Slay the Poison Dragon, Claim the Poison Flame

Compared to Xiao Yan's understanding of Yao Wan, Old Yao undoubtedly understood her far more deeply.

A Dou Wang at sixteen—such cultivation was not even Yao Wan's most eye-catching talent.

For clans like theirs, having once produced beings who stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent had altered their bloodlines. Blood relatives could become powerhouses admired by countless people without even needing to cultivate.

But that was a blessing from the world, not personal talent.

Although those ancient clans had now become closed-minded and foolishly, shallowly treated bloodline purity as the sole measure of talent, that did not change the fact that the girl before them was a true prodigy.

Cultivation and techniques were not the only standards by which strength was measured.

Yao Wan stood quietly in the air and slowly raised a hand. Air currents gathered in her palm.

Her left hand formed a loose grip while her right hand made a sword-finger gesture.

With a flash of light, the currents within her jade-like hand slowly condensed into the shape of a sword.

"Soul Sword Transformation?"

Old Yao let out a soft cry of surprise.

"Teacher, what kind of Dou Technique is that?"

Xiao Yan sensed no fluctuation of Dou Qi, as though Yao Wan had temporarily stopped circulating the Dou Qi within her body.

"That is not a Dou Technique. It uses Soul Power as a means of attack. You can think of it as a Dou Technique on the level of the soul."

Old Yao shook his head. That girl's talent was terrifying. He truly did not know how the Yao Clan could rest easy after letting such a prodigious young woman run around outside.

"...I never expected Miss Wan's physical strength to be so formidable, yet she prefers using a sword."

Watching that mass of Soul Power take the outline of a longsword in her hand, Xiao Yan could not help sighing.

Though it was called a longsword, it was perhaps a little too long. Even by a rough visual estimate, the Sword of Soul in Miss Wan's hand was as long as the Heavy Black Ruler on Xiao Yan's back.

The might of a greatsword and the sharpness of a longsword were both displayed to the fullest in her hands.

"...No."

Yet when he heard Xiao Yan's remark, Old Yao shook his head.

"That girl is not a sword cultivator. What she cultivates is her heart, her true self. So long as she wishes it, whatever she grips in her hand can become any weapon."

Old Yao's words made Xiao Yan's heart tighten.

After all, these were things he had never encountered before. He had spent more than a year with Miss Wan and thought he had come to understand her, yet after witnessing today's battle, even the lovely figure in the sky seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

The gap in cultivation alone—a Dou Zhe and a Dou Wang—was merely the most superficial difference. Yet everything she had revealed was more frightening than the last, enough to leave even Xiao Yan deeply shaken.

Miss Wan was actually this powerful?

Though merely a Dou Wang, she had been able to overwhelm a Fire Spirit Poison Dragon capable of rivaling a Dou Emperor.

Yet very soon, Xiao Yan's image of Miss Wan, which had already been shattered and slowly rebuilt, was about to face the danger of being shattered once again.

Yao Wan held the illusory longsword, its tip aimed directly at the Fire Spirit Poison Dragon before her.

Then she released the sword and tossed it above her head.

Old Yao seemed to have guessed something, though what concerned him more was the movement of those Cloud Empire experts.

In the next instant, nine identical Soul Swords descended and circled the girl.

"Soul Sword Array!"

Yao Wan casually gripped one of the swords and swept its blade forward, striking directly at the Poison Dragon before her.

Naturally, the Fire Spirit Poison Dragon was unwilling to be slain just like that. It twisted its body and charged at Yao Wan once more.

But this time, Yao Wan gave it no chance to resist.

As the eight gray swords behind her spread out in unison, Yao Wan did not even need to make another move. With a single thought, the eight longswords shot forth like chasing stars and racing moons, hurtling toward the Poison Dragon.

Even a Fire Spirit Poison Dragon at the Dou Emperor level could no longer possibly clash head-on with Yao Wan.

The first sword pierced through the dragon's tail, brutally nailing the Poison Dragon in place and rendering it unable to move.

"ROAR!!!"

The Fire Spirit Poison Dragon flew into a rage, but it was ultimately nothing more than impotent fury. It could only watch helplessly as its body was pierced through.

Then came the second sword and the third, pinning down its limbs and claws.

The flying swords had none of the sluggishness caused by physical form that accompanied Dou Technique-created swords. In the next instant, they pierced the Poison Dragon again. Yet they did not pass through it, instead firmly nailing it in midair.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth swords struck from bottom to top, from its tail all the way to its abdomen.

The seventh sword locked onto its throat.

The eighth sword plunged into its head.

The Flying Divine Eight Swords had completely suppressed the Fire Spirit Poison Dragon, which had left them helpless only moments ago, in a single exchange. It no longer even possessed the strength to resist.

"Hmph. A beast is still just a beast."

Holding the final Soul Sword, Yao Wan flew to the Poison Dragon's chest and viciously drove the blade down.

"ROAR—!"

The Poison Dragon immediately let out an agonized howl, nearly shattering the ears of everyone nearby.

"Shameless beast."

Yao Wan pressed down on the Soul Sword, then slashed fiercely, cutting open the Poison Dragon's chest.

She then withdrew the manifestation of the Glass Body behind her and merged it into her skin. Reaching out, she pulled out the deep-purple flame hidden within.

The Fire Spirit Poison Dragon gave one final mournful cry. As that cluster of Nether Poison Flame source completely left its body, it collapsed and disintegrated.

"Friend, wait!"

She had only just obtained the Nether Poison Flame she had longed for, but before she could even warm it in her hands, an irritating voice of obstruction sounded beside her ears.

Yao Wan slowly turned around. At the same time, with a thought, the other eight Soul Swords flew back to her side.

"...They're here."

Old Yao murmured instinctively. Xiao Yan also turned toward the northern sky, where three figures stood side by side with Dou Qi Wings behind them.

One wore black robes and was a peak Dou Emperor.

One was extravagantly dressed, wearing the badge of a fifth-tier alchemist, and was a peak Dou Wang.

The last had a centipede-like scar on his face and was likewise a peak Dou Emperor.

At the sight of the three of them, Xiao Yan could not help silently tightening his grip on the stone at hand.

Two peak Dou Emperors and one peak Dou Wang... such a terrifying force was something Xiao Yan had never even dared imagine before.

And now, they stood right before him.

Standing between him and those people was that girl, whose sword array had been formed from Soul Power.

Yao Wan showed no fear. She raised the Soul Sword in her hand, its gray blade pointing directly at the three before her.

"Who are you?"

Beneath her sweet, warbling voice lay a coldness unique to her.