Chapter 241: A Little Punk
"Boom~"
A blinding firelight suddenly erupted, and in that moment, the surrounding space seemed to collapse toward the location of the fire. Following that, a thunderous roar reverberated through the heavens and earth. Endless flames surged forth, the terrifying heat melting the surrounding ice and snow for nearly a hundred miles. The blizzard came to an immediate halt.
Like a volcanic eruption, a massive fire lotus blossomed, and the sea of fire rampaged through the heavens and earth. Everything in its path was incinerated, even the space itself cracked open, revealing terrifying black cracks.
The destructive energy consumed everything. The violent energy waves even reached the Ice River Valley, several thousand miles away.
The disciples guarding the Ice River Valley were horrified as they looked at the distant fire pillar, a massive energy pillar that nearly connected heaven and earth.
"This... Could it be that a Dou Zun expert is fighting?!" one of them gasped.
"It... It should be, right?" The other disciple replied, trembling uncontrollably. Facing a powerhouse of that level, even a Dou Wang expert wouldn't have the qualification to spectate, and even from such a distance, they were still scared stiff by the energy fluctuation.
At the same time, within the Ice River Valley, nearly a hundred figures soared into the sky. Each of them wore expressions of fear or solemnity as they stared into the distance.
"Whoosh!"
In the next moment, two figures appeared in front of the crowd.
As soon as the others saw the newcomers, they instantly felt reassured. They cupped their hands in salute: "Greetings, Valley Master, Grand Elder!"
The two didn't acknowledge the others. Their gazes were fixed on the place where the energy fluctuations were most intense. The Ice River Valley Grand Elder, with his white hair, looked especially grim. The warm smile he usually wore was nowhere to be seen. He spoke solemnly: "Valley Master, that direction should be the Xuan Ice Toad King's territory. Someone must have engaged it in battle."
"It should be, hehe. I didn't expect someone to dare make a move against it on our turf... Is it arrogance? Or confidence?" The Valley Master of the Ice River Valley was a young and androgynous man in white, his brows carrying an air of detachment, and his appearance quite handsome. On his forehead, there was a strange black snowflake-like pattern. Anyone who looked at it would feel as though their Hun had been frozen.
He stood in mid-air, and dark snowflakes floated beneath his feet. As the snowflakes drifted, the space around him slightly twisted, showing their destructive power.
This also represented the current state of the Valley Master's mood.
"Let's go. We'll see what this is about. If they don't have the strength, we'll leave them here today," the Valley Master's eyes slightly narrowed, his voice calm and indifferent, but the murderous intent in his tone was undeniable.
"Understood!" The Grand Elder, Tian Shuangzi, nodded in agreement, his gaze equally cold.
"This is getting interesting. How about bringing the younger generation along? I also want to see it for myself," a young figure suddenly spoke up, floating up from below. His feet stepped on the void. His face was extremely handsome, but there was a violent aura around him, and his eyes flickered with traces of blood, as if he was suppressing something.
Upon seeing the handsome man, the Valley Master of the Ice River Valley, Bing He, couldn't help but smile gently, his voice soft: "If Young Friend Yi Chen is interested, then of course you can come along... But be careful, if the ones coming are all Dou Zun, it's safer for you to stay back."
The person was a prodigy cultivated by the Tian Ming Sect, possessing the greatest talent the sect had seen in a hundred years. At just over twenty years old, he already had the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Zong and even had the record of defeating a Nine-Star Dou Zong. He was extremely bloodthirsty and combative, earning the nickname "Asura" in the Tian Ming Sect.
His status was above many Tian Ming Sect elders and was one of the successors to the next Sect Master.
"Don't worry, Senior. I won't bother with anyone below Dou Zun. I won't be doing anything that's like shaking a tree with a worm," Yi Chen said with a faint smile, his tone carrying an air of challenge.
Bing He nodded, then ordered the Grand Elder to gather personnel.
While Dou Zong couldn't match a Dou Zun in power, if several Dou Zong combined their strength in a formation, led by a Dou Zun, they could suppress an opponent stronger than themselves.
...
The sky-blue flames engulfed the heavens and earth, lingering for a long time, turning several hundred miles into a world of fire. The icy coldness was completely swept away, and many places turned into molten lava. In the very center, a massive crater had been blasted, and the cold pond had vanished under this attack.
However, the Xuan Ice Toad King withstood the blow. Its massive body was covered in burn marks, and its flesh was charred and mangled. The worst part was its head—one eye was gone, and the surrounding area was scorched black. Deep blue blood continued to ooze out. The remaining eye glared viciously around, searching for its enemy.
However, soon, the viciousness in its eye slightly faded, because three figures had appeared, surrounding it in a triangular formation. The aura emanating from these three individuals clearly indicated they were at the Dou Zun level.
"The power of the Four-Color Fire Lotus is truly terrifying. If this beast wasn't an Gu species, a normal 8th-tier magical beast would have already been seriously wounded or on the verge of death from that blow," Feng Zun said, while gathering his Dou Qi. As the sky-blue dragon vortex appeared around him, he spoke to Tian Huo Zun and the others via voice transmission.
"It's not unscathed either. The key thing is its ability to destroy the terrain. Heh, the power ofHeavenly Flame is truly violent!" Tian Huo Zun said with a smile. When he had controlled the Fallen Heart Flame, he couldn't do this.
Heavenly Flame may have the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas, but eachHeavenly Flame specializes in different things. The Fallen Heart Flame leaned more toward Hun power.
"Clang!"
Iron Sword Zun had no intention of wasting words. His long sword had already been unsheathed. With a surge of sword intent soaring into the sky, a sharp sword aura shot through the air, instantly entering the Xuan Ice Toad King's body, splattering blood everywhere.
"Roar!" The Xuan Ice Toad King realized that the three were hostile, and it let out an angry roar. Endless cold air surged from its body, but without the advantage of the terrain, and with the Four-ColorHeavenly Flame bombarding it at close range, the remainingHeavenly Flame energy inside it caused its strength to plummet by at least forty percent.
Still, it didn't lower the aura of an Gu beast. The terrifying coldness instantly froze everything around it. The endless cold air tried to seal the world once more.
"Five-Ring Flame Method, activate!"
Tian Huo Zun let out a soft shout, and five different-colored beast flames flew out from his sleeve, instantly transforming into five gigantic fire spirit beasts that suppressed the surroundings. The terrifying flame power immediately suppressed the cold air the Xuan Ice Toad King released, and five fire pillars sprayed toward it.
"Hurricane Explosion!" Feng Zun shouted, and four tornadoes joined in, helping the fire to spread, completely engulfing the Xuan Ice Toad King. The massive wind blades wrapped in flames pounded into the Xuan Ice Toad King's body.
Iron Sword Zun's attack didn't stop either. His sword aura rampaged through the heavens and earth.
The Xuan Ice Toad King, surrounded by the three of them, continued to roar, but it couldn't change the situation. It couldn't even escape because its home had already been destroyed by the Four-Color Fire Lotus!
...
Elsewhere.
The people of the Ice River Valley were blocked by a figure. Upon seeing the person blocking their way, they looked at each other with unusual expressions. The Grand Elder's gaze sharpened as he looked at Yao Yan's attire, eventually locking onto the Dan Tower emblem on his clothes.
"Are you an 8th-grade alchemist from Dan Tower? It seems the Dou Zun fighting the Xuan Ice Toad King was summoned by you!" Tian Shuangzi furrowed his brows and asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, I need an 8th-tier Xuan Ice Toad King's magic core to make a pill," Yao Yan nodded and admitted.
"It's good that you admit it. You are hunting magical beasts on Ice River Valley's turf without permission. This matter concerns us, the Ice River Valley! Even if a Dan Tower elder arrives today, you must give me an explanation!" Tian Shuangzi snorted coldly, his Dou Qi pressure emanating, attempting to suppress Yao Yan. At the same time, he was alert for any possible ambush.
An 8th-grade alchemist, not even at Dou Zun, dares to block the road?!
This was no different than seeking death.
Bing He also frowned, staring at Yao Yan with some doubt. He hadn't sensed any ambush around, and this 8th-grade alchemist was unfamiliar to him. Since when did Dan Tower have such a young 8th-grade alchemist?
Yi Chen stepped forward, his eyes glowing red as he stared at Yao Yan. He spoke in a low voice, "I've heard that Dan Tower recently has an extraordinary alchemist who, just over twenty years old, has already refined 8th-grade advanced pills and summoned Seven-Color Dan Thunder... Could that be you?"
His gaze lingered on Yao Yan, his eyes glowing even more red as he examined the handsome young face.
Yao Yan was surprised to see someone from Ice River Valley recognize him. He thought the Ice River Valley was isolated up in the north and had blocked off information... but it seemed the top forces still had better connections than the two Dou Zun.
"Since we're of the same generation, how about we spar a little?" Yi Chen floated toward Yao Yan, a faint smile on his face as he provocatively spoke, "Don't worry, I won't kill you."
What a little punk!
When did a Seven-Star Dou Zong have the right to talk to an 8th-grade alchemist?
This seemed to be the first time Yao Yan encountered something like this. He glanced at Yi Chen, then without saying more, turned to the leader of Ice River Valley and asked, "This should be the Valley Master of Ice River Valley, right?"
"An 8th-grade alchemist just over twenty years old... Which teacher did you learn from?" Bing He asked, his tone slightly solemn.
Sensing that he had been ignored, Yi Chen clenched his fists, his eyes turning an even deeper red as he smiled coldly, "The Valley Master doesn't need to worry. He has no teacher. According to the information I received, he's probably a disciple of that old Medicine Master... Perhaps he inherited his teachings."
Bing He's gaze flickered. He didn't doubt Yi Chen's words, but could an 8th-grade alchemist be cultivated just by inheriting the teachings of the Medicine Master?
That would be taking the 8th-grade alchemist far too lightly.
Bing He thought for a moment and then looked at Yi Chen, speaking softly, "Then, I'll trouble you, Young Friend, to take him down. If possible, don't harm his life."
"Since he's an alchemist, he should have plenty of life-saving pills," Yi Chen grinned cruelly, vanishing in a flash, and reappearing beside Yao Yan. He kicked out with a powerful, whip-like leg aimed directly at Yao Yan's head, the strength of which could easily smash a small mountain.
"Boom~"
Yao Yan stood still, and an invisible barrier blocked the contact between the leg and his head.
"Hun power?!" Yi Chen instantly realized what the force was. His red eyes flared even brighter, and the next moment, red Dou Qi covered his body. He threw a punch at Yao Yan's face, the red Dou Qi filled with devouring power, even managing to make a crack in Yao Yan's Hun barrier.
"You're done for!" Feeling Yao Yan's blood energy, Yi Chen's expression grew cruel. He immediately activated a secret technique, trying to directly detonate Yao Yan's blood energy and severely injure him.
"?"
Yao Yan felt a slight movement inside him and finally looked at Yi Chen. The other's technique was quite interesting, seemingly specially designed to target blood energy, and the devouring nature... It was even able to pull on his Hun force at the Heavenly Realm level.
"Feeling uncomfortable?" Yi Chen pulled back, his smile widening. "Anyone at the same level who comes into contact with my Dou Qi can't resist my secret technique. Their blood energy is easily controlled, and even weaker ones can be made to explode and die."
Back then, he had used this move to kill a Nine-Star Dou Zong.
Yao Yan, too lazy to listen to more of Yi Chen's nonsense, transformed his Hun force into a giant hand and slapped toward him.
Yi Chen had sensed this move earlier and was already prepared. His body burst with an overwhelming red Dou Qi, and with both hands making seals, he sneered at Yao Yan, clenching tightly, "Blood Devourer's Bone Hand!"
The red Dou Qi from earlier flared again, resonating with this attack, drawing on Yao Yan's blood energy.
"An 8th-grade alchemist's blood... It should taste quite nice~"
He flashed a cruel smile.
Yao Yan's Hun hand paused slightly, feeling the changes inside his body. He then slapped out, sending Yi Chen, who had the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Zong, plummeting like a ragdoll. The terrifying power snapped most of his bones in half, and the sound of bones cracking echoed in the air.
Yi Chen didn't even know how he fell. He only felt his bones break and the pain drive him mad. He couldn't understand why his signature technique had failed.
The people from Ice River Valley caught him.
At the same time.
Bing He's gaze toward Yao Yan also changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Hun power at the Heavenly Realm level?!"
An 8th-grade alchemist with this kind of Hun power was extremely rare, especially a young man just over twenty years old.
His gaze flickered as he considered something.
Yao Yan also looked at him and got straight to the point: "I've heard that the Valley Master of Ice River Valley cultivated the Accursed Poison Body. Would you mind showing me the secret technique? I'm very curious about it."
The moment Yao Yan finished speaking, the entire world seemed to pause. Everyone in the Ice River Valley held their breath, staring in disbelief at Yao Yan, then looking at their Valley Master.
Bing He smiled, laughing loudly, but quickly stopped. His gaze grew cold: "You may... But you must pay with your soul!"
As his words fell, a murderous aura swept through the heavens and earth, and the terrifying coldness caused snowflakes to begin drifting in the air.
(END CHAPTER)
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