Seeing Ming Cheng and Li Mei nod, Xiao Hua closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. When he reopened them, unwavering resolve flickered within his gaze. His hands moved swiftly, forming strange and profound hand seals at a speed that left behind countless afterimages.
As the sequence of hand seals continued, spatial energy surged from his body. The space behind him began to distort, rippling unnaturally. In the next moment, spatial fluctuations intensified—and a crack tore open in the void behind him.
Zhu Li and Hei Qing immediately understood his intention. Xiao Hua was opening a spatial tunnel to facilitate their escape. Without hesitation, both of them prepared to intercept any incoming threat, ready to confront anyone from the Hall of Souls who might attempt to intervene.
"They're trying to flee…!"
Naturally, the experts from the Hall of Souls noticed their actions. However, none of them could break through—Ming Cheng and the others were holding the line. Moreover, Zhu Li and Saint Tian Huo, both elite Ban Shengs, remained standing guard.
Worse still, their bodies were far from their peak. After the brutal clash against this fearsome group, their injuries and exhaustion weighed heavily. For now, they could only grit their teeth in silence, waiting for the First Tianzun's command.
However, instead of giving any orders, the First Tianzun had already begun forming multiple hand seals, having sensed the disturbance in advance. Yet his speed was sluggish—his body crippled with only one usable arm, and his internal injuries were devastating.
Every movement sent waves of pain through him, and the bitterness in his heart twisted into seething hatred. The madness and loathing he harbored toward Xiao Hua surged to new heights.
But before he could complete the sealing technique, the spatial crack behind Xiao Hua had already fully formed and stabilized.
Boom!
The moment the spatial tunnel opened, surging waves of Emperor Thunder and Celestial Thunder exploded outward, shaking the sky. Ming Cheng and Li Mei reacted instantly—each grabbing hold of Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan respectively before dashing into the tunnel with blinding speed.
Naturally, as they moved, they relayed the plan to Zhu Li and Hei Qing, who also followed without hesitation. However, just before vanishing into the spatial rift, their gazes lingered behind them—on the figure that stood motionless, rooted like an immovable mountain beneath the heavens.
Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan saw it as well—and immediately understood what Xiao Hua intended to do. Panic surged within them as they struggled to break free. Yet Ming Cheng and Li Mei's grips were firm—unyielding, refusing to let them go.
"Xiao Hua! Brother Ming Cheng, please let me stay with him!" Little Fairy Doctor cried out, her voice filled with desperation.
"Sister Li Mei, please… let me go. He's in this state because of me. I can't just abandon him!" Zi Yan pleaded, her eyes glistening with guilt and sorrow as she looked at Li Mei.
But even as they struggled, their strength faltered. The anguish and frustration etched across Ming Cheng and Li Mei's faces made it clear—this was not a choice taken lightly. In the end, Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan could only grit their teeth, their gazes fixed on Xiao Hua's unmoving back.
Then, the First Tianzun's voice echoed coldly across the battlefield.
"Lock!"
With that single command, the spatial tunnel behind them began to close rapidly—much to the despair of Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan. Their hearts clenched tightly as the gateway narrowed.
And yet, as the tunnel collapsed in upon itself, it felt as though time itself had slowed—no, as though the world had come to a complete halt.
At that final moment, Xiao Hua turned around to meet their gazes. The storm, the chaos, everything faded. In that stillness, he smiled—a gentle, warm smile that radiated an indescribable softness. Within it lay silent reassurance: "Do not worry. I will not fall here."
Their breaths caught in their throats. Their eyes turned red, misted over with tears. They bit down on their lips, trying to hold it in, but the pain of watching the spatial tunnel close—with Xiao Hua still on the other side—was unbearable.
Boom!
The spatial tunnel closed completely under Xiao Hua's warm gaze. He knew—Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan would likely hold resentment toward him for this. But even so, he had no choice.
He could sense it.
A new presence was slowly approaching—one even more terrifying than the First Tianzun. From the overwhelming aura alone, Xiao Hua could tell: a true powerhouse was coming. The deputy chief of the Hall of Souls… a 3-Star Dou Sheng.
With his current condition, facing such a figure would be nothing short of suicide. Even if he staked his life, he would die like a dog—to die in vain and miserably. That was why he had sent Ming Cheng and the others away first.
He knew the Hall of Souls would turn their focus to him. And even if they chose to pursue the others, he had ways… ways to ensure their eyes stayed locked on him and him alone.
As this thought passed through his mind, Xiao Hua's gaze turned icy and sharp. He slowly turned to meet the bloodshot eyes of the First Tianzun.
"Brat, let me see how you escape this time!" the First Tianzun roared, his voice trembling with fury.
He felt no disappointment over the others' escape. No concern. All of his hatred, all of his humiliation—everything had been carved into his heart by this one youth standing before him.
His mind, consumed by rage and vengeance, cared for nothing else. Even if reason told him to chase after the others, his wrath blinded him. For now, only Xiao Hua existed in his world.
As the First Tianzun's furious threats echoed across the battlefield, the surrounding experts shifted their gazes toward Xiao Hua.
His face remained expressionless—calm, almost indifferent. Yet from his still figure emanated a chilling killing intent that caused their bodies to tense involuntarily. A cold shiver crept down their spines, and the fine hairs on their skin stood on end.
It was clear—Xiao Hua had no intention of letting the First Tianzun leave alive.
At that moment, they recalled his earlier cold declaration. More importantly, they understood that in order to break free from the spatial seal, Xiao Hua had no choice but to kill the First Tianzun.
They exchanged silent glances, each swallowing dryly as their throats tightened. Within each other's eyes, they could see it—astonishment flickering beneath the surface. Could he actually do it?
To nurture a Dou Sheng was no simple task. Even for the Hall of Souls, the loss of one would be a devastating blow. And if that Dou Sheng were to fall to a mere Dou Zong—a young man that only live less than century, no less—it would not only be a loss of strength, but an eternal mark of shame on the Hall's name.
Xiao Hua neither had the strength nor the condition to activate the third level of the Heavenly Tribulation Body—Heavenly Overlord Transformation. Therefore, to kill the First Tianzun, he had to rely on an external force.
"Please… lend me your strength…" he murmured within his heart, reaching out to the spiritual sea where the green-colored Lightning Beast slumbered.
As if responding to his call, the Lightning Beast stirred. Slowly, it rose—its massive form growing even larger, swelling past a hundred meters in height. Muffled thunder rumbled within its colossal body, each movement shaking the air with oppressive power.
When its transformation reached its peak, the green-colored Lightning Beast lifted its head. Its eyes gleamed with savage might, and its face twisted into a fierce, feral grin—radiating primal power and untamed fury.
Roar—!
With a heaven-shaking roar, the green-colored Lightning Beast surged forth from the spiritual sea. Yet, it did not manifest in physical form. Instead, it fused directly with Xiao Hua's artifact—the snow-white gauntlets of the Heavenly Suppression Band.
In an instant, the gauntlets crackled violently with emerald lightning. Each arc pulsed with unfathomable power, carrying an aura of annihilation that threatened to consume everything. The surrounding space twisted and warped uncontrollably, distorted by the volatile lightning that surged outwards over a span of hundreds of meters.
"This truly is… painful…" Xiao Hua muttered inwardly, his tone grim.
The veins in his arms began to rupture, one by one—shattering slowly, agonizingly—under the burden of the Lightning Beast's power. Even after enduring countless tribulations of Heavenly Judgment Lightning's trial, this pain still seared through him like fire to bone.
It was a clear sign—this emerald lightning, the essence of the green Lightning Beast's ability and strength, was truly domineering and fearsome… but it came at an unbearable cost.
Yet, Xiao Hua clenched his teeth and endured. Just because he had experienced pain did not mean he had grown numb to it. On the contrary—throughout his journey, he had become frighteningly adept at enduring pain that would drive others mad.
A fact that, ironically, he never expected to be proud of… even if it did make him sound disturbingly masochistic.
Drawing in a deep breath, a ruthless glint surfaced in Xiao Hua's eyes as his aura locked tightly onto the First Tianzun. Without the slightest hesitation, his fist surged forward—releasing the terrifying emerald-colored lightning that churned violently within.
As the punch was unleashed, a soft yet resonant voice escaped his lips, echoing across the battlefield and searing itself into the minds of every expert present:
"Heavenly Lightning Execute All Life!"
Boom!
A thunderous shockwave split the skies as a deafening detonation rang out. The emerald lightning coiled around his fist before erupting outward, condensing into a colossal, hundred-meter-long fist of lightning.
Countless radiant symbols flickered across its surface, blazing with brilliance and divine fury. The sheer force behind it caused the very void to collapse, swallowed into nothingness—while the heavens above trembled with an ominous, chaotic rumble.
"This…"
Gu You and the others were visibly shaken as they stared at the colossal lightning fist. Terror and disbelief filled their eyes—none of them had expected that, even in his current battered state, Xiao Hua could still unleash such a fearsome attack.
He had already revealed several terrifying trump cards—each one capable of shaking even the strongest experts—yet he still managed to unleash another. How could any of them remain calm in the face of such relentless might?
Tian-Class Dou Techniques, overwhelming physical strength, and monstrous battle achievements…No matter how prideful they were, they had no choice but to acknowledge it now.
Xiao Hua could no longer be seen as a mere member of the younger generation, nor as just another Dou Zong.
From this moment forward, they would have to suppress their arrogance, ill intent, and hidden greed—treating him with the same caution and respect reserved for those ancient monsters of the great clans and factions… the ones who refused to die even after a thousand years.
As the enormous lightning fist surged forth—indifferent to the chaos and trembling awe it left in its wake—it thundered toward the First Tianzun and the Hall of Souls experts with annihilating force.
Then suddenly, the space behind them twisted violently.
A figure began to materialize amidst the collapsing void. And along with it, an immensely oppressive aura swept across the battlefield—one powerful enough to shake the hearts of even the most hardened experts.
"Xiao Hua! You actually dare to kill so many experts of my Hall of Souls!"
'So… he's finally arrived. The Deputy Chief of the Hall of Souls!'
Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed sharply the moment that figure stepped out from the distorted space. The newcomer did not appear old—on the contrary, he looked like a young man. However, the voice that emerged from his mouth was cold and sinister, carrying an ancient weight that made it clear: this man's true age was far beyond his youthful appearance.
His eyes, deep and oppressive like bottomless abysses, locked onto Xiao Hua with murderous intent. But as his gaze shifted to the massive emerald lightning fist hurtling toward the First Tianzun, a flicker of gravity crossed his face.
A black mist surged from the Deputy Chief's fingertips, spreading out in all directions. In an instant, the mist condensed into five enormous black chains, each one crackling with sinister energy. With a metallic screech, they shot toward the colossal emerald thunder fist.
Bang!
A deafening explosion rang out as the five chains collided violently with the enormous lightning fist. The impact shook the heavens and trembled the earth—raw, unstoppable power clashing with eerie, oppressive force.
Frightening shockwaves burst from the collision point, accompanied by soul-piercing sound waves that rippled across the battlefield. The surrounding space collapsed, unable to withstand the force, revealing a vast rift that opened into the endless black void.
As the massive emerald fist was forcibly halted, Gu You and the others finally exhaled, their faces filled with relief and lingering fear. Had that attack struck them instead—forget about their bodies—even their souls would have been obliterated, leaving nothing behind. Not even reincarnation would have saved them.
And yet, while they were rejoicing, none of them noticed the horror rising in the Deputy Chief's heart.
He was shaken to his core.
Upon clashing with the fist, he realized a dreadful truth—one so terrifying that his body instinctively went cold from head to toe.
Then, a cold voice rang out once more.
"I said it before…" Xiao Hua drew in a steady breath, his tone icy and resolute, brimming with murderous chilling desire. "The Hall of Souls… will lose a Sheng."
Honglong!
As Xiao Hua's cold voice echoed across the battlefield, a brilliant emerald light burst forth from the colossal thunder fist. In the next instant, the five massive black chains shattered like brittle glass beneath its overwhelming power.
Pu!
The Deputy Chief of the Hall of Souls spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face paling in shock. His eyes widened as he stared at the unstoppable thunder fist, still surging forward with unmatched momentum—its power so immense it felt as though it could shake the heavens and collapse the earth.
Without a word, he clenched his teeth and retreated at once, fleeing far into the distance without the slightest hesitation.
Gu You and the other Hall of Souls experts were shaken to their core. Seeing their Deputy Chief retreat without a fight, they exchanged stunned glances—then followed suit, scrambling to escape along the same path, leaving the First Tianzun behind without so much as a second thought.
"You…bastard!"
The First Tianzun roared in fury as he watched them vanish. He wanted to flee as well—more than anything—but it was already too late.
The colossal thunder fist had locked onto him completely. Unless someone else took the blow in his place—an impossible notion—there was no escape.
Worse still, a terrifying, oppressive force weighed down on him, pinning him in place. His body refused to move, and his strength failed him. He couldn't even raise his hand to resist.
No matter how much he screamed in rage or regretted…There was only one path left for the First Tianzun—
To meet his end beneath Xiao Hua's strike.
"AAAHHHH!!! I cannot accept this!!!"
A deep, guttural roar filled with hatred and unwillingness erupted from the First Tianzun's throat just as the colossal thunder fist slammed into him.
Dong!
Puchi!
A muffled thunderclap rang out, followed by the sickening sound of a body bursting apart. There was no blood left to stain the ground—everything was instantly incinerated by the raging emerald lightning. In that moment, the First Tianzun was completely annihilated—his existence erased at this very place.
But Xiao Hua did not walk away unscathed.
The immense burden of using the emerald-colored Lightning Beast had taken its toll. The right gauntlet of the Heavenly Suppression Band had been utterly destroyed, shattered beyond recognition, with no signs it could ever be repaired.
Furthermore, Xiao Hua's right arm was completely mutilated—charred black beyond recognition. The flesh had been seared away in several places, exposing fractured bone beneath. Some bones had cracked under the immense pressure, and his fingers had been utterly obliterated, reduced to nothingness.
Grug!
Suddenly, Xiao Hua coughed violently, spitting out several mouthfuls of dark, viscous blood. Within the blood, fragments of his internal organs could faintly be seen. More blood streamed from the corners of his mouth, uncontrolled and continuous.
Clearly, it wasn't just his right arm that had borne the backlash—the damage had spread throughout his entire body, ravaging his insides.
'I'm never using this ability again...!' Xiao Hua swore bitterly in his heart, feeling the crushing weight of exhaustion and pain settle over every fiber of his being.
Before he could even catch his breath, a cold, furious voice echoed across the battlefield:
"Xiao Hua! How dare you kill him—and cause the deaths of so many from my Hall of Souls! You're truly courting death!"
The Deputy Chief of the Hall of Souls reappeared at the spot where the First Tianzun had fallen, followed closely by the remaining Hall of Souls experts. His expression was a mix of fury and fear—truly shaken by Xiao Hua.
All the trump cards and strength Xiao Hua had displayed had forced the Hall of Souls to pay a staggering price. What was meant to be a one-sided suppression had turned into an utter humiliation.
This incident had brought immense disgrace to the Hall of Souls. If they failed to capture Xiao Hua—despite the sacrifices, despite the losses—none of them would be able to hold their heads high ever again.
"Brat! I'll cut you into a thousand pieces today!" the Deputy Chief roared, teeth gnashing, his eyes burning with murderous rage as he glared viciously at Xiao Hua.
But Xiao Hua only smiled—cold and mocking. A trace of disdain curled on his lips.
"Funny… just recently, someone said the exact same thing to me." His tone was filled with ridicule. "Now, there's not even a corpse left to mourn for him. Is dementia some kind of tradition in the Hall of Souls?"
As his words echoed, a crimson bolt of lightning stirred within his spiritual sea. The red-colored Lightning Beast stood up, its immense form swelling until it towered over a hundred meters. Then, without emerging physically, it surged forward—merging directly with Xiao Hua's body.
In the next instant, arcs of blood-red lightning coiled and danced across his figure, his aura turning sinister and oppressive. Bathed in crimson light, Xiao Hua now resembled a heavenly demon—one descending to pass divine judgment.
That meant he had no time to waste.
He had to strike first—swiftly and decisively—before that old monster could take control of the battlefield and force him into a war of attrition he couldn't afford.
Raising his left hand, Xiao Hua began forming a seal. As blood-red lightning crackled across his battered body, a chilling voice rang out:
"Heavenly Judgement Seals All Living!"
The moment the words left his lips, the crimson lightning surrounding him flared violently. The arcs surged behind his back, twisting and coiling in chaotic patterns before condensing into an enormous, ancient-looking seal formed entirely from blood-red lightning.
The seal pulsed with a dreadful pressure, etched with countless cryptic runes that trembled with divine wrath. Then—with a sharp wave of Xiao Hua's hand—a brilliant crimson light erupted from the seal, shooting forth like a divine decree of judgment, punishing all beneath the heavens.
Boom—!
The pillar of blood-red light streaked across the battlefield like a divine judgment, tearing through space with terrifying speed as it shot directly toward the Deputy Chief of the Hall of Souls. The moment he sensed the crushing suppression emanating from it, his expression changed drastically.
"What is—!?"
Before he could finish, the lightning seal struck him squarely between the brows. A searing red symbol—'Judge'—etched itself onto his forehead in an instant.
Crack!
The Deputy Chief staggered backward several steps, blood pouring from his mouth. His aura collapsed like a dying flame, flickering weakly as he fell into a half-kneeling stance.
"M-My Dou Qi… I—I can't use it!?" he gasped, wide-eyed in disbelief.
A Dou Sheng—sealed completely. He couldn't even circulate the most basic Dou Technique.
Xiao Hua stood in silence, blood-red lightning flickering across his body like vengeful spirits. His gaze was calm… yet sharper than any blade.
"It seems," he said, his voice low but thunderous, echoing across the field, "the Hall of Souls has now lost its second Sheng…"
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