As Xiao Hua's group and Gu You's forces activated unique items and technique to restore their depleted Dou Qi and tend to their injuries, a heavy silence blanketed the battlefield. No one dared to speak—nor even breathe too loudly—afraid that the faintest sound might ignite the battle once more.
Boom—!
Half an incense stick's time later, powerful auras abruptly erupted, surging in all directions with unstoppable momentum. Under their pressure, the space within the once-proud Lightning Mountain Range distorted violently, unable to withstand the terrifying forces at play.
Ming Cheng and Li Mei opened their eyes in unison just as the dense black fog dissolved, revealing Gu You and the other experts of the Hall of Souls.
Gu You slowly raised his withered eyes, a sinister light flickering within them as he spoke in a cold, oppressive voice, "You've already used your Tian Class Dou Techniques. Why not come quietly? Otherwise, the fate that awaits you… will be worse than death."
"The older one is, the louder the barking becomes," Xiao Hua replied with a faint smile. Though his tone remained soft, his voice echoed far beyond the mountain range, stirring the hearts of all who heard it.
Gu Yao's expression darkened as a chilling killing intent seeped from his body, spreading like a cold mist. His voice was laced with murderous intent as he spoke, "Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, child…"
"I believe that might not be so true, old man. In fact… shouldn't it be your so-called senior generation who takes the first step and give this junior your life?" Xiao Hua replied, his smile cold and eyes growing increasingly frigid.
He paused for a breath, then took a single step forward. As his finger pointed directly at Gu You, his voice erupted like a divine thunderclap, shaking both heaven and earth.
"Gu You! You want me to return with you to the Hall of Souls, to let you take whatever you desire from me at will? I may not have stood before them during the ceremony, but I now carry the title of Mansion Master of Moonlit Chaos Mansion—their leader! If I were to lower my head and follow you now, what face would I have left to face them? What right would I have to stand before them and still call myself their Mansion Master?!"
"To allow my disciples and elders to suffer the shame of a coward as their leader—how could they ever walk proudly beneath the heavens again, claiming the name of Moonlit Chaos Mansion? How could I, as their Mansion Master, let them endure such humiliation simply because you said so?!"
"I may be younger than you old demons, but the weight I carry and the strength I wield surpass many of your kind. If you dare utter such words again, this Mansion Master shall turn this land into a field of blood!"
A wave of awe surged through the hearts of the experts who stood watching. His words thundered in their souls, stirring memories long buried and drawing solemn nods of approval.
'Rather break than bend…!'
Their admiration rose to new heights upon recalling that this resolute youth—this Mansion Master—was but eighteen years of age!
This was especially true for Feng Zun-zhe. He genuinely admired the character the young man had displayed—brave, unyielding, neither retreating nor fearing anything. Such qualities were exceedingly rare among the younger generation, particularly those born into great backgrounds or hailed as geniuses.
Despite his youth—exceptionally young, in fact—he already possessed the bearing and dignity of a true leader. Today, he had proven beyond doubt that he was worthy of standing at the helm of a powerful faction.
Ming Cheng and Li Mei smiled faintly, pride surging in their hearts at their little brother's resolute words. Saint Tian Huo's smile was broad, his chest puffed out with pride and joy. In that moment, he felt no regret for having chosen to follow this extraordinary youth before him.
The Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan also smiled warmly, knowing full well that every word he spoke came from the depths of his heart. They had seen with their own eyes—time and again—that Xiao Hua never took a single step back, even when facing death itself.
Gu Yao let out a frigid laugh. "Then let this old man to see just what a brat who doesn't even know how to spell the word 'death' is capable of this time!" Ferocity flashed deep within his eyes as his voice rang out with venom.
Xiao Hua let out a cold snort in response. With a faint, disdainful smile, he said mockingly, "Old dog, you might want to check your own head. It seems dementia must be creeping in if you've already forgotten what happened before."
"Charge!"
Majestic Dou Qi erupted from both sides in that instant. A vast and overwhelming pressure surged across the battlefield as murderous intent filled the air. Without hesitation, each figure shot toward their respective target, unleashing their killing intent without mercy.
In the next instant, the figures of Gu Yao and Saint Tian Huo flickered and appeared high in the sky, a hundred meters apart. Two monstrous Dou Qis erupted and clashed—one a black, bone-chilling fog, the other a blazing crimson aura. As the two collided, a deep, muffled explosion rumbled through the air, space distorting and collapsing under the sheer force of their confrontation.
"A mere initial-level Ban Sheng dares to challenge me? Hah! Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!" Gu Yao laughed strangely, cold disdain flickering in his eyes.
"If you were still at your peak, perhaps it would be difficult," Saint Tian Huo replied with a mocking smile. "But now? Thanks to Xiao Hua, I believe my chances of victory are quite high. It seems you're about to suffer a long period of disgrace and humiliation, Gu Yao!"
"Impudent!" Gu Yao roared in fury.
Those words struck a sore spot. For someone as proud and arrogant as Gu Yao—who believed that with his Ban Sheng strength, suppressing Xiao Hua would be effortless—suffering such consecutive losses was a humiliation he could not tolerate.
On the other battlefield, a streak of luminous lightning clashed violently with surging waves of water, releasing earth-shaking booms as the two forces collided with destructive ferocity.
"Ming Cheng, do you truly believe you can defeat this venerable one with your current strength?" Ninth Tianzun roared, his voice thunderous.
As he spoke, the water-attributed Qi in the sky rapidly gathered around his arm. With a powerful motion, he hurled his arm forward—its strike swift as lightning and accompanied by wave after wave of dark, chilling energy.
"Ninth Tianzun, do you truly believe you can suppress me just because I've yet to use my Secret Technique?" Ming Cheng replied coldly, his expression calm and devoid of emotion. "Then allow me to show you the harsh reality."
With a ruthless swing of his white-colored spear, Emperor Thunder surged forth, crackling wildly as it coiled around the weapon. In the next instant, the thunder-infused spear collided head-on with the descending palm, releasing an ear-splitting boom and a violent shockwave that tore through the surrounding space.
Meanwhile, Li Mei transformed into a streak of white light, charging straight toward the Black and White Tianzuns. Her figure radiated an overwhelming killing intent, filled with a chilling resolve to cut the two down without mercy.
Sensing that they had been locked onto by Li Mei's killing intent, the Black and White Tianzuns narrowed their eyes, a cold dread rising within their hearts. If possible, they would have preferred to flee this terrifying battlefield—but they knew Gu You would never allow such cowardice.
Even if Gu You were to fall here, the punishment awaiting them in Hall of Souls would be unimaginably severe. Escape wasn't an option—spiritual traces had long been planted in their souls, making them easily tracked down by other Hall of Souls experts.
"It seems… we have no choice but to fight her head-on," Black Tianzun muttered through gritted teeth, reluctantly accepting his fate.
"Aye," White Tianzun replied with a gloomy voice. "But we should only aim to stall her—buy time until someone on our side manages to turn the tide."
If he were alone, he would undoubtedly fear Li Mei. But with Black Tianzun beside him, he believed they might at least delay her, even if only for a short while.
With a mutual understanding, the two shot forward, summoning their artifacts as they charged at Li Mei. Their figures surged with Dou Qi that exploded outward before condensing onto their weapons. A moment later, they brought their artifacts crashing down toward her, each blow filled with desperation and force.
Li Mei's sword traced an elegant arc through the air, imbued with the power of Celestial Thunder Frost, as she met the incoming strike head-on.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three violent ripples of energy erupted with each clash, shaking the surrounding space. The three continued exchanging blows without pause, their techniques colliding in rapid succession. Though outnumbered, Li Mei maintained a slight edge, her precision and force giving her just enough of an advantage to contend with both Black and White Tianzun.
While the clash on that side intensified, another battlefield was quietly igniting.
Little Fairy Doctor stood calmly before Zhai Xing, her expression serene and adorned with a faint smile. Yet within her eyes surged a murderous intent so dense and chilling that even a veteran like Zhai Xing felt a subtle shiver crawl across his back.
"A mere four-star Dou Zun isn't enough to make me feel threatened, little girl," Zhai Xing said coldly, though the murderous pressure radiating from her caused a flicker of unease in his heart.
"I beg to differ." Little Fairy Doctor's smile deepened slightly.
In the next instant, her aura erupted. A dark-purple flame surfaced and began to dance around her figure, enveloping her like a divine shroud. She now resembled a goddess of violet fire—ethereal, beautiful, yet incomparably deadly. The scent of heavenly poison laced within the flames was enough to warn any cultivator: this was not a flame to be touched.
Zhai Xing's expression darkened as a deep frown furrowed his brows. A heavy, oppressive feeling surged in his chest. The fusion of lethal poison and blazing heat within the dark-purple flame sent a sharp warning to every instinct in his body—this woman was no ordinary opponent.
Given his current condition, Zhai Xing doubted he could last much longer. A determined glint surfaced in his eyes as he made his decision—he would go all out.
"Then let this old man see whether your confidence holds true! Dense Net Great Star Hand!"
With a thunderous roar, Zhai Xing's voice echoed across the battlefield. In that instant, the space around Little Fairy Doctor distorted violently. The surrounding environment shifted, and she suddenly found herself in an illusionary void, where stars flickered like countless distant lanterns.
"Die!"
Zhai Xing's expression turned grim and cold. From a distance, he extended his hand toward Little Fairy Doctor and clenched it forcefully.
Space immediately warped in response. Ripples surged outward, and a massive hand—formed entirely of starlight and countless radiant specks—manifested from the void. The enormous hand shot forward with terrifying momentum, collapsing space itself in its path and leaving behind a trail of pitch-black void wherever it passed.
Yet Little Fairy Doctor's expression remained unchanged. Her gaze was calm and indifferent as she stared at the descending celestial hand. Although she could clearly sense that this so-called Dense Net Great Star Hand was one of Zhai Xing's most powerful killing techniques, not even a flicker of fear could be seen on her face.
"As you wish. I too am curious to see just how powerful a Tianzun of the Hall of Souls truly is," Little Fairy Doctor replied with a faint smile.
As her soft voice echoed out, the Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame awakened, swirling menacingly around her figure. Her violet-amethyst robes fluttered wildly despite the stillness in the air, while the mysterious patterns along her arms pulsed with a sinister, otherworldly glow.
Raising one slender hand, she whispered gently, "Calamity-Grasping Nether Hand…"
In the next instant, ghostly flames surged forth from her right arm, twisting and writhing like a sentient creature. The air around her distorted, and an enormous hand—composed entirely of Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame—materialized behind her, easily rivaling the size of Zhai Xing's Dense Net Great Star Hand.
Unlike its star-forged counterpart, this hand appeared delicate, like jade sculpted with divine craftsmanship. Yet the poisonfire aura it exuded was anything but gentle. The jade-like fingers curled inward, radiating a malevolent energy that caused the space around it to tremble violently. High above, the clouds turned a sickly green, rotting and dispersing under the claw's oppressive might.
Then—without warning—the colossal ghostflame hand shot forward, tearing through the air and collapsing the space with a dreadful roar that reverberated deep within the souls of all who heard it.
"Shatter it!"
Zhai Xing's expression twisted into a ferocious grimace. With a single thought, the massive starry hand smashed downward, ruthlessly striking the jade-like ghostflame hand. Though confident in his own technique, he could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within the ghostflame construct. Even with his strength, he knew ending this clash swiftly would be no easy task.
Boom!
The moment the starry hand and the ghostflame hand collided, an earth-shaking explosion erupted. A terrifying shockwave swept out in all directions, shaking the heavens.
Boom!
With a second violent collision, an overwhelming burst of energy surged outward like a raging tide. The space at the heart of the impact twisted and collapsed, giving birth to a massive pitch-black void. That deep, endless darkness devoured light and sound alike, sending a chill down the spines of all who witnessed it.
While Little Fairy Doctor was suppressing Zhai Xing, Zi Yan was engaged with the remaining few Protectors who had miraculously survived. Though it was surprising that any were left standing, most of the Protectors had already perished—or been devoured—to restore Gu You and the other Tianzuns, leaving only five still alive.
Ordinarily, defeating five Protectors at once would be an immense challenge, even for her. However, given their weakened state, it was well within her ability—so long as she went all out.
As she charged forward, Zi Yan's body began to emit a strange, radiant purple light. Under the glow of that mysterious hue, her large, watery eyes shimmered like sapphires—bright, alluring, and filled with wild power.
Chi!
Suddenly, faint cracks appeared on the clothes covering her petite frame as the purple light intensified. Before the stunned eyes of the five Protectors, Zi Yan's body began to change. Her small figure rapidly grew taller, transforming before them with a divine presence that left them momentarily frozen in shock.
Zi Yan's purple hair began to grow, lengthening strand by strand until it cascaded smoothly down her back, finally stopping just above her shapely hips. The figure now standing before the Protectors bore no resemblance to the youthful girl from before.
A tall, graceful form—slender waist, full curves, and long, flowing violet hair—had replaced her earlier frame. The once-playful girl had transformed into a stunning, valiant beauty radiating a wild and captivating charm.
If Xiao Hua were present to witness this transformation, he would instantly recognize this appearance. It was the same form she had revealed once before—back when she playfully teased him in the small garden behind the Chaos Gate's wooden cabin.
Of course, at that time, she had appeared entirely unclothed.
Though that moment had passed quickly, Xiao Hua couldn't deny the impression it had left. Zi Yan's delicate, maturing form—so suddenly revealed—had been unforgettable.
Now, fully transformed, Zi Yan's eyes shimmered with a brilliant purple glow as she calmly swept her gaze across the stunned Protectors. Her soft red lips curved into a faint, mesmerizing smile—a smile carrying both grace and deadly intent.
Her figure flickered and vanished from sight in an instant.
A heartbeat later, she reappeared before the stunned five Protectors. Without hesitation, she unleashed a fierce punch toward the nearest one.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the purple-robed young woman, the Protector instinctively circulated his Dou Qi and thrust out a palm to meet the incoming strike.
Bang!
The violent collision sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Though the attack momentarily halted her advance, the other four Protectors immediately launched their counterattack. However, they quickly realized the disparity in strength.
Zi Yan's terrifying physical power was not something ordinary expert could contend with—especially in their weakened state. As the battle unfolded, the five Protectors found themselves steadily overwhelmed, each exchange ending with them receiving yet another merciless blow.
Under her relentless assault, the Protectors were being beaten back, one ruthless strike at a time.
Elsewhere, the two Sky Demon Puppets were locked in combat against the last two surviving Honourable Elders. Although the puppets lacked Dou Techniques, their terrifying durability and inability to feel pain had forced the battle into a grueling stalemate, one where endurance—not finesse—would decide the victor.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hua and the Third Tianzun flickered and reappeared before one another in mid-air. Without hesitation, both threw out their fists, each enveloped in majestic, dense Dou Qi. The moment their strikes collided, a deafening boom erupted as a storm-like shockwave swept across the battlefield.
Boom!
The Third Tianzun's figure was sent flying backward from the violent clash. After stabilizing himself in the air, he raised his head to stare at the young man who remained motionless, completely unaffected by the exchange. It was clear at a glance who had lost that bout.
Xiao Hua once again activated his secret technique, forcefully raising their strength to Peak Nine Star Dou Zun. Ming Cheng and Li Mei needed time to use their Secret Technique again but it is not that difficult for Xiao Hua to use it again.
"Brat! I'll repay the humiliation I suffered today by taking your life this time!" the Third Tianzun roared, his face contorted in fury. His Dou Qi surged violently as he shot forward like a specter, leaving behind ghostly afterimages and wailing illusions of tormented souls.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Xiao Hua and unleashed a barrage of chilling, malevolent fist and claw techniques without pause. His speed had clearly multiplied—he was utilizing an Agility-type Dou Technique to overwhelm Xiao Hua, attempting to suppress him through relentless assault.
Unfortunately for the Third Tianzun, his ghost-like agility was rendered useless—Xiao Hua's Spiritual Strength was far too high. No matter how elusive the movements, they could never escape his eyes.
Xiao Hua let out a faint scoff as vast and mighty Dou Qi surged through his body like a raging tide. With silver gauntlets gleaming on his arms, he stepped forward and unleashed a flurry of fist techniques to meet the oncoming assault head-on.
He had no reason to retreat—nor any reason to fear the Third Tianzun.
He was fully aware that clashing with the Hall of Souls meant thoroughly offending them. But given the current circumstances, he doubted they would ever leave him or the Chaos Moonlit Mansion in peace. Since war was inevitable, it was better to strike first—eliminating high-ranking members now would save far greater trouble in the days to come.
"Third Tianzun, today will be the day the Hall of Souls finds one less seat in its ranks," Xiao Hua said coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. As his words echoed through the air, his fist shot forward like a bolt of lightning and slammed directly into the Third Tianzun's face.
"You're not qualified to speak such arrogance, brat!" the Third Tianzun roared, Dou Qi within his body erupting like a raging volcano. In an instant, a layer of strange crystalline energy formed across his body as he raised a palm to meet Xiao Hua's strike.
Bang!
Though he managed to block the blow for a brief moment, the force behind Xiao Hua's punch was overwhelming. The Third Tianzun's body trembled violently before he was blasted backward, staggering over a thousand steps through the air before finally managing to halt his momentum. His face was grim, his breath unstable.
Pu!
A mouthful of fresh blood burst from his lips. It was clear—he could not withstand Xiao Hua's tyrannical power.
Lifting his head, he glared at the young man with venomous hatred. But deep within, he had already understood—he could not win.
His gaze shifted toward Gu You's battle, only to see the old man locked in a fierce stalemate with Saint Tian Huo. When he looked across the battlefield, all he saw was the suppression of the other Tianzuns and Honored Elders.
A bitter chill settled in his heart. Today… escape would not come easily.
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