“Whoosh!” Under the shock of countless spectators across heaven
and earth, Xiao Yan’s figure transformed into a crimson meteor,
plunging straight towards the pale-faced, monstrous ancient
demon. In his palm, that four-colored flame lotus glistened with a dazzling sheen; destructive power overflowed endlessly therefrom,
making energies across heaven and earth become wildly surging and
unstable. Xiao Yan flew swiftly like lightning, and in a mere single flicker,
he closed within ten-zhang (approx. 33 m) of the ancient demon;
the furious energy from that flame lotus made the demon
truly sense an icy aura approaching Death itself. However,
now he had just casted the Finger of Extinction, leaving his internal
fighting spirit extremely weak. Combined with being shaken by Xiao
Yan’s mighty aura suddenly approaching, an unbreakable fear froze
his form — leaving him merely watching, helpless, as that blaze of
beautiful but cruel fire enlarged alarmingly in his eyes.
At Xiao Yan’s fearless killing intent, every ancient bloodline expert’s
complexion involuntarily turned paler; did this man really intend kill?
“Ahh…Yan, Show mercy!” Yet while Xiao Yan and his flame lotus
approache, suddenly the skies resounded with a heavy,
resigned sigh—then at that moment, an impossible sight unfolded:
Xiao Yan – with lotus and all — abruptly froze in midair, no longer
able to move forward even a mere inch, while even the previously violently
surging blaze immediately grew strangely tranquil.
This sudden change instantly contracted Xiao Yan’s pupils, and upon
trying his body to break through, he discovered he couldn’t move his
body the slightest fraction — his heart shivered cold at once;
sure enough, this clan harbored numerous experts beyond imagination.
As the space around him stilled solidly, a slowly appearing elderly,
bowed figure materialized directly before Xiao Yan: the man wore robes whiter than winter clouds, while both his hair and eyebrows gleamed the same white — eyes hollowed in dark sockets, but not a tinge clouded;
rather their depths drew like endless abyss-holes,
so powerful one seemed helpless but sink forever within their sight.
The presence felt strangely surreal — mysterious — otherworldly almost.
“Elder Tongxuan…”
Upon seeing him appear before Xiao Yan, above in mid-heavens
the ancient clan elders led by Gu Jie were hurriedly bowing in respect.
Elder Tongxuan nodded lightly, then turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan while he
sighed again; with delicate motions, he reached forth his aged,
wrinkled hand and gently plucked the immobilized deadly fire lotus
mid-air from the younger swordsman himself. Then with the subtle,
lightest squeeze, he made disappear completely that terrible lotus whose fury
once threatened mass annihilation — absolutely zero tremors or residual waves
resulted in the slightest aftermath.
Once this explosive ‘mini-apocalypse’ had dissipated, Elder Tongxuan
waved again his sleeve, undoing the pressure locking Xiao Yan still.
Then with one finger flick, he summoned gently soothing force from
within his sleeves. Encased completely within this tranquil energy, Xiao’s
outer blood marks and wounds rapidly vanished; before he knew,
wounds both inside, outside had fully rejuvenated away — within a breath.
“Gracias Elder.”
Witnessing his display now, awe touched Xiao Yan’s soul
once again. Although proud a fighter, one did not foolishly
defy every taboo here among this bloodline clan’s halls. If they
would not kill the one he sought dead, better perhaps retreat and take this
golden opportunity as his graceful retreat. So — respectfully with clasped palms –
he expressed his gratitude outward while keeping thoughts inward.
Elder Tongxuan gave a slight, approving smile as his gaze slowly swept over
Xiao, later rasping out quietly, “Unbelievable…The Xiao Blood yet could birth one such extraordinary descendant. Had Xiao Xuan witnessed it himself, no doubt his heart soared joyously.”
“Demon of ancients,
this trial now is concluded,
and thee — art the defeated side,” the Elder pronounced, voice flat, suddenly pivoting back towards the pale demon with tightly clenched fists. The pronouncement echoed, piercing through the utter soundlessness below the sky as everyone’s held breath released collectively across the silent field.
Hearing this clear edict, Gu Ya’s limbs shuddered violently.
He recognized all too clearly — were it not for Elder Tongxuan’s sudden intervention, he’d have long been reduced merely scattered motes, annihilated from being. Despite that truth, however pride swelled inside this youth—high, lofty. He bore this humiliating loss terribly unkindly within — the very last result never once crossed even his most wild speculation. Had he lost not merely strength—but worse: honor…To have fallen beneath the one always treated like waste beneath him for so long?
Victory or loss:
If you cannot accept the truth;
cannot bear admit defeat;
What qualification remains for being general-commander of black abyss army;
Or perhaps — the dark abyss kings’ thrones themselves?
Though his fists trembled violently under pressure, finally, after long hesitation, ancient demon Gu Ya sucked deep breath in. Gazing directly into Xiao’s eyes, he spat with reluctant disdain: I concede.
“Ancient demon…actually admits loss…”
Gazes skyward, the plazas still held death-like hushed silence;
among countless eyes in ancient bloodline audiences, stunned disbelief still
pervased many’s expressions. A genius whose rank among the youth ranks was easily top three within
the ancient line — yet to suffer a fatal defeat at descendants of a once decayed Xiao line;
how could harsh reality seem so impossible?
“What the…how!?! How can this end occur!?”
Even elders like Lin Xiu and Ling Quen stared open-mouthed,
struggling for words, disbelief echoing across entire assembly. No
predictions saw this conclusion approaching at all.
“Xiao Yan is not an ordinary soul; whatever hardships he has gone
through far exceed comprehension of the ancient Gu demon’s;
thus, his final victory was inevitable. From now on—no conflict shall we seek with him —
or we’d seek none but disgraceful outcomes,” Gu Zhen, observing skyward where a thin shadow yet stood as solid as distant mountains themselves, spoke slowly and solemnly.
Lin Xiu heard his tone. Their mouths tried to open for rebuttals;
eventually, no word uttered though. Even Gu Ya could suffer defeat—by him;
if they charged ahead unreflectively in such hubris? Only to find self’s own face slammed into dirt yet—over and again.
Seeing silence, comprehension taking hold in them all, Gu
Zhen smiled gently before shifting his vision — gazing distantly toward
that dense forest’s direction; glimmers of strange thought flickering
within his gaze suddenly.
“Pfft! He even unleashed ultimate void annihilation finger,
and yet tasted full defeat…Severe setback today,” From behind where Gu’s gaze reached a towering colossus-tree, atop
three tall dark-clad men stood surveying skywards. The first one in shining silver garments chuckled grimly.
“Indeed powerful. If at the same realm as GuYa, probably fall far quicker.”
Larger man behind, with tiger-back bear-chest structure, answered with voice booming like low thunder — reverberating might through air.
Though his appearance suggested dim brute mentality outwardly, the aura from inside his being surged as steady and solid as land itself. Strong presence.
“This young talent likely best two you both even should reach eighth-tier Dou Sage status…”
Gently, softness echoed, spoken by a foremost cloaked form ahead among this troika. This figure dressed simply wearing thin light green garments — elegant features, bearing refined grace.
Though less mighty in raw pressure around him versus comrades, one felt in stance and attitude he stood above the other two by unspoken decree. Leadership.
“You suppose? So then,
Brother Big,
could you still beat him?”
Eyes lighting up, Silver Robe chuckled.
“…Possibly mutual destruction.” Green robe smiled, answering rather dramatically
as expressions of giant and silver robe shifted somewhat, clearly unsettled.
“This one…seeming gentle; however inside hides a ferocity unmatched.
This kind brutality usually arises born through countless life-
and-death battle — one hard earn…”
Green-robe chuckled while explaining slowly:
“This battle concerning our ‘Xiune’… perhaps should leave behind now? Yan clearly qualifies our minimum requirements.
Worse—if she truly enrages him accidentally…
noone escapes the storm. Though Demon Ya lost, more
headache may await regardless…”
“Urgh, so he actually deserves leading the hunt?!”
The silver and brute chuckled dryly at implications.
“Brother — no trial awaited further you?”
Shook his head, Green Robe answered softly instead:
“Aaaaalready undergone…”
“Eeehh??! The result!?!?!?”
Both other men exchanged quick glances, eyes wide with rising eagerness to peer.
“This barely achieved ‘9-Blood Level’…” The green robe’s lips formed an upward
curve; as he twisted, turning side to reveal on his smooth
forehead a glowing crest; radiant and vibrant; a family insignia glowing in seven-colors.
His insignia shimmered on head — iridescent brilliance flowing subtly.
“Ahhh Nine!”
Upon that vision appearing,
Both silver clad comrade and the giant man
exhale deeply in shock awe;
expressed openly admiration in his presence.
“That indicates Big Bro clan blood strength nearing Xiune quickly!?” Silver asked aloud.
Still shaking his head slightly, Green glanced afar toward that figure surrounded beauty’s charm afar;
softly murmured: “Too hard, that…she bears clan’s all time absolute perfect blood! …Not even near…”
Hearing those soft-spoken truths,
Expressions both startled, eyes wide,
instant thought sparking recognition in mind,
shocked even more as impossible truths sank deep.
“This surely cannot be, correct?”
“Enough…Since the match concludes,
Gu Ya, Xiao Yan — now,
descends ye from these fields!” Elder
Tongxuan, skyborne above all, now
raised voice clearly calling forth.
Hearing that, Yan politely nodded. With one firm salute to Tongxuan Elder,
Without a backward look at Demon Ya, body spun around amidst countless watching eyes — returning silently to his reserved seat.
Seeing both competitors resuming positions above,
Elder Tongxuan suddenly gestured powerfully, summoning stone plaza’s ground;
That previously torn battleground now groaned; thousand fractures shook,
as countless stoning rocks burst upward again naturally. Swinging sleeve one again:
those previously shattered remnants vanishing as dust—suddenly, like reborn phoenix, appeared anew beneath crowd gazing: fresh, polished colossus arena again appeared pristine before masses.
“For the ensuing ceremony — allow me
to assume control.”
Finishing these matters, Tongxuan’s unexpected words suddenly rang
into air again — shocking other Elders like Gun Jie etc.
Momentary confusion then comprehension, followed by shocked awe in eyes as all finally understood—each respectfully bowing then stepping back obediently.
After remaining elders exited area, Elder Tongxuan finally descended softly from high heavens toward crowd’s special quarter — gaze smiling, shifting now—seeking a particular charming feminine silhouette sitting beyond.
“Youth!
It is your turn at last!”
Light words from Elder, yet they carried deeply resonant echo in many hearts…
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