Chapter 137: Dire Straits!
Seeing this, Jiang Yun's eyes were calm. He had already entered the Heart Eye state. White Undying Sacred Flame materialized. His hands abruptly formed seal after seal at that moment.
In the next instant, a strange array appeared. Four beast phantoms suddenly roared toward the sky. Within each of the four beasts, a cluster of white flame blazed. Strange rays of light shot forth, linking together. Seen from afar, it seemed to transform into a giant flaming seal a hundred zhang wide, pressing down toward Yun Yi to suppress him.
At this moment, terrifyingly high temperatures emerged. The energy between heaven and earth all fled and scattered at this time. Abruptly, the previously unstable space shattered with a boom at this moment. Huge spatial rifts appeared in the sky.
Yun Yi raised his head to look at the Four Symbols Seal pressing down upon him. Within those abyss-like pupils, traces of a grave, serious fluctuation appeared.
This... Jiang Yun's really going for the kill!
"A heavenly flame?!"
"Hmph—"
"Nihility Divine Finger!"
With a low shout, Yun Yi aligned two fingers together. Pitch-black Dou Qi poured entirely into the fingertips, directly making them dark, deep, and profound. As the fingertips trembled, the surrounding space was violently torn open.
"Swoosh!"
A black ray as thick as an arm suddenly shot violently from between his fingers. As the black ray streaked out, the sky was actually forcibly torn into a massive gash. An exceptionally terrifying destructive power rippled outward.
"Boom—"
The two fearsome attacks collided with a boom before the crowd's eyes. A deep, low thunderclap, painful to the eardrums, abruptly resounded across the sky. Immediately after, an indescribable storm of gale-force winds raged madly outward.
Both were simultaneously forced back. In the very next second, they collided with a boom once more.
Terrifying energy fluctuations rippled outward. Yun Yi wielded a pitch-black flame halberd, carrying a terrifying, ferocious might. Sweeping wide and striking with overwhelming force, he launched a domineering, unstoppable fierce assault against Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun, in turn, continuously deployed exquisite heavenly flame Dou Techniques and arrays from his hands, responding to Yun Yi's violent onslaught. On the surface, the battle flowed back and forth, evenly matched.
"This... who exactly is this Jiang Yun, to be able to trade blows back and forth with the Young Hall Master at the same realm?" Qiu Long watched the two clashing, sensing the escaping energy fluctuations, and asked with a grave expression.
You ask me—who am I supposed to ask?
Facing Qiu Long's puzzlement, Qin Tian and Qing Hai exchanged a glance and thought irritably.
"Don't forget, that girl is a Taixu Ancient Dragon. Never mind whether he's Senior Shen Nong's disciple or not—just the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan alone is no easy lamp to light. Those few are hot potatoes. Let's not meddle. The Young Hall Master will naturally handle things over there," Qing Hai frowned, pondering.
"Agreed. Completing the Young Hall Master's mission is still the priority!"
The three nodded and, with the large force of Soul Hall Protectors and minions, began encircling the people of Yun Lan Mountain and the Holy City of Jia Ma.
Instantly, sky-blotting black mist shrouded even the blazing sun in the sky, sweeping directly toward the crowd.
"Jie jie jie... Yao Chen! Today, let's see where you can run!"
Within the pitch-black black mist, the clanking and rattling of iron chains colliding could be heard. Pair after pair of scarlet-red eyes, as if beholding prey, stared at the crowd.
"Trouble!" Yao Chen said in a deep voice, his face so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it.
"Wash the Jia Ma Empire in blood!"
With Qin Tian and the other two at the lead, a sinister, chilling intent surged in their eyes. Staring at the crowd atop Yun Lan Mountain's peak, they sneered coldly. With an abrupt wave of a hand, they spoke, dense with killing intent.
"Yes!"
Hearing the Honored Elders' command, the multitude of Soul Hall Protectors and Envoys also roared in unison. Powerful Dou Qi immediately surged into the air. Then, amidst waves of clattering and rattling, pitch-black chains, blotting out the sky and covering the earth, shot violently toward the people of the Jia Ma Empire.
"Kill!"
Deafening cries of slaughter echoed across this stretch of heaven and earth. In the blink of an eye, this region was flooded with sky-surging killing intent.
Clang!
Still the familiar moves. A sharp explosion rang out from within the black mist. A pitch-black iron chain, dark as ink, abruptly shot violently out of the black mist, like a spirit snake emerging from its hole, lunging straight toward Yao Chen.
The air was torn apart. Wave after wave of sharp, piercing, ear-splitting shrieks made one's scalp go numb.
Yao Chen's pupils constricted. He possessed Xiao Yan's body!
The Soul Hall's people possessed an eerie, uncanny counter to soul power. In battle against them, one had to rely on other objects or powers. The reason he had been able to escape back then was precisely by relying on the Bone Chilling Flame.
Now, his Bone Chilling Flame had been seized by Yun Yi. He could only rely on Xiao Yan's Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
Under Yao Chen's control, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame suddenly swelled mightily. Seizing the Black Xuan Ruler, a single strike of Flame-Splitting Wave Ruler viciously cleaved toward the iron chain.
Clang!
A thunderous, bell-like explosion abruptly erupted. The chain and Yao Chen both retreated violently at the same time.
"Are you people or ghosts?!"
"Run! The Jia Ma Empire is finished!"
"It's bad! They've surrounded the Yun Lan Sect and the Holy City of Jia Ma! We can't get out!"
At this moment, Yun Shan, Jia Xingtian, and the entire host of Yun Lan Sect and Jia Ma Empire experts stared at the Soul Hall experts surging toward them like an overwhelming tide. Despair filled their eyes.
"Pfft—"
Xiao Yan violently spewed a mouthful of blood. To withstand a Dou Zun's attacks, Yao Chen had to mobilize even greater power, unable to hold back in the slightest.
And with Xiao Yan's mere Da Dou Shi body, supporting such power was clearly beyond him.
"Jie jie jie, Yao Chen. How many times can that disciple's body of yours withstand such torment?" Qin Tian watched this scene, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. His eyes darted, and he spoke words that made Yao Chen's heart convulse. "What a cruel teacher. No wonder Han Feng betrayed you back then!"
The moment Qin Tian spoke these words, Yao Chen's eyes instantly rimmed red. With a pained expression, he flew out from within Xiao Yan's body. Turning his head to look at the wilted, weakened Xiao Yan, his expression desolate, he said, "Little one—though I can only accompany you this far, your teacher is immensely proud of you."
"Teacher..." Hearing these words, Xiao Yan's body immediately began trembling violently. His teeth bit down hard on his lip until blood seeped through. His eyes red-rimmed, he looked at Yao Chen.
Gazing at Xiao Yan—the black-robed youth collapsed on the ground, face pale—Yao Chen smiled with peaceful serenity. A wisp of profound, mysterious light shot violently from between his brows, finally streaking across the space like lightning and directly burrowing into Xiao Yan's forehead.
With that cluster of light's departure, Yao Chen's body seemed to grow far more illusory.
The light cluster flew into Xiao Yan's forehead. A gentle, aged voice also abruptly rang out within his mind.
"This journey, though somewhat brief, was still unforgettable. From now on, in the days when your teacher is no longer by your side—everything will depend on yourself. Be ready. Run with all your might!"
"Finished your last words?" Qin Tian looked at Yao Chen, who seemed ready to go to his death, and said with interest, "You don't think a single soul body like you can hold off the three of us, do you?"
"Jie jie jie—"
Having spoken, Qin Tian exchanged a glance with Qiu Long and Qing Hai beside him. Immediately, a great wave of laughter rang out, thick with mockery.
"Before this old man fell, he had already reached the peak of the Spirit Realm. Having survived this trial of life and death, by fortune I've glimpsed the profound mysteries of the Heaven Realm. Today, I shall test the supreme might of the Heaven Realm on your Soul Hall lot!"
Yao Chen's face was calm as he watched the three laughing figures of Qin Tian's group. His tone grew increasingly serene. Yet an oppressive might akin to heavenly authority radiated from him, instantly causing the three's expressions to darken and fall silent.
"Heaven Realm!"
Qing Hai let out a startled cry. Aside from alchemists, the people of their Soul Hall could well be called the group under heaven most knowledgeable about souls. They naturally also knew the terror of the Heaven Realm.
"Don't give him a chance—strike swiftly!"
"He's a soul body—he can't last long. Just stall him!"
As their voices fell, the sky-covering black mist permeating heaven and earth abruptly erupted into enormous waves of black energy. A sinister, chilling aura that froze one to the very marrow slowly swept out from within the three in overwhelming waves.
"Cauldron Rules the Mountains and Rivers!"
His entire aura surging wildly, Yao Chen let out a great roar. Abruptly, the energy between heaven and earth began to rampage. In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a bizarre, translucent giant cauldron with three legs and two handles.
The giant cauldron swelled against the wind, as if wanting to swallow the entire sky. Carrying a terrifying oppressive might, it encompassed the entire Soul Hall force within it.
The multitude of Soul Hall Protectors in the midst of attacking looked up at the sky-blotting, earth-covering giant cauldron. Terror surfaced in their eyes.
"Heaven Class Dou Technique!"
Gazing at that colossal cauldron, Qin Tian's trio had faces of utter stupefaction. Their eyes abruptly flew wide as they shrieked in horror.
"Star-Shattering Slash!"
"Hundred Soul Sky-Locking Serpent!"
"Soul-Falling Claw!"
Exchanging glances, Qin Tian and the others immediately unleashed their most powerful attacks. In that instant, three terrifying attacks, with an utterly overbearing, unstoppable stance, transformed into lightning and shot toward the giant cauldron in the sky.
"Boom—"
The four attacks collided. Contrary to everyone's expectations, a violent, intense explosion did not occur. The attacks of Qin Tian's trio were akin to crashing into a bottomless 'black hole.'
They charged in, yet stirred practically not a single ripple. Even the descending speed of the massive cauldron was not impeded in the slightest.
"How is this possible?!"
Witnessing this scene, the three drew in a horrified, sharp cold breath, their eyes brimming with disbelief.
At this moment, Yao Chen, controlling the cauldron, sneered coldly at the sight. He was burning his very soul as the price to barely reach the realm of the Heaven Realm, and using that to execute a Heaven Class Dou Technique—how could it possibly be something the three of them could withstand?
"Bastards!"
Snapping back to their senses and watching the descending cauldron, the three's faces darkened. Their figures hastily retreated violently.
But the moment they tried to retreat, a strange, sealing, suppressing force radiated from the massive cauldron. Under the effect of this sealing force, the three's speed immediately slowed to a crawl. Then, the giant cauldron in the sky rapidly plummeted toward the crowd.
The terror of death finally, at this moment, climbed into their hearts!
"Young Hall Master! Save us!!!"
Instantly, three piercing, miserable shrieks rang out across this patch of sky.
Hearing the Honored Elders' screams, the numerous Soul Hall Protectors within the range of the Dou Technique also began crying out along with them.
Hearing these piercing, miserable shrieks, Yao Chen was abruptly jolted. A fierce, ominous glint flashed through his eyes. His hands flew through seals at lightning speed. Instantly, the giant cauldron descended even faster toward the Soul Hall crowd.
"Dong—"
With a heaven-shaking boom, Yun Yi's figure abruptly appeared above the crowd. On his pristine white clothes, spots of blood blossomed and dripped. Yet at this moment, like a pillar capable of supporting the very heavens, with merely a single hand, he held up the descending giant cauldron.
At this moment, in the eyes of the multitude of Soul Hall members, their Young Hall Master was like a celestial god. That single palm of his seemed to possess the power to prop up the heavens!
"Young Hall Master..."
"The Young Hall Master is invincible..."
The Soul Hall members who had survived looked at Yun Yi and immediately burst into frenzied, excited roars.
"Quite the grandstanding you've pulled off," Jiang Yun, his black robes also stained with blood, looked at Yun Yi with a strange, odd expression. He muttered inwardly.
"Brother Jiang Yun (Jiang Yun), are you alright?!" At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin flew at top speed toward Jiang Yun. Seeing the bloodstains on him, they spoke with deep concern.
Xiao Yi Xian even frantically retrieved several pill bottles from her storage ring, pouring out pills and bringing them to Jiang Yun's lips.
"It's nothing—just some light wounds. After taking these pills, I'll be fully recovered in a few days!" Jiang Yun swallowed the pills Xiao Yi Xian handed him, smiling faintly as he spoke gently.
"That Yun Yi is truly formidable—to actually be able to injure Brother Jiang Yun. Once Qing Lin's cultivation improves in the future, I'll definitely help Brother Jiang Yun get revenge!"
Qing Lin looked at Jiang Yun, who was not seriously harmed, and let out a long breath. Glaring indignantly at that figure, she spoke.
"Then Qing Lin, you'll have to work hard. That guy is not an easy person to deal with!" Jiang Yun ruffled the top of Qing Lin's head and said softly.
Then, he looked toward Zi Yan, who was beating up the Devouring Heavenly Corpse. At this moment, she was thoroughly enjoying herself!
The Devouring Heavenly Corpse's defensive power was sufficient to withstand a nine-star Dou Zun, but its offensive power was only at the one-star Dou Zun level. It was practically the perfect meat shield and sparring partner!
Now, having encountered such a handy sandbag, Zi Yan was utterly exhilarated.
Though, one had to wonder if she'd still be able to laugh after a while.
Jiang Yun thought with malicious glee inwardly!
"Devouring Black Hole!"
Yun Yi stared at Yao Chen with icy cold eyes, sending a surge of sinister, bone-chilling dread through the other's heart—as if returning to that night when Yun Yi had extracted his Bone Chilling Flame.
As his indifferent voice rang out, within the palm that held up the giant cauldron, black demonic flames blazed to life. They transformed into a pitch-black ring of fire, spinning madly. A terrifying devouring power eroded the cauldron body bit by bit.
In merely a dozen or so breaths, the giant cauldron was devoured completely clean.
"Ngh!" With his Dou Technique refined and destroyed, the erupted power within Yao Chen also began to recede. Moreover, his condition began to grow extremely unstable.
"Teacher!" Xiao Yan abruptly rushed out at this moment. Looking at Yao Chen, his eyes red, he choked out.
"Why are you still here?!" Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan, his face full of both indignation and reproach.
"Abandoning my teacher to flee alone—this disciple could never, ever do such a thing. At worst, it's just death!" Xiao Yan looked back at Yao Chen with equally unwavering eyes.
"Foolish child. Heaven has not treated me poorly. This time, I did not misjudge." Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan, now stripped of all youthful naivety, and smiled gently.
In his heart, he silently resolved: no matter what, he would ensure Xiao Yan safely escaped with his life.
Sensing the abundant Dou Qi within him, Yun Yi looked at the weakened, wilted Yao Chen, and at the crowd with despair in their eyes. He spoke icily.
"Kill!"
"Jie jie jie—"
Having survived the calamity, the Soul Hall crowd, hearing Yun Yi's command, now burst into a wave of bone-chilling killing intent with manic laughter.
"Yao Chen, die!"
Glaring hatefully at Yao Chen, Qin Tian thrust out a palm. Instantly, a giant black energy hand howled straight toward the crowd.