Chapter 309: Same Move, Same Results—Getting the Heart Then Reaping the Soul, Getting Better at It Every Time
Crack!
Under the unrelenting bombardment of Xiao Yuan's Heavenly Flame and the Taiyi Fire Seal, the snow-white ice mirror formed by the trio of Sky Snake, Bingxuan, and Binghua began to falter. Cracks formed across its surface as it melted rapidly.
The pupils of all three contracted sharply—yet before they could react, a rumbling thunderclap exploded across the sky. Xiao Yuan, transformed into a streak of azure lightning, descended from above, and with a powerful kick—
Sky Thunder Step!
—he stomped down on the ice mirror.
With thunder surging, the cracks spread like spiderwebs across the entire structure until, unable to withstand the pressure any longer, the mirror trembled once and then exploded into pieces.
Boom!
Shards of ice scattered in all directions as a surge of terrifying cold energy burst out, counteracting the Taiyi Fire Seal. Even the Heavenly Flame weakened noticeably under its chilling pressure.
At the same time, Bingxuan and Binghua let out simultaneous shouts and pressed their palms onto Sky Snake's back, injecting a flood of Dou Qi mixed with icy shards into him.
Crack, crack…
A faint blue frost armor spread out from beneath Sky Snake's skin, quickly forming a thin yet dense icy layer across his entire body. Along with it came an extreme, chilling aura that burst forth violently.
As the frost armor manifested, the intense heat from the Taiyi Fire Seal and Heavenly Flame suddenly diminished. A ferocious gleam lit up Sky Snake's eyes as he raised his head to glare at Xiao Yuan, who had been forced back by the cold wave.
"This ends now!"
Sky Snake gritted out with bone-deep frost in his tone. His palm clenched, summoning a semi-liquid icy-blue energy. Within it were dense, glowing shards of frozen crystals.
He pulled hard on the mass of energy, which twisted and morphed into a massive two-zhang-wide ice-blue bow.
The moment the Ice God Bow appeared, the temperature in the sky plummeted. Even the surrounding Heavenly Flames were extinguished.
"Ice God Bow," Sky Snake growled, pulling back the bowstring. The surrounding frigid energy gathered at the center, forming a long ice arrow nearly one zhang in length.
On the other side, Xiao Yuan's expression darkened.
"This arrow will take your life!"
With a cruel grin, Sky Snake loosed the arrow.
Whoosh!
As the Ice God Arrow shot out, the air froze in its wake. Space trembled as frost consumed everything in its path.
Zing!
The icy arrow pierced forward like a time-stopping strike. Before Xiao Yuan, a shield of dark-golden flame formed with intricate, swirling flame patterns—beautiful, but clearly formidable.
It was a testament to Xiao Yuan's terrifying flame control.
But—
Before the watching crowd could even process it, the Ice God Arrow pierced straight through the flame shield and shot through Xiao Yuan's chest, exiting cleanly out his back.
Frost instantly engulfed his body, freezing him midair like a lifelike ice sculpture.
Seeing this, Bingxuan and Binghua's faces lit with joy—but Sky Snake frowned.
That was… too easy.
Moments later, the frozen Xiao Yuan shattered into countless shards under the Ice God Arrow's explosive force. Dark ice fragments rained down.
"Black ice? Could that have been the real one?!"
All three were stunned.
"What's going on?!"
Argh!!
Two agonized screams rang out simultaneously. Sky Snake whirled around, pupils contracting in horror!
Behind him, the "dead" Xiao Yuan struck both Bingxuan and Binghua in the back, his nine-star Dou Zong power erupting and shattering their life force instantly.
In the blink of an eye, azure lightning flickered, and Xiao Yuan calmly gathered their souls and corpses with practiced ease. Then, he turned toward Sky Snake with a devilish grin.
"That was… the Three Thousand Lightning Illusion Body?!"
Sky Snake asked in disbelief.
Shhhk!
Xiao Yuan's blazing palm tore through Sky Snake's Dou Qi defense and pierced cleanly through his chest.
"Wrong answer. No reward."
Xiao Yuan whispered behind him. Sky Snake looked at the smiling youth before him, then down at the now-familiar fair hand through his chest, expression frozen in disbelief.
"That illusion body… should have been dead…"
Without hesitation, Xiao Yuan collected Sky Snake's soul and corpse, popped a healing pill into his mouth, and calmly turned to where Xiao Yan was currently pressing down on Tianshuangzi with the Fivefold Infernal Fire Method.
Below, in the Ye Family estate, many Ye clansmen looked skyward at the white-clothed youth standing tall, fluttering in the wind, and gasped. Ye Zhong in particular looked stunned.
He'd thought Xiao Yan's rapid advancement in alchemy was already astonishing.
But now, seeing Xiao Yuan… he finally understood why Xiao Yan spoke of his third brother with such reverence.
This level of combat strength… was truly unrivaled beneath Dou Zun.
Though Xiao Yan could now challenge a Dou Zun, Ye Zhong—being a seventh-tier alchemist—could tell he was relying on external force, not entirely his own power. Xiao Yuan, on the other hand, was using a secret technique and fighting with his own might.
In either case, no young cultivator in the Central Plains could compare to these two brothers.
"Su Qian… you've taught an incredible student."
Ye Zhong couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
BOOM!
A huge explosion drew everyone's attention again. Tianshuangzi plummeted from the sky and crashed into the city, carving a deep crater into the ground. His body was charred black, covered in burns—utterly miserable.
Above, Xiao Yan floated amid a sea of five-colored flames. The entire city felt like a blazing summer, heat surging from every corner.
Everyone stared at the unmoving figure in the pit.
"Ice River Valley… lost."
The city fell silent. Many felt chills run down their spines.
This series of battles had left only one emotion in their hearts—shock.
How many times in a lifetime could one witness such an earth-shaking war?
In the air, Xiao Yan's aura waned as he floated down beside Xiao Yuan.
"Brother, it's only been a few months, and your strength is terrifying!"
Xiao Yan grinned.
"Heh, just some lucky opportunities. Here—this is the complete version of the Three Profound Changes of Heavenly Flame."
Xiao Yuan tapped a finger between Xiao Yan's brows, transferring a torrent of soul data into his mind.
"Your soul strength has increased again. At this rate, becoming an eighth-tier alchemist is just a matter of time."
Yao Lao's voice chuckled in his mind.
"You still have a sharp eye, Teacher," Xiao Yuan laughed.
"I sense a powerful Soul Hall aura. Can you handle it?" Yao Lao's tone turned serious.
"Don't worry, Teacher. Leave it to me."
Xiao Yuan nodded confidently.
"Then be careful, Brother!"
Xiao Yan knew now wasn't the time to study techniques. He began healing with a pill, restoring his Dou Qi and recovering from his earlier clash with Tianshuangzi.
He had relied on Yao Lao's power to win—but it had left him drained.
He needed to recover quickly—especially with his third brother still holding the field.
Kekeke… I've heard much of Xiao Yuan, young master of Starfall Pavilion. Your fame in the Northern Region is well-deserved!
A chilling laugh suddenly exploded from the horizon.
As the voice echoed, the frigid barrier around Leaf City trembled. Then, black mist surged in, covering the sky as countless horrified eyes watched it coil overhead.
The mist eventually parted, revealing ten figures—all of them terrifying.
At their head stood a blue-haired elder in black robes. His presence leaked no power—yet the very fabric of space twisted at his arrival.
"A Soul Hall Dou Zun?!"
Gasps erupted across Leaf City.
Today, this small city had seen more legendary figures than most would see in a lifetime.
As the group arrived, Xiao Yuan raised a brow, calm and unsurprised.
This had been part of his plan all along. For Ice River Valley to have contacted Soul Hall…
Wu Protector alone had never been enough.
Xiao Yan's expression shifted slightly as well. His eyes locked on the blue-haired elder in the sky. Others might not sense it, but with his powerful soul force, he could clearly detect that this man's strength surpassed even Tianshuangzi—he was likely a two-star Dou Zun!
Down in the crater, Tianshuangzi had finally recovered some energy after swallowing a healing pill. His figure flashed and reappeared beside the blue-haired elder, cupping his fists with a polite smile.
"Hehe, so it was Venerable Qinghai. I didn't expect even a figure like you to be alarmed into appearing."
"Tianshuangzi, long time no see. You're looking a bit ragged," Venerable Qinghai chuckled calmly, returning the salute. "Leave the rest to me. I'd like to see what makes this young Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion so special."
"You sure took your time getting here."
Xiao Yuan looked at the so-called Venerable Qinghai with a mocking smile.
"Better late than never."
Qinghai smiled casually as he stepped forward. The space before him twisted violently.
But Xiao Yuan remained unfazed, arms crossed, not showing even a trace of concern for Qinghai's impending attack.
"…This soul fluctuation?"
Just as Qinghai approached, his expression changed. His eyes shifted toward Xiao Yan below.
From Xiao Yan, he sensed an unusually strong, pure soul power—one that didn't match someone at Xiao Yan's level at all.
"So, it's him."
Qinghai's lips curled into a smile. With a step through space, he instantly appeared before Xiao Yan. Powerful spatial energy locked Xiao Yan in place.
"Damn! How did he see that? Teacher?!"
Xiao Yan's expression darkened. Against an enemy of this caliber, only Yao Lao could help.
"Hehe, don't panic. Your savior is almost here. I won't interfere."
Yao Lao's voice held a teasing note, leaving Xiao Yan stunned.
Qinghai grinned as his palm reached toward Xiao Yan.
High above, Xiao Yuan glanced at Xiao Yan's surroundings. Sensing something, he too remained still. At his side, Cai Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yun Yun had already regrouped with him after their victory over Ice River Valley's elites.
"Teacher, Third Brother… are you two really not going to help me?!"
Xiao Yan watched the approaching palm with twitching lips. If they didn't act now, it would be too late for anyone to save him.
Just as Qinghai's hand neared Xiao Yan's head, the space around them suddenly shattered. A far greater spatial force exploded outward, even causing Qinghai to hesitate.
Space froze.
A graceful figure in azure robes emerged through the shattered void. Before the stunned crowd, she appeared in front of Xiao Yan.
A bone-chilling, cold voice echoed across the heavens.
"Hurt him, and you die."
Her soft yet icy tone swept through the air. Even the snowflakes in the sky paused mid-fall, then melted into rippling energy that spread out in all directions.
At the same moment, two black-robed figures appeared at the girl's sides. One waved his hand, and Qinghai was sent flying with a massive blow.
Xiao Yan couldn't care about Qinghai anymore. His eyes were locked on the figure in front of him. That voice—it stirred a place deep in his soul. Even if he forgot his own voice one day, this one… he would never forget.
"Xun'er…"
His throat tightened, and after a long pause, he murmured her name like a dream.
Qinghai finally managed to stop himself mid-air, eyes wide as he stared at the two old men beside the azure-robed girl. His pupils shrank.
She wore simple azure garments—not luxurious, yet exuding a noble, ancient aura. It was the innate bearing of one with royal blood—pure, powerful, and undiminished by time.
Her waist-length hair was loosely tied with a violet ribbon, cascading down her graceful frame. Occasionally lifted by the breeze, it gave her an ethereal beauty, as if she had stepped out of a painting.
Then there was her face—perfectly delicate, porcelain-white with a healthy blush, her soft smile like spring sunlight, gently melting away all anxiety. It was a kind of gentle magic that calmed even the most unsettled heart.
She was… flawless. A goddess among mortals.
Ignoring Qinghai, the girl turned slowly under the gaze of thousands. Her bright eyes settled on Xiao Yan. Seeing the disbelief on his face, she finally smiled.
That smile—like a blooming epiphyllum—was stunning, drawing every gaze toward her in a daze.
A smile that could bring down kingdoms.
With a few steps as graceful as flowing ink, she arrived before Xiao Yan. Raising a hand as fair and clear as jade, she gently hovered it over Xiao Yan's head, as if checking his height. Her usually calm eyes now shimmered with warmth.
"Brother Xiao Yan…"
Under countless astonished eyes, she stood before him and spoke in a soft, clear voice like flowing spring water.
Joy flooded Xiao Yan's face. Looking at the girl he had longed for day and night, he marveled—she had grown so elegant, so beautiful… yet in her eyes, he still saw the familiar warmth that had always brought him peace.
No matter how much she had changed—her power, her appearance, her bearing—she was still the little girl who had once followed him everywhere, calling him "Brother Xiao Yan" again and again.
His body trembled. After a long pause, Xiao Yan could no longer hold back the emotions he'd buried for years. He stepped forward and embraced her tightly.
Xun'er gasped in surprise. Her cheeks flushed, and she struggled lightly… but soon gave in. They were no longer children, and she could feel the truth of his feelings.
The two black-robed elders beside her tensed up the moment Xiao Yan hugged her. Their eyes gleamed with cold killing intent.
But seeing that Xun'er made no move to stop him, they looked at each other and sighed.
Their task was to protect her. They had heard some rumors, but this scene still stunned them.
Countless geniuses of the ancient clans had courted her over the years. Yet none had received more than a polite, distant smile. These two elders had never seen any man dare embrace her.
"If this gets out in the ancient realm, those brats will lose their minds," one elder muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"Miss Xun'er has good taste. That boy is from the Xiao clan, isn't he?"
"The Xiao clan? You mean… that person's descendant?"
The other elder looked surprised.
"No wonder. But even so, getting the clan's recognition won't be easy. He's just a descendant, not the man himself. And don't forget—Miss Xun'er is the most perfectly awakened bloodline holder in nearly a thousand years."
"She'll know what to do. Our opinions don't matter. Though… I heard the Xiao clan has another prodigy. Rumor is he might carry traces of Dou Di blood. When they brought Miss back to the clan, an elder said he saw the Xiao clan's ancestral markings on him."
"I've heard the same. But isn't the Dou Di bloodline supposed to have died out long ago?"
"Who knows? Still, this kind of thing wouldn't be falsely reported. But the clan doesn't seem to be paying much attention."
Their voices were soft and cloaked in protective soul barriers—no ordinary person could hear them.
But Xiao Yuan, using the Wind Whisper technique, caught every word.
"Tch. The ancient clans sure are smug. They think just me alone isn't a real threat, huh?" he muttered thoughtfully.
"So she's the Xun'er Sister Xiao Yan always talks about… Definitely lives up to the hype," Xiao Yi Xian said softly, eyes lingering on the figure in his arms.
"Mm. That kind of grace and beauty… definitely not ordinary," Yun Yun agreed.
"She's indeed quite something."
Even proud Cai Lin couldn't help but nod.
"Well, of course. Only a girl like Xun'er is worthy of our little Yan," Xiao Yuan said with a grin, watching the two embrace.
Truly a perfect match.
(END CHAPTER)
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