Battle in the Forest

The Dou Qi within Xiao Yan's body circulated. The blood-red flames that had covered his arm vanished, replaced by stark white fire. Rather than giving off the blazing heat it should have, the rising flames felt exceptionally frigid. The moment the poisonous miasma touched the white flames, it began to freeze into ice, with strange white liquid trapped inside. Much of the miasma near Xiao Yan disappeared, leaving a path for him to enter.

The white flame in Xiao Yan's hand was none other than the Heavenly Flame possessed by Yao Lao—the Bone Chilling Flame.

When Xiao Yan had lost contact with Yao Lao, he had unexpectedly discovered the Bone Chilling Flame within the ring while examining it. Moreover, he had somehow gained the ability to control it. Only then had Xiao Yan been relieved. He guessed that Yao Lao had sensed the restrictions of the Ten Thousand Beasts Space during the teleportation process and deliberately left the Bone Chilling Flame for him. Though he had yet to absorb it into his body, Xiao Yan could already use it.

It had to be said that while Heavenly Flames varied in rank, each one was still a true treasure of heaven and earth, each possessing its own unique traits.

At present, the problem that the higher-ranked Crimson Lotus Karma Flame could not solve was something the Bone Chilling Flame could handle.

Feeling that the Bone Chilling Flame consumed noticeably less Dou Qi, Xiao Yan finally fixed his gaze on the center of the miasma and licked his lips. It was a secret realm suspected to hold a Venerable's inheritance, after all. It would have been a lie to say he was not tempted.

Before Xiao Yan could make a move, several people stepped in front of him.

"Brother, may I ask your name?" While Xiao Yan had been testing the flames, some of the auras that had been watching him approached.

Xiao Yan looked at the three people before him. Their auras were all quite formidable; at the very least, they had entered the Dou Wang realm.

The leader smiled amiably. "Friend, there's no need to be nervous. I saw that you can deal with the poisonous miasma. Why don't we join forces? If we find anything, you can take your pick first."

Xiao Yan immediately understood. There were plenty of people who had discovered this place, just as Wu Shuang had. Though Wu Shuang had believed there was no way to disperse the miasma, more people were unwilling to leave such an opportunity behind. Yet they lacked the means to break through the poisonous miasma and could only wait outside, hoping to get lucky.

Seeing that his cultivation was merely that of a low-star Dou Emperor, these three wanted to join forces with him.

"Sorry, but I'm used to traveling alone."

"Brother, although you can deal with the poisonous miasma, you're still alone. The Lion Underworld Sect has already entered. Working together benefits us both."

The leader tried earnestly to persuade him, but Xiao Yan merely looked at them strangely. As the Dou Qi within him circulated, he flicked the Bone Chilling Flame in his hand, and everything within thirty meters before him became frozen ice. Without looking back, Xiao Yan darted straight inside.

The remaining three stood there dumbfounded. Only when other auras swept past them, following the path Xiao Yan had opened and rushing inside, did they snap out of it and follow.

Xiao Yan, who was clearing the way ahead, sensed those taking advantage of his path behind him but did nothing extra. Those incapable of breaking through the poisonous miasma on their own had no chance of causing him much trouble. The Bone Chilling Flame was extraordinarily effective at clearing the miasma, and Xiao Yan moved smoothly through it. After the time it took to burn an incense stick, he sensed that the miasma around him was gradually thinning.

Xiao Yan sped up. At the center of the poisonous miasma, there was instead an area completely free of it. A large pool lay at the center of this place. Upon arriving here, he felt his mind relax, and even the mental exhaustion accumulated from days of fighting was imperceptibly soothed.

"Looks like this really is a treasure ground!" Xiao Yan thought.

Of course, Xiao Yan still had doubts about why the mist had vanished, but before he could find the answer, the fierce battle on the other side of the pool drew his attention.

Though the poisonous miasma was troublesome, quite a few powerful cultivators had still entered through their own means. There were already more than ten people inside.

Everyone present stood on either side of the battlefield, and Xiao Yan realized that he knew both sides currently engaged in fierce combat.

On one side stood a man with flamboyant red hair and a body over two meters tall. It was Shi Han, the leader of the Lion Underworld Sect. At this moment, he held the upper hand.

The other figure was supple and agile—it was Yang Lingyan of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Though Shi Han's attacks were exceptionally vicious, Yang Lingyan barely maintained his footing as he dodged left and right. However, Xiao Yan noticed a sizable wound on Yang Lingyan's abdomen, making his situation even worse.

After Xiao Yan entered, those behind him followed in his footsteps, and a crowd of dozens quickly gathered. The people who had been watching the fight beside the pool all turned toward them. The leader arrogantly declared, "The Lion Underworld Sect is conducting business. Leave this place within half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, or become enemies of the Lion Underworld Sect!"

At the same time, the people behind him released hostile auras. Their meaning was obvious.

Someone in the crowd scoffed. "So what if it's the Lion Underworld Sect? Is the Ten Thousand Beasts Space your family's property?"

The leader released his aura, his expression turning grim. "Do you see that? That is Yang Lingyan of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Even the Heavenly Snake Mansion must be driven out of this place. Do you think you're stronger than the Heavenly Snake Mansion?"

"It really is Yang Lingyan! Looks like he's about to lose."

"His opponent is Shi Han, right? I heard he's already a seven-star Dou Emperor, ranked ninth on the current leaderboard!"

Once many people saw the situation clearly, thoughts of retreat arose in their hearts. With both the Heavenly Snake Mansion and the Lion Underworld Sect involved, the chances for others to get a share had become very slim. No matter how tempting the inheritance was, that only mattered if they could obtain it. The Lion Underworld Sect's terror was right before their eyes. Most of those now blocking them were not from the Lion Underworld Sect; they had merely volunteered to work for Shi Han. Even within the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, the appeal of the six great factions remained terrifying.

On the other side, Yang Lingyan relied on the unique nature of his cultivation method to barely endure Shi Han's tempestuous assault. Yet the three-star gap between him and Shi Han was still difficult to bridge. Seeing what Shi Han's subordinates were doing, he could not help but sneer, "The Lion Underworld Sect is truly tyrannical. Not only have you wounded those of us who arrived first, but those who came later do not even get a chance to look. Do you not know that everyone has a chance at a Venerable's inheritance?"

Carried by Dou Qi, Yang Lingyan's words rang throughout the entire area. The eyes of those who had already considered retreating began to burn with fervor once more.

Shi Han narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Opportunities belong to the capable. You should worry about your own safety."

Shi Han's attacks grew several degrees fiercer. Yang Lingyan had already been close to his limit, and Shi Han seized an opening and slammed him into the ground with a palm strike.

The ground was smashed into a massive crater by Shi Han's blow. Yang Lingyan lay in the pit in a miserable state, blood spilling from his mouth.

"The Heavenly Snake Mansion has performed poorly in recent years and sought change. I never expected it would let you become so arrogant that you dared provoke me. It seems that after this Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly, there will only be five top factions left."

Shi Han's voice was naturally exceptionally low and heavy. Combined with his actions at this moment, he seemed like a god of slaughter come to life.

A bloodthirsty aura condensed around Shi Han. Looking down at Yang Lingyan in the crater, Shi Han launched a terrifying attack. Others might not dare kill someone from the Heavenly Snake Mansion, but he did!

As Yang Lingyan watched Shi Han's terrifying attack and felt the chaos in his own Dou Qi, a trace of despair flashed through his eyes. He then closed them.

But the expected attack never came. Yang Lingyan opened his eyes and saw the youth he had once dismissed.

"So when you say there will be only five top factions left, do you mean the Lion Underworld Sect will be removed?" Xiao Yan asked with a grin after blocking Shi Han's strike.