Chapter 364: Xiao Xun'er: "Lu Bu Is Toxic!"
Onstage, Xiao Xun'er stood radiantly, her presence sharp and commanding. Gu Yao frowned slightly, his expression growing serious not just because of her god tier bloodline but also because she had completely disrupted his momentum.
The elders on stage stepped forward, personally engraving Xiao Xun'er's seven colored clan marking. In an instant, an oppressive and majestic aura swept over the area. Members of the Black Abyss Army dropped to one knee in reverence, even Gu Yao tensing his body instinctively. The pressure emanating from the seven colored clan marking was truly overwhelming!
"Next, Gu Yao!" the elders announced. Hearing this, Gu Yao's figure flashed, landing onstage.
Like Xiao Xun'er, he placed his hand on the star disk, activating his bloodline power. Watching his actions, Xiao Yan's expression turned grim. He knew this was it. The battle was about to begin!
"Who do you think will win?" Qing Lin asked curiously, holding Lu Bu's hand in hers and toying with it playfully.
"Hmm... it's hard to say," Lu Bu mused with a slight frown. "Xiao Yan's Flame Fusion is strong, but Gu Yao isn't weak either... And don't forget, Gu Yao has another card to play."
"Ehehe," Qing Lin raised a delicate brow, her tone teasing. "No matter how strong they are, they're no match for you, my lord. Besides, Gu Yao's so called trump card? He got it from you in the first place!"
Lu Bu chuckled softly, running his hand through Qing Lin's smooth hair. He never let himself take a loss. Whatever Gu Yao took from him, he always made sure to take something of equal value in return.
"Once they're done fighting, it'll finally be time to enter the Heaven Tomb," Lu Bu remarked with a smile. Dou Saint energy cores were treasures he couldn't wait to get his hands on!
"My lord, do you think I'll ever become as strong as Medusa or Sister Xiao Yi Xian?" Qing Lin asked eagerly, her excitement palpable. If I get that strong... could I finally dual cultivate with my lord?
Her bright eyes sparkled with anticipation as the thought crossed her mind.
Boom!
A dull thud sounded from the arena. Xiao Yan grunted, his body sent flying backward. Even with his peak five star Dou Zun strength, he was no match for Gu Yao's nine star Dou Zun.
"Tian Huo San Xuan Bian! First Transformation! Second Transformation! Third Transformation!"
Xiao Yan's hands moved like lightning, forming seals in rapid succession. Flames of various colors erupted around him, his aura skyrocketing. In an instant, his strength soared to the peak of eight star Dou Zun, just a hair's breadth below Gu Yao.
"Hmph," Gu Yao sneered, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the faint and fleeting runic mark on Xiao Yan's brow. "Even if you have a clan marking, without the proper bloodline to support it, it's nothing more than a castle in the sky!"
"Gu Yao, come again!" Xiao Yan roared, slamming his hands together as he shouted, "Kaishan Yin! Fan Hai Yin!"
Two dark red crystalline seals burst forth like bolts of lightning.
"So proficient with the Emperor Seal Art?" In the direction of the Yan Clan, Huo Xuan was visibly taken aback. Even though he had seen this before, he was still shocked.
The Emperor Seal Art had a prominent reputation among the imperial clans. While other clans knew of it to varying degrees, they were well aware of its difficulty.
The technique was immensely powerful and rapid but notoriously difficult to master. Forming the seals was a delicate process, often slower than other Dou Skills. Yet Xiao Yan's execution was… how should one put it? With a mere clap of his hands and a shout, the seals manifested instantly. Where in the world had he learned such proficiency with the Emperor Seal Art?
"Such petty tricks, and you dare show them off in front of me?" Gu Yao sneered, slamming his hands together and shouting, "Kaishan Yin! Fan Hai Yin! Fudi Yin!"
In an instant, three pale white crystalline seals shot forth with blinding speed.
"What?" In the direction of the Hun Clan, Hun Yu's pupils contracted slightly, his expression growing grim. "Gu Yao can unleash three Emperor Seal Arts in an instant?"
Impossible! The Emperor Seal Art wasn't some "clap and shout" Dou Skill. Back in the Southwestern Region, Gu Yao certainly hadn't displayed such skill!
"Damn it, how did he become so proficient with the Emperor Seal Art?"
Below the stage, Xiao Xun'er's lips twitched. That bastard Lu Bu… He's completely ruined the Emperor Seal Art. It's practically toxic now!
"These two really are just copying each other," Lu Bu muttered, rolling his eyes. He wasn't exactly thrilled to see others imitating his moves.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Onstage, violent energy storms erupted one after another. Xiao Yan's two seals were thoroughly destroyed by Gu Yao's three, but the last Fudi Yin continued its trajectory like a blazing meteor, hurtling toward Xiao Yan with chilling winds and murderous intent.
"Hah! Seems your Emperor Seal Art isn't quite there yet!" For the first time, a smirk of triumph crossed Gu Yao's otherwise icy face.
This was his ace, prepared specifically for Lu Bu. After witnessing Lu Bu's prowess with the Emperor Seal Art, Gu Yao had vowed to regain his dignity. Of course, he ended up getting punched into the dirt shortly after.
Still, no matter. If he couldn't beat Lu Bu, surely he could handle Xiao Yan.
"Liuhe Shen You Chi! Liuhe Fire!" Xiao Yan growled, summoning the Xuan Heavy Ruler to his hand. The massive black ruler ignited with crimson flames, whirling through the air to form an impenetrable shield.
Boom!
The explosive sound of impact echoed as dust and debris filled the air. The protective barrier around the arena shimmered as the Gu Clan elders hastily poured their Dou Qi into it, stabilizing the shield.
"Xiao Yan, today I'll show you what it means to be the pinnacle of the younger generation!" Gu Yao roared, a crystalline spear shimmering with icy light materializing in his hand. Its frigid aura was sharp and suffocating.
"Hmph, and so what?" Xiao Yan sneered. "You've been beaten by Lu Bu before!"
Gu Yao's momentum faltered instantly, his face stiffening. A moment later, his expression twisted with fury. "You bastard!"
"Ten Thousand Beast Spear Technique!"
Gu Yao's frosty glare intensified as his spear danced through the air, summoning a stampede of spectral beasts. Each phantom charged forward with ferocious killing intent, a tidal wave of destruction bearing down on Xiao Yan.
"Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Xiao Yan's lips. With a shout, the Xuan Heavy Ruler in his hand surged with crimson flames, the heat distorting the air as the weapon swung with relentless force.
It seemed the Black Abyss Army commanders didn't mind having been beaten by Lu Bu. But for Gu Yao, a commander of the Abyss, it was clearly a sore spot especially on a stage like this. Xiao Yan grinned slyly.
With a powerful swing, the ruler collided with the spear's onslaught, sending fiery ripples across the stage. Xiao Yan's Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler, though technically a low tier Earth class Dou Skill, had practically become his default attack method.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Waves of energy rippled outward as Gu Yao methodically closed in, his superior strength gradually forcing Xiao Yan into a corner. Xiao Yan's skill with the ruler was exceptional, but in the face of Gu Yao's relentless power and strategic advantage, he was struggling to keep up.
"Hehehe… Xiao Yan, you're doomed!" Gu Yao cackled, his spear charging with overwhelming energy. "Ten Thousand Beast Spear Technique: Beast King's Roar!"
"Heh… We'll see about that!" Xiao Yan responded with a sinister grin. As he spoke, the tip of his ruler gleamed with a delicate, jade like wolf head a blend of blue and white hues.
Below the stage, the Black Abyss commanders exchanged glances.
"Gu Yao's been infected by the Soul Clan!"
"What Soul Clan? Clearly, it's Lu Bu!"
"Exactly. It's not just Gu Yao our second commander, Gu Zhen, is the same!"
"Shh, keep it down! Lu Bu's nearby. Do you want to get beaten up?"
"Hmph, I knew you'd try something like this!" Onstage, Gu Yao's cold smile deepened. He was no stranger to Xiao Yan's Flame Fusion technique.
With a burst of frosty light, his spear surged forward. The icy energy collided violently with the wolf headed attack, causing spatial rifts to ripple outward, jagged and ominous.
Xiao Yan's pupils contracted sharply as he shouted, "Explode!" If the fusion of his Heavenly Flames didn't detonate now, it would surely be overwhelmed by Gu Yao's relentless assault!
BOOM!
In an instant, it felt as though the entire Ancient Sacred Mountain range trembled violently. The powerful attacks from Gu Yao and Xiao Yan collided and erupted, creating a massive explosion.
The elders of the Gu Clan frowned, forced to channel more Dou Qi to reinforce the protective barrier and prevent the violent winds from spilling into the surroundings.
On the stage, smoke and dust filled the air. After the fierce clash, everything seemed to quiet down momentarily… or so it seemed.
"Gu Yao, isn't this fun after all that fighting?" Xiao Yan's veins bulged on his forehead as he snarled, his face contorted with ferocity. "Emperor Seal Art: Five Seal Fusion!"
In his palm, a profound crystalline imprint began to form. Xiao Yan's figure turned into a blur as he launched forward, unleashing a devastating strike.
"Hahaha… Today, I'll use the move Xun'er taught me to utterly crush you!" Xiao Yan roared with laughter, his face filled with wild arrogance. There was no way Gu Yao could match his speed and condense a Five Seal Fusion Emperor Seal Art in such a short time.
"Hmph… A mere wolf cub from Zhongshan, arrogant the moment he gains an advantage!" Gu Yao sneered coldly. "Do you think this alone will defeat me?"
With a sharp step forward, Gu Yao didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced. Raising his right palm, a mysterious and profound aura burst forth.
"Heavenly Creation Palm!"
As his shout echoed, a terrifying black light of annihilation erupted from his palm, spreading like the scythe of death, obliterating everything in its path.
"What!?" Xiao Yan's eyes widened in shock, his jaw practically dropping. "Isn't that Lu Bu's Heaven tier Dou Technique?"
"Hehehe… What's it to you?" Gu Yao grinned sinisterly. You have Miss Xun'er to help you; why can't I have the Grand Commander's assistance?
Below the stage, Xiao Xun'er shot a sharp glare at Lu Bu. You bastard! What did you do now!?
Lu Bu shrugged, feigning indifference and completely ignoring Xiao Xun'er's fury. What does this have to do with me?
On the stage, the black light swept forward, instantly obliterating the destructive crystalline seal.
The Emperor Seal Art, when perfected with five seals combined, was comparable to a Heaven tier Dou Technique. But comparable was all it was. Compared to an actual Heaven tier Dou Technique, it was still lacking.
As the Five Seal Fusion shattered, Xiao Yan's aura deflated in an instant, his vast Dou Qi rapidly diminishing.
"Xiao Yan, let me show you what real Five Seal Fusion looks like!" Gu Yao bellowed, his hands flashing as he rapidly performed seals. In just a few breaths, the Five Seal Fusion was complete.
Swoosh!
His figure vanished in a blur, transforming into a streak of cold light as the crystalline seal in his palm glowed brightly. With terrifying force, he aimed a crushing blow at Xiao Yan's forehead.
Xiao Yan's face was filled with shock, his body frozen in place as fear gripped him.
Venerable Feng's expression changed drastically, and he nudged Yao Chen urgently, signaling him to step in. Otherwise, Xiao Yan would be done for.
Yao Chen, however, raised a hand to signal restraint. He knew Xiao Yan well and was aware of the trump cards he had yet to reveal.
BAM!
The Emperor Seal Art slammed down, but with a muffled thud, Xiao Yan's entire body shattered into fragments of lightning runes that scattered in all directions.
"A clone!?"
The crowd erupted in shock. Xiao Yan had just deceived Gu Yao entirely?
"I knew it…" Hun Yu, among the Soul Clan's delegation, narrowed his eyes, his fists clenching instinctively. He was all too familiar with this scenario. If his hunch was correct, Xiao Yan would appear behind his opponent for a sneak attack any moment now.
This was the exact same trick Xiao Yan and Lu Bu had used to defeat him in the past!
Swoosh!
Just as Hun Yu's thoughts raced, a flash of lightning streaked through the air. Xiao Yan's ghostly figure appeared behind Gu Yao.
"Hehehe… Gu Yao, you've learned a lot from Lu Bu, but clearly, you haven't mastered his true skills!" Xiao Yan grinned maniacally, his face radiating smug satisfaction.
In his hand, a three colored flaming wolf's head flared to life as he slammed it toward Gu Yao's back. The searing, violent flames roared to life as they surged forward.
Lure the enemy in, strike from behind, and settle the fight in one move. This was Lu Bu's true style of combat!
"Figures… Lu Bu? It's obviously Xiao Yan!" Hun Yu's eyes burned with fury as memories of his own defeat resurfaced. It was Xiao Yan who had trapped him, and Xiao Yan who had landed him in this miserable predicament.
"You deserve to die!" Hun Yu gritted his teeth. If you make it out of the Ancient Realm alive, I'll kill myself!
…
On the stage
BAM!
But just as the fiery wolf's head touched Gu Yao, his body shimmered and grew faint before disintegrating into nothing but bubbles.
"What!?"
"What just happened?"
"Where is Gu Yao? Where did he go?"
The crowd was stunned. The battle had taken yet another unexpected turn. Xiao Yan had appeared to gain the upper hand, setting a trap that seemed to corner Gu Yao completely. His surprise attack from behind should have sealed the victory.
But in a shocking reversal, Gu Yao turned out to be a clone, baiting Xiao Yan into attacking.
The duel became a game of counters and double crosses, one ambush after another, leaving spectators' heads spinning.
For anyone else in Xiao Yan or Gu Yao's position, this level of intricate combat and constant scheming would have long since spelled their doom.
Swoosh!
A shadowy figure materialized behind Xiao Yan, and with a devastating strike, the Heavenly Creation Palm came crashing toward his back hitting precisely where Xiao Yan had aimed at Gu Yao moments ago.
"Hehehe… Xiao Yan, you didn't think I'd see that coming?" Gu Yao's voice rang with cold, twisted laughter. His face contorted into a cruel, terrifying grin, all traces of his former stoic demeanor gone.
"Now it's your turn to die!"
Below the stage, Xiao Xun'er sighed heavily, covering her face in exasperation. Lu Bu really is toxic… What has this fight turned into?
Onstage, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank to pinpricks as death loomed over him. In a desperate moment, he inhaled sharply and forced his body to twist midair, bringing the three colored flaming wolf to counter Gu Yao's Heavenly Creation Palm.
BOOM!
The deafening explosion rocked the heavens and the earth. Space itself trembled as terrifying shockwaves rippled outward. The eerie black light of annihilation clashed violently with the roaring inferno of Xiao Yan's attack, each vying for dominance.
CRACK!
Space fractured, and the earth quaked as the clash finally reached its conclusion.
Pfft!
Xiao Yan was sent flying, his body trembling as blood sprayed from his mouth. His aura weakened significantly… this time, for real.
Having been caught off guard by Gu Yao's trap, Xiao Yan lost the initiative and now bore heavy injuries.
Across from him, Gu Yao also stumbled backward, his face pale. Heaven tier Dou Techniques were no easy feat to execute, and Xiao Yan's three colored flaming wolf wasn't easy to fend off either.
"We've both learned from the same person. It's impossible to break each other's moves!" Xiao Yan wiped the blood from his mouth, quickly popping a pill.
"Then let's use something other than Lu Bu's techniques!" Gu Yao sneered, swallowing a pill of his own.
"Bring it on!"
Xiao Yan responded without hesitation, his hands spreading wide as multiple flames manifested around him: Glazed Lotus Heart Flame, Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Bone Chilling Flame, and finally, the blood red Blood Demon Flame.
BOOM!
The skies roared, winds howled, and darkness descended. The Ancient Sacred Mountain range was shrouded in oppressive clouds, as if the heavens themselves were in turmoil. The surrounding energy surged wildly.
"Great Annihilation Technique!"
Gu Yao began to levitate, his voice cold and commanding.
"Alright," Lu Bu chuckled as he watched the two rivals prepare for their final moves. "Once this is over, it'll be time to enter the Heaven Tomb…"
The Dou Saint energy cores waiting inside filled him with growing anticipation.
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