Boom!
Mo Bas's Dou Qi blast arrived in an instant
....only to freeze solid in front of Xiao Yan, turning into a long white ice spike that shattered onto the ground.
Immediately afterward, Xiao Yan—dressed in black, his face hidden beneath a hood, his aura unmistakably at the Dou Huang level.....flicked his finger.
Mo Bas's attack exploded apart, transforming into countless ice shards that blasted backward with even greater force and terrifying speed.
Mo Bas hurriedly raised his defenses, but was still sent flying.
"A Dou Huang?!"
His expression darkened as he stabilized himself.
High in the sky, Gu He and the others stared in shock at the suddenly appearing Dou Huang.
A dignified Dou Huang sneaking in like a thief?
And worse—he had almost succeeded.
Queen Medusa, however, showed no surprise at all. Instead, a hint of cunning flickered deep within her eyes.
After a brief pause, Gu He spoke loudly:
"Friend, I am Gu He, a sixth-rank alchemist. I believe your purpose here is the same as mine. Why not cooperate? Compensation can be discussed."
Beneath the hood, Xiao Yan's hidden face twisted into something strange.
"No need."
Yao Lao's aged voice echoed out.
Gu He's expression changed instantly.
"You're also a sixth-rank alchemist?!"
The crowd's expressions turned colorful.
"Sixth rank?" Yao Lao chuckled disdainfully.
"Let's just say that I am."
Gu He wasn't foolish. He could clearly hear the contempt in that voice. Combined with the Dou Huang cultivation and the speaker's age, a terrifying possibility crossed his mind.
A seventh-rank alchemist…
The thought alone cooled his blood by half.
The accompanying experts were equally stunned.
Since when had such a terrifying alchemist appeared in the Jia Ma Empire?
Could he be a wandering powerhouse from the wider continent?
Yun Yun also looked curiously at the mysterious figure. Though Xiao Yan had hidden himself quickly, she had caught a glimpse—
It was the face of a young man.
And oddly enough… he resembled that little troublemaker.
Was there some connection?
At this moment, Xiao Yan was inwardly miserable.
He hadn't expected to be exposed so early.
"Teacher… what now? Fight?" he asked silently.
"Not yet," Yao Lao replied calmly.
"Queen Medusa's aura is stronger than mine. Don't act rashly. Stall for time. Xiao Jian has already gone inside."
Hearing Yao Lao's steady reasoning, Xiao Yan finally relaxed a little.
"You all handle your negotiations," Yao Lao said, waving dismissively at the sky.
"Since I've been exposed, I won't interfere."
With that, he took Xiao Yan and landed on a nearby dune, sitting cross-legged—truly looking as though he had no intention of fighting.
No one believed that for a second.
Both Gu He's group and Queen Medusa's side turned their attention toward him.
"Shall I send out a soul transmission and invite a few Dou Huangs over to keep you company?" Yao Lao added coldly.
A terrifying wave of soul power erupted.
Except for Queen Medusa and the black-robed Yun Yun, everyone else was forced back several steps. Even the flying beast trembled in fear and retreated.
Gu He hurriedly whistled, calming the beast with his own soul power.
But after releasing that wave, Yao Lao suddenly stiffened.
"Damn it," he muttered.
"This Queen Medusa is only a Dou Qi avatar. Xiao Jian is in danger!"
Xiao Yan's face went pale.
"A fake?!" he asked urgently.
"Yes," Yao Lao replied grimly.
"I sensed instability before, but only confirmed it just now. This is merely an energy body infused with part of her will. The real Queen Medusa is likely elsewhere… preparing for evolution."
He hesitated.
Had Xiao Jian rushed in because he'd already seen through the deception?
If Medusa was evolving, she absolutely could not be disturbed—and Xiao Jian, with his Heavenly Flame…
The implications were terrifying.
"Teacher, we have to go in!" Xiao Yan said without hesitation.
Whether or not he understood the deeper strategy, one thing was clear—
His brother could be facing a true Dou Huang alone.
Moon Mei was already guarding the entrance.
Mo Bas was watching Gu He's group warily.
"That boy really is reckless…" Yao Lao sighed.
But after a brief pause, he made his decision.
Neither of those disciples could be lost.
In the next instant, a frightening aura exploded outward as Yao Lao seized control of Xiao Yan and charged toward the palace.
The crowd stared.
This mysterious powerhouse had just declared he wouldn't interfere—then immediately rushed the entrance.
Shameless.
"Stop him!" Queen Medusa ordered coldly.
Too late.
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