Fan Lao is the most bloodthirsty Dou Emperor in the Black Alliance, specializing in blood-attribute Dou Qi.
His blood-attribute Dou Qi is extremely insidious, allowing him to continuously absorb the blood of his opponents to replenish himself during battle—a technique that sustains him through combat.
Seeing Xiao Yan charging towards him, a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He clasped his hands together in front of him, and a storm of blood-red Dou Qi qi swept towards Xiao Yan.
The crimson storm carried a thick stench of blood, and the air it passed through hissed and crackled as it corroded the surrounding environment.
" Cold Fire: The Everfrost Mausoleum!"
Xiao Yan's fourth Purple Soul Ring suddenly lit up. An extremely chilling aura spread wildly outwards from him.
Cold, white flames erupted from his body like a floodgate opening, spreading rapidly across the battlefield. Wherever the flames passed, the ground was instantly covered with a layer of frost several inches thick.
The moisture in the air froze into tiny ice crystals that fluttered down. The crimson storm was frozen solid in mid-air by the extreme cold.
The moisture in the blood vapor froze into ice particles, and the entire storm turned into a crystal-clear blood-red ice sculpture, which then shattered with a crash, turning into a pile of blood-red ice fragments.
Fan Lao's expression suddenly changed drastically.
His blood-attribute Dou Qi is most afraid of two things—extreme cold and raging fire.
Extreme cold can freeze the water in blood, causing blood-attribute Dou Qi to lose its fluidity. Fire Energy evaporate blood, causing blood-attribute Dou Qi to vanish completely.
The cold white flames released by the black-robed youth before him possessed two completely opposite characteristics: extreme cold and scorching heat! He had never seen such a bizarre attack method before.
However, he was, after all, Dou Huang expert. After a brief moment of shock, he quickly adjusted his tactics. He withdrew his blood attribute Dou Qi into his body, forming a thick layer of blood-red armor on his skin, attempting to deal with Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames through close combat.
Xiao Yan was waiting for him to get close.
His Fifth Soul Ring lit up, and a Cold Heart Lotus Explosion, interwoven with blue and white, instantly took shape in his palm.
He slapped Fan Lao hard on the chest.
Fan Lao raised his arm to block, and a thick shield of blood-red Dou Qi formed on his arm.
However, the Cold Heart Lotus Explosion is an explosive technique resulting from the fusion of the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Extreme cold and extreme heat are released simultaneously at the moment of collision, and the alternation of cold and heat produces an extremely strange destructive force.
The blood-red shield was frozen into ice in an instant, and then shattered into pieces in the next instant. The shockwave from the explosion sent Fan Lao flying dozens of feet away.
His body tumbled several times in mid-air before he finally regained his balance. He looked down at his blood-soaked arms.
He glanced again at the expressionless young man in black robes, and a chill he had never felt before rose in his heart.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yuan Yi of the Eight Gates launched a surprise attack from Xiao Yan's side.
His Dou Qi was characterized by speed and penetration; he moved like a sharp blue arrow, stabbing towards Xiao Yan's ribs. The sword strike was swift and ruthless, and the timing was extremely precise.
Xiao Yan had just unleashed the Cold Heart Lotus Explosion, and Fan Lao's screams hadn't even faded yet—it was the instant his old power was depleted and his new power hadn't yet been generated. Xiao Yan didn't even turn his head.
At the center of his brow, the Startling Soul Spike Thorn transformed into an invisible spiritual spike, striking Yuan Yi's brow with the precision of a red-hot steel needle. Yuan Yi felt a sudden, dizzying pain in his mind, his vision went blank, and he remained suspended in mid-air for a full breath.
For Soul Emperor, a single breath is enough to accomplish a great deal.
Xiao Yan's left fist unleashed the hidden force of the Eight Extremes Collapse technique, his elbow slamming hard into Yuan Yi's chest.
The hidden force surged into Yuan Yi's body through his fist and elbow, exploding violently in his meridians. Yuan Yi groaned, his body flying backward, the longsword in his hand flying far away.
He staggered to regain his balance, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, his gaze towards Xiao Yan filled with disbelief.
That attack just now wasn't Dou Technique, but a pure close-quarters melee skill—a way of generating power he had never seen before from any powerful figure on the Dou Qi Continent.
"What a bizarre attack method!"
Great Elder Su Qian hovered above the plaza, witnessing Xiao Yan's entire battle.
A hint of undisguised shock flashed in his sharp old eyes.
He had lived for so many years and seen countless geniuses and powerful individuals, but he had never seen anyone who could fuse so many different attack methods so seamlessly.
Ice, fire, soul attacks, close combat—each technique is an independent system, yet this young man wields them all with ease.
The battle between Xiao Huohuo and Han Feng has reached a fever pitch.
Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame ranks fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, and it has been his greatest asset in dominating the Black-Corner Region over the years.
Han Feng grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He could feel his Sea Heart Flame steadily losing ground against the Fallen Heart Flame, and the essence of the Sea Heart Flame was gradually dimming under the constant burning of the Fallen Heart Flame.
He gritted his teeth and pushed the Sea Heart Flame to its limit, attempting to suppress Xiao Huohuo with his superior cultivation level.
However, Xiao Huohuo's fighting style was too fierce, with each punch carrying a resolute determination that meant certain death. The Fallen Heart Flame was not used for defense in his hands, but for offense.
He didn't seem like he had just crawled out of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower; rather, it was as if he had been holding back for two years, waiting specifically for this battle.
The Gold and Silver Elders, joined forces again. This time, they learned their lesson and no longer tried to trap Xiao Yan with a large-scale combined attack. Instead, they used a series of small-scale attacks.
They attacked Xiao Yan simultaneously from the left and right. Their coordination was indeed excellent.
Elder Jin's metal-attribute Dou Qi is fierce and domineering, with each punch carrying the force of destruction. Elder Yin's silver-attribute Dou Qi is subtle and unpredictable, always attacking from the most tricky angles.
One forceful, the other gentle; a perfect balance of offense and defense. Just as the two were about to succeed, Xiao Yan's blue and white wings suddenly flapped, and his speed increased dramatically.
" Cold Fire - Netherworld Lock!"
Xiao Yan's third Purple Soul Ring lit up, and several transparent chains shot out from his palms, Entanglement towards the Gold and Silver Elders like serpents.
The chains were covered in cold, white flame patterns, radiating a chill that could freeze the soul.
Elder Jin's right leg was bound by the Netherworld Lock around his ankle. The chains tightened abruptly the moment they touched, and an extremely cold aura spread upwards along his calf.
Elder Jin felt his right leg go numb in an instant, and his entire leg became incredibly heavy, as if it were filled with lead, making it impossible to lift.
Elder Yin managed to Entanglement the chains thanks to his speed, but his left arm was grazed by them, and a thick layer of frost formed on his arm.
The two, who could rival Dou Zong when they joined forces, were now being completely suppressed by a young man who was not even a Dou Emperor, their faces filled with shock.
With Fan Lao severely injured by Xiao Yan, the Gold and Silver Elders suppressed, and Yuan Yi repelled, the Black Alliance's battle lines began to show signs of collapse.
As the Dou Ling watched their leaders being overwhelmed one after another, their morale began to waver.
Under Great Elder Su Qian's command, the students of the Jia Nan Academy stabilized their defensive line and began to push the Black Alliance members out of the square. Xiao Huohuo's side also gained the upper hand in the battle.
Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame had dimmed considerably under the constant erosion of the Fallen Heart Flame, and the transitions between his sword moves had become somewhat chaotic.
Just when everyone thought the battle was about to end in victory for the Jia Nan Academy, an extremely cold aura suddenly rose from the Black Alliance formation.
That aura was unlike any other Dou Qi possessed by any powerful figure in the Black-Corner Region.
It was colder, more eerie, carrying a deathly stillness that sent shivers down one's spine.
Unlike the domineering and majestic aura of Queen Medusa, this aura was more sinister and silent, yet it instinctively made people want to stay away.
A cloud of black mist slowly rose from the shadows behind the Black Alliance Formation, and a human-shaped outline could be vaguely seen within the mist.
The silhouette was completely shrouded in black mist, obscuring the face; only a pair of eerie green eyes gleamed coldly within the mist.
The edges of the black mist churned constantly, each churn accompanied by a faint clanging sound of chains.
It was as if countless iron chains were dragging through his black mist.
Protector Wu, Dou Zong powerhouse from the Hall of Souls.
Han Feng immediately sent someone to notify the Hall of Souls.
Protector Wu had been observing the battle from the shadows; he was extremely patient.
I've been waiting for the perfect moment.
Just when everyone thought the battle was about to end, he didn't want to show himself so soon, but the current situation left him no room to wait and see.
Although Han Feng failed to defeat Xiao Huohuo on the front lines, he successfully lured out the soul of Yao Lao from within Xiao Huohuo's body.
For the Hall of Souls, Yao Lao is more valuable than the Fallen Heart Flame.
The Fallen Heart Flame is only ranked fourteenth among the Heavenly Flames, while the Yao Lao possesses a wealth of pill formulas, alchemy techniques, and a powerful soul!
That's what the Hall of Souls truly covets.
The Protector Wu extended a hand from the black mist. The hand was as thin as a withered branch, with long, sharp nails, and countless fine black chains Entanglement around the fingertips.
That's the Hall of Souls's signature Dou Technique, the Locking Soul Chain.
The chains moved slowly through his fingertips, making a tinkling sound, each sound like a blow to the soul.
" Han Feng, you have indeed not disappointed the Hall of Souls. Yao Chen's soul is indeed here."
Protector Wu's voice was hoarse and shrill, like a dull knife scraping back and forth on glass.
Xiao Huohuo's face turned extremely ugly at this moment.
He could feel the chilling aura emanating from Protector Wu constantly seeping into his body.
He instinctively pulled Yao Lao even closer, the Fallen Heart Flame burning fiercely on his body, forming a transparent flame barrier in an attempt to resist the corrosive chill.
Lin Xiuya and Lin Yan simultaneously withdrew their hands and retreated, watching the figure in the black mist warily.
Queen Medusa narrowed her eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in her long, narrow snake eyes.
However, before Protector Wu could make a move, a chilling voice rang out above his head.
"Do you think you have the right to be so presumptuous in front of me?"
Queen Medusa's voice boomed like ice from the ground above Protector Wu's head.
She had appeared directly above Protector Wu at some point, her seven-colored Dou Qi Wings fully unfurled, their seven-colored light shining brightly in the dim light of the sky.
Dou Zong, against Dou Zong.
Queen Medusa's narrow, serpentine eyes burned with deep green flames, a product of the fusion of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's venom and the Fallen Heart Flame.
She raised her right palm, and a ball of deep green flame slowly condensed in her palm.
The potent poison in the flames made the air thick and sticky, and each flicker of the flames left a pale green trail in the air.
Protector Wu raised his head, and for the first time, a look of solemnity appeared in his dark green eyes.
He hadn't expected that Jia Nan Academy would have a Dou Zong expert among its members.
Moreover, he is Dou Zong with the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's venom is also extremely effective against souls.
His purpose in coming here was to obtain Yao Chen's soul body; there was no need for him to engage in a direct confrontation with a Dou Zong.
He snorted coldly, and as the black mist surged, he transformed into a wisp of black smoke and vanished into the air. He then spoke threateningly to Medusa:
"This person is from my Hall of Souls. You, a mere Dou Zong, cannot protect him. Don't bring trouble to your clan."
"Roll!"
Medusa did not make a move, but simply spoke in a cold voice.
" Xiao Huohuo, you're lucky today."
But those whom the Hall of Souls seeks can escape for a time, but not forever. Yao Chen's soul will return to the Hall of Souls sooner or later.
Han Feng stared at the direction where Protector Wu had disappeared, his face extremely grim.
He hadn't expected the Hall of Souls people to leave so quickly.
But with Medusa's intervention, they knew their mission was a failure.
He didn't say anything more harsh, but with a gloomy face, he flapped his wings and retreated towards Maple City first.
The remnants of the Black Alliance, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, hastily retreated with Han Feng.
"Trying to leave!?"
However, Xiao Huohuo's gaze fell on Han Feng.
He can ignore everyone else.
But this scoundrel of the sect is determined to seek Yao Lao!