A Saint's Claw Shatters Mountains and Rivers! The Calamity Poison Python Devours Immortal Souls!

The gray-green poison mist, like a thick and sinister curtain, was forcibly pushed aside by an invisible yet immensely powerful force, exposing the suffocating and terrifying scene at the bottom of the valley without reservation.

Xiao Yi Xian lay limp on the cold black rock like a shattered jade doll, her breath as faint as a candle in the wind, nearly extinguished. Her face, once clear and moving like a spring flower, was now devoid of blood, pale as paper. Fine beads of cold sweat rolled down her temples like broken pearls, soaking her hair. Her lips were bitten through from the unbearable agony, and threads of blood seeped out, appearing starkly striking against her pale skin. Those eyes, once clear as springs and bright as stars, were now replaced by a dark purple vortex of chaos and destruction; within the frantically spinning vortex, there was no trace of their former luster, leaving only endless pain and despair.

Above her, a terrifying phantom of a poisonous python, covered in dark purple crystal scales and condensed as if it were solid, silently yet menacingly opened a maw wide enough to swallow mountains! The python's cold vertical pupils, burning with gray-white poisonous flames, were like two sharp blades locked onto the defenseless Xiao Yi Xian below, filled with the purest and most insane desire for destruction! Thick dark purple poison mist surged from the giant python's mouth like boiling acid; wherever it passed, even the iron-hard black rock emitted a harsh, corrosive "hissing" sound, rapidly dissolving as if being ruthlessly devoured by the Grim Reaper.

Poisonous backlash! Like a surging, unstoppable flood, it struck directly at the source! The momentum this time far exceeded any previous instance, resembling an apocalyptic disaster. The emerald halo emitted by the Detoxification Spirit Bead was now compressed into a thin layer, clinging tightly to Xiao Yi Xian's skin. Its light was as dim as a candle in the wind, emitting a groan of exhaustion under the mountain-like pressure of the violent poisonous python, as if it could shatter and dissipate at any moment.

"No--!" Xiao Yan, who had just rushed into the valley entrance, felt his eyes split with rage and let out a heart-wrenching roar. He saw the destructive poisonous maw about to ruthlessly swallow Xiao Yi Xian; in that moment, time seemed to freeze, and he had no time for thought. The Dou Qi within his body burned like a raging inferno, pushed to its absolute limit. He hurled the Heavy Xuan Ruler toward the python's head with a desperate, unstoppable momentum, like a meteor streaking across the night sky. At the same time, his body erupted with the fastest speed of his life, like a moth flying into a flame, rushing toward the girl on the rock regardless of the cost, with only one firm belief in his heart: he must save her!

"Ant! Get lost!" A hoarse, dry voice, like two pieces of withered bone rubbing against each other, exploded deep within Xiao Yan's soul with a coldness that froze his spirit. It was like a curse from hell, causing his very soul to tremble.

"BOOM--!!!"

This thunderous sound, like a divine bolt of lightning, shattered the space within the Poison Barrier Valley. In an instant, it was as if ten thousand years of profound ice had been cast into this realm; an indescribable, supreme pressure originating from the very level of life descended like a surging tide. The pressure was cold and heavy, like an invisible mountain, making it impossible to breathe.

Xiao Yan's figure, which had been sprinting madly, felt as if a bird in rapid flight had suddenly slammed into an invisible, indestructible wall of ice ten thousand feet high. With a muffled groan, his entire skeleton emitted a groan of agony as if it were about to fall apart like a wooden puppet. The surging Dou Qi within him instantly dissipated like a burst dam, and he was pinned firmly in place, as if struck by a binding spell, unable to even move a finger. He could only stare wide-eyed, watching helplessly as the giant python's maw, carrying a terrifying shadow that threatened to annihilate everything, struck toward Xiao Yi Xian like a bolt of black lightning.

Despair! It was a bone-chilling, icy despair that instantly drowned Xiao Yan's heart, leaving him feeling as if he were cast into an endless dark abyss, unable to see a single glimmer of hope.

Just at this critical moment, with the python's maw less than three feet from Xiao Yi Xian's head, in the split second before it would have swallowed her!

"HUM--!!!"

The simple black ring on the index finger of Xiao Yan's left hand, which appeared ordinary yet contained endless mysteries, suddenly erupted with an unprecedented, intense light. The light was deep and ancient, as if it were the chaotic dark gold from the dawn of the universe, carrying a mysterious aura that could both encompass and transcend all things. The light instantly condensed into a thin yet indestructible screen, like a giant inverted bowl, firmly shielding Xiao Yi Xian and the nearby Xiao Yan, creating a safe haven for them.

"HISS--!!!"

The destructive poisonous maw bit fiercely into the dark golden screen, the sound sharp and piercing, like the roar of death. The terrifying poison, capable of corroding space itself, surged like a wild tide, frantically impacting and dissolving the screen. The screen vibrated violently, its surface rippling with countless fine waves, like a lake surface struck by a giant boulder—shimmering yet fraught with danger. However, no matter how violently the dark purple and gray-white poison raged, and no matter how desperately it tried to break through this defense, the seemingly fragile screen stood as firm as an ancient rock, steadily guarding the two inside. All the poison that touched the screen was silently purified and annihilated, like snow meeting the scorching sun, turning into the most primitive void and vanishing from this world.

The poisonous python let out an unwilling and silent roar of anger, a sound like a desperate scream in the darkness. Its massive body twisted and slammed against the screen, every movement carrying world-shattering power, yet it could not advance even a fraction, as if held fast by invisible shackles.

Inside the screen, Xiao Yan's gaze was fixed, as if drawn by a magnet, upon Xiao Yi Xian, whose breath was as faint as a candle in the wind. His heart hammered wildly, the sound so intense it felt as if it would burst through his throat, standing out clearly in the tense atmosphere. He slowly lowered his head, staring in disbelief at the flowing dark golden light on the ring on his left hand. The light was warm and vast, like a mysterious power from ancient times, not only isolating the terrifying poison outside like a solid barrier but even allowing his body, which had been frozen and numbed by the horrific pressure, to regain a precious trace of sensation, as if he had seen a glimmer of light in the darkness.

"Is it... its power again?!" A stormy sea surged in Xiao Yan's heart, countless questions and shocks rolling through his mind.

At this moment, the firmament looked like a fragile mirror of glazed glass, torn apart by an invisible yet devastatingly powerful giant claw. The hundred-foot-long spatial rift, burning with miserable green soul flames, still hung hideously across the horizon like a gateway to a hellish abyss, exuding a chilling aura.

The Gu You Clone hovered before the rift, his body hunched. Thick, impenetrable black soul mist rolled and boiled like a surging tide, completely shrouding his form and making it impossible to glimpse his true appearance. Only a pair of eyes burning with miserable green soul fire, like two cold lanterns from the Nine Nether Hell, pierced through the layers of mist, coldly and ruthlessly overlooking the oasis below, which was as small as an ant colony. That terrifying pressure, which froze space and forced all things to submit, descended like a tangible cold wave, covering every inch of land and plunging the entire oasis into endless fear.

His hoarse, dry voice, like withered bones rubbing together, had just echoed across the heavens—"The Blood Soul Guide is here... hand over the Green Lotus Core Flame, hand over the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python... otherwise, all living things in this place... shall have their souls refined for a hundred years!" This voice was like a death sentence, carrying endless majesty and coldness, causing despair to take root in everyone who heard it.

The final word "years" still echoed leisurely over the vast desert like a cold blade of light. In an instant, Gu You's eyes, burning with miserable green soul fire, suddenly narrowed like blades, instantly locking precisely onto the direction of the Poison Barrier Valley!

His gaze did not focus on the earth-shattering dark purple poisonous python exuding a destructive aura, nor did he notice Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian, who were tightly protected by the mysterious light screen. At this moment, his eyes, like those of a greedy vulture that had discovered a rare treasure, were fixed with endless greed and viciousness upon the ring on Xiao Yan's left hand, which was erupting with chaotic dark golden light! That light was deep and mysterious, as if it hid the most ancient secrets of the universe.

"Hmm?! This is...?!" For the first time, Gu You's voice showed a violent fluctuation; his hoarse, dry tone carried incredulous suspicion, mixed with a tremor originating from the depths of his soul! The aura emitted by the ring was ancient and profound, as if it could communicate with the laws of heaven and earth, carrying a mysterious power that transcended the mortal world, making even this seemingly powerful clone feel a sense of... apprehension born of instinct! That apprehension, like a cold venomous snake, quietly crawled into his heart.

Just as Gu You's mind was deeply drawn by the ring, experiencing this one-ten-thousandth-of-a-second delay!

"Old ghost! Get the hell... away!!!"

A roar, like the simultaneous cry of an ancient Dragon and Phoenix, carrying the fury of burning heavens, tore through the frozen space and exploded over the stone palace at the heart of the oasis! The voice was filled with endless anger and determination, as if it would shatter all the injustices of this world.

"BOOM--!!!"

The roof of the stone palace, under the impact of this terrifying power, shattered instantly as if it were made of paper! Debris flew, and dust filled the air. A figure in green robes, like a demon god tearing through hell, surged into the sky with a terrifying momentum that threatened to burn the eight wildernesses! The figure carried an unstoppable dominance, as if he would trample the very heavens and earth beneath his feet.

It was Xiao Zhan! He descended upon this chaotic battlefield like a meteor streaking across the night sky, carrying endless majesty and power.

His eyes were like scorching red-gold furnaces, burning with a tangible, intense rage that seemed ready to ignite the very heavens! His body was covered in fine, intricate phantoms of red-gold dragon scales, each scale shimmering with a mysterious and majestic luster, with green flame patterns flowing over them like mysterious runes carved onto an ancient divine beast, exuding a heart-stopping power.

At this moment, the origin power of the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art and the Green Lotus Core Flame burned and merged within him like two surging rivers, held back by nothing. The powers collided and intertwined, sparking even more terrifying energy. His aura, at the peak of a two-star Dou Zong, surged madly like a volcano about to erupt, infinitely approaching the threshold of a three-star Dou Zong, as if he would break through the shackles and step into a new realm in the next second.

Facing the threat of death brought by Gu You's Dou Saint clone, Xiao Zhan did not show the slightest cowardice or retreat, nor did he have any intention of testing the waters. He knew that in the face of such a powerful enemy, only by giving his all would there be a glimmer of hope. Thus, his first move was earth-shattering, carried out with decisive momentum.

"Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body! Green Lotus Heaven-Burning Seal!"

Xiao Zhan's hands moved like lightning, forming profound and complex seals before his chest; every movement was precise and fluid, as if practiced countless times. Within his Dantian, the origin of the Green Lotus Core Flame, previously docile, was instantly triggered, awakening like a sleeping giant and erupting with violent firepower. This fire, mixed with the supreme Yang power of the Dragon Phoenix bloodline, surged out like a tidal wave, carrying the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas.

"ROAR--!!!"

Accompanied by a majestic dragon's roar and a clear phoenix's cry, as if ancient divine beasts were howling, a massive Flame God Seal instantly condensed above Xiao Zhan's head. The seal was entirely red-gold, as if cast from the purest gold, with edges burning with deep green flames condensed to the extreme; as the flames danced, countless mysterious runes seemed to flicker. On the seal, one could clearly see the phantoms of a coiled dragon and phoenix; they were agile and imposing, complementing the slowly rotating twelve-petaled Green Lotus imprint, forming a heart-shaking scene. A terrifying power capable of incinerating all evil and purifying the heavens erupted like a scorching sun, illuminating the entire world.

The moment the seal took shape, Xiao Zhan did not hesitate. He held the heavens with both palms, as if lifting a heavy mountain, and pushed it fiercely toward the Gu You clone hovering before the rift with unstoppable determination!

"SUPPRESS--!!!"

"BOOM--!!!" This thunderous sound was like the collapse of the heavens and the falling of stars; the entire world trembled because of it.

The Flame God Seal, like a violent star that had broken free from the shackles of the universe, tore through the space that had been frozen like iron with an irresistible force. It carried the destructive momentum of burning heavens and boiling seas, wrapped in endless heat and madness, and smashed fiercely toward Gu You like a falling flaming meteor! Wherever it passed, the air was instantly ignited, turning into balls of scorching fire that emitted shrill, ear-piercing explosions, as if countless wronged souls were wailing in pain. Space was scorched by this terrifying high temperature, leaving behind twisted black trails, as if the heavens had been carved with hideous wounds. The temperature of the entire oasis soared, and heatwaves rolled in, making one feel as if they were in a massive, burning furnace, with every inch of skin feeling the suffocating heat.

"Hmph! Does the light of a firefly dare to compete with the brilliance of the moon?" Gu You's hoarse voice, like two rusted iron plates rubbing together, carried a hint of irritation at being provoked by an ant. In his eyes, this earth-shattering strike from Xiao Zhan was nothing more than a trivial struggle. Facing this terrifying blow, which was enough to severely injure or even kill an ordinary Dou Zong, his withered arm, shrouded in thick black soul mist, merely reached out casually. The movement appeared effortless, yet it contained endless majesty and power.

"HUM--!!!"

The moment that arm reached out, the space seemed like a calm lake surface struck by a giant boulder, twisting and rippling violently. Countless twisted, painful, and venomous black ghost shadows, like evil spirits breaking free from thousand-year shackles, shrieked as they lunged from the dense soul mist. Their figures were hideous and terrifying, filled with endless hatred for the world, instantly condensing into a giant ghost claw that blotted out the sky!

The ghost claw was pitch-black as ink, as if condensed from the purest evil in the world, composed of pure soul resentment and cold soul power, exuding a hair-raising aura. Its claws were curved and sharp like scythes, shimmering with cold, ghostly light and burning with miserable green soul flames; those flames, like ghost fires from hell, exuded the aura of death. In the palm of the ghost claw, a giant ghost face filled with painful, twisted expressions opened its maw and emitted a silent soul-piercing shriek, a sound that seemed to penetrate one's soul and plunge them into endless despair. A cold, desperate, soul-freezing aura instantly permeated the air, overpowering the scorching heat of the Green Lotus Heaven-Burning Seal and shrouding the entire oasis in a cold shadow of death.

Nether Ghost Claw! This was a high-level secret technique of the Soul Hall, containing the evil heritage and terrifying power accumulated by the Soul Hall over countless years!

"BOOM--!!!"

The Flame God Seal and the Nether Ghost Claw, like two stars burning with endless rage, collided violently a thousand feet above the oasis! In that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the heavens lost their color. A terrifying explosion, impossible to describe in words, erupted instantly; the light was like billions of suns blooming at once, so blinding that people could not open their eyes. A powerful shockwave spread wildly in all directions with the two as the center; wherever it passed, rocks shattered, trees turned to powder, and the entire oasis trembled incessantly under this blow.

The first thing that caught the eye was the extreme energy sphere that swallowed all light like an abyss. It was like a mysterious star falling from the depths of the universe, containing terrifying power capable of destroying the world. The scorching red-gold, the agile green flame, the evil pitch-black, the eerie miserable green... several distinct yet equally terrifying energies frantically intertwined, annihilated each other, and exploded continuously within this sphere. Every collision of energy was like a reenactment of the Big Bang, bursting forth with blinding light; the light was so intense that even the sun in the sky was eclipsed, as if in front of this sphere, the sun were nothing more than a faint candle flame.

Following this, the destructive energy shockwave struck like a surging tide. It was like billions of tangible giant waves, spreading in a ring from the center of the explosion. Wherever it passed, the air was instantly evacuated and torn apart, emitting deafening sonic booms—a sound like the funeral bell of the apocalypse, striking fear into the heart. Several giant sand dunes on the edge of the oasis below were like fragile sandcastles in the face of this terrifying power, instantly leveled, vaporized, and vanished without a trace. The defensive light screen on the periphery of the oasis flickered violently, like a warrior on the verge of death, emitting a groan of impending collapse, as if telling the world of the horror of this disaster.

Finally, the delayed, terrifying roar that seemed ready to tear the heavens and earth asunder arrived. It sounded like ten thousand thunderbolts exploding in one's ears simultaneously; the volume was so immense that everyone within the oasis suffered ruptured eardrums and bleeding from their orifices, collapsing to the ground in agony. This roar was the bellow of power, the pronouncement of destruction, causing the entire world to tremble in its wake.

At the core of the explosion, space resembled a shattered mirror, riddled with dense, pitch-black fissures. Like wounds in the universe, they revealed endless darkness and danger. The Flame God Seal and the Nether Ghost Claw clashed frantically within this chaotic space, like two peerless experts locked in a life-or-death duel. They disintegrated inch by inch, sending fragments scattering in every direction, each piece imbued with terrifying force.

The crimson-gold Dragon-Phoenix Power intertwined with the Green Lotus Core Flame like two enraged dragons, incinerating the pitch-black vengeful spirits and devouring the evil and darkness bit by bit. The sickly green soul flames and chilling soul power were not to be outdone; like cold vipers, they relentlessly eroded and froze the flames, attempting to extinguish this scorching power. Two diametrically opposed forces, both representing ultimate destruction, engaged in the most primitive and brutal slaughter within the narrow space. Every second, countless energies were annihilated, and every moment, a new crisis was born.

"Pfft!" A mouthful of blood sprayed violently from Xiao Zhan's mouth. Struck as if by lightning, his body swayed violently, like a lone tree buffeted by a gale. In an instant, his complexion turned as pale as paper, drained of all color. The terrifying soul power contained within the Nether Ghost Claw, like a surging, hidden current, bypassed the layers of the explosion's aftermath and slammed ruthlessly into his soul.

Had the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art not protected his soul like a sturdy shield, coupled with the Green Lotus Core Flame's natural suppression of yin spirits, this single violent impact would have been enough to severely damage his soul and cast him into an abyss of eternal doom. He stared fixedly at the energy storm slowly dissipating in the sky, his eyes filled with gravity, as if gazing at an ancient behemoth about to awaken from its slumber.

In contrast, the Gu You Clone's soul mist merely fluctuated slightly, like a ripple on a calm lake. A flash of undisguised surprise crossed his sickly green soul-fire eyes: "Oh? To think you could withstand this Saint's claw? Dragon-Phoenix aura? Green Lotus Core Flame? A rather interesting little bug..." His gaze swept slowly over Xiao Zhan, carrying a playful, cat-and-mouse mockery, as if savoring the prey's final struggle. However, most of his attention remained magnetically drawn to the direction of the Poison Barrier Valley, specifically the strange barrier emitting a chaotic dark-gold light. That barrier seemed to hide endless secrets, beckoning him to explore.

"However..." Gu You's voice turned abruptly cold, like the howling north wind of midwinter, carrying an unquestionable majesty, "the game ends here!"

Before the words had even faded, his withered arm, just retracted, slowly rose again. The movement appeared slow, yet it contained boundless, terrifying power. This time, he did not condense a ghost claw as before; instead, he splayed his five fingers like a giant hand blotting out the sky and pressed down into the air toward the entire oasis below, specifically the Poison Barrier Valley!

"Nether... Soul Capture!"

"Hum--!!!"

An invisible suction force, ten times more terrifying than before, descended upon the entire Snake Abyss Oasis like an awakened primordial beast! This suction did not target matter, but struck directly at the depths of the soul, as if attempting to forcibly rip the soul of every living creature from its body.

"Ah--!!"

"No--!!"

For a time, screams echoed throughout the oasis. People's souls struggled in agony under this terrifying suction, as if cast into an endless abyss.

In an instant, a series of shrill, inhuman screams pierced the oasis's tranquility like sharp blades, resounding in every corner of the land. The sound was like a wail from the depths of hell, filled with endless pain and despair.

Whether it was the ordinary Snake-People Tribe warriors, who fought to protect their home yet now trembled under this terrifying power, or the Dou King-level elders, usually so majestic, whose souls now flickered like candles in the wind; even Xiao Yan, who was imprisoned at the valley entrance and had weathered countless storms, felt his soul being gripped and ruthlessly torn by an invisible, icy giant hand. His soul origin fluctuated uncontrollably, like surging waves rolling in the depths of his spirit. Strands of soul power were forcibly pulled from his brow as if being unspooled, transforming into ribbons of light in various colors, twisted in agony. These ribbons—red as blood, carrying anger and unwillingness; blue as ice, revealing coldness and despair—converged frantically toward Gu You's outstretched palm, as if they were sacrifices ruthlessly led by fate.

The light of the Spirit Gathering Pavilion's formation flickered like a candle in the wind before instantly extinguishing. The formation, which had once shone with mysterious light, now dimmed, as if all its vitality had been drained by this terrifying power. The dense spiritual energy within the oasis was also thrown into chaos by this terrifying soul suction, like a lake swept by a gale, surging with waves and losing its former calm.

The primary target was the Poison Barrier Valley. The rampaging dark-purple Poison Source Crystal Core within Xiao Yi Xian was composed of pure energy and a will of destruction, acting like a ticking time bomb hidden with endless danger. Under the pull of this suction targeting the soul origin, it was like a lone boat cast into the center of a whirlpool, helpless.

"Hum--!!!"

The sealing runes on the surface of the crystal core shattered instantly, as if fragile glass turned to powder under the impact of a boulder. A more violent, ancient, dark-purple torrent filled with endless poisonous resentment erupted with the force of a world-destroying cataclysm, like a primordial poison dragon breaking free from its cage. The phantom of the poison python that had been striking the light screen instantly solidified a hundredfold, its size ballooning as if it had transformed from a phantom dream into a real existence. It raised its head and let out a silent roar that seemed to pierce the soul, chilling one to the bone. Its massive body twisted frantically, its dark-purple crystal scales shining with ominous light like eerie stars in the night sky. The grayish-white poison flames nearly materialized, burning fiercely and emitting a suffocating aura of death. The destructive aura it radiated instantly broke through the isolation of the dark-gold light screen, acting like a lighthouse in the darkness and drawing all of Gu You's attention, locking his gaze onto this terrifying power.

"Hm?!" Gu You's sickly green soul-fire eyes jumped suddenly, the dark light flickering like electricity with a sinister glint. For the first time, his voice carried undisguised surprise and greed, a tone like a thirsty traveler who had suddenly found a spring and a feast: "Woe Poison Body?! Origin Poison Crystal?!"

"Hahaha! Heaven helps me!" Gu You laughed aloud, the sound like the cry of an Owlman, sinister and arrogant. "Such pure, ten-thousand-year-old poisonous resentment! Such a treasure is a thousand times, ten thousand times more valuable than that Green Lotus Core Flame! This girl... this Saint must have her!"

With that, the palm he was using to perform the Soul Capture technique turned abruptly, like a meteor changing course in the galaxy. He abandoned the other struggling creatures in the oasis and concentrated the massive soul suction entirely into his five fingers. Those five fingers, like five pillars supporting the sky, radiated a bone-chilling aura, ignoring the barriers of space as if they could penetrate anything.

In an instant, those five fingers pierced through the violently vibrating dark-gold light screen. The screen rippled with terrifying waves, like a lake struck by a boulder. Then, his palm grabbed ruthlessly downward, targeting Xiao Yi Xian, who had fallen into a coma due to the complete rampage of her poison power and was entirely enveloped in dark-purple poison light. That poison light, like hellfire, radiated a destructive temptation, and Gu You's palm aimed directly at the completely out-of-control Poison Source Crystal Core within her, as if to claim the most dangerous treasure in the world.

"You dare--!!!"

At this moment, Xiao Zhan's roar sounded like the bellow of an injured dragon, shaking the heavens. Watching Gu You's ghost-like claw reach for Xiao Yi Xian, and seeing Xiao Yan's eyes splitting with rage as he struggled frantically within the light screen, his heart felt as if it were being pierced by a thousand steel needles at once.

An unprecedented fury and madness, like a burst dam, instantly shattered the levees of his reason. The Dragon-Phoenix blood boiled in his veins, as if thousands of troops were galloping and howling within him; the Green Lotus Core Flame roared in his dantian like a volcano about to erupt; the mark of the Blood Soul Guide burned in the depths of his soul, as if it were about to ignite his very spirit.

All his power, all his rage, all his will to protect, burned without reservation at this moment, like a blazing sun radiating endless light and heat.

"Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body! Burn Soul! Incinerate Blood!"

"Boom--!!!"

The crimson-gold dragon scale phantom on Xiao Zhan's body instantly transformed into a surging, burning crimson-gold flame, as if an ancient Dragon God were roaring within it. Blood mist containing pale-gold specks erupted from every pore on his body; the mist was like scattered stars, carrying the brilliance and determination of life. The blood mist and flames merged rapidly, as if the hottest and most vibrant collision in heaven and earth, instantly transforming him into a blood-flamed golden body.

This blood-flamed golden body radiated a tragic, domineering aura that seemed intent on incinerating everything in the world, using his own self as fuel to exchange for ultimate power, sweeping out like a world-ending storm with an irresistible force. In this instant, his aura frantically broke through the boundary of a three-star Dou Zong, like a meteor piercing the clouds, infinitely approaching the mysterious and powerful realm of a four-star Dou Zong.

However, this powerful force did not come without a price. The cost was the frantic burning of his lifespan and soul origin, like a candle accelerating its consumption in a gale; every burst of light meant the fading of his life.

"Old ghost! Touch my son and the one I must protect—you shall pay with your life!!!" Xiao Zhan's blood-flamed body, like a falling sun, carried the determination and tragedy of incinerating everything as he slammed into the massive soul claw reaching for the Poison Barrier Valley. He no longer had any defense, no longer had any evasion, concentrating all his power and will into his right fist, which burned with blood flames and green fire.

That right fist seemed capable of piercing heaven and earth; wherever the fist-wind pointed, space shattered inch by inch, like silk torn by a sharp blade. His target was the core of the Gu You Clone, as if he intended to use this single punch to completely annihilate that evil existence.

Gu You did not seem to expect Xiao Zhan to be so mad and determined, willing to risk his life by burning his soul and blood to destroy his own foundation. His soul claw reaching for Xiao Yi Xian faltered slightly, like a giant ship suddenly encountering a reef, its movement showing a trace of delay.

In that ten-thousandth of a second of hesitation!

Within the Poison Barrier Valley, another change occurred!

The vast majority of Gu You's terrifying Nether Soul Capture power was blocked by the dark-gold light screen, like a surging tide stopped by a sturdy dam. Yet, strands of power still penetrated through, like cold tentacles carrying endless evil and greed. It not only pulled at the Poison Source Crystal Core but also swept across the ring on Xiao Yan's left hand that was emitting dark-gold light, as if searching for a new target, adding a few more unknown dangers to the already tense situation.

"Hum--!!!"

That ring, like an ancient divine object in slumber, was suddenly stimulated by a violent, higher-order, and evil power of the same origin. In an instant, it erupted with unprecedented, brilliant light. The chaotic dark-gold light surged like a rushing tide; within this light, countless clearer, profound, and ancient runes flowed frantically, flickering on and off. They seemed like ancient characters telling unknown secrets, or mysterious incantations containing world-destroying power.

A fragment of an indescribable, vast will, like an awakened ancient god rising from slumber, erupted from the ring with the force of a world-destroying cataclysm. This will was like a master of the vast universe, carrying an supreme majesty that transcended all living things, as if all things in the world had to bow before it. It also carried a natural repulsion toward soul power, the nether, and all yin-evil things, like justice declaring an instinctive war on evil, as if absolute suppression of darkness by light!

"Crack!"

A faint, almost imperceptible sound, yet one that seemed to come from a profound shattering at the soul level, appeared exceptionally clear in this tense atmosphere.

The moment Gu You's massive soul claw reaching for Xiao Yi Xian touched that dark-gold light and the erupted ancient will fragment, it began to dissolve rapidly, like a wax statue thrown into strong acid. The "hissing" sound was incessant, as if the soul claw were wailing in agony. Its movement stiffened abruptly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, unable to advance even a fraction. The pitch-black vengeful spirits that made up the soul claw let out even shriller shrieks; the sound was like a wail from hell, as if they had encountered their true nemesis, appearing so small and fragile before this powerful will.

"What?!" The Gu You Clone was struck as if by lightning, letting out a scream of genuine, horrified loss of voice for the first time. His sickly green soul-fire eyes, like two ghost fires flickering in a gale, were now staring fixedly at the ring on Xiao Yan's hand, jumping violently as if trying to break free from their sockets. His gaze was filled with unbelievable shock and fear that reached his very bones, as if he had seen the most inconceivable, most forbidden thing in the world.

A name sealed for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, a mysterious title that existed only in the most ancient and forbidden records of the Soul Hall, now surged frantically in the heart of the Gu You Clone, filled with boundless shock and fear, almost breaking through his throat to be spoken aloud.

"Bronze... Immortal...?!"

However, before the words could finish!

"Boom--!!!"

A sound like the collapse of heaven and earth exploded suddenly. Xiao Zhan's desperate punch, burning with blood flames, green fire, and endless rage, like a world-destroying meteor screaming from the depths of the universe, carried the determination and tragedy of incinerating everything as it slammed into the core of the Gu You Clone's soul mist, which had been slightly delayed by shock. This punch, concentrating all of Xiao Zhan's power, all his rage, and all his will to protect, seemed intent on completely annihilating this evil existence from this world.