Rise Again

Rise Again

When You Li brought Cloud Empire's two top experts to claim the flame, he sensed a Soul Power fluctuation stronger than any he had ever felt before, so powerful it seemed almost tangible.

You Li's heart jolted. Not good. Another alchemist has set their sights on the Poison Flame!

He immediately sped up alongside the two experts and rushed toward the area.

Yet the moment they arrived, they saw a five-star Dou Wang who had already slain the Fire Spirit Poison Dragon and extracted the source of the Nether Poison Flame.

Seeing that the Poison Flame was practically about to grow wings and fly away, You Li could only call out in haste to stop the graceful figure who had slain the Fire Spirit Poison Dragon.

The person wore a Bamboo Hat draped with black gauze, concealing her face. Dressed in a plain skirt, she appeared to be a woman.

And when she spoke, she further confirmed You Li's suspicion.

"Who are you?"

"A mere five-star Dou Wang dares to act so arrogantly before the three of us? You must have picked the wrong people to provoke."

Xie Shan swept his gaze over her. Her cultivation was merely that of a five-star Dou Wang, more than an entire major realm below both him and Wu Ya.

"Hahaha, exactly."

At the same time, Wu Ya spotted Xiao Yan behind the jagged riverbank.

"Oh? There's even a little mouse hiding here?"

Wu Ya sneered. A tiny Dou Zhe being able to run about unharmed in the Netherworld Poison Swamp—he could guess whose doing it was without even thinking.

When two peak Dou Emperors focused their attention on a mere five-star Dou Wang, the natural outcome should have been for that five-star Dou Wang to wet herself in terror.

Unfortunately, Yao Wan was no ordinary five-star Dou Wang.

The way they looked at her as though she were prey, as though they were toying with a mouse, only fueled the rage smoldering in Yao Wan's heart like the Poison Flame in her palm.

The Poison Flame still burned in her palm, corroding the Glass Body protecting her.

She could not let go of the Poison Flame. Once it left her hand in a place like the Netherworld Poison Swamp, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains; it would likely gather into a Poison Dragon again in the next instant.

But if she did not release it, she would be holding a hot potato, effectively crippling herself.

With two peak Dou Emperors eyeing her like tigers, the moment the Poison Flame left her hand, it would surely be snatched away.

"We are the leaders of Cloud Empire's internal powers—the master of the Wan Xie Sect, the lord of Wu Tian Mansion, and the president of the Cloud Empire Alchemist Association, You Li!"

Seeing that the powerful soul aura he had sensed earlier had actually come from nothing more than a five-star Dou Wang, You Li was somewhat relieved instead.

If she had been a Dou Emperor, they would likely have been fleeing in disgrace by now.

But she was only a five-star Dou Wang, which greatly boosted You Li's confidence. No matter what, they should be able to obtain the Poison Flame from her.

"My friend, in the name of the president of the Cloud Empire Alchemist Association, I guarantee that if you are willing to part with the Heavenly Flame, whatever request you make, the Cloud Empire Alchemist Association will do everything in its power to fulfill it."

You Li's renewed confidence lent his words a measure of conviction.

Yao Wan could not help but laugh.

"I thought you had something worthwhile to say. So this is just empty nonsense."

She smiled and shook her head. "What I want is probably beyond your ability to give."

You Li's expression darkened. His mind was somewhat sinister, and naturally, he did not wish to make an enemy of a mysterious alchemist without knowing the full situation. But that had never meant he feared the mysterious person before him.

"So... you refuse to hand over the Heavenly Flame?"

A trace of killing intent slowly appeared in You Li's eyes.

"If you have the skill and the guts, then come and take it."

Yao Wan was unconcerned. They were only two peak Dou Emperors. Why should she fear them?

Seeking Heavenly Flames was merely a matter of chance and who got there first. She herself had the confidence to trade heavenly treasures for a Heavenly Flame in someone else's possession, but once a Heavenly Flame had fallen into her hands, who had the ability to seize it from her by force or trickery?

"Hehe, a mere five-star Dou Wang dares to spout such arrogant nonsense before me!"

Before You Li could say anything else, Xie Shan laughed loudly and made the first move.

"Blood Fiend Seal!"

As an unquestionable peak Dou Emperor, the circulation of Xie Shan's Dou Qi alone caused a tremendous upheaval. When he unleashed his Dou Technique and an enormous bloody palm print descended from the sky, Yao Wan's figure hung alone in midair like a small boat on a vast sea.

"Hmph, so what if you're a peak Dou Emperor? I'll fight you all the same!"

Yao Wan snorted coldly, then activated her soul swords and formed a sword formation that flew swiftly toward Xie Shan.

At the same time, she spread a glass-colored light curtain to block Xie Shan's palm print. The shimmering screen flickered brightly and dimly in succession.

Even so, using a Dou Wang-level technique to directly contend against a peak Dou Emperor was still rather difficult.

But in the end, the glass light curtain blocked Xie Shan's palm print, while the flying swords she had unleashed had already drawn close to him.

"Something's wrong. You're not dead?!"

Xie Shan's eyes widened. How could a mere five-star Dou Wang withstand even one move from a peak Dou Emperor like him?

Yao Wan sneered. This fool's Soul Power was pitifully low; he could not even detect the movements of her soul swords.

In that case, die!

The eight soul swords already surrounding Xie Shan gleamed with cold light, as though they would pierce him into a transparent, hole-riddled corpse in the next moment.

However, before Yao Wan could see the soul swords fly forth and kill Xie Shan, an ominous aura from behind made her instantly recall that Xiao Yan was still behind her.

She instinctively glanced back, only to see Wu Ya already attacking Xiao Yan.

"King Ping Deng Appears!"

As Wu Ya unleashed his Dou Technique, the surrounding Dou Qi merged with the poison swamp and transformed into an enormous black-purple centipede. Spitting venom, it charged with a roar toward the boy hiding below.

Xiao Yan's breath caught. In that instant, his limbs turned ice-cold, and he could not move in the slightest.

"Xiao Yan!"

Yao Wan called out. The soul swords that had been flying toward Xie Shan immediately shifted direction and shot toward Wu Ya.

"A dignified peak Dou Emperor actually attacks a mere Dou Zhe. Have you no shame?!"

The soul swords spun, becoming a wheel of light that slashed toward Wu Ya.

Wu Ya was startled and hurriedly rose into the air, retreating explosively. Yet he was still struck by the sword light. His tough flesh was sliced apart as easily as tofu, blood streaming everywhere.

After driving Wu Ya back, Yao Wan had no mind to continue pressing the attack.

"Glass Body Sculpting Golden Form!"

Her Dou Qi surged violently. The previously condensed Glass Body once again transformed into a resplendent avatar, spreading an enormous glass light curtain that shielded Xiao Yan from every attack from outside.