Chapter 328: "Heh heh, Xiao Yan, you wouldn't want your teacher..."
As they stepped into the Beast Spirit Barrier and caught sight of Lu Bu, Xiao Yan, and their group, Huang Xuan and his companions froze momentarily. They hadn't expected anyone to reach this place before them.
The sprawling medicinal forest teeming with ferocious beasts was full of danger. If not for the intimidating aura of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix dispersed by their presence, suppressing the beasts along their path, they might not have even made it here. But how did this group from Starfall Pavilion manage to arrive, and even before them?
After a brief moment of shock, Huang Xuan's heart sank. His gaze swept over the scene and landed on the purple gold fruit cupped in Zi Yan's small hands.
"Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?!"
Huang Xuan's pupils contracted sharply. He pointed at the hundred foot high platform, unable to suppress his startled cry. His voice carried a mix of unparalleled astonishment and disbelief, accompanied by a wild joy that seemed almost uncontrollable.
"Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?" The members of Starfall Pavilion, led by Wind Venerable, and those of Wind Lightning Pavilion, led by Thunder Venerable, furrowed their brows simultaneously. They didn't know what the name signified, but anything that could make a Five Star Dou Venerate lose composure must surely be an unparalleled treasure.
"What?! Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?!" Hearing this, the white haired man and the black robed man from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan immediately revealed expressions of elation, their eyes blazing with fervor.
"Hahaha! The heavens must favor our Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan!"
"With the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit in our hands, forget about the Nine Nether Earth Python clan even if the Ancient Heaven Serpent or the Nine Colored Swallowing Python are reborn, even if the Void Ancient Dragon clan resurfaces, they will all bow beneath the might of our Heavenly Demon Phoenix!"
"With this, our Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan will revive the boundless glory of the ancient Sky Phoenix, ruling over the Dou Qi Continent! Not even the Pill Tower, the Hall of Souls, or the Ancient Imperial Clans will be able to stand against us!"
"This is the will of the heavens, destined for our Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan to rise!"
A series of high pitched, jubilant laughs erupted, filling the air as the Heavenly Demon Phoenix members spoke of their grand ambitions, their excitement and joy uncontainable.
"What exactly is this Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?" Xiao Yan frowned deeply, sensing that these Heavenly Demon Phoenix members weren't going to leave without a fight.
On the high platform, Lu Bu looked down coldly at the two Heavenly Demon Phoenix members lost in their ecstasy. His gaze grew increasingly frigid, and a bone chilling killing intent filled the air. Golden purple light began to gather in his eyes.
Suddenly, a majestic dragon's roar thundered through the barrier. A terrifying dragon might surged into the sky, blanketing the entire space within the Beast Spirit Barrier.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The two Dou Venerate elders of Wind Lightning Pavilion, as well as the North Pavilion Master Fei Tian also at the Dou Zong pinnacle collapsed to their knees instantly, their bodies drenched in cold sweat and their expressions filled with terror.
The two Heavenly Demon Phoenix members the white haired man and the black robed man looked as if someone had grabbed them by the throat. Their faces turned red as they struggled to breathe.
"V Void Ancient Dragon?!" The leaders of the Earth Tiger Clan and Silvermoon Wolf Clan trembled violently, their pupils contracting as they let out sharp cries of shock.
In an instant, the hairs on their bodies stood on end. Their legs felt weak, and an overwhelming urge to kneel and bow surged uncontrollably through their minds and souls.
Huang Xuan's expression turned incredibly dark. It was only now that he realized something unless a Beast Spirit Barrier was opened by a beast of the same bloodline, no one could enter. Forcefully breaking it would result in the barrier's destruction, taking everything inside with it.
This meant that the Void Ancient Dragon clan was indeed present within the barrier. That little girl… and this Black Abyss Army commander… were both Void Ancient Dragons!
Meanwhile, the black robed and white haired men, who had just recovered from their initial shock, had their earlier jubilation replaced by grim expressions. Their faces darkened, and their eyes gleamed with malice.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit must belong to our Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan! No one else has the right to touch it not even the Void Ancient Dragons!" the white haired man roared, his eyes bloodshot as he pointed at Lu Bu on the high platform.
"You there, hand over the fruit! I might be merciful enough to spare your life!" The black robed man's voice was deep and cold as brilliant golden light condensed in his hands, and a powerful aura exploded outward.
Six Star Dou Venerate!
Xiao Yan and the members of Starfall Pavilion were visibly shocked. A Six Star Dou Venerate?!
"Everyone, this is a dispute between the Heavenly Demon Phoenix and Void Ancient Dragon clans. Stay out of it!" Huang Xuan shouted, his gaze sharp as he issued a stern warning to Xiao Yan and the others. His tone carried a clear threat.
"I'll make it clear: the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is something my Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan is determined to obtain, even if we have to call upon our three Grand Elders and the Clan Leader. We will not stop!"
"Anyone who interferes will become a mortal enemy of my Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan!"
The declaration sent a wave of unease through the members of Starfall Pavilion. Huang Xuan's warning was not to be taken lightly. The power of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan was evident to all. Without the Void Ancient Dragon clan's re emergence, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix was the undisputed ruler of the magical beast world.
Even the Nine Nether Earth Python clan was no match for them. Across the entire Central Plains, not even the Hall of Souls or the Pill Tower could claim superiority over the Heavenly Demon Phoenix.
In terms of strength, they were second only to the Ancient Imperial Clans, who bore the legacy of the Dou Emperor. They were undoubtedly one of the most powerful factions on the Dou Qi Continent.
Facing such strength, not even Wind Venerable himself could help but hesitate. Was it worth offending the Heavenly Demon Phoenix for Lu Bu?
Seeing the hesitation in Starfall Pavilion's ranks, Huang Xuan and the white haired man both smirked. Today, they would not only avenge their humiliation but also seize the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. It was a double victory!
"Hahaha! Void Ancient Dragons, by this time tomorrow, you'll all be nothing but corpses!" the black robed Heavenly Demon Phoenix member laughed, his voice dripping with delight.
With the situation in their favor, how could they possibly lose?
"Lu Bu, what do we do now?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, her tone heavy. The Six Star Dou Venerate could be held off by her and Queen Medusa working together, but there were still so many Dou Zong and Dou Venerate opponents from Wind Lightning Pavilion and the allied clans. Zi Yan, meanwhile, was at a critical moment and couldn't be disturbed.
"Heh… Wind Lightning Pavilion, Earth Tiger Clan, Silvermoon Wolf Clan, listen closely," Lu Bu said with a cold laugh. "The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is something my Void Ancient Dragon clan is determined to obtain. Even if we must re emerge, we will never give it up!"
"Anyone who dares interfere will be marked as a mortal enemy of the Void Ancient Dragon clan!"
Hearing this, the members of Wind Lightning Pavilion and the allied clans couldn't help but flinch. They suddenly found themselves caught in the crossfire of two supreme magical beast clans, leaving them paralyzed by indecision.
Meanwhile, Huang Xuan and the white haired man's smirks froze, their mouths twitching. Damn it! That's our line!
Xiao Yan's expression turned strange. He had anticipated this. The Heavenly Demon Phoenix couldn't do anything to Lu Bu after all.
"Xiao Yan!" Lu Bu turned his gaze toward Starfall Pavilion, letting out a sinister laugh. "Don't forget the Soul Infant Fruit. Heh heh heh… You wouldn't want your teacher's soul source to remain incomplete, would you?"
"Xiao Yan, you want that Soul Infant Fruit, don't you?"
Xiao Yan's face instantly darkened. The words sounded normal, but he couldn't shake the feeling they were dripping with malice, making his scalp tingle.
"Enough! It's just the Heavenly Demon Phoenix! Kill them!" Xiao Yan's eyes glinted with cold determination. "It's just a bunch of mangy birds. Let's crush them!"
"Hardcore!" Lu Bu grinned, giving him a thumbs up. "I like it!"
"Whether I'm tough or not, we'll settle that later!" Xiao Yan waved his hand and cracked his neck with a cold smile. "Right now, there's only one thing on my mind helping you, Lu Bu, secure the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit!"
Their sharp gazes simultaneously locked onto the three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes. Meanwhile, Wind Lightning Pavilion, the Earth Tiger Clan, and the Silvermoon Wolf Clan were still wavering, stuck in hesitation.
In an instant, the tide turned. The situation shifted advantage tilted back to their side.
Xiao Yan sneered. The Void Ancient Dragons were pressing down how could this fight still be lost?
"Damn you!" The white haired Heavenly Demon Phoenix roared in rage. "Starfall Pavilion! Are you looking for death? Aren't you afraid that the powerhouses of my Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan will descend and bathe your pavilion in blood?"
"Hmph, I don't even fear the Soul Clan with their Nine Star Dou Sheng. What's a small Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan worth? A weed?" Xiao Yan retorted with a cold laugh.
Although he hadn't killed anyone from the Soul Clan yet, he had destroyed their Soul Hall before. He also knew that because of his father's clan, he and the Soul Clan were locked in an eternal feud.
At these words, the three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes turned ashen faced. It was clear that this time, they were facing an alliance between Starfall Pavilion and the Void Ancient Dragons.
"Attack together!" Huang Xuan's gaze shifted sharply. He turned toward Wind Lightning Pavilion, the Earth Tiger Clan, and the Silvermoon Wolf Clan. "Wind Lightning Pavilion, you've already provoked that Void Ancient Dragon. It's impossible for you to remain neutral!"
Then, glaring at the Earth Tiger and Silvermoon Wolf clan leaders, he said coldly, "Regardless of the outcome of this battle, my Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan will not forget your contributions. I will petition our clan to grant you the Ancient Phoenix Blood and Phoenix Wings to enhance your power. Wind Lightning Pavilion will also be included in this reward!"
At this, the eyes of Thunder Venerable and the two beast clan leaders burned with desire. Phoenix Wings if successfully refined into a flying Dou Technique, their speed would increase dramatically.
Spurred by this irresistible temptation, all three roared simultaneously, unleashing powerful, razor sharp auras into the air.
With such a grand reward, courage came easily. The Void Ancient Dragon's reputation was intimidating, but it couldn't outweigh the allure of such tangible gains.
After all, it was just two Void Ancient Dragons one of them still in its juvenile stage. Victory seemed within their grasp!
The resolve in their eyes solidified, and their raging auras surged with killing intent. In an instant, the previously disadvantaged Heavenly Demon Phoenix faction now matched the combined might of Lu Bu and Starfall Pavilion.
"Lu Bu, what do we do now?" Xiao Yan frowned. The opposing side's forces clearly outmatched their own this could be troublesome.
"Hmph..." Lu Bu sneered. With a flick of his sleeve, two golden Heavenly Demon Puppets appeared, replacing two Dou Zong level Earth Puppets in the circular formation. The result was an eight silver two gold puppet array.
"Roar !"
The moment the formation completed, the ten metallic figures unleashed a series of low, piercing roars. Instantly, brilliant silver and golden lights surged, converging on the lead golden Heavenly Demon Puppet.
The dazzling golden light dimmed slightly, transforming into a dark golden hue. A powerful aura erupted forth, standing tall and imposing within the Beast Spirit Barrier.
"Six Star Dou Venerate Peak?!"
Thunder Venerable's pupils contracted sharply, and he couldn't help but cry out in disbelief.
"How is this possible?! How can a puppet reach this level?!" The black robed Heavenly Demon Phoenix's face turned dark as veins bulged on his forehead.
He had assumed his opponents would only be the white clad woman and the Void Ancient Dragon. He hadn't expected this hidden trump card!
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Just moments ago, the puppet had been at Two Star Dou Venerate level. Now, after replacing two puppets, it had skyrocketed to Six Star Dou Venerate Peak.
"Damn it! How does Lu Bu even know how to control and use this puppet formation?" Xiao Yan ground his teeth, his jealousy nearly turning his eyes green. This was the kind of puppet that could kill Soul Hall Heavenly Venerates like Old Ghost Zhai Xing! He wanted one so badly!
Lu Bu smirked coldly. These two golden puppets had been crafted from the corpses of Lion Nether Sect's Lion Tian and Earth Nether Sect's Four Star Dou Venerate elder.
In a place like the Dou Sheng ruins, where powerhouses abounded, Lu Bu had naturally made precautions. He hadn't expected they'd come in handy so soon.
"The black robed Heavenly Demon Phoenix is for the puppets. Xiao Yi Xian, you take on that Five Star Dou Venerate Phoenix," Lu Bu instructed. "Xiao Yan, Wind Venerable, deal with the Wind Lightning Pavilion group."
With that, Lu Bu flicked his finger, and yet another golden Heavenly Demon Puppet appeared. Its face bore an uncanny resemblance to Qin Tian, the Three Star Dou Venerate who had once led an attack on Jia Nan Academy.
Aside from one Dou Zong level Earth Puppet, this was Lu Bu's final puppet.
"Kill them all! Leave no one alive!" Lu Bu raised his hand, pointing directly at the white haired Heavenly Demon Phoenix. His cold voice resounded like a death knell.
As the command fell, a murderous aura surged, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Boom!
The dark golden puppet stomped its foot, causing the space beneath it to cave in dramatically.
A split second later, with a thunderous roar, the dark golden puppet shot forward like a cannonball, forming a straight dark gold streak as it charged the black robed Heavenly Demon Phoenix.
The sheer force tore through the air, smashing layer upon layer of space. Its massive fist descended like a mountain, aimed squarely at the black robed Phoenix.
No technique. Just raw, overwhelming power!
"I'll hold off this puppet! You take down the juvenile Void Ancient Dragon and secure the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit!" the black robed Heavenly Demon Phoenix cried out in panic.
A Six Star Dou Venerate puppet that felt no pain or fear? This was going to be a nightmare!
Xiao Yi Xian let out a crisp shout, her gray purple Dou Qi forming two massive serpents that roared as they lunged at Huang Xuan.
"Damn it..." Huang Xuan's face darkened. The woman's poison was terrifying even the Nine Nether Earth Python couldn't produce something this deadly.
"Huang Fei, summon the ancestral soul!" Huang Xuan barked at the white haired Phoenix. "Our victory hinges on you and the ancestral soul!"
"Don't worry, elder. I've got this!" Huang Fei sneered, flicking his finger as a drop of blood emerged and traced a peculiar rune in the air.
"With blood as the offering and the rune as the bond, awaken the ancestral soul!"
Boom!
As the chant ended, the Beast Spirit Barrier quaked violently, and an ancient, desolate aura began to spread.
Under this oppressive force, everyone's Dou Qi seemed to freeze momentarily, as if blocked by an unseen barrier.
"Is this... the Ancient Sky Phoenix?" Xiao Yan's face twisted in shock. He hadn't expected the Heavenly Demon Phoenixes to pull off a move like this.
Clang!
A golden light shot out, tearing through space as it struck the Heavenly Demon Puppet.
Bang!
The resounding impact sent the puppet flying backward, smashing into the Beast Spirit Barrier. Cracks spread across its dark golden body.
"So strong!" The Starfall Pavilion members' pupils shrank. That puppet was as hard as iron, with a body comparable to a Dou Venerate's!
"Hahaha! Void Ancient Dragons, let's see you survive this now!" Huang Fei laughed wildly, his delight overflowing.
Wind Lightning Pavilion's morale soared as they pressed harder against Xiao Yan, Wind Venerable, and the Starfall Pavilion members.
Roar !!
Suddenly, a deafening dragon's roar resounded, reverberating through everyone's souls.
Above, a massive hundred foot long divine dragon bathed in purple gold light appeared, its majestic form dominating the sky. Its massive dragon eyes crackled with sharp, electric energy as it locked gazes with the Ancient Sky Phoenix, an equal rival.
"Is that... the ancestral soul of the Void Ancient Dragons?"
"No! That's Lu Bu at the dragon's head!"
Perched atop the massive dragon, Lu Bu's body glowed with a dark golden hue. Beneath his skin, shimmering dragon scales emerged, covering him entirely. His once dark eyes now gleamed with a dazzling purple gold vertical pupil.
In an instant, a sovereign dragon's might descended, commanding reverence like an emperor's decree.
"Oh, right. The ancestral soul thing…" Lu Bu sneered, his voice cold and disdainful. "Fine, I'll handle this myself."
The divine light of a purple gold dragon swirled around his powerful frame as he prepared for the ultimate clash.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen