The crimson-gold wave of fire roared as it surged toward Mo Linglin with overwhelming force!
Wherever the flames passed, the air hissed and warped, and a pungent burnt smell spread through the air.
Mo Linglin's eyes widened in terror, all color draining from her face.
Fear left her mouth hanging open, yet she could not make a sound.
At the critical moment between life and death, a green Dou Qi barrier rose from the ground!
Light flickered as runes flowed across it, blocking the wave of fire outside.
A figure flashed forth like a ghost, standing before Mo Linglin.
He wore the robes of the Misty Cloud Sect, his expression tense.
His brows were tightly furrowed, and beads of sweat rolled down his face, soaking his collar.
Xiao Yan had originally intended to let her die in agony, so he had used only a fraction of his strength in that attack.
Even so, it still placed immense pressure on Elder Ge Ye, a peak Da Dou Shi.
He abruptly swept back his sleeve, revealing the Misty Cloud Sect emblem glinting coldly beneath the moonlight.
"Please wait, sir!"
His voice trembled.
At the same time, he frantically poured his peak Da Dou Shi Dou Qi into the barrier and urgently said,
"This girl is the descendant of an old friend."
"Could you spare her life for the sake of the Misty Cloud Sect?"
"I am willing to offer compensation."
Cold sweat soaked Elder Ge Ye's back. That attack just now—
the masked man before him had clearly not used his full strength.
And he could not perceive even the slightest trace of the man's cultivation!
This person was very likely a high-level Dou Ling, perhaps even a Dou Wang!
At this moment, he could only place his hopes on the Misty Cloud Sect's name and compensation.
Perhaps they could save Mo Linglin.
However, the moment Elder Ge Ye finished speaking, before Xiao Yan could even respond—
"Grandpa Ge Ye!"
Mo Linglin suddenly screamed, her voice sharp and piercing.
Elder Ge Ye's heart instantly sank!
She frantically grabbed Elder Ge Ye's sleeve, her gaze toward Xiao Yan venomous and arrogant.
"You are an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, with a noble status!"
"And he is nothing but a lowborn nobody with a little strength."
"Why waste words on him?!"
Mo Linglin had been spoiled and overbearing since childhood, relying on the Mo Family's ties with the Misty Cloud Sect to act without restraint.
Her cultivation talent was also quite good, and she had received significant nurturing.
Now that Elder Ge Ye was backing her up, she naturally could not endure such humiliation.
The Jade Hairpin emitted a dim glow. She looked at Xiao Yan, her tone brimming with arrogance.
"You lowly thing, how dare you act so presumptuously on Mo Family territory?"
"The Mo Family is backed by the Misty Cloud Sect. If you know what is good for you, then..."
"You're noisy."
A cold gleam flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.
She was merely trash immersed in her own little world, incapable of seeing reality for what it was.
And she dared bark wildly before him?
He flicked a finger!
A golden flame, like a nimble fire snake, instantly pierced through the barrier!
A crimson flash streaked out as the flame shot toward Mo Linglin!
Bang!
A dull explosion erupted behind him!
Warm liquid splashed onto Elder Ge Ye's face, its wet touch spreading across his skin.
Elder Ge Ye's body stiffened as he slowly turned around.
A heavy stench of blood filled the air, flooding his nostrils.
Mo Linglin's head had exploded, red and white matter splattering across the Misty Cloud Sect emblem.
The masked Xiao Yan remained expressionless as he strode forward with steady steps.
He ignored the trembling, terrified Elder Ge Ye beside him.
Leaving behind only a faint remark.
"A mere Misty Cloud Sect dares demand that I show it face?"
Yan City, central district.
Hiss, hiss!
The sprawling Mo Manor occupied the center of the city, its interior decorated with lanterns and colorful banners.
At this moment, the Mo Family was holding a birthday banquet for the Mo Family's Great Elder!
Boom!
Crimson flames swept over the manor like a tidal wave, reducing Mo Manor's vermilion gates to ashes within the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame!
The smoke was choking, and the flames licked at the gate with crackling pops!
"Enemy... Aah!"
Inside the gates, twelve Dou Shi raised their weapons to resist.
Yet they did not even have time to mobilize the Dou Qi within their bodies.
Before they were instantly swallowed by the flames!
Their screams rang out as their twisted bodies turned to char in an instant.
A pungent burnt smell spread through the air. Xiao Yan kicked aside the two charred corpses before him.
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. He had not used the Heavenly Flames to burn them into ashes.
Leaving them as lumps of char at least counted as leaving behind their bodies.
He had already been merciful enough.
The guards who followed behind immediately stopped in their tracks, then scattered in all directions with remarkable coordination.
Their faces were deathly pale as they cursed.
"Damn it, the Mo Family has provoked someone terrifying this time."
The guard beside him nodded with trembling legs.
"Run first. We only earn a few taels of silver a month. It isn't worth dying for!"
The other Mo Family disciples also scattered and fled like startled birds.
Xiao Yan stepped upon flowing fire and entered the main hall, his Heavy Black Ruler plowing a thirty-meter furrow through the ground.
"Mo Cheng, you old dog, get out here!"
His voice echoed, making everyone's eardrums ache as dust fell from the walls.
At the seat of honor in the main hall, Mo Cheng leaned on a snake-headed staff.
His face was grim as he stared at Xiao Yan entering the hall, his eyes cold and sinister.
Someone had barged into his birthday banquet and even cursed him.
Given his temper, he should have erupted long ago.
Yet at this moment, beneath his fury, there was also a trace of unease.
He could not see through this man's cultivation.
The pressure of a Dou Ling spread outward, making the beams and pillars crack.
"You have killed my guards and trespassed into my manor without cause on Mo Family territory!"
"Why exactly have you come?!"
Mo Cheng roared furiously, his voice carrying the pressure of his cultivation and shaking the surroundings.
"Do you truly think the Mo Family is made of clay?!"
The Mo Family elders around him rose to their feet, dressed in fine robes and ceremonial hats.
They all turned to look toward the entrance, coldness radiating from their eyes as they fixed their stares on Xiao Yan.
The black-robed elder on the right folded his arms across his chest.
"You dare cause trouble in the Mo Family? Why don't you take a look at what you have—"
Boom!!
His words came to an abrupt halt.
Golden fire wings spread thirty meters wide, their radiance illuminating the main hall!
Dou Wang Pressure descended like Mount Tai, like heavy waters flooding the world.
The immense pressure covered the entire hall in an instant!
No one could move.
Their pride and arrogance were crushed in an instant!
The high heat ignited the tables and chairs, turning the hall into a sea of flames as thick smoke and fire shot skyward.
The surging pressure forced their bodies slowly downward.
Their arrogance vanished at once, leaving only fear rising in their hearts.
"Dou... Dou Wang?!"
"Please wait, sir. May we know why you have come?"
The Mo Family elders' legs went weak as they spoke with trembling voices.
"There must be some misunderstanding here!"
"We can settle this peacefully."
Their arrogant attitudes vanished like smoke.
In their place was friendliness, even humility.
This was a Dou Wang!
If this person wanted to kill them, then in less than the time it took to burn an incense stick—
everyone in the hall would lose their heads!
Before strength, power was utterly worthless!
Xiao Yan's face was icy as his sword-like gaze swept across the crowd.
He spoke softly.
"I'll give you ten breaths to bring Qing Lin here, unharmed!"
Mo Cheng's eyes froze, his expression darkening.
That little girl was someone he had gone to great lengths to capture.
Her constitution was extraordinarily powerful, unlike anything he had ever seen!
If he transplanted her eyes, he might be able to ascend another level and reach the Dou Wang realm!
This concerned his future path and even his lifespan. How could he possibly give up so easily?
He forced out a false smile and answered softly.
"Have you misunderstood something, sir? We have never seen Qing Lin."
Xiao Yan's face darkened, yet he gave a soft laugh.
Killing intent spread through the hall.
"If that is the case, then there is no need for you to exist."
"Wait! I am an outer-sect deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect!"
Frost spread along the snake-headed staff as Mo Cheng's hair and beard flared outward.
"Even if you are a Dou Wang, the Misty Cloud Sect..."
"What is the Misty Cloud Sect worth?"
Disdain flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes as he beat his wings and tore off the roof.
A phantom green lotus bloomed in his palm!
The Wave Splitting Flame Ruler crashed down, carrying his fury!
"You are merely dogs of the Misty Cloud Sect."
"What Xiao is best at is beating dogs!"
Before you continue