Chapter 362

"Dou Zun!"

A soft voice, tinged with stunned disbelief, suddenly spread through the air, causing the very atmosphere of this realm to freeze in place.

Two simple words, yet possessing an uncanny magic, instantly solidified the air of this realm—every last shred of the Yan Alliance's resolve to fight to the death was shattered and scattered.

The Tian She Mansion dared to be so arrogant precisely because their former Mansion Master, She Tianhao, broke through to Dou Zun!

A mere newcomer to Dou Zun dares to flaunt his power like this!

"Did it succeed?" Xiao Yixian asked, gazing at the Heavenly Flame Elder behind Xiao Yan, her voice filled with delight.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and nodded slightly. "Yes, it went smoothly."

This was Xiao Yan's first time using this Heavenly Flame Secret Technique to revive a Soul Body—the Heavenly Flame Elder's Soul Body was ancient and had been dead for a very long time.

The Secret Technique should have used a Seventh Rank Peak Elixir—the Bone-Rebuilding and Blood-Melting Pill—but Xiao Yan had not yet reached Seventh Rank Peak, so he settled for the lower-tier Yin-Yang Soul Soul Pill.

However, the Heavenly Flame Elder knew how to use the juvenile Fallen Heart Flame to protect himself and retained his own Hai Shi, and with Xiao Yan's Soul Pill restoring his Soul Force, the Heavenly Flame Elder's Soul Force recovered to his former level.

Thus, the Heavenly Flame Elder's strength was restored to One Star Dou Zun.

Hai Bodong, upon seeing the old man revived, noticed not only that his body had grown younger but also that his appearance had been subtly "adjusted," and he felt a small pang of envy inside.

Cheating!

If Xiao Yan switched to plastic surgery, he'd be wildly popular.

"Xiao Yan, I'll handle Mu Gu. I may not defeat him, but I can guarantee he won't be able to attack you." The Heavenly Flame Elder twisted his arm slightly; though still unfamiliar with this new body after merging, the sensation of having flesh was utterly exquisite. He glanced at Xiao Yan beside him, exchanged a knowing smile, and said with a grin.

He had been more than One Star Dou Zun in life, but because the Elixir wasn't the Bone-Rebuilding and Blood-Melting Pill, and because his body had limitations, his power had declined—yet his experience remained.

After all, the Heavenly Flame Elder had once been a formidable warrior, rich in battle experience and deeply familiar with the Dou Zun realm; stopping a Three-Star Dou Zun Alchemist was still within his confidence.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yan slowly shook his head and said: "No, I'll handle that guy myself."

"You're going to fight a Three-Star Dou Zun!" Hearing this, Xiao Ding and the others were stunned. "Are you kidding? We know you're strong, but you're only a Star Eight Dou Huang—fighting a Dou Zun?!"

The gap between Dou Zong and Dou Zun is immense—far greater than any previous rank. No one who reaches Dou Zun is weak. You're a Dou Huang fighting a Dou Zun??

It's like smashing a rock against a nuclear bomb.

"Don't worry. Mu Gu's target is me. I won't get hurt." Xiao Yan smiled; he had a plan to deal with Mu Gu.

Seeing Xiao Yan's confident smile, everyone exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what trick he was hiding.

But since Xiao Yan was so confident, they could only let him face Mu Gu Zun.

"Then what do we do now? Wait for them to attack?" Zi Yan asked.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed a cold, fierce glint. He bared his white teeth and grinned. "Since we don't need to rescue anyone, then… let's go kill!"

At this moment, within the Northwest Alliance's encampment, waves of Dou Zong energy erupted violently—several Dou Huang had broken through to Dou Zong!

Two days ago, although Xiao Yan killed many Dou Huang, not all of them—those were merely the vanguard.

"The Breakthrough to Zong Elixir truly lives up to its reputation," muttered the Grand Elder of Mu Lan Valley. Their Mu Lan Empire had the weakest Alchemist level; even Six Rank Pills were absent within the empire, let alone Breakthrough to Zong Elixirs.

Who would've thought—now they're being handed out for free!

"This is the highest-quality Breakthrough to Zong Elixir I've ever seen!" exclaimed an old man from Yao Gu Zong who had just broken through from Dou Huang Peak to Dou Zong.

Yao Gu Zong had once been able to obtain Breakthrough to Zong Elixirs, crafted personally by Gu Tong the Elder—but after Gu Tong died, no one in Yao Gu Zong could make them anymore.

The Breakthrough to Zong Elixirs crafted by Mu Gu were certainly no match for those of Gu Tong.

She Tianhao gazed at the newly elevated Dou Zong before him, his reverence for Alchemists deepening further. In just two days, so many Breakthrough to Zong Elixirs—once considered impossible to obtain in the Northwest Region—had been produced, enabling numerous Dou Huang Peak cultivators to break through, and with such high quality!

"My friends, the Breakthrough to Zong Elixirs you received earlier were rewards from the Zun. His sole purpose: kill Xiao Yan. Whoever kills Xiao Yan, the Zun guarantees he will give you another Seven-Grade High Elixir—the Revive to Zong Elixir." She Tianhao dropped another bomb.

"A Revive to Zong Elixir that boosts Dou Zong by one Star!!" Shocked cries erupted from the main camp.

Mu Gu Zun, being an experienced Alchemist, understood perfectly: cultivators would risk their lives for a single Elixir.

Without doubt, the Dou Zong who had fought two days ago, and even the hesitant veteran Dou Zong warriors, now had bloodshot eyes—this one Elixir could save them a decade of cultivation!

Even Xie Biyan, whose strength ranked just below She Tianhao, his eyes gleamed with greed.

Generally, a one-Star difference between Dou Zong was an insurmountable abyss. Those like Xiao Yan, Mei Du Sha, and Xiao Yixian—who could achieve invincibility within their own rank—were figures of legend, never encountered in reality.

Seeing the Dou Zong before him, eyes blazing with ferocity, She Tianhao sneered inwardly: Xiao Yan's head was his. To make an Eight-Grade Alchemist owe him a favor—even sacrificing every single Dou Zong in the Tian She Mansion was worth it!

Just as She Tianhao prepared to order a full assault on Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison Realm, a frantic gong and drum sounded.

"What's happening?"

"What's going on?"

At that moment, a winged Yi She Huang flew in frantically, even tumbling headfirst to the ground, wriggling its body as it screamed: "Enemy attack!!"

Hearing the Yi She Huang's cry, every Dou Zong present froze for a moment, confused—"di, xi"? What did that mean?

Only after realizing it meant "enemy attack" did everyone burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, enemy attack? Where are these enemies from?"

"You mean someone's attacking us? Are you dreaming? Is there anyone in the entire Northwest Region who dares attack us?"

The Yi She Huang swallowed hard, face pale with terror, and shrieked: "It's the Yan Alliance! The Yan Alliance has launched everything—their vanguard, ten kilometers ahead, has been wiped out!"

!!!!!!!!?

Boom—suddenly, a foot-long beam of light plunged from the heavens, terrifying flames instantly illuminating the entire realm.

"She Tianhao, She Tianhao! Today, the Yan Alliance will turn you both into two dead snakes!" Xiao Yan's voice rang down from the sky. Then, a Space Channel opened, and countless Yan Alliance disciples surged forth like a tidal wave.

The deafening shouts drowned the laughter like a slap—sudden silence fell.

She Tianhao and She Tianhao, father and son, clenched their fists, faces twisted in furious rage.

Hum—a dark shadow appeared. Mu Gu Zun sneered. "Good. Heaven has a path, yet you refuse it. Now you rush headlong toward death."

"Whoever takes Xiao Yan's head, I owe him a favor."

As soon as Mu Gu spoke, even She Tianhao's eyes turned bloodshot—just like the Dou Zong moments ago. In Mu Gu Zun's eyes, She Tianhao, a Dou Zun, was no different from those pitiful Dou Zong—merely a pawn to be commanded by a single word.

Boom! A sudden explosion—She Tianhao broke all rules of combat, instantly teleporting out of the main camp. His overwhelming power shattered the entire pavilion. Seeing Tian on high, Xiao Yan stood alone—Mei Du Sha and Xiao Yixian nowhere in sight—he said nothing, charging straight forward!

This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity!

"Xiao Yan, die for old man!" Snake Emperor's five fingers curled into a claw, like a venomous serpent, lunging straight for Xiao Yan's throat—as if Xiao Yan's head were an immortal elixir, and he must seize it first!

Sensing Snake Emperor's attack, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly, hands clasped behind his back, appearing too slow to react, utterly motionless.

A smug grin spread across Snake Emperor's face; he chuckled inwardly: "Got him!"

*Snap! * Suddenly, a hand emerged from empty space, like an iron clamp, gripping Snake Emperor's wrist with terrifying force that froze the very space around them.

"You're a disgraceful snake—attacking a Dou Huang with Dou Zun power," said Heavenly Flame Zunzhe, his voice calm.

Seeing the man who appeared beside him from space, Snake Emperor felt an intangible, suffocating pressure radiating from his body—his heart clenched as if crushed. This pressure told him: this was a Dou Zun—and stronger than himself, a Dou Zun who had only just entered this realm months ago!

Xiao Yan had a Dou Zun aiding him!!

Where did this Dou Zun come from?!

"Snake Shadow Poison Palm!" Snake Emperor, despite his shock, was no fool—he instantly recovered, his Dou Technique striking without delay, a furious palm blast aimed forward.

Facing Snake Emperor's palm strike, Heavenly Flame Zunzhe merely smiled faintly. In his eyes, Snake Emperor's understanding of the Dou Zun realm was that of an idiot.

Heavenly Flame Zunzhe lightly raised his palm—immediately, he commanded Space Power. He didn't even need a Dou Technique; commanding Space Power itself was a mighty Dou Technique.

*Boom! * Terrifying Space Power crashed down on Snake Emperor like a tidal wave. His throat flooded with blood—he didn't spit it out, but Heavenly Flame Zunzhe's palm sent him crashing from the sky to the ground, *boom! *—burying him in a massive crater.

"I'll leave Snake Emperor to you, Master Yao," Xiao Yan nodded.

"Alright. Be careful yourself. If things get desperate, I'll come to save you." After the clash, Heavenly Flame Zunzhe judged Snake Emperor as the weakest Dou Zun—and still found time to watch over Xiao Yan's safety.

"Don't worry. He won't dare," Xiao Yan said, confidence flashing across his face.

Heavenly Flame Zunzhe's figure vanished, reappearing below on the Battlefield.

Seeing a Dou Zun appear beside Xiao Yan the moment Snake Emperor was blasted away, the other Sect elders watching from afar slowly shook off their shock, staring at Heavenly Flame Zunzhe in disbelief.

A Dou Zun? Where did Xiao Yan find someone of this rank?!

Especially the Dou Zong elders—they knew all too well the horror of a Dou Zun. How could this once certain victory have turned into such a shocking reversal in an instant?!

Now the Yan Alliance not only had Mei Du Sha and Xiao Yixian as two supreme powers—but also added a Dou Zun!

"I feel like the Yan Alliance's overt strength has surged significantly now?"

"Indeed. Even if more Dou Zongs join, the Northwest Alliance's are all low-grade. Just now, during brief combat, Xiao Yan's Dou Zun clearly proved stronger."

All the Sect elders exchanged glances, mouths bitter with despair. This sudden reversal tested even the strongest wills.

Moments ago, the Northwest Alliance had been the hunter—now, hunter and prey had switched roles, impossibly fast.

At this moment, Xiao Yan looked down toward the camp below. Though Mu Gu had concealed himself with Soul Robe and Soul Force, Xiao Yan's Spirit Realm Soul faintly sensed something—though he couldn't confirm it was Mu Gu.

Moreover, Xiao Yan had never seen Mu Gu before.

"Mu Gu, come up. I'm right here." Xiao Yan stood atop Fengnu Longyan in midair, gazing down at a patch of darkness, his voice echoing calmly.

Hidden in the shadows, Mu Gu's heart sank—he had no idea how Xiao Yan found him!

He had concealed himself perfectly—and worse, Xiao Yan had called out his name outright!

If not for the portrait Snake Emperor and others had shown him, he wouldn't even know who Xiao Yan was!

Hearing Xiao Yan's call, many Northwest Alliance members were stunned—they didn't know who he meant.

The watching Sect elders also looked at each other, confused—who was Xiao Yan referring to?

"Could it be… the Northwest Alliance has another strong one hiding?!"

After a moment, strange black mist surged upward from below, swiftly spreading across the sky. Within the mist, a mysterious black-robed figure hovered in midair.

Through the hood, Xiao Yan saw cold, sinister eyes glowing with a sinister radiance, fixed upon him.

This was Xiao Yan's first time seeing the man named Mu Gu—he'd heard plenty about him.

"Hehehehe… Xiao Yan," Mu Gu's ancient, gloomy voice echoed.

Logically, Mu Gu was younger than Yao Zunzhe, and already a Dou Zun—why did his voice sound so aged?

Seeing the strange black mist appear, Qiu Ping's face turned ashen!

Because he guessed who the black-robed man was!

"So that's it! No wonder the Snake Emperor's Sect was hunting the Yan Alliance—it's because Xiao Yan caught the Soul Hall's attention!" Qiu Ping's heart sank. As a Seventh-Rank Alchemist of the Dan Domain, he knew well: the Alchemist's greatest enemy!

Soul Hall!

Without doubt, Qiu Ping assumed Xiao Yan's high Alchemy talent and possession of Heavenly Flame had drawn the attention of a Soul Hall Venerable—he never imagined Xiao Yan himself was a Soul Hall Venerable!

Mu Gu's black mist instantly swallowed Xiao Yan—and Xiao Yan offered no resistance, letting himself be enveloped.

Seeing Xiao Yan engulfed by the mist, Qiu Ping now believed Xiao Yan was dead.

Few Alchemists marked by the Soul Hall survived—even the former Pill Gathering Champion had been killed by the Soul Hall. Centuries ago, even the Dan Tower's own Tower Master had been secretly assassinated by them.

"That Xiao Yan… is finished."

Inside the mist, Xiao Yan also concealed himself—donning his own Venerable Soul Robe, he sneered at Mu Gu. Mu Gu, in turn, removed his hood, revealing a withered, ancient face.

Mu Gu Zunzhe's actual age wasn't old—he was still Yao Zunzhe's junior. But during one failed Pill Alchemy attempt, backlash had twisted him into this state.

"Hehehehe… Xiao Yan, you truly fear no death, daring to come alone," Mu Gu Zunzhe glared coldly, sealing the space with Dou Zun power—as if ready to crush Xiao Yan at any moment.

Xiao Yan glanced at Mu Gu, smiled, and said: "Then go ahead. Kill me."

!?

Xiao Yan casually waved his hand, looking at the slightly startled Mu Gu Zunzhe, speaking calmly: "Mu Gu, don't play tricks on me. We both know—you can't kill me."

From his storage ring flew a jet-black Soul Token. With a *hum*, the blazing "Yan" character on it released a Soul Force ripple—warm to the touch!

Seeing the Soul Token, Mu Gu's face turned ashen—he gasped: "You… obtained the Soul Token?!"

Becoming a Dou Zun doesn't guarantee a Soul Token. Like Mu Gu himself—he became a Soul Hall Venerable and received his Soul Token and title only after completing Hun Xu Zi's Trial, reaching Eight Grade, and three years ago crafting an Eight Grade Pill with two-colored Pill Lightning.

That's how he earned his Soul Token.

But now—Xiao Yan's Cultivation Realm? His Alchemy skill? Not even Eight Grade! How could he become a Venerable—and bear the "Yan" title?!

Of course, this was mainly due to Xiao Yan's ancestral glory—he traded Ancient Jade for it.

But Xiao Yan wouldn't say that. He spoke slowly: "Mu Gu… Mu Gu. You know full well why you once incited Han Feng to betray Yao Zunzhe."

"You're less talented than him, so you're jealous and hate that senior brother with greater talent—he was chosen by the Hall Master, while you weren't."

"But I'm different from you—I'm more talented than you, even more so than the Pill Sovereign. You were merely born earlier than me; if we were the same age, you wouldn't stand a chance against me."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Mu Gu's eyes instantly turned crimson. He didn't want that matter brought up, and roared: "Shut up!"

Mu Gu unleashed a sudden burst of power, crushing Xiao Yan with spatial force, making his cheeks flush red. But Xiao Yan wasn't panicked—he still wore a haughty, insolent grin and laughed loudly: "Gu guai xiao! Mu Gu, you're useless! A Dou Zun can't kill a Dou Huang with one strike?"

"Or do you know that if I shatter this Soul Jade, Hun Xu Zi will appear?" Xiao Yan slowly pulled out a jade pendant wrapped in Black Flame.

"The Soul Jade of the Soul Sovereign's Dan Saint! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! You can't possibly have his Soul Jade!" Mu Gu's voice was now hollow with bluster.

Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with triumph as he let out a gu guai xiao: "Gu guai xiao! Of course it's possible—after all, this Soul Token was given to me by Hun Xu Zi himself!"

(End of Chapter)