First Battle with Xiao Yan

"Leave, now!" Old Yao urgently reminded him.

If they were blocked by the Snake People's experts, things would become troublesome.

Though Xiao Yan was extremely unwilling, leaving first was his only option now.

Wu Changqing had originally planned to leave directly after obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame.

But at that moment, the charred giant python corpse beside him suddenly moved, and a tiny seven-colored snake crawled out from within.

Everyone else believed Medusa's evolution had failed. They would never have imagined that Medusa had turned into such an adorable little snake.

The seven-colored snake raised its head to look at Wu Changqing, perhaps because it sensed the Green Lotus Core Flame within him, or perhaps because it detected how he differed from ordinary humans.

"What, do you want to come with me?"

Wu Changqing crouched down and extended his hand toward the little snake.

The little snake actually obediently crawled onto his palm.

"I hadn't planned on taking you with me, but since you're willing to come along, then let's go together."

This was Queen Medusa, who had successfully evolved.

Once she recovered, she would become a true Dou Zong and lead the Snake People in putting pressure on the Jia Ma Empire in turn.

It would be better to take her away now.

After putting away the seven-colored little snake, Wu Changqing leisurely flew out of the Snake People Royal City.

By then, Gu He and the others had already successfully retreated.

Xiao Yan had also slipped away amidst the chaos.

That left these Snake People experts with no one to find but Wu Changqing.

Whoosh!

Mo Ba Si and Yue Mei had taken healing medicine and recovered considerably.

Moreover, more figures arrived one after another, surrounding Wu Changqing together.

They were the remaining tribal chiefs of the Snake People, who had arrived late!

"All eight chiefs of the Snake People's tribes are here."

Wu Changqing glanced at them.

Now, all of the Snake People's experts were gathered here.

"Human, you trespassed into our Snake People territory and caused the Queen's evolution to fail. Your crime merits death!"

"Die!"

Everyone else had already fled, leaving only Wu Changqing behind. Naturally, they would vent all their fury upon him.

The eight chiefs attacked at once.

"Combined Dou Technique: Spirit Serpent Kill!"

The eight men's Dou Qi gathered together, transforming into an enormous energy python that roared as it slammed toward Wu Changqing.

The combined Dou Technique of eight Dou Kings was difficult to withstand even for a Dou Emperor!

"I've heard that the Snake People's combined Dou Techniques are formidable. Let me see it for myself today."

Watching the enormous energy serpent fly toward him, Wu Changqing swung the longsword in his hand and slashed out a pale green flaming sword aura.

"Burning Heaven Sword!"

With one slash, he split the eight chiefs' combined Dou Technique in half. The Evergreen Sword then refined and absorbed all of that energy, converting it into Wu Changqing's cultivation.

His cultivation improved by quite a bit again.

"He absorbed it?"

Yue Mei and the others were instantly dumbfounded.

This was their prized combined Dou Technique!

Back when they fought the great empires, they had used this move to kill a four-star Dou Emperor.

Yet now, Wu Changqing had effortlessly neutralized it?

"The combined Dou Technique isn't bad. Its power is just a little lacking."

"Since you've given me one, I'll return the favor with a sword strike!"

"Sword Extremity: Sun Devourer!"

As he slashed out, it seemed as though heaven and earth lost all light in an instant, plunging into eternal stillness.

In less than a breath, the eight chiefs were struck heavily. Their bodies flew backward as they spat blood, collapsing to the ground unable to rise.

One sword strike severely wounded the Snake People's eight chiefs!

"Hahaha, it seems you can't keep me here today. Farewell."

Wu Changqing laughed as he departed, leaving behind a chaotic Snake People Royal City.

After leaving the Snake People Royal City, Wu Changqing flew onward, and no Snake People pursuers dared chase after him.

Even the eight chiefs had been severely wounded by a single strike from him, let alone anyone else.

Suddenly, Wu Changqing stopped. "Since you've been waiting for me here, come out."

A figure emerged from behind a nearby rock.

It was Xiao Yan!

He had failed to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Snake People territory because he had not acted quickly enough, but that did not mean he was willing to give up.

After enduring countless hardships and twists and turns to finally encounter a Heavenly Flame, how could he possibly give up?!

"You still haven't given up. You want the Heavenly Flame?" Wu Changqing looked at Xiao Yan.

He knew what Xiao Yan was relying on. With Old Yao's assistance, Xiao Yan was even more troublesome than those eight Snake People chiefs.

"Leave the Heavenly Flame behind, and you can go," Xiao Yan said.

Both he and Old Yao believed that Wu Changqing had merely used some method to store the Green Lotus Core Flame rather than refining it directly.

After all, absorbing a Heavenly Flame was no simple matter.

"If you want the Heavenly Flame, let's see whether you have the ability to take it."

Wu Changqing had no intention of becoming enemies with Xiao Yan.

But if Xiao Yan insisted on causing him trouble, he would not back down either.

Xiao Yan said nothing, but silently gripped the Black Heavy Ruler on his back, making his stance clear.

At the same time, his aura quietly began to rise, showing that Old Yao had started possessing him.

Whoosh!

The two moved almost simultaneously, turning into two black shadows that collided in midair.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Black Heavy Ruler and the Evergreen Sword collided, producing crisp, rapid sounds.

Xiao Yan had originally intended to use the weight advantage of the Black Heavy Ruler to suppress Wu Changqing head-on.

But gradually, he realized that something seemed wrong.

No matter how much hidden force he used, Wu Changqing could successfully neutralize it.

It was as if all the force he struck with was being absorbed.

"Flame Splitting Wave-Devouring Ruler!"

Xiao Yan stopped holding back. He abruptly raised the Black Heavy Ruler and slashed out a scorching wave of ruler energy.

"Burning Heaven Sword!"

Wu Changqing also slashed out a pale green flaming sword aura, merging it with the power of the Green Lotus Core Flame to neutralize Xiao Yan's attack.

"The Green Lotus Core Flame? I didn't expect him to have truly absorbed the Green Lotus Core Flame directly." Old Yao was astonished.

Wu Changqing's previous sword strike had clearly contained the flames of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Only someone who had refined a Heavenly Flame could produce such an effect.

This also proved that Wu Changqing had indeed refined the Green Lotus Core Flame. If they wanted to obtain the Heavenly Flame, they would have to kill Wu Changqing!

"Eight Extremities Collapse!"

During another close-range clash, Xiao Yan decisively raised his hand and struck Wu Changqing's body with his palm.

Bang!

Wu Changqing was forced back several steps. Before the hidden force of Eight Extremities Collapse could detonate within him, he absorbed it.

His true body was a sword!

Naturally, he could directly use the ability of the Sword Furnace. Did they really think hidden force could injure him?

Wishful thinking!

"It seems you don't intend to give up today. In that case, I won't be polite either."

Wu Changqing retreated, and the longsword in his hand changed. Four identical clones split directly from his body.

Sword Extremity: Sword-Shadow Clones!

"A clone Dou Technique?!"

Amid Old Yao and Xiao Yan's astonishment, Wu Changqing's four clones and true body raised their swords at the same time.

"Wind's Extreme: Meteoric Kill!"

"Wind's Extreme: Sunset Radiance!"

"Wind's Extreme: Annihilation!"

"Wind's Extremity: Blossoming Glory Annihilation!"

"Sword Extremity: Sun Devourer!"

Five great Dou Techniques slashed toward Xiao Yan at once!