Chapter 776

"The Divine Beasts of the Dragon Clan—admittedly, you are indeed powerful. But even if you've now broken through to the Divine Beast realm, it changes nothing. Not long from now, the Purple Mountain Sect's army will arrive on the Ning Tian Continent!" Zhang Shan said coldly.

If not for Xun Er's timely intervention—dishonestly freezing the Teleportation Spirit Array beyond the Ning Tian Continent's sky and slaughtering many Purple Mountain Sect disciples—Zhu Kun would never have had time to evolve.

Zhu Kun squinted, glancing at the Purple Mountain Sect Sect Master in his purple robe, then at Wan Sanqian beside him, and curled his lips into a cold smile. "You, this purple-robed old monster, and you, this old ghost? Hah—you overestimate yourselves."

At these words, Zhang Shan and Wan Sanqian's faces darkened to their worst. They were Earth Supremes—even in the Great Thousand World, their names carried great renown—and now Zhu Kun dismissed them as worthless.

Yet before Zhu Kun, even Zhang Shan and Wan Sanqian—both Earth Supremes themselves—could not boast, for Zhu Kun was a true True Dragon, now evolved into a Divine Beast. Though his bloodline might not reach the level of a Supreme Divine Beast, the Dragon Clan's blood within him was undeniably pure.

Among Spiritual Beasts, the Dragon Clan was supreme. But these men were clearly not the strongest among human Earth Supremes—so Zhu Kun was far, far stronger than them.

Add to that a Spirit Array Master capable of wielding a Divine-Star Array.

Xun Er was now drained, unable to cast another Divine-Star Array—her Spiritual Energy nearly exhausted. But with Zhu Kun present, she no longer needed to force herself to set up such an Array.

For a moment, the entire sky seemed to fall silent. Zhu Kun merely tilted his lips—Dragon King returns. Wan Sanqian and Zhang Shan waited too, waiting for the Purple Mountain Sect's reinforcements.

Yet strangely, both sides simply stood there, neither daring to strike first.

"Something's odd," the Purple Mountain Sect Sect Master suddenly whispered to Wan Sanqian.

Hearing this, Wan Sanqian frowned deeply. They waited for Purple Mountain Sect reinforcements—but what were the others waiting for?!

It couldn't possibly be for the Spirit Array Master to recover her Spiritual Energy and set up another Divine-Star Array!

"CandlePatriarch, though you are a Divine Beast of the Dragon Clan, you greatly underestimate the Wanxiang Tower. Today we came to avenge our disciples—do you truly believe we brought only this much power?!" Wan Sanqian said coldly. As he spoke, he pulled an object from his space ring—a thing resembling a chessboard, dotted with chess pieces.

The moment he drew out the chessboard, even his face twisted with regret—it was a Semi-Sacred Artifact, and a disposable one at that. Once used, it would vanish forever.

But remembering the inheritance and treasures of the Ningzhu Array Master, Wan Sanqian hesitated no longer. Spiritual Energy surged from his palm into the chessboard, then he hurled it skyward—with a BOOM—it exploded brighter than night fireworks.

WHIRRR—just then, the chessboard instantly expanded, transforming into a massive gate. A colossal door opened, and endless troops streamed through in a continuous torrent.

"This is a Treasure from the Western Tian Dian's vault—named the Nine-Nine War Array Board. Hand over the inheritance—this is your final chance!"

In the blink of an eye, a peculiar army materialized overhead. Strangely, this army was not alive—it consisted entirely of inanimate objects. As soon as the army appeared, a vast aura of azure energy surged forth, and a battle intention rose from each of these lifeless forms. All battle intentions converged, forming a sea of azure, crushing the heavens and earth under unbearable pressure.

"That's the War Intention Spirit!"

"But those aren't living beings—where did the War Array Master come from? Without a War Array Master, how could they have formed a War Intention Spirit or War Patterns?!"

War Array Masters, in ancient times, during the thousand-year invasion of the Domain Beyond, had shone brilliantly—commanding armies of countless races, fighting on the front lines against the Domain Beyond's demons. But precisely because of this, their losses were catastrophic. Many lineages were entirely erased. By the time the great calamity ended, War Array Masters were nearly extinct.

Thus, the Hundred-War Emperor of the Western Tian Dian became famed not only for his own strength, but because he was a rare Ten-Million Pattern War Array Master who inherited the ancient legacy of the Ancient War Emperor.

War Array Masters can fuse the strength and battle intention of an entire army into one supreme force. The highest-tier War Array Masters, commanding powerful enough legions, could rival a Sky Supreme. The Way of War Arrays: to control by force is the lower path; to control by heart is the higher path.

The War Intention Spirit is a phenomenon that can only arise when one attains near-perfect comprehension of battle intention. Once a battle intention crystallizes into a War Intention Spirit, its true power is fully unleashed.

Yet forging a War Intention Spirit is extraordinarily difficult. It is said to be one of the most essential thresholds to becoming a War Array Master. In a sense, only when one's battle intention has crystallized into a War Intention Spirit does one gain the most basic qualification to become a War Array Master.

War Patterns, meanwhile, measure the strength of a War Array Master and the army he commands.

A Ten-Thousand Pattern War Array Master can rival a Seven-Star Sovereign. A Hundred-Thousand Pattern can fight a Nine-Pin Sovereign. A Million Pattern can battle an Earth Supreme. A Ten-Million Pattern can challenge a Sky Supreme—terrible power that can erase a Lower Plane with a flick of the finger.

The array board Wan Sanqian just threw out was a special Spirit Array Seed. Like a Spirit Array Seed, it could store a Spirit Array within it, releasing it instantly upon activation.

But the Nine-Nine War Array Board released a War Intention Spirit and War Patterns of a puppet army—equivalent to a military Spirit Array. It was called "Nine-Nine" because it bore ninety-nine thousand War Patterns—enough to rival an Earth Supreme.

"This is the true depth of the Western Tian Dian—just a casual gesture, and they summon an Earth Supreme's War Intention Spirit!" Those who knew Purple Mountain Sect and Wanxiang Tower had joined the Western Tian Dian couldn't help but envy them.

This was the power of the Great Thousand World—Spirit Array Masters and War Array Masters could craft Spirit Array Seeds and War Intention Chessboards. These items sealed away Spirit Arrays and War Intention power; once released, they could destroy heaven and earth.

None of this existed on the Dou Qi Continent!

Seeing the War Intention Spirit rivaling an Earth Supreme, bearing ninety-nine thousand War Patterns—even Zhu Kun and others who didn't understand what a War Array Master was—felt the overwhelming might of this force.

Like Spirit Array Masters, War Array Masters could unleash Earth Supreme-level power even if their own cultivation hadn't reached that level.

Seeing this, Zhu Kun sighed inwardly, muttering to himself: "No choice. We can only stall—wait for that kid."

Zhu Kun shook his head helplessly. He'd thought his breakthrough to Divine Beast meant he wouldn't need to wait for that kid to arrive at the last second to save them. But now—unexpected.

Then, just as Zhu Kun prepared to transform into his true form to fight three Earth Supremes alone, something even more unexpected happened.

"I don't always appear only when it's a hair's breadth from disaster," a voice filled with weary amusement echoed throughout the Heavenly Tomb.

Hearing this, Xun Er and Cai Lin's eyes softened with relief and tenderness as they instantly turned toward a direction.

There, in the Space, a stream of Black Flame suddenly surged forth—Black Flame that devoured all things, burning a hole through the fabric of Space.

This time—he didn't appear at the last second!!

He came early!

Beside him, Xiao Yixian couldn't help but smile faintly, for every time Xiao Yan showed up, it was always when attacks were imminent, everyone helpless, lives hanging by a thread—and he'd swoop in to block it, loving to show off.

But this time, Xiao Yan came early! The enemy hadn't even broken through the defenses—he was already here.

He's here—he's here—he's come with Xiao Yixian!

Though Xiao Yan still showed no trace of Spiritual Energy, his appearance made Xun Er, Cai Lin, and the others exhale in relief—as if their anchor had returned.

"Is that… Flame Patriarch?!" Someone screamed in disbelief, excitement bursting forth.

"Flame Patriarch? Isn't CandlePatriarch the strongest?"

"Hard to say—but rumor has it, Flame Patriarch is the core of the Soul Sect."

Today, the name Flame Patriarch had already spread across the entire Ning Tian Continent. Though no one knew Xiao Yan's true face, the three characters "Flame Patriarch" were known to all—old generation and young generation alike—upon hearing his voice, everyone's spirits lifted.

"You're the Flame Patriarch?!" As Xiao Yan appeared, Wan Sanqian's eyes turned icy, instantly locking onto him.

Though Zhu Ye and the others died by Xun Er's Spirit Array, the key to the Ningzhu Array Master's inheritance had been stolen by Xiao Yan—he was the true origin of this whole affair!

Xiao Yan lazily glanced at Wan Sanqian and Zhang Shan, then said slowly: "Enough. Whether you're here to avenge someone or to seize the Ningzhu Array Master's treasures—I don't care."

"I give you one chance. Leave the Sacred Artifact, and leave now. I'll pretend nothing happened."

"Ignorant brat! We've been waiting for you! Today, the Wanxiang Tower will flay your skin and drink your blood to avenge our fallen disciples!" Wan Sanqian unleashed terrifying killing intent, bellowing as if truly avenging Zhu Ye.

"Fellow called Flame Patriarch, heaven has a path but you won't take it; hell has no door but you rush right in! Defying the Western Tian Dian—today is your death day!" Zhang Shan, smarter, immediately invoked the Western Tian Dian, his expression chilling as he sneered.

Yet when Xiao Yan heard "Western Tian Dian," he looked utterly confused. For someone who'd just arrived in the Great Thousand World, learning all its factions was truly asking too much.

"Western Tian Dian? What's that—some pig or dog? Never heard of it. Does it even have the True Scripture?" Xiao Yan shrugged.

Hearing this, many exchanged glances. At that moment, the many powerhouses watching from afar finally understood—the Wan Zhu Lin inheritance had been targeted by the Western Tian Dian all along—and the Soul Sect had stolen something from them.

Xiao Yan merely glanced at them, then said slowly: "It seems some still don't understand—if you wish to oppose the Soul Palace, I'll take you on. The Western Tian Dian? The Great Thousand World? There is only one palace: the Soul Palace!"

"Ignorant brat, how bold your words!" Hearing Xiao Yan's arrogance, Zhang Shan roared sharply: "What storms has the Western Tian Dian not weathered! Do you even know who rules the Western Tian Dian?"

"What use is a lord of the Western Heaven? If you won't leave, then stay—and good, you'll do fine to warm me up." Xiao Yan had just returned from cultivation; he was now eager to test himself against that so-called Earth Supreme.

He had broken through to Dou Emperor status years ago, and aside from once battling the Inheritance Spiritual Consciousness of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, he had never fought another Dou Emperor-level warrior.

Xiao Yan nodded to Xiao Yixian; she understood at once and flew toward the heavens.

"Father-in-law Zhu Kun, I leave the War Array Spirit to you—I'll handle the other two." Xiao Yan spoke.

Zhu Kun felt helpless—he'd just emerged from seclusion and already wanted to fight two at once, yet he himself had not a single bit of spiritual power left, and the opponents were two veteran Earth Supremes!

Still, Zhu Kun did not stop him; he was deeply curious what kind of Supreme Body Xiao Yan had cultivated to be so confident.

BOOM! In that instant, space behind Xiao Yan twisted, and a colossal Supreme Body emerged—its immense form unfurled arcs of light, each streak carrying threads of flames in different hues.

These lights made the Supreme Body appear even larger; at this moment, the ten-thousand-zhang-tall Supreme Body seemed the sovereign of this world—every motion capable of annihilating all existence.

"This is the power!" Xiao Yan's voice echoed across the Ning Tian Continent—he reveled in this strength.

Dou Qi was back! That familiar sensation!!

After manifesting the Dou Body, Xiao Yan would no longer be suppressed by Spiritual Energy, nor would he risk internal Dou Qi conflict from converting Spiritual Energy.

The Dou Body is the evolution of the Dou Qi cultivation system on the Dou Qi Continent—within its ten-thousand-zhang body, every space is identical to the Dou Qi Continent itself, equivalent to a mobile Dou Qi Continent.

Around the Dou Body, Xiao Yan is the sovereign—its laws, heavens, and forces all lie under his control.

At this moment, endless Spiritual Energy surged from all directions, all transformed by the Dou Body into an extremely pure form of Dou Qi—purer and more potent than Dou Qi on the Dou Qi Continent, as if reborn through reincarnation.

"Dou Qi!!!" Gu Yuan and Xiao Xuan stared in stunned silence—they faintly sensed the power within the Supreme Body was Dou Qi, not Spiritual Energy!!

"H-how is this possible!" Gu Yuan was bewildered—wasn't Dou Qi forcibly converted into higher-grade Spiritual Energy? How could it reverse?

"Y-you—you have no Spiritual Energy fluctuations at all!" Wan Sanqian and others gaped as if seeing a ghost—Xiao Yan emitted not a trace of Spiritual Energy, yet they all felt an extreme danger radiating from him!

Xiao Yan looked at the two stunned men, then at the Battle Intention Spirit beside him, and smiled: "A War Array Master?"

"Let's test you with this—Yellow Spring Finger!" Clad in black robes, Xiao Yan's lips curled as his Dou Qi surged. The Supreme Body mirrored his movements—hand seals formed, and an icy, gloomy Yellow Spring energy erupted from the colossal Dou Body.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!! The next second, a massive yellow-brown finger—dozens of times larger than the original Yellow Spring Finger—plummeted from the heavens, its size absurd, like a planet crashing down!!

"How could Yellow Spring Finger grow so huge?" Cai Lin, having broken away from her opponent, narrowed her eyes—she too had cultivated the Yellow Spring Three Styles, yet the Yellow Spring Finger's maximum size was never more than a thousand zhang.

After all, Yellow Spring Finger is only a Heaven Tier Low Grade Dou Technique—its rank defines its limit.

Yet the Yellow Spring Finger Xiao Yan now unleashed was dozens of times stronger than the original—this broke its limit! Even a Dou Emperor could not surpass a Dou Technique's ceiling without modifying it.

"Is it the Supreme Body? No—this is a qualitative transformation of Dou Qi, enhancing the Dou Technique itself!" Xiao Xuan stared at the Dou Body, his heart sinking.

Dou Qi was converted into Spiritual Energy precisely because it was inferior—so if Dou Qi became as powerful as Spiritual Energy, wouldn't the entire Dou Qi cultivation system ascend another tier?

Not just adding a new rank—but elevating the entire cultivation system!! This naturally includes Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques!

"Divine Technique?!" Seeing the Yellow Spring Finger, now the size of a planet, Wan Sanqian and Zhang Shan had no time to think—they frantically unleashed their ultimate techniques to block it.

It's not strange for an Earth Supreme to wield a Divine Technique, since Divine Techniques are meant for Earth Supremes—but a lower Earth Supreme's ultimate technique is a Minor Divine Ability; few lower Earth Supremes cultivate Great Divine Abilities—those are reserved for upper Earth Supremes.

In their eyes, Xiao Yan had just played the royal flush.

"Thunderous Heaven, Crushing Mountain Spell!"

Even Earth Supremes paled—roaring, they both activated Minor Divine Abilities: the Purple Mountain Sect summoned countless violet immortal mountains—BOOM! Instantly, the mountains formed a massive fortress, impregnable as a golden moat.

Then, the planet-sized Yellow Spring Finger slammed down—BOOM! The violet immortal mountains shattered under its impact, reduced to rubble.

"Myriad Forms, Nine Heavens Fist!!"

MOO MOO!! As the violet mountains shattered, golden-silver elephants surged from Space—these were no ordinary elephants; they breathed clouds and mist, exuded fragrant aura, shimmered with luster, and radiated divine presence.

Though each elephant stood thousands of zhang tall, they were still no match against the evolved Yellow Spring Finger.

Countless elephants swung their trunks or charged headlong into the Yellow Spring Finger—yet the finger, battered by the immortal mountains and trampled by the elephants, shattered into countless specks of light.

Watching the broken Yellow Spring Finger, Wan Sanqian and Zhang Shan exhaled in relief—they still had a chance fighting together. But now they already considered retreating—after all, their opponent still had a Dragon Clan divine beast!

Seeing Wan Sanqian and Zhang Shan panting, Xiao Yan couldn't help smiling: "I only played a small three—why did you both throw out your ghost cards?"

(End of Chapter)