Chapter 348: Cao Ying: I Shouldn't Be Here
The sudden appearance of the white-robed figure caused Mu Gu Elder to pause for a moment.
But when he saw clearly that the one stepping from the spatial rift was Xiao Yuan, a sneer of contempt spread across his face.
"Just you? Dare to speak big in front of me? Others might not know, but do you think I don't? You and Xiao Yan are both Yao Chen's disciples—Xuan Yi never left Central Plains these years. Where would she get a disciple from the Jia Ma Empire in the far northwest?"
Mu Gu Elder had investigated the identities of Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan long ago. His infiltration into the Pill Gathering was part of the Soul Hall's plans—and for the sake of seizing Flame Mantra from Xiao Yan.
"If you really investigated us, then you shouldn't have had the courage to show up at the Pill Gathering."
Xiao Yuan smiled nonchalantly, then turned toward the white-robed woman.
"Hand over the collected medicinal ingredients. I'll submit them for you. You should leave this place first."
The white-robed woman nodded, handed over the three ingredients, then stepped into the fading spatial passage.
As she vanished, the portal slowly closed. Xiao Yuan stowed the ingredients and looked toward Mu Gu Elder.
"Good. Now there are no outsiders. The Pill Tower's Three Giants have sealed this space. You can't run, and you can't call for help."
Brushing the dirt from his hands, Xiao Yuan's aura suddenly surged.
In an instant, Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations activated to its third level. His aura soared to the level of a Three-Star Dou Zun.
"Three-Star Dou Zun?!"
Mu Gu Elder's pupils contracted.
He had heard that Qinhai Zun had once fallen at the hands of this group, but he hadn't imagined Xiao Yuan's true combat strength to be this terrifying.
This was the same secret technique Xiao Yan had used earlier—Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations! If it could boost someone to this level, then Xiao Yuan must also be cultivating Flame Mantra and have multiple Heavenly Flames.
Impossible!
Even if the brothers each had two Heavenly Flames, that would be four in total.
Was Yao Chen's luck really this ridiculous?
No matter—today, he must capture both brothers!
His killing intent surged.
With a change of hand seals, Mu Gu Elder summoned his signature move—his arms coated in deep-blue crystalline energy, condensing into a blue crystal giant claw, which he hurled at Xiao Yuan.
But Xiao Yuan merely scoffed, raised his hand, and crushed the claw mid-air with a dark-golden flame-formed hand.
"Such cheap tricks—don't embarrass yourself."
With a cold laugh, Xiao Yuan twisted his waist and threw a simple punch. The air compressed to its limit, forming a pressurized blast that screamed toward Mu Gu Elder.
The punch never reached, but its wind alone blew Mu Gu Elder's robes and hair wildly, causing even the flesh on his cheeks to tremble.
Mu Gu Elder countered with a crystal arm, resulting in a violent shockwave that leveled the ground, split trees, and sent dust flying.
"Kehehe... you've got some brute strength, but it won't be enough to stop me today!"
He cackled madly.
But the next moment, Xiao Yuan's fist struck his face, launching him like a cannonball straight into the earth.
"What was that barking just now?"
Xiao Yuan's voice crackled like thunder, surrounded by arcs of green lightning.
Meanwhile, Cao Ying, returning to check on Xiao Yan, was again caught mid-air by Xiao Yuan and carried away from the blast zone.
"What... just happened?" she asked, blinking in shock.
Xiao Yan let her go and shrugged. "That white-robed lady used her space stone to get out and bring reinforcements. That's my Third Brother—he's fighting that Soul Hall geezer now."
"You mean Xiao Yuan?!"
Cao Ying stared at the sky—indeed, that fearsome figure was him.
"My god... how does he train like that?"
"Just... normal training?" Xiao Yan rubbed his chin with feigned innocence.
"???"
Cao Ying fell into stunned silence.
Below, Mu Gu Elder clawed his way out of the dirt, bruised and bloodied.
He couldn't accept that he had just been punched into the ground!
Snarling, he roared, "Netherfire Demonic Arm!". Blue fire surged, forming a monstrous arm of ghostly flame.
With a roar, he launched the fire arm like a meteor. As it grew to nearly a hundred meters in size, it blotted out the sun.
Xiao Yuan's eyes lit with sharp intent. His hands blurred into seals—Heaven-Annihilating Seal!
An exquisite energy seal collided with the fire arm, unleashing a sky-shaking explosion.
The blast rocked the entire mountain. Forests collapsed. A massive crater over 100 meters wide opened in the land.
"—hiss!"
Cao Ying gasped at the destruction.
Xiao Yan remained vigilant, eyes sweeping their surroundings.
As the smoke cleared, Xiao Yuan found Mu Gu Elder levitating mid-air, arm scorched, breath ragged.
Satisfied with the damage, Xiao Yuan nodded.
Mu Gu Elder had underestimated him. He couldn't afford a drawn-out battle, not if he wanted to compete later and vie for the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
If he couldn't defeat Xiao Yuan now, then what?
Realizing the trap, Mu Gu Elder snarled, "Xiao Yuan! I'm a registered contestant! You, as the host, dare attack a participant?"
Xiao Yuan sneered. "You slaughtered other contestants and harvested their souls. You've already been disqualified. And your Soul Hall cronies? They're all going to die."
Earlier, his "Xuan Bing" persona had recorded everything with soul energy. The outer crowd was already furious.
Now sealed in the space, and replaced by the real Xiao Yuan, the trap had snapped shut.
"You're working with that woman?!" Mu Gu Elder shouted.
"Never met her. But she's sharp." Xiao Yuan kept his alibi airtight.
"Fine! Let's see who survives this!"
Mu Gu Elder roared and unleashed more blue fire—only for Xiao Yuan to counter with his dark-golden flame, summoning five flame beasts into a Five-Wheel Inferno Formation.
Trapped inside, Mu Gu Elder found himself in a hell forged of Heavenly Flame.
Even with fire resistance, his own inner flame was suppressed. He couldn't shield himself.
Panic finally seized him.
Why did I ever think I could mess with this guy?
"Xiao Yuan! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!"
His body swelled like a balloon, preparing to self-destruct.
"Ha."
Xiao Yuan raised a hand.
The fire-forged divine palm slammed down, burying Mu Gu Elder into the earth.
Boom!
The explosion shattered the fire construct—but Xiao Yuan was already observing calmly from outside the array.
"A Dou Zun, dead just like that?"
Cao Ying covered her lips in disbelief.
"Offending Third Brother... not a great survival plan," Xiao Yan quipped.
"Wait, Xiao Yan—look out!"
Cao Ying sensed a soul storm rushing from underground.
But Xiao Yan pulled her aside and stamped the ground. Invisible Flame surged into a net, trapping a terrified Mu Gu Elder soul form.
"Fallen Heart Flame?!"
The soul screamed as Xiao Yan lifted it into the air, fully restrained.
"What gave you the confidence to think my brother was the easy one?" Xiao Yuan appeared beside him, mocking.
Cao Ying, watching both brothers smirk like cunning foxes, suddenly felt... like the dumbest person in the room.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1