The Snake-People Holy Temple, underground chamber.
This frigid stone chamber was like a cold palace sealed away by the passage of time, its chilling air quietly permeating every inch of space. Xiao Zhan sat cross-legged, calmly meditating, his posture as steady as a statue. A faint layer of reddish-gold light gently enveloped him, seeming to cloak him in a sacred suit of armor. At that moment, he was circulating the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art with all his might. This Heaven-tier technique was like a treasure trove filled with endless mysteries, granting him more than merely unmatched physical strength. The trace of Dragon Phoenix Origin it contained was like a scorching, dazzling sun—pure yang and unyielding—and naturally countered the cold, Soul-Eroding Dou Qi Protector Wu had left behind, like light driving away darkness.
"Pss, pss..."
Wisps of black mist writhed and struggled in the air like sinister venomous snakes, almost like living things, as the domineering Dragon Phoenix energy forced them bit by bit from his wounds and meridians. The mist made a faint sizzling sound as it corroded the air, as if darkness were letting out its final lament. Then the scorching heat swiftly purified it, making it vanish without a trace. The process was slow and painful, like scraping poison from the bone. Every wisp purified brought a piercing pain, yet the results were remarkable. Xiao Zhan's face was still as pale as paper, but his breathing had steadied considerably, like the sea gradually calming after a storm.
[ Soul-Eroding Dou Qi removal progress: 42%...45%...]
The system notification advanced steadily and clearly, like a loyal companion silently keeping track of the battle's progress.
Suddenly!
"Buzz..."
The energy barrier at the chamber entrance rippled gently like water stirred by a breeze. The stone door slid open without a sound, as if revealing a passage to a mysterious world. Yue Mei's alluring figure appeared in the doorway once more, like a poisonous flower blooming in the night. Her emerald slit pupils glimmered strangely in the dim light, like two mysterious green lamps, carrying an air of danger and intrigue.
"Xiao Zhan." Her voice was less languid than usual and more grave, as if she bore a heavy responsibility. "Her Majesty wants to see you. Now. Immediately."
Xiao Zhan's heart stirred faintly, like a ripple spreading across a still lake. He slowly ended his cultivation, and the reddish-gold light around him receded like the tide. He opened his eyes and looked calmly at Yue Mei, his gaze deep and steady. "My injuries haven't healed. I fear I'd sully Her Majesty's eyes." His voice was neither servile nor arrogant, carrying a distinctive composure and confidence.
"This isn't a request." Yue Mei's long serpentine tail swayed lightly like a flowing ribbon, each movement seeming to follow some mysterious rhythm. Her tone carried unquestionable authority, like that of a lofty judge who would brook no defiance. "Your 'information' and 'bloodline' have successfully aroused Her Majesty's interest. This is a rare opportunity for you—and your last chance." She placed particular emphasis on the word "last," like a hammer striking the heart, bringing an invisible pressure with it.
Xiao Zhan slowly rose to his feet and moved his left arm. It still hurt badly, but he could at least manage to move it. The pain pricked like needles, but it could not shake his resolve. He nodded, his voice steady and firm. "Lead the way." He knew the true test had arrived. Faced with Queen Medusa, whose fearsome reputation made people tremble at the very mention of her, any false pretense could be seen through beneath her piercing gaze. Only by being candid to an extent, while fully demonstrating his value, could he hope to find a sliver of life in this desperate situation.
Following Yue Mei through the Holy Temple's maze of winding corridors, Xiao Zhan keenly sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the air, like tangible storm clouds weighing down on him until it was hard to breathe. Powerful, violent energy fluctuations also lingered throughout the passage. The earth-shattering battle between Queen Medusa and Protector Wu had clearly ended, but its aftershocks still lurked like a dormant beast, not to be underestimated. The Snake-People guards they passed all watched him with undisguised hostility and icy killing intent, as if he were an intruder who had trespassed into forbidden territory.
At last, they reached a magnificent stone door ten zhang tall. A lifelike carving of a nine-headed serpent adorned it, the creature baring its fangs and claws as if it might leap from the stone at any moment and devour everything. The door slowly opened, and an overwhelming aura of majesty and heat surged toward them like a rushing tide, making it feel as if they stood at the mouth of a scorching volcano.
The vast hall was dim, like a mysterious abyss. At its center, the ancient altar binding the Green Lotus Core Flame still emitted a heart-stirring energy fluctuation, pulsing like a heartbeat and hinting at the altar's mystery and power. Below it stood a purple figure, motionless as an untouchable idol, radiating an aura that inspired awe.
Queen Medusa!
She stood deep within the hall, her back to the entrance, like the statue of a deity who stood alone beyond the mortal world. Her purple brocade robe flowed down like drifting clouds, its hem lightly trailing over the ground, as if laying a luxurious carpet over the cold stone. Her serpentine tail, covered in fine scales, was coiled elegantly. Each scale glimmered with a mysterious, icy luster, as if it held endless secrets. Even from behind, she radiated an unmatched majesty, reigning over the world and looking down upon all living things as though everything beneath her were an ant. The air throughout the hall had quietly solidified beneath her powerful presence, as if struck by a spell that froze all things.
"Your Majesty, I have brought him." Yue Mei bowed respectfully, lowering herself until she nearly touched the floor. Her voice brimmed with devotion and reverence. After paying her respects, she silently stepped aside, her emerald slit pupils fixed on Xiao Zhan with the sharp, wary gaze of two daggers.
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, letting it slowly circulate through his chest as if to steel himself. He forced down the shock surging through him like a tide, then cupped his hands without servility or arrogance. His voice was steady and strong. "Xiao Zhan pays his respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
Silence descended like a thick pall, stifling and oppressive as it spread through the hall. Queen Medusa did not turn around, yet Xiao Zhan felt as if he were being targeted by a ferocious beast from the primeval wilderness. The hairs all over his body instantly stood on end, each one sounding an alarm. The invisible pressure weighed down on his soul like a mountain thousands of meters high, leaving him almost unable to breathe. Had he not already been a Dou Zong, with his soul protected by the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art, he would likely have fallen to his knees under that immense pressure and submitted to her authority.
"You know about Soul Hall?" At last, a cool and imposing voice rang out, carrying an oddly magnetic resonance. It was like ice beads dropping onto a jade plate, crisp yet cold, echoing through the hall like a chill wind that made one shiver.
"Yes." Xiao Zhan answered in a low voice. Despite the mountain-like pressure, his tone remained as unyielding as bedrock. "It is an extremely mysterious and powerful organization. Most of its members are spiritual bodies or excel at controlling soul power. Their actions are inscrutable, and their purpose even more obscure. As far as I know, they have been secretly gathering powerful souls and unusual flames across the continent, as though plotting something earth-shattering."
"How did they infiltrate this king's barrier?" Queen Medusa slowly turned around, graceful and unhurried, like a dancer making a light turn onstage. Her purple brocade robe fluttered with her movement, like a river of purple stars flowing across the night sky.
The instant she faced him, Xiao Zhan felt his vision brighten, as if a brilliant light had flashed before his eyes. His breath caught! It was a beauty beyond mortal comprehension, breathtaking and heart-stirring—beautiful enough to intoxicate, yet awe-inspiring enough to command reverence. Her violet eyes were like the depths of a starry vortex, mysterious and captivating. Their cold scrutiny seemed to judge all things, while their piercing insight appeared able to expose every secret in the world. When her gaze fell upon Xiao Zhan, it felt like an invisible blade, piercing through his flesh and straight into the depths of his soul. He could feel his very soul trembling beneath it.
Xiao Zhan forced himself to endure the sensation of his soul being pierced, the shiver coursing through his body like an electric current and making his heart race. He took a deep breath and slowly delivered the explanation he had prepared. "Soul Hall's methods are bizarre and unfathomable, and their mastery of spatial energy is profound. They are like ghosts hiding in the dark, impossible to guard against. They seem to possess a secret art capable of briefly disrupting or even assimilating the energy of a barrier, opening a hidden breach within it. The black-robed protector—Protector Wu—must have paid a tremendous price to infiltrate the temple, perhaps one too heavy for him to bear." He deliberately avoided mentioning how he had slipped in through a gap, wary of arousing Queen Medusa's suspicions.
"Where did your bloodline power come from?" Queen Medusa's gaze was like a tangible blade, its keen force stabbing toward Xiao Zhan as if to dissect him completely. A trace of scrutiny and gravity flashed in her violet eyes. The faint yet incomparably noble aura of Dragon Phoenix Origin was like an unusual star in the night sky. Even she felt a stir deep in her bloodline, as if some invisible force were drawing her in.
"My ancestors once had a fortuitous encounter and fused with a trace of Ancient Heaven Phoenix blood essence. My forebear carefully preserved it as a precious treasure. By the time it passed down to me, it had grown extremely faint, like a candle guttering in the wind, but its noble aura could still just be sensed." Xiao Zhan spoke with half-truths, then deliberately released a trace of the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art's aura once more. A reddish-gold glimmer flashed across his skin and vanished like a shooting star, bringing with it an ancient, noble pressure, as if the roar of an ancient divine beast echoed through the air.
This time they were closer, and the sensation was clearer! Queen Medusa's violet pupils visibly contracted, like stars in the night sky suddenly dimming for an instant. The Heavenly Phoenix! It was an ancient divine beast on the same level as the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, a legendary existence towering above all things! Though faint, the aura was of such exalted origin that it could not be false, like a brilliant gem whose dazzling radiance could not be hidden even beneath a coating of dust.
"Why did you infiltrate the Holy Temple?" Queen Medusa's voice remained as cold as a wind on a winter night, chilling to the bone, but the killing intent hidden within seemed to have been brushed by a thin veil, diminishing slightly.
"To warn you." Xiao Zhan looked straight into those unsettling violet eyes, like a deep pool concealing endless secrets and authority. His gaze was resolute, his tone sincere and candid, as if every word carried tremendous weight. "I learned by chance that Soul Hall was plotting against Your Majesty and the Heavenly Flame. I was extremely anxious, so I wanted to infiltrate the Holy Temple and find a chance to inform you. Unexpectedly, I encountered a mishap and nearly lost my life, like a lone boat caught in a storm. Fortunately, Chief Yue Mei came to my rescue, and I survived." He deftly presented himself as a "messenger" rather than an unwelcome "intruder," hoping to ease Queen Medusa's hostility.
The hall sank into another deathly silence, as if time itself had frozen. Queen Medusa's gaze swept over Xiao Zhan again and again, cold as a probe, seemingly penetrating his body to reach the depths of his soul as she carefully judged the truth of his words. The unique pressure of his bloodline and the reasonable explanation that he had come to warn her did add significant weight to his credibility, slightly improving her opinion of him.
"Were your injuries caused by that Soul Hall Protector?" Queen Medusa's gaze was as keen as an eagle's. It swept over Xiao Zhan's still-bandaged left shoulder, where a trace of cold energy seemed to seep through the wrappings, a lingering reminder of the danger he had faced.
"Yes. Soul Hall's Dou Qi is vicious and eats away at the soul. It clings like a bone-deep parasite and is extremely difficult to remove." Xiao Zhan admitted it frankly, showing no trace of fear or concealment.
"Hmph." Queen Medusa gave a cold snort, her voice tinged with disdain and authority. Then she raised her jade-like hand with elegant composure, as though playing a beautiful melody. A wisp of tightly condensed violet Dou Qi shot out like a nimble serpent, carrying a fierce force and scorching heat, and instantly entered Xiao Zhan's body!
Xiao Zhan's body jolted. A domineering, scorching energy surged into his meridians like a rushing tide, setting them ablaze wherever it passed. It precisely found the Soul-Eroding Dou Qi entrenched within them. Before the pure Dou Qi of Queen Medusa at the peak of Dou Huang, the sinister black energy was like snow before the sun. It was quickly scattered, purified, and erased without a trace.
In just a few breaths, the Soul-Eroding Dou Qi that had plagued Xiao Zhan for days like a bone-deep parasite was swept away like clouds in a gale, leaving not a trace! Xiao Zhan felt his whole body lighten, as if freed from invisible shackles. The gloom that had long weighed on him vanished in an instant.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Zhan was shaken by her unfathomable strength, like a towering mountain that inspired awe in anyone who looked upon it. At the same time, he bowed in sincere gratitude, his voice full of appreciation. With his injuries healed, it was as though he had been given sturdy armor before marching into battle. His strength would recover more quickly, allowing him to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"No need to thank this queen." Queen Medusa gracefully lowered her hand. Her violet eyes were as deep as the sea, seemingly hiding endless stars and mysteries. "The information you brought has some value. Consider this removal of the Soul-Eroding Dou Qi your reward."
She paused, and her tone abruptly turned cold, like a bitter gale, carrying unquestionable authority. "But trespassing in the Holy Temple cannot go unpunished! The Holy Temple is this queen's forbidden ground. How could I allow others to violate it at will?"
Xiao Zhan's heart tightened as though struck by a bolt of icy lightning, every nerve in his body tensing.
"This queen will give you a chance to atone for your crime." Queen Medusa turned her gaze toward the Green Lotus Core Flame, bound by layer upon layer of restraints on the altar. The flame was like a caged beast, radiating scorching, violent energy. A trace of determination flashed through her violet eyes, like that of a warrior about to enter battle. "This queen is about to draw upon the power of the Heavenly Flame to break through the shackles of her bloodline. The process is extremely perilous, like walking along the edge of a cliff. It is a narrow escape from death. Absolute silence is required, and no disturbance can be tolerated!"
"Though those Soul Hall scoundrels have temporarily retreated, they will never let this go. They are like venomous snakes hidden in the dark, liable to attack again at any moment. The Four Great Elders under this queen must devote themselves fully to maintaining the sealing barrier and can spare no attention for anything else." Her gaze fixed on Xiao Zhan once more, as sharp as a sword's edge. "I want you to guard the outer perimeter of the Holy Temple with Yue Mei. Until this queen succeeds—or... perishes!"
Guard the Holy Temple? Stand against a possible attack from Soul Hall?!
Xiao Zhan's heart shook as if a boulder had been thrown into a still lake, sending ripples racing outward. The task was extremely dangerous, like dancing on the tip of a blade. One careless step could doom him beyond redemption. Yet it was also a tremendous opportunity! A chance to get close to Queen Medusa and forge a connection at the most critical moment—when she was also at her weakest, during her evolution! It was like discovering a glimmer of light in the darkness, faint but full of hope.
"If this queen succeeds in breaking through the shackles of her bloodline, your crime of trespassing in the Holy Temple will be wiped clean. This queen will also grant you a promise and help you fulfill your wish." Queen Medusa's voice was cool, yet carried a subtle temptation, like a faint glimmer in the darkness beckoning one onward. "If this queen fails..." Her gaze swept over Xiao Zhan like a cold gleam. The meaning was clear: if she failed, the Holy Temple would fall, and everyone present would be buried with it!
Fortune favored those who braved danger! A resolute light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, blazing and unwavering like a flame. He said solemnly, "I, Xiao Zhan, am willing to protect Your Majesty through this. Even if it means facing a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, I will not shrink back!"
"Very well." Queen Medusa gave a slight nod, her exquisite face revealing little, as if everything were under her control. She said no more and turned back toward the Green Lotus Core Flame on the altar. Her purple brocade robe stirred despite the still air, like a purple lotus blooming in the dark, radiating mystery and nobility. An even more powerful and resolute aura began to rise from her, like a volcano about to erupt, containing boundless strength. She had already begun to adjust her state, making her final preparations for the evolution that would teeter between life and death. Every movement spoke of determination and resolve.
Yue Mei looked at Xiao Zhan, her emerald slit pupils reflecting complicated emotions—perhaps worry, perhaps anticipation. She said quietly, "Come with me. I'll show you the outer defenses. Don't make any mistakes."
Xiao Zhan took one last look at the proud, resolute purple figure standing before the altar. She stood like an unshakable mountain, giving the impression that nothing could move her. Then he turned and followed Yue Mei away, his steps steady and firm. He knew that the true storm was about to sweep over them like a raging tide, and he would face his own challenge within it.
Magical Beast Mountain Range, outside the entrance to a mysterious cave.
"Little bastard! Get out here!" Mu Li's roar—he was the young master of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and a one-star Dou Shi—rumbled beneath the cliff like thunder, brimming with venom and murderous intent, as if he meant to shatter the whole valley. Dozens of Wolf Head mercenaries surrounded the cliff. Their swords were drawn, their blades gleaming coldly, while their crossbows were cocked and ready, radiating thick killing intent like a pack of hungry wolves poised to pounce on their prey. The pain of He Meng's severed arm and the humiliation brought by that terrifying cold snort in the valley burned like a raging fire, driving the entire mercenary group into a frenzy of revenge. They swore to tear the people inside the cave to pieces.
Inside the cave, in the stone chamber.
The gray-white cocoon of light surrounding Xiao Yi Xian had vanished completely, as if it had never existed. She sat cross-legged on the ground. Her face was still as pale as paper, but her aura had undergone a world-shaking transformation. A cold, restrained quality, concealing a terrifying capacity for destruction, lingered around her. She was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, calm on the outside yet containing endless energy within. Her eyes slowly opened. Tiny gray-white specks of light seemed to flow deep in her pupils like stars in the night sky. They were still clear, yet now held a depth that made one's heart tremble, as if hiding endless secrets. She had successfully received the inheritance of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture and had initially stabilized the poison power raging within her. But the price was that she felt even more closely bound to that destructive force, like someone walking a tightrope along the edge of a cliff, every step fraught with danger.
"Outside... is that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?" A hint of chill edged Xiao Yi Xian's voice, like a cold wind blowing through the night and making one shiver.
"Yes. Their leader is Mu She's son, Mu Li." Xiao Yan's face was dark with concern. He gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly in his hand—the treasure he had found inside the cave—and his eyes were sharp as a hawk's, as if they could pierce through every obstacle. "They've completely sealed off the entrance. They can't get in, but we can't get out either. We're like birds trapped in a cage."
"Xiao Yan! I know you're in there!" Mu Li's voice rang out again like a thunderclap, accompanied by a sinister laugh that made one's hair stand on end. "And that little slut, too! You caused my Uncle He Meng to lose an arm and killed so many of my mercenary brothers! Today I'll tear you all to pieces! Loose the arrows! Shoot them with everything you've got! Use fire arrows! Burn those bastards to death!"
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!"
A dense volley of arrows suddenly whistled through the air like death's summons! Arrows wreathed in roaring flames rained down on the cave entrance hidden behind the vines! The vines caught fire instantly, and the flames began to surge into the cave like ravenous beasts!
Thick smoke billowed in like black demons rampaging through the air, and waves of heat rolled over them, as if they were about to be roasted alive.
"Cough, cough... Teacher! What do we do?" Xiao Yan swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler with all his strength, using it like a moving shield to knock aside several flaming arrows that had shot inside. His face was full of anxiety, and his voice carried a hint of panic.
Yao Lao's illusory figure hovered beside Xiao Yan like a ghost, his old face as grave as a block of ice. "The entrance is narrow. They won't be able to get in for a while, but the fire attack and smoke are a real problem. Young lady, can you control your poison now?"
Xiao Yi Xian looked at her snow-white palm. A wisp of gray-white poison mist coiled around her fingertips like a nimble little snake, refusing to dissipate. She nodded slightly, her eyes cold and resolute, like a warrior about to go into battle. "I can, but the range is limited. The poison, though... is very strong."
"Good!" A fierce glint flashed through Yao Lao's eyes, like lightning in the cold night. "Listen carefully, brat! I'm going to lend you my power for a while! Remember, you'll only get one strike! Use your strongest Dou Technique, combined with the young lady's poison, and target Mu Li! Capture the leader, and the situation may yet turn around!"
"Yes, Teacher!" Xiao Yan's gaze instantly became as unyielding as bedrock, full of determination and fearlessness, as if nothing could stand in his way.
"Relax your mind!" Yao Lao barked, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. His illusory figure merged into Xiao Yan in a flash of brilliant white light. In that instant, it was as if stars had converged, their radiance shooting in every direction.
"Boom!"
An indescribable, terrifying aura erupted from Xiao Yan like a volcano! His hair rose and streamed in the wind like black silk caught in a gale, while his robes snapped like a war banner. Pale flames burned in his eyes—the aura of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, icy yet scorching, seeming able to freeze anything and incinerate everything. His Dou Qi surged like a rushing tide, instantly breaking through the boundaries of Dou Zhe and Dou Shi before advancing without resistance to the peak of Da Dou Shi! The surging aura made the entire stone chamber tremble.
"Ah!" The tearing sensation caused by his surging strength felt like tens of thousands of steel needles stabbing into him all at once, forcing Xiao Yan to let out a low growl of pain and determination. He clenched his teeth so hard that traces of blood seeped between them, his hands gripping the Heavy Xuan Ruler like iron pincers, as if he meant to fuse it with his flesh and blood. The Flame Mantra circulated wildly like rapidly spinning gears. The Dou Qi Vortex within his cyclone spun at high speed, humming as if roaring.
"Draw out the power of the Heavenly Flame! Guide it into your Dou Qi! Compress it! Compress it even further!" Yao Lao's voice roared instructions from deep within Xiao Yan's soul, booming like a great bell and shaking the heavens, making even Xiao Yan's soul tremble.
Xiao Yan endured the burning agony in his meridians, as though raging flames were rampaging through his body and every inch of him were being roasted. He desperately guided the trace of Bone Spirit Cold Flame origin refined by the Flame Mantra. The Bone White Flame and pale-yellow Dou Qi intertwined, collided, and fused frantically on the Heavy Xuan Ruler, like two dragons locked in fierce combat, or ice and fire clashing in a world of extremes.
A violent, destructive aura began to gather on the ruler, like a storm on the verge of eruption, brimming with boundless power. The temperature in the stone chamber plummeted, as if winter had arrived. Frost crystallized across the ground, gleaming like a silver-white world. Yet the space around the ruler warped from the heat like a shattered mirror, its surface rippling into strange folds.
"Not enough! Pour all your anger! All your will! Pour everything into it and make it explode!" Yao Lao's voice rang out again like a war drum, urging Xiao Yan onward.
Outside the cave, Mu Li stared at the entrance, now completely swallowed by raging flames, a cruel smile curling his lips. It was as if he could already see the people inside being burned to ashes.
But then, a sudden change took place!
"Rumble!!!"
The world seemed to collapse. The entire cliff shuddered violently, as if a sleeping giant had suddenly been awakened. The burning vines and thick rocks blocking the cave entrance exploded outward from within under a terrifying force! Gravel sprayed in every direction like rain, and dust billowed up like thick clouds, blotting out the sky.
Amid the vast cloud of dust, a figure wrapped in Bone White Flame strode forth like a fearsome demon from the depths of the netherworld. He held an enormous black ruler burning with strange white flames, like the reaper's scythe, carrying boundless killing intent. The figure burst out of the dust like a cannonball, moving so fast it was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye, leaving behind only a blur.
"What is that?!" The cruel smile on Mu Li's face froze instantly, as if he'd been struck by a spell. Boundless terror washed over him and drowned him completely. He sensed a thick aura of death coming from that figure, as if he would be torn to pieces by its power in the next instant.
"Mu Li! Die!" A voice, cold as a wind from the depths of the underworld, pierced the dust and rang across the entire mountainside, making everyone shudder. It was Yao Lao speaking through Xiao Yan's body.
Xiao Yan raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler high. A tightly compressed sphere of energy on its edge radiated a terrifying aura that seemed capable of destroying everything. Inside it, Bone White Flame and pale-yellow light intertwined like a violent storm. Its outer form, however, was eerily restrained, like a crouching beast poised to deliver a fatal strike.
"Ultimate secret of Flame Splitting Devouring Wave Ruler—"
"Buddha! Fury! Fire! Lotus!"
"(Rudimentary version!)"
The Heavy Xuan Ruler, burning with Bone White Flame, swept down with that nascent Fire Lotus compressed to its limit. Like a lightning bolt tearing through the sky, it ripped through the air and came crashing down upon the horrified Mu Li with unstoppable force! Its momentum seemed capable of splitting the heavens and earth apart.
At the same time, a faint wisp of gray-white energy, as imperceptible as a bone-deep parasite, silently slipped into the violent energy storm like a hidden blade, shooting toward Mu Li.
Wutan City, the Mittel Auction House, top-floor reception room.
The atmosphere in the reception room was as oppressive as the suffocating silence before a storm. Every breath of air seemed frozen, thick with tension.
Ya Fei sat in the main seat, still wearing a bewitching smile as lovely as a flower blooming in spring. Yet deep in her eyes lay a bone-chilling cold, like frost in the depths of winter. Across from her sat a burly middle-aged man, built like an iron tower. His face was hard, his features carved as if by knife and axe, and his sharp eyes were like a hawk's, as if they could pierce through any disguise. He wore the standard uniform of a core member of the Mittel Family, with a badge pinned to his chest marking him as a trusted aide of the Great Elder. It gleamed coldly in the light. His aura, unmistakably that of someone at the peak of Da Dou Shi, weighed upon the entire reception room like a heavy boulder, making it almost impossible to breathe.
This man was Mu Tie, Teng Shan the Great Elder's personal guard commander and his sharpest blade!
"Miss Ya Fei." Mu Tie's voice rang out like clashing metal, forceful and carrying the unmistakable tone of a command, as if every word weighed a thousand catties. "I have the Great Elder Teng Shan's orders! I'm to take possession of the two Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pills immediately and escort them back to the imperial capital! As for everything concerning the pills' source, including Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, the Great Elder demands that you report it all at once, without withholding a single detail!"
His sharp gaze raked over Ya Fei's delicate face like a knife, as if trying to see through her thoughts. "The Great Elder is extremely displeased with your recent 'high-handed decisions' in Wutan City."
Ya Fei remained composed. She picked up the teacup before her and took an elegant sip. Her red lips curled slightly into a smile that was almost, but not quite, a smile, its meaning difficult to read. "Commander Mu Tie, you certainly carry yourself with quite an air. Clan Chief Xiao entrusted these pills to the Mittel Auction House for auction. Here is the contract, black and white, perfectly clear. Until the auction is complete, they belong to the client, not the auction house. I have no authority to let you 'take possession' of them."
She gently set down her teacup and met Mu Tie's oppressive gaze with her beautiful eyes. Her voice remained soft and melodious, yet her words carried a chill that met his threat head-on. "As for the pills' source and Clan Chief Xiao... that is a business secret, as well as a private agreement between the clan chief and me. Commander Mu Tie, surely the Great Elder's orders don't give him the right to trample all over the reputation and rules of the Mittel Auction House?"
"You!" Mu Tie's face darkened like the sky before a storm. He had never expected Ya Fei to dare defy him so boldly. Anger surged in his heart, and he slammed his hand on the table. With a loud bang, the aura of a peak Da Dou Shi burst forth like a raging gale, sweeping through the entire reception room. The tables and chairs shook violently, while the cups and dishes rattled and hummed as if trembling in fear.
"Ya Fei! Don't think you can throw your weight around in front of the family just because you have a pretty face and a few tricks! The Great Elder's orders are the family's rules, and no one may disobey them! Hand over the pills and the information! Otherwise..." A cold glint flashed through Mu Tie's eyes like an icy blade. The threat in his unfinished words was unmistakable, enough to make anyone shudder.
Faced with that tangible pressure, the smile finally vanished completely from Ya Fei's face, like a flower wilting in an instant. She slowly rose to her feet. Her graceful figure stood perfectly straight beneath the immense aura, like a snow lotus proudly standing against the gale, radiating unyielding resolve.
"Otherwise, what?" Ya Fei's voice was cold as ice, as though it could freeze the air. For the first time, anger blazed in her beautiful eyes like two burning flames. "Mu Tie, you're nothing but the Great Elder's dog—a mangy cur that only knows how to wag its tail! This is Wutan City, not the imperial capital. You don't get to run wild here! If you think you can throw your weight around, you're not up to it!"
She lightly turned her hand over, revealing a token engraved with the golden crest of the Mittel Family, its edges inlaid with seven tiny amethysts. The instant it appeared, an ancient, majestic aura spread out like a tide, bearing the weight of time and the glory of the family. It faintly suppressed Mu Tie's aura, like a boulder crushing a gale.
"The Seven Purple Gold Token?!" Mu Tie's pupils contracted sharply. He cried out in disbelief, his face filled with sheer astonishment, as if he had seen a ghost.
This was one of the Mittel Family's highest-authority tokens! Its holder wielded the same authority as an elder. To see the token was to see the clan leader; its holder possessed supreme authority. The whole family had no more than five of these precious tokens, each as rare as a priceless treasure. How could one be in the hands of this woman who had been "exiled" to a remote little city? It was beyond his imagination.
Holding the token, Ya Fei was like a queen wielding sovereign power. She looked coldly down at Mu Tie, whose expression had changed drastically, her eyes filled with disdain and authority. "To see this token is to see the clan leader! Commander Mu Tie, do you still intend to 'take possession' of the pills? Do you still want me to 'report' everything?"
Mu Tie's face turned as colorful as a dye shop, shifting from green to red. The veins on his forehead bulged and throbbed like wriggling earthworms. He stared at the Seven Purple Gold Token, radiating unquestionable authority, then at the alluring woman whose presence had suddenly become overwhelmingly powerful. A chill shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making him shiver.
For the first time, he realized that the so-called "Empress of Gold"—a woman who seemed to have risen through her beauty—was likely far more unfathomable than he had imagined, like an abyss hidden in the mist, its true depths impossible to glimpse.
Before you continue