A chilling killing intent swept across the vast square, engulfing the area like a tide. From above, a vast and mighty Dou Qi pressure descended, causing many experts to feel a surge of fear deep within their hearts.
"Wait… that red-robed man—he's a Ban Sheng elite? How have I never heard of him before?"
"More importantly, since when has the Moonlit Chaos Mansion had a Ban Sheng among their ranks?!"
"This is unbelievable… If this is true, the status and strength of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion are far greater than we imagined. Their rise will shake the Central Plains!"
"That's assuming they make it through this battle alive. Even with a Ban Sheng on their side, this confrontation is bound to be unimaginably difficult…"
"Still… if they survive, the balance of power in the Central Plains will shift dramatically."
The moment Saint Tian Huo revealed his strength, shock rippled through the gathered experts. While some were filled with awe and cautious optimism, others remained skeptical—uncertain whether Xiao Hua and his companions could truly overcome the crisis before them.
After all, the one they were facing was none other than Gu You—the Second Tianzun of the Hall of Souls. Even among Ban Sheng elites, he was a true powerhouse, someone whose name could stir fear in countless hearts.
The moment he sensed Saint Tian Huo's aura, Gu You's eyes narrowed, and a flicker of surprise briefly passed across his skeletal face. He truly hadn't expected Xiao Hua's side to have a Ban Sheng expert.
Yet despite the revelation, his expression quickly returned to indifference.
As many of the watching experts expected, Gu You did not retreat. Even with a Ban Sheng appearing on the opposing side, he remained composed. Though the situation had shifted slightly, he did not believe it would change the final outcome.
Gu You was not just strong—he was also bold and cunning. With his strength at the advanced Ban Sheng level, he had long possessed the qualifications to look down on the current battlefield. Moreover, he could tell at a glance that Saint Tian Huo had only recently stepped into the Ban Sheng realm.
To him, the presence of another Ban Sheng was not enough to reverse the tide.
The gap between them was simply too vast to be bridged by rank alone.
Xiao Hua remained expressionless. With a casual wave of his sleeve, two dark-golden puppets appeared beside him. Though they emitted no aura, an overwhelming sense of danger radiated from their still forms, causing several experts in the distance to instinctively tense up.
No one dared underestimate them.
These were Sky Demon Puppets, refined using the souls of Qin Tian and Qing Hai—former powerhouses whose might had been sealed into these fearsome constructs. As for the three Earth Demon Puppets, Xiao Hua had already entrusted them to Cai Lin, tasked with guarding the Xiao Clan and the Primer Clan.
His gaze swept across Gu You and the other Hall of Souls elites. Xiao Hua knew clearly that Saint Tian Huo would find it exceedingly difficult to overcome Gu You in his current state.
The Ban Sheng realm was split into initial, intermediate, and high (sometime called as advanced) levels. And between each stage lay a deep and daunting gap. Although Saint Tian Huo could not win outright, it was still possible for him to delay Gu You—if only for a time.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Hua's voice rang out with steady calm and determination.
"Let Old Yao hold off Gu You. I'll take on the Third Tianzun. Brother Ming Cheng and the rest—deal with the remaining Tianzuns and the Honored Elders."
Saint Tian Huo gave a calm nod, showing no hesitation. With his current strength, holding off Gu You until Xiao Hua arrived was well within his capabilities. In fact, he firmly believed that once Xiao Hua defeated the Third Tianzun, even dealing with Gu You wouldn't be out of reach.
"If that's the plan, I'll take on the Ninth Tianzun," Ming Cheng said, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto a figure garbed entirely in pale blue—from his robes down to his hair and brows. A cold glint flickered within Ming Cheng's gaze.
Xiao Hua also glanced at the Ninth Tianzun, a flicker of amusement flashing in his heterochromatic eyes. It seemed that this time, the Ninth Tianzun was an old man—not a woman in Donghua.
Unaware of Xiao Hua's passing thought, Li Mei spoke coldly, "I'll deal with the Black White Tianzun. Once I've finished, I'll assist Little Sister Fairy Doctor."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded in response. While she was confident in her strength—especially with the combined might of the Netherflame Calamity Body and the Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame—she understood Li Mei's intention. The situation could spiral at any moment, and expending too much energy too soon would be unwise.
Her gaze swept across the numerous Protectors gathered in the distance before shifting toward Zi Yan. A hint of concern flashed in her eyes as she said, "What about Zi Yan? No matter how strong she is, she can't take on that many Protectors alone…"
"Rest assured," Xiao Hua replied calmly. "We'll eliminate most of the Dou Zong before the real battle begins."
The battlefield was teetering on the edge—only a single spark away from full eruption. Xiao Hua's expression grew solemn, his voice sinking into a deep tone that carried weight.
Without another word, Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei raised their hands and began forming a flurry of intricate seals. Their movements were swift and precise, forming countless afterimages in the air before halting in unison.
As the final seals settled, a chorus of sharp cries echoed out—three from Xiao Hua, and two each from Ming Cheng and Li Mei. Their robes fluttered violently under the gathering winds, stirred by the tremendous energy now surging from their bodies.
"Heavenly Tribulation Body, Embryonic Form! Azure Tribulation! Velvet Amethyst Change!"
"Demon Lightning Transformation! Demon Monarch Transformation! Heavenly Demon Transcendence!"
"Celestial Frostlight Goddess Manifestation! Frostlight Thunder Form! Arctic Storm Goddess Form!"
As their Secret Techniques activated, not only did their auras erupt with overwhelming force, but even their appearances underwent a dramatic transformation.
Xiao Hua's once golden and azure eyes now shimmered with a brilliant violet glow and deep sapphire hue, as though the stars themselves had taken root within his gaze. His long black hair glistened with a faint amethyst sheen, while delicate, sky-blue lines traced themselves across his skin like divine inscriptions.
Between his brows, beast-like tattoo emerged—six distinct colors woven into their design. On the right, arcs of lightning danced; on the left, threads of flame curled and flickered like living fire.
Clusters of crystalline amethyst and sapphire shards adorned his limbs and shoulders, gleaming with mystical light. Behind him, a majestic and divine halo took form, casting a radiant glow. Under the might of the Secret Technique, his aura surged until it stabilized at the pinnacle of Nine Change Peak Dou Zun.
Ming Cheng's transformation was no less awe-inspiring. His once deep-blue eyes blazed into an intense, fiery red before shifting into a golden-stormy hue, lightning occasionally crackling across his pupils.
His gaze now carried the fierce majesty of a celestial beast—wild, untamed, and capable of commanding both thunder and chaos. A single glance could paralyze weaker cultivators with sheer dread.
His long black hair shimmered with a golden luster, streaked with lightning that coursed through it like divine current, each strand swaying as though stirred by an unseen storm. His skin darkened to a rich obsidian tone, etched with glowing lightning-shaped patterns that pulsed with power.
His robes bore the marks of ancient thunder sigils and primal beast totems, woven with threads of flickering energy. Each line seemed alive—radiating a pressure that made clear: this was not a mere transformation, but the manifestation of a thunderborne monarch.
Once Ming Cheng's transformation reached completion, his aura surged and stabilized at the peak of Five Change Dou Zun—immense and domineering, like a thunderstorm poised to devour the heavens.
Meanwhile, Li Mei's transformation became even more defined, as the powers of ice and lightning intertwined seamlessly—amplifying her presence into something both majestic and untouchable.
Her once crystal-blue eyes deepened into a radiant, stormy sapphire, with fine white lightning cracks threading through them. Serene yet piercing, her gaze held an ethereal calm—like the silence before a tempest, distant and divine.
Her skin was now encased in a refined suit of frostlight armor. Intricate patterns—resembling snowflakes merged with jagged lightning bolts—ran across the surface. The frost was no longer fragile or decorative; it clung to her like a second skin, enhancing her physical resilience and amplifying the chilling aura she exuded.
The armor had become far more elaborate and imposing—its crystalline edges sharp and jagged, layered with arcing lightning that danced across the surface. Li Mei now resembled the incarnate will of a frozen storm, cold and unyielding.
Her long white hair cascaded down like a flowing river of frozen silver, shimmering beneath the light. It moved as if stirred by an invisible blizzard, every strand fluttering in harmony with her gathering power.
Behind her, a pair of frostlight wings unfolded—semi-transparent and radiant. Formed from ethereal ice and laced with arcs of lightning, they shimmered with a brilliance that rivaled the sun through a snowstorm, majestic and terrifying.
As her transformation reached completion, her aura soared—settling firmly at the peak of Five Change Dou Zun.
The sudden surge of strength from Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei sent a wave of shock rippling through the crowd. None of the watching experts had anticipated that their auras would rise so dramatically after activating their secret techniques.
If the bystanders were astonished, then the ones facing them—the elites of the Hall of Souls—were utterly shaken.
Gu You's shriveled face twitched involuntarily as a dense light of shock flickered in his eyes. Even with his vast experience and countless years of life, it was rare for him to witness such a terrifying increase in power through secret techniques alone.
His brows furrowed as his sharp, sunken gaze swept across the trio. He scrutinized them carefully, measuring the depths of their strength. What he sensed caused even his heart to grow heavy.
Among them, Xiao Hua stood out most of all. For the first time, Gu You—an advanced Ban Sheng—felt a faint sense of danger radiating from a mere Dou Zun. That alone spoke volumes.
"…What an unbelievable secret technique," Gu You murmured, his voice low and hoarse. This development was far beyond his expectations.
He had brought multiple Tianzuns and Protectors precisely because of the complications surrounding Xiao Hua. Ever since the Gu Clan's Young Miss publicly declared Xiao Hua as her sole chosen partner, the Gu Clan had placed him under their protection. This move had made it exceedingly difficult for the Hun Clan to seize the soul fragment held by the Xiao Clan even in quiet manner.
And now, things were unraveling even further than anticipated.
The reason Xiao Hua received such special treatment was due to one simple fact—Xun Er's bloodline had reached the Divine Grade.
Because of this, the elders of the Gu Clan treated her words with utmost reverence, fearing she might secretly leave the clan to assist Xiao Hua should he fall into danger. If such a situation were to arise, they knew the other ancient clans—particularly the Hun Clan—might exploit it and scheme against her.
To prevent this possibility, the Gu Clan elders made a decisive move: they placed Xiao Hua under their protection, despite their reluctance, ensuring Xun Er would have no reason to act rashly and place herself at risk.
"Tch… because of that Gu lass, I'm forced to deal with this matter quickly," Gu You sighed coldly. He paused for a moment, then narrowed his deep, sinister gaze as it fell upon the center of Xiao Hua's brows—where a strange beast-like tattoo pulsed faintly with power.
"…That mark… could it be a Clan Tattoo?" His expression grew more serious. "From the Xiao Clan? No, that's impossible… With their bloodline long withered, they shouldn't be capable of forming a Clan Tattoo—let alone one that requires a Dou Zun of the same lineage to awaken…"
Gu You shook his head slowly, muttering to himself as the unease in his heart grew deeper.
Regardless, Gu You knew he had to end this swiftly—before reinforcements from the Gu Clan arrived. If they did, retreat would be his only option, and one he would be forced to take with no small amount of humiliation.
He turned toward the Third Tianzun and the other Tianzuns, preparing to issue his commands.
However, before a single word could leave his lips, Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei had already begun to move.
A chilling wind swept across the mountain range, and the clouds above began to churn in silence—as though even the heavens dared not speak.
Li Mei's body radiated a terrifyingly dense frost aura that surged outward like a tide, transforming the mountain range into a frozen landscape of winter. The air itself turned razor-sharp and frigid, her cold intent capable of freezing even the heavens and earth. As she silently raised her sword, the surrounding wind and frost gathered at its tip, condensing into a deadly point of glacial destruction.
Above Ming Cheng's head, the sky grew restless. Clouds twisted into a vortex of violent indigo as thunder boomed in the distance. With a calm but fierce motion, he raised his spear toward the sky. Crackling arcs of lightning surged along its shaft like awakened serpents, their shrieks echoing through the heavens as the power of thunder stirred restlessly within.
Xiao Hua stood at the center, his six-colored aura erupting in full. As his finger pressed lightly into the void, the space around him trembled. The energies of the world responded violently—wind and thunder howled behind him, gathering into dark, whirling storm clouds that rumbled with ominous might.
The natural energy between Heaven and Earth suddenly grew wild and frenzied. The wind howled without end, thunder roared like ancient beasts, and the ground quaked violently. Above, the sky churned in a ceaseless storm, as if the heavens themselves were being torn open. A suffocating aura of utter destruction spread across the land.
Even the experts standing far beyond the borders of the Lightning Mountain Range felt the terrifying turbulence. Their expressions changed drastically as they turned toward the origin of the chaos.
The more perceptive among them quickly sensed the source—and when they realized the overwhelming power erupting from Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei, their shock deepened into disbelief.
Within the heart of the storm, Gu You's shriveled face darkened. His gaze fell upon the three figures, and in the next breath, his eyes widened in disbelief. The words he spat out trembled with both astonishment and fury.
"Tian Class Dou Techniques?! All three of you… actually possess Tian Class Dou Techniques?!"
His voice echoed like thunder, striking directly into the hearts of those watching. The crowd was stunned.
Tian Class Dou Techniques. In this era, only the oldest and most ancient clans, with roots stretching back to the age of myths, could claim to possess them. And yet now, a newly rising faction—barely established—actually wielded not one, but three Tian Class Dou Techniques!
Even the most seasoned experts, who had weathered centuries and seen countless wonders, could not contain the surge of disbelief, envy, and shock within their hearts.
After all, Tian Class Dou Techniques were coveted treasures, longed for even by the strongest powers of the Central Plains.
Yet Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei paid no heed to the cries of astonishment. Their gazes remained steady, their minds unwavering. Their hands moved in unison as they continued forming their Dou Techniques—each of them exuding the terrifying majesty of gods preparing to pass judgment.
"Stop them!" the Third Tianzun shouted, his voice sharp as a blade as he prepared to act.
But just as he was about to take a step forward, Gu You's expression changed. His sharp senses caught the fluctuation—the technique was nearly complete.
"No! It's too late!" Gu You barked, his voice urgent. "Prepare your strongest techniques to defend yourselves!"
Dou Qi surged wildly within Gu You's body as he hastily prepared for the incoming onslaught.
The Third Tianzun froze mid-step. He, too, could now feel it—that suffocating pressure, the oppressive aura that signaled the nearing completion of a Tian Class Dou Technique. Even if he tried to interrupt them now, he would never make it in time. Worse, he would become the first target of that terrifying force.
And in that instant, even if he had nine lives, they would all be burned away without leaving ashes behind.
Realizing this, he gritted his teeth and swiftly circulated his Dou Qi, forming his own Dou Technique to brace against the inevitable impact.
The rest of the Tianzuns followed suit. Their arrogance shattered under the weight of fear, and their expressions turned pale. No one had expected this mission to turn into a confrontation with monsters in human form.
They had followed Gu You, thinking it was a routine suppression of a rising faction. None of them had expected to stand face to face with these terrifying younger generations.
None of the spectators could believe their eyes.
They had all assumed that Xiao Hua's group would be swiftly suppressed—that they were simply overreaching juniors facing the wrath of an ancient behemoth. Yet with the sudden reveal of their terrifying trump cards, the tides of this battle had shifted dramatically.
The presence of Saint Tian Huo, a true Ban Sheng expert… the eruption of their terrifying Secret Techniques… and now, the unveiling of Tian Class Dou Techniques—each one a legendary power few could even dream of wielding.
And that wasn't all. Within their ranks stood two eighth-tier alchemists, figures that even ancient factions would treasure and fiercely protect.
These facts combined painted a clear truth for all to see—this newly risen Moonlit Chaos Mansion was no ordinary upstart. They were a force worthy of standing among the most powerful factions of the Central Plains.
Before this battle, the onlookers were merely curious—interested in the reason behind the Hall of Souls' sudden movement and perhaps feeling a touch of pity for Xiao Hua's group.
But now… now, none dared underestimate them any longer.
Instead, they held their breath in silent anticipation, eyes wide with awe and tension, wondering:
Could this rising star truly shake the heavens… and overturn the ancient, unshakable power known as the Hall of Souls?
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