Dou Emperor

Wu Tan City, Xiao Family.

Having obtained a cultivation technique, Xiao Yan's strength changed almost by the day. In just one month, he broke through to the limit of a Nine Star Dou Zhe. The bottleneck of a Dou Shi could not hold him back for long at all. After devouring the Heavenly Flame of a Dou Wang Rank Magical Beast, the Dou Shi bottleneck shattered at once.

Like floodwaters breaking through a dam and surging forth without restraint, his originally colorless Dou Qi had been dyed azure after the Flame Mantra devoured the Secluded Valley Spirit Snake's Innate Beast Flame. The Dou Qi Vortex within his body continuously absorbed the energy between heaven and earth. In the end, the Flame Mantra began forcibly drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, greedily devouring the motley energies of the world like a whale swallowing the sea.

Yao Lao's expression darkened, his heart filled with both worry and joy. He was delighted that the Flame Mantra could truly evolve; otherwise, a mere Yellow Rank Low Level Flame Mantra could never have caused such a phenomenon.

What worried him was that the Flame Mantra accepted almost anything, utterly disregarding whether the energy was pure as it directly absorbed all the mixed energies between heaven and earth.

Yao Lao had never cultivated the Flame Mantra himself, so he could only remain ready to intervene and save Xiao Yan at any time.

However, Yao Lao's worries proved unnecessary. Worthy of being a protagonist-exclusive cultivation technique, the Flame Mantra directly absorbed all the motley energy drawn into Xiao Yan's body, then completely refined it beneath the Secluded Valley Spirit Snake's Innate Beast Flame.

Xiao Yan could feel the Flame Mantra rapidly evolving. Before he had time to examine the evolved Flame Mantra, the suction grew even stronger. The medicinal liquid in the tub was absorbed, its original emerald-green color gradually turning back into clear water.

Washed over by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth without pause, Xiao Yan knew that every part of his body—every bone, every piece of flesh, even every strand of hair—was transforming and evolving. The tendons and bones within his body were becoming increasingly tough as well.

A full quarter of an hour later, the speed at which the Dou Qi Vortex absorbed energy and the Flame Mantra refined Dou Qi slowly began to decrease. Yet it continued to grow at a gradual pace. His aura was already several times stronger than before, and he radiated a powerful, primordial presence.

"Congratulations. You have completed the Flame Mantra's first devouring of Beast Flame and become a true Dou Shi." Yao Lao's gaze was complicated as he watched Xiao Yan grit his teeth and endure, as though he had seen another rising star of the future.

Originally, he had intended for Xiao Yan to devour the Beast Flame of a Great Dou Shi or Dou Ling Rank Magical Beast. Yet he had never expected Zhang Tian to find a Dou Wang Rank Beast Flame so exceptionally suited to Xiao Yan. Even Yao Lao could not help but marvel at it.

Yun Lan Sect, atop Yunlan Mountain.

Zhang Tian no longer dared to cultivate in seclusion within the secret chamber. Otherwise, the terrifying storm of heaven-and-earth energy would burst the chamber apart. Upon this mountain peak nearly a thousand meters high, fierce winds howled and spiritual energy ran rampant.

Like an enraged dragon gone berserk, it stretched across Yunlan Mountain. The spiritual-energy storm resembled the eye of a vortex, while the energy within ten li was whipped into a frenzy by the violent power radiating from Zhang Tian's body, raising wave after wave of energy.

It was like the summit of heaven itself, where the clouds in the high sky seemed within reach. As Zhang Tian sat cross-legged atop Yunlan Mountain, the storm became increasingly violent and the sky gradually darkened. Faced with this scene that resembled the end of the world, everyone was speechless.

Before long, a terrifying soundwave storm swept out from the indistinct figure atop the mountain, deafening everyone as they stared blankly at the figure rising to its feet.

Feeling the continuously surging Dou Qi within his body, Zhang Tian felt as though his entire body had been filled to bursting. Bathed in endless Dou Qi, every inch of him felt indescribably invigorated. He stretched his limbs and let out a long roar.

The soundwaves carrying powerful Dou Qi rippled outward without end, echoing across Yunlan Mountain and resounding through the heavens, shaking the entire Yun Lan Sect.

More than a dozen streaks of light shot into the sky. Powerful figures with pairs of Dou Qi Wings spread behind them all looked in astonishment toward the source of that terrifying Dou Qi atop Yunlan Mountain.

Countless disciples wore expressions of shock, even traces of fear. That monster had actually broken through again!

A freak—a peerless freak!

His laughter continued as the turbulence between heaven and earth raged on. After stepping into the Dou Emperor realm, one could already command the greater forces of heaven and earth. Every gesture could draw upon the power of the world, and every move could stir the winds and clouds.

"Sect Master Yun Yun, fight me." Zhang Tian laughed heartily, his long hair flying like that of a demon and his robes snapping in the wind. Waves of Soul Power rolled forth like ocean tides.

Xiao Yan's breakthrough was still continuing, causing the Dou Qi within Zhang Tian's body to overflow wildly. He felt unbearably stifled, as though he would be uncomfortable if he did not vent it.

If he had no opponent and simply wreaked havoc at will, not only the Yun Lan Sect—even the Gama Empire would soon be reduced to ruins.

"Come, come, come." Zhang Tian did not restrain himself either. His Soul Power controlled the Phoenix Cry Sword, which streaked through space like bolts of lightning, crisscrossing and carving out countless dazzling sword lights.

Before Yun Yun had even appeared, Zhang Tian was already unable to resist attacking the surrounding space at will.

Sharp sword Qi filled the air. Each streak of sword light seemed capable of splitting everything apart. Something whole one moment would be divided in two the next, as though heaven and earth themselves had been completely severed and no longer connected, the world sliced into countless fragments.

Clad in white and wielding a sword, his uncontrollable Soul Power ran wild. Violent Dou Qi wrapped around his entire body, distorting every ray of light around him.

Under the influence of his Soul Power, the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed by a black hole, no longer able to reflect upon Zhang Tian's body. Anyone whose Soul Power was too weak could not even see Zhang Tian's body, as though they could be silently killed without realizing it.

"Since the Second Elder wishes to spar, I shall naturally oblige." Enormous azure Dou Qi Wings emerged as Yun Yun slowly flew into the sky, as though the entire heavens were supporting her.

The spiritual-energy storm triggered by Zhang Tian's breakthrough had disturbed many people. Yun Yun felt a trace of anger in her heart, but more than that, she wanted to know just how strong Zhang Tian had become.

An Azure Longsword appeared in Yun Yun's hand, slicing through the air as it slashed toward Zhang Tian.

"Hahaha, I've been waiting for Sect Master Yun." After breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm, the difference between Zhang Tian under the enhancement of the Flame Emperor Mantra and his former Dou Wang self was simply like heaven and earth.

Zhang Tian had not even moved. With merely an instinctive thought, a flash of light passed, and the sword Qi Yun Yun had unleashed was extinguished.

The next instant, what seemed like hundreds and thousands of streaks of light appeared at once. The longsword Yun Yun had thrown was knocked away. Retrieving it, Yun Yun looked with a slight ache in her heart at the Azure Longsword, now riddled with holes and covered in cracks.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, filled with caution and wariness.

After breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm, the most immediate change was the explosive increase in the Phoenix Cry Sword's speed while using Control Sword with Qi. Even Zhang Tian's own Soul Power could no longer catch sight of the Phoenix Cry Sword under the enhancement of his powerful Dou Qi.

He could only see streaks of light flashing past, unable to make out their shape.

Countless sword lights flashed. Yun Yun struggled desperately to fend them off. There was clearly only one sword, yet at such terrifying speed, Yun Yun could not tell how many streaks of light there were.

"I wonder what splendor Control Sword with Spirit possesses." Zhang Tian's heart stirred as he recalled the second stage of the Control Sword with Qi technique he had obtained.

"Fierce Wind Dance!" Yun Yun shouted. She was, after all, a Dou Emperor powerhouse. Powerful Dou Qi erupted as countless enormous azure wind blades more than ten zhang long condensed into a massive spiraling tornado and surged forward.

Zhang Tian's expression turned solemn. His hands rapidly formed an arcane seal.

"Vast Sea Seal, First Form: Wave Splitting Seal."

The mighty force of this move was utterly different from that of a Mystic Rank Dou Skill. Before it, the Azure Wood Swordplay was like the glow of a firefly compared to the brilliance of the moon.

"A Earth Rank Dou Skill?!" Yun Yun's beautiful eyes widened in extreme astonishment. How could he possibly possess a Dou Skill of such rank?!

The enormous seal, more than ten zhang wide, struck the spiraling tornado directly, shattering it in a single blow without the slightest pause.

"Pfft." Though she avoided the Wave Splitting Seal and was not blasted to death in one strike, the violent Dou Qi still hit her shoulder. Her throat sweetened, and a mouthful of blood surged up.

The clothing around her shoulder was torn apart, revealing the pale-blue armor beneath. It shimmered with light, clearly of exceptionally high quality.

Zhang Tian shot upward, a turquoise-blue spear appearing in his hand. A lifelike Water Dragon was carved upon its shaft, its eyes seeming to possess a spirit as they radiated faint pressure.

Zhang Tian wielded the Dragon Yin Halberd as though commanding a great dragon—thrusting, stabbing, cleaving, sweeping, coiling, and winding. Move after move poured forth without pause, leaving Yun Yun hard-pressed to defend herself.

Every collision between them erupted with terrifying air currents like exploding bombs. Fortunately, they were fighting in the sky; otherwise, the Yun Lan Sect would have been reduced to ruins.

Quite a few Dou Ling Rank stewards and elders watched with grave expressions. As they looked upon the two fighting fiercely in the sky, they could not muster the slightest thought of resistance.

The Yun Lan Sect had originally gained a disciple of the Dou Ling Rank. Before they had even had the chance to greet this future colleague, he was already able to fight their sect leader without falling behind.

The wounds on Yun Yun's body multiplied, and her Dou Qi was being depleted faster and faster. Watching Zhang Tian's momentum grow ever stronger, she gritted her teeth, her heart filled with shock.

He had only just broken through, yet he had already beaten her to the point where she could barely defend herself.

A middle-aged man stood on the ground of Yunlan Mountain, barely managing to watch the battle.

He was Gu He, the honorary elder of the Yun Lan Sect.

In such a terrifying battle, the force of their clash was no less than that of two peak Dou Emperors fighting. Yet anyone with discerning eyes could see that Yun Yun was at a disadvantage. She was only barely keeping up, clearly still several levels short of a peak Dou Emperor.

Although the Dragon Yin Halberd was called a halberd, it was primarily shaped like a spear, merely carrying some of a halberd's intricate subtleties without its side blades. As it struck the Azure Longsword in Yun Yun's hand, its speed was clearly more than a level faster.

Yun Yun barely kept up, bracing one palm against the flat of the blade while gripping its hilt with her other hand.

"Break for me." Though he had intended to stop, Zhang Tian only grew more excited as he fought, directly increasing both his strength and the flow of Dou Qi.

Yun Yun felt the force against her hand grow ever greater. A tremendous pressure suddenly erupted, and her lovely face turned pale.

Crack.

As the Azure Longsword shattered into fragments that filled the sky, Zhang Tian remained clad in white, his Dragon Yin Halberd stopping just an inch before Yun Yun.

Beads of sweat dripped from his temples, and Zhang Tian's face was filled with exhilaration. His blue Dou Qi Wings beat continuously behind him, making him resemble a war god.

Yun Yun stood there in a daze. As the sect leader of the Yun Lan Sect, she had actually lost. The blow left her distraught, and the pale cyan Dou Qi Wings behind her flapped unconsciously before the two of them finally descended to the ground.

Seeing Yun Yun land, Gu He hurried over and asked after her with concern, his face full of worry.

Then he glared at Zhang Tian with fury, his eyes nearly spewing flames.

After comforting her for a while, Gu He found that Yun Yun still looked absent-minded. Rage rose within him, and he directly demanded, "Who are you, sir? How dare you go so far in bullying others?"

Gu He spent all year refining pills, so it was only natural that he did not recognize Zhang Tian.