As the tension in the air continued to escalate, the spatial crack finally stabilized. Under the watchful gazes of numerous experts several thousand meters away, a spatial tunnel slowly took form.
Chi! Chi!
A surge of dense black fog erupted from the tunnel, spreading in all directions. The aura it carried was terrifyingly oppressive—cold, dark, and heavy enough to stir the instincts of even seasoned experts.
"The First Tianzun has arrived…"
That single sentence echoed in the minds of all present. From the ominous prelude to his arrival and the overwhelming aura seeping through the rift, none doubted the identity of the one emerging.
All attention snapped toward the tunnel as a figure slowly stepped out from within.
It was an elderly man, gaunt and skeletal in appearance, cloaked in a shroud of pitch-black aura so dense it seemed to swallow all light around him.
The First Tianzun's gaze swept over Gu You's miserable state before slowly scanning the entire battlefield. What met his eyes was a grim scene—Zhai Xing barely clinging to life, the two Honourable Elders gravely injured and exhausted, and the corpses of five Protectors strewn across the ground.
A flicker of understanding flashed deep within his ancient eyes. It was clear to him now—most of the Tianzuns, Honourable Elders and Protectors who had joined this battle had perished, their bodies reduced to dust and scattered into oblivion.
A cold light surged in his eyes as his gaze locked onto Xiao Hua and the others. His voice, dark and heavy with murderous intent, echoed through the air.
"I never imagined that even the Hall of Souls' army would be unable to capture a few brats…"
Xiao Hua met the old man's gaze calmly. A faint smile curved his lips as he replied, utterly unfazed by the oppressive killing intent washing over him.
"Perhaps it simply means your Hall of Souls is lacking. Shouldn't you be thankful that we were kind enough to help you cleanse the useless trash from your ranks?"
Though the First Tianzun's aura was suffocating, it fell short of striking fear into Xiao Hua's heart. At most, it brought a faint pressure—but not enough to make him retreat.
"I admit, there are indeed a few worthless rags within the Hall of Souls…" the First Tianzun nodded, his voice eerily calm. But as he lifted his gaze, his eyes turned cold and silent, like a blade unsheathed in the stillness before the storm.
"However, that doesn't mean you have any right to kill members of my Hall of Souls!"
He paused, drawing in a long breath to steady the murderous intent surging within him. Once composed, his tone grew colder, more resolute.
"No matter. This old man will personally drag you back to the Hall of Souls and present you before our chief. After that… I shall deliver judgment upon you and this pitiful little faction of yours myself."
Xiao Hua said nothing. His expression remained calm, but his eyes had turned abnormally dark and frigid as they locked onto the shriveled figure before him. He knew this battle would not be easy—but he hadn't expected to face a Ban Sheng elite and a Dou Sheng expert so soon in his journey in Central Plains.
Without warning, his hands began to move—swift and fluid, leaving behind countless afterimages as they formed a series of profound hand seals. Each seal radiated an ancient, mysterious aura, and with every completed seal, a powerful wave of energy rippled outward, shaking the very heavens and earth as Xiao Hua's aura erupted with unrestrained force.
The hand seals formed with such speed and precision that even the First Tianzun was caught off guard, unable to react in time. As Xiao Hua drew in a deep breath, his voice rang out like thunder, and his surging aura exploded upward with terrifying force.
"Heavenly Tribulation Body: Heavenly Overlord Transformation!"
The instant his voice echoed through the air, Xiao Hua's aura erupted violently, far surpassing anything he had displayed before. At the same time, his appearance began to undergo a dramatic and awe-inspiring transformation.
His velvet-like forms shimmered and warped as two distinct flames emerged—one pure white, exuding both freezing cold and searing heat, and the other a vibrant green, pulsing with a boundless life force. Alongside them, two streaks of lightning crackled into existence—an orange bolt surging with wrath and fury, and an emerald lightning that radiated judgment and vitality.
The beast-like tattoo between his brows faded away, replaced by a sigil in the shape of a crown, formed from intertwining flame and lightning. It hovered above his head, blazing brilliantly. His eyes, too, had transformed—his right eye now a deep maroon crackling with lightning, while his left had turned into a glowing emerald, filled with divine light.
The shards of amethyst and sapphire that once clung to his body shattered, replaced by a majestic black robe. Upon it danced six elegant flame patterns reminiscent of phoenixes in flight, alongside six domineering lightning motifs shaped like roaring dragons.
His long black hair fluttered wildly behind him, shimmering with a radiant multicolored glow. At the tips of each strand, flames flickered and arcs of lightning danced in tandem—beautiful, chaotic, and regal.
In that moment, Xiao Hua no longer resembled a mere cultivator. His presence alone evoked the image of a divine emperor—one who wielded command over both heavenly flame and thunderous judgment.
As the transformation reached its end, Xiao Hua's soaring aura abruptly stabilized—at the level of a 1-Star Dou Sheng.
"D-Dou Sheng! He's actually stepped into the Dou Sheng realm!"
"How is this possible? Is there even a Secret Technique capable of forcefully raising one's strength to such a tyrannical degree?!"
"What kind of technique is this? Could it be some inheritance from an ancient clan?!"
"I doubt even those ancient clans can have such Secret Technique…Rather, I feel like this kind of Secret Technique didn't exist until this young man come…"
The moment his aura settled, the surrounding experts erupted into shocked commotion. Countless eyes widened in disbelief, their minds struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
The sudden leap to the Dou Sheng realm was unheard of—neither in ancient records had there ever been mention of a secret technique so heaven-defying.
If the surrounding experts were shocked, then Gu You was utterly stunned—his mind drowning in disbelief, as if caught in a waking nightmare.
One-Star Dou Sheng!
Even if it was a temporary surge brought about by a Secret Technique, the sheer reality of it left him reeling. His thoughts were in disarray, unable to process what he was witnessing.
As a high-level Ban Sheng expert himself, Gu You knew better than anyone the vast, insurmountable gap between Ban Sheng and Dou Sheng. Even after decades of cultivation, despite countless attempts and resources poured into advancing, the barrier remained unshakable—he had yet to even glimpse the threshold of the Dou Sheng realm.
And now, before his very eyes, a mere young man had broken through that boundary—albeit through some heaven-defying Secret Technique.
It was still real.
Even if limited by time, even if it came at a great cost—it didn't matter.
Because in this moment, this youth possessed the strength to kill him.
The First Tianzun's eyes narrowed sharply. Though a flicker of surprise crossed his face, he quickly suppressed it and regained his composure. No matter how heaven-defying Xiao Hua's transformation appeared, he knew such power came at a steep price.
Even so, a sense of dread crept silently into his heart. Moments ago, he might have still looked down on this youth—but now, he regarded Xiao Hua as a true threat. The succession of strange, tyrannical, and unfathomable techniques the young man had revealed was enough to instill fear even in someone of his level.
'I must end this quickly,' the First Tianzun thought coldly, his gaze flickering with ruthless calculation. 'Before this boy reveals an even more terrifying technique… I need to force him into taking my strike head-on.'
A chilling smirk slowly curled across his lips as a plan began to form in his mind. If it worked, Xiao Hua would undoubtedly suffer grievous injuries. As for the others—he highly doubted any of them possessed the same monstrous technique or endurance.
Xiao Hua, on the other hand, felt a faint unease rising in his chest the moment he saw that cold smile. He couldn't guess the exact plan the old man was scheming—but he instinctively knew he has to suffer a heavy loss.
Coincidentally, he too needed to end this battle swiftly. The violent, turbulent energy within his body was growing more and more unstable—rampaging wildly, resisting control. If he maintained this state for much longer, the backlash would be devastating.
Even so, Xiao Hua couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret for not using this transformation earlier. Had he done so, the battle might have ended swiftly. Even if the backlash was severe, at least he wouldn't have needed to worry about others scheming against him—not with his brother and sister by his side.
'I've suddenly become the kind of brainless villain people mock in cultivation novels…' Xiao Hua sighed inwardly, despondent. The regret weighed heavily in his heart—he had misjudged the situation, and now he had no choice but to see it through.
But since things had already come to this, there was only one path forward—finish it quickly.
Xiao Hua raised his head, his gaze locking with the First Tianzun. Neither spoke, yet murderous intent surged between them like clashing blades.
"Brother Ming Cheng, Sister Li Mei, Saint Tian Huo… handle Gu You. Leave the First Tianzun to me," Xiao Hua said calmly, his tone quiet yet resolute as his eyes swept across the three.
Naturally, the trio gave a firm nod. None of them wasted words—they understood the situation all too well. Once Xiao Hua's time limit ended, he would fall into a state of extreme weakness. They had to defeat Gu You before that happened… and be ready to support Xiao Hua without delay.
"Big Brother, I'll assist you. There's no need to waste words with this arrogant brat. Let's just kill him and extract his soul—then we can properly study his techniques," Gu You said coldly, his eyes flickering with malice.
After suffering so many humiliating defeats at Xiao Hua's hands, Gu You had developed a deep, searing hatred. He was determined to make Xiao Hua pay a heavy price—no matter the cost.
Even if the boy had stepped into the Dou Sheng realm, it was merely a temporary boost from a Secret Technique. He wasn't a true Dou Sheng… not yet.
The First Tianzun leaned slightly toward him and spoke in a low voice, "Gu You, I have a plan. Your task is to delay the other three—do not let them interfere."
"I understand…!" Gu You's expression trembled slightly. Truthfully, he feared this group. The damage they had done was nothing short of terrifying. But if it was only delaying them, he believed he could manage.
Though he wasn't privy to the full details, he could sense it—whatever the First Tianzun had in mind, it was aimed at forcing Xiao Hua into suffering a devastating blow.
Ming Cheng and the others locked gaze with Gu You. Both sides move to the side and rushed out, charging violently towards each other. Brilliance of lightning, white-coloured lightning and fiery-hot flame collided against the endless wave of chilling black chains.
Xiao Hua and the First Tianzun locked eyes, the air between them brimming with killing intent. As the other battles erupted around them, the first to move was none other than the First Tianzun.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, the old man's expression remained unreadable, but his hands—hidden beneath his sleeves—began to form a series of seals at astonishing speed.
Chi! Chi!
As the final seal was completed, the space around Xiao Hua suddenly twisted and fluctuated. In the blink of an eye, countless white figures flashed into view. The entire area had become saturated with sharp, gleaming white bones that shot toward Xiao Hua at lightning speed, each one carrying the intent to kill.
Honglong!
Xiao Hua didn't utter a word. In response to the bone barrage, he simply stomped the ground.
A spatial crack tore open beneath his feet as six distinct flames of different colors erupted in a violent explosion. Each flame blazed with unique power, swirling around him in a tempest of elemental fury.
The white bone spears disintegrated the moment they touched the flames—melted instantly without offering the slightest resistance. Within moments, they were reduced to ashes and scattered into the wind, as if they had never existed.
The First Tianzun showed little reaction—he had already anticipated this outcome. With his sharp gaze, he immediately recognized that the six-colored flames were the source of Xiao Hua's temporary ascension to the Dou Sheng realm.
Though the phenomenon reminded him of Burning Flame Valley's famed Secret Technique, the Sky Mysterious Three Changes, he was certain—Xiao Hua's technique was of an entirely different caliber.
Still, now wasn't the time to dwell on such comparisons. Pushing those thoughts aside, he took a deep breath, his expression hardening as he let out a stern cry:
"Bone Emperor Piercing Sky!"
The scattered piercing bones instantly dissolved into mist, and an eerie, chilling wail echoed through the battlefield. Above Xiao Hua's head, space twisted violently as an enormous bone blade, emanating a strange and sinister aura, tore through the void.
The massive weapon trembled slightly before hacking downward with terrifying momentum—like a guillotine from the heavens aiming to split Xiao Hua in two.
'Even if his strength is forcefully elevated, he still possesses the power of a Dou Sheng…' the First Tianzun muttered solemnly in his heart. 'I must use a powerful technique to stall him—just long enough to initiate my plan…'
He still found it difficult to believe he was being forced to go all out against a mere junior. But the brutal losses suffered by the Hall of Souls left him no other choice. If he allowed this to continue, the damage would perhaps only grow worse.
Kacha!
A sharp spatial fluctuation rippled out as the massive bone blade descended. It shot toward Xiao Hua with terrifying speed, leaving behind a trail of eerie energy in its wake.
"Spiritual attack…"
Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed as he locked onto the incoming blade. The pressure radiating from it was immense—cold, oppressive, and razor-sharp. This was no ordinary strike; it carried both destructive force and soul-piercing intent.
He understood instantly—the First Tianzun was no longer holding back.
If Xiao Hua were a true Dou Sheng, this attack might not have posed much of a threat. But his current strength was artificially elevated through a secret technique. While it granted him tremendous power, it came with limits. To stop this attack would require a significant amount of effort.
Just as Xiao Hua was about to shatter the spiritual fluctuations surrounding the massive bone blade, a flicker at the edge of his vision caught his attention.
His eyes widened sharply—the First Tianzun had moved.
But more importantly, he had vanished in a flash… heading straight in one direction.
"Zi Yan!" Xiao Hua shouted, his voice thundering across the battlefield as he turned toward the distant figure of the young girl. There was no time for explanations—just a single urgent warning was all he could give.
In response to his cry, Zhu Li, Hei Qing, and the Little Fairy Doctor immediately shifted their gazes—only to witness the First Tianzun's figure tearing through the air, speeding directly toward Zi Yan's position.
"Lass, guard Zi Yan for us! Hei Qing, come with me!" Zhu Li roared, his figure transforming into a streak of light as he shot forward to intercept.
Hei Qing followed without hesitation. Zi Yan was the last hope of the Ancient Void Dragon clan—he would protect her, even if it meant laying down his life.
Zhu Li and Hei Qing moved in perfect sync, their hands forming a flurry of seals as their Dou Qi surged wildly within their bodies. In the next instant, they unleashed their techniques, tearing through space and forcefully halting the First Tianzun's momentum.
"Scram!"
But unfortunately, the man before them was a genuine Dou Sheng expert. No matter how fierce their techniques were, they could not compare to the overwhelming might of a Dou Sheng. With a single punch, the First Tianzun shattered their combined attacks as though they were nothing more than fragile glass.
Grugh!
Zhu Li and Hei Qing felt their blood churn violently before a mouthful of it sprayed from their mouth. Their figures were sent flying, tumbling uncontrollably through the air. It took them several breaths to stabilize themselves—but by then, the First Tianzun had already resumed his advance.
However, just before he could reach his intended target, a slender figure stepped into his path—Little Fairy Doctor.
Though it might seem disrespectful to Zhu Li and Hei Qing, she had already anticipated that their efforts would only buy her a brief moment.
She seized that opening decisively, stepping forward with unwavering eyes and forming a seal of her own, ready to unleash her technique.
She raised her hand, and a violet light flickered within her palm.
Slowly—like a flower blooming beneath a moonless sky—a lotus bud began to form. Its petals were forged entirely from the flickering Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame, each one quivering with eerie life before the bud gently unfurled.
"Ghostflame Lotus Annihilation."
Her voice was soft, barely more than a whisper—yet it echoed through the void like the toll of a final judgment.
At first, the lotus spun gently, its ghostflame petals curling outward, etched with ancient, venomous runes that pulsed with a soul-chilling glow. Then, without warning—it detonated.
Thousands of petals burst forth, tearing through space as they spiraled outward. Each petal left behind a trail of poisonous fire that warped the very air. Wherever they passed, space distorted, Dou Qi dissolved into vapor, and even the faintest soul fluctuations sent chills down the spines of the distant onlookers.
The First Tianzun's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected this frail-looking young woman to unleash such a devastating attack.
His expression darkened slightly—this was no ordinary flame, and certainly no ordinary technique.
'Fortunately, she's still too weak—the power she can unleash is limited…' the First Tianzun thought to himself. Yet, despite this, a wave of unease rippled through his heart. The mysterious strength this young faction possessed was far beyond his expectations.
He made a decision then and there—this matter must be reported to the Chief or at least the Deputy Chief. If they allowed this group to continue growing unchecked, who knew what heights they might reach in the future?
His expression turned grim as he suddenly opened his mouth wide. A surge of black energy burst forth, condensing mid-air into the shape of a colossal dragon. Accompanied by a piercing, deafening roar, the dragon spiraled forward.
Upon closer inspection, one would see that this dark, monstrous creature was formed from countless souls, and the roar it let out wasn't its own—it was the collective wail of countless anguished spirits.
The soul-dragon tore through the air and lunged toward the swirling lotus petals, devouring them without hesitation. Within its body, the furious souls began to clash violently against the Ghostflame energy.
Bang!
Moments later, the enormous dragon exploded, unleashing a storm of savage force that violently shredded the lotus petals apart. The sky quaked from the aftermath of the soul-burst, the surrounding space trembling under the chaotic remnants of ghostflame and soul energy.
Grugh!
As the petals of the Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame Lotus were forcefully destroyed, the backlash struck Little Fairy Doctor without mercy. Several mouthfuls of blood spilled from her lips as her body was hurled violently through the air, crashing back over a hundred meters before she barely managed to stabilize herself.
Gritting her teeth, she raised her head—only to see the First Tianzun continuing forward, his gaze locked on Zi Yan as he rushed toward her without pause.
Concern gripped her heart. She instinctively prepared to move—but just as she did, a sudden flash of lightning and flame erupted in front of Zi Yan, crackling with fury. A familiar presence surged forward, wrapped in terrifying energy and killing intent.
And in that instant, she saw it—the faint smile curling on the First Tianzun's lips.
Her heart sank.
He wasn't targeting Zi Yan at all. He had used her… as bait.
He had known that Xiao Hua would act the moment she was threatened. This entire attack was a ploy to force Xiao Hua into receiving a full-powered strike from a Dou Sheng expert—a blow that could leave even someone like him gravely injured under his current unstable condition.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Xiao Hua!"
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