Chapter 223: The Grandmaster Level Spirit Array Seal of the Heavens
"If you hate me so much and regret not going all out before, here's your chance. Try now leave me here permanently if you can!"
Inside the Ancient Emperor's Cave, Xiao Tiance's voice echoed.
As the words settled, the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame began surging with Dou Qi. Few knew this, but these two were fully aware of the vast chasm between their strength and Xiao Tiance's.
More than that, it wasn't just his raw power that terrified them it was his unfathomable methods.
A Calculated Confrontation
The Soul Heavenly Emperor exhaled deeply, his expression grave as he regarded Xiao Tiance, who appeared as unassuming as an ordinary man.
"I should've known. Someone like you wouldn't have walked in here without laying down some contingencies," he said solemnly.
"Hehe. Surprised, are we?" Xiao Tiance chuckled, as if greeting old friends rather than mortal enemies.
"Surprised? No, you damned bastard we're terrified!" Void Devouring Flame cursed inwardly, though he maintained a stoic front.
Earlier, they had thought the Shadow Space Seal would keep the likes of Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, Yan Jin, and Lei Ying at bay. They even believed that, while the Embryonic Emperor Pill had been taken, the Ancient Emperor's Inheritance was still within their grasp.
Then Xiao Tiance appeared. All those calculations crumbled instantly.
If not for their pride, they would've already turned and fled.
A Chance, or a Mockery?
Seeing the two remain silent, Xiao Tiance smiled faintly and continued, "It seems my presence doesn't excite you it terrifies you instead. Tell you what, I'll give you a fair shot.
"You can try to obtain the Ancient Emperor's Inheritance. If either of you succeeds, I'll leave immediately and wait for you to come challenge me as Dou Emperors.
"But if you fail… well, I'll offer you a dignified option: end your lives by your own hands. After all, I'm sure neither of you wishes to die by mine."
The Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame froze.
It wasn't Xiao Tiance's words they doubted; it was his motives. Why would a sworn enemy hand them such an opportunity?
"We're mortal enemies this ends only one way," thought the Soul Heavenly Emperor, his mind racing. "He's toying with us."
"Xiao Tiance, do you take us for fools?" Soul Heavenly Emperor's voice was icy. "You expect us to believe your magnanimity?"
Xiao Tiance shrugged, unfazed. "Magnanimity? Hardly. I just want you to understand how tantalizingly close you are to victory only to fail spectacularly.
"Think about it. You've sacrificed countless souls and discarded your people as pawns, only to find the path to Dou Emperor within your reach, yet entirely unattainable.
"Isn't that a poetic kind of despair? Knowing you'll die with that crushing realization will bring me endless joy."
He smiled, his tone dripping with sadistic amusement. "What do you say? Why not dance for me, one last time?"
A Desperate Gamble
"Now what?" Void Devouring Flame's voice, transmitted telepathically, carried a note of panic.
The Soul Heavenly Emperor's eyes hardened. With a calm that belied his rising anxiety, he responded, "We have no choice. Obtaining the inheritance is our only way out.
"Whether or not Xiao Tiance is plotting something, fighting him head on now guarantees our death. We'll take this slim chance instead."
Void Devouring Flame hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Fine. I'll buy you time. You go after the inheritance."
Positioning himself between Xiao Tiance and the Soul Heavenly Emperor, Void Devouring Flame's Dou Qi surged as he glared at Xiao Tiance.
Seeing this, Xiao Tiance smirked and leisurely took a seat, gesturing lazily. "By all means, try. I'll wait."
With that, the Soul Heavenly Emperor approached the stone tablet at the chamber's center, following Void Devouring Flame's earlier guidance to communicate with it.
Crushed Hopes
The Soul Heavenly Emperor tried once, twice, thrice… but the tablet remained motionless, unresponsive to his efforts.
"Impossible! Why isn't the inheritance responding?" Frustration mounted as his attempts grew more forceful.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
When coaxing failed, he resorted to raw power, unleashing devastating attacks against the tablet. Yet no matter how violently he struck, it stood immovable, defying his every effort.
Watching the futile display, Xiao Tiance's smile widened.
Did they really think he hadn't accounted for this? The stone tablet had long been sealed by a grandmaster level spirit array, cutting it off from any interaction. Not even Xiao Yan the so called chosen one could access it in this state.
Allowing the Soul Heavenly Emperor to exhaust himself wasn't just entertaining; it was deliberate. By the time they realized their futility, their despair would reach its peak.
"Ah, Soul Heavenly Emperor," Xiao Tiance finally broke the silence, his tone mockingly sympathetic. "It seems you aren't fated to ascend. A Dou Emperor's throne is forever beyond your grasp."
Rage and Accusation
The Soul Heavenly Emperor's eyes burned with fury as he snarled, "Xiao Tiance! You tampered with the tablet, didn't you?"
"Tampered? Naturally," Xiao Tiance admitted with a chuckle. "This tablet is now protected by a grandmaster level spirit array.
"Let me be blunt: even if you were Dou Emperors already, you wouldn't be able to break it.
"But go ahead, keep trying if you like. The more futile your struggle, the more entertaining it is for me."
The Final Realization
Hearing this, the Soul Heavenly Emperor's shoulders sagged. Despair seeped into his voice as he muttered, "A grandmaster level spirit array? Damn you, Xiao Tiance… we never had a chance, did we?"
Xiao Tiance's gaze remained cold and detached. "Did you truly think I'd give you one? You've spent centuries scheming, sacrificing, betraying. And for what?
"Take solace in this: your end will serve as a warning to others. Perhaps, in your next life, you'll think twice before crossing paths with the Xiao Clan."
The chamber fell silent save for the crackle of distant flames. Xiao Tiance rose from his seat, the air around him pulsing with unrestrained power.
"Now then," he said, stepping forward, his voice calm yet commanding. "It's time to finish this."
"Heh, seeing you in such a state makes all the traps I laid entirely worth it."
As Xiao Tiance spoke, he rose slowly, the aura of his Dou Qi radiating outward. The oppressive half Emperor aura bore down on the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame, suffocating them under its weight.
"Enough struggling. Your little performance has been quite entertaining. Now, will you allow me the honor of ending your lives, or will you take the liberty of doing it yourselves?" Xiao Tiance asked with a mocking smile.
Shattered Hopes
The Soul Heavenly Emperor snorted coldly, his eyes darting toward the bronze door. He was about to suggest a desperate escape plan to Void Devouring Flame, but Xiao Tiance cut him off.
"Don't even think about running," Xiao Tiance said in a chilling voice. "I've also sealed the exit with a grandmaster level spirit array. Even if you detonated all three of your Gates of Deathly Silence, escape is impossible.
"You should know by now that I don't make the same mistake twice. Years ago, you escaped because of that fool, Shi Zhong Tian. This time, there's no one to interfere, and the only path left for you is death."
Hearing this, the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame felt their hearts sink into a bottomless abyss. They exchanged a heavy, resigned glance before stepping forward to stand side by side.
The Last Stand
With all hope extinguished, the fear that had weighed on them began to dissipate. A strange calm settled over the two.
"Oh? Ready to make a final stand, are you?" Xiao Tiance thought, smirking inwardly.
The Soul Heavenly Emperor exhaled deeply, his icy gaze fixed on Xiao Tiance. "Xiao Tiance, do you know what I regret most in this life? It's that I didn't use my full strength against you that day. If I'd known we'd end up like this, I would've risked being gravely injured by Xiao Xuan just to kill you."
"Hahaha!" Xiao Tiance burst into laughter. "Is that your final regret, your grand dying words? I thought someone like you wouldn't stoop to such trivial emotions.
"Then again, it seems even the mightiest cannot face death without fear. Not even you, Soul Heavenly Emperor."
"Enough with your arrogance!" the Soul Heavenly Emperor snapped. "This is the end. Either you die, or we die!"
Beside him, Void Devouring Flame glared at Xiao Tiance, venom dripping from his voice. "Xiao Tiance, you rank among the top three beings I loathe most in this world."
"Oh? Top three? It seems your hatred for me isn't strong enough. I should've been number one. But no matter there's no need to reminisce about the past. Let's settle everything here and now."
The Clash
As Xiao Tiance finished speaking, the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame launched their most powerful attacks without hesitation.
The Ancient Emperor's Cave trembled as energy surged, creating the illusion of a collapsing world. Two colossal Heaven Ranked Dou Techniques tore through the air, heading straight for Xiao Tiance.
Xiao Tiance narrowed his eyes slightly at the overwhelming force but remained calm. He raised his right hand, gently pressing downward as he whispered, "Grandmaster Spirit Array Heavenly Seal, activate!"
A Cage of Despair
Boom!
In an instant, a massive spirit array materialized, forming an enormous cage around the Soul Heavenly Emperor, Void Devouring Flame, and their combined attacks.
Bang! Boom!
The two Heaven Ranked Dou Techniques collided with the barrier of the spirit array, resulting in an earth shaking explosion.
Pfft! Pfft!
The force of their own attacks rebounded, striking the two with devastating power. Both spat out blood as their bodies were flung back like ragdolls, crashing into the glowing walls of the array before collapsing to the ground.
Mockery in Victory
As they struggled to rise, Void Devouring Flame coughed out, "Damn it, Xiao Tiance! You're nothing but a coward who hides behind traps and tricks! Face us head on, if you dare!"
The Soul Heavenly Emperor, pale and grim, stared coldly at Xiao Tiance. "Don't you crave a proper duel? Or is this all you amount to?"
Xiao Tiance threw his head back and laughed. "When did you two become so naive? You think I'd stoop to a primitive, brute force fight when I have superior methods?
"Say what you want now; this array's heat will gradually increase until it melts you down to nothing. Let's see… you have about ten minutes. Use that time wisely to deliver your final words."
A Fool's Defiance
Void Devouring Flame suddenly burst into a crazed laugh. "Xiao Tiance, you're a fool! Do you think heat can kill me? My true form is an Heavenly Flame! Go ahead, crank up the heat. Let's see who burns first!"
Hearing this, the Soul Heavenly Emperor's expression darkened. "Idiot," he thought. "You may be fine with heat, but I'm not an Heavenly Flame!"
Outside the array, Xiao Tiance smirked, his eyes gleaming coldly. "Void Devouring Flame, you're even more idiotic than I thought. Did you notice the beautiful spirit imprint on your chest?
"That mark siphons away your soul energy. Your famed devouring ability? Try using it against that spirit imprint and see who wins."
With a glance at an imaginary watch, Xiao Tiance added, "Oh, and by the way, you now have nine minutes left."
Panic Sets In
Horrified, both the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Void Devouring Flame tore open their robes, revealing a bizarre and vivid spirit imprint glowing on their chests.
"What is this? When did this get here?" they exclaimed in unison, their confidence crumbling.
From outside the array, Xiao Tiance watched their panic unfold with icy amusement. As his hand moved, countless glowing spirit seals materialized around him, forming an intricate and oppressive web of energy.
Inside the array, a blood curdling scream echoed.
"Ahhh! This cursed thing is draining my soul energy!"
(Chapter End)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1