Chapter 300: Speak My Name, and You'll Be Shocked!
Whoosh!
A strong gust of wind carried a blade of grass that shot out like an arrow, piercing a brightly colored venomous snake and pinning it to the ground with a dull thud.
"There are so many snakes here..." Yun Yun frowned. Like most human women, she felt some instinctive discomfort around such creatures.
"Continuing on like this won't work." Lu Bu glanced at the dense underbrush below, overgrown with vines, brambles, and shrubs, making it difficult to find a path. His brows furrowed slightly.
With a wave of his sleeve, a silver light flashed, and the Earth Demon Puppet appeared, charging forward to clear a path for Lu Bu and the others. Simultaneously, a surge of powerful soul energy emanated from his brow, sweeping through the area in search of hidden Seven Colored Primordial Stones.
"I'll help too." Qing Lin smiled softly, her hands forming seals. A green glow flashed in her eyes, where three tiny flowers slowly appeared and began to rotate. With a snap of her slender fingers, a soft green light materialized, summoning dozens of small venomous snakes that lined up neatly in front of her.
"Go, find something for me," Qing Lin said with a playful smile.
The snakes hissed softly, flicking their tongues. At her command, they slithered away, disappearing into the dense underbrush and fallen leaves around them.
"When the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes fully mature, a space forms within my eyes. I can store and control snake type magical beasts there…" Qing Lin explained with a smile.
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran's face showed a hint of envy. Qing Lin truly had exceptional talent. Controlling ordinary snakes was already impressive, but if she could control magical beasts, wouldn't they serve as her loyal companions in battle?
Noticing Nalan Yanran's curious gaze, Qing Lin merely smiled without elaborating further. In fact, the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes could also absorb and assimilate the power of the controlled snakes, feeding it back to her and accelerating her cultivation. But she decided to keep this detail to herself.
"Oh? Qing Lin, can I enter the space within your eyes?" Lu Bu asked with a curious smile, rubbing his chin. If that were possible, the possibilities would be endless.
"Uh… no, you can't." Qing Lin quickly shook her head. "Only the magical beasts under my control can be stored there."
Magical beasts she controlled lost their autonomy entirely, their life and death subject to her will.
"I see..." Lu Bu sighed regretfully. Though the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes were extraordinary, they still had their limitations.
Two moments later, atop a tree branch, the space rippled faintly. The white haired man and Feng Qing'er appeared, their expressions cautious as they observed the four figures ahead.
"Such strong soul power... When did the Falling Star Pavilion have someone with such a powerful soul?" the white haired man muttered with a slight frown, though he didn't seem overly concerned.
"So what if their soul is strong? In the face of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, all such tricks are nothing more than illusions. How laughable."
Beside him, Feng Qing'er's eyes remained fixed on the man leading the group. A hint of doubt flashed in her gaze he seemed familiar.
His figure was familiar. So was his soul energy.
The white haired man smirked faintly, waving his sleeve to summon a spatial ripple that enveloped both him and Feng Qing'er. This time, however, he moved much more cautiously, aware of the other party's formidable soul power.
"Wait, hold on…" Feng Qing'er called out hastily, wanting to confirm her suspicions about the man's soul aura.
"Hold on for what? We can observe more closely later!" the white haired man said dismissively, paying no heed to her words. In an instant, both of them disappeared into the forest below.
Feng Qing'er's expression turned stormy. This man really didn't respect her at all!
...
Meanwhile, Lu Bu and his group advanced slowly, pausing intermittently. Eventually, they arrived at a deep ravine. High above, water thundered down from a cliff, crashing along steep, jagged rock walls into the valley below.
"This place… doesn't look natural at all," Qing Lin remarked, glancing around from her position beside Lu Bu. Her delicate face carried a serious expression. The deep ravine looked more like the result of a fierce battle, as if two titanic forces had clashed here, tearing the earth apart.
But... what level of power would it take to create such a massive, nearly thousand foot long ravine? Dou Zun? Half Saint? Or even a Dou Saint?
"It's possible that powerful individuals once fought here…" Nalan Yanran agreed, scanning the area thoughtfully.
Lu Bu flicked his finger, sending a gust of wind that struck a nearby shrub. With a muffled bang, the shrub disintegrated into fragments, revealing freshly turned soil and a small pit.
This was where the She Clan's ancestor had unearthed a Seven Colored Primordial Stone while searching for medicinal ingredients to treat heart ailments. His fortune had been extraordinary.
"Qing Lin, take a look around here," Lu Bu said softly.
"Understood…" Qing Lin formed a hand seal, green light swirling in her eyes as she scanned the surroundings.
Seeing this, both Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun grew expectant. Qing Lin's eyes could detect unique energy signatures perhaps they might reveal another Seven Colored Primordial Stone.
However, under their hopeful gazes, Qing Lin furrowed her brows and shook her head. "Master, there's nothing unusual here…"
Lu Bu frowned. The existence of a Seven Colored Primordial Stone indicated that a Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python had once perished here. It was understandable if they couldn't find another stone, but no trace of anything unusual? That made no sense!
"Master, one of the snakes seems to have found something unusual," Qing Lin suddenly said.
"Oh?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. "Take me there."
"Follow me!" Qing Lin replied, springing into the air and heading toward a small mound on the nearby cliff.
Lu Bu and the others immediately followed. The mound wasn't far, and Qing Lin's hand swept over it, sending a wave of frost that froze the soil into small clumps before they crumbled away. Soon, a massive, white skull emerged before them.
The skull was enormous, its jagged teeth perfectly aligned and gleaming with a sharpness that seemed to reflect the sunlight, exuding a chilling aura.
"What… is this?" Nalan Yanran's pupils constricted as she felt a savage and primal aura emanating from the bones, making her heart pound with unease.
Even though it was long dead, the remains still exuded a terrifying presence!
She knew that Lu Bu and her teacher had come here to find something called a Seven Colored Primordial Stone. But… wasn't it supposed to be a stone? Why was there such a massive beast's skeleton here?
"Could this be the skeleton of a Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?" Yun Yun asked, her face pale. She had seen Queen Medusa's true form in battle before, and while it wasn't as large as this skeleton, the resemblance was undeniable.
"A Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?" Nalan Yanran's face changed. She had heard Xiao Yan mention that Medusa was one, but this was her first time learning about the connection between the pythons and the Seven Colored Primordial Stones.
"This enormous skeleton… This mountain range must have been a battlefield long ago," Qing Lin said in awe, her green eyes glowing as she surveyed the valley below.
But suddenly, Qing Lin's expression changed. From the treetops in the distance, she caught a faint flash of silver light someone was using spatial power to conceal themselves.
"Master, we're not alone!" Qing Lin said sharply, gripping Lu Bu's hand tightly.
At her words, both Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran immediately tensed. Someone was here?
"Find them!" Lu Bu's expression grew serious as he spoke in a low voice. Whoever was hiding had remarkable skill so much so that even his soul perception couldn't detect them.
"Yes!" Qing Lin responded crisply. She pushed her palm forward, and a surge of white, icy energy erupted, swiftly forming into a massive, ice blue serpent spanning dozens of meters.
The serpent hissed, its jaws wide open as cold air surged around it. In a flash, it lunged toward a distant tree canopy, its gaping maw aiming to devour.
"Hmph! Courting death!"
As soon as the icy serpent appeared, an enraged snort echoed through the forest. Suddenly, a brilliant golden light erupted from the verdant canopy, radiating with dazzling intensity.
The golden light surged upward, carrying an overpowering momentum. Within the radiance, a massive golden fist imprint rapidly formed, emanating an aura of unparalleled dominance and ferocity. The fist shot toward the ice serpent with unstoppable force.
Boom!
A deafening explosion reverberated through the ravines and mountains, as fierce icy winds clashed against the surging storm of golden energy.
Bang!
In mere moments, the ice serpent Qing Lin had created was shattered by the golden fist. She let out a muffled groan, staggering back slightly. The destruction of her Dou Qi construct caused a backlash, leaving her slightly shaken.
"Heaven Demon Phoenix?" Lu Bu caught Qing Lin by the waist to steady her, his expression darkening as he spoke in a low, commanding tone.
"Heh… You humans have good eyes to recognize the noble lineage of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan," a mocking, arrogant voice echoed before the speaker emerged from the golden light.
A white haired man stepped forward, his head tilted slightly upward, lips curled into a smug smirk. His demeanor was filled with boundless arrogance and dominance.
"It's you!?" Behind him, Feng Qing'er's face changed drastically the moment she recognized Lu Bu. Her body tensed as she realized who he was.
That damn Void Ancient Dragon!
"Master, are they enemies?" Qing Lin's gaze locked onto Feng Qing'er, a spark of excitement and battle intent glinting in her eyes.
A Dou Zong at two stars? She looked like an easy target.
"Of course they are." Lu Bu chuckled. The Void Ancient Dragons and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan were natural enemies.
"Then leave that woman to me!" Qing Lin cried, her delicate voice filled with resolve. She clapped her hands together, unleashing a wave of icy energy. Countless sharp ice spikes materialized instantly, hurtling toward Feng Qing'er with the whistling sound of an arctic storm.
"Be careful! He's a Void " Feng Qing'er's expression twisted in alarm, but before she could finish her sentence, the torrent of ice spikes closed in on her. Forced to defend against Qing Lin's relentless assault, she swallowed her words, her movements hasty and ungraceful.
"That girl… she's a bit too eager," Yun Yun muttered, shaking her head with a trace of helplessness. Without hesitation, she soared into the air with Nalan Yanran in tow, ready to assist Qing Lin if needed. As for the man, she trusted Lu Bu to handle him.
"Who are you, and how did you evade my soul perception?" Lu Bu asked in a low voice, sizing up the white haired man before him.
"Heh… Speak my name, and you'll be shocked!" the man sneered arrogantly, lifting his head. "I am Huang Fei, a prodigy of the noble Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan! Do you think the likes of you can see through our clan's secret arts of concealment?"
"Huang Fei? Never heard of you…" Lu Bu scratched his chin, his tone casual. He truly hadn't heard of this person before. The name didn't even exist in the original story.
However, he did recall a white haired Heaven Demon Phoenix from the ancient ruins in the original tale. That man, a two star Dou Zun, had been insufferably arrogant, claiming he would capture Xiao Yan and refine his bloodline into ancient phoenix blood.
But after a few clashes with Xiao Yan, the man faded into obscurity, either unqualified to reappear or perhaps killed during the ancient heavenly phoenix bone marrow transplant operation.
"You bastard! You're courting death!" Huang Fei's eyes bulged with rage, his roar echoing through the valley.
Lu Bu's dismissive words had pierced his ego. To someone as self important as Huang Fei, such an insult was unbearable.
Boom!
With a furious roar, Huang Fei's fists clenched, and golden light erupted from his body. Waves of overwhelming power rippled outward, radiating an aura of domineering aggression.
"Brat! I was planning to capture you alive, but since you're so eager to die, I'll cripple you first and then interrogate you about your purpose here!" Huang Fei bellowed.
A sonic boom echoed through the air as Huang Fei's figure blurred. In an instant, he appeared in front of Lu Bu, his fist hurtling toward him with terrifying momentum.
Bang!
Lu Bu calmly raised his hand, intercepting the oncoming punch with an open palm. Golden sparks flew, and the gusts of wind howled violently. Yet, the powerful punch failed to faze Lu Bu's seemingly delicate hand.
"A Dou Zun? You're a Dou Zun too?" Huang Fei's face contorted in shock. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary man to possess the same cultivation level as him!
"How is this possible!?"
"Why do you look so surprised?" Lu Bu sneered. What, did you think you were the only one who could advance to Dou Zun?
"A mere human like you dares to compare yourself to the noble Heaven Demon Phoenix?" Huang Fei's lips curled into a scornful smile. With a roar, golden light surged from his fists, and his power intensified as he unleashed another ferocious strike.
"Brat, witness the true power of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan! This punch will shatter your Dou Qi completely!"
"Heaven Phoenix Overlord Fist!"
Huang Fei's cold roar accompanied the arrival of his devastating punch. The attack tore through the air with crushing force, leaving behind an endless series of thunderous booms.
Boom!!
Golden light and shockwaves erupted, the violent energy rippling outward in a deafening explosion.
But once again, Lu Bu raised his hand and caught the strike with ease.
"Impressive. As expected of you feathered pheasants you really are weaklings," Lu Bu said mockingly, his tone calm.
"What!?" Huang Fei's face twisted in disbelief. This couldn't be happening! He hadn't underestimated his opponent this time, yet his full strength attack was still easily stopped?
"You scoundrel! How dare you insult the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan!" Huang Fei roared.
"Just calling it like I see it. You feathered pests really are weaklings," Lu Bu said, his lips curling into a cold smile. Slowly, his fingers tightened their grip, and faint dark golden dragon scales began to surface on his skin.
"You…" Huang Fei's expression shifted drastically. Those iron like fingers gripped his fist so tightly it caused him immense pain.
"I refuse to believe that a mere human's physique can surpass the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan!" Huang Fei growled, golden light erupting from his arm as he summoned all his strength to break free.
"Idiot…" Feng Qing'er, observing from a distance, winced. Competing in physical strength with a Void Ancient Dragon? Had this guy lost his mind?
Before she could speak further, Qing Lin's ice serpent surged forward again, carrying a bone chilling wind that forced Feng Qing'er to retreat and abandon her warning.
Crack!
"Aaaah!"
Sure enough, moments later, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the valley, accompanied by the sickening sound of bones cracking.
Feng Qing'er's eye twitched. Damn it! Wasn't this Void Ancient Dragon only a Dou Zong last time? How had he reached Dou Zun so quickly?
(End of Chapter)
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