Chapter 379: Triple Kill
"You're quite arrogant for a youngster!"
The man in silver ceremonial robes adorned with thunder patterns sneered coldly. In the next moment, brilliant silver lightning flickered all over his body, with countless electric serpents dancing wildly. From a distance, he appeared like a descending God of Thunder—an awe-inspiring sight.
As the tension between the two sides mounted, the spectators around the mountain grew visibly excited. A battle between Dou Zun experts was bound to be spectacular.
"Heh, the one leading Starfall Pavilion is certainly audacious, daring to go against three Dou Zun powerhouses from Wind and Thunder Pavilion."
"Looks like they're here for revenge. Wind and Thunder Pavilion forcefully drove Starfall Pavilion out earlier and even injured people. No way they'd just swallow that humiliation. Didn't expect them to return so soon."
"Reclaiming this place won't be easy. Aside from Lei Xuan, the recently advanced Dou Zun and former South Pavilion Master, do you see those two old men beside him? One is the Earth Tiger Tribe chief, the other the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe chief. They're both vassals of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. Given the ties between Wind and Thunder Pavilion and that clan, do you think those two will stand by idly? Two peak two-star Dou Zuns and one one-star Dou Zun—this defense is solid."
"But... why does the one leading Starfall Pavilion look so familiar? Damn, prettier than most women."
"Shit! Isn't that Xiao Yuan, the Pill Tower's Little Giant?!"
"What?! It's him?!"
The crowd erupted in shock. Xiao Yuan, however, remained calm. Faint green lightning flickered over his body.
"Hehe, young friend, today's conflict was all a misunderstanding. Those two Starfall Pavilion elders were only hurt because Vice Master Tian Zhen acted rashly. It was an unfortunate accident—"
Just as the elder in tiger-patterned robes spoke, attempting to smooth things over, Xiao Yuan took a step forward, unleashing the full pressure of a four-star Dou Zun without holding back.
"My patience is long, but I can't stand pointless chatter. If you don't want to leave, then none of you are leaving!"
His icy voice rang out, and three bolts of thunder shot forth, blasting straight toward the three Dou Zun of Wind and Thunder Pavilion.
The three men's expressions changed drastically. They hadn't expected Xiao Yuan to actually launch a direct assault, let alone go one-against-three. In a panic, they quickly raised their defenses.
Boom!
But what kind of strength did Xiao Yuan possess? Beyond his overwhelming cultivation, the amplification from his Heavenly Flame and Black Demon Lightning made him a nightmare for any peer. His opponents, all far weaker, stood no chance.
Moments after the thunderous explosion, dull thuds echoed across the mountaintop. Lei Xuan's charred body lay lifeless in the distance, while the other two coughed up blood, their auras weak and unstable.
Three Dou Zun experts defeated in a single exchange. The spectators all gasped, their pupils contracting.
So this was the terror of a Pill Tower Little Giant!
"Oh? Tougher than I thought. Still not dead, huh?"
Xiao Yuan chuckled lightly and waved his hand.
An invisible wave surged out and crushed the three men's souls on the spot.
As their life forces fully vanished, the crowd erupted in chaos.
To casually annihilate three Dou Zuns—such terrifying strength, such ruthless execution!
"The rest are yours to handle."
Xiao Yuan turned to Elders Hu and Qi and issued his command.
The two elders blinked, then immediately cupped their fists and replied with reverence, "Yes, Young Pavilion Master!"
Having lost their top-tier combatants, Wind and Thunder Pavilion collapsed instantly. Xiao Yuan's presence alone caused many of its disciples to surrender on the spot and leave voluntarily. Before they left, they even cleaned up the battlefield thoroughly.
Of course, this didn't include the corpses of the two slain beast clan chiefs.
Those, they truly couldn't deal with.
As for Tian Zhen and Lei Xuan's bodies, Wind and Thunder Pavilion's disciples took them along, but the storage rings were handed over to the Starfall Pavilion elders.
Clearly, survival was far more important than treasure.
"Young Pavilion Master, mighty as always!"
After swiftly settling the conflict, the disciples of Starfall Pavilion erupted into cheers. Their gazes toward Xiao Yuan were now filled with admiration and awe. When their dignity had been trampled, it was he who led them to reclaim it. For the first time, they truly felt: with such a Young Pavilion Master, Starfall Pavilion's future would only grow stronger.
"Hoo."
Mu Qingluan, who had been holding her breath the whole time, had now completely become Xiao Yuan's little fangirl.
To casually kill three Dou Zuns — what a power to envy!
"Let's get the camp set up again," Xiao Yuan said with a smile.
"Yes!"
At his command, the disciples responded loudly and immediately dispersed to reconstruct the camp.
As the battle over the mountaintop drew to a close, the figures in the sky watching from afar gradually dispersed, though some did so a bit reluctantly. The epic showdown they had expected had ended far too quickly and one-sidedly.
Once the new camp was established, Xiao Yuan, Mu Qingluan, Elder Hu, and Elder Qi gathered inside the main tent.
"Senior Brother Xiao Yuan, although Wind and Thunder Pavilion's issue is resolved, we are still in the Beast Region. They're close with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan. If those people get involved…"
"Then we'll meet force with force. Wind and Thunder Pavilion's defeat isn't enough to make the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan act. But the death of those two beast tribe chiefs might give them a reason. Still, don't worry—I'll take care of it."
Xiao Yuan spoke casually, then walked to the edge of the mountaintop, eyes narrowing as he gazed toward the center of the mountain range.
"That direction is where the ancient ruins appeared."
He nodded slightly. He could feel the space in that area was faintly distorted, clearly the result of powerful barriers set by the ruins' original master.
"Those ruins are extremely dangerous—guarded by powerful ancient puppets and filled with strange traps. Even Dou Zun experts dare not lower their guard," Elder Hu said behind him. "The ruins are sealed in spatial barriers. Every so often, spatial fluctuations create cracks. During that time, some powerful people sneak in—but most come back in miserable shape."
"Oh?" Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow. Even after all these years, these ruins were not to be taken lightly.
"Until now, no Dou Zuns have entered. The barrier is restrictive—forcing entry would trigger a backlash. The seal was laid by a Dou Saint; even after countless years, ordinary Dou Zuns wouldn't dare risk it."
Then Elder Hu added, "But the seal is wearing thin. In a few days, it'll completely dissipate. Once that happens, Dou Zuns will be able to enter freely. Right now, many Dou Zuns are hiding nearby, waiting for that moment."
Xiao Yuan nodded, scanning the dense green mountains. With his keen soul perception, he could sense many concealed and vast auras. His eyes flashed with interest—no wonder the ruins attracted so many strong figures. Another bloody battle was inevitable.
"Any sign of the Hall of Souls?"
Xiao Yuan suddenly asked.
Elder Hu frowned, then said, "We haven't seen them. But those people are always mysterious. Even if they're here, we might not notice. Still, with so much attention on the ruins, I'd bet they'll show up. The question is how many."
Xiao Yuan nodded slightly, cold light flickering in his eyes.
"The Hall of Souls isn't our only concern. The Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan—rulers of this territory—are far more troublesome. They have numbers and strength. Even the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan avoids them. What's strange is, this area is their turf. So why didn't they lock it down and keep the ruins secret?"
Mu Qingluan asked doubtfully.
"Nine Nether Earth Serpents…" Xiao Yuan murmured. "To be one of the three beast overlords, they must be formidable."
"Hehe, the truth is, the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan has its hands full lately. They've had no time to care about ancient ruins," Elder Hu said with a smile.
"They're preoccupied? What happened?" Mu Qingluan asked in surprise.
"I'm not too sure, but rumor has it several of their powerhouses disappeared mysteriously—including one Dou Zun. They're desperately hunting the culprit. What's shocking is… it seems only one person is responsible."
Elder Hu stroked his beard as he spoke.
Mu Qingluan was shocked. Who would be bold enough to challenge the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan?
Xiao Yuan, however, had a knowing look. That sounded like something his little maid would do...
Seeing their expressions, Elder Hu chuckled. "The story's spreading fast. Everyone's wondering who would be crazy enough to mess with the local lords of the Beast Region. It's like poking a tiger in the eye."
Mu Qingluan nodded in agreement. To dare stir trouble with the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan — that was asking for trouble. Even famous Central Plains factions would tread lightly here.
"Maybe an old enemy?" she guessed hesitantly.
"Possibly," Elder Hu said. "But if it were revenge, they'd wipe out the entire clan. From what I've heard, the mysterious attacker only targets powerful members. Weaker ones, even if encountered, are spared."
He shook his head, clearly baffled by this behavior.
Xiao Yuan's brow lifted slightly. It seemed he needed to stay alert — his little maid had gotten quite capable.
"All those attacked vanished completely. Not even their bodies were found. That's what's scaring the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan. Bloodline is everything to them, and no one knows if that mysterious figure is collecting their elite for some dark purpose..."
"We don't need to worry about that now," Xiao Yuan said, smiling. "Just stay on the mountaintop and keep an eye on the ruins. Make sure no one wanders off. The Beast Bone Mountains are chaotic. One misstep and we'll have unnecessary trouble."
"Yes!" Elder Hu replied respectfully.
Over the next few days, Starfall Pavilion's disciples followed Xiao Yuan's orders. No one left the peak. They trained and sparred among themselves, occasionally receiving Xiao Yuan's personal guidance. Their admiration for him only deepened.
Meanwhile, more and more powerful individuals gathered in the Beast Bone Mountains. Eventually, even deep into the night, the mountains buzzed with noise and voices.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
As time wore on, the spatial distortion at the center of the range grew fainter. The ancient seal, after countless years, was finally nearing its end.
And with the weakening of the seal, tension in the mountain range reached a boiling point. The lure of ancient treasures made everyone on edge. Even minor frictions now sparked fierce battles.
Yet with Xiao Yuan holding down the fort, no one dared provoke Starfall Pavilion. His casual slaughter of three Dou Zuns had become legendary—no ordinary force would risk testing their luck.
And that ancient barrier over the ruins... continued to fade.
(END CHAPTER)
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