As soon as their brief exchange ended, Qing Yan and Huo Zhan sprang into action without hesitation. Monstrous Dou Qi erupted from their bodies—Qing Yan shot forward like a bolt of lightning, while Huo Zhan leapt backward in the opposite direction.
Huo Zhan's hands moved with astonishing speed, forming countless seals that left afterimages trailing in the air. As the seals took shape, spatial strength began to surge and spread from his body like ripples in still water.
"Dragon Void Cage!"
With a thunderous roar, Huo Zhan completed the final seal. Instantly, the space around Wei Jie and Mei Ling trembled violently before beginning to solidify, forming a massive cage covered in faint dragon scale patterns.
Both Wei Jie and Mei Ling could clearly sense the surrounding space condensing, threatening to trap them within. Though the cage would not hold them for long, even a short delay at this moment could tilt the situation disastrously out of their favor.
Their gazes sharpened as they saw Qing Yan streaking toward the mountain. If they were truly restrained here—even briefly—no one would be able to stop him in time.
"Mei Ling, stop the spatial cage from forming! I'll kill Qing Yan!"
Wei Jie's voice rang out sharply as he thrust his palm toward the void with violent force. In that instant, the energy of heaven and earth roared in response, churning wildly behind him like a storm ready to descend.
Almost simultaneously, Mei Ling moved. With a graceful wave of her sleeve, magenta-lime Dou Qi erupted from her body. The surrounding space trembled as the temperature soared, the air itself boiling under the searing heat.
Neither of them could escape—the cage had already locked onto their aura, and its purpose was clear: to prevent them from pursuing Qing Yan. Their only option was to destroy it by force. However, if even a moment was wasted, Qing Yan would already be beyond their reach.
Yet their mutual trust ran deep. Both knew there was no need for them to focus on the cage together—not while it remained incomplete. Without exchanging another word, they split their efforts with perfect understanding.
Without delay, the two unleashed their techniques—each carrying an overwhelming might.
"Burning Ocean Fist!"
Wei Jie's shout echoed as a massive, oceanic flame-fist surged into existence, its surface etched with countless mysterious symbols. With a thunderous roar, it shot forward, causing the void to tremble and collapse beneath its fierce momentum.
"Endless Swords Blazing Light!"
Mei Ling's cry followed, crisp and elegant. Countless streaks of magenta-lime glows coalesced into flaming swords, each bearing the refined grace of a phoenix's presence. The majestic blades aligned and shot forth with unrelenting speed, tearing toward the forming spatial cage with chilling sharpness and fiery brilliance.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In less than a breath's time, the endless majestic swords crashed violently into the forming spatial cage. A sharp screech echoed through the air, filled with destructive force. Under the ferocious impact, the cage trembled violently, and numerous cracks began to spread across its surface.
Boom!
Unable to withstand the relentless assault, the incomplete spatial cage shattered into countless fragments before it could fully take shape.
"Pu!"
A mouthful of fresh blood burst from Huo Zhan's lips as the backlash from the collapsing technique struck him. His body was flung backward like a broken arrow, retreating nearly a hundred meters before he finally managed to stabilize himself mid-air.
His aura had grown faint and unstable, and his complexion was pale—clear signs that he had suffered considerable losses.
Meanwhile, the oceanic flame-fist continued to surge forward, carrying unstoppable momentum and overwhelming might as it bore down on Qing Yan's back.
"Damn it!"
Naturally, Qing Yan could sense the looming threat of death rapidly closing in. But he could not afford to stop. He understood all too well—if he halted for even a breath, Wei Jie and Mei Ling would immediately close the distance and prevent him from seizing the one with the purest royal bloodline as leverage.
Turning back to block the attack would only seal his failure. Thus, he grit his teeth and pressed forward, gambling everything on a reckless charge.
A fierce glint flashed through his eyes. In the next instant, a powerful aura erupted from his body, and purple dragon scales swiftly formed along his skin like armor. Clearly, Qing Yan had resolved to endure the devastating blow with everything he had, willing to suffer injury if it meant pushing forward toward his objective.
Bang!
When the Burning Ocean Fist slammed heavily into Qing Yan's back, a deep-red glow instantly flared across the surface of his purple dragon scales. It was evident he had burned his blood essence in that critical moment—to bolster his defense and reduce the force of the incoming blow.
A muffled crack rang out as bones strained beneath the impact. Yet, with the combined protection of his dragon scales, physical strength, defensive artifacts, and the power drawn from his burning blood essence, Qing Yan managed to survive Wei Jie's devastating Burning Ocean Fist.
"Bastard…!" he growled through clenched teeth, his voice low and ragged. His face grew visibly paler with each breath, and his aura plummeted into frailty. He could already sense internal damage—lingering sequelae had no doubt taken root within his body.
Even so, he did not stop.
A savage glint flickered in Qing Yan's eyes. Despite the brutal blow, he twisted the momentum of the strike to his advantage—using the force of Wei Jie's technique to propel himself forward with explosive speed. In the blink of an eye, his figure had already shot far into the distance.
"Ha ha! Many thanks for the help!"
A ferocious, guttural laugh echoed from his throat, thick with mockery. He was clearly ridiculing Wei Jie, gloating even in his battered state as he pressed toward his objective.
"That old bastard!" Wei Jie cursed, his expression darkening.
He hadn't expected Qing Yan to go so far as to burn his blood essence just to endure the Burning Ocean Fist. Such an act would undoubtedly leave severe consequences on his cultivation foundation. Yet what truly startled Wei Jie was the ruthlessness and resolve Qing Yan had shown—willing to cripple his own future just to seize Zi Yan.
More importantly, the Burning Ocean Fist wasn't just any technique—it was a Middle-Grade Tian-Class Dou Technique, and for Qing Yan to survive it, even at such cost, left Wei Jie momentarily stunned.
"Enough staring—go after him!" Mei Ling shouted sharply as she shot forward, with Wei Jie quickly following behind.
"Ha ha! Unfortunately, the two of you will have to stay right here!"
Just as they moved, a black tower suddenly descended, forged from spatial force and dragon's might. Before they could react, the tower locked down around them.
Turning sharply, they saw Huo Zhan standing in the distance, a sneer playing on his lips and a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Void Dragon Black Tower—Imprison the Land!"
Huo Zhan roared, and the tower fully solidified. Though weaker than the Dragon Void Cage, this technique was still formidable—more than enough to delay even Ban Sheng elites like Wei Jie and Mei Ling.
"Bastard!"
Wei Jie and Mei Ling wasted no time—terrifying Dou Techniques burst forth in succession, bombarding the black tower with overwhelming force.
Huo Zhan's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched dense cracks rapidly spread across the surface of the Void Dragon Black Tower. Though he had known it couldn't completely suppress these two monstrous youths, he never imagined they would break through so quickly—or with such tyrannical might.
With a clenched jaw, Huo Zhan bit down hard and spat out a mouthful of blood essence. As the crimson droplets fused into the tower, the spreading cracks halted momentarily, the structure stabilizing once more.
"Scram!"
Wei Jie and Mei Ling bellowed furiously, their voices filled with rage and killing intent. Without pause, they unleashed another round of devastating attacks. Heaven and earth trembled under their assault, and within a few short breaths, the cracks reappeared—this time deeper and more numerous.
Boom!
With a final thunderous explosion, the black tower shattered completely, unable to withstand the duo's relentless might.
Wei Jie and Mei Ling paid no heed to Huo Zhan, who had been flung backward, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. Their eyes were already fixed on the mountain, filled with deep anxiety and heavy concern.
Bang!
Before they could even take a step forward, the energy of heaven and earth surged violently. A brilliant golden pillar of light erupted from the mountain's peak, piercing the heavens as an overwhelming pressure swept across the land like a crashing tide.
But it wasn't the golden pillar that seized their attention.
Near the base of that golden pillar of light, they saw a chilling scene—Little Fairy Doctor was sent flying, blood trailing in the air as Qing Yan's strike left her heavily wounded.
"This is bad… Hua'er will go mad…"
Mei Ling's voice trembled as she whispered, her eyes frozen in fear at the unfolding scene. Even Wei Jie fell silent, his expression darkening. The calm before the storm had yet to ended…
…
After successfully escaping from Wei Jie, Qing Yan appeared above the volcano in just a few flickers of light.
His gaze swept downward, landing on Xiao Hua, who sat cross-legged before a massive cauldron. His eyes then shifted to the figure within the cauldron itself. A faint frown appeared on his face as he muttered to himself, "So that's the one with the royal bloodline… Just a child. And yet, the pressure from her blood alone hints at her extraordinary lineage."
He narrowed his eyes. "I should take her now. The longer we delay, the more likely something unforeseen will happen."
Unwilling to linger any longer, Qing Yan made his move. His body blurred, and just as he prepared to strike—
Whoosh!
Several figures suddenly appeared before him, barring his path.
Naturally, it was Hei Qing and the others—stepping forward without hesitation, despite knowing full well the vast disparity in strength. Their determination blazed, like moths defying the flames.
"Hei Qing? Even in my current state, you still think you can stop me? How laughable."
Qing Yan snorted coldly as he saw Hei Qing and the others charge forward. Though heavily injured, it did not mean he had fallen so low as to be challenged by a few Dou Zuns who had yet to touch the peak of their class.
With a flick of his sleeve, a violent energy storm erupted in front of him, roaring forth like a lightning dragon and surging toward Hei Qing's group with terrifying speed.
Chi!
Yet, Hei Qing and the others remained unshaken. The moment they stepped forward, they had long accepted the price they would have to pay. Pain and injury would not sway their resolve.
Their auras flared with determination. Without hesitation, they unleashed their technique to meet the incoming storm head-on.
Hei Qing and the others grew visibly weary. The moment their techniques clashed with the energy storm, it felt as though all the Dou Qi within their bodies had been forcefully drained. Still, they gritted their teeth and watched as their strikes met the incoming tempest head-on.
Bang!
For a breath of time, silence reigned.
Then, an earth-shaking explosion erupted. A terrifying energy whirlwind swept across the skies like a howling storm, tearing apart everything in its path.
Grug!
Blood sprayed from Hei Qing and the others' mouths as their bodies were flung backward like broken kites. One by one, they crashed into the dense forest below, causing deep craters to appear on impact.
"Damn it…!"
Hei Qing cursed through clenched teeth, struggling to lift his blood-soaked body. His face was pale, his aura unstable—clearly, he had paid a heavy price just to block that single strike from Qing Yan.
Qing Yan cast a cold glance toward the forest below but spared no further thought. Just as he was about to step forward and seize his target, a graceful figure appeared before him—her presence veiled in a dark-purple aura so chilling it caused the air itself to still.
With a raised hand, her voice drifted like a whisper in the wind, "Infernal Butterfly Dance…"
In that instant, the temperature around them plunged. The heavens trembled.
From the Little Fairy Doctor's body, a wisp of Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame rose—a sinister hue of deep, deathly purple. The flame writhed and flickered before transforming into butterflies of fire, delicate yet ominous.
Dozens emerged… then hundreds… then thousands.
They ascended into the sky like a storm cloaked in beauty—silent, graceful, and utterly fatal.
Each butterfly bore translucent wings wreathed in toxic flame, their movements soundless save for the soft chiming that echoed faintly in the air—like ghostly funeral bells ringing through a cursed wind.
Qing Yan's brows furrowed, his expression turning grave. A faint sense of danger lingered in the air—each of those violet butterflies radiated a silent, eerie threat. What unsettled him most was their deceptive grace; despite their slow, drifting flight, one had already landed on the back of his hand without him even noticing.
And yet… it did not explode.
It did not burn.
It simply clung—quietly and insidiously—before it began to consume.
The toughened skin of the Ancient Void Dragon blistered. The proud, nigh-indestructible bones began to dissolve. Even the mighty Dou Qi of a Ban Sheng elite crumbled, unable to resist the corrosion.
Then, Qing Yan finally felt it—an excruciating pain that surged deep into his soul, sharp enough to force a scream from his throat.
"Ahhhhh!"
With no hesitation, Qing Yan swung his arm and severed it at the wrist. Blood splattered through the air as he swiftly retreated dozens of meters, his eyes wide with disbelief and fear. He dared not remain near that field of fluttering, deep-purple butterflies.
After taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, Qing Yan lifted his eyes, a chilling killing intent surging toward the elegant, violet-clothed figure standing amidst the storm of butterflies.
"You wretched slut! You dare to injure this king?! Once you fall into my hands, even pigs and dogs will be too good for you!" Qing Yan bellowed with fury, his voice filled with venom. It stung his pride to suffer such grievous damage at the hands of a mere Dou Zun.
His fingers curled into a strange arc before clenching tightly, and with a savage roar, he thrust his palm forward. In that instant, the space before him cracked apart—an enormous purple dragon claw tore through the void with thunderous might.
Boom!
Without pause, the massive claw surged toward the field of butterflies, carrying a crushing momentum that threatened to destroy everything in its path.
Yet, calmness lingered in Little Fairy Doctor's expression. Her gaze remained fixed on the incoming dragon claw—neither panic nor fear were found in her eyes. Only unshakable resolve.
She raised her finger gently, pointed toward the incoming dragon claw, and softly whispered—
"Go."
The field of violet butterflies stirred the moment she uttered that single word. In the next breath, they surged forth—not in a straight line, but weaving through the air in a strange, unpredictable rhythm. Though they appeared slow, their speed was terrifying. In the blink of an eye, they converged into a violent, swirling storm and charged straight toward the incoming dragon claw.
Boom!
The colossal claw and the butterfly storm collided mid-air. Space trembled violently, and the void shattered with a deafening roar. A thunderous shockwave burst outward, followed by a ferocious windstorm that swept across the battlefield.
A thin trail of fresh blood trickled from the corner of Little Fairy Doctor's lips. Her expression grew paler with each passing second as she gritted her teeth, forcefully resisting the impact while pouring her all into halting the enormous claw—desperately trying to prevent Qing Yan from interrupting the refinement of the Dragon Phoenix Crystal.
But it was clear.
Even with the unique constitution of Netherflame Calamity Body and the Abyssal Calamity Ghostflame, the gap between her and a Ban Sheng expert like Qing Yan was too vast.
Pu!
As expected, her body couldn't endure the backlash for long. Blood gushed from her mouth as her figure was flung backward like a broken kite, crashing hard onto the scorched earth. Her slender form lay battered and bloodstained—evidence of the serious injuries she had suffered to protect that final moment.
"You truly don't know your limits."
The corner of Qing Yan's mouth lifted into a cold, mocking arc as he let out a dismissive snort. Though the Little Fairy Doctor's earlier display had surprised him, it changed nothing. The chasm between them remained insurmountable.
"Brat, extinguish your flame."
After felling the Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Yan stepped forward, traversing the empty space with slow, deliberate strides. His gaze locked onto the lone figure seated before the cauldron as he issued a flat, indifferent command.
But Xiao Hua gave no reply.
He remained utterly silent—his gaze fixed on the cauldron, unmoving, unwavering. It was as if nothing else in the world existed.
Qing Yan's brows furrowed tightly. A strange chill gripped his chest, and an inexplicable sense of dread began to swell within him. He stared at the youth's back—and in that instant, an illusion took hold in his mind.
It was no longer a mere youth seated there… but a slumbering beast.
A beast that was still enduring, still waiting… and once its task was done, it would awaken—and devour everything in its path.
"Another one seeking death…"
Sensing that the young man's cultivation was merely at the Dou Zong level, Qing Yan snorted coldly. The earlier unease in his heart was cast aside, dismissed as nothing more than an overreaction.
He slowly lifted his hand, Dou Qi surging violently. Without hesitation, he swung it down with ruthless force, aiming directly at the top of Xiao Hua's head.
But just as Qing Yan's palm descended—
Within the cauldron, the tightly shut eyes of the slumbering girl suddenly snapped open.
And in that instant, a voice, cold and commanding, echoed beside Qing Yan's ear. Laden with pressure vast as the sea, it thundered directly into his soul.
"If even a single strand of his hair is harmed… you shall repay it with your life."
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