Tower Break

The interior of the pagoda was tranquil, save for energy flowing through the space like a babbling brook, accompanied by a faint, lingering hum. The four individuals were each immersed in a profound state of cultivation and recovery, utilizing the power of heaven and earth gathered by the Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda to slowly mend the wounds sustained in the battle at the Desert of Buried Immortals, silently accumulating even greater strength like four seeds quietly taking root and sprouting in fertile soil.

Deep within the Soul Hall, the Nine Nether Underworld Hall was eerie and terrifying.

Dark soul power, viscous as ink, surged slowly through the vast and deathly silent hall like an eternal, unceasing tide. Countless twisted, suffering soul shadows wailed silently in the darkness, weaving a tapestry of eternal despair that chilled the heart.

Upon the throne of bones, the figure of Hun Mietian, shrouded in a black robe that devoured light, sat motionless like an unshakable monument of darkness. In the center of his black-hole-like "face," two points of blood-red light rotated slowly, like demonic eyes peering into the world from the abyss, coldly watching Gu You Saint, who knelt on one knee below, his soul body illusory and a hideous seven-colored crack lingering on his chest.

"...That Xiao Zhan broke through to the Dou Zong realm in the heat of battle, invoking the Dragon-Phoenix bloodline holy seal; the power he unleashed was enough to injure this Seat's true form... The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python has completed its evolution, its bloodline pressure reaching the Supreme realm, and it annihilated this Seat's Nirvana Soul Finger with a mere flick... And those two brats, Xiao Yan possesses the Immortal Palace ring and has fused the Chaos Demon Flame, his potential is boundless... That Woe Poison Body actually fused the Immortal Palace Core Mark into the origin of her Poison Pill, truly terrifying..."

Gu You's voice carried an unconcealable weakness and lingering fear as he reported the details of the battle at the Desert of Buried Immortals in fragments. With every sentence, a wisp of origin soul power leaked from the seven-colored crack in his chest, bringing a continuous, bone-piercing pain that caused him to knit his brows tightly.

"The Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda... has already formed its momentum; the Snake Abyss Oasis... is now a dragon's den and tiger's lair, difficult to set foot in..." Gu You concluded, his voice filled with unwillingness and deep-seated resentment, as if he wished to pour out this endless hatred.

Hun Mietian listened quietly, his black-hole-like face devoid of any fluctuation, like a pool of stagnant water. Only those two points of crimson light flickered slightly, like pebbles cast into a still pond, sending out a ripple that was extremely faint yet clearly perceptible.

"Dragon-Phoenix... Heavenly Snake Supreme... Chaos Fire... Immortal Palace Core Mark..." A hoarse, dry voice sounded slowly, as if billions of souls were grinding and roaring simultaneously, carrying a cold indifference that could freeze the soul. "It is becoming... more and more interesting. This play is growing increasingly magnificent."

He slowly raised his right hand, a palm condensed from pure, viscous dark soul power, radiating a heart-stopping aura. He pointed into the air toward the kneeling Gu You, as if writing the runes of fate.

Hum!

A point of pitch-black light, condensed to the extreme and radiating the pure fluctuations of the "Nirvana" law, silently submerged into the hideous seven-colored crack on Gu You's chest, as if darkness were swallowing light.

"Urgh--!" Gu You let out a muffled groan, his soul body trembling violently as if enduring endless agony. Yet, under the injection of this Nirvana light, the seven-colored crack that had been continuously eroding his origin hissed like metal dropped into strong acid, and was forcibly suppressed and frozen! Although it failed to eradicate the fatal wound, it temporarily blocked the loss of his origin, winning him a moment of respite.

"Thank... you, Hall Master!" Gu You's voice trembled with the relief of one who had survived a brush with death.

"Xiao Zhan... Queen Medusa... have become a major threat to this Seat and must be eliminated." Hun Mietian's voice betrayed no emotion, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "The Northwest Region... it is time to move. It is time for this storm to sweep across the entire continent."

His black-hole-like face turned slightly toward the void, those two crimson lights seemingly piercing through the barriers of endless planes, peering into the distant future and signaling the coming of a storm.

"Pass down the order:"

"Command the 'Soul Puppets' lurking in the Jia Ma Empire to immediately initiate the 'Dark Erosion' plan. Targets: Misty Cloud Sect, Jia Ma Imperial Family, Alchemist Guild... and all top factions in the Northwest Region! Force them to create chaos and incite endless disputes to weaken the overall strength of the human race! In particular, focus on investigating the forbidden area behind the Misty Cloud Sect; there may be unknown secrets hidden there!"

"Awaken the sleeping 'Blood River Venerable' and order him to head to the Black-Corner Region immediately. Tell Han Feng... the debt of the 'Zong-Breaking Pill' he owes is now due for interest. The primary target is the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy! That 'Fallen Heart Flame'... it is time to retrieve it for our Soul Hall."

"As for that Snake-People Oasis..." Hun Mietian's voice paused slightly, as if weighing the pros and cons, filled with cold calculation and profound strategy. "Temporarily seal all related information. The Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda has already been forged; the cost of a frontal assault would be too heavy. It would be better to spread the word... say that a 'Dou Sheng Ruins' is about to appear deep in the Tager Desert... and lure those greedy hyenas to scout the path for us, to see what mysteries are hidden within those ruins."

This cold command rippled through the void like an invisible wave, piercing through layers of obstacles and traveling toward that unknown and distant place.

Gu You Saint bowed his head to receive the order, his illusory soul shadow slowly retreating into the darkness, as if merging with the endless night.

Hun Mietian withdrew his gaze, his black-hole-like face returning to silence, like a deathly abyss. Only those two points of crimson light, like demonic eyes that would never be extinguished, flickered with calculation and cruelty in the eternal darkness, as if peering into the fate of the entire world.

"Bronze Immortal Palace... fragments..." he murmured to himself, his voice filled with an indescribable greed and longing. "Will eventually... fall into the hands of our Soul Hall, becoming the weapon with which we dominate the world!"

The crimson light flickered slightly, as if reflecting the bloodbath about to be unleashed in the Northwest Region, along with the endless conspiracies and schemes hidden behind it.

Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda, Ninth Floor.

Time passed silently amidst the gentle nourishment of pure energy. The four people in the pagoda saw their auras climbing steadily and becoming increasingly stable, like four seeds taking root and growing sturdily in this fertile soil.

Suddenly!

Hum--!!!

Queen Medusa, sitting cross-legged on the seven-colored lotus platform, saw the seven-colored glow circulating around her body flare up violently, like the rising sun, brilliant and vast! A more immense and pure primordial pressure spread out uncontrollably, shaking the entire space! Her purple-gold eyes snapped open, seven-colored divine light flowing endlessly in the depths of her pupils, as if countless stars were being born and dying within them, dazzling to behold!

At almost the same moment!

Xiao Zhan also awoke leisurely from his deep meditation, a flash of gold passing through his deep eyes like lightning cutting through the night sky! The Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi surging within him had completely calmed, his aura as steady as a mountain. Although he had not fully recovered to the Dou Zong realm, his peak Dou Zong strength was now completely solidified, even more thick and pure than before, as unshakable as a mountain! The fatigue between his brows had been swept away, replaced by an introverted yet sharp edge that made one dare not look directly at him.

Their gazes met in the air, as if sparks were flying.

The seven-colored divine light in Queen Medusa's eyes slowly receded, returning to a deep purple-gold, carrying a hint of investigation and scrutiny. Xiao Zhan nodded slightly to indicate he was fine, his eyes revealing firmness and composure.

"Father! How do you feel?" Xiao Yan also ended his meditation, asking joyfully upon sensing the change in his father's aura. The Chaos Fire Seed in his palm was more condensed, faintly radiating a heart-stopping fluctuation, as if it contained endless power.

The dark purple halo surrounding Xiao Yi Xian also slowly retracted, her purple-gold eyes gaining a composure and confidence in controlling all poisons. Clearly, she had gained much during this period, like a poisonous flower blooming in the dark night, beautiful and dangerous.

"I am fine." Xiao Zhan stood up; though his green robe was old, it could not hide his poised and mountain-like demeanor. He swept his gaze over everyone in the pagoda, finally landing on Queen Medusa, and said in a deep voice: "The oasis has become a target for all, like a pearl exposed to a pack of wolves. The Soul Hall will never let this go, and other factions in the Northwest Region will likely move at the first sign of trouble. We must make full preparations to deal with the coming storm."

Queen Medusa stood gracefully on the lotus platform, her seven-colored palace dress fluttering in the wind, possessing an ethereal charm. Her purple-gold eyes flowed with a cold and sharp luster, her voice as clear as a spring, majestic and unquestionable: "If the soldiers come, we block; if the water comes, we earth-cover. With this pagoda, with this Empress presiding, and with..." Her gaze lingered on Xiao Zhan for a moment before moving away, continuing, "...with everyone standing together, why fear those petty villains?"

Having said this, she raised her jade hand slightly and pressed it lightly against the pagoda wall, as elegant and composed as a fairy playing a zither.

Hum--!

Inside the pagoda, countless dragon-shaped reliefs and phoenix totems instantly erupted with brilliant light, as if the sleeping giants had been awakened, letting out earth-shaking roars! The majestic Earth Vein Dragon Qi surged like a dragon emerging from the sea, unstoppable! A massive, earth-yellow light projection condensed from pure dragon qi was instantly cast into the pagoda space, clearly presenting the scene outside the oasis!

On the light screen, the scene outside the oasis was clearly visible. Beyond that solid barrier of dragon qi, on the distant horizon, several groups of powerful figures had already quietly gathered. There were experts from the Misty Cloud Sect riding the wind and standing in the air, their momentum like a rainbow; there were Jia Ma Imperial Family guards in bright armor waiting in formation on giant flying magical beasts, looking majestic; and there were even more lone wolves or small groups with sinister auras and varied attire lurking in the shadows, their greedy and wary eyes focused on the center of the oasis, on the towering Ten Thousand Dragon-Phoenix Pagoda!

The storm was coming, and the black clouds were pressing down on the city! The brief peace of the oasis had been quietly broken, and a storm was about to sweep in!

A cold light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes as he stood with his hands behind his back, his Dragon-Phoenix Dou Qi flowing slowly within him like a clear mountain spring, quiet and profound. He said coldly: "It seems... some people can no longer suppress the greed and ambition in their hearts and wish to lay their hands on this oasis."