High above the valley, space rippled faintly as Xiao Yixian stepped out from within. Dressed in white, with snow-silken hair cascading over her shoulders, her delicate face remained expressionless as her gaze lifted toward the distant sky.
From afar, a vague blur of white began to take shape—dozens of figures in white robes streaking swiftly through the air, some stepping upon the void, others with Dou Qi wings spread wide. Wherever they passed, frigid air spread outward, freezing the sky in crystalline frost. The very heavens and earth seemed to sink into deep winter.
When they arrived, the cold mist parted to reveal an elderly man at their head, smiling benignly as he stepped forward. His gentle gaze fell upon Xiao Yixian, though beneath that warmth flickered unmistakable astonishment.
'A Woeful Poison Body… and one that had advanced to the Dou Zun realm.' He had heard the rumors, yet seeing it with his own eyes still left him shaken. In the past, every Woeful Poison Body across Central Plains had perished at the peak of Dou Zong, consumed by their own poison and turned into living calamities.
And yet before him stood a woman who had conquered that fate.
The old man cupped his hands politely, thoughts spinning behind his calm exterior. He was already wondering how to deceive or restrain her, though his tone remained mild.
"Young lady, one so youthful yet already in the Dou Zun realm—truly admirable. This old man is Tian Shuangzi of Ice River Valley. May I have your esteemed name?"
Xiao Yixian's eyes narrowed slightly. The aura of ice mist around these men was familiar—no doubt companions of that slain Tian She from before.
Wariness flickered and vanished. Though she feared nothing, she would not allow anyone to disturb Liu Xi's refinement. Her voice was cool and detached.
"My name is unimportant. If you have no business here, leave now."
Tian Shuangzi merely chuckled, unaffected by her tone. Among Dou Zun, a little pride was only natural.
"Not long ago," he said, "one of our elders—Elder Tian She—was slain in Ye City. More than fifty deacons perished alongside him. The Valley Master sent me to investigate. Might that have been your doing?"
His words feigned curiosity, but the certainty in his tone made his meaning clear.
Xiao Yixian's expression did not change. Dou Qi surged through her body as her slender hand turned slightly, ready to strike at any moment.
"Yes," she said flatly. "They reversed right and wrong and dared attack me first. Killing them was justice."
The Ice River Valley cultivators behind Tian Shuangzi scowled but dared not speak. Facing a Dou Zun, anger meant nothing.
Tian Shuangzi's smile deepened, though those who knew him saw the killing intent hidden beneath.
"Heh… true enough. Tian She abused his authority—his death was deserved. But," his tone hardened slightly, "he was still an elder of my Ice River Valley. For propriety's sake, you must accompany me back to explain to the Valley Master. Only a formality—no harm will come to you."
"If you refuse, however… once the Valley Master acts, even a Dou Zun will not escape unscathed."
Xiao Yixian's lips curved coldly. "Then forgive me for disobeying. Leave—now."
'Always urging me to leave… what are you guarding down there?' Tian Shuangzi's eyes flickered with thought. 'Something worth a Dou Zun's protection—and just recently, heaven and earth had trembled from Pill Lightning in this very region.' His heart burned hotter with greed.
"How troublesome," he sighed, though his smile never faltered. "If I return empty-handed, the Valley Master will be furious. Men, enter the valley. Bring out the remaining man and woman—and 'invite' them back to the Ice River Valley."
He deliberately emphasized the word "invite."
"Yes, Elder!"
Several white-robed experts surged forward. Their auras flared, revealing four Dou Zong powerhouses—testament to Ice River Valley's depth.
"Don't even think about it!"
Xiao Yixian stepped forward. Her overwhelming Dou Qi swept across the heavens like a storm. The very space thickened, freezing the air into an invisible sea that locked all movement.
Tian Shuangzi's gentle smile finally vanished. "So be it. Since you refuse to come willingly… don't blame this old man for being ruthless."
Frost exploded from his body. Waves of chilling energy swept outward, colliding violently with the grey poison mist that rolled from Xiao Yixian's form. Each contact released sharp hissing sounds that made the air itself tremble.
"Heh… worthy indeed of the Woeful Poison Body. Even my frost power corrodes beneath it," Tian Shuangzi muttered, eyes darkening. If that venom touched him, even a Dou Zun would suffer grievously.
Meanwhile, the four Dou Zong behind him exchanged glances, circling around the clash to dive toward the valley below.
Catching this from the corner of her eye, Xiao Yixian frowned. Urgency rippled through her heart. Liu Xi was below—and only the Earth Demon Puppet remained at his side.
She was just about to ignore Tian Shuangzi and strike at the four when the valley itself suddenly trembled.
A mighty aura erupted like a tidal wave. The air froze; time itself seemed to halt. The four Dou Zong stiffened mid-flight, suspended motionless in the void, eyes rolling with terror as their bodies refused to respond.
Then—ripples spread through the sky. From within them stepped Yao Tianhuo, Liu Xi, and Zi Yan.
Yao Tianhuo rolled his neck, a satisfied grin forming as he flexed his new body. "Hmm… this vessel isn't bad at all."
Xiao Yixian's face lit with joy, while Tian Shuangzi's went pale.
"Another… Dou Zun?" he gasped. "Two of them? And this one—his mastery of space rivals even our Valley Master's!"
Liu Xi's calm voice broke the stunned silence. "Elder Yao, how does the body feel?"
The Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill had worked perfectly. Through repeated cycles of rebirth under the Heavenly Flame, Yao Tianhuo's soul had fused seamlessly with Tian She's body.
Now reborn, pride swelled within him once more—the same confidence he once held as the famed Heavenly Flame Sovereign of Central Plains.
"Excellent," he said with a low laugh. "Restoring my peak state will be no problem at all."
Liu Xi's gaze turned to Tian Shuangzi, his tone mild yet edged with command. "Since your new body's settled, Elder Yao, would you help me suppress this Ice River Valley elder? Then we'll pay his Valley a proper visit."
Ice River Valley had provoked them again and again. If they wanted fear, then fear they would get.
Yao Tianhuo's smile sharpened. "Gladly."
Tian Shuangzi's eyelids twitched violently. Facing one Dou Zun was already despair; facing two meant certain death.
"Respected one," he stammered, "I am the Great Elder of Ice River Valley, acting under orders of the Valley Master. Please, for his sake, allow me to leave!"
Liu Xi shook his head, voice light but merciless. "Let you go? So your Valley Master can hunt us again tomorrow? I think not. Elder Yao—please, strike."
A soft chuckle escaped Yao Tianhuo as he vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared before Tian Shuangzi, intercepting him with blinding speed—taking Xiao Yixian's place in battle.
(End of Chapter)
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