Chapter 427: Cannot Retain the Mandarins and Phoenixes

"Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire?! Isn't that the inherited flame of the Burning Flame Valley? How could it be on Xiao Yan?!" Old Lin's eyes widened—could this Xiao Yan have found a second mature Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire?

Theoretically, the probability of two identical Fire Spirits ranked in the bottom ten coexisting in the same era is relatively high, but even that "theoretical" likelihood is rare in practice—both the Gu Clan, Yan Clan, and Yao Clan have scoured the entire Dou Qi Continent and found none, let alone among the top ten.

Ling Quan also recognized its value; his face turned pale with shock—although this Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body possessed only Three Star Dou Zong power, the pressure it exerted on him was even greater than that of an ordinary Six Star Dou Zong!

Xiao Yan's Thunder Illusion Body wore a stern, expressionless face, a stark contrast to his true body. In a swift whisper, before Ling Quan could even react, the clone of the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body executed Three Thousand Lei Dong with an even more astonishing brilliance than if it had been perfected.

Lightning surged beneath his feet; in an instant, a bolt of thunder flashed—within that fleeting moment, "Xiao Yan's" speed became unimaginable.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan appeared before Ling Quan; his fist moved at light-speed—the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body prized nothing but "speed!"

A flash of lightning, a single punch—directly aimed at Ling Quan's skull!

Although Ling Quan had not been granted the Gu Clan's surname, he was no less worthy as one of its Commanders, leading a detachment of the clan; his face darkened, and with a sharp clang-clang-clang, he instinctively activated his Black Armor at this life-or-death moment—armor instantly enveloped his body.

The black armor on Ling Quan's person was no ordinary gear; after reaching Dou Zong, he naturally acquired superior Poison Armor.

But this punch from "Xiao Yan" was not only swift and brutal—it carried the soul-shaking power of the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire!

Crack! Ling Quan's helmet shattered under the punch; his forehead was wounded, blood trickling down—he had narrowly escaped having his skull crushed!

Had he not been wearing the divine armor and activated its protection in time, he would have died instantly from that punch—this terrified Ling Quan deeply.

Is this truly only a clone with one-third of his cultivation?!

"Commander Ling Quan!"

"How dare you!"

Seeing the situation turn dire, Ling Quan's subordinates shouted in fury; they were far stronger than when they had been at Jia Nan Academy—each weakest among them was a High-Level Dou Huang, with several even reaching One Star Dou Zong.

Dozens struck at once; the Black Smoke Army launched their Magic Core weapons directly at Xiao Yan's Thunder Illusion Body.

These Black Smoke Army soldiers were no pushovers—each attack was an Earth Rank Advanced Grade Dou Technique, and they formed arrays in unison, their combined power immense.

"Get out of here!" In that instant, Xiao Yan's Thunder Illusion Body's eyes turned cruel, his malevolence surging, his killing intent like a crimson banner—he roared, and nine silver thunder dragons erupted from his body!

Lightning surged across his entire form like an ocean; nine silver thunder dragons surged upward with devastating force—this overwhelming, tyrannical thunderstorm made both Elders' faces change.

In that instant, Xiao Yan swept his hand—and nine dragons roared forth, an outrageously dominant technique!

All nine dragons emerged together—ten thousand phenomena revealed! As if countless thunderbolts, the entire space filled with the might of lightning.

Boom-boom-boom!!! Thunder boomed deafeningly across the Sky—had one listened closely, one would have heard dragon roars woven within the thunder!

In terms of destructive power, the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire is the most astonishing among all the Flame Spirits Xiao Yan currently possesses.

Boom-boom-boom! Beneath the flashing lightning and thunder, the Black Smoke Army's Poison Armor shattered—under the thunder unleashed by Xiao Yan's Thunder Illusion Body, their armor and weapons were as fragile as paper.

"Is this truly the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body?!" Old Lin had seen the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body before—indeed, he had witnessed it from the Thunder Sovereign.

But he was certain—the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body when the Thunder Sovereign was Five Star Dou Zong was nowhere near this terrifying! Ordinary Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Bodies are merely illusions, used only to deceive and evade attacks.

Using the Black Smoke Army's cannon fodder as a shield, Ling Quan seized the chance to create distance—but "Xiao Yan" gave him no opportunity; Three Thousand Lei Dong activated again, instantly reappearing before Ling Quan.

This speed startled even Ling Quan—technically, Three Thousand Lei Dong was only Earth Rank Low-Level, how could it possibly be this absurdly fast?!

"Mountain Splitting Seal!" Ling Quan roared.

The speed of the Thunder Illusion Body sent a jolt through Ling Quan's heart; he swiftly formed his hand seals and slammed his palm forward!

Facing an Earth Rank Advanced Grade Dou Technique, the Thunder Illusion Body showed no change in expression—still, it simply punched straight ahead.

Boom!!! Fist met palm, thunder cracked incessantly; terrifying lightning exploded, engulfing Ling Quan.

A flash of lightning—then a dark figure flew out of the thunder sea: naturally, it was Ling Quan. His hair had been fried into a wild shock, his face charred black, his Poison Armor partially shattered by lightning—but his eyes gleamed bright, his lips curled upward.

Because the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body's arm had been shattered by his Mountain Splitting Seal.

Zi Yan, having eaten her fill, snorted: "The way he looks, someone who didn't know would think he just defeated a Dou Emperor."

Hearing Zi Yan's sharp tongue, even Xun Er and Xiao Yixian smiled faintly.

Hearing this, Ling Quan's face darkened instantly—yes! He had merely shattered one arm of the clone—what was there to celebrate?! He needed to defeat Xiao Yan!

Boom! The Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body charged again; for a clone, there was no concept of a severed limb—the remaining arm surged forward with a punch, and from its fist roared a silver dragon, as if a True Dragon had been born.

"Damn it! Rolling Sea Seal!"

Boom!! Lightning exploded again; although Ling Quan shattered the Thunder Phantom Body's arm once more, the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire detonated, utterly destroying all of Ling Quan's Poison Armor.

The Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body fused with Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire was a bomb!

Watching the scene in the Sky, the two black-robed elders slowly nodded, then sighed deeply.

Xiao Yan had truly reached his current level through his own relentless cultivation—possessing no Dou Di Bloodline, no inheritance from a Dou Emperor Family. Such a resolute person will go far on the path of cultivation—farther than either of us.

And this resilience is something no Dou Emperor Family possesses.

"This boy Ling Quan has brought shame upon himself this time."

"Sigh, but after all, Ling Quan is one of our Gu Clan's own—he cultivates our Clan's Cultivation Method and Dou Techniques—and yet he's been pushed to this state by a single clone of Xiao Yan."

For a moment, both Elders felt profound emotion—Xiao Yan is only one year older than Xun Er, meaning he is several years younger than Ling Quan. Six years ago, even when Xiao Yan was far behind Ling Quan in cultivation, he still defeated him; now that they are equal, his power utterly crushes him.

Ling Quan's face twisted into a grotesque, terrifying mask, his eyes swirling with bloodlust.

"Secret Technique?"

Feeling Ling Quan's sudden surge in spiritual pressure, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes—then Ling Quan's spiritual pressure skyrocketed from Five Star Dou Zong straight to Seven Star Dou Zong, surpassing even the typical boost of an Earth Rank Advanced Grade Secret Technique!

"Blood Transformation Technique?! This guy is truly reckless—he's even resorted to this self-harming Secret Technique!" Old Lin gasped—he never expected Ling Quan to be driven this far!

"Die! Ancient Dragon Spear!" Ling Quan roared, his eyes crimson; he drew a black spear and thrust it at the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body.

The black spear surged like a black dragon, roaring—Boom! The spear pierced the Three Thousand Thunder Phantom Body, then exploded in thunder—the violent lightning erupted, madly striking Ling Quan's body.

When the lightning faded, Ling Quan's body was charred black—but he laughed loudly: "Hahahaha! Xiao Yan, your Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body is nothing! Come out and fight me!"

Any clear-eyed observer could see Ling Quan was at his last breath—especially after using a Secret Technique, whose side effects would soon manifest.

"Ling Quan, Ling Quan—I thought after six years apart you'd grown, but now I see you've fallen far short of even half my expectations. You've truly shamed the Gu Clan." Xiao Yan shook his head and snapped his fingers with a sharp snap.

As the snap echoed, Ling Quan's face instantly paled—a gray lightning bolt suddenly shot through his body; his entire meridian system felt as if it were being torn apart.

"Aaaahhh!!!" Ling Quan screamed in agony and fell from midair.

"My Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body was merely a trap—you couldn't even see through it, yet you charged straight in. Sigh, I overestimated you." Xiao Yan sighed—he had intended to test a new Dou Technique on Ling Quan, gauge its effect—but this fool had walked right into it without hesitation, leaving Xiao Yan utterly baffled.

After borrowing the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire, Xiao Yan didn't just raise his cultivation realm and train his spiritual soul—he also refined the gray lightning of the Poison Pill, storing it within the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire.

This heavenly punishment is terrifying—or rather, it is a poison, a curse. Once touched, it fuses into the Dou Qi; whenever Dou Qi is used, the body is torn apart by searing pain—it is a permanent thunder poison.

Seeing Ling Quan screaming in agony, the two Elders looked at Xiao Yan with deep dread. Is this what you call sparing his life? That gray lightning—even we dare not touch it lightly; a common Dou Zun likely cannot remove it.

Without a Sage Emperor intervening, Xiao Yan has effectively crippled Ling Quan! But why would a Sage Emperor risk himself to help Ling Quan?

"Ling Quan is finished."

"Yes, he'll probably lose his Commander position and become a common clansman."

The two Elders swallowed hard. This boy looks cheerful and laughing on the surface, but when he strikes, he's ruthless. Clearly, Xiao Yan holds a grudge against Ling Quan.

Not long after, the side effects of Ling Quan's Secret Technique erupted, and he fainted outright.

Lin Lao waved his hand, sweeping up the Black Smoke Army soldiers who had all been knocked down by just one of Xiao Yan's clones. This truly shames the Gu Clan—a whole Black Smoke Army couldn't defeat a single clone!

Shameful!

After watching the grand spectacle, Xiao Yan took Xun Er's jade hand and softly said, "Can we stay two more days?"

Seeing the faint plea in Xiao Yan's eyes, Xun Er's beautiful eyes softened. She nodded and smiled, "How could I refuse Brother Xiao Yan's invitation?"

For the remaining two days, Xiao Yixian, claiming she needed to close her door for Spirit Refining, did not disturb Xiao Yan further, leaving them these final two days alone.

During those two days, the two seemed to return to their days in Wutan City, walking through its markets, observing the full spectrum of city life.

They bought street snacks to eat—when it tasted bad, both made strange faces; when it tasted good, they shared it; when they saw exquisite jewelry, Xun Er would glance at Xiao Yan, who pretended not to notice.

For those two days, they spoke of nothing from the outside world, instead wandering through Ye Cheng's bustling beauty and absorbing its scenery and customs.

Time was too short to savor the world's splendor. Ye Cheng was too small to hold a pair of lovers.

It wasn't that they loved each other any less—it was just that the world was fickle and hard to hold onto.

"Wait for me in the Gu Clan. I will come," Xiao Yan embraced Xun Er tightly and whispered.

Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression, Xun Er smiled gently, nodding her snow-white chin, "Xun Er has always believed in Brother Xiao Yan."

With those words, Xun Er gave Xiao Yan one last deep look, then did not linger further. Her slender form moved, soaring into the sky, then gently landing atop the head of the Four-Winged Unicorn Beast. Her black hair fluttered, like a transcendent fairy—ethereal in aura, leaving one dazed and enchanted.

Then, Xun Er turned to Xiao Yixian nearby; their gazes met, as if exchanging silent words.

Xiao Yixian's red lips parted, sending a voiceless message: "Don't worry—I won't let him get hurt."

Hearing Xiao Yixian's promise, Xun Er felt her heavy heart lift. She nodded.

"Brother Xiao Yan, take care. No matter what, you must stay safe," Xun Er gazed deeply at her beloved, silently praying.

Then, space twisted, and Xun Er and the others vanished.

Within the Space Channel, after leaving Ye Cheng, the two Elders carrying the still-unconscious Ling Quan wore grim expressions.

"Lin Lao, is something wrong?" Xun Er now returned to her usual cold demeanor, asking.

"Miss… we suspect Young Master Xiao Yan has ties to the Soul Sovereign."

Xun Er's eyes turned icy as she glared at them. At that moment, a faint mark appeared on her forehead, shimmering with a subtle rainbow glow.

Boom! Boom! The two Dou Zun Elders immediately knelt down in terror.

"Forgive us, Miss!" *2

"Hmph!" Xun Er sneered coldly. "The Xiao Clan was destroyed by the Soul Sovereign—how could Brother Xiao Yan possibly be allied with them? Even if you two are Elders, if you spread such rumors, I will punish you without mercy!"

"Forgive us, Miss! It was our eyes that were blind—we misjudged him!"

"Yes, how could Young Master Xiao Yan possibly be connected to the Soul Sovereign? We must be growing senile."

Xun Er flicked her sleeve and slowly closed her eyes, beginning her Cultivation.

Now that she knew Xiao Yan's strength, Xun Er no longer intended to slow her Cultivation. Due to her clan's Secret Technique, her Dou Di Bloodline had been simmering since childhood, so her cultivation speed had lagged behind the clan's prodigies.

Six years ago, upon returning to her clan, Xun Er began activating her Dou Di Bloodline, and her cultivation accelerated. But it was still incomplete—she needed to reach the Sage Emperor for her bloodline to fully awaken.

Before becoming a Sage Emperor, she must remain a virgin. She is now at Nine Star Dou Zong—her goal is to reach the Sage Emperor in three years.

Xiao Yan stood motionless, silent. About a quarter-hour later, he finally reclaimed his focus.

"Xiao Yixian, what about the Smoke Snake Honored One? It's time to deal with him," Xiao Yan said after regaining his focus—the Flame Honored One has returned!

Time to work!

"In the basement of Ye Zhai, I sealed his Dou Qi and movement with poison," Xiao Yixian said.

In the basement of Ye Zhai, a dying giant snake lay on cold stone tiles. Seeing Xiao Yan enter, the snake slowly opened its eyes, its yellow serpent pupils fixed on him.

"Xiao Yan… release me. I'll let this go unmentioned. Otherwise, the Nine Underworld Earth Serpent Clan will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"

Hearing the weak threat, Xiao Yan's expression turned disgusted. "I was actually thinking—if I walked in and heard you begging, I'd spare your life, on one condition: become Qing Lin's Snake Slave for ten years."

"But now… ah, you old fools are too full of yourselves. What's the Nine Underworld Earth Serpent Clan to me? I'll visit the Yellow Springs Mountain Range eventually—but you won't live to see it."

Xiao Yan nodded to Qing Lin beside him. Qing Lin stepped before the Smoke Snake Honored One's true form. Instantly, her green eyes revealed a three-petal pattern—a blinding green light shot from her pupils!

"Control me? You're dreaming!" the Smoke Snake Honored One roared, his body thrashing violently, causing the ground to tremble.

"Xiao Yixian, poison his Dou Qi down to One Star Dou Zun." Qing Lin's cultivation level was still too low to control a Three Star Dou Zun.

Xiao Yixian formed a hand seal. The Eternal Calamity Poison within the Smoke Snake Honored One began corroding his flesh and Dou Qi. His cultivation plummeted, dropping all the way to the early stage of One Star Dou Zun.

"Aaaah! No!!"

Whirr!! Qing Lin held nothing back—she knew her Young Master had exhausted himself to boost her power; she couldn't waste it!

Crack! Suddenly, a third Qi San Hua Tong appeared on Qing Lin's forehead. The next second, the light pierced the spiritual soul—even Xiao Yan had to deploy his Spirit Realm Soul Power to resist it.

"So strong! If I hadn't reached Spirit Realm Soul Power and had my soul forged by the Nine Dragon Thunder Gangfire, I'd have been stunned for a while!"

The Qi San Hua Tong isn't just for controlling Snake Race—it can cause brief mental paralysis or hallucinations. Extremely powerful.

"No!!" With a final scream, the Smoke Snake Honored One's eyes turned from yellow to green, replaced by a green glow. A three-petal mark appeared on his forehead, then faded quickly.

"Young Master! It worked!" Qing Lin danced with joy, ecstatic—she had successfully controlled an Eight Rank Snake Race!

"Thank you, Young Master!"

"You're thanking the wrong person. This is Xiao Yixian's achievement—I did nothing," Xiao Yan shook his head, pointing to Xiao Yixian, who stood quietly beside him.

"Thank you, Sister Yixian," Qing Lin said with a radiant smile as she walked up to Xiao Yixian.

"Don't listen to him—he's just talking nonsense. This is all your own ability," Xiao Yixian replied with a faint smile, as refreshing as a gentle breeze.

"Fine, fine, fine—I'm useless, alright?" Xiao Yan sighed, spreading his hands. "Qing Lin, go back and cultivate. A One Star Dou Zun is very useful for you now—if you can absorb his Cultivation Realm and beast techniques, your Cultivation Realm will rise quickly."

"Yes, Young Master Yan," Qing Lin glanced at Xiao Yan, then at Xiao Yixian, her eyes twinkling as if hinting at something.