Chapter 282: A Battle of Saints
For Xiao Yan, the inspiration to create a soul technique felt like a moment of clarity. But for 'Han Feng' and the two hidden saints, Wen and Wu, this was a moment of absolute shock.
Soul techniques were fundamentally different from Dou Techniques. They tapped into the most elusive and mystical aspect of life the soul. Only Dou Sheng powerhouses, or even Dou Di legends, could create such techniques. And yet, Xiao Yan, merely a nine star Dou Zong, had accomplished this feat at the tender age of seventeen.
Wen and Wu's Astonishment
Hidden in the void, Wen and Wu exchanged glances.
Now, they truly understood why Xiao Yan had been chosen as the Emperor's Scion by their clan's ancestor.
Achieving nine star Dou Zong at seventeen was already astonishing, even with the advantages of the Flame Mantra. They had seen countless geniuses in the Xiao Clan, yet few could rival Xiao Yan's cultivation speed.
Creating techniques like the Buddha's Fury Lotus was impressive, but still within the realm of comprehension. However, the creation of a soul technique was another matter entirely.
In that moment, the two saints realized that the young man they had been following was destined for greatness.
Han Feng's Grim Realization
Farther away, Han Feng's twisted expression revealed his own disbelief. His ghastly, corrupted face contorted into a grotesque grin.
"I never thought… that even after all this, you would not only survive but create a soul technique in the process."
His voice carried both admiration and bitterness.
"If we were in the prime era of the Dou Qi Continent when Heaven and Earth's energy was still abundant you might truly have had the potential to become the next Dou Di."
Han Feng knew better than anyone how perilous their battle had been. His Extinguishing Soul Demon Light, a direct soul attack, could even wound a five star Dou Zun. That Xiao Yan had not only survived but emerged stronger was beyond comprehension.
But Han Feng's bitter acknowledgment did not mean resignation.
"No matter how bright your potential is, this ends now."
The Explosion of Darkness
In Xiao Yan's watchful gaze, Han Feng's body abruptly exploded into a mass of dense black mist. The explosion filled the entirety of the Spring God Ravine, plunging it into impenetrable darkness.
Amidst this black fog, a flicker of water blue light burned steadily.
"Sea Heart Flame!"
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up as he recognized the Heavenly Flame. However, he did not immediately retrieve it. His instincts screamed caution, as the black mist churned with ominous energy.
Soon, the mist began to condense and retreat to a single point. In moments, the once cluttered ravine became eerily clean, devoid of even a trace of demonic energy except for the Sea Heart Flame glowing faintly in the distance.
However, Xiao Yan did not feel relief.
The Awakening of a Monster
Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled violently. A brilliant array of light burst forth from the depths of the ravine, forming a vast, ancient formation.
"What now?" Xiao Yan muttered, his expression grim.
Beneath the glowing formation, an unspeakable presence stirred. Whatever was sealed below was far beyond his current ability to handle.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan collected the Sea Heart Flame and summoned Wen and Wu.
Moments later, the ancient formation shattered with a deafening crack. An endless wave of demonic energy erupted, far more potent than anything Xiao Yan had faced thus far.
Amid the torrent of energy, a massive shadow emerged. The shadow's sheer size, stretching thousands of meters tall, nearly matched the depth of the ravine itself.
"To make me use the last of my Demon King essence to kill you… boy, you should feel honored."
The shadow's thunderous voice reverberated across the ravine, shaking the earth for miles. Its overwhelming aura froze the lifeforms within a thousand mile radius, drowning them in fear.
Calling for Help
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, but he quickly glanced at Wen and Wu.
"Elder Wen, Elder Wu, this Demon King possesses genuine Dou Sheng strength. Can the two of you handle it?"
His fingers gripped a jade talisman tightly. If Wen and Wu could not subdue the shadow, he was prepared to summon Xiao Xuan for assistance.
Wen and Wu studied the colossal figure, their expressions serious but composed.
"If this Demon King were at its peak, even combined, we wouldn't last three exchanges." Wen's voice was steady. "But after being sealed for millennia, its power is waning. Even with its remaining essence, it can only unleash Dou Sheng strength briefly."
Wu nodded. "Together, we can handle it. Young Master, you should retreat. A battle of Saints is not something you can survive unscathed, even with your current strength."
The Battle Begins
Hearing their assurance, Xiao Yan let out a small sigh of relief.
"Then I'll leave it to you, elders." With that, he vanished into the distance, giving the saints room to fight.
Back in the ravine, the Demon King's massive shadow raised its hand, aiming to crush Xiao Yan before he escaped.
"Trying to run? Even a Dou Sheng won't save you!"
Before the attack could land, a crimson and sapphire light erupted from the ravine. Two towering figures emerged, slightly smaller than the Demon King but just as awe inspiring.
Wen and Wu's energy bodies intercepted the attack, sending shockwaves through the ravine.
"You think a half dead Demon King can harm our Emperor's Scion?" Wu sneered, his voice booming.
The Demon King roared in fury, its massive frame quaking with barely contained rage.
"A mere nine star Dou Zong! Why does he have so many trump cards?!"
The Clash of Titans
The three colossal figures clashed in a battle that shook the heavens. Each strike sent ripples of destructive energy across the ravine, carving deep scars into the landscape.
Xiao Yan, watching from a safe distance, marveled at the spectacle.
This was the true power of Dou Shengs beings who could reshape the world with a single move.
"One day, I'll stand among them," Xiao Yan whispered to himself, determination burning in his eyes.
For now, however, he could only trust Wen and Wu to protect him as they faced the full might of the Demon King.
"Two half saints think they can stop me? Courting death!"
The demonic shadow roared, and black flames erupted from its body. The energy radiating from it was so intense that even Wen and Wu felt a sharp pain in their souls. The full force of a Saint level being surged outward.
Faced with such a formidable foe, Wen and Wu dared not be careless. They immediately joined forces, combining their strengths to resist the demonic shadow.
A Battle That Shakes the Earth
The collision between the three Saint level combatants made the previous fight between Xiao Yan and 'Han Feng' seem like a mere child's play.
Each clash caused massive upheavals in the terrain, reshaping the Spring God Ravine. Saint level strikes were enough to make the heavens tremble and the earth crumble, each collision surpassing even the devastating power of Xiao Yan's Four Colored Fire Lotus.
The three towering figures, each a thousand feet tall, seemed like ordinary men standing in an alley within the vast ravine. Yet the ground trembled across half the Black Corner Region.
Far Reaching Tremors
In Spring Lake City, Han Yue and the other students turned their bewildered gazes toward the distant ravine.
The power emanating from the battle was far beyond their comprehension.
"Could even a nine star Dou Zong produce this kind of disturbance?"
"Not even a Dou Zun's full force attack should be able to shake the earth like this from such a distance!"
The scene exceeded anything they had ever imagined.
Xiao Yan Observes Excitedly
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan watched the battle with excitement, standing not far from the ravine.
"Good hit! Give him another punch!"
At first, Wen and Wu were being suppressed. After all, the gap between half saints and a true Dou Sheng was immense. Even with their combined strength, they could only adopt a defensive stance.
However, as time passed, the demonic shadow began to wane.
Its energy, already depleted from centuries of sealing, was running dry. Meanwhile, Wen and Wu's genuine strength allowed them to gradually gain the upper hand.
"Ahhhhh!"
The shadow roared in rage, its cry reducing the surrounding rubble to dust.
The shadow was infuriated. The idea that this young Xiao Clan genius was protected by two half saints who could even hold their ground against a Saint level attack was maddening.
"If this continues, I'll perish here without even killing that brat!"
From the corner of his eye, the shadow saw Xiao Yan watching the battle smugly from afar, his face filled with gleeful arrogance.
This sight enraged the shadow further. Once, even true Dou Sheng experts had fallen at his hands. Now, he couldn't even eliminate a mere Dou Zong.
"I said before, even a Dou Sheng can't save you today!"
A Desperate Move
The shadow's form abruptly shrank, condensing into a head sized mass of black fire. Its flames burned hotter than ever, radiating a temperature surpassing ordinary Heavenly Flames.
"Burning soul and body for ultimate power... I'll destroy you even if it costs me everything!"
With a final roar, the shadow unleashed its ultimate attack. The black flames condensed into a terrifying streak of light, cutting through the air like a black comet aimed directly at Xiao Yan.
Even Wen and Wu's faces darkened in shock at the sheer speed and power of the attack.
"Young Master!" they roared, but their intervention was a fraction too late.
The black fireball raced toward Xiao Yan with such speed that it would strike him in less than half a second.
Xiao Yan's Trump Card
Just as the fireball was about to hit, Xiao Yan calmly raised his hand and crushed a jade talisman.
It wasn't the talisman that summoned Xiao Xuan but another artifact entirely.
The moment the talisman shattered, a faint red light enveloped Xiao Yan, forming a thin barrier around him.
The barrier appeared fragile, like a thin film of light. However, when the black fireball struck it, the flames only caused faint ripples. Not even a crack appeared on the barrier.
"Impossible! This can't be! You should be dead!"
The demonic shadow's voice screamed in frustration as it poured its remaining power into the attack. Yet the barrier remained unbroken, and the shadow's flames gradually dimmed.
Finally, with a last howl of defiance, the black flames extinguished.
Victory
Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Is that all? And you thought you could assassinate the Emperor's Scion?"
The barrier of red light gradually faded, leaving Xiao Yan unscathed.
Wen and Wu arrived beside him, their faces still pale from exertion.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Wu asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"I'm fine," Xiao Yan replied, his tone calm. "But it seems I owe my life to this talisman."
He glanced at the fading remnants of the barrier and felt a pang of gratitude.
The talisman was a gift from his grandfather, Xiao Lin. Before leaving after the battle with the Purple Sky Serpent, Xiao Lin had given Xiao Yan three talismans. Each could block a full force attack from a one star Dou Sheng.
The talismans had cost Xiao Lin nearly all his resources, but he had given them to his grandson without hesitation.
"With Xiao Yan's potential, it's worth every ounce of effort," Xiao Lin had thought at the time.
Aftermath
The battle had taken its toll. Wen and Wu were visibly fatigued, their faces pale from the prolonged clash.
The once majestic Spring God Ravine was now a massive crater, stretching nearly a hundred miles in diameter.
"Let's investigate the crater," Xiao Yan suggested. "There might still be secrets hidden here."
Wen and Wu nodded, following Xiao Yan's lead.
However, as they prepared to descend, a sudden change occurred.
From the spot where the black fireball had vanished, a hair thin thread of black energy shot toward Xiao Yan with blinding speed.
"Young Master, watch out!"
Wu reacted instantly, intercepting the thread with his hand.
To their shock, the black thread bypassed Wu's defenses and burrowed into his palm.
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