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He felt immense gratification seeing his disciple surpass him, yet deep within his eyes, there was inevitably a faint trace of sorrow for the past camaraderie that had ultimately ended in such a fate.
"Mo... Monster!"
"You... You are a monster!"
Witnessing Mu Gu, a Peak Three-Star Dou Zun, being killed by a single punch from Xiao Qing without even his soul escaping,
completely destroyed the last shred of Venerable Li's fighting spirit, causing his mind to collapse instantly!
He no longer cared about any strange fire ranking list or mission; only one thought remained in his mind...
Escape!
He had to escape from this monster immediately!
Venerable Li turned around immediately, his Five-Star Dou Zun Qi burning wildly within him as he prepared to tear through space and flee.
"Thinking of leaving now? It is too late!"
Xiao Qing's cold voice rang out behind him like a demonic sound claiming a life.
Xiao Qing suddenly opened his left palm toward the direction of Venerable Li's escape, curling his five fingers!
"Devour Heaven and Earth!"
A massive energy vortex, with edges shimmering with dark golden runes, appeared out of thin air in front of Venerable Li!
The vortex emitted an incomparably terrifying Devouring Power, frantically tearing at and devouring the Qi and life Origin within his body!
"No! Spare me!"
"Xiao Qing! Grandmaster Xiao! I was forced!"
"The Soul Hall forced me! I am willing to abandon darkness and join the light, I am willing..."
Venerable Li let out an incomparably miserable plea for mercy, his Five-Star Dou Zun Qi exploding without reservation as he attempted to resist this terrifying Devouring Power.
However, in the face of the incomparably tyrannical Law of Devouring, his struggle appeared so futile.
The Qi within his body was uncontrollably drawn away by that Devouring Power.
His originally full body rapidly withered and aged at a speed visible to the naked eye; his skin became covered in wrinkles, and his hair turned gray.
Finally, amidst a scream filled with endless fear and regret that came to an abrupt end,
Venerable Li's body was completely devoured, leaving not even a trace, as if he had never existed in this world.
Two Dou Zuns, who could be considered powerful figures in the Central Plains, had completely fallen in this forgotten Star Domain core.
Their greed, underestimation of the enemy, and grave misjudgment of Xiao Qing's true strength destined this tragic end.
As a Two-Star Dou Zong, relying on his Eighth-Rank physical body and various Law powers, Xiao Qing had consecutively slain two Dou Zuns.
The depth of his foundation and the ruthlessness of his methods were enough to chill anyone who learned of this.
If this battle were to spread, it would surely shake the entire Central Plains!
The battle ended, and Xiao Qing gently exhaled a breath of turbid air; his breathing was slightly rapid due to the high-intensity continuous combat.
Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, showing not a hint of fatigue.
He waved his hand to disperse the all-consuming Devouring Power and walked up to the still-withered small purple Dragon.
He turned to Yao Chen's phantom soul Avatar and solemnly cupped his hands, saying, "Teacher, Mu Gu has been slain; this disciple has not failed your mission."
Yao Chen's soul phantom floated slowly closer, his illusory face filled with indescribable gratification and excitement.
His voice carried a hint of imperceptible trembling as he said, "Good! disciple, you have done... even better than I imagined!"
"Slaying this villain and cleaning up the sect—my heart... is gratified!"
He carefully sensed Xiao Qing's condition and asked with concern.
"How is your body? Is the consumption great? This Three Thousand Burning Flame..."
Xiao Qing sensed his own state and replied, "Teacher, rest assured, this disciple is unharmed."
"The consumption of Qi is recovering rapidly, and my physical body is also undamaged."
His gaze fell once again on the small purple Dragon, and his tone became firm.
"Its spirituality is currently damaged; this is the best time for refinement and Fusion."
He paused, and with a serious expression, said to Yao Chen, "Teacher, the Three Thousand Burning Flame is ranked ninth on the strange fire ranking list. It contains the Origin of star power and the Undying Flame, is of an extremely high grade, and has already developed intelligence."
"Although I have methods to suppress it, to completely refine it and perfectly achieve Fusion with the Flame Mantra, turning it into my own..."
"This process cannot be rushed. Conservatively estimated, it will require at least half a year of seclusion."
"Half a year..." Hearing this, Yao Chen's Avatar had a flicker of gravity on his illusory face, but it was mostly absolute trust in his disciple.
"I understand... Although this place is dangerous, the energy is violent and pure, and it is difficult for the outside world to interfere; it can be considered an excellent place for seclusion."
"Go ahead and do it without worry! This Avatar of mine will guard this small area for you and will never let any factor disturb you in the slightest!"
The soul light around the phantom flickered and became a bit more solid, clearly having prepared for long-term protection.
"Thank you for your trouble, Teacher!"
Xiao Qing did not hesitate any longer and immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the platform.
He formed a profound and complex hand seal in front of him, and the Flame Mantra within his body began to circulate slowly.
At the same time, he spread his palm and emitted a gentle sense of summons toward the withered small purple Dragon.
The small purple Dragon lifted its small head and looked at Xiao Qing.
It then looked at the Heavenly Azure Glazed Flame dancing in his palm and let out a faint Dragon roar that carried a hint of submission.
Finally, it transformed into a streak of light, voluntarily diving into Xiao Qing's palm, following the meridians of his arm, and merging into his body.
The moment the Three Thousand Burning Flame Origin entered his body, Xiao Qing's body shook violently!
An indescribably terrifying strange fire energy completely erupted within him!
Deep purple light shone out from every pore of his body.
Countless fine purple flame patterns spread rapidly beneath his skin.
The violent star power and the scorching Undying Flame frantically collided and ravaged his meridians and flesh, attempting to break free from their restraints.
However, Xiao Qing's Eighth-Rank physical body was like the sturdiest furnace, firmly imprisoning this power.
The Minor Achievement Innate Spirit Body operated spontaneously, efficiently harmonizing the conflicting energies.
The Flame Mantra acted like a dam guiding a torrent, beginning to guide and refine it.
The Law of Devouring devoured and converted those strange fire energies that were too violent and difficult to absorb directly.
With Xiao Qing as the center, pure purple flames surged out and quickly intertwined and condensed.
They formed a massive, approximately three-zhang-high purple fire cocoon, completely wrapping him inside.
On the surface of the fire cocoon, starlike radiance flickered on and off, and vague Dragon-shaped patterns swam slowly, emitting an aura that was vast, mysterious, and full of vitality.
The turbulent energy in the entire core area of the Star Domain seemed to be pulled by an invisible force.
It began to slowly converge toward this huge purple fire cocoon, forming a slowly rotating energy vortex above it.
Yao Chen's soul Avatar hovered beside the fire cocoon, like the most steadfast guardian.
He mobilized his soul Power to lay down an invisible barrier around the fire cocoon, isolating any possible interference from the outside.
He looked with gratification at his disciple who had entered a deep cultivation state, his eyes filled with anticipation.
But soon, his illusory brows furrowed tightly, and his gaze involuntarily turned toward the direction outside the Star Domain.
Pill Tower...
I fear it has already started fighting outside, and the situation is extremely dire!
Yao Chen's Avatar's heart sank.
But he glanced at the steadily rotating purple fire cocoon beside him and forcibly suppressed his worry.
At this moment, Xiao Qing was in the most critical Early Stage of refining the strange fire and could not afford even the slightest distraction.
'Refine with peace of mind; for everything outside, there is my main body, and there is the Pill Tower!'
Yao Chen's soul Avatar silently recited in his heart, and the phantom appeared even more solid.
He completely buried that deep anxiety about the outside situation in the bottom of his heart.
He bore this pressure alone, wholeheartedly acting as a guardian for his disciple.
Chapter 132, Pill Tower Crisis, Yao Chen Takes Action to Slay a Half-Saint 【 Two-in-one 6k 】
The sky over Holy Pill City had been completely shrouded by surging black mist, turning daylight into a dim twilight.
The miserable wails of souls intertwined with the panic and crying faintly coming from the city below, composing a scene of despair.
Xuan Kongzi took a deep breath, knowing that any words at this time were pale and powerless.
A trace of determination flashed in his eyes, and he shouted in a deep voice to Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi beside him, "Form the array! We cannot let him continue to run rampant!"
Before his voice faded, three figures flashed like streaks of light, instantly appearing in the sky above the top of the Pill Tower, standing in a triangular formation.
Xuan Kongzi was in the center, Tian Leizi on the left, and Xuan Yi on the right.
The three did not hesitate at all, their hands simultaneously forming complex and ancient hand seals like lightning.
The vast Peak Nine-Turn Dou Zun Qi within their bodies was poured into the Pill Tower that had stood for countless years beneath their feet.
Hum!
A low hum that spread across the entire battlefield rang out from the top of the Pill Tower.
Those countless strange gems that were usually embedded like decorations seemed to be injected with life at this moment, lighting up one by one!
They emitted pure star radiance, and hundreds or thousands of thick star light beams suddenly shot into the sky.
They forcefully pierced through the thick black mist, as if connecting to the distant stars of the heavens in the great unknown!
The light beams rapidly intertwined and circled in the air, condensing in the blink of an eye into a translucent barrier that almost covered the entire core area of the Pill Tower.
Inside the barrier, faint star phantoms slowly circulated, forming a miniature star-filled sky scene.
It enveloped the Soul Hall Third Tianzun and most of the Soul Hall Venerables and Protectors he had brought.
The moment the barrier formed, the Pill Tower Elders and deacons inside immediately felt their bodies lighten.
The feeling of being suppressed by the aura of the Soul Hall members diminished significantly, and the circulation of their internal Qi seemed to be smoother and more active, as if they had received the blessing of some invisible power.
On the other hand, for the Soul Hall side, those Protectors with weaker strength clearly became sluggish in their movements.
The black mist swirling around them also seemed to have encountered a nemesis, being constantly purified and weakened by the star power circulating within the barrier.
"Star Array?"
The Third Tianzun felt the changes in the surrounding environment; a trace of surprise flashed in his gray-white pupils, which then turned into an even colder mockery.
"Hmph, a turtle shell barely set up by relying on external objects and gathering the power of three people; it certainly has some tricks."
"However, do you think you can stop this Heavenly Venerate just by relying on the three of you who haven't even truly touched the threshold of a Half-Saint?"
"Whether it is enough or not, you will know once you try! Soul Hall scum, take this punch!" Tian Leizi had the most explosive temper and could no longer hold back.
Under the blessing of the Star Array, he took the initiative to attack the Third Tianzun!
"Stubborn and unyielding!"
The Third Tianzun snorted coldly, his withered palm patting out casually, and a huge ghost hand condensed from thick black mist greeted Tian Leizi.
Boom!
Tian Leizi's attack collided fiercely with the black hand, erupting with a deafening loud noise.
The resulting energy ripples spread out like waves, but were mostly absorbed and dissipated by the star barrier.
Xuan Kongzi stood in the center, his soul Power highly concentrated, fully linking the entire Star Array.
He pressed his hands in the air, and the star power circulating within the barrier moved according to his will, sometimes condensing into a thick star barrier to block the attacks the Third Tianzun waved out casually.
Sometimes it transformed into several condensed star light beams, shooting like sharp arrows toward the vital points of the Third Tianzun to cause interference.
Xuan Yi was elusive, wandering on the flank of the battle group; her palm wind carried a scorching meaning.
She specifically attacked during the gaps when the Third Tianzun was performing soul skills; that fire-attribute Qi seemed to have an extra restraining effect on soul bodies.