Dark Night Killing Intent, Phoenix's First Cry

The night in Sacred Pill City did not grow quiet with the end of the daytime bustle. Instead, with the final competition set to arrive tomorrow, it became even more restless and fervent. The lights of countless homes resembled stars fallen to earth, illuminating the enormous city as brightly as day. Restaurants and teahouses were packed, with people everywhere discussing today's matches and predicting who would claim the championship tomorrow.

Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Xiao Yan, and several outstanding dark horses had become the focus of everyone's discussions.

Within Listening Bamboo Pavilion, in the Han Family's residence.

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes lightly closed. The space around him rippled faintly as he engaged in a mysterious exchange with the energy of heaven and earth. Though he had appeared to merely watch during the day, his Soul Power had remained highly focused throughout. Not only had he neutralized Soul Hall's scheme against Xiao Yan, but he had also secretly sensed every detail of the entire plaza and even part of the Viewing Platform.

"Quite a few of Soul Hall's people infiltrated Sacred Pill City this time. I sensed no fewer than ten souls at the Dou Zong level alone. There was even one aura—obscure and sinisterly cold—that had likely reached the Dou Zun level, a Venerable..." Xiao Chen pondered. "Their objective is definitely not as simple as disrupting the Pill Gathering or dealing with Brother Yan."

He recalled the warning from Tian Ji Zi's envoy. Soul Hall's headquarters had already taken an interest in him. This Pill Gathering was very likely a trap aimed at him as well.

"They want to force me into action, or probe my true strength?" A cold smile touched Xiao Chen's lips. "Then let's see whether you have the appetite for it."

Just then, his brow twitched as he sensed someone approaching outside the courtyard.

"Young Master Xiao, are you resting?" Han Yue's cool voice carried a trace of concern.

"Not yet. Please come in, Miss Han," Xiao Chen said, restraining his aura.

Han Yue pushed open the door and entered, carrying a jade tray with a bowl of fragrant soup upon it. "I saw that you seemed mentally exhausted during the day, Young Master. I had the kitchen prepare some Calming Soul Nourishing Soup. It was made using a secret recipe brought by my family, and it should help restore Soul Power somewhat."

Xiao Chen looked at the steaming bowl of soup, then at the tenderness Han Yue could not hide in her eyes, and warmth stirred within him. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Miss Han."

He accepted the bowl and took a small sip. The flavor was rich and mellow, while a gentle medicinal potency did indeed slowly nourish his soul. Although its effect on his Heavenly Soul Realm was negligible, the sentiment behind it was rare and precious.

"Tomorrow's final will likely not be peaceful." Han Yue sat down beside him, a trace of worry between her brows. "I received word from my family that some unidentified experts seem to have appeared in the city. The Wind and Thunder Pavilion is also making moves, and there are... traces of Soul Hall as well."

Xiao Chen set down the bowl and nodded. "As expected. Tomorrow, you and the Han Family members should remain on the Viewing Platform as much as possible. Do not enter the plaza lightly."

Knowing that Xiao Chen was concerned for her safety, Han Yue felt sweetness bloom in her heart and softly murmured, "Mm." She looked at his sharply defined profile beneath the lamplight. That calm, steady presence of his was so reassuring that she nearly lost herself in it. Her lips parted as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only said quietly, "Young Master Xiao, you must be careful as well."

At that moment, Xiao Chen's gaze suddenly shifted toward the night sky beyond the window, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"A guest has arrived."

The instant his words fell, the space above the residence violently rippled! A terrifying aura—scorching, wild, and seemingly capable of burning the heavens—descended with the force of an erupting volcano!

"Screech—!"

A clear, resounding phoenix cry that pierced the clouds tore through Sacred Pill City's night sky!

Flames surged into the heavens, dyeing half the sky crimson! A massive phoenix formed entirely of scarlet fire spread wings vast enough to blot out the sky as it hovered above the Han Family residence! The flaming phoenix was lifelike, every feather distinct and clear. In its phoenix eyes burned an arrogance that looked down upon the world!

Standing gracefully atop the flaming phoenix was a woman in red.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, with breathtaking features and an unrestrained heroic pride between her brows, as brilliant and blazing as fire itself. She wore a fitted crimson outfit that perfectly outlined her alluring, fiery figure. Her long red hair fluttered wildly behind her like dancing flames.

She held a scarlet whip in her hand, its body wreathed in almost tangible flames. Her aura was formidable—she had clearly reached the Dou Zong level!

"Blazing Flame Valley's Phoenix Descent?! It's Miss Tang Huo'er!"

"Why has she come to the Han Family residence? And with such an aggressive display?"

Such an enormous disturbance instantly alarmed countless experts throughout Sacred Pill City. Countless uncertain and astonished gazes turned toward the sky above the Han Family residence.

Blazing Flame Valley was one of Central Plains' foremost powers, renowned for its mastery of fire. Its strength was in no way inferior to the Five Great Families of the Alchemist Tower. As the daughter of Blazing Flame Valley's Valley Master, Tang Huo'er possessed extraordinary talent and a temperament as fiery as her flames. Her reputation among the younger generation of the Central Plains was immense.

Xiao Chen rose to his feet and walked to the window, calmly gazing at Tang Huo'er in the sky, who resembled a goddess of flame.

Han Yue also stepped to his side. Looking at Tang Huo'er overhead, a trace of gravity and confusion flashed through her cool eyes. Blazing Flame Valley had little connection with the Han Family, so what was Tang Huo'er trying to do?

Standing atop the fire phoenix, Tang Huo'er looked down from above. Her gaze was like two burning flames as it locked directly onto Xiao Chen at the window. Her crisp voice, filled with provocation, echoed through the night sky.

"Are you Xiao Chen? I heard you possess a powerful Heavenly Flame. Come out! Fight me! Let me see whether your Heavenly Flame is stronger, or Blazing Flame Valley's Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire!"

So she had come for the Heavenly Flame! Everyone suddenly understood. Tang Huo'er was famously battle-hungry, especially fond of challenging opponents who possessed powerful flames. This was well known throughout the Central Plains. Clearly, the faint trace of Chaos Flame aura Xiao Chen had revealed during the day had caught the interest of this Phoenix Maiden.

Watching Tang Huo'er, whose fighting spirit blazed fiercely, Xiao Chen shook his head in mild helplessness. He had no desire to create further trouble at this moment.

"Miss Tang, tomorrow is the final of the Pill Gathering. Fighting at this time would be inappropriate. Besides, Xiao has no interest in meaningless disputes," Xiao Chen replied evenly.

"Hmph! That is not for you to decide!" Tang Huo'er's brows rose as she violently flicked her flaming whip. Like a roaring fire dragon, it tore through the air with a shrill howl that seemed to rip apart space, sweeping directly toward Listening Bamboo Pavilion! "Take this!"

Before the whip's shadow even arrived, the scorching heat had already caused the Han Family guards below to turn pale.

Han Yue's expression darkened as she prepared to act.

But Xiao Chen merely raised his right hand lightly and clenched it toward the incoming flaming whip.

"Disperse."

The single word carried the force of law!

The flaming whip, powerful enough to severely injure a low-level Dou Zong, was still thirty meters away from Listening Bamboo Pavilion when the flames around it seemed to strike an invisible barrier and instantly extinguished! The entire whip appeared to lose all strength, drooping limply downward.

Tang Huo'er's delicate body trembled, and shock appeared in her beautiful eyes for the first time. In that instant, she had felt her Dou Qi and flames forcibly severed from her control by an invisible yet absolutely overwhelming power!

"Space Imprisonment?! You..." She stared in disbelief at the Blue-robed Youth below, whose expression remained calm. To dissolve her attack so effortlessly was not something an ordinary Dou Zong could accomplish!

"Miss Tang, please return," Xiao Chen said as he withdrew his hand, his tone unchanged. "If you truly wish to spar, Xiao may accompany you after the Pill Gathering ends."

Tang Huo'er stood atop the fire phoenix, her chest rising and falling slightly. Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Xiao Chen. There was shock in them, and unwillingness—but even more than that, there was the excitement and blazing light of having discovered a powerful opponent.

She could sense that this Xiao Chen was unfathomably strong, far beyond any peer she had encountered before!

"Fine! Xiao Chen, I will remember you!" Tang Huo'er put away her whip, and the flaming phoenix beneath her feet slowly dispersed. "After the Pill Gathering, you and I will have a battle! When the time comes, do not make excuses to avoid it!"

After speaking, she gave Xiao Chen a deep look, as though she wanted to carve him into her heart. Then her figure transformed into a streak of red light and vanished into the night sky.

She had come suddenly and left just as decisively.

The night sky returned to calm, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than an illusion.

Yet in the hearts of many powerful figures in Sacred Pill City, the importance of the name "Xiao Chen" rose another level. How could someone who had made Blazing Flame Valley's little witch suffer such a humiliating setback and formally issue a challenge be an ordinary person?

Han Yue watched the tranquil night sky and let out a breath of relief before turning to Xiao Chen, the strange light in her eyes growing brighter. Even someone like Tang Huo'er had failed to gain the slightest advantage before him.

Xiao Chen, however, frowned slightly. He looked toward the direction in which Tang Huo'er had vanished, then swept his gaze over several even more concealed corners of the city.

"Looks like it'll be impossible to watch the Pill Gathering in peace."

Under the cover of the commotion Tang Huo'er had caused, he sensed several even more covert, chilling auras creeping like ghosts toward the Han Family's separate courtyard and the area where Xiao Yan was staying.

Killing intent spread through the night.

Soul Hall's demons and fiends could finally no longer hold themselves back.