Chapter 232: The Iron Protector of the Soul Hall Appears
In the sky, Xie Biyan's figure flashed, appearing directly in front of Xiao Yuan. His massive blood-colored pincers lashed out violently toward Xiao Yuan's waist.
Xiao Yuan responded swiftly, swirling his long sword into layers of sword flowers, clashing against the giant pincers with blinding sparks. However, none of the strikes caused substantial damage.
"Heh heh…"
Xie Biyan let out a sinister chuckle as his pincers twisted unnaturally, clamping down hard. With a sharp metallic snap, Xiao Yuan's Dou Qi-forged sword was crushed and shattered!
Taking a hit, Xiao Yuan quickly retreated, yet his graceful, unhurried movements showed that he was barely affected.
"You brat, let's see how arrogant you act now!"
Gaining the upper hand, Xie Biyan sneered smugly.
Xiao Yuan glanced at his broken sword and calmly dispelled it. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the grinning old man. Raising a hand, he swept back his long hair and tied it into a high ponytail with a strand of Dou Qi.
Then, flames burst from his palm, forming a cyan-brown flame spear.
"Don't be in such a rush. I haven't even started being arrogant yet."
As blue lightning flickered in his eyes, the sky turned dark. Moments ago, it had been clear and sunny, but now dark clouds churned overhead. White lightning rolled within them, and Xiao Yuan's body shimmered with azure lightning. His dark eyes turned entirely cyan.
Ninefold Calamity Demon Thunder Spear!
Without hesitation, Xiao Yuan unleashed his most powerful Dou Technique.
Although only a low-tier Earth-rank technique, under the amplification of the high-level Earth-rank cultivation method Demonic Thunder Scripture, its power far surpassed any other Earth-rank technique in Xiao Yuan's arsenal, which lacked matching supportive arts.
A technique like Profound Ice Dragon Soar, despite the boost from Frost Jade Art, couldn't threaten a Dou Zong like this one.
"Old mutt, now let's see whose technique hits harder, hmm?"
With a flash, Xiao Yuan vanished, using Three Thousand Lightning Movement to launch a ferocious strike toward Xie Biyan.
Cyan lightning surged as the flame spear, infused with both fire and thunder, pierced toward Xie Biyan's vital points.
Xie Biyan had been confident—believing that with his five-star Dou Zong strength, Xiao Yuan, elevated through secret arts, would be easy prey.
But the searing pain in his pincers told him otherwise.
His face darkened as the once-pristine pincers now showed signs of char and cracks.
Where had this woman gotten so many Earth-rank Dou Techniques?
She could even wield both wind and lightning attributes! Someone like this—her soul would surely interest that man, wouldn't it?
Meanwhile, under Xiao Yi Xian's fierce assault, Xie Shan was having a miserable time. Although at the peak of Dou Huang, her poison techniques not only made up the gap but pushed her slightly ahead. Her explosive strength had him overwhelmed.
The high-altitude battle also worried Xie Shan.
That white-clad woman had forced Elder Xie to use his Blood Soul Art and even casually killed their sect guardian beast, the Four-Winged Heavenly Demon Scorpion. The Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate's overall strength was inferior, and with Wu Ya and the others failing to appear—it likely meant they'd met an untimely end.
Now, the Poison Sect clearly held the upper hand. Xie Shan was beginning to feel it—this white-robed woman with the sword might be the key behind all of it!
He gritted his teeth and cursed in his heart: Where did this woman come from? How come no one in the Empire ever mentioned such a young yet terrifyingly powerful Dou Huang?!
Glancing toward the sky, he saw Xiao Yuan and Xie Biyan locked in an intense battle. The sheer pressure of their blows distorted space itself. When stray blasts fell, both sides' experts scrambled to dodge them.
"To think that woman could battle Elder Xie to a standstill… At this rate, we'll lose ground. If the losses are too great, how will we ever swallow the Poison Sect?"
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a sudden fierce attack forced him back to reality. Swinging his blue staff to deflect it, he heard Xiao Yi Xian's cold, mocking voice:
"Gate Master Xie, now's not the time to be distracted. You wouldn't want to end up like the Four-Winged Demon Scorpion, would you? Elder Xie might go ballistic."
She was now relaxed. Judging from the battle above, Xiao Yuan held his own. It was a close fight with neither side able to gain a full advantage for now.
Across the battlefield, the Poison Sect was dominant. Confidence in Xiao Yuan now surged even further in her heart.
"Spare me your concern, brat!"
With a glint in his eyes, Xie Shan's staff surged with powerful Dou Qi. Countless shadows of the staff flooded toward Xiao Yi Xian's vital points.
She retaliated in full force, and after dozens of exchanges, both sides withdrew. However, judging from the retreat distance, Xie Shan was clearly on the losing end.
"Xie Shan, summon him!"
Just as Xie Shan steadied himself, a cold, aged voice rang in his ear.
It was Elder Xie Biyan, locked in combat above, sounding unusually solemn. The white-robed woman had exceeded expectations.
Relieved by the order, Xie Shan muttered, If we don't bring him in now, the outcome really is unpredictable.
"Heavenly Poison Woman, no matter how hard you jump around today, our Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate will be the ones standing!"
Recalling that man's strength, Xie Shan grinned viciously and sneered at Xiao Yi Xian.
She met his gaze with cold indifference and a touch of disdain.
Enraged by her expression, Xie Shan quickly pulled out a black mist-like object from his storage ring, then crushed it. A strange soundwave erupted from his palms.
"When we capture you two, this Gate Master will make sure you're properly 'entertained'. Two Dou Huang beauties—what perfect cauldrons!"
His words only made Xiao Yi Xian's face turn icier. In her heart, she had already planned the many ways he would suffer.
In the sky, Xiao Yuan swept his spear horizontally, surging with fire and thunder, forcing Xie Biyan back. His brows furrowed as he sensed the peculiar soundwave echoing through the battlefield.
His powerful soul sense told him: something was being summoned.
At that moment, from deep within the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate, a terrifying aura surged forth—causing the expressions of everyone present to change drastically. The vast energy soon enveloped the entire mountain.
That chilling, oppressive force brought all fighting—on land and in air—to a halt. Both sides stared toward the source in confusion. Few recognized it.
Even Dou Huang-level experts paled at the overwhelming pressure. It rivaled even that of Xie Biyan in the sky. And now, in the heat of battle, such a being could tip the scales entirely!
Far above, Xiao Yuan and Xie Biyan stopped fighting momentarily. After their fierce exchange, both their auras were fluctuating, with space trembling around them.
"Heh, Heavenly Poison Woman, surprised? Our Gate has another Dou Zong. Let's see if your helper can fight two at once!"
Xie Shan laughed triumphantly.
Xiao Yi Xiang glanced up at Xiao Yuan. He looked down and gave her a calm, reassuring nod.
As their gazes met, thick black smoke erupted from the heart of the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate, swiftly flying across the sky like a demonic cloud. Within moments, it stopped midair and condensed into a shadowy figure with indistinct features.
"Jie jie… Xie Biyan, you still can't handle a little brat using secret arts to boost her strength?"
The shadowy figure hovered in the sky, its gaze sweeping over the battlefield, chuckling eerily.
"Heh, Elder Tie, don't joke. That woman is no pushover. Her talent is extraordinary. But today's battle is crucial for our sect—so we ask for your help."
Xie Biyan laughed lightly, but his tone held clear deference.
"It's fine if I lend a hand—but you know the price."
The black mist surrounding Elder Tie rippled with every word, his voice cold and chilling.
Xie Biyan's face twitched slightly but he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Don't worry. You'll get everything we promised."
"Good."
Elder Tie slowly turned his gaze to Xiao Yuan. With a sinister grin, his body trembled, and with a rattling sound, black chains shot out like venomous snakes, coiling behind him.
"So it's a lackey from Soul Hall?"
Xiao Yuan's voice was icy, filled with mockery.
"Oh? You know the Soul Hall?" Tie Protector looked surprised, then chuckled. "I suppose that makes sense. If you've come this far with secret techniques, your backers must be powerful. It's not strange you've heard of us."
"Not only have I heard of you, I'm going to kill you—along with that foul-mouthed old dog."
Xiao Yuan sneered, Dou Qi surging, poised to strike.
"Oh really?"
Tie Protector sneered back, then turned to Xie Biyan. "Keep her busy. Once I harvest this brat's soul, I'll come for her next."
With that, he flicked his hand. The two black chains whipped forward, tearing through the sky at terrifying speed.
Pfft! Pfft!
The chains shot forth as Poison Sect experts frantically dodged. But the chains twisted mid-air like sentient creatures, then pierced through the chests of two Dou Wang experts.
The bodies jerked. The chains rippled with dark mist, sucking out their souls—two ghostly figures—and devoured them. The soulless corpses were casually tossed away.
"Ordinary souls are too bland. If only I could harvest alchemist souls… If not for that damned Pill Tower in the central plains, we could've cleaned up already."
Elder Tie muttered in disappointment.
The Poison Sect experts, terrified by what they saw, hurriedly retreated. A Dou Zong wasn't something they could challenge. Even if they all attacked together, they'd only die one after another to those dreadful chains.
Xiao Yuan watched Tie Protector with a dark gaze. A question lingered in his mind: How long has the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate been dealing with Soul Hall?
With his soul sense, he judged that this Tie Protector was likely weaker than Wu Protector—but still, he was a true Dou Zong.
And with Soul Hall's sinister techniques, defeating him would be no easy task.
To make matters worse, Xie Biyan was still eager to pounce.
Xiao Yuan could handle either one alone—but facing both at once…
That might be a different story.
(END CHAPTER)
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