Chapter 481: Xiao Yan

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and Xing Tian appeared before him; counting the Smoke Snake Venerable, Qing Lin now controlled three Snake Race members just entering the Dou Zun realm, and with herself being a One Star Dou Zun, Qing Lin was now a true Snake Race beast tamer!

A flash of green light emerged from space, and line after line of Sea Giant Pythons stepped forth—all originally from the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Snake Race, but now their cultivation realms had plummeted severely; She Tianhao, for instance, had sunk to only Star Five Dou Zong and could no longer handle the current battle.

Seeing the Snake Slaves, all controlled by Qi San Hua Tong, emerge from Qing Lin's storage space, She Eight Heads and Jiu Xia were both stunned, their expressions instantly changing.

"Smoke Snake?! Even you've been controlled!" Jiu Xia's eyes widened with deep dread as he saw the Smoke Snake Venerable—after all, that was a Three Star Dou Zun's power, far stronger than the two newly arrived Eight Rank Nine Underworld Spirit Python warriors just moments ago, yet still subdued by Qi San Hua Tong.

The terrifying power of Qi San Hua Tong was undeniable!

"If she grows to half-Sage—no, even to Peak Dou Zun—the entire Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan will be destroyed!" Jiu Xia's heart trembled violently, for the entire Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan had only two Dou Saints.

The Senior Elder was a half-Sage, the Clan Leader Yao Xiao Tian was a One Star Dou Saint, and neither possessed high bloodline purity—even Clan Leader Yao Xiao Tian's Ancient Heavenly Snake bloodline was inferior to Medusa Queen's!

Lower bloodline meant even greater vulnerability to Qi San Hua Tong's power!

Jiu Xia glared darkly at Qing Lin, who appeared harmless as a child—this girl alone could wipe out the entire Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan!

Hidden within his robe, Jiu Xia's hand flipped, and he crushed a Space Jade Slip.

Though subtle, Xiao Yan sensed the motion—but he could not stop it; the Soul Barrier was not yet complete, and such Space Jade Slips could not be blocked. Still, Dong Yu was far from Shou Yu—even with a Space Jade Slip, reinforcements would take time to arrive.

He must eliminate these bastards before they arrived!

"I'll handle the Ghost Snake Tribe." Xiao Yan's Soul Force locked onto the four Dou Zun of the Ghost Snake Tribe; though only four, all were above Three Star Dou Zun, and besides their leader She Eight Heads, one was even a Five Star Dou Zun—stronger than the Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan.

Cai Lin knew Xiao Yan had taken the strongest opponents for himself; though slightly displeased, she nodded.

"Qing Lin, be careful—I'll have Xing Tian guard you," Xiao Yan whispered.

"Young Master Yan, rest assured—Qing Lin's strength isn't weak either," Qing Lin nodded seriously, having traveled far and wide with Cai Lin.

As the Xiao Clan's chief maid, she couldn't lose face!

"Let's see what this local snake can do!" Xiao Yan smirked, eyes flashing cruelty—he remembered how they had ambushed Cai Lin, and he would repay them tenfold!

Whoosh! Xiao Yan drew his Xuan Heavy Ruler; he didn't know what material it was forged from, but it was likely at least Seven or Eight Grade weapon tier, and most importantly, it could carry Spiritual Flames.

Instantly, Xiao Yan summoned the Yin Yang Dual Flames—the Xuan Heavy Ruler wrapped in black and white fire, the Yin Yang Fish transforming into twin black-and-white dragons!

"You drew a sword earlier, didn't you?" Xiao Yan instantly locked onto the giant on the far left—he held grudges.

Sensing Xiao Yan's icy killing intent lock onto him, the Three Star Dou Zun of the Ghost Snake Tribe felt his entire Spiritual Soul turn cold, as if plunged into the Nine Underworld!

Just moments ago, Xiao Yan had slain Huangquan Venerable with a single glance—he was no stronger than Huangquan Venerable!

Boom! The Ancient Phoenix Wings flared—his Heavenly Rank Flying Dou Technique's speed remained terrifyingly unmatched; Xiao Yan moved so fast he left only one hyper-realistic afterimage before appearing behind the giant.

Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler was unleashed again; the Yin Yang Dual Flames amplified the Flame Wave's power by another level.

"Heavenly Rank Flying Dou Technique?!"

This time, everyone confirmed it: Huangquan Venerable had died so easily because Xiao Yan's Ancient Phoenix Wings were a Heavenly Rank Flying Dou Technique!

Heavenly Rank! That name alone was enough to choke countless souls!

The Xuan Heavy Ruler slammed down hard—the massive black-and-white ruler-light surged toward the enemy; Xiao Yan's strike was even stronger than Cai Lin's Spiritual Flame attack, the searing ruler-light incinerating all before it!

"Form the Array!" Sensing Xiao Yan's terrifying power, She Eight Heads roared instantly—the Ghost Snake Tribe's Dou Zun erupted with monstrous bloodline energy, and in an instant, their blood coalesced into four strange creatures, each with eight heads.

Xiao Yan had seen Cai Lin use this move before when he seized the Lotus Earth Core Fire—it was a Snake Race beast technique.

Boom!! The black-and-white ruler-light of Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler crashed into them—hiss! Serpentine cries rang out as the four strange snakes entwined into a ball, a crimson blood shield blocking Xiao Yan's attack.

The scattered flames from Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler rained like meteors, shattering every bone on the ground; those scattered cultivators who had hesitated to flee, hoping to ambush or scavenge, were instantly vaporized at the slightest touch of the flame wave—no scream even escaped them.

"This pitiful bloodline-linked array? You're not even close!" Xiao Yan laughed aloud, facing four Eight Rank beasts stronger than himself.

Instantly, he formed a hand seal—five Spiritual Flames appeared above his head, as if a strange world of five flame beasts had materialized above him!

The five Spiritual Flames began to take shape, each occupying a corner to form an array.

Though Lotus Earth Core Fire, Falling Heart Flame, and Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame were absent, how could Heavenly Venerable of Yan lack Spiritual Flames?

Yin-Yang Twin Flames, Sea Heart Flame, Nine Dragon Thunderflame, Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Three Thousand Burning Flame! Five flames unleashed—capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas!

At this moment, the Spiritual Flames rose above Xiao Yan's head; after reaching Heavenly Realm Soul Force, his Five Wheel Fiery Method now held a new power!

This time, the five Spiritual Flames did not transform into beasts—they all became dragons!

The Yin-Yang Twin Flames twisted into two black-and-white long dragons, coiling around each other; the Sea Heart Flame took the form of a sea serpent; the Nine Dragon Thunderflame fused into a single nine-headed dragon, just as Xiao Yan had seen in the Flame Valley.

Three Thousand Yan Flame needed no explanation—it looked exactly like a True Dragon, indistinguishable. Most peculiar was Bone Spirit Cold Fire—its entire body bristled with bony spines, like an ice-formed bone dragon.

The five dragons appeared utterly real—no trace of Spiritual Flame remained; it seemed Xiao Yan's back was a realm of ten thousand dragons, as if dragon power itself served him.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's body surged with dragon qi, a terrifying Dragon Might spreading across heaven and earth!

Boom boom boom!! Under the crushing pressure of Dragon Might and Spiritual Flames, the entire Little World's ground trembled violently—even the withered bones of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake shuddered.

In ancient times, True Dragons and Ancient Heavenly Snakes were mortal enemies, constantly clashing.

"Such terrifying aura! Is that a True Dragon?!"

"Heavenly Rank! Absolutely Heavenly Rank! That's the power of Heavenly Rank!"

"Five Spiritual Flames?! How is this possible! He controls five Spiritual Flames?!"

In an instant, the entire Little World fell into deathly silence—even Cai Lin paused her attack to stare at Xiao Yan; now, he seemed to command Spiritual Flames and rule over ten thousand dragons!

"The Yan Alliance has eight Spiritual Flames!" Jiu Xia turned pale—this Yan Alliance's strength far exceeded even the wildest rumors!

The number of Spiritual Flames was unheard of!

Boom! Xiao Yan swept his hand downward—the five dragons roared, each spewing terrifying Dragon Breath!

The five Spiritual Flames' breaths merged into a colossal beam of Spiritual Flame—the beam surged forward, shattering Space, the Five Wheel Fiery Method array unleashing Heavenly Might, sweeping all directions!

The four Ghost Snake Tribe members all paled instantly, uniting to unleash their strongest beast technique; blood oozed from their skin, their entire bloodline pouring out uncontrollably, forming a blood-armored shell around them!

All four entered their peak state—the other three slammed fists into their own chests, spitting out ancient-tasting essence blood; their hair instantly turned snow-white, all their Ancient Heavenly Snake Essence Blood merging into She Eight Heads.

"Summon Ancestral Power!" Absorbing the others' Ancient Heavenly Snake Essence Blood, She Eight Heads' aura exploded—he activated a bloodline Secret Technique, his cultivation realm surging two stars to Peak Star Eight, rivaling a Peak Dou Zun!

Sssss!! At the last possible moment, a jet-black Sea Giant Python descended like a divine spirit!

The black serpent appeared utterly real—its head oval-shaped, eyes pitch-black; its body resembled a black mamba, entirely dark, yet its head was oval like a cobra's.

Even those unfamiliar could guess what it was—the legendary, long-extinct Ancient Heavenly Snake!

The black giant snake, facing the Heavenly Rank Five-Wheel Fire Law beams, suddenly opened its massive maw and spat out a jet of black poison! The black poison was no weaker than Eternal Calamity Poison, instantly poisoning the heavens and earth, the very Space melting under its terrifying might.

Before the stunned expressions of all, the ancient clash between Dragon and Serpent was replayed once more!

Boom!! Two immensely powerful forces collided, a deafening roar erupting as flame waves and poison spread in all directions. This horrific energy collision shattered the world into fragments—in the blink of an eye, the entire void sky cracked like glass, the scene utterly spectacular.

The shattered Space instantly melted under extreme heat and lethal poison, revealing vast stretches of nothingness!

Under the strongest destruction strike of Xiao Yan's Five-Wheel Fire Law, fused with five Strange Flames, even Snake Eight Heads, who had absorbed everyone's essence blood, was directly blasted away by the flame waves—Boom! All four bodies were slammed into the ground, cratering deep pits.

The three who had spat out all their essence blood reverted to their original forms and fainted; only Snake Eight Heads, whose cultivation had reached Eight Star Peak after absorbing the essence blood, held on—but his entire body was shattered, drenched in blood, terrifying to behold.

"Impossible! Eight Star Peak Dou Zun, summoning ancestral power—this is already stronger than most Heavenly Rank Low Grade Dou Techniques!"

This scene shocked every Dou Zun present, especially the Dou Zun of the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan, who felt as if a hammer had just smashed into their chests.

Because that black giant serpent was the Ancient Heavenly Serpent—the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan also possessed the Ancient Heavenly Serpent bloodline. How could they not be shaken, how could they not suffer upon seeing this?

"How is this possible? Xiao Yan is only a Three Star Dou Zun! Even if he uses a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique, how could he possibly be a match for Snake Eight Heads, who unleashed the Ancient Heavenly Snake's power?!"

Many Dou Zun couldn't believe what they saw—difference of one star meant a vast gap, let alone five stars! Even with Strange Flames, this made no sense whatsoever!

"No—it's Xiao Yan's Soul Force! His Soul Force and Fire Control Power are extraordinarily strong, amplifying the power of his Dou Technique!"

Someone noticed the truth, sensing that when Xiao Yan unleashed his Dou Technique, he erupted with terrifying Soul Power, making the Strange Flame Spirits appear as solid entities—his Five-Wheel Fire Law even surpassed its original form.

In other words, Xiao Yan's mastery of the Five-Wheel Fire Law Array now exceeds that of the Flame Master—he has surpassed his master!

The flame waves receded, the five Strange Flames returning to Xiao Yan's body as single flames, revealing the black-robed man standing in the sky.

Xiao Yan did not completely overwhelm Snake Eight Heads—the power of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent was not to be underestimated. He too had been struck by the poison. But Xiao Yan, having refined the Nether Poison Flame, possessed exceptional poison resistance, and with the regenerative power of the Holy Flame and Three Thousand Burning Flame, his body was already healing.

Effectively, no damage!

The Sword Master, who had long left the Little World, observed this scene with Soul Perception and sighed: "This is the terrifying nature of Strange Flames—they bring not only destruction, but also unique powers that subtly transform one's physique."

"With Three Thousand Yan Flame, Xiao Yan is nearly immortal."

The Sword Master and the Dou Zun of Sound Valley stood above Jiu She Ling, using a Secret Technique to observe the battle below. Seeing Xiao Yan's terrifying combat power, both felt grateful they had not been greedy, and had escaped early.

Otherwise, with Xiao Yan's methods, they might not have escaped at all—their fate would have been like that of the Yellow Springs Master.

Xiao Yan had no ties to the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion.

Tang Ying, beside him, sighed softly, filled with envy—he had once been at the same cultivation level as Xiao Yan, participating in the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly.

Back then, Xiao Yan had crushed Feng Qing'er, yet Tang Ying still believed he had a chance to catch up.

Now, facing Xiao Yan again, he felt only envy and jealousy—any desire to challenge him was long gone.

"If you rely only on that faint Ancient Heavenly Serpent bloodline, you're finished," Xiao Yan said, smiling calmly as Three Thousand Burning Flame burned on his body, healing his wounds. "Let me see something else—surely you, this local snake, don't have only this much guts?"

Although Xiao Yan had unleashed the Five-Wheel Fire Law, it was still not enough to force him into a desperate fight—he always had a method for dealing with demonic beasts.

He had not yet used his strongest Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Technique. And Xiao Yan deliberately spoke this way—to lure Snake Eight Heads into sacrificing himself and summoning the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's residual soul!

Xiao Yan was certain the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's soul was not inside the Magic Core. Where it was, he could not find—but he needed to make use of this Ghost Snake Tribe.

Having Qing Lin activate the Qi San Hua Tong might also draw out the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake soul—but Xiao Yan did not want Qing Lin to risk it.

"Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake! I never expected it to be the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake!"

As Xiao Yan laid his trap, a voice of shock rang out—then space twisted, and a vast, invincible spiritual pressure surged through heaven and earth, shaking the entire Little World.

At that moment, a Space Wormhole opened, revealing the figure of a middle-aged man. Behind him floated streams of black light; his hair was jet black, his eyes sharp as he gazed down at the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's skeletal remains.

"Fourth Elder!" Jiu Xia immediately knelt before the middle-aged man.

"Nine-Star Peak Dou Zun!"

"This is the Fourth Elder of the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan—YaoAo!"

As soon as he appeared, an overwhelming, peerless aura descended—vast and steady, his presence made all gasp for breath, forcing them to kneel instinctively!

Although the Ancient Sage Ancestor, who had absorbed all the Ancient Heavenly Snake Essence Blood, had emitted a powerful Ancient Heavenly Snake spiritual pressure, compared to this man, he still lacked far too much.

The Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan's warriors quickly broke away from Cai Lin's attack range and gathered beside him, rapidly explaining the entire situation via Soul Resonance.

When the Fourth Elder YaoAo heard that Cai Lin had evolved into the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent bloodline, his eyes flickered with a cruel, murderous intent.

If the Seven-Colored Flower Snake's ability only affected lower-tier Snake Race bloodlines, it hadn't yet shaken the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan's dominion over all snakes—but Cai Lin, possessing the true Devouring Sky Serpent bloodline, was digging up their very roots!

Not all Snake Race members possessed Ancient Heavenly Serpent bloodline; most subordinate clans owed allegiance to the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan simply because they had the densest Ancient Heavenly Serpent bloodline.

But Cai Lin possessed pure Devouring Sky Serpent lineage—far purer than the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan's own!

Both Cai Lin and Qing Lin arrived beside Xiao Yan. Cai Lin flicked the blood from her serpent sword—she had just slain a Two Star Dou Zun of the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan.

In an instant, both sides were locked in tense confrontation. The Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan, as one of the Three Great Demon Beast Clans, was no joke—a Nine-Star Peak Dou Zun was equivalent to the Four Heavenly Kings of the Soul Hall. Even Xiao Yan grew grave.

More importantly, the enemy had other experts: one Eight Star Peak Dou Zun, one Six Star, several other Dou Zun, and even more wandering Dou Zun had now aligned with the Nine Nether Earth Snake Clan.

Even if they couldn't claim all the Magic Cores, a share of the essence blood would still be worthwhile.

"Young Master Yan, should Qing Lin use the Qi San Hua Tong?" Qing Lin's face was tense.

"No. Your cultivation is still too weak—you cannot handle Dou Zun above Four Star," Xiao Yan shook his head. The Qi San Hua Tong had limits—it could not exceed Qing Lin's own cultivation of Three Star, nor could it control bloodlines too strong—Cai Lin, for instance, was beyond its control.

Xiao Yan helplessly looked at Cai Lin. She nodded, understanding his meaning.

It seemed Xiao Yan would have to give up his first here.

"Sigh. What a loss."

(End of Chapter)