"No need. Let's head straight into the Mysterious Ancient Region," Lu Bu replied, holding a detailed map in his hand and examining it closely.
When had Lu Bu ever needed to gather intelligence on site?
Moreover, information gathered from others might not even be reliable.
"Understood," Qing Lin nodded before pressing her palm against the Nine Netherworld Python beneath her. "Sister Yao Zi, take us directly into the Mysterious Ancient Region. We're heading for the Ancient Platform."
"Understood!"
Yao Zi responded promptly, her enormous tail whipping through the air as she sped toward the fog covered, ancient jungle that exuded an aura of decay, antiquity, and mystery.
"Are those people insane? They're heading straight into the Mysterious Ancient Region without hesitation!"
Outside Wild Desolation Town, countless powerful figures had gathered. One of them shouted in shock upon seeing the Nine Netherworld Python streak past overhead.
"Let's move! If we don't hurry, they might get to the Bodhi Ancient Tree before us!"
"Shut up, idiot! The Mysterious Ancient Region is extremely dangerous. What do you think a mere Dou Emperor like you can do? If you don't want to die in there, stay put and wait!"
The crowd outside Wild Desolation Town was abuzz, filled with a mix of eagerness and hesitation. Among them were hundreds, even thousands of people, but their strength was pitifully lacking. There were very few Dou Venerates, with most being Dou Ancestors or even Dou Emperors.
From a distance, Lu Bu glanced at them and sighed. These were people risking everything for cultivation resources. Once upon a time, he had been like them racking his brain to secure resources through trade with Yao Chen or robbing them from the Hall of Souls, always walking a fine line between life and death.
"Damn... the trees here are huge!"
As Lu Bu mused, Yao Zi had already led their group deep into the Mysterious Ancient Region. Qing Lin stared in awe at the towering trees that blocked out the sky, each one reaching hundreds of meters tall.
Medusa gathered Qing Lin into her arms as they, along with Yun Yun and Lu Bu, descended gently to the ground. Behind them, Yao Zi's massive body glimmered with light, shrinking down to her human form.
Although they could have continued flying, the feral beasts of the Mysterious Ancient Region had no sense of reason. Flying through their territory would only provoke relentless and frenzied attacks.
While Lu Bu's group could handle such beasts, the constant assaults would be a hassle. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to charge through recklessly.
"Lu Bu, should we head directly to the Ancient Platform?" Medusa asked softly. She, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin had all studied the map provided by the Pill Tower and were familiar with the upcoming routes.
"Not yet," Lu Bu replied with a smile. "There's a place along the way that holds an opportunity perfectly suited for you and Qing Lin."
"What about me?" Xiao Yi Xian asked with a pout.
"I am your opportunity," Lu Bu whispered into her ear with a playful grin as he lightly embraced her slender waist.
"Shut up!" Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed red as she pinched him in annoyance. "We're out in public, you scoundrel!"
Behind them, Yao Zi nudged at the dirt with her toes, her expression blank as though she had seen and heard nothing. She quickly walked ahead, taking on the role of clearing the path.
"Let's move!" Medusa huffed, clearly displeased as she glared at the flirting pair. Recently, Xiao Yi Xian had taken every opportunity to use her weaker cultivation as an excuse to cling to Lu Bu for dual cultivation. It was infuriating, and Lu Bu had even begun to look thinner!
Rolling her eyes, Xiao Yi Xian clung tightly to Lu Bu's arm, pressing herself against him with a sly, challenging smile directed at Medusa.
"Ahem… let's get going," Lu Bu interjected, cutting short their squabble. Unfolding the map, he scanned it briefly before leading the group in a particular direction.
Medusa snorted but followed, pulling Qing Lin along with her. Qing Lin, only a Seven Star Dou Venerate, was the weakest among them and needed someone to look after her.
In the shadowy and humid forest, distant roars of feral beasts echoed, some weak, others terrifyingly strong. All were unrelentingly savage, devoid of any rationality.
The oppressive forest floor was shrouded in faint white mist tinged with an eerie green hue, illuminated faintly by the sparse light filtering through the dense canopy.
Hiss!
Lu Bu's group came to a halt. Not far ahead lay two corpses, their mouths gaping wide and their faces twisted in agony. The bodies were tainted with a dark green hue, making them look horrifying.
"These are... Dou Venerates?" Yao Zi gasped, stepping back uneasily. The strength of these two deceased figures seemed no less than her own, yet both had perished here.
Looking at the peculiar mist swirling around her, Yao Zi felt her scalp tingle.
"As expected of the Mysterious Ancient Region..." Qing Lin murmured gravely. To think that even Five or Six Star Dou Venerates warriors who could rival someone like Tang Zhen of the Burning Flame Valley couldn't even make it to the Ancient Platform alive.
In the Central Plains, such experts would be considered peak level powerhouses, capable of beating someone like Feng Lei Pavilion's Lei Zun Zhe.
Yet here, they were nothing more than corpses.
"It must be because of the poisonous mist," Xiao Yi Xian observed, studying the strange white green fog around them.
"No. Dou Venerates can create protective Dou Qi barriers. No matter how strong the mist is, it shouldn't penetrate their defenses," Medusa countered.
Her tone was resolute. While she wasn't as skilled in poison techniques as Xiao Yi Xian, she knew enough to recognize the limitations of poison against high level practitioners.
Xiao Yi Xian frowned. She extended her pale hand, scooping up some of the mist for closer inspection.
Lu Bu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He recalled reading about something like this in the original story but couldn't immediately pinpoint the details.
"Damn... these aren't mist particles. They're microscopic insects!" Xiao Yi Xian exclaimed suddenly. "The fog we see is formed by billions of these tiny, poisonous insects grouped together!"
"Eek!" Qing Lin yelped, turning pale as she clung to Medusa in fright. Just imagining countless insects crawling on her skin made her break out in goosebumps.
Even Medusa looked unsettled, her expression sour. She had never expected the harmless looking fog to be made up of such horrifying creatures.
"That explains it..." Lu Bu muttered. Xiao Yi Xian's explanation jogged his memory. This was indeed mentioned in the original story a deadly detail that underscored the dangers of the Mysterious Ancient Region.
With a thought, Lu Bu summoned his Three Thousand Burning Flame. The purple black flame surged out of his body, incinerating the surrounding mist in an instant and leaving behind a faint trail of ashes.
He turned to Medusa and Qing Lin, placing his hands on them. The fiery energy flowed through their bodies, purging any lingering poisonous insects and ensuring their safety.
Accompanied by the unsettling chirping sounds that could make one's scalp tingle, the invading poisonous insects within the two women were quickly eradicated. Naturally, Lu Bu also lent a hand to rid Yao Zi of the poisonous bugs in her body.
Although the threat was dealt with, the three women's faces were pale with lingering fear. These creatures were not something one could simply overcome with strength or Dou Qi.
Xiao Yi Xian, however, was completely unaffected. The poisonous insects had perished the moment they entered her Woeful Poison Body, transforming into a part of her own poison reserves before being absorbed into her Dou Qi and fused into her Poison Core.
This was also why she hadn't immediately realized that the mist was composed of poisonous insects. In her perception, these creatures felt no different from ordinary poisonous fog. Without Medusa's reminder, she might not have noticed at all.
Lu Bu flicked his fingers, and a fiery dragon spiraled upward in a towering column of flames. The terrifying heat instantly incinerated the majority of the poisonous insects around them, clearing the area and creating a safe, visible zone.
"Let's keep going. Stay within the range of the flames," Lu Bu instructed before leading the way, moving swiftly into the dense forest.
The women glanced at the two Dou Venerate corpses one last time, shuddered, and quickly followed after him.
This truly was the legendary Mysterious Ancient Region its dangers were as horrifying as the stories claimed.
As the group delved deeper, the poisonous mist grew denser, and the swarms of toxic insects became even more numerous. Along the way, they frequently encountered the remains of people, their dying screams still echoing faintly in the air, their corpses left grotesque and mangled by the poison.
Yao Zi's scalp prickled, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for having a powerful alchemist like Lu Bu with her. Otherwise, her fate would likely have been no different from those corpses.
Rustle… rustle…
The sound of leaves rustling became increasingly pronounced. A multitude of colorful venomous snakes slithered out from the decayed branches and rotting leaves, raising their heads and hissing as they encircled Yao Zi.
"There are no powerful beasts ahead, but… I can sense people fighting," Yao Zi reported as she turned to Qing Lin. "Judging from their attire and techniques, it seems to be Starfall Pavilion fighting against Sky Abyss Sect."
"Huh? Starfall Pavilion and Sky Abyss Sect?" Lu Bu raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. "What grudge does Xiao Yan have with Sky Abyss Sect?"
He thought for a moment before realizing. "Oh… right. I forgot I instigated it. Never mind, then!"
With a chuckle, Lu Bu smirked, a trace of schadenfreude flickering in his eyes. Hopefully, Xiao Yan wasn't in too much trouble.
"Master, what should we do? Should we take a detour?" Qing Lin asked.
"No need. We'll go straight through," Lu Bu replied with a grin. "I don't have a habit of taking detours. If they don't make way for us, we'll just wipe them out."
"Let's go."
In the dark, damp forest, the sounds of intense battle filled the air. Thunderous shouts echoed continuously as violent waves of energy clashed back and forth, leaving destruction in their wake.
The aftermath of the fierce combat left trees shattered and beasts slain where they stood, unable to escape the carnage.
Golden light surged from a massive figure that rose into the air, colliding with billowing gray mist. The two forces intertwined in a chaotic and terrifying dance of destruction.
"Eight Extremes Collapse!"
Xiao Yan roared, clenching his massive fist and throwing a devastating punch forward. The sharp whistle of the compressed air seemed to pierce the heavens as an overwhelming force surged forth, as if aiming to obliterate everything in its path.
"Hmph, such a petty trick!" sneered Tian Chen. Gray mist erupted from his body, unleashing a sharp, murderous aura that soared skyward.
"Heaven Abyss Shura Palm!"
Boom!
A punch and a palm collided, sending waves of devastating energy rippling outward. The resulting shockwaves were so fearsome that both Starfall Pavilion and Sky Abyss Sect combatants were forced to retreat, desperately trying to escape the chaos unleashed by their leaders.
"No wonder the Eight Extremes Collapse can be used from Dou Practitioner all the way to Dou Venerate…" Lu Bu chuckled softly as he watched the battle unfold. He didn't know whether to laugh or shake his head.
With Xiao Yan's status as an eight tier alchemist, he could certainly acquire a myriad of powerful Dou Techniques. Yet he stubbornly stuck with the Eight Extremes Collapse. It was a wonder how techniques like the Palm of Blowing Flames or the Sucking Palm both of which were only Xuan class techniques were treated so poorly in comparison.
"Oh, so he bought that Vajra Glazed Body after all…" Medusa murmured, her eyes glinting with a hint of realization. Back at the spatial auction, she and Yun Yun had discussed this Dou Technique briefly but had not expected Xiao Yan to be the one who purchased it.
"Huh? Medusa, you know about that technique?" Qing Lin asked curiously.
Xiao Yi Xian leaned against Lu Bu, idly picking at her nails with little interest. Neither Starfall Pavilion nor Xiao Yan held much appeal for her.
Meanwhile, Yao Zi watched the golden figure in the distance with a mix of awe and disbelief. She recognized this man she had crossed paths with him once during the Dou Saint ruins expedition. At the time, he had been merely a one or two star Dou Venerate, hardly worth her attention.
Yet in just a few short years, this man had climbed to become a nine star Dou Venerate. His cultivation speed was terrifying.
Well… maybe not that terrifying.
Yao Zi cast a furtive glance at the people around her and winced. These were the true monsters. Somehow, they had skyrocketed from early Dou Venerate levels to the pinnacle of nine turn Dou Venerate in record time.
Especially Qing Lin, the Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python her abrupt leap to nine turn Dou Venerate was simply outrageous. Not even the bloodline of a Dou Emperor should allow for such absurdity!
In the ongoing battle, Xiao Yan and Tian Chen exchanged devastating blows before retreating simultaneously, their sharp eyes locked in mutual hostility.
Both men readied themselves for another clash when they suddenly sensed a series of playful, mocking gazes. Turning to investigate, their expressions twitched in unison.
It was Lu Bu and his group.
They hadn't even bothered to hide their presence, openly watching the fight as if they were spectating a street performance.
"Damn it, not again…" Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. Yet again, he was caught fighting tooth and nail while Lu Bu leisurely stood off to the side, surrounded by beautiful women, watching the show like it was entertainment.
"This is bad retreat immediately!" Tian Chen exclaimed, panic overtaking him. Without hesitation, he and his subordinates fled in a disorganized rush.
He had participated in Starfall Pavilion's siege before not once, but twice. Both times, he had escaped only because Starfall Pavilion and the Pill Tower were preoccupied with the Hall of Souls.
Still, he had witnessed Lu Bu's battle against the Earth Scorpion Dragon Beast. Even if Lu Bu had relied on a sneak attack to win, his strength was undeniable.
Fighting one of them alone might be manageable, but with Xiao Yan also present, it would be a death sentence.
"You… why are you here?" Xiao Yan asked with a sigh. He could already tell that this trip to the Mysterious Ancient Region would be another occasion for Lu Bu to rake in the rewards.
"Just passing through!" Lu Bu shrugged with a grin. "There's a fortuitous encounter ahead. Want to join me?"
Without waiting for a reply, he began leading his companions forward.
"No thanks. I'm not interested in those things," Xiao Yan declined immediately, turning to lead Starfall Pavilion's people in the opposite direction.
"Wait, wasn't that Lu Bu? Why not join forces with him?" a Starfall Pavilion elder asked curiously. "I thought your relationship with him and the Pavilion Master was quite good?"
"You don't get it!" Xiao Yan snapped irritably. "Traveling with him means you'll end up lost, broke, and wondering which way is up! Actually, forget might it's guaranteed!
"If he invites you to a 'fortuitous encounter,' you're the sacrifice, not the beneficiary!"
"Smart kid…" Lu Bu muttered, watching Xiao Yan leave with some regret. He had been hoping to recruit Xiao Yan as a tank for dealing with the Ancient Heaven Devouring Python.
With the Vajra Glazed Body, Xiao Yan was practically tailor made for the job.
Too bad… he wasn't playing along. (End of Chapter)
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