Mu Qing Luan, the Little Fairy Doctor, Huo Zhi, Xun Er, Cai Lin, and Yao Ling all looked up at the suddenly torn dark clouds.
Like a public execution, the once-invincible Nine Heavens Demon Rain was struggling to deal with the attacks of countless lightning dragons.
The surrounding world was sealed by Xiao Ting's cauldron. Space was suppressed by lightning and could not be torn apart. Mo Yu realized he was walking toward death step by step, his eyes bloodshot.
He had thought this was a chance to obtain a treasure and gain the Hall Master's approval, but he had never dreamed it would cost him his life.
"Boom!"
The energy of heaven and earth became even more concentrated. Countless lightning dragons roamed and fused, eventually transforming into nine lightning dragons, each hundreds of feet long. The violent lightning power connected, forming a lightning prison.
Immediately after, Purple Beast Flame appeared. Due to the terrifyingly high temperature, all the water vapor created by the Demon Rain instantly evaporated.
There was no escape.
The spatial jade slip that had been shattered into pieces could no longer transmit any energy fluctuations.
His Battle Qi, and even his soul, disappeared into the thunder and flame.
Mo Yu refused to die quietly like this. He roared and burned his own body.
"Xiao Ting, don't get too cocky. You'll soon pay with your life!"
Boom!
Mo Yu self-destructed, but it was not a large-scale destructive self-destruction. Instead, a water sphere formed by gathering essence, energy, and spirit self-destructed toward the power of the inner space.
Due to this blood energy, a small gap appeared in the sealing line Xiao Ting had created.
A soul fluctuation was emitted from Mo Yu.
"Xiao Ting, kill me!"
It was only simple words, but they drained Demon Rain of his life force.
This soul fluctuation crossed space and appeared in a special form in the Human Hall, one of the three Heavenly Demon Halls of the Central Plains Hall of Souls.
Bang!
The jade slip containing Demon Rain's soul shattered into pieces.
His final words could be heard from inside the room.
"Old Nine is dead!"
The Eighth Heavenly Venerable and Seventh Heavenly Venerable sensed something and both showed surprised expressions.
"Xiao Ting? Have you heard of him?"
"No, he's been in seclusion recently and isn't well-known. He's probably a newcomer who appeared recently."
"To die at the hands of a newcomer — this old Ninth Brother is getting weaker and weaker."
"He didn't say anything to me before taking action. He probably thought the opponent wasn't that strong and it would be an easy win. He was afraid we would steal his credit."
"That's definitely his personality. Xiao Ting… could he be a member of the Xiao Clan? If so, that would be a great achievement."
"Have our subordinates investigate. Once the information is confirmed, the two of us will take action."
"Aren't we going to inform Sixth Brother and the others?"
"Let's first investigate the details. If Xiao Ting's strength is average, why bother calling Sixth Brother and the others?"
"Hehe, you're right."
The two voices disappeared between the soul steles.
He was only a seven-star Dou Venerable. Since he had died, it was natural for another seven-star Dou Venerable to take his place and become the Ninth Heavenly Venerable.
What the two of them cared about more was credit!
Meanwhile, in the Black-Corner Region of the Northwestern Continent.
Cold sweat seeped from Yao Tian's forehead as he stood on the mountaintop.
That Mo Yu was a peak seven-star Dou Venerable from the Hall of Souls who had the support of the Hun Clan, and he was relatively strong even among cultivators of the same realm.
However, such a powerful person had been casually killed by Xiao Ting without being able to escape or call for reinforcements.
Xiao Ting's strength had probably already reached the peak of the Dou Venerable level.
"Since Mo Yu was able to send a soul message before dying, he must have been at the peak of seven-rank Dou Venerable, right?"
Strictly speaking, a peak Dou Venerable was not a Dou Venerable, but rather a half-Saint.
After nine reincarnations, one becomes a Saint and surpasses ordinary Dou Venerables!
Even among the Ancient Clans, to enter this realm, one must reach the seventh rank in bloodline.
Xiao Ting was said to be only seventeen years old — that was truly terrifying!
"Huo Zhi's Dao partner is probably him."
Yao Tian instantly dismissed the idea of waiting and seeing.
He decisively took out a jade slip and sent a message to Yao Ling. "Ling Er, your brother is returning to the Yao Realm first. Don't introduce any more women to me. I won't look for a Dao partner until I become a Dou Saint!"
After saying that, Yao Tian turned and headed toward Central Plains.
The half-Saint from the Yao Clan who was responsible for protecting Yao Tian and Yao Ling slightly frowned.
She had originally wanted to accurately know what level Xiao Ting's strength was at.
He looked like a seven-star Dou Venerable, but his combat power was only at the peak of the first turn, while also exuding an unfathomable aura.
However, since Yao Tian had left, she had no choice but to follow.
As for Yao Ling, since she was with Huo Zhi, there was no need to worry.
After sending Yao Tian back to the Yao Realm, she could come looking for Yao Ling again.
Of course, before departing, she did not forget to send a message to Yao Ling. "Ling Er, Aunt will first send Xiao Tian back to the Yao Realm. In the meantime, stay with Huo Zhi. She does have reliable guards with her, so Aunt can rest assured."
Huo Zhi was the daughter of the Yan Clan leader. She possessed the Red Lotus Karmic Flame and a special physique. She also had a doting aunt and was second only to Yan Jin and Fairy Hou Ling in the Yan Clan. It was impossible for her to go out without guards.
If she could not sense the presence of anyone protecting Huo Zhi, there were only two possible explanations.
First, the guardian of Huo Zhi was much stronger than her — a Dou Saint.
Second, there were no guards beside Huo Zhi, which more likely indicated that she had mastered the techniques of Yan Jin or Fairy Hou Ling — late-stage seven-star Dou Saint or even eight-star Dou Saint techniques.
So she can rest assured.
"Understood, Aunt."
A light appeared in Yao Ling's eyes. This was an unexpected joy. Now she could officially stay at Jia Nan Academy — more precisely, by Xiao Ting's side.
…
Xiao Ting, now back after the fight, narrowed his eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce through space and reach the sky.
Seeing the half-Saint-level expert leave together with Yao Tian, he did nothing. He simply pondered while heading toward the Inner Court of Jia Nan Academy.
"The Hall of Souls keeps causing trouble in Purple Sky City. It's truly annoying."
Xiao Ting had his hands clasped behind his back as he looked up at the sky.
"It seems I need to take some action in Central Plains."
"Brother Xiao Ting, how strong are you right now!?" Xiao Yan could not help but ask as he looked at Xiao Ting.
Without even showing his face, he had easily defeated a peak seven-star Dou Venerable. This was unbelievable.
"My cultivation level is the same as that Mo Yu's," Xiao Ting smiled faintly. "As for combat power, I can't say for sure since I haven't fought anyone stronger. In short, opponents like Mo Yu can be defeated easily."
"That means you have power at least comparable to the peak of Dou Venerable. Not just the first or second stage." Yao Chen's spirit body said in surprise. "A seven-star Dou Venerable having combat power comparable to the peak of Dou Venerable. The Northwestern Continent is indeed too small for you."
Xiao Ting lightly nodded and turned to Huo Zhi. "Zhi Er, last time you mentioned discovering ruins in the southwest of Central Plains. Do you want to go take a look together? While we're at it, we can cause a bit of trouble for the Hall of Souls?"
"It would be rude not to reciprocate."
Huo Zhi naturally had no objections and obediently nodded. "I will do as you say."
"Sister Huo Zhi, what about me?" Yao Ling immediately asked. "Aunt also told me to come along."
Upon hearing this, Huo Zhi expressionlessly said, "This matter will be decided by hubby."
Everyone present: "…"
When she first met Xiao Ting, she hadn't acted like this.