Chapter 288: The Slaying of the Thunder Venerate
"Dou Venerate!?"
In the sky, the Thunder Venerate looked on, stunned, as Xiao Yuan—whose strength had just skyrocketed—easily obliterated Fei Tian's lightning clone. His face was filled with disbelief.
Even the former Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley had needed the simultaneous eruption of three Heavenly Flames to fight a Dou Venerate as a five-star Dou Zong.
So what gave Xiao Yuan the right? Just one Heavenly Flame eruption, and he jumped from a three-star Dou Zong to a full Dou Venerate? More outrageous was his apparent mastery of spatial force—a hallmark of Dou Venerates!
"Too late for regret now."
The Wind Venerate flashed forward, blocking the Thunder Venerate's path as he attempted to rescue Fei Tian.
"No need to rush—just keep watching."
He smiled pleasantly.
"Wind Xian, I suggest you step aside. The Northern Region is Wind Lightning Pavilion's domain. Don't push this too far!"
The Thunder Venerate growled in frustration.
"Oh? Didn't you bring Fei Tian along to push things too far yourselves?"
Wind Xian smirked with disdain.
"You..."
The Thunder Venerate faltered. Wind Xian had a point. He'd thought Fei Tian could easily defeat Xiao Yuan with his full power. Who would've guessed Xiao Yuan could elevate his strength to Dou Venerate level?
Unless the other two Pavilion Masters arrived to assist, Fei Tian stood no chance against Xiao Yuan.
Despite using a secret art to reach half-step Dou Venerate, Fei Tian was now just being chased through the air.
He and Xiao Yuan both used Three Thousand Lightning Movement, painting afterimages across the sky.
Though Fei Tian had more experience with the technique, the gap between half-step Dou Venerate and full Dou Venerate was just too wide.
Wind Spirit Clone Sword!
Rending Wind Spiral Dance!
Four-Wind Barrier!
Xiao Yuan unleashed multiple techniques in seamless succession.
The first two suppressed movement; the third locked down Fei Tian's position.
Trapped, Fei Tian's eyes flashed with cold intent. Killing him wouldn't be so easy!
Chi!
But Xiao Yuan gave him no chance. Just as Fei Tian turned to counter, a brilliant ray of light shot from Xiao Yuan's fingertips.
Wind's End — Falling Sun Execution!
It pierced Fei Tian's chest in an instant.
Then Xiao Yuan split into nine figures in mid-air—all rushing at the wounded Pavilion Master.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Soaring Wind Nine Breaks – Three Thousand Lightning Edition!
Nine palms shattered Fei Tian's Dou Qi defenses and utterly obliterated his life force.
His soul, naturally, couldn't escape either.
Xiao Yuan calmly sealed it in a jade bottle, then froze the body and stowed it away.
A peak Dou Zong corpse would make a fine puppet...
But what about a Dou Venerate?
Xiao Yuan's gaze turned toward the Thunder Venerate, eyes narrowing.
He still had plenty of strength left. Fighting the Thunder Venerate alone wasn't ideal.
But with the Wind Venerate's help? It'd be easy.
Still... he'd only get one shot.
This secret technique's boost to Dou Venerate wasn't solely his own doing—it also relied on the Wind Venerate's earlier enhancement. Once it wore off, he'd fall back to Dou Zong.
And no matter how deep his Dou Qi reserves were, he was still just a three-star Dou Zong.
"There's no mistaking it now—Starfall Pavilion really intends to go to war with my Pavilion."
The Thunder Venerate growled as Xiao Yuan flew toward him.
"You're twisting it. Wind Lightning Pavilion made the first move—sending a peak Dou Zong against a twenty-year-old. And he still lost. Now you want to blame us for defending ourselves?"
The Wind Venerate snorted coldly. His aura erupted violently.
Winds roared, and deep blue light gathered on his hands.
"Xiao Yuan—watch closely!"
He reminded his junior before vanishing like a breeze. His palm strike shot toward the Thunder Venerate.
"Hmph. I might be slightly weaker, but it won't be enough for you to kill me alone!"
Lightning flared around the Thunder Venerate. At this moment, he truly looked like a thunder god.
The Wind Venerate remained calm.
He'd faced Dou Zongs while still a Dou Wang alongside Yao Chen. Crossing realms to battle wasn't new to him.
Now, stronger than ever, there was no way he couldn't take down this opponent.
As the two began their intense clash, Xiao Yuan edged closer—not to strike, but to observe.
He focused on the Wind Venerate's execution of Soaring Wind Nine Breaks—his mastery of timing, energy control, and transition between strikes.
Xiao Yuan's eyes lit up with growing understanding.
Meanwhile, the Thunder Venerate was struggling. The Wind Venerate's seventh strike already left visible wounds. Another two, and he'd be critically injured.
Ducking and weaving didn't help. The Wind Venerate was just too fast.
The eighth palm slammed into him—he groaned and staggered back, arm numb.
There would be no mercy.
As the Wind Venerate's ninth, most powerful palm formed, Xiao Yuan made his move.
"Senior Tian Huo—help me out!"
He called out mentally as dark-golden flames gushed from his body, forming a massive flaming ruler.
All his Dou Qi surged into it. The surrounding air cracked from the pressure.
Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!
Xiao Yuan stepped through twisted space, appearing behind the Thunder Venerate and bringing the ruler down.
"How does he have such destructive force?!"
The Thunder Venerate had no time to react—he was already fending off the Wind Venerate's ninth palm.
At full strength, he might've parried this—but now, wounded and drained?
No chance.
Panicked, he tried to summon lightning from the clouds to intercept Xiao Yuan's ruler.
Xiao Yuan simply hurled the weapon and tanked the lightning himself.
The Thunder Venerate gaped—was this brat insane?
But then he saw it: the lightning wasn't hurting Xiao Yuan. It was healing him.
In shock, he saw orange-red fire flicker within his own heart—
Heartflame!
He panicked. Now his attention was split and his body was failing him.
"If I die—then you die with me!"
The Thunder Venerate screamed and began preparing to self-destruct.
"Oh no you don't."
Xiao Yuan clenched his hand.
The heartflame exploded inside the Thunder Venerate, severing his heart meridian and spreading rapidly.
Chi!
The Wind Venerate watched as smoke poured from the Thunder Venerate's seven orifices. Orange-red light glowed beneath his skin.
"Aaa—"
His scream cut off—his voice box incinerated.
Moments later, the once-mighty Thunder Venerate went still.
On his chest and back: a palm print and a charred crater.
Xiao Yuan, popping recovery pills, flew over, took his ring, froze the body, and stored it.
It would serve well—either for puppet crafting or for Tian Huo's resurrection.
The Wind Venerate watched Xiao Yuan work, remembering a fiery youth slashing with a giant flaming ruler.
Truly like master, like disciple.
It brought back memories of him and Yao Chen tearing through Central Plains.
Now Yao Chen had a successor—and not just any successor, but a prodigy beyond compare.
Xiao Yuan didn't revel in victory. His eyes turned silver as he used soul sense, scanning the area.
"Nothing?"
He frowned.
He hated loose ends. If the Thunder Venerate's soul escaped and joined Soul Hall...
Even if Xiao Yuan feared no one, the Han Clan was his weakness. Loose ends weren't acceptable.
"Xiao Yuan—700 meters to your right, the space feels odd."
Tian Huo's experience shone through.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yuan hurled the orange-red flame, flooding the space in question.
This fire, born of the Fallen Heart Flame, was soul-consuming.
Five seconds later, the Thunder Venerate's soul panicked and tried to flee—too late.
Trapped inside the blazing inferno, it weakened rapidly, finally collapsing into Xiao Yuan's jade bottle.
At that moment, Xiao Yuan felt like a villainous cultivator in a xianxia novel—laughing "kukuku" while turning enemies into puppets.
"If this were a novel, I'd be a villain boss."
"Excellent instincts. You reminded me of Yao Chen back in the day."
The Wind Venerate appeared beside him, clapping him on the shoulder.
"You flatter me, senior. It was luck, guidance, and training. And your use of Soaring Wind Nine Breaks—brilliant."
Xiao Yuan said sincerely.
"Heh, no need to be modest. Back in our day, Yao Chen and I were even flashier than you."
The Wind Venerate chuckled, then grew serious.
"With the Thunder Venerate dead, the Four Corners' balance is broken. What now?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead. Wind Lightning Pavilion will go insane. I can't expect you to stay here and guard the Han Clan forever. Perhaps... I'll suggest they relocate to the Southern Region?"
Xiao Yuan said after a pause.
(END CHAPTER)
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