“For lives and deaths, you hold no right to decide!” Xiao Yan spat coldly as he gazed toward Hun Yuntian swooping toward him like flashing lightning. His grip on Hun Feng tightened further; the latter writhed wildly in resistance, trying to break free.
“Xiao Yan! My ancestors will never spare you!” Hun Feng yelled, his face flushed purpe, hatred glaring from his eyes toward Xiao Yan. Suddenly, his entire body swelled up violently as turbulent Dou Qi stormed inside of him uncontrollably.
“A self-detonation?” Observing the spectacle with cold indifference, Xiao Yan’s expression remained calm, his grasp tightening fiercely. In a snap, crack! Snap!—Hun Feng’s neck broke, collapsing limply; nonetheless, his inflating physique accelerated further with intensity till finally…
“BANG!” An enormous wave of explosive energy, along with blood-laden mists, blew outward like a volcanic blast.
Amid the floating crimson mist, Xiao Yan floated in midair still, his presence surrounded by intangible, vast Spiritual Energy forming barriers that completely neutralised every ounce of shock waves spewing from Hun Feng’s detonation.
“Chi!”
Xiao Yan cast off an impassive stare, then he retreated backward abruptly as his space in front shifted and trembled. In an eye blink, an ancient figure leapt into sight, swinging a fist laced with a profound aura of deadly intention against the chest of Xiao Yan.
The lethal blow having barely missed him, Hun Yuan Tian appeared instantly in view. He shot an indifferent glance at the site where Hun Feng had self-destructed. His face, lined with wrinkles, grew somewhat somber; a flash flicked from palm outward pulling a captured residual soul amidst red mist and pulling it into hidden pocket folds.
“Young man! This old soul shall flay you to bone today!” he threatened with cruel eyes as fury gripped his being tightly, any smile that had graced his face now fully wiped clean. He hadn’t expected Xiao Yan’s ferocity—not the least hesitation nor mercy shown—ending threats with final strikes. Had Hun Feng not decided immediately to ignite a final self-destruct, his fate would have been erasing his spiritual remnant with little effort from Xiao Yan. Nonetheless, what damage Hun Feng had suffered, regardless of survival, was no doubt grave.
“To live long without departing signifies sin. I’ll be glad to escort upon your final path!”
A cold chuckle escaped Xiao Yan unfazed as defiance burned deep in his bones. While merely holding Mid-level Sixth Star Dou Saint might in physical might, just through wielding imperial-grade Soul Power rendered him an equal threat facing those even at the Eight Stars Dou Saint level. The spiritual energy Hun Yuan Tian displayed might have proven mighty—but not surpassing the might of Thunder Ying or Yan Ji. According to Xiao Yan’s calculations, that old fiend likely hovered at an early to mid Eighth Star Saint strength. Should the combat erupt earnestly, Xiao Yan feared nothing before him.
“Men of the Xiao family! Ever the sharp-tongued bunch, just wait till captured within my palm—you’ll experience agonies beyond nightmares!”
An icy, sinister expression cloaked Hun Yuan Tian as his lips twisted wide, revealing grayish-yellow, ominous teeth while whispering dread.
All the while, hidden beneath verbal exchanges, his digits subtly flicked—a ripple of unseen spiritual pulses began emanating from behind Xiao Yan’s back—interwoven into an invisible net-like trap readying to spring shut suddenly.
Simultaneously Hun Yuan Tian rocketed forward, materializing abruptly before Xiao Yan. His palm lade with rancid stench, struck straight towards Xiao Yan’s chest—the strike nearing completion within breath’s distance!
However.
“Boom!” As it came inches away from striking a blow, the palm halted abruptly against invisible armor—a defense rising swiftly between impact and skin surface, colliding viciously while shattering the space around into fractures as pressure clashed violently.
“Deploying Soul Skills against me? Amusing…” Observing this with disdainful mockery, Xiao Yan sneered.
The mental gesture activated a torrent of boundlessly mighty Soul Force exploding outward, in mere heartbeats it reduced to dust the ghost net trailing behind—a sudden blazing hot pink flame spurted through his skin and flesh instantly turning form into a transparent, glowing pink luster.
Simultaneously fueling this power transformation—his actual strength surged upwards dramatically. With practiced ease, cyclones flared at his palms, six-hued flame spirals took shape, unleashing devastating fire lotus in barely perceptible thought moments, with unfathomable might accelerated through aid from Imperial-grade soul mastery powers.
“Ahh!”
Once stabilized flames of annihilation roare outwards with searing devastation waves rapidly spreading. Xiao Yan twitched a curved pink index finger—an eruption propelled the lotus forward in blazing comet tail straight toward the adversary’s head: Hun Yuan Tian!
Though still merely at Sixth Star Dou Saint power potential externally, the annihilative might had now amplified numerous fold, wholly owed to the enhanced capabilities stemming purely through soul dominances wielded.
“Gate – of Eternal Slumb~”
Perceiving the annihilating essence exuding from lotus, Hun Yuan Tian’s demeanor shifted, seriousness creeping inward. Twisting arcane seals in his hand—surges of dense black mist expelled from both palms coalescing suddenly as a towering black gate filled with an eerie air, door opening into dark voids beyond reminiscent of a bottomless vacuum hole—an enigmatic rift to somewhere unimaginable…
“Su~i~h!”
The fire lotus roared forth across the sky, colliding eventually against the ominous Gate in deafening explosions unleashing apocalyptic fiery blasts across the air.
“Hmph, vanish all within me!” The swirling black gate reflected the blast’s aftershock deep in Hun Yuan Tian’s eyes.
As black gate’s mouth stretched further, a mighty suction surge gushed violently outward until—ultimately—the monstrous thousand-feet wide flame storm was completely drained into the void within.
“An Eternal gate, it is…” Xiao Yan noted a glint of intrigue, not out of awe of its destruction swallowing capacity, instead astounded at the rarity this treasure held in battle.
“A mere trick—childlike compared to mine,” Hun Yuan Tian cackled maliciously. “My Death Gate hails directly from one of an ancient Douchi Emperor—the devourer of heaven-and-earth’s treasures.”
Guessing accurately at Xiaoyan marvel—Hun Yuantian chuckled ominously at the edge of his breath. Truth being: unlike conventional Dou Techniques, the dark gate belonged in an advanced, exclusive class—an entirely separated discipline. Cultivating this gate over centuries, the internal dark realm became suffused in deathly force—danger enough for a Seventh Star Dou saint entrapping within; without swift breakout even the strongest risked corruption until demise—their entire quintessence, upon death, absorbed into gate for enhancement—a treasure that once stirred many battles in ancient times. No less startling than its mere existence in Yuantian’s mastery.
“A remarkable artifact indeed…,”Xiaoyan murmurer licking lips, his covetous eyes flickering appreciatively at said weapon.
“Your essence—especially that vibrant soul power will elevate its strength magnitudinally!”
Yuantian vanished momentarily from gaze before abruptly resplendently landing atop dark door, seated cross-legged as hate pierced outward in Xiaoyan’s direction—with gesture changes dark energies stirred. From gate burst forth numerous towering beams, launching forth lightning-swift engulfments aiming at target.
“Now descend… Join your ancestor Xiao Xuan, beneath abyss’ keep!”—A cruel taunt from Yuantian’s lips followed release of terrifying gravity that yanks rayed enclosures backward with instantaneous collapse… into void swallowing embrace—Xiaoyang vanishing along beam into dark door’s chasm beyond!
Swallowing whole Xiao Yan, Yuan Tian’s expression darkens maliciously—he knew, no soul yet exited unperished from that gate upon capture! Once within, encased death-fog will consume Dou Qi vitality until helplessly yielding soul’s fate upon Yuantian’s whim.
“Hmph. A pack untrained mobs seeking to toppled us Hun—await as preparations seal your fate; every single trespasser stays!” After containment, Yuan Tian cast an arrogant smirk across the battlefield below, then lifting gaze unto ominous sky clouds swirling overhead, mutter darkly to skies.
In the pitch void expanse thickening death aura, Dou might wilt under pressure. Xiaoyan appeared abruptly amidst oppressive gloom of void—his eyes gleamed in odd fascination scanning the voids around him before whispering softly—
“Yuantian…Your prized treasure—I shall temporarily accept its keep…”
Upon vocalizing—a sudden flare erupting from his being erupted with sudden sweeping release of crimson flame engulfing everything: Pure Lotus Flame—its fierce temperature rendering even densest death-force powerless from approach.
Closing eyes—vast endless soul energies roared outward expanding instantly engulfing entire void, within mere moments engulfing spatial entirety. His physical body then flickered through the darkness, rematerializing within another shadowed region.
In that area center floated a jet-black stone veiled hidden amidst multiple layers of death-myst. Emission: faint pulses revealed it carried soul-markers left by Yuantian—who’d controlled through imprint sealed upon this Death’s gate. Remove these, control is lost entirely to owner’s possession, thus why Xiao Yan’s mien twisted wider sinister curl forming.
To enclose an Emperor-souled Xiao Yan within—Yuantian’s gravest error made so foolishly.
Crack!
A loud explosive sound echoed. With a single palm, Yuantian smote upon Ancient Clan’s Dou Saint Elder shattering to naught, darkened gas exhaled from palm. Simultaneously, miniature black portals erupted flashing out amidst blood-mist tendrils flowing fast into dark gateway within.
“What an enthralling power to command…” Pleasure curled Hun Yuantian’s visage as death-force thickened inside his domain.
Yet his next intent—pursue other enemy, stalled entirely.
His entire perception suddenly severed connection tethering to the Death’s Door—intensity draining instantly.
“Terrible!”
Shuddering heart jolted—intent to enter Door immediately but failed—tether already utterly broken.
Shuuuu!
Suddenly severed tether—Yuantian’s palm shuddered abruptly and mini-black door soared skyward rapidly increasing mass expanding to form original gate again.
Upon reformed gate, a silhouette appeared—sitting upright with calm mirth grinning at astonished Yuantian.
With casual grace and radiant confidence—the figure greeted in clear cheer.
“Many thanks—for your gracious gift!”
Stunned—Yuantian stilled momentarily with disbelief—his pupils widened furiously into burning blood red!
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