Chapter 130: You

"You want to enter the Life and Death Gate?!!" Ge Ye's face turned pale upon hearing Nalan Yanran's words, for he knew exactly what the Life and Death Gate was.

The Life and Death Gate was essentially a private training ground owned by the Yun Lan Sect, or rather, its Secret Realm.

It was named the Life and Death Gate because the place was extremely dangerous—anyone who entered faced mortal peril.

Many talented disciples of the Yun Lan Sect had attempted to enter the Life and Death Gate, hoping to gain benefits, but the vast majority vanished without a trace after entering.

"Only someone at the Spiritual Level can enter—it's true you're the only one in this generation who can resonate with the Life and Death Gate, but going in now is far too dangerous," Ge Ye exclaimed in shock.

"I need to strengthen my power. With my current strength, I doubt I can defeat him. Yet I can already fight on equal terms with a low-rank Spiritual Level cultivator. The Life and Death Gate is where generations of Yun Lan Sect Masters rest; as a member of this sect, I believe they will protect me," Nalan Yanran shook her head, gazing slowly at the sky where Xiao Yan had disappeared.

Ge Ye frowned and urged, "Elder Gu He may not have obtained the Strange Flame and thus cannot refine the highest-grade Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill, but he has already promised to travel to the Chu Yun Empire to acquire the Purple Heart Obstacle-Breaking Pill formula. This Fourth-Rank Pill can elevate a Da Dou Shi's strength by one star, and can be taken twice consecutively."

"Yanran, you're already a Three-Star Da Dou Shi, and you've mastered the first form of Wind's Extreme. Once you grasp the second form—Meteor Slash—you'll unleash the true power of a Earth-Rank Dou Technique. You needn't lose to him."

Nalan Yanran turned her head toward Mo Cheng, who lay dead not far away, and spoke calmly: "If I reached Five-Star Da Dou Shi and mastered Wind's Extreme—Meteor Slash, perhaps I could kill Mo Cheng. But I certainly wouldn't have done it so easily."

"How exactly did Mo Cheng die? Can you tell, Elder Ge? These current facts are far from enough."

Looking at the stubborn Nalan Yanran, Ge Ye fell silent. Since three years ago, when he accompanied her to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement, he had known she was an extremely stubborn woman.

She was like an ox—impossible to turn. Her father and grandfather were nearly driven mad by her.

He sighed and nodded, shaking his head: "The Life and Death Gate was originally the final trial for the Yun Lan Sect's heir before becoming Sect Master. There is still great controversy over your status as Young Sect Master. If you insist on entering, you'll have a hard time passing Elder Grandmaster's scrutiny."

Nalan Yanran turned and walked toward the exit of the Hall, leaving only a faint remark: "I will speak with my master myself."

On the other side, above the azure sky, three immense spiritual pressures shot past, causing immediate chaos in the city below.

All the people in the city felt that terrifying pressure, raising their heads in stunned silence, watching the figures streaking across the sky like meteors, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

The spiritual pressure of a Dou Huang was almost never seen in the Jia Ma Empire; those who hadn't reached a certain level rarely had the privilege—or the misfortune—to feel such pressure.

In the sky, Xiao Yan's expression was dark as he locked onto the green-clad woman ahead, his back wings blazing with crimson flames as they beat rapidly.

Beside Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong closely followed, his body wreathed in icy white Dou Qi, his withered palms glowing with sharp, crystalline ice spikes that emitted chilling gusts, remotely manipulating the ice-element energy hundreds of meters away.

At the Dou Huang level, cultivators could resonate their internal Dou Qi with the energy of the external world, then manipulate it to unleash unparalleled, terrifying power.

That was why Dou Huangs possessed devastating destructive force.

Now, Xiao Yan used a Soul Technique to distract the mysterious Dou Huang, while Hai Bodong attacked the green-clad Dou Huang.

Xiao Yan didn't need to fight desperately as he had against Mei Du Sha Queen—he only needed to distract the mysterious Dou Huang and create an opening for Hai Bodong.

"Hai Lao!"

"Ice Heaven!"

Xiao Yan's Soul Force struck, causing the green-clad Dou Huang a momentary soul-piercing pain, halting her Dou Qi flow for an instant.

In that instant, Hai Bodong surged forward and unleashed a Earth-Rank Dou Technique he had mastered!

"Damn it!! This damned Soul Technique!" the woman in green cursed inwardly. Soul attacks were too insidious, impossible to guard against. The price of the beast's immense physical strength was weak Soul Force—longevity came at the cost of poor cultivation talent.

Heaven was very fair.

With her left arm cradling the unconscious Qing Lin, the green-clad woman thrust her right hand fiercely into the Space before her. Instantly, emerald light blazed across the sky, desperately blocking the incoming ice.

Hai Bodong's ice, once it touched even a single point, could freeze the opponent's movement and Dou Qi.

Facing the torrent of ice, the green-clad Dou Huang dared not meet it head-on and flew sideways to evade its range. Helplessly, she gritted her teeth and let out a piercing shriek.

This special cry was inaudible to humans—only serpent-type beasts could hear it.

Shortly after the whistle echoed, a thunderous roar erupted from the distant forest, and a colossal serpent nearly ten zhang long surged into the sky, its massive shadow engulfing vast stretches of ground.

The serpent's body was pitch black, adorned with intricate, iridescent patterns. On both sides of its body grew eight wings, black tinged with purple, and atop its head sprouted a spiraling black horn.

Its triangular pupils held no animalistic instinct—instead, they gleamed with a cunning, almost human-like intelligence.

"Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor?!!" Hai Bodong cried out in shock—he recognized the beast.

Xiao Yan recognized it too: if a winged black snake grew eight wings, it had reached Sixth Rank; if it also grew a crown, its power had reached the peak of Sixth Rank!

A peak Sixth-Rank beast!! On the same level as Mei Du Sha Queen!

"Lv Man, hah! Who would've thought you'd be chased all over the place by a One-Star Dou Huang and a brat? If this got back to them, they'd laugh themselves to death!" The enormous triangular pupils fixed on Hai Bodong, deliberately ignoring Xiao Yan, as a deafening laugh boomed from its mouth.

The green-clad woman said nothing, instead slowly approaching the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor and whispered: "Don't underestimate that little Da Dou Shi—he has immense Soul Force and knows Soul Techniques."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Soul Technique?!"

Upon hearing the words "Soul Technique," the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's expression changed, its gaze turning grave as it fixed on Xiao Yan. The term "Soul Technique" carried too many implications—if the worst case were true, even the entire Tian She Mansion couldn't bear it.

Xiao Yan's eyes hardened as he slowly approached the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor. Though the opponent were two Dou Huangs—even a breath from them could reduce him to ashes.

Yet Xiao Yan did not retreat—he advanced, closing the distance to ten meters from the colossal beast, looking up at it without a trace of fear, instead revealing a faint smile.

"You dare steal what the Soul Hall has marked? The Tian She Mansion is very bold indeed."

(End of Chapter)