Lei Zun-zhe's expression turned ashen, his face alternating between pale and dark as he struggled against the searing heat and chaotic natural energy that ravaged the surroundings.
Yet he dared not retreat—for he understood all too well that the young man before him was fully resolved to take his life.
Even if he were to throw away his pride, fall to his knees, and beg for forgiveness, it would be meaningless. The young man would still unleash his technique without hesitation. After all, he had nearly crippled the other's sworn brother. With such a deep enmity, the chance of surviving was near nonexistent.
This was why he had been moving from one pavilion to another, never staying in one place for long—always fearing that the shadow of death loomed ever closer.
Yet no matter how far he ran, the inevitable had come.
Now, all he could do was grit his teeth and muster every ounce of strength to resist.
"If it's my life you want…" he growled, voice low and hoarse, tinged with both despair and unwillingness. "Then I'll make sure you come with me to the grave!"
He gripped the spear raised high toward the sky, his aura erupting with sudden force. Arcs of lightning crackled along the shaft, while wind coiled tightly around its tip, forming a spiraling vortex of raw, destructive power.
His stance sank low, and in that instant, the world seemed to fall into silence.
"Roaring Thunder Gale Spear!"
With a thunderous shout, he thrust the spear forward. There was no need to strike flesh—the motion alone was enough to tear the air asunder.
From the tip burst a blinding stream of Wind Lightning Strength, condensed into a spiraling, thunder-laced spear force. Like a dragon born of storm and fury, it howled forth at terrifying speed, splitting the air with a piercing shriek.
As it flew, the winds surrounding it slashed at everything in its path, while chains of lightning erupted from its core, striking down enemies beyond the line of its charge. The ground split beneath it, and barriers meant to guard lives flickered briefly before crumbling like paper in a tempest.
Amidst the chaos, Xiao Hua stood with calm composure. A serene smile lingered on his lips as he gently pulled back a bowstring of fire. His movements were elegant—measured. As the string drew taut, three swirling flames emerged from the void, intertwining and condensing into a tri-colored flaming arrow.
His tranquil bearing, pulling the fiery bow amidst a sky full of thunder and storm-wrought winds, drew more than awe. For Feng Qing Er and Mu Qing Luan, it was a moment etched in the heart—a sight that stirred admiration… and something more.
Infused with the power of three Primordial Heavenly Flames, the radiant arrow brimmed with terrifying destructive force—enough to pierce the heavens and strike the sun itself.
"It's been a while since I last used this technique," Xiao Hua murmured softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "If I recall correctly… the last time was against Senior Zhou Tao, wasn't it?"
Pulling himself from the moment of reminiscence, he calmly tightened the bowstring once more. His gaze sharpened, locking onto Lei Zun-zhe's broad frame—his eyes piercing straight through the raging force of the approaching spear.
In that instant, Lei Zun-zhe's heart clenched. A wave of dread surged within him—the kind that came only when death was near. The threat emanating from that arrow far surpassed even the spear force he had just unleashed.
Before he could even summon a thought to defend, Xiao Hua released the bowstring. A quiet yet resolute voice followed:
"Heavenly Bow: Arrow of Three Thousand Lotus Heart Flame!"
Honglong!
A burst of three-colored brilliance erupted forth. The fiery arrow tore through the air with a thunderous roar, leaving behind a blazing trail that lit up the void.
As the streak of radiant flame sped toward the overwhelming spear force, the hearts of all who witnessed it tensed. No one dared to breathe. They could already sense it—the imminent collision would not merely shake the earth, but overturn the very battlefield itself.
Many instinctively began to retreat further, understanding that the clash between these two monstrous attacks would be nothing short of cataclysmic.
Even Ming Cheng and Huang Xuan halted their battle, turning their gazes toward the sky with contrasting expressions.
The former watched with a mix of amusement and pride, satisfied to see his sworn younger brother finally unleash his might and prove his strength before all. The latter, however, stood frozen in terror and regret—frightened by Xiao Hua's overwhelming power and deeply remorseful for ever stepping into this.
Elsewhere, Li Mei watched with a calm smile and gave a light nod of approval. Behind her stood the two tribal leaders she had recently fought—or more accurately, beaten black and blue. Their faces were swollen with bruises, battered so thoroughly that they looked as if they had been trampled by a beast rather than fought by a maiden.
Under the intense gazes of the crowd and their collectively held breath, the streak of brilliant light finally met the thunderous spear force in mid-air. Yet, contrary to all expectations, the moment the fiery arrow touched the roaring gale spear, it pierced through effortlessly—as though there had never been an obstacle in its path at all.
Crack—!
A sharp shattering sound rang out.
The destructive might within the tri-colored arrow erupted inside the spear force, sending waves of violent energy spiraling outward. Cracks began to form—first from within, then spreading rapidly across the surface of the thunderous spear.
Before anyone could react, the cracks multiplied, growing deeper and more chaotic under the devastating force.
And within a single breath, the blazing arrow had completely pierced through the Roaring Thunder Gale Spear.
Bang!
The moment the arrow passed through, the thunderous gale spear force shattered entirely—unable to withstand the annihilation-like might contained within the royal-purple blaze. It was torn apart from within, ravaged mercilessly by the destructive power that lingered in the arrow's wake.
Grug!
Lei Zun-zhe spat out a mouthful of blood, his body staggering as his mind reeled from the backlash of his shattered technique. But before he could steady himself, the streak of brilliant light—trailing a royal-purple flame—had already arrived before him.
Puchi!
With no time to react, the royal-purple brilliance pierced straight through his body, carving a gaping hole through his chest. The searing heat instantly vaporized the blood that burst forth, while the surrounding flesh turned pitch-black—charred by the fire-infused energy.
And in the next instant—
Boom!
The arrow exploded, unleashing a pillar of three-colored flame that soared over a hundred feet into the sky. The blazing column pierced through the thunder-darkened heavens above the Lightning Mountain Range, lighting the sky in a brilliant inferno.
Shockwaves and firestorm erupted outward, rolling like tidal waves across the heavens and earth. The surrounding space collapsed under the sheer destructive force, forming jagged spatial cracks that spread for over a hundred feet—like the sky itself had been torn apart.
Sensing the terrifying shockwaves and raging firestorm, the crowd scattered in a panic. Fright etched across their faces, they fled like a flock of startled chickens, manoeuvring their Dou Qi without reservation. None dared to stop, all rushing to escape the boundaries of the Lightning Mountain Range as fast as possible.
Only a few remained behind—those powerful enough to endure the aftermath. Most were Dou Zun-level elites, shielding their disciples within protective barriers. Even among them, caution was evident in their eyes.
A Dou Zong would suffer grievous injuries from such a shockwave. Anyone below that realm… would be crippled—or killed on the spot.
"What a terrifying technique…" Jian Zun-zhe muttered, disbelief flashing across his face. Deep in his eyes, horror and awe flickered. He could hardly believe that such overwhelming power had been unleashed by a mere Dou Zong.
Huang Quan Zun-zhe stood beside him, brows furrowed tightly as he gazed at the towering pillar of flame that still roared skyward.
Feng Zun-zhe, meanwhile, turned to glance at Mu Qing Luan and the other young disciples. With a soft sigh and a wry smile, he shook his head and said, half helplessly,
"I truly pity our disciples... To be born in the same generation as the founders of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion. These youths are simply too monstrous. Even old monsters like us must treat them with the utmost caution and respect."
Jian Zun-zhe and Huang Quan Zun-zhe exchanged glances before letting out helpless smiles of their own. They could only nod in agreement.
Had they been born a generation later, they might have stood proudly as the brightest talents of their time. But now… under the shadow of these heaven-defying prodigies, their brilliance had all but faded.
Mu Qing Luan and the others heard Feng Zun-zhe's murmurs and could only respond with bitter smiles, offering no attempt to refute his words. No matter how prideful they are, none among them could contend with the likes of Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, or Li Mei.
Naturally, the same applied to Xin Yu—currently overseeing the affairs of Moonlit Chaos Mansion—and the two eighth-tier alchemists, Wei Jie and Mei Ling. These three had each carved out achievements so remarkable that even Mu Qing Luan and the other so-called geniuses could only sigh in quiet defeat.
Meanwhile, the three chiefs of Wind Lightning Pavilion and Feng Qing Er stood in solemn silence, their gazes fixed on the towering pillar of flame. Though Lei Zun-zhe's condition could not be clearly seen, they had all witnessed the massive hole torn through his body just before the inferno erupted.
It was more than enough to understand—survival was impossible. Even if he had not been incinerated by the pillar, such a wound alone was fatal.
Boom! Bang!
While they were still dazed by the blazing spectacle, thunderous explosions suddenly rang out, snapping them back to their senses.
Their eyes turned sharply—just in time to see Huang Xuan's body crash into the ground, completely unconscious. From the visible indentation on his chest, it was clear that Ming Cheng had landed a devastating blow.
Elsewhere, the two tribal leaders brought by Lei Zun-zhe had been thoroughly suppressed by Li Mei. Yet even if she had not acted, neither of them dared to move. Their courage had long since been shattered—completely overwhelmed by the sheer might displayed by Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei.
None among them could muster even the thought of resistance.
Once the violent energy storm and searing firestorm finally subsided, two figures shot forward—Ming Cheng and Li Mei, swiftly arriving at Xiao Hua's side. A moment later, Little Fairy Doctor and the others followed, their expressions solemn as they gathered.
"It seems we've taken our sweet time here…" Li Mei sighed softly, brushing back a strand of hair that had been ruffled by the lingering heat.
"That's on me," Xiao Hua replied with a faint, helpless smile, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. He turned slightly to his right, his tone growing cold. "Had I ended it earlier, they wouldn't have had the time to arrive…"
"At least you're admitting your mistake," Ming Cheng said, shaking his head with a wry grin.
"It's not entirely your fault," Little Fairy Doctor said gently with affectionate smile. "Who could've expected Lei Zun-zhe to summon reinforcements from the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe?"
"Even so," Saint Tian Huo added, his voice low and steady, "they arrived far faster than I anticipated…"
As his words fell, his gaze locked onto a patch of seemingly empty space ahead. His eyes narrowed sharply.
Sensing the shift, Xiao Hua and the others instinctively followed his line of sight. Their expressions grew tense as they, too, stared into the void. Without another word, they began circulating Dou Qi throughout their bodies, preparing silently.
The still air carried an ominous pressure—one that heralded the arrival of new threats.
"Ke ke... As expected of Xiao Xuan's descendant. To possess such terrifying strength at such a young age—truly remarkable for a mere brat."
An aged, eerie chuckle echoed through the air as spatial ripples stirred the void before them. The space trembled, and in the next moment, a hundred-meter-long spatial crack tore open, stretching like a jagged wound across the sky.
From within, numerous powerful auras surged outward, but one in particular stood out—dark, monstrous presence that swept through the area like a tidal wave of malevolence.
Feng Zun-zhe, Jian Zun-zhe, and Huang Quan Zun-zhe all felt their hearts tighten violently. Their expressions changed drastically as their gazes locked onto the overwhelming aura.
"Elite... Ban Sheng?!" they cried out in unison.
Mu Qing Luan and the others trembled involuntarily upon hearing those words from their masters. Even with their pride as top-tier young experts, the appearance of an elite Ban Sheng was something far beyond what they had ever imagined encountering here.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hua's expression grew increasingly grim. A dark chill coated his voice as he spoke slowly, his eyes narrowing with icy sharpness.
"Hall of Souls… So they've finally shown themselves."
"Their leader is at advanced- level Ban Sheng, while the other has is at ninth change of Peak Dou Zuns," Saint Tian Huo murmured, his voice low and steady as he carefully sensed the monstrous auras seeping from the spatial crack.
Compared to Feng Zun-zhe and the others, his strength and perception were vastly superior. Naturally, he could discern what others could not.
"It seems the Hall of Souls is truly determined to capture you today, Xiao Hua…" he added, his tone turning grave.
Ming Cheng, Li Mei, and the rest nodded silently, their expressions solemn. Their gazes remained fixed on the spatial fissure, where waves of oppressive aura continued to pour out, accompanied by tendrils of churning black mist. A deep, chilling light flickered within their eyes as they braced themselves.
From within the rift, numerous figures cloaked in black slowly emerged—each exuding a sinister, deathly presence. But the one who stood at the forefront drew all eyes.
It was an old man clad in simple white robes. His figure was hunched and frail, leaning on a bone-carved staff that radiated a cold, eerie aura. His eyes glowed with a deep, serene green light—strange and unfathomable—giving off an unnerving sense of dread and malice.
Even among the Hall of Souls, his presence was unmistakably abnormal.
"A Ban Sheng… The Hall of Souls actually deployed an elite Ban Sheng?"
"That's not all. I can see Old Ghost Zhai Xing… Black-White Tianzun… even the Ninth Tianzun and Third Tianzun here."
"They actually sent four Tianzuns? Just who are these people that warranted such a terrifying lineup?"
"I've never seen them before…"
"I heard from those who arrived earlier—they're the Hall Masters and Mansion Master of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion."
"Moonlit Chaos Mansion? That rising faction? What kind of grudge could they possibly have with the Hall of Souls… to provoke such a monstrous response?"
"I'm not sure. From what I heard, they came here to settle things with Wind Lightning Pavilion. No one expected the Hall of Souls to intervene…"
While Xiao Hua and the others focused on the Hall of Souls, more auras began to emerge in the skies far beyond the Lightning Mountain Range as discussions sparked in hushed tones. These were powerful experts from various corners of the Central Plains, drawn by the terrifying movement of the Hall of Souls.
Clearly, the appearance of an elite Ban Sheng had not gone unnoticed—and curiosity, as well as wariness, now filled the eyes of those watching from afar.
Naturally, such a movement could not be concealed—no matter how they tried. It was to be expected. With a Ban Sheng, few Dou Zuns, and numerous Dou Zong experts in tow, hiding their presence was simply impossible.
Even so, none among the onlookers had expected the Hall of Souls to mobilize such a force… merely for a newly rising faction.
Ignoring the countless gazes fixed upon him, the white-clothed old man calmly raised his bone-carved walking stick and took a step forward, treading the air as if walking across solid ground. His gaze lowered, settling upon the heterochromia-eyed youth standing below with cold intensity.
A ferocious smile twisted across his withered, skeletal face, and a raspy, hoarse voice echoed forth.
"The old me is known as Gu You. Of course, you may also address me as the Second Tianzun. Perhaps you are more familiar with that title... Though now that I have stepped into the Ban Sheng realm, I prefer to be called—Saint Gu You."
"Well then, the introduction is over. Ugh... It's been a while since I've spoken this much. Young fellow from the Xiao Clan, this old man has come for one reason only. I trust you already understand what that is, Xiao Hua."
As he finished speaking, his eerie green eyes glowed faintly, like twin flames of the underworld, boring down onto Xiao Hua with chilling intensity.
"Second Tianzun… I never expected them to appear in person rather than sending lower-ranked executives."
Xiao Hua murmured softly, his expression turning grave. Never had he imagined that he would cross paths with the Second Tianzun of the Hall of Souls so soon. He had only been in the Central Plains for a few short months, and yet already, one of the highest authorities from the Hall of Souls now stood before him.
'Isn't it supposed to follow the usual pattern? First, the small fry come... then stronger ones show up later…?' Xiao Hua thought bitterly, amused and frustrated all at once.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Xiao Hua suppressed the turmoil within. His face returned to calm—deceptively serene, not a single ripple betraying his thoughts. A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke.
"To think that both Second Tianzun would come personally... I'm flattered."
He paused, eyes glancing toward the space behind Gu You before continuing, voice cool and composed.
"However, I don't believe I possess anything so valuable as to warrant the personal attention of Second Tianzun. Surely... there must be some misunderstanding?"
Feigning ignorance, Xiao Hua's tone remained light, yet the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed the cold vigilance hidden beneath.
"Ke ke… No need to worry. This old one will personally confirm everything—once I bring you back to the Hall of Souls," Gu You chuckled faintly, his tone calm yet chilling.
"I am aware you possess an astonishing strength. Impressive, yes—but ultimately meaningless before someone like me," he said flatly, flicking his sleeve with a single long finger, his voice devoid of emotion.
"You will find no path of resistance. My orders are to take you back alive, but... so long as a single breath remains in your body, that is enough to fulfill my task."
"Then prepare to have your eyes opened, old man. Don't be shocked into stupidity when it happens." Xiao Hua's cold voice rang out, cutting through the air like a blade.
In the next instant, Xiao Hua, Ming Cheng, and Li Mei surged their Dou Qi simultaneously. Five distinct-colored flames ignited around Xiao Hua, while crackling Emperor Thunder and Celestial Thunder coiled fiercely around Ming Cheng and Li Mei, causing the surrounding air to tremble.
A moment later, Little Fairy Doctor, Zi Yan, and Saint Tian Huo followed suit. A dark-purple flame roared around Little Fairy Doctor, a domineering dragon aura exploded from Zi Yan, and Saint Tian Huo's body radiated a fiery crimson blaze—each presence shaking the space.
Their combined power was overwhelming, enough to make even elite experts wary.
With Saint Tian Huo's presence reinforcing them, the chances of Xiao Hua being taken were extremely low. And if the Hall of Souls truly intended to force the issue—they would have to pay a price far heavier than they could afford.
A vast and mighty Dou Qi pressure swept across the land, causing the heavens to tremble. At that moment, a truly catastrophic battle erupted without warning—its fury shaking the very skies.
-------|
Read 20 Advanced Chapters in Patreon:
http://patreon.com/GodYato