Within the main hall of the Dou Saint's Relic, the last traces of the violet light radiating from Zi Yan's hands shimmered through the air. Under her control, the spatial barrier concealing the Dou Saint's remains finally began to melt away, dissolving inch by inch into rippling fragments of energy.
But the moment the seal broke, an ominous stir spread through the hall. Sixteen ancient puppets — each carrying the might of a Dou Zun — suddenly erupted with terrifying power. Empty eyes flickered to life, locking coldly onto Liu Xi and his companions.
Unlike the cold, mechanical aura of the Heaven Demon Puppets, these ancient constructs exuded something darker — like vengeful spirits bound by resentment. Savage, violent, hateful.
The ten glowing orbs of Dou Techniques floating midair went unnoticed. Even the Dou Saint's crystal remains on the high seat showed no signs of awakening. For now, the only threat was these sixteen Dou Zun puppets, already stirring to life.
"They're coming! Zi Yan, Qing Lin — stay sharp!"
Sixteen killing auras surged forward. The stone-grey figures moved with unnatural speed, lunging toward Liu Xi in a blur. Zi Yan and Qing Lin immediately split from his sides, each intercepting several opponents to buy him time.
Violet light erupted around Zi Yan, her fists gleaming with spatial energy. Her physical strength alone was terrifying, and with her control over space, she faced three puppets without faltering.
Qing Lin's aura flared blood-red. Thick clouds of scarlet mist coiled around her slender frame, her gaze glowing with the triple-pupiled Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils. Though only a 2-Star Dou Zun, her full power rivaled that of a 7 or 8-Star expert. Now that she had the Pill Beast's help to suppress the Ancient Heaven Serpent's violent will, she could maintain this state for a while. For now five puppets were no problem for her.
As for Liu Xi, he raised his hand and summoned two Heaven Demon Puppets along with twelve Earth Demon Puppets, equivalent to three Dou Zun-level powers. Yet five of the remaining puppets still broke through his formation, weapons gleaming as they charged straight at him.
Their blades and spears flashed coldly, locking him in a storm of killing intent.
Each puppet's expression was frozen in hatred — their eyes hollow, yet brimming with the lingering malice of warriors long dead.
'Each has the strength of a 3 or 4-Star Dou Zun,' Liu Xi noted coldly. His expression hardened; azure flames erupted from his body like a volcanic storm.
He vanished in a blur, sidestepping a sword strike that carved a deep gash across the marble floor. In the next instant, he reappeared before the sword-wielding puppet — barely half a foot away — the steel-gray skin and lifeless eyes of the puppet glinting in the dim light.
Liu Xi's fingers formed a blade. Cyan flame coiled around his hand as he slashed.
Crack!
The blazing blade sliced through the puppet's arm like a hot knife through butter. Before he could follow up, a rush of wind roared behind him — another puppet's ambush.
Without turning, Liu Xi unleashed his flame. A roaring azure dragon of fire burst from his back, colliding head-on with the attacker.
The first puppet, its arm severed, staggered back. Liu Xi's hand shot forward like a claw, tearing through its abdomen — smashing open the dantian core that fueled it. The puppet fell still, its energy extinguished.
Behind him, the second puppet swung down its blade, but the azure dragon's searing heat engulfed it completely.
The flames consumed its body silently. No screams, no sound — only the dull hiss of the Heavenly Flame devouring metal and spirit alike.
Within moments, two puppets had fallen. Liu Xi exhaled softly. 'As expected — these puppets are powerful, but sluggish. Dead constructs without instinct or coordination.'
Against ordinary Dou Zuns, these puppets could fight evenly. But against him, with true combat experience and precise timing, their flaws were glaring.
He swept his arm, and a wave of azure fire erupted outward, forming a towering three-meter-high wall of flame. The intense heat distorted the air, forcing back three puppets that charged toward him.
Seizing the brief reprieve, Liu Xi turned to check on the others. Zi Yan, fists wrapped in violet light, struck with unmatched ferocity. Each punch shattered the air itself, shaking the hall as she fought three puppets to a standstill.
Qing Lin's blood aura surged violently, almost manifesting the shadow of the Ancient Heaven Serpent behind her. Every strike she unleashed left deep corrosive burns on her enemies' bodies. The five puppets facing her were covered in cracks and melting patches of metal.
Liu Xi's lips curved in satisfaction. 'Good. They've grown strong — stronger than I expected.'
His eyes sharpened once again. The three puppets clawing through his wall of flame rushed forward. He met them head-on, blazing Dou Qi flaring like a storm.
The heat twisted the very air around him. With a flicker of motion, he seized one puppet by the throat and twisted — crack! — snapping its neck like brittle wood. Using its limp body as a shield, he dodged another strike and hurled it into the next puppet's path.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two constructs collided violently. Liu Xi darted in, his flame-wrapped fingers slicing through both their necks in one motion.
One by one, the puppets fell, their once-terrifying auras fading into silence. With their numerical advantage broken, the remaining few were swiftly dismantled under his relentless attacks.
A puppet flared suddenly with the shadow of a roaring lion. Liu Xi didn't even bother to evade. His flaming fist shattered the phantom beast into sparks and crushed the puppet's body beneath the following strike.
In moments, five puppets lay destroyed. Without pause, Liu Xi redirected his Heaven Demon Puppets to assist in Qing Lin's fight. Together, they overwhelmed the remaining constructs, burning them into ashes.
Next, he joined Zi Yan's battle. With their combined assault, the last three puppets were torn apart in an explosion of fire and violet light.
Silence descended upon the Main Hall once more.
Sixteen Dou Zun-level puppets lay annihilated.
Zi Yan exhaled heavily, sweat glistening on her brow. Despite her exhaustion, her eyes shone with excitement. "Big Brother, we did it! Now we can finally claim our reward!"
But Liu Xi's gaze didn't relax. He stared toward the throne at the far end of the hall — where the crystalline skeleton sat motionless. His tone was calm, but heavy. "No. Not yet. There's still one more opponent left."
As if to echo his words, a faint pulse of power rippled from the high platform.
The Dou Saint's remains, untouched for countless years, began to stir. A faint, oppressive aura spread outward — ancient, supreme, overwhelming. It crushed the air like the weight of the heavens, though it lacked one vital thing… life.
Still, that was enough to make even Liu Xi's breath falter.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.