Behind Liu Xi, a white figure shot out. A terrifying, bone-chilling aura erupted like a volcano. Even Mu Gu, whose body was wreathed in black flames, froze under the sheer force of it.
Xiao Yixian stood before Liu Xi, her expression calm and cold. Her eyes were like frozen blades as she stared at Mu Gu — not as if he were an enemy, but as if he were already dead. The terrifying and vast aura erupted from her as its center, forming a spiritual barrier that isolated the courtyard from the outside. Without it, the disturbance would have shaken the entire Holy Pill City.
Mu Gu instinctively stepped back, his body hunching slightly. Black flames flickered around him as he tensed, his hoarse voice carrying disbelief.
"High-level Dou Zun? No… mid-level Dou Zun? That can't be right! The intelligence was wrong — how could she advance so quickly? She's not even of the Hun Clan…"
Hearing this, Liu Xi almost laughed aloud. To come threaten him with information that was several years outdated—wasn't this just courting death?
The Hall of Souls wouldn't fear a mid-level Dou Zun, but Mu Gu was no such figure. A 3-Star Dou Zun facing a mid-level Dou Zun was nothing short of suicide. Still, Mu Gu decided to struggle.
"Dou Zun cultivation is no easy feat. You're not someone the Hall of Souls can tolerate offending us. I only came for Liu Xi—don't meddle where you shouldn't, woman!"
Xiao Yixian's cold eyes flashed as a faint smile curved her lips. Gray mists swirled around her slender fingers as she sneered softly.
"Even I belong to the Young Master — and you tell me not to interfere? Truly laughable."
Her jade fingers danced lightly, and streaks of gray energy shot forth, emitting sharp, screeching sounds as they tore through space toward the black-robed Mu Gu.
In an instant, the gray energy reached within a meter of Mu Gu. A chilling cold crawled down his spine, sending a tremor through his body. Under his robe, a withered palm emerged, sweeping sideways. Jets of black fire roared forth, intercepting the gray energy one after another.
Hiss! Hiss!
The black flames flared violently, filling the air with sizzling sounds. After a few breaths, they stabilized again, and Mu Gu exhaled a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yixian arched a brow slightly — surprised that his dark flames could actually burn away her Woeful Poison Qi — but she didn't seem concerned. Her figure flickered like a ghost, appearing before Mu Gu in an instant. Her slender jade hand lifted and pressed forward with deceptive gentleness.
But in Mu Gu's eyes, that delicate hand was like the palm of the heavens descending to annihilate him. An apocalyptic pressure swept forth, seeking to crush him where he stood.
At the brink of death, a hoarse, almost beastlike roar burst from under his robe. His withered arm lashed out, enveloped in black fire, fingers curling like the claws of a corpse.
Boom!
The two palms collided. A deep, muffled sound erupted as a powerful shockwave rippled outward. Space itself cracked open, spreading like a spider web across the courtyard. Everything in its path — stone paths, grass, flowers, tables, chairs — was torn apart. Even the air itself seemed to shatter with a sound like breaking glass.
The terrifying clash between two Dou Zun experts could no longer be concealed. Like a beacon blazing in the night, the entire Holy Pill City quaked under the eruption.
Mu Gu's sleeve exploded into shreds, his withered arm twisting unnaturally. A mouthful of blood spurted from beneath his robe as his body shot backward like a ragdoll, smashing through a wall and sending rubble flying. His aura grew faint — he was completely outmatched by the woman before him, who was at least three stars stronger.
Yet even as Xiao Yixian stood unmoving, her brows furrowed slightly as she raised her hand. Her smooth jade palm was now marred by a charred, reddish burn.
At that moment, another powerful aura erupted from the neighboring courtyard and shot forward in an instant. Yao Tianhuo's face was grim as his voice rumbled like thunder.
"Who dares cause chaos here!"
From farther away, several other strong auras were also approaching rapidly. Combat was strictly forbidden in Holy Pill City, and with such terrifying energy fluctuations breaking out, the Pill Tower could hardly ignore it. Even the starry sky above seemed to shimmer with unseen eyes observing from the void.
"Cough… damn it…"
Mu Gu cursed under his breath. His meridians and organs were severely damaged, and the Woeful Poison Qi coursed rampantly through his body. In mere moments, he was teetering on the edge of death.
"Heh… Liu Xi, I underestimated you. But if you think you can keep me here, that's nothing but a dream…"
Struggling to his feet, rubble fell from his body. He pulled out a jade bottle, crushed it, and popped a blood-red pill that reeked of iron into his mouth. Instantly, his aura surged again. Thick, crimson mist erupted from him, flooding the night with a ferocious, domineering pressure.
"The Hall of Souls… will not spare you…"
The hoarse voice scraped like rusted metal. With his power flaring wildly, Mu Gu turned and bolted without hesitation.
"Stop right there!"
"Thief, don't run!"
Xiao Yixian and Yao Tianhuo both lunged after him, but the eruption of black flames from Mu Gu's body forced them back. Taking advantage of the moment, he vanished into a spatial rift, escaping without a trace.
Liu Xi approached slowly, a trace of regret flickering across his face. If only he had managed to capture Mu Gu alive, he could have studied that strange black flame — which resembled a fragment of the Void Devouring Flame.
Xiao Yixian and Yao Tianhuo returned to Liu Xi's side, their faces dark.
"Young Master, forgive me!"
"My friend, I'm deeply ashamed I failed to detect his presence…"
Liu Xi smiled faintly, waving a hand.
"It's fine. That man's flame is strange — powerful enough to hide his aura completely. Even you couldn't have sensed him."
His tone remained calm, but a glimmer of anticipation flashed through his eyes. 'There'll be another chance during the Pill Gathering.'
"...Xian'er, raise your hand. Let me see it."
"Young Master, I can dispel the flame myself," she murmured softly.
"Raise it," Liu Xi said, his tone firm.
Xiao Yixian fell silent and obediently lifted her burned hand. Liu Xi gently took it in his own, a flash of tenderness flickering in his gaze. Cyan flames surged from his palm, wrapping her hand in warm light — soothing as sunlight to her, yet ruthless as a volcano to the remnant dark flames.
Soon, the traces of the Void Devouring Flame fragment dissipated completely. Liu Xi then retrieved a jade bottle from his ring, uncorked it, and poured out a viscous green liquid. He carefully spread it across her palm, then wrapped it neatly with a clean white bandage.
"All done. My girl can't have scars on her hands."
"Thank you, Young Master," Xiao Yixian whispered with a gentle smile.
Beside them, Yao Tianhuo tilted his head toward the sky, pretending not to see anything at all. 'Sigh… I see nothing, I know nothing…'
(End of Chapter)
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This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on P4 treon, For those who want to read 2 chapters ahead for free, you can find me on P4 treon by searching for my username: Fallen_Archangel_.
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