To be honest.
Medicine Elder now felt more than wariness toward the "Xiao Yan" before him. There was also a complicated emotion he couldn't quite put into words.
Throughout the past three years of observing him, Xiao Yan's talent and character had more than satisfied him. He had long since considered taking "Xiao Yan" as a disciple and raising him.
Even on certain late nights, when he watched the boy grit his teeth and stubbornly train alone, he couldn't help wanting to appear and offer him a few pointers.
But—
Everything that had happened today had caught him completely off guard.
He had no idea whether he truly understood the "Xiao Yan" he had been watching all this time.
Had Xiao Yan's behavior over the past three years been an act? Or was there some other explanation?
Could the other party have been sent by Han Feng?
Or perhaps... just as he had guessed, some old monster had possessed him?
In short,
At this moment, Medicine Elder's feelings were more complicated than ever.
However—
Xiao Yan wasn't surprised in the slightest by Medicine Elder's wary movements and reaction. He had expected them.
Looking at the wisp of pale Bone Spirit Cold Flame before Medicine Elder, he couldn't help marveling to himself.
As expected of a Heavenly Flame!
At such close range, the terrifying aura of icy cold and searing heat intertwined—an aura befitting the eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame. Even he, a Dou Wang, felt his heart tremble.
Sure enough, one couldn't underestimate the old-timer who served as the chosen protagonist's cheat.
Medicine Elder might now be only a wisp of residual soul, but he had once been a Dou Zun expert!
And with the eleventh-ranked Bone Spirit Cold Flame on top of that, an ordinary Dou Wang might not gain the slightest advantage against him.
Even a Dou Emperor could turn careless and end up in trouble.
But—
That was without the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
Now that he had this "Ten Thousand Soul Banner," the bane of souls, all he needed was a thought to send Medicine Elder into it to become one of his good brothers.
Because he admired Medicine Elder in the original Battle Through the Heavens, Xiao Yan didn't intend to refine him outright.
After all, apart from silently stealing three years' worth of his Dou Qi, the old man wasn't truly an irredeemable villain. If anything, he was a tragic figure—schemed against by his own clan, betrayed by his disciple, and left without a body, forced to hide in a ring and cling to life.
Of course,
If Medicine Elder refused to see reason and insisted on fighting him to the death...
Then there was no helping it. He would just have to invite the other man into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner for a cup of tea.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
He looked at Yao Chen, utterly calm, and spoke with easy composure:
"Senior Yao Chen, there's no need to be so tense."
"Actually, I've always admired you. Even though you secretly stole three years' worth of my Dou Qi, I never intended to make an enemy of you."
At this,
Medicine Elder's gaze flickered, but he remained silent.
Not only did he not lower his guard, he urged the power of Bone Spirit Cold Flame even more fiercely. The pale flames danced violently in his palm, radiating a heart-stopping aura.
As Venerable Yao, who had once ranged across the continent, how could he be so easily swayed by a few words from a boy?
What's more—
There were far too many mysteries surrounding this boy!
"Boy, you still haven't answered me!"
Medicine Elder spoke in a low, hoarse voice, his tone thick with scrutiny.
"How did you achieve this level of cultivation?"
"To go from the third stage of Dou Qi to Dou Wang overnight—that makes no sense at all!"
He stared hard into Xiao Yan's eyes, trying to discern something.
"Have you known about my existence for the past three years and deliberately kept up an act?"
"Or—"
Medicine Elder paused, his tone growing even graver:
"When did that foolish boy... get possessed by you, some old monster from who knows where?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Bone Spirit Cold Flame around Medicine Elder suddenly surged.
Clearly, he was ready to strike at any moment.
At this,
Seeing Yao Chen's obvious hostility and suspicion, Xiao Yan couldn't help shaking his head.
As expected, it wasn't so easy to convince the cautious Yao Chen with a few words.
The old man had survived until now after Han Feng's betrayal because he was so careful.
But—
Since the gentle approach wouldn't work, he would just have to use force!
Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
But at that very instant—
Medicine Elder seemed to sense danger!
His expression changed drastically. Without hesitation, he urged Bone Spirit Cold Flame to its full power!
"Boom!"
The pale flames surged out like raging waves, forming a massive palm of fire that slammed toward Xiao Yan!
At the same time,
Medicine Elder turned into a streak of light and shot toward the door!
He had no intention of staying to fight!
As a soul body, he knew his weaknesses all too well.
And the black banner gave him an extraordinarily sinister, terrifying feeling. It was no match for him in his current state!
Trying to fight here would mean certain death!
He had to escape first!
Once he was beyond the black banner's reach, with the methods of Venerable Yao at his disposal, he would have plenty of chances to uncover this boy's secrets!
However—
Faced with Medicine Elder's actions, Xiao Yan could only let out a helpless sigh.
"Why go to such lengths, Senior Yao Chen?"
Vmmm—
As soon as the words left his mouth,
Xiao Yan's thoughts shifted, and he unleashed the full power of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner!
In the next instant,
This ultimate treasure of the villain, gifted by the system, revealed its truly terrifying side!
The Ten Thousand Soul Banner was extremely unusual—it was actually a conceptual treasure.
It required no sacrifice, no Dou Qi to activate. A mere thought was enough to unleash all manner of unimaginable abilities!
In the blink of an eye,
A vast, eerie force burst out of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner!
It was formless and intangible, yet undeniably real, like the very laws of heaven and earth. In an instant, it enveloped the entire room!
Medicine Elder's speeding form suddenly froze in midair!
For the first time, his face showed utter terror!
"This... this is..."
To his horror, he discovered that the Bone Spirit Cold Flame he had summoned with all his might had been frozen in midair!
The pale flames remained in their burning shape, but could no longer advance even by an inch. Wisps of pale, bewitching firelight shimmered from them, like a beautiful specimen sealed in amber.
As for Medicine Elder himself, he was tightly bound by an irresistible force, unable to move!
No matter how he urged his soul power or struggled, it was all futile!
That feeling...
Was like an ant gazing up at the heavens, like a stream facing the ocean!
They weren't even remotely on the same level!
"How is this possible..."
Medicine Elder's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the black banner slowly floating in midair.
Countless wisps of black mist streamed from the banner, forming one hideous face after another and letting out eerie wails that made his scalp crawl.
The faces struggled, wailed, and twisted in the mist, as if countless souls were trapped within, doomed to never be reborn!
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