Above the vast square, the air was thick with a murderous aura. The overwhelming might of combat energy descended from the sky, causing many strong individuals to feel a sense of dread. Xiao Yan glanced at the murderous Phantom Sect Elder and the others who were approaching, and with a thought, the eleven puppets beside him swiftly formed an array. As the energy circulated, the dark-golden color on the body of the Celestial Demon Puppet rapidly became dazzling.
“Let the Celestial Demon Puppet handle Phoenix Wing. I will take care of the Phantom Sect Elder. The rest of you, block the other strong individuals!” With the imminent battle, Xiao Yan’s face turned serious as he said in a deep voice.
“Perhaps I should be the one to stall the Phantom Sect Elder. This old man is too powerful.” Little Healer Immortal hesitated for a moment, even though she had great confidence in Xiao Yan. She was well aware of the Phantom Sect Elder’s strength; in their last encounter, Xiao Yan had almost no chance to retaliate. Even when he ultimately used the Destructive Fire Lotus, it cost him nearly a year to recover from the severe injuries.
“Rest assured, the difference between a Nine Star Combat Ancestor and a One Star Combat Venerated is significant,” Xiao Yan replied with a faint smile. It was true that he was no match for the Phantom Sect Elder back then, but now, it would not be easy for the old man to defeat him so casually.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s resolve, Little Healer Immortal did not say anything further. She knew Xiao Yan’s character; he would not deliberately show off. If he was confident, he must have a plan.
“Very well… just be careful,” she murmured, looking at the incoming strong individuals with a massive wind sound. She nodded slightly, her gaze intersecting briefly with Heavenly Fire Venerable and the others before she flashed out and appeared a hundred meters away in the sky. A surge of combat energy blocked the strong individuals from the Heavenly Demon Clan and the Wind Lightning Pavilion, while the Phantom Sect Elder and Phoenix Wing were left to pass through.
“Xiao Yan, if you are in trouble, let me know, and I will do my best to assist you,” Tang Zhen said in a solemn tone. His cold, sharp gaze then turned to the Glacier Venerated One who was walking steadily through the void. With a step, he appeared in front of the Glacier Venerated One.
Looking at Tang Zhen’s back, Xiao Yan nodded. He flicked his fingers, and the Celestial Demon Puppet, which had absorbed the power of the other ten puppets, emitted a piercing whistle as it shot out like lightning and intercepted Phoenix Wing. Meanwhile, he stared calmly at the Phantom Sect Elder, who appeared before him in a few flashes, striding through the void.
“This time, I will not give you any chance to struggle,” the Phantom Sect Elder snarled. Back then in the Soul Hall Branch, he had had numerous opportunities to swiftly dispose of Xiao Yan. In his eyes, a Nine Star Combat Ancestor was like an insignificant ant. Yet, to his disbelief, this ‘ant’ made him pay a brutal price, an arm lost. Whenever he thought about it, his hatred for Xiao Yan intensified.
“That’s not up to you,” Xiao Yan smiled, forming a series of strange hand seals with incredible speed. Instantly, his figure froze.
“Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes, First Change! Second Change! Third Change!”
As the three fierce shouts escaped his lips, Xiao Yan’s robe flapped without wind, and his aura soared at an astonishing speed. After a moment, it finally stabilized, and at this point, his aura had reached the level of a Three Star Combat Venerated!
At the Combat Ancestor realm, Xiao Yan could enhance his strength by nearly five stars through the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes. However, the gap between stars at the Combat Venerated level was far greater than at the Combat Ancestor level. Despite his mastery of the secret technique, coupled with the power of three types of alien flames, he only managed to boost his strength by about two stars.
“The stronger one is, the less effect the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes will have,” Xiao Yan mused, frowning slightly, not entirely satisfied with the result. He felt the vast, ocean-like combat energy within him, still somewhat dissatisfied.
“Using three types of alien flames in the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes, this secret technique is truly tailor-made for him.”
Nearby, Tang Zhen sensed the changes in Xiao Yan and couldn’t help but be shaken. Even with his current strength and the added power of the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, using the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes would only make him slightly more formidable. Increasing his strength by even one star would be extremely challenging. However, in Xiao Yan’s hands, the technique erupted with such power, making it hard to find words. Such effectiveness was rare, even among the generations of Blazing Valley.
However, if Tang Zhen knew of Xiao Yan’s lingering dissatisfaction, he might want to crawl into a hole. On this continent, there was probably no one but Xiao Yan who could use the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes to increase their strength by two stars at the Combat Venerated level.
“Well, it will suffice,” Xiao Yan muttered, clasping his hands gently. The terrifying power swirling in his palms made him feel as if he could shatter space itself.
“Blazing Valley’s Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes…”
Sensing the explosive combat energy in Xiao Yan, the Phantom Sect Elder’s brow furrowed, and he sneered, “A mere Three Star Combat Venerated is not worth showing off in front of me!”
But despite his words, the Phantom Sect Elder did not dare to be careless. With a wave of his sleeve, a clattering sound echoed, and over a dozen black chains, like venomous snakes, burst forth from his sleeves!
These black chains moved at an incredibly fast speed, piercing through the void in an instant. Their sharp tips, like spears, aimed ruthlessly at vital points all over Xiao Yan’s body.
“Soul Chain, Bind Soul!”
The Phantom Sect Elder’s face darkened as he flicked his fingers. The black chains mysteriously entwined around Xiao Yan, forming an eerie array. Dark fog swirled, and a peculiar suction force emerged. Under this force, Xiao Yan suddenly realized that the soul in his brow quivered.
Noticing the change, Xiao Yan frowned, stamped his foot on the void, and a purplish-brown flame surged out from his body, clinging fiercely to the black chains. Immediately, mournful screams echoed from the chains.
“These tricks are useless against me!” Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed with coldness. Silver light flickered under his feet, and he instantly appeared above the Phantom Sect Elder’s head. Grasping a heavy ruler, he slashed down without hesitation.
“Flame-Splitting Ruler!”
*Clang!*
The heavy ruler fell, but the Phantom Sect Elder remained motionless. More than a dozen black chains burst from his robes, rapidly wrapping around him and forcibly blocking the ruler. The powerful recoil forced Xiao Yan back several steps.
“You’ve improved, but it’s still not enough…” The Phantom Sect Elder slowly lifted his head, his withered face twisted into a sinister smile. “This time, I will not give you any chance to struggle!”
“Great Celestial Star Hand!”
As the Phantom Sect Elder cackled, Xiao Yan suddenly noticed that the space around him began to twist violently. The surroundings rapidly changed, as if they were in the midst of a starry sky, with countless stars twinkling around them.
“Die!”
The Phantom Sect Elder’s expression turned grim. He clenched his hand, and the starry sky churned, transforming into a colossal hand filled with countless glowing points. It grasped towards Xiao Yan fiercely, and wherever it passed, the space collapsed, revealing black holes.
“It’s the Great Celestial Star Hand. This old guy actually used it right away…”
“Xiao Yan will have a tough time; this is one of the Phantom Sect Elder’s most lethal moves…”
Some discerning individuals on the square gasped as they saw the starry sky enveloping Xiao Yan, and they whispered to themselves.
Facing the massive hand streaking towards him, Xiao Yan’s expression grew serious. He could sense that the Great Celestial Star Hand was definitely one of the Phantom Sect Elder’s most deadly techniques. It seemed the old man had learned his lesson and decided that swift victory was the best course of action after their last encounter.
*Whew…*
The surrounding space was sealed off. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, having never expected the warm-up to escalate to a life-or-death battle so quickly. The old man had grown wiser.
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Xiao Yan’s hands flashed, creating a series of afterimages. The combat energy within him surged like a flood through his meridians.
“Mountain-Cleaving Seal!”
“Sea-Parting Seal!”
“Earth-Covering Seal!”
As the three seals were completed, Xiao Yan’s face flushed red. A brilliant light seal flickered in his palm, and the terrifying energy caused the space to crack with black fissures.
“Not enough…”
Despite the cumulative might of the three seals, capable of pulverizing mountains, Xiao Yan shook his head. It was not enough to counter the Phantom Sect Elder’s deadly move. He exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the hand seals changed again!
“Sky-Annihilating Seal!”
Another energy light seal, about the size of a palm, quietly appeared and seamlessly merged with the previous three. As the Sky-Annihilating Seal intertwined, the energy seal quivered violently, radiating light. A layer of peculiar crystal spread over its surface, enveloping it entirely.
**Imperial Seal, Four Seals Combined!**
Looking at the exquisite crystal layer in his palm, a fiery gleam appeared in Xiao Yan’s eyes. The Imperial Seal was one of the advanced supreme techniques of the Ancient Race. The combination of five seals was reputed to rival the power of a Heaven Tier Battle Technique. Now, with four seals combined, what sort of power would it unleash?
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