Chapter 396: "You Dare Call Yourself a Heavenly Demon Phoenix?"
"Who are you?" Nine Phoenix rubbed his sore face, his gaze dark and shadowed as he asked in a low voice. For two women to suppress two prodigies of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan, this man was clearly not ordinary.
"Now you think to ask?" Lu Bu smiled faintly, his plain looking face brimming with mockery.
Nine Phoenix's face turned ashen, his body trembling slightly. The veins on his forehead bulged as he struggled to suppress his anger and growled, "Do you really intend to make yourself an eternal enemy of my Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan?"
"Was it not you who purposely drove up prices and disrupted the auction at the trading event? Was it not you who provoked me by forcibly attempting to probe me without permission? And wasn't it you who just ordered a half saint to kill me?" Lu Bu smirked coldly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. If he were in Lu Bu's place, he would've slapped Nine Phoenix by now.
Even Yao Chen showed disdain, his expression clearly ridiculing the so called Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan.
"Hmph… This is how we do things," the Heavenly Demon Phoenix half saint sneered coldly, completely ignoring Yao Chen's derisive expression.
Not far away, Nine Phoenix took a deep breath, the anger in his eyes turning into a sharp gleam. Wiping the footprint off his face, his expression became visibly more solemn.
He understood now this man wasn't bluffing. He truly intended to kill him.
Nine Phoenix couldn't fathom why this man acted with such impunity. Few in this world dared to confront the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan so blatantly. Even members of the imperial clans would hesitate to express open killing intent in the presence of his clan's elders.
Yet this man… this man clearly wanted his life!
"Huáng Xīn, Huáng Yáng, take down those two women. Don't kill them I have use for them!" Nine Phoenix barked coldly at the man and woman from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan by his side.
Not far off, Xiao Yan chuckled gleefully, his face lighting up with anticipation. Normally, he was the one getting beaten up while Lu Bu lounged with beauties in his arms, watching the show.
But today, the tables had turned.
Finally, it was Lu Bu's turn to face some heat!
Xiao Yan felt a rush of satisfaction. If he could only have a beauty in his arms while he watched, it would be perfect.
Glancing around, however, he found only his teacher Yao Chen a wizened old man…
"Forget it. Beauties are overrated anyway," Xiao Yan muttered to himself, his lips twitching slightly as he redirected his attention to the battlefield below. This was the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan's young master fighting Lu Bu a battle worthy of anticipation. Perhaps this would force Lu Bu to reveal his true strength.
"If you're so eager to die… I'll grant your wish!" Nine Phoenix's voice was cold, his multi colored pupils swirling with light. His aura began to surge.
Boom!
A thunderous noise erupted as golden light burst forth from Nine Phoenix, forming a massive pillar of radiance that soared into the sky. The ground quaked violently, and an overwhelming aura swept across the area like a tidal wave.
"An eight turn Dou Zun…!" Xiao Yan's expression grew heavy. An eight turn Dou Zun was far beyond what he, as a nine star Dou Zun, could currently handle.
Bang!
A dull sound echoed as a pair of golden wings unfurled behind Nine Phoenix, sharp and domineering. His aura pierced the heavens like a sword.
"Roar !"
A deep dragon's roar reverberated as purple black flames coiled around Lu Bu like a storm. In an instant, the flames condensed into a hundred meter long fire dragon that raised its head and roared toward the sky. The surrounding temperature skyrocketed, and the oppressive heat caused the space to distort.
In the valley, some trees couldn't withstand the heat and burst into flames, adding to the blazing inferno.
"Six turn Dou Zun? That's what you're relying on to act so arrogant?" Nine Phoenix sneered, though his expression grew serious as he stared at the flames surrounding Lu Bu.
He detested the strange draconic might emanating from the fire but had to admit that it was extraordinarily powerful enough to pose a threat.
"It's enough to destroy you," Lu Bu replied calmly, the strength of his opponent's eight turn Dou Zun cultivation doing little to stir his emotions.
I've defeated a nine turn Dou Zun before. What's an eight turn?
"Six turn Dou Zun…" Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched. Lu Bu's strength had grown again. How long had it been? How had he improved so quickly?
Even if the nine turn Dou Zun level was just a transitional stage, it still required time to achieve. Could Lu Bu have consumed a Wutong Pill?
"Is that so? Let's find out!" Nine Phoenix laughed coldly. Apart from members of the imperial clans who relied on bloodline power, no one among his peers had ever intimidated him.
Before he finished speaking, the space around Nine Phoenix trembled slightly, and a streak of golden light flickered and vanished.
From the sidelines, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes. In his soul perception, Nine Phoenix had moved but he couldn't pinpoint his location.
"So fast!" Xiao Yan's muscles tensed, his heart pounding. Though he was an eight grade alchemist, he couldn't keep up with Nine Phoenix's speed.
The Heavenly Demon Phoenix half saint smirked slightly. As the clan's young master, Nine Phoenix's speed was unmatched in his generation even the half saint himself had to remain wary of it.
"Hmph… Foolish!" On the opposite side, Yao Chen sneered coldly. A speed trick in front of an alchemist? Did he not know the strength of an alchemist's soul perception?
If Nine Phoenix's cultivation realm far exceeded Lu Bu's, it might have worked. But with only a two realm advantage, Nine Phoenix was deluded if he thought this tactic would succeed.
Before Yao Chen's words faded, a streak of golden light appeared behind Lu Bu.
Clang!
The sharp sound of metal cutting through the air rang out. A blade like golden claw flashed with deadly light, slashing down toward Lu Bu from above.
The rift it carved into space was dark and foreboding, and the attack carried the full might to cleave Lu Bu in half.
Xiao Yan's face paled. If it were him standing there, he would have already fallen. This attack was something he couldn't withstand.
"Damn it!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, a sense of urgency flooding his heart. Before the Bodhi Ancient Tree appeared, he had to reach the nine turn Dou Zun stage or he would have no chance of competing with the likes of Lu Bu and Nine Phoenix.
"Heh heh... The Young Master has made his move. That brat is dead for sure!" Huang Xin sneered coldly as she covered her face, scarred and uneven from the burns inflicted by the flame.
Golden light flowed in her hands as her grotesque, ghost like face was fully restored. However… fighting against a Heavenly Flame wasn't so easily resolved! A faint, peculiar red hue lingered on her pale face, a sign that the fire poison had already invaded her body.
"You should worry about yourself!"
Behind her veil, Yun Yun's elegant and noble face remained expressionless. Her slender fingers lightly brushed over her sword, and a sharp whistle resounded as gales surged, her sword ringing with a keen edge. Blades of wind intertwined with fiery heat, roaring forward.
Huang Xin's expression shifted slightly. If this were any other nine star Dou Zun, she wouldn't be concerned, but this woman controlling two Heavenly Flames at once was entirely different.
Heavenly Flames were treasures of heaven and earth. Even as a Heavenly Demon Phoenix, Huang Xin found them extraordinarily difficult to deal with!
"So what if it's a Heavenly Flame? I want to see how much power a mere nine star Dou Zun like you can muster!" Huang Xin gritted her teeth and shouted coldly. Her hands moved into a complex seal, and with a deep, resonant cry, she roared:
"Sacred Phoenix Avatar, condense!"
As her voice fell, green and red light erupted from Huang Xin's body. Moments later, black flames surged upward, condensing into an enormous Heavenly Demon Phoenix in the inferno.
"Flame Serpent, manifest!"
Not one to back down, Yun Yun's hand seals transformed as well. The formless flames around her surged wildly, coalescing into a massive, hundred meter long serpent formed of fiery essence. The terrifying energy rippled outward with an explosive force.
"Fallen Heart Flame... No wonder Yun Yun's cultivation has advanced so quickly!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his expression filled with a mix of bitterness and frustration.
Wait a minute. Wasn't the Fallen Heart Flame still sealed within Jia Nan Academy? Where did Yun Yun get her hands on it?
Could Lu Bu's luck really be that absurd? Could he have found a second Fallen Heart Flame?
"This flame control technique is remarkable," Yao Chen remarked with a slight nod as he watched Yun Yun manipulate the enormous flame serpent. As a fire expert himself, he could clearly see how extraordinary her flame control technique was.
Xiao Yan pursed his lips. He vaguely recalled seeing Lu Bu use this technique once or twice, but few people had ever forced him to fight seriously. As a result, Lu Bu rarely employed it. He hadn't expected Yun Yun to utilize it so magnificently.
"Maybe I could trade for that technique with Lu Bu…" A thought flickered through Xiao Yan's mind before he quickly crushed it. That would be no different than walking right into one of Lu Bu's traps.
Shriiip!
A harsh, piercing sound like a blade scraping across glass suddenly echoed.
Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively turned his head. Where Lu Bu had been standing, a horrifying spatial fissure split open, slicing Lu Bu's figure cleanly in half.
Behind him stood Nine Phoenix, his colorful pupils spinning wildly, but his face bore no trace of satisfaction from defeating his enemy.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. Lu Bu possessed a flying technique crafted from Heavenly Demon Phoenix wings and had somehow learned the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan's secret movement technique, the Phoenix Step.
As expected… this guy was notoriously hard to kill. Unless a mid level half saint or stronger intervened, even if Lu Bu couldn't win, he could always escape with ease.
"There you are!"
Suddenly, Nine Phoenix's eyes sharpened, and his multicolored pupils gleamed with a cold light. With a wave of his arm, his sharp claws, wreathed in black flames, slashed toward a spot in the void.
Clang!
Sparks flew as a terrifying shockwave rippled outward. A fist and claw collided fiercely, revealing the figures of both combatants as they emerged from the void.
Nine Phoenix's face darkened as a wave of numbness radiated from his claw, forcing his expression into grim severity.
From the void, Lu Bu's figure slowly materialized. Beneath his skin, purple golden dragon scales shimmered faintly as boundless, overwhelming strength surged from every fiber of his being.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Lu Bu's fist pressed downward, steadily overpowering Nine Phoenix's razor sharp claw.
At that moment, the young master of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan, renowned for his physical prowess, found himself losing in raw strength to a human.
The Heavenly Demon Phoenix half saint's expression grew grave, and killing intent surged in his heart. A mortal who dared to humiliate their clan like this could not be allowed to live.
"You're no alchemist. Who exactly are you?!"
A mix of anger and shock flashed across Nine Phoenix's face. Such a monstrous physique was far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary human, let alone an alchemist.
In just one exchange, he felt utterly powerless against this man.
Impossible!
"An alchemist, of course..." Lu Bu sneered coldly. With a sharp twist of his wrist, an overwhelming force burst forth.
Boom!
The air itself seemed to shatter. Nine Phoenix let out a muffled grunt as his body was sent flying. His handsome face turned a deep shade of red as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Die!"
Nine Phoenix roared furiously, his hands forming seals as golden light surged in his pupils. A searing, sharp energy began to coalesce within his eyes, emanating a terrifying and restrained force that sent shivers through everyone present.
"Not good!" Xiao Yan's face paled. "He's channeling a Dou Technique through his eyes?!"
This kind of sudden, overwhelming technique left no room for evasion. How could Lu Bu possibly counter it?
Yao Chen's face darkened, his hands clenched behind his back. He briefly considered stepping in.
While he had no doubt about Lu Bu's ability to survive, he worried that if Lu Bu were seriously injured and missed the chance to claim the Purifying Lotus Flame, it would jeopardize the rescue of the Xiao clan's four star Dou Saint.
If the Soul Hall were given free rein… the consequences would be catastrophic.
Shhh!
Before Xiao Yan and Yao Chen's thoughts could settle, two streaks of flame clad golden light shot forth with terrifying speed.
The golden streaks pierced the void, aiming straight for Lu Bu's throat and forehead.
Yao Chen's expression shifted. The sheer strength and speed of those strikes made even him, a high level half saint, feel a sense of dread.
"Heh heh…" A sinister grin appeared on Nine Phoenix's face. "Let's see how you survive this!"
On the opposite side, Lu Bu's brows furrowed. It was too late to dodge. His hand thrust forward, summoning a dark gold radiance that surged outward to form a small shield made of overlapping scales.
"Foolish!" Nine Phoenix sneered coldly.
Before his voice had even faded, the golden fire streaks collided viciously with the dark gold shield.
Clang!
A deafening metallic crash rang out, like the tolling of a great bell.
Crack, crack…
The shield began to fracture, but the golden flames gradually dissipated as well.
"How is this possible?!" Nine Phoenix's pupils shrank sharply, his face instantly filled with disbelief and horror.
"That... was the dragon scales of the Ancient Void Dragon?" The Heavenly Demon Phoenix half saint's expression changed drastically as he frantically recalled the fleeting image of the dark golden scale shield.
"My turn..." Lu Bu smiled faintly, a crystalline light flashing in his eyes. Between his brows, a strange radiance began to gather.
"Soul Shock!"
With a low shout, a dazzling light erupted from Lu Bu's brow.
"Hngh..." Nine Phoenix let out a muffled grunt as his head tilted back abruptly. His vibrant, multicolored pupils lost their focus in an instant, and his control over his body was severed.
Lu Bu sneered coldly. His hands came together, forming a knife hand, which he brought down mercilessly toward Nine Phoenix's head mirroring what Nine Phoenix had attempted on him earlier.
Purple black flames coiled around his hand, tearing a thumb sized black rift into the space they passed through.
"What is that?" Xiao Yan's face paled slightly as he muttered to himself in shock.
"A soul skill?" Yao Chen's expression also grew grave. "But that soul technique's speed... it's absurdly fast!"
"Young Master!" the Heavenly Demon Phoenix half saint screamed, his figure blurring as he shot toward Nine Phoenix like a great roc taking flight. If he didn't act now, the young master of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would die on the spot!
Shrrk!
A muffled sound echoed as blood sprayed through the air. Nine Phoenix's shrill screams reverberated across the heavens and earth.
"Ahhh... You bastard! I'll make sure you die without a grave!"
Clutching his right shoulder, Nine Phoenix's bloodshot eyes blazed with fury. His entire arm, along with half his shoulder, had been severed cleanly. Fresh blood gushed out, staining his already disheveled robes.
"Young Master!" Huang Yan and Huang Xin shrieked in unison, their faces twisting with shock and despair. They couldn't believe their young master had suffered such a grievous wound. How was this possible?!
Ignoring the attacks of Medusa and Yun Yun, the pair gritted their teeth, forcefully enduring a blow from the two women before fleeing to Nine Phoenix's side.
Lu Bu cast a sharp glare at Yao Chen. "This old geezer why did you let that half saint interfere?"
Yao Chen merely shrugged, a faint smirk on his lips. "If the young master of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had actually died, wouldn't that make me an accomplice? Don't expect me to clean up your mess, Lu Bu."
"Boy, no matter who you are, today you will die!" Nine Phoenix growled venomously, his voice filled with malice as he clutched his severed arm.
Crack!
With a crisp sound, a jade talisman in his hand shattered.
As the jade piece crumbled, a faint breeze stirred. Above them, a dark, abyss like spatial rift began to take shape.
"Nine Phoenix, why have you summoned me?"
A deep, resonant voice akin to a phoenix's cry and thunder echoed from within the spatial rift.
The rift expanded, resembling a ferocious maw, as an oppressive and violent aura seeped out.
Medusa and Yun Yun, who had just returned to Lu Bu's side, suddenly paled. Goosebumps prickled their fair, delicate skin, and a suffocating weight bore down on their chests. Their breathing grew heavier.
Lu Bu narrowed his eyes as a spatial jade token appeared in his hand. With a subtle movement of his fingers, the jade token shattered silently.
"A Dou Saint... A genuine Dou Saint?!" Yao Chen's expression shifted drastically. He instinctively pulled Xiao Yan back.
"A Dou Saint from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan?" Xiao Yan's face turned pale as well. This was bad. This was very bad. They had managed to provoke such a terrifying elder.
Before their words had settled, a gloomy elder stepped out of the spatial rift.
The man's hands were long and bony, his fingertips pitch black and radiating an icy, sinister sharpness. With a casual flick of his fingers, he unintentionally tore through the space around him, leaving small rifts in his wake.
He was truly terrifying.
"Elder Yinghuang, kill him!" Nine Phoenix's face twisted into a sinister sneer as he pointed at Lu Bu. "This man bears our clan's wings and has grievously injured me. His crimes are unforgivable!"
The elder's gaze moved slowly, locking onto Lu Bu with a terrifying intensity.
The overwhelming pressure was like a tidal wave, sweeping over them with crushing force.
Boom!
A dull thud echoed as Lu Bu instinctively unfolded his green and red skeletal wings, shielding Medusa and Yun Yun behind him. The weight of the pressure compelled him to act.
"Boy, will you return to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan to atone for your sins, or shall I execute you here and now?" Yinghuang's hoarse voice carried a dreadful finality.
As he spoke, the space twisted and distorted, forming a massive spatial prison that enveloped everyone. Within this cage, escape was impossible.
Xiao Yan and Yao Chen exchanged glances, their faces heavy with concern. They had never expected what began as a minor scuffle would escalate to the point of drawing out a Dou Saint from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.
"Execute me?" Lu Bu sneered mockingly. "Why? Because you're some mangy bird?"
"Haha... I've roamed the Dou Qi Continent for countless years, and you're the first to dare insult the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan like this!" Yinghuang's laughter was tinged with fury. "Let me see how capable you really are!"
Without waiting for a response, the space around them surged violently. Yinghuang's pitch black fingers glowed ominously as he reached through the void, aiming to crush Lu Bu.
Clang!
The void trembled, and invisible blades sliced through the air like heavenly swords, enveloping Lu Bu and his group in an instant.
"Damn it!" Yao Chen's face turned grim, but the space had already been sealed. There was no way he could break free from a spatial confinement set by a Dou Saint.
As the five terrifying blades descended, Lu Bu's face remained calm, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. His relaxed demeanor held an air of mockery as he gazed at the so called Heavenly Demon Phoenix elder.
Snap!
A withered hand emerged from the void, gripping Yinghuang's descending claw effortlessly.
"What's this? Offended that someone called you a mangy bird?"
A calm, mocking voice echoed within the spatial prison as the space warped and rippled. Without warning, a sturdy, elderly figure appeared.
"You..." Yinghuang's expression changed drastically. Who was this? How had he approached unnoticed? Was the spatial prison he had constructed useless?
"You call yourself the Heavenly Demon Phoenix, huh?" The newcomer, Zhu Gang, chuckled coldly. With a casual motion, he swung his fist.
Boom!
The heavens quaked, and the earth trembled. Yinghuang, a mighty Dou Saint, let out a miserable scream as blood splattered across the skies.
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