“Accept.” When Xiao Yan uttered that word, the eyes of the Soul Temple Master also glowed with a sharp light. Though he did not speak, everyone could feel the suddenly oppressive atmosphere in this world. A storm was brewing!
“It’s time to settle these years of grievances…” After waiting for so many years, they finally reached this point. Yet, Xiao Yan’s heart was even more calm. He had once been just a small youth striving in the Jia Ma Empire, with his ultimate goal being to defeat the Yunlan Sect. However, the unexpectedly appearing Soul Temple had captured his father, destroyed his family, and almost severed the bloodline of the Xiao clan. Such a grudge was simply unbearable. From that moment on, the somewhat naive youth realized that the future path would be full of hardships, but he still moved forward without hesitation. Because there were some things that, no matter how difficult, could not be given up.
To reach where he is today, from a certain perspective, the Soul Temple played a major role by providing Xiao Yan with the most pressing motivation…
“Hehe, what a gutsy move.” Beside the Soul Temple Master, the old Demonic Soul Elder looked at Xiao Yan with a gloomy face and cackled.
Xiao Yan glanced at him indifferently, then turned to the Soul Temple Master, “I wonder, how do you wish to handle this challenge?”
“Three battles, best two out of three, each side sends three people, a battle to the death,” the Soul Temple Master said with a deep voice. “Of course, if you want the alliance of the Soul Temple and the Heavenly Flame Alliance to engage in a full-scale war, we will not object. The Soul Temple has stood in the Central Plains for so many years. If you truly think that a hastily formed alliance can contend with us, then that is quite naive.”
“With the backing of the Spirit Race, you indeed have the audacity to say such a thing.” Xiao Yan shook his head, then said, “If it really comes down to a full-scale war, even if our Heavenly Flame Alliance is annihilated, your Soul Temple will also suffer heavy losses. It seems the Spirit Race is reluctant to endure this loss.”
This kind of decisive battle clearly indicated that the Soul Temple did not want an all-out war. Therefore, they placed the level of the battle at the highest tier. Although the scale of the battlefield here would not be too large, its influence would be no less significant than a large-scale war. After all, they each represented their own factions. If one side lost, any future discussion would place them at a disadvantage.
“Choose either, the decision is yours,” the Soul Temple Master said indifferently.
“Two out of three seems fitting. Accomplishing good deeds is indeed a commendable virtue.” Xiao Yan smiled slightly and spoke. The Spirit Race did not want to see the Soul Temple suffer heavy casualties, and he likewise did not want to completely risk the entire Heavenly Flame Alliance. This alliance was his capital to counter the Spirit Race; he had worked hard for so many years to achieve this, and was not willing to easily give it up.
Although the Soul Temple Master’s words were harsh, they were true. The current Heavenly Flame Alliance could stand against the Soul Temple, but if they truly aimed to destroy it, the alliance would also suffer immense damage, or possibly even a mutually destructive outcome. Compared to this, the high-level duel of two out of three seemed more appropriate.
“It seems you are also unwilling to bear the cost of a full-scale war,” the Soul Temple Master raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully when he heard Xiao Yan’s words.
“Send out those who will fight,” Xiao Yan said with a faint smile.
“Hehe, in recent years, the greatest provocation my Spirit Race has faced is right here,” the Demonic Soul Elder sneered and took a step forward. “Youngster of the Xiao clan, I will count myself among the three.”
As the Demonic Soul Elder took that step, anyone with keen senses could feel that the huge mountain peak trembled slightly. A dark surge of power, like an enraged dragon, shot out from the sole of his foot, fiercely breaking through the stone in the mountain, charging towards Xiao Yan.
*Bang!*
Just as the hidden dragon-like force was about to burst out of the ground, a figure behind Xiao Yan stepped forward. This step was precisely on the spot where the force hit, causing the hard ground to sink half a foot. That surge of power was shattered by the figure.
“The Spirit Race, as always, prefers to lurk in the shadows,” Xiao Chen said expressionlessly, looking at the Demonic Soul Elder.
“Blood Axe Xiao Chen,” the Demonic Soul Elder, with a face as cold as ice, glared at Xiao Chen, spitting out the words one by one.
“You, a mere ant, have no right to mention the name of our clan leader!” Xiao Chen, like a wolf slowly awakening, emanated a faint killing intent.
The Soul Temple Master and the Demonic Soul Elder frowned, but they did not dare to underestimate Xiao Chen. Especially the former, who had fought Xiao Chen in the Demon Fire Space and was left in a very unfavorable position, looking quite embarrassed. Now meeting again, he naturally harbored great fear.
“Haha, indeed, Blood Axe Xiao Chen, after so many years, you are still as fierce as ever. Xiao Xuan may have a great reputation, but in the end, he was doomed to fall, and your Xiao clan was destined to be a fleeting bloom.”
While the Soul Temple Master and the Demonic Soul Elder were frowning, a shriveled, cane-wielding figure appeared beside them, like a specter, without any warning, amidst the gazes of the audience.
When the old figure appeared, Xiao Yan’s gaze sharpened, and he looked at the figure with a serious expression. This person appeared without the slightest disturbance in space, as if he had always been standing there!
“This person has a terrifying strength,” Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with the Elders and Pharmacists, all sensing a profound shock.
“Hun Qian Mo!” Xiao Chen fixed his gaze on the gaunt old man with the cane. Dressed in gray, his shriveled face always bore an unsettling smile. His eyes, unlike those of ordinary elders, gleamed with an eerie luster, making even the soul feel a slight, piercing pain.
Hearing Xiao Chen’s words, Xiao Yan and the others were shocked. The Spirit Race had indeed sent this old man out.
“Hun Qian Mo… heavens, he is still alive? The Spirit Race has sent him out, they are determined to severely wound the Heavenly Flame Alliance,” commented some experienced old men around the mountain. The name Hun Qian Mo might be unfamiliar to younger strongmen, but they knew very well how terrifying this old man was.
“You, a wretch who begged for mercy before the clan leader, have the nerve to show your face?” Xiao Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the surging murderous intent, and spoke expressionlessly.
Hun Qian Mo’s wrinkled face twitched slightly. His eyes, with their strange luster, slowly swept over Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan, his voice sounding like bones grinding. “No matter how powerful he was, he could not escape his fate. The victor becomes the king, and the defeated becomes the bandit. Today, the Spirit Race still stands at the peak of this continent, while the Xiao clan? The once glorious Xiao clan now only has a few members left, barely breathing under the dominion of the Spirit Race. It is pitiful, to say the least.”
*Bang!*
Xiao Chen’s face turned grim, and he flashed in front of Hun Qian Mo, his hand slashing through the air, materializing a massive blood-red axe. With a fierce gale, it struck Hun Qian Mo like a thunderbolt from the sky.
“Xiao Chen, even if you lived this long by luck, you are no longer the Blood Axe Xiao Chen of the past!” Facing Xiao Chen’s lightning-fast attack, Hun Qian Mo’s face, almost skin and bones, filled with a fierce aura. His bony hand clenched into a fist, then slammed directly into the giant blood axe.
*Clang!*
The collision created a powerful gust of wind, forcing the several Dou Sage experts of the Soul Temple to retreat in alarm. Only the Soul Temple Master and the Demonic Soul Elder remained unfazed.
*Clink, clink.*
The axe struck Hun Qian Mo’s fist, and the terrifying recoil sent Xiao Chen staggering back ten steps, his face turning grim. After being trapped in the Demon Fire Illusion for thousands of years, his cultivation could not match Hun Qian Mo’s, which stirred frustration in his heart. In the past, just seeing Xiao Chen would cause Hun Qian Mo to flee in panic!
“Xiao Chen, I have already said, everything has changed. You are no longer a match for me,” Hun Qian Mo glanced indifferently at the faint blood mark on his fist, then turned to Xiao Yan, licking his lips. “Your body carries the scent of Xiao Xuan. It seems you truly received his inheritance in the Heavenly Tomb.”
Xiao Yan’s face remained calm. This old man’s strength was around that of a six-star Dou Sage, stronger than everyone present. The Soul Temple was indeed prepared.
“Xiao Yan, the Soul Temple is ready, it’s your turn…” The Soul Temple Master gave Xiao Yan a cold look and stepped forward, clearly indicating he was the third combatant.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan’s eyes filled with a chilling resolve. It seemed this battle was going to be more intense than he expected. Among the three, he could handle the Soul Temple Master, and the Demonic Soul Elder could be dealt with by Ancestor Xiao Chen, but the real problem was Hun Qian Mo…
*Sigh… “That old geezer, leave him to me…”*
Just as this thought flashed across Xiao Yan’s mind, a small figure appeared beside him, the appearance of a child—the Dan Tower Patriarch who had shown himself in the Demon Fire Space years ago…
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