The Dragon Phoenix Burns the Underworld, the Poison Immortal Suppresses the Serpent Abyss

"Arrogant!" Elder Ming's roar, sounding like rolling thunder, seemed intent on tearing through the wind and sand. It exploded across the heavens and earth, laden with boundless violence and provocation.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan was enveloped in crimson-gold flames, resembling a meteor burning with the power to destroy the world. With the terrifying momentum of a collapsing void, he struck out with a "Void Breaker" punch. Facing this ferocious assault, this hulking Soul Hall fiend, built like an iron tower, showed not a hint of retreat. Instead, he stomped forward half a step, his firm stance a declaration of his fearlessness to the heavens and earth.

His cyan-gray, metallic giant hand thrust out from beneath his black robes, fingers splayed like five sharp, massive blades. In the center of his palm, a viscous, ink-black energy sphere instantly coalesced. The sphere resembled a bottomless black hole, capable of devouring all things in the world. Inside, countless twisted, agonized ghost faces wailed and struggled in silence; their shrill cries sounded like a dirge from hell, emitting a chilling, deathly stillness that froze the soul and made one's blood run cold.

"Nine Nether Death Soul Wave!" Elder Ming roared again, his voice filled with madness and resolve.

BOOM--!!!!

The crimson-gold fist print and the pitch-black Death Soul Wave collided violently at the summit of the massive wind-eroded rock pillar, like two stars burning with raging fire. In an instant, an indescribable, terrifying roar erupted like a thunderclap, as if the heavens themselves were roaring in fury.

What exploded first was not a pure energy storm, but the wailing of space itself. At the center of the collision, space was struck by a giant hammer like fragile glass, instantly collapsing and shattering inward. A terrifying spatial black hole with a diameter of over ten zhang took shape, its edges burning with dual-colored crimson-gold and pitch-black flames, resembling the boundary between heaven and hell, radiating a bone-chilling aura.

A horrific suction force surged wildly from the black hole, like an invisible giant hand wantonly tearing at everything nearby. The hard rock at the top of the pillar was as fragile as paper before this suction; it was rapidly stripped away, pulled into the black hole, and instantly ground into dust, vanishing without a trace.

The crimson-gold Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi, carrying the supreme yang power to incinerate all evil, burned like a scorching sun, wildly searing and purifying the pitch-black resentment of the Death Soul Wave. Wherever this supreme yang power passed, the cold, resentful soul energy dissipated. Yet, the cold, deathly stillness and soul-corroding power contained within the Death Soul Wave clung to the Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi like maggots on bone, frantically infiltrating and freezing it, attempting to strangle it to death.

The two diametrically opposed, extreme forces wrestled and annihilated each other at the edge of the black hole, neither willing to yield. The turbulent energy currents scattered like billions of sharp blades, wantonly slicing through the surrounding space, leaving the once-intact world shattered and fragmented, as if witnessing an apocalyptic scene.

"Hmph!" Xiao Zhan let out a muffled groan, his figure sliding back several zhang involuntarily due to the massive recoil. With every step he took, the space beneath his feet cracked like a spiderweb, as if the earth itself could not bear this terrifying power. On his fist, the crimson-gold dragon scale phantom flickered violently like a candle in the wind, sending waves of stinging pain, while the cold, deathly energy eroded him like maggots on bone, causing his brows to furrow slightly.

Elder Ming's power far exceeded that of Protector Wu. His pure physical body combined perfectly with his death soul power, erupting with a force so tyrannical and peerless that he resembled an ancient beast, carrying the momentum to destroy the world.

"Hehehe! Is that all?" Elder Ming was also forced back a step, causing a massive chunk of the rock pillar beneath him to collapse, sending stones flying and dust swirling. The violent aura in his scarlet eyes intensified, burning like two flames, as he let out a wildly arrogant, sinister laugh. "This little bit of Dragon-Phoenix Qi dares to act rampant before This Seat? Give it to me—shatter!"

Before his words faded, his cyan-gray giant hand clenched, as if grasping the entire world. The Death Soul Wave in his palm, flickering under the searing crimson-gold Dou Qi, suddenly collapsed and condensed inward, like a bomb being continuously compressed, finally transforming into a refined, slender energy spike resembling a black crystal diamond.

This spike ignored the obstruction of space, carrying an insidious, deathly stillness capable of piercing through everything. Like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky, or a silent, instantaneous teleportation, it struck fiercely at Xiao Zhan's back. Its speed was like a white horse passing a crack; its angle was so devious it was impossible to guard against, resembling a scythe swung by the Grim Reaper, carrying a fatal threat.

"Careful!" You Lao's hoarse voice rang out, carrying a trace of imperceptible gravity, like a cold breeze in the dead of night. He did not strike directly; his gaunt figure remained standing where he was, like an ancient statue. The ghostly green soul fire in his eyes locked firmly onto Xiao Zhan, and the pale green soul flame atop his Skull Bone Staff flickered silently, as if a summons from hell, seemingly brewing an even more lethal strike.

Facing this sudden, insidious backstab, golden light erupted from Xiao Zhan's eyes like a scorching sun, a radiance that seemed capable of piercing through all darkness and evil. Without hesitation, he channeled the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art to its limit, his realm instantly climbing to 60%, and massive power surged and churned within his body like a raging tide.

He did not turn to look at the fatal threat; however, the space behind him was stirred by an invisible giant hand, rippling with violent, water-like distortions. An energy shield, woven from dense crimson-gold dragon scale phantoms and the Green Lotus Core Flame, formed rapidly in an instant, acting like an indestructible shield to protect his body.

"Green Scale Fire Armor!" Xiao Zhan let out a low shout, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

Sss--!!!

The black crystal spike, like a bolt of lightning from hell, struck the Green Scale Fire Armor with endless malice and deathly stillness. Instantly, a piercing sound of dissolution rang out, like thousands of venomous snakes hissing in unison, making one's hair stand on end. The terrifying power of deathly stillness contained within the crystal surged like a mad tide, wantonly eroding the fire armor. Under its impact, the crimson-gold dragon scale phantom was pierced bit by bit; the Green Lotus flames were rapidly frozen by the cold energy, and the fire armor vibrated violently, its light dimming rapidly like a candle in the wind.

"ROAR--!" Just as the crystal was about to pierce the armor completely and take Xiao Zhan's life, the Seven-Colored Little Snake on Xiao Zhan's wrist, usually docile, suddenly let out an extremely sharp hiss. The sound seemed capable of piercing the soul, laden with boundless fury and resolve. Its tiny body erupted with dreamlike seven-colored radiance, which, like the most brilliant meteor shower in the night sky, instantly merged into the crumbling Green Scale Fire Armor.

Hum!

A crisp hum rang out, as if the fire armor were emitting a sound of rebirth after absorbing the seven-colored radiance.

On the fire armor, seven-colored light flowed wantonly like a nimble stream, brilliant and eye-catching. The parts that had been pierced and frozen by the black crystal now began to squirm like a living creature, repairing themselves at a speed visible to the naked eye. At the same time, a devouring power originating from the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python erupted like a surging tide. The deathly soul power contained within the black crystal, faced with this devouring force, was like meeting its natural nemesis; it was frantically devoured, decomposed, and dissipated into nothingness by the seven-colored radiance.

"What?!" Elder Ming's scarlet pupils contracted violently, as if he had seen the most inconceivable thing in the world. He stared in disbelief, his eyes fixed on his own strike—a sure-kill move he had been certain of—being easily neutralized by the radiance emitted by that seemingly insignificant little snake. Devouring? What kind of bizarre power was this?

"Good chance!" Cold light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, like a sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a cold and sharp aura. The momentary opening Elder Ming revealed due to his astonishment was precisely captured by Xiao Zhan's hawk-like gaze.

"Green Lotus Core Flame! Flame Dragon Bind!"

Xiao Zhan's hands formed seals with lightning speed, every movement fluid and natural, as if practiced a thousand times over. Within his Dantian, the Green Lotus, which had been as docile as if asleep, suddenly bloomed, resembling a brilliant lotus flower blossoming in the darkness. The pure, massive source power of the Green Lotus Core Flame surged out from the lotus without reservation, like a stream of scorching magma, carrying the momentum to incinerate all things.

This power instantly coalesced before him into three lifelike giant flame dragons burning with deep cyan flames. The dragons were agile, their scales shimmering with a cold, ghostly light, as if forged from the hardest steel. They bared their fangs and brandished their claws, looking ferocious, like messengers from hell.

ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!

The three cyan flame dragons roared in unison, a sound like rolling thunder echoing between heaven and earth. Ignoring the obstruction of spatial distance, they lunged at Elder Ming in a triangular formation. Their dragon maws opened wide, spewing cyan flame breath that incinerated all things; the flames were like scorching fire snakes, carrying an aura of total destruction. Their dragon claws tore through the air, emitting sharp whistles and carrying the power to bind space, striking fiercely at Elder Ming's limbs and vital points. One flame dragon even coiled directly around Elder Ming's hulking body, its cyan flames burning his protective soul power wildly, as if intent on incinerating him completely.

"Petty tricks!" Elder Ming roared like thunder, his voice shaking the heavens. His cyan-gray giant fist, carrying the terrifying power to collapse mountains and shatter rocks, struck fiercely at the coiling flame dragon. The wind of his punch whistled past, and wherever it went, space seemed to be kneaded and distorted by an invisible giant hand, as if about to collapse.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Deafening explosions rang out one after another. The flame dragon was struck by the giant fist, its body trembling violently as if suffering a heavy blow. Deep cyan flames splattered in all directions like fireworks blooming in the night sky, yet they carried the scorching heat to incinerate all things. However, the incinerating power contained within the Green Lotus Core Flame was terrifying—it was a supreme flame capable of burning away all evil in the world. The cyan-gray metallic skin covering Elder Ming's fist emitted a "tss-tss" sound under the searing of the cyan flames, like steel being roasted by fire, showing faint signs of melting.

Even more troublesome, the breath and claws of the other two flame dragons had already arrived. The terrifying cyan flames, like a surging flood, instantly engulfed him. Wherever the dragon claw imprints passed, space was easily torn, leaving behind pitch-black spatial rifts that sealed off all his possible escape routes.

"Damn this fire!" Elder Ming roared repeatedly as he was scorched by the cyan flames, his voice filled with fury and pain. His protective soul power was consumed violently under the frantic erosion of the cyan flames, like a bursting dam, impossible to resist. His massive body lunged left and right under the siege of the three flame dragons, like a beast trapped in a cage; though he struggled fiercely, he was momentarily bound tightly and unable to escape.

Just as Xiao Zhan was suppressing Elder Ming with all his might and the situation seemed to be going well, a sudden change occurred.

"Soul Shockwave!" You Lao's hoarse voice, like dry bones rubbing against each other, sounded directly in the depths of Xiao Zhan's soul like a wind from the Nine Nethers, without any warning. The voice was bone-chillingly cold, as if capable of freezing a person's soul.

HUM--!!!

A terrifying soul shockwave, invisible and intangible yet capable of freezing the soul of a Dou Zong powerhouse, struck like an invisible storm, or perhaps billions of cold soul needles. Ignoring all physical defenses, it instantly pierced through space and struck fiercely into Xiao Zhan's sea of consciousness. Wherever the shockwave passed, Xiao Zhan's soul felt as if it were being gnawed on by thousands of ants, causing unbearable pain.

You Lao had been preparing this strike for a long time, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, striking at the most critical moment. The timing was so devious, like a precise dagger, striking directly at Xiao Zhan's weakest link—the very moment his focus was slightly diverted while controlling the flame dragons with all his might.

"Urgh--!" Xiao Zhan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, his head feeling as if it had been smashed by an invisible yet immensely powerful giant hammer. A tearing pain radiated from the depths of his soul, as if thousands of steel needles were stabbing him simultaneously. His vision went pitch-black, stars danced before his eyes, and he felt as if he were in an endless dark abyss. His sea of consciousness felt as if it had been plunged into a cold, deep sea; his thoughts nearly stalled, and the Dou Qi he was circulating became chaotic due to this sudden soul impact. The three flame dragons he had been controlling so orderly instantly lost control, tumbling wildly in the air.

Opportunity!

Fierce light erupted in Elder Ming's scarlet eyes, like two burning flames, revealing boundless cruelty and greed. Taking advantage of the split second Xiao Zhan's soul was injured and the flame dragon's binding loosened, his hulking body erupted with even more terrifying power, like a volcano about to erupt, unstoppable. He forcibly broke free from the flame dragon's coils, his cyan-gray metallic giant hand whistling as it pierced the void, fingers curled like a sharp spear. Enveloped in concentrated, pitch-black death soul power that seemed capable of devouring everything, it struck like a spear of judgment from hell, carrying endless deathly aura, aiming fiercely at the heart of Xiao Zhan, who was slightly stiff from the intense pain!

"Die! You ant!" Elder Ming's ferocious roar echoed in the air, sounding like the judgment of the Grim Reaper.

The scent of blood and chaos had not yet fully dissipated, and the shaken snake-people were helping each other, cleaning up the messy battlefield. Xiao Yi Xian stood alone amidst the filth, the dark purple light around her body like a slowly flowing stream, gradually receding. Her cold purple eyes were like an ancient pool, deep and calm, reflecting the brutal battle she had just forcibly suppressed. At her fingertips, a strand of refined, gray-black soul poison thread, containing a trace of the Nether Duo's source, coiled silently, like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness.

"The source... a hundred miles to the northwest... two of them..." she whispered to herself, her voice as cold as a blade scraping across ice, laden with unquestionable firmness. Just as she was about to inform Xiao Zhan of this discovery--

HUM!!!

An invisible yet powerful fluctuation suddenly rang out, as if the gears of fate were quietly turning at this very moment.

An extremely obscure soul fluctuation, like a pebble dropped into a stagnant pool, spread suddenly from the core of the oasis—the base of the Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda. It carried a chill so profound it could freeze marrow. This fluctuation lacked the sharp edge of an attack; instead, it felt like a bizarre inducement or a frantic awakening, laced with a nauseating sense of blasphemy and madness that made one's skin crawl.

"Not good!" A cold light flashed in Xiao Yi Xian's clear, purple eyes, like a cold star streaking across the night sky. She sensed instantly that this fluctuation shared the same origin as the "Soul-Devouring Lure" that had previously triggered the berserk state in the wounded, yet it was far purer, more concealed, and unpredictable. Its target was clear: the guardians of the pagoda base!

Almost at the exact moment the fluctuation spread!

"Ah—!! Protect the base! There's a traitor!!" From the direction of the base came Yue Mei's shrill, furious scream, filled with rage and shock. This was immediately followed by a series of violent collisions of Dou Qi, exploding in the air like thunder. The angry roars of Snake-People warriors and their shrill, miserable cries intertwined, composing a chaotic and tragic symphony. A violent aura belonging to a peak Dou King, mixed with uncontrolled, icy soul power, erupted like a surging tide, wantonly battering everything in its path.

The target was none other than the vital base of the Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda!

"Luring the tiger away from the mountain?!" Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically, as if a dark cloud had obscured a clear sky. He instantly understood the sinister intentions of the Nether Duo. They had used the battle a hundred miles away to lure his father away, leaving him unable to attend to this place; then, they used the latent "Soul-Devouring Lure" to trigger a traitor among the base guardians, creating a pincer attack from within and without. Their goal was to destroy the pagoda and seize the captives—their hearts were truly wicked!

"Xiao Yi Xian! Guard the wounded! I'm heading to the base!" Xiao Yan's eyes widened in fury, his voice roaring like a great bell, as if it could shatter the chaotic battlefield. Before the words had even faded, the Heavy Xuan Ruler was already in his hand, its surface shimmering with a cold, biting light. Wind and thunder power exploded beneath his feet like blooming fireworks, carrying a violent momentum. He transformed into a dazzling bolt of lightning, charging toward the base with the speed of a gale. His father was not here; this heavy burden of guarding the base was one he had to shoulder without hesitation, for the sake of this land and the comrades fighting by his side!

Xiao Yi Xian watched Xiao Yan's resolute retreating figure, his tall frame exuding fearlessness and determination. She turned her gaze back to the Snake-People in the infirmary, who were still filled with panic and terror. Her cold face showed no hesitation, firm and icy as an icicle in midwinter. The thread of gray-black soul poison at her fingertips pulled taut, like a sword drawn from its sheath, pointing directly toward the base. Her thoughts raced like lightning; her hands rapidly formed a complex and profound seal before her chest, each movement precise and fluid, as if practiced a thousand times over.

"Woe Poison Domain: Shift Shadows!"

With her soft cry, hum—! The light within a ten-zhang radius centered on her instantly distorted, as if kneaded by an invisible giant hand. The filth and gore scattered on the ground began to stir like awakened monsters; the trace amounts of soul poison particles lingering in the air gathered like iron filings drawn to a magnet; even the gray-black aura remaining in the wounds of the injured seemed to respond to a supreme summons, beginning to writhe.

Chi chi chi—!

Countless fine, multicolored threads of poison were stripped from the ground and the air as if pulled by invisible strings, rushing toward Xiao Yi Xian like a flock of birds returning to their nest. They condensed and compressed around her, forming a massive vortex of poison gas. Her figure became blurred and illusory under the shroud of this toxic energy, as if she were standing in a dream or about to step into another mysterious world.

The next moment!

On the outer perimeter of the base, a previously sturdy defense had been blasted open, leaving a shocking gap. Beside the gap, the space rippled like a lake surface brushed by a breeze. Amidst these ripples, Xiao Yi Xian's figure emerged from thin air like a ghost stepping out of the netherworld. She was wreathed in swirling dark purple poison mist, dreamlike yet filled with endless danger. Her cold, purple eyes, like stars in a frigid night, instantly locked onto the core of this chaotic battlefield.

The scene before her was harrowing enough to make one's heart tremble!

Nearly half of the elite Snake-People warriors guarding the base had already fallen. Their corpses lay scattered in a disarray, their skin a bizarre, sickly blue-black, as if shrouded in a haze of death. Their wounds were wreathed in icy gray-black soul poison, like evil tentacles, signaling that they had been caught off guard and killed from behind by "one of their own."

The traitorous leader was none other than the chief of the Rock Snake Tribe, one of the eight great tribes of the Snake-People—Rock Specter! This powerhouse, who had reached the peak of a three-star Dou King, had completely changed. His eyes were blood-red, the whites entirely consumed by a murky green, as if possessed by a demon. Beneath his skin, twisted, writhing black veins pulsed, as if countless venomous snakes were slithering under his flesh. He radiated a violent, chaotic aura identical to the berserk state of the wounded, yet far more intense. Clearly, the "Soul-Devouring Lure" planted in him was deeper, and his power far greater; the last shred of his sanity had been consumed by a frantic desire to destroy the base.

He gripped a massive, poison-dipped bone spear, which shimmered with a cold, eerie light and emitted a nauseating stench. He swung the spear wildly; every thrust carried a piercing shriek and a foul, toxic wind, as if he intended to annihilate everything before him. He was currently locked in a fierce battle with the blood-drenched and unstable Yue Mei. Amidst the flashing blades, life and death hung by a thread.

"Rock Specter! You've lost your mind! Wake up!" Yue Mei shrieked, her voice filled with unwillingness and rage. Her emerald snake tail lashed out like a nimble whip, creating sharp gales and tracing bizarre arcs in the air. The poison-dipped snake-shaped sword in her hand shimmered with a cold light, danced into an impenetrable green barrier, desperately fending off Rock Specter's torrential attacks.

However, Rock Specter was now completely lost to madness. He was fearless of death, ignoring his own wounds and attacking with a self-destructive intensity just to inflict damage on Yue Mei. Coupled with the violent soul poison gnawing at her like maggots, Yue Mei had long since suffered multiple wounds. Her emerald scales, once as brilliant as jewels, were now shattered like leaves ravaged by a storm; blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, leaving shocking droplets on the ground. Clearly, she had fallen into a disadvantage, and the situation was precarious.

"Kill! Destroy it! Destroy this pagoda! Lord Soul Hall... grant me eternal life!" Rock Specter let out a beastly roar, the sound like a summons from hell, filled with madness and distortion. His bone spear descended with the force of a thousand Jun, like a falling meteor, smashing toward the top of Yue Mei's head. The potent poison on the spear tip, mixed with the violent soul poison, emitted a suffocating, lethal aura that seemed capable of corroding everything to nothingness.

Yue Mei's pupils constricted, her eyes filled with terror and resolve. She crossed her snake-shaped sword, attempting to block this fatal blow.

Clang—!!!

The massive sound of metal clashing exploded like thunder, accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of cracking bone, like the tolling of a death knell. Yue Mei felt as if she had been struck by a massive force; the impact traveled through the sword, shattering the webbing between her thumb and forefinger and causing blood to spray. The sword flew from her hand, tracing an arc through the air before landing far away. She was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, vomiting blood as she slammed heavily into the metal wall of the pagoda base with a dull thud, then slid to the ground, her aura instantly wilting like a withered flower.

"Elder!" The surrounding Snake-People warriors roared in agony, flames of rage burning in their eyes. They threw themselves at Rock Specter without regard for their own lives, like moths to a flame, attempting to stop him from rushing toward the Dragon Qi Vortex at the heart of the base—the source of the Snake-People's hope and future.

"Get lost! Ants!" Rock Specter sneered, the muscles on his face twisted like a demon's. He swept his bone spear, and the violent Dou Qi mixed with soul poison spread like a surging shockwave, tearing the very air as it passed.

Puff, puff, puff!

Several Dou Ling-level Snake-People warriors who had lunged forward were struck as if by a giant hammer; their bodies trembled violently before they were sent flying, vomiting blood. Their bodies were instantly eroded by the gray-black soul poison, black veins appearing on their skin as they shrieked and lost the ability to fight, collapsing to the ground, their fates unknown.

Rock Specter took a massive step forward, his mountain-like frame wreathed in an aura of destruction, as if a demon from the abyss had descended upon the world. He raised his bone spear high; at the tip, a ball of viscous, gray-black energy condensed rapidly. The energy ball radiated a heart-stopping destructive fluctuation, like a death bomb ready to detonate at any moment, aimed directly at the pulsing Dragon Qi Vortex in the center of the base. Once this terrifying energy ball struck the vortex, the Dragon Qi would inevitably fall into chaos, and the entire base would be destroyed, plunging this land into endless disaster.

"Stop—!" At this critical moment, Xiao Yan's roar exploded like a thunderclap, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly. He transformed into a bolt of lightning, moving with the speed of a flash, and arrived at the crucial moment. He swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler, carrying a piercing thunderous sound and a desperate, extreme momentum, hacking down at Rock Specter's back like a mountain-splitting axe. On the ruler's surface, the bone-chilling white Bone Chilling Flame (the mysterious power left behind before Yao Lao fell into slumber) and the golden Burning Mantra Dou Qi burned wildly, weaving a magnificent yet dangerous scene, as if to incinerate all the evil in this world.

"Little bug! You seek death!" Sensing the lethal threat from behind, a flash of ferocity crossed Rock Specter's eyes as he spun around. Facing the unstoppable, mountain-splitting strike, he did not dodge or evade. His left hand, wreathed in black mist, instantly transformed into a ghost claw dripping with dense dark energy, like a blade from hell, clawing viciously at the Heavy Xuan Ruler.

Boom—!!!

The bone claw and the Heavy Xuan Ruler collided violently, like two meteors crashing together. The violent energy exploded instantly, forming visible ripples of energy that spread in all directions. Wherever they passed, the ground cracked and stones flew.

Xiao Yan felt an irresistible force surge through the ruler, mixed with the bone-chilling erosion of the soul poison, which felt like countless icy needles drilling into his body through his arm. He groaned, the webbing of his hand instantly splitting and dripping with blood like blooming red plums. The Heavy Xuan Ruler trembled violently in his grip, nearly flying from his hand. His body was struck as if by a charging rhinoceros, sent flying uncontrollably to crash heavily onto the distant ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning pale as paper. The terrifying power of a peak three-star Dou King, combined with the amplification of the soul poison, was far beyond what he could withstand; this single blow had left him severely injured.

Although Rock Specter's left hand was scorched by the Bone Chilling Flame, emitting wisps of blue smoke, he merely swayed slightly. The fierce light in his scarlet eyes grew even more intense, like a burning flame. No longer regarding Xiao Yan as a threat, he sneered and raised his bone spear high once more. By now, the gray-black energy ball had expanded to its limit, like an evil star about to burst, carrying an aura of total destruction as it thrust toward the Dragon Qi Vortex just inches away. Once it struck, the base that carried the hope of the Snake-People would be reduced to ruins.

"The base... is finished!" Yue Mei struggled to prop herself up, her emerald eyes filled with despair, as if she were witnessing the apocalypse of a collapsing world.

At this critical, life-or-death moment!

"Poison Erosion... Myriad Laws."

A cold, calm voice, like ice beads falling into a jade plate—crisp yet carrying the chill of a death sentence—sounded quietly just inches behind Rock Specter.

Rock Specter's mountain-like frame stiffened, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped his heart. A boundless fear, born from the instinct of life, instantly enveloped him, making his blood feel as if it had frozen. He turned his head in horror, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

He saw that Xiao Yi Xian had appeared behind him like a ghost, silent and soundless. She was wreathed in swirling dark purple poison mist, like a mysterious veil that made her appear even more inscrutable. Her deep, purple eyes were calm and waveless, like a cold pool in an ancient well, or as if she were indifferently observing a lifeless object. Her slender, fair right index finger was extended gently, the tip wreathed in a thread of poison mist condensed to the extreme, shimmering with a deep, dark gold luster. This thread was silent, devoid of any aura, as if it had merged with space itself, pointing with absolute precision toward the junction of Rock Specter's neck and spine.

Fast! It was too fast to describe in words, as if it had transcended the limits of time and space, making it impossible to track its trajectory.

Rock Specter had no time to react; he could not even trigger his protective violent soul poison. He was like a fortress breached in an instant, utterly defenseless.

Chi.

A faint sound, like a sewing needle piercing thin silk.

The dark gold poison thread entered the gap between the scales on Rock Specter's neck without resistance, like a venomous snake entering its nest.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, and the entire world fell silent, leaving only the shock and terror brought by this fatal blow.

Rock Specter held his bone spear high, the destructive energy ball at its tip shimmering with dangerous light, as if it would swallow the world in the next second. Yet, at this very instant, his movements froze, as if struck by a binding spell. The ferocious, twisted expression on his face instantly solidified, like a frozen painting of horror. In his red, chaotic eyes, the murky green faded rapidly like a receding tide, replaced by boundless fear—a fear like the cold wind of the abyss, making his soul tremble—and an unbelievable confusion, as if he had just awakened from a terrible nightmare only to find himself in an even more terrifying reality.

Immediately after!

Hum—!!!

A sharp, long-drawn-out buzzing sound rang out, as if a summons from another dimension. Centered on the point where the poison thread had pierced his nape, countless fine, dark-gold-lustered purple veins spread across his entire body at a speed visible to the naked eye, like vines growing in a frenzy. Wherever these veins passed—be it tough skin, dense muscle, hard bone, or intricate meridians—it was as if they were being forcibly controlled by an invisible yet immensely powerful hand. Governed by a higher-level rule, they began to decompose and annihilate, like a silent yet heart-stopping feast of destruction.

No screams, no explosions.

Rock Specter's once mountain-like, burly frame began to collapse and disintegrate silently from the inside out, like a sand sculpture weathered by billions of years of erosion. Hard scales turned to fly ash one by one, like drifting snowflakes; knotted muscles turned to dust, piece by piece, dissipating into the air; thick bones crumbled into powder, one by one, as if they had never existed. Even the poisoned bone staff in his hand and the condensed gray-black energy sphere could not escape this fate of destruction, turning together into fine, dark purple dust devoid of any energy fluctuations, like ruins forgotten by time.

A gentle breeze brushed past, and the fine dust drifted away with the wind, gradually disappearing into the air like a dreamlike bubble. In its place remained only a faint, human-shaped outline traced by the dark purple dust, the final trace of Rock Specter's existence. There was also a lingering, heart-palpitating remnant of destruction in the air, as if telling the tale of the heart-stopping annihilation that had just occurred.

A peak three-star Dou King, Rock Specter, who had gone into a soul-poison frenzy, had been utterly obliterated—body and soul—by that seemingly casual finger of Xiao Yi Xian, turning to ash as if he had never appeared in this world.

Dead silence!

Absolute silence enveloped the chaotic battlefield at the tower base, as if time itself had ceased to flow at this moment. All sounds vanished, leaving only a suffocating silence and the boundless shock and fear in people's hearts.

All surviving Snake-people warriors, including Yue Mei who was struggling to sit up, stood as if struck by a paralysis spell, staring dumbfounded at the dark purple dust drifting in the wind and at Xiao Yi Xian, who stood at the center of the dust with deep, cold, purple eyes. Their faces were etched with shock, a shock that surged over them like a tidal wave; fear followed like a shadow, coiling tightly around their hearts like a cold snake; and there was a trace of dazed relief, as if they had just woken from a terrifying nightmare and were still unsure of where they were.

The extremity of poison, to be so terrifying! This level of power simply exceeded their imagination, like a divine punishment from mythology descending upon the mortal realm.

"Hiss..." In the distance, Xiao Yan, who was struggling to climb up while clutching his chest, which burned with intense pain, couldn't help but gasp at the shocking scene before him. The cold air rushed down his throat into his lungs, making his entire body shiver. His eyes were filled with extreme shock, as if he had seen the most incredible thing in the world. He had known that Xiao Yi Xian would become very strong after mastering the Woe Poison Body, but he never expected her to be this unfathomably powerful! A single finger to kill a peak Dou King in a frenzy?! This level of strength simply overturned his understanding.

Xiao Yi Xian slowly retracted her slender, fair finger, and the dark purple poison mist that had been swirling around her retracted quietly like obedient elves, vanishing from sight. She didn't even glance at the drifting dust, as if it were a trivial matter. Her cold, purple eyes, bright as the most brilliant stars in the night sky, turned toward the pulsing Dragon Qi Vortex at the center of the tower base. From her fingertip, a wisp of gentle, vibrant emerald-green poison mist (which she had converted from a portion of the soul poison using the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture) emerged like a nimble snake, lightly merging into the Dragon Qi, which had become slightly chaotic due to the previous fierce battle. The poison mist acted like a highly skilled physician, helping to comb and stabilize the Dragon Qi, causing the originally violent aura to gradually become peaceful.

The crisis was thus resolved.

However, just as everyone was catching their breath, a bone-chilling murderous intent suddenly erupted from the other side of the battlefield.

"Die! Ant!" Elder Ming's Death Soul Spear, which had pierced through the void, carried a soul-freezing, sinister deadliness. Like a reaper's scythe from hell, it had already reached within three feet of Xiao Zhan's back! The tip of the spear flickered with a ghostly, cold light, as if it were a summons from death. The shadow of death instantly enveloped Xiao Zhan, leaving him as if trapped in an endless, dark abyss, unable to escape.

Xiao Zhan, whose soul had been heavily damaged by You Lao's Soul Shockwave, felt his thoughts trapped in a quagmire, each movement agonizingly difficult. His body was as stiff as a rock; he could only watch helplessly as the lethal spear tip approached, unable to offer any resistance, waiting quietly for death to arrive.

Yet, at this one-in-ten-thousandth of a second, at the most critical juncture of life and death!

"ROAR--!!!"

A majestic, unyielding dragon roar, as if surging from the deepest depths of his bloodline, exploded like a thunderclap from the depths of Xiao Zhan's soul! The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Imprint, which had endured the agony of nirvana, completed a magnificent transformation, and struggled under the extreme pressure of the Nirvana Extinction Residual Poison, suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliance under the intense stimulation of death, like a scorching sun rising in the darkness, illuminating his entire soul world.

[Dragon-Phoenix Will (Primary) triggered! Immune to 70% of the damage from this Soul Shockwave! Soul resistance significantly increased!]

The system's prompt exploded in Xiao Zhan's chaotic consciousness like a thunderbolt tearing through the night sky. His consciousness, which had been nearly stagnant and falling into the abyss, was instantly injected with a powerful stimulant, violently breaking free from the quagmire of his soul. The sharp pain remained, like countless steel needles pricking the depths of his soul, but his thinking had regained clarity, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, and he regained control of his body.

The situation was dire; there was no time to dodge! In fact, there was no need to dodge!

"Dragon-Phoenix Tyrant Body! Reverse Scale Counter!" A beast-like low growl escaped Xiao Zhan's throat, a sound deep and filled with power, like a war song from an ancient battlefield. The fighting will born from his bloodline instincts was like a towering mountain, crushing all fear and hesitation. He forcibly twisted his body with a powerful, vigorous motion, turning his back—the original target—to expose his relatively tougher left shoulder. At the same time, the phantoms of all the crimson-gold dragon scales on his skin instantly stood on end, like a group of angry warriors raising their blades, or an enraged dragon bristling its scales, emitting a bone-chilling aura. The edges of every upturned dragon scale burned with condensed Green Lotus Core Flame, the flames dancing like elves, carrying scorching heat and destructive power.

This was not mere defense, but the most tragic and resolute counterattack! It was a tactic of trading injury for injury, a mutual destruction!

Puchi--!!!

The pitch-black, cold Death Soul Spear, carrying endless deadliness and sinister poison, struck Xiao Zhan's left shoulder like a blade from hell. The terrifying power of death contained in the spear tip exploded instantly, crazily eroding his flesh and freezing his meridians like a surging tide. His left shoulder instantly went numb and turned black-blue, as if covered by a layer of cold frost, and the breath of life seemed to be frozen at this moment.

"Urgh!" Xiao Zhan let out a heart-wrenching roar, a sound like a lament from the depths of his soul. Pale gold blood mixed with black-blue ice shards sprayed out like arrows, drawing beautiful, tragic arcs in the air, as if life were blooming in its final, desperate splendor.

But almost at the same instant!

The edges of his upturned, scorching crimson-gold dragon scales, like countless sharp, gleaming reverse blades, swept across Elder Ming's blue-gray metallic giant hand with unyielding resolution and sharpness. That hand, originally as hard as rock and emitting a chilling metallic luster, now became the prey of these reverse blades.

Chi chi chi--!!!

A harsh, dense sound of metal scraping erupted, like countless blades rubbing against an iron plate, accompanied by the "hissing" of the green flames burning, sounding like a fierce symphony of metal and fire. Elder Ming's prideful blue-gray metallic skin, capable of withstanding high-grade Xuan-tier weapons, was sliced through as easily as a hot knife through butter under the dual assault of the Dragon-Phoenix Origin power and the all-consuming Green Lotus Core Flame. Large chunks of "metallic" flesh were scraped off, falling away to reveal the dark red, lava-like muscle tissue beneath, which continued to twitch as if speaking of endless agony.

"AH--!!" This time, it was Elder Ming's turn to let out a shrill, miserable howl, a sound like the cry of an owl that pierced straight into the soul. The deep, soul-searing pain and the burning of his origin flooded him like a tidal wave, far exceeding his expectations and plunging him into extreme agony.

"Get lost!" Xiao Zhan roared, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Enduring the piercing pain in his left shoulder and the erosion of the death power—which felt like countless steel needles stabbing his body—he gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with unyielding fighting spirit. His right fist, burning with Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi, struck like a flaming meteor at the moment Elder Ming was distracted by pain, carrying the momentum to collapse everything, slamming into the opponent's chest, which was left wide open due to the injury to his giant hand.

"Dragon-Phoenix Tyrant Body! Mountain Collapse!"

With this roar, it was as if an invisible mountain had suddenly collapsed.

BOOM--!!!

Like a meteorite striking the earth, the terrifying impact caused the entire space to tremble. Elder Ming's tower-like, burly frame was hit by an invisible giant hammer, arching backward like a fully drawn bow. The black robe on his chest instantly turned to fly ash, dissipating into the air as if it had never existed. The blue-gray metallic chest armor (in reality, his skin) deeply indented and cracked under the crimson-gold fist imprint, the cracks spreading like a spiderweb, a cruel mark left by time. The terrifying force penetrated his body, and his internal organs let out a groan of unbearable agony, like a group of wild beasts trapped in a cage, struggling in pain.

"Pfft--!"

Elder Ming suddenly spat out a large mouthful of dark red blood, thick as ink and emitting a pungent, fishy stench and dense black energy. The blood seemed like poison from hell, carrying endless evil and filth. His entire body was sent flying backward with unstoppable force, like a cannonball struck by immense power. Along the way, he smashed through several massive, wind-eroded rock pillars that had stood for a thousand years; the pillars shattered with a deafening roar, like the bellowing of ancient beasts. Finally, Elder Ming slammed into a distant sand dune like a broken sack, kicking up a sky full of yellow sand that shimmered with golden light under the sun, yet could not hide the murderous and tragic atmosphere of the scene. His aura withered instantly, like a flower about to wither, losing all vitality.

In the blink of an eye, the outcome of this fierce confrontation was decided! Xiao Zhan, with fearless courage and tenacious will, had successfully severely wounded Elder Ming, leaving this arrogant powerhouse in a critical state.

"Trash!" You Lao's hoarse voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of flustered rage, as if he were a powder keg that had been ignited. He clearly had not expected that Xiao Zhan, even with a damaged soul and in a desperate situation, could erupt with such a tragic and resolute counterattack; it completely exceeded his expectations. He saw the pale green soul flame at the tip of the skull bone staff in his hand flare up, burning like ghost fire and emitting a strange, terrifying aura.

"Ten Thousand Soul Heart-Devouring Curse!"

With a sharp shout from You Lao, he pointed the bone staff at Xiao Zhan from afar. In an instant, countless distorted, painful, and silently screaming wraith phantoms surged out from the skull's mouth at the tip of the staff like a breached black flood. These wraiths took various forms—some with hideous faces, others with missing limbs—carrying endless resentment, pain, and despair, as if they were evil ghosts crawling out from the abyss of hell. They did not attack with physical bodies, but pierced directly through space, ignoring the limits of distance, and instantly pounced toward Xiao Zhan's soul consciousness sea like ghosts, attempting to tear apart and devour his soul, plunging him into an irreversible doom.

This was You Lao's true killing move, a soul-targeted assassination, an attack that would make any powerhouse tremble with fear!

However, facing this unavoidable and menacing soul flood, Xiao Zhan's blood-stained face showed not a trace of fear, but a cold, mocking sneer, sharp and ruthless like an ice blade in midwinter. Between his brows, the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Imprint shone brilliantly, the dazzling light like a sun illuminating his entire soul world. His soul, having just triggered the "Dragon-Phoenix Will," was now plated with a layer of crimson-gold, immortal divine radiance—sacred and solemn, as if blessed by the heavens—giving Xiao Zhan a sense of confidence and composure in this soul battle.

"A petty trick, and you dare to show off?" Xiao Zhan's voice was low and majestic, as if a supreme power were surging from the depths of his bloodline, every word carrying unquestionable dominance. "Dragon-Phoenix Will! Soul Suppression!"

HUM--!!!

In an instant, a dragon-phoenix pressure, grand as divine might, erupted. It seemed to come from the ancient primordial era, carrying the vastness and sanctity of the world's creation. Mixed with the nascent, mysterious power that possessed absolute resistance to mental shocks and soul erosion, it exploded from between Xiao Zhan's brows like a scorching sun. An invisible force field instantly spread outward from him, covering every inch of space around him, as if he were the king who ruled everything in this area.

The flood of wraiths, which had been surging forward with endless resentment and malice, touched the crimson-gold force field and instantly dissolved like snow meeting a scorching sun; it was like filth meeting holy light, being thoroughly purified.

"AH--!!!" Countless wraiths let out soul-piercing screams, a sound like a lament from hell that made one's hair stand on end. They twisted and struggled in pain, the resentful black energy forming their soul bodies being rapidly purified and evaporated like morning mist under the scorching sun. Those wraiths at the forefront didn't even have time to scream before they were suppressed by the grand Dragon-Phoenix Will, vanishing into thin air like bubbles, leaving no trace behind.

The Ten Thousand Soul Heart-Devouring Curse, the soul-killing spell You Lao had considered his trump card, was forcibly suppressed and purified, as if it had never existed at all.

"Impossible!!" The ghostly green soul-fire beneath You Lao's hood flickered frantically, like a candle in the wind, as he let out a shriek of disbelief. His voice was saturated with shock and terror, as if he had witnessed the most inconceivable event in the world. His ultimate soul-curse had been neutralized by his opponent with such ease that it completely defied his understanding.

In the very instant that You Lao's mind was shaken and he lost his focus!

Xiao Zhan moved!

He ignored the horrific wound on his left shoulder, from which dark-green blood continued to flow like a hideous, gaping mouth, yet he seemed entirely unaware of it. His figure vanished from his original spot as if teleporting, leaving behind only a faint afterimage. When he reappeared, he was already hovering above You Lao's head, descending like a divine warrior with an unstoppable momentum.

"Old ghost! Take this fire of mine!" Xiao Zhan's voice boomed like a thunderclap right beside You Lao's ear.

Xiao Zhan slammed his palms together, his movements crisp and decisive, seemingly imbued with endless resolve and power. Within his Dantian, the long-dormant source of the Green Lotus Core Flame boiled over, like a caged beast finally breaking its shackles. Endless deep-cyan flames, fused with the newly awakened Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi, erupted from his body like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years, surging forth with a world-destroying aura. These flames were not chaotic; instead, they frantically condensed, compressed, and swirled before him, resembling a mysterious and spectacular dance of fire.

A deep-cyan fire lotus, only the size of a palm yet condensed to the point of appearing solid, hovered silently in Xiao Zhan's palm. The lotus was crystal clear, as if meticulously carved from the purest green jade in the world, with every petal flowing with a destructive halo capable of incinerating all things, appearing like a mark of death from the underworld. At the heart of the lotus, a hint of deep purple flickered in and out of existence, like the most mysterious star in the night sky, radiating an eerie and powerful aura. A terrifying high temperature and destructive fluctuation, capable of boiling seas and causing even peak Dou Zong experts to pale, descended abruptly, as if the entire world were trembling under this power.

Buddha Fury Fire Lotus? No! This was no ordinary Buddha Fury Fire Lotus. This was the Dragon-Phoenix Green Lotus Flame, formed by fusing the source of the Green Lotus Core Flame and Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi under the exquisite guidance of the Flame Emperor Art's fire-control mysteries! It condensed all of Xiao Zhan's power and will, serving as the fatal blow in this life-or-death struggle.

"Go!"

Cold light erupted from Xiao Zhan's eyes, his gaze like two sharp blades of ice, piercing directly into You Lao below, who was still reeling from the breaking of his soul-curse. He flicked his finger, a movement that was light yet contained infinite power.

Whoosh—!

The exquisite deep-cyan fire lotus, containing the power to destroy the world, bypassed the constraints of space as if teleporting and appeared instantly above You Lao's head. Then, the lotus petals slowly bloomed like an elegant dancer stretching her limbs, yet the process of that blooming was filled with the threat of death.

There was no earth-shattering explosion; it was as if everything were happening in silence.

There was only a sea of deep, cyan-green fire that swallowed all light, blooming like a flower of death, carrying endless destruction and despair as it instantly engulfed You Lao and the vast area of rock pillars beneath his feet. Wherever the sea of fire passed, the rock pillars turned to ash and space twisted and deformed, as if the entire world were about to vanish into nothingness under this terrifying power.

"No—!!!" You Lao's short, desperate wail cut through the silent battlefield like a sharp blade, filled with endless terror and unwillingness. But before he could make another sound, he was completely swallowed by the cyan-green sea of fire that incinerated all things. The pitch-black soul mist protecting his body dissolved instantly like thin, brittle paper in the face of this terrifying inferno; the sickly green soul-flame atop his Skull Bone Staff flickered out like a candle in the wind, leaving behind only a wisp of faint smoke. His withered, hunched figure twisted and struggled frantically within the sea of fire, like a trapped beast in a cage, yet he could not escape the judgment of fate and quickly turned into flying ash, dissipating into the air.

The sea of green lotus fire, like an elegant yet cold dancer, slowly retracted its steps until it finally vanished into nothingness. All that remained in its place was a massive crater dozens of feet deep. The edges of the crater were smooth as a mirror, as if carved by the most precise instruments of nature, and were covered in a layer of glass-like crystals that shimmered with a strange light under the sun. At the very center of the crater floor, a tiny, weak speck of sickly green soul-fire flickered feebly like a dying candle before extinguishing completely, as if the last trace of You Lao's existence in this world had vanished.

You Lao of the Soul Hall's Nether Duo had fallen! Body and soul destroyed; from this day forth, he was no more!

In the distant sand dunes, Elder Ming, who had just struggled to his feet with his aura as withered as a candle in the wind, witnessed the tragic scene of You Lao being instantly incinerated by that terrifying fire lotus. For the first time, boundless terror appeared in his crimson eyes, as if he had seen his own impending fate. He dared not linger for a second longer, nor did he dare utter a single threat. He spat out a mouthful of pure soul-blood, and the blood mist, as if possessing a life of its own, rapidly merged into the black mist surrounding his body.

"Blood Soul Escape!"

Elder Ming roared, his figure instantly transforming into a streak of blood-red light moving at extreme speed. Like a meteor streaking across the night sky, he ignored the obstacles of space and fled desperately in the direction opposite the oasis. His speed was so great that he vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only the vast yellow sands and a battered, wretched back, as if testifying to the cruelty and ruthlessness of this battle.

The wind and sand wailed like a mournful dirge as they blew across the chaotic battlefield. Broken rock pillars lay scattered on the ground like defeated soldiers; the massive glass-like crater was a shocking scar upon the earth; the lingering scent of destruction and the foul stench of soul-poison intertwined in the air, silently recounting the tragedy and heroism of this battle between Dou Zongs.

Xiao Zhan hovered in the air, the wound on his left shoulder still hideous and terrifying. The dark-black power of death and the pale-gold Dragon-Phoenix Power intertwined and clashed at the wound, as if two forces were engaged in a silent struggle. His aura was somewhat chaotic from the continuous outbursts, and his face was pale as paper, but his deep eyes were like burning stars, scanning the direction of Elder Ming's escape with sharp, icy intensity, as if to carve that fleeing figure into his memory. Finally, his gaze fell toward the distant oasis, where his next objective seemed to lie.

"Oasis..." he murmured softly. His figure flickered, as if merging into the ripples of space, and he vanished from his spot, teleporting toward the oasis and leaving behind only a faint afterimage that gradually dissipated into the air.