The battle in the square had reached a fever pitch.
Yao Ling's and Huo Zhi's Dou Qi collided relentlessly, shaking ripples through space.
Both were One-Star Dou Zongs, evenly matched in cultivation.
But Yao Ling held the advantage in soul power. Paired with her Earth-Rank Dou Techniques, it made her attacks almost impossible to guard against.
Huo Zhi, on the other hand, specialized in explosive bursts and devastating damage.
The red lotus karmic fire swept across more than half the sky with its searing heat. For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
"Such skillful soul hand seals," Fire Fairy remarked softly, a hint of scrutiny in her gaze. "Wan Huo, your Yao Clan has produced another genius."
Gu Dao nodded slightly in agreement.
Yao Wanhuo stroked the beard on his chin, his face brimming with pride.
"Hehe, you flatter her, Fairy. Our clan leader has named Yao Ling the one most likely to attain an emperor realm soul!"
"Oh, really?" Only then did Hun Yan turn his head, watching Yao Ling in the arena with interest.
"If even Yao Dan says so, this girl must indeed have some talent in the path of the soul."
"You... what are you planning...?"
Watching Hun Yan mutter to himself, Yao Wanhuo's expression changed drastically.
Who on the Dou Qi Continent did not know that the Soul Clan had established a subordinate organization called the Soul Hall, which scoured the land for powerful souls?
And the souls of alchemists were far stronger than those of other experts at the same level!
"Hehe, why so nervous? I merely paid her a compliment. Look how frightened you are!" Hun Yan sipped his tea and closed his eyes to rest again.
Bang!
A violent blast rang out in the arena, and a young woman's somewhat bedraggled figure was sent flying backward.
It was Yao Ling.
"I lost." Biting her lip, Yao Ling withdrew from the square, unwilling to accept her defeat.
Though her soul power gave her an edge, it ultimately could not overcome the red lotus karmic fire, ranked eighth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Her aura weakened, Huo Zhi bowed slightly. "Thank you for the match."
The first battle ended with a narrow victory for the Yan Clan, the hosts of this gathering. Yet Fire Fairy's expression remained icy, without the slightest trace of joy.
Suddenly, she seemed to sense something and turned to look.
The long-haired young man in black standing behind Hun Yan was gazing at her with an infatuated expression.
"Hmph, insolent!"
Fire Fairy snorted coldly, a trace of anger flashing through her narrow eyes. An imperceptible pulse of soul power instantly shot toward the young man in black.
Hun Yan's eyes snapped open as he rested in his seat, and an invisible soul barrier instantly rose before him.
"Fire Spirit, you dare attack our clan's prodigy? You clearly have no regard for the Soul Clan!" Hun Yan said hoarsely, his eyes wide with fury.
"Hun Yan, this is the Flame Realm. Keep the people you brought in line, or I won't mind gouging out his eyes."
Hun Yan frowned and glanced at Hun Yu behind him, seeming to understand something.
"Hun Yu, mind your manners."
Shen Luo narrowed his eyes. Just as he had expected, this young man in black was Hun Yu, one of only two people in the Soul Clan with a divine-grade bloodline.
Hun Yu's face paled slightly, but he did not respond.
He had just been unable to resist casting a glance over Fire Fairy's mature, alluring curves. He had never expected her perception to be so keen.
Hmph, is a Seven-Star Dou Saint really so impressive?
Once my Soul Clan unifies the continent, conquers the Flame Realm, and captures you alive, I'll have you writhing in pleasure beneath me, panting and moaning.
A savage look surfaced on Hun Yu's pale face before he turned his gaze to the square.
"The second match: Lei Dong of the Lei Clan against Ling Feng of the Spirit Clan."
A young man with sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and an imposing bearing instantly appeared in the square from behind the Lei Clan's seats, lightning seemingly coiling around his body.
Lei Dong, the Lei Clan's foremost prodigy.
Shen Luo's heart gave a sudden jolt.
He seemed to remember this young man named Lei Dong. In the Ancient Realm, he had swept aside every opponent, even defeating Gu Qingyang. Aside from the protagonist, Xiao Yan, he was the only person who had gone to the Gu Clan to propose marriage.
The face of another young man, dressed in white, twitched. He seemed no stranger to Lei Dong.
Without wasting words, the two instantly clashed. Moments later, the young man in white was sent flying backward. He landed on one knee and abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Lei Dong dusted himself off and returned to his seat, as though he had accomplished some utterly insignificant task.
Holy shit, these Emperor Clan people are each more freakish than the last.
Shen Luo had just sensed that Lei Dong was a Four-Star Dou Zong, one star above Huo Xuan.
"The third match: Hun Yu of the Soul Clan against Huo Xuan of the Yan Clan."
As soon as the announcement fell, everyone present sucked in a breath of cold air.
The Soul Clan against the host Yan Clan-now this would be a show worth watching.
Both the Soul Clan and the Gu Clan had Peak Nine-Star Dou Saints, firmly securing their places as the strongest and second-strongest ancient Emperor Clans. With Fire Fairy among their ranks, the Yan Clan's overall strength edged out the Lei Clan's, placing them third.
Huo Xuan frowned, a trace of fighting spirit surfacing on his resolute face. The eight directions annihilation flame roared out of his body, and he flashed into the square.
"Hun Yu, is it? Let me experience the Soul Clan's profound Dou Techniques."
The black-haired young man behind Hun Yan still wore a gentle smile. Treading through the air with graceful poise, he approached the square step by step and faced Huo Xuan.
"Huo Xuan, today I'll see just how much you, the Yan Clan's young clan leader, are worth."
Below the arena, Lei Dong quietly opened his eyes. Lightning flickered in them as he stared fixedly at Hun Yu, his expression grave.
Huo Xuan was only slightly weaker than him. Through Huo Xuan, he would be able to gauge this Soul Clan prodigy's true abilities.
Shen Luo swept his gaze over the Gu Clan's members. Gu Qingyang's expression was equally solemn, his fists clenched tight.
Gu Xun'er, her face covered by a white veil, lightly blinked her beautiful eyes. Golden flames flashed through them, as though only Hun Yu was worthy of her attention.
Hun Yu moved.
He was blindingly fast, appearing before Huo Xuan in an instant. His sandbag-sized fist, wrapped in green Dou Qi, hurtled toward Huo Xuan's face.
Huo Xuan let out a sharp shout, his response just as swift. Vast Dou Qi gathered in his palm before he thrust it toward Hun Yu's fist.
Boom!
An earth-shaking explosion thundered through the square. Hun Yu stood motionless in midair, while Huo Xuan staggered several steps backward.
A Five-Star Dou Zong!
Huo Xuan's expression changed. His hands continuously formed seals, and the clan mark between his brows surged as a terrifying aura erupted from his body.
Hun Yu's lips curled. "Haha, already using your clan mark? The Yan Clan really amounts to nothing more than this."
Then his hands also began rapidly forming seals, and his aura likewise soared.
The Dou Di bloodline was a gift bestowed upon them by their ancestor. Their blood contained mysterious runes and boundless, unparalleled power.
The two began battling fiercely across the arena, opening with high-level Earth-Rank Dou Techniques. Watching from below, Shen Luo was shaken by the sight and repeatedly voiced his admiration.
An incense stick's worth of time later, Fire Fairy gave one of the Yan Clan elders a look. Understanding her intent, the elder instantly entered the arena and separated the combatants.
"The winner of this match is Hun Yu of the Soul Clan."
Huo Xuan gasped for breath, wounds covering his body. "I... I haven't lost yet! I can still fight!" He struggled to resist, but the Yan Clan elder's expression remained icy. With a sweep of his sleeve, he took Huo Xuan out of the square.
Hun Yu straightened his robes and returned to stand behind Hun Yan, still wearing that spring-breeze smile.
"Senior Fire Spirit, Young Clan Leader Huo Xuan is quite impressive. Among my peers, there truly aren't many who can last an incense stick's worth of time against me."
At those words, everyone in the hall sucked in a breath of cold air.
Shen Luo noticed that as Hun Yu spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Fire Fairy's profile. Beneath its warmth lurked an exceedingly faint hint of possessiveness, kindling anger in Shen Luo's heart.
The matches continued.
The third match, the Stone Clan against the Spirit Clan.
The fourth match, Gu Qingyang of the Gu Clan against Yao Tian of the Yao Clan.
The fifth match, Shen Luo of the Yan Clan against Shi Hao of the Stone Clan.
Shen Luo slowly rose and glanced at his flame.
Fire Fairy sat upright in the seat of honor, regal and resplendent, like a goddess amid the flames.
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