Chapter 157: Would You Like to Be My Lackey?
A massive cauldron, nearly a hundred meters in diameter, loomed over the sky. Two fiery dragons one black, one white slithered and coiled around its surface, their movements exuding a terrifying power. As they spun faster, a powerful suction force radiated from the cauldron, freezing the surrounding space within a radius of a thousand meters.
The air seemed solidified, and the movements of all those caught in the cauldron's range became excruciatingly sluggish.
"Quasi Heaven tier Dou Technique! What terrifying power!"
Two Dou Zong experts who had narrowly escaped the cauldron's range stood frozen in terror. The ominous energy radiating from the cauldron made their skin crawl.
"This... this is beyond us. Farewell!"
The two exchanged wary glances before cupping their hands toward Xiao Yan and retreating in the blink of an eye. Within moments, they were thousands of meters away, their silhouettes fading into the horizon.
They had no desire to provoke Xiao Yan further. The boy's unending arsenal of trump cards and now a quasi Heaven tier Dou Technique had left them thoroughly shaken. Who knew what other tricks he might unleash?
A Standoff Beneath the Cauldron
As the two fled, the trapped Dou Zong experts, now immobilized, turned their desperate gazes toward Xiao Yan.
A chilling grin spread across Xiao Yan's face. With a casual wave of his hand, the black and white dragons spun faster, intensifying the suction force.
"What... what kind of monster is this?"
Panic spread among the Dou Zong experts as they struggled in vain to resist the cauldron's pull.
The inevitable happened a Dou Zong succumbed to the suction, vanishing into the cauldron's fiery depths.
"Please, we admit defeat!" a middle aged woman gritted her teeth as she pleaded. "We'll leave the treasure to you. Just spare us!"
"Spare you? With your pitiful strength, you dare to beg me for mercy?" Xiao Yan sneered as he directed the cauldron closer to the trapped experts. One by one, their resistance crumbled. Even the pleading woman was pulled into the cauldron.
"This technique is strong, but it won't work against me!"
A five star Dou Zong, his face grim, barked out an order:
"Together! Focus your attacks on breaking this technique!"
He unleashed a powerful Dou Technique, his peers following suit. Their combined strikes created a dazzling explosion of energy, aimed directly at the cauldron.
Yet, aside from a faint tremor caused by the two five star Dou Zong, the attacks barely scratched the cauldron.
"How is this possible?!"
The remaining Dou Zong were overcome with despair. In this region, they were hailed as unparalleled experts, yet they were now being toyed with by a mere Dou Huang.
Witnessing the Impossible
A short distance away, a group of Dou Wang and Dou Huang experts watched in stunned silence.
"How is this real? A nine star Dou Huang has defeated over a dozen Dou Zong, including a five star Dou Zong!"
"If I didn't see it myself, I'd never believe it. This boy is a legend in the making."
They knew this battle would spread like wildfire across the northwest continent. Xiao Yan's name would echo far and wide, shaking even the far corners of the Dou Qi Continent.
A Sudden Twist
As the Dou Zong experts resigned themselves to their fate, the snake like Dou Zong elder, Ming Snake Matriarch, suddenly brightened. She shouted into the heavens:
"Master! Save me!"
Her voice barely faded when a calm laugh echoed through the battlefield.
"Young one, what incredible skill managing to suppress so many Dou Zong experts with only Dou Huang level strength."
From a rift in space stepped a man clad in green robes, his appearance drawing gasps of recognition from all present.
"It's the Heavenly Serpent Manor Master!"
"The Heavenly Serpent Manor Master? A Dou Zun level expert?! This treasure has even drawn the attention of such a figure!"
Excited whispers rippled through the crowd as the newcomer descended gracefully.
A Meeting of Powerhouses
"You must be the Heavenly Serpent Manor Master?" Xiao Yan's calm voice carried through the battlefield as he scrutinized the green robed man.
"Indeed," the man replied with a faint smile. "These Dou Zong aren't worthy of sharing such a treasure with you. But perhaps I, a mere Dou Zun, might qualify?"
The man's casual tone carried a hint of humor, but those watching couldn't help but feel envious. For a Dou Zun to lower himself to such words it was a testament to Xiao Yan's strength.
But Xiao Yan's response was far from what they expected.
"You?" Xiao Yan mused, then waved his hand. The black and white cauldron dissolved into flickering flames, releasing the trapped Dou Zong.
The middle aged woman hurriedly conjured a new set of clothes to cover herself, her face pale with humiliation. The other Dou Zong bowed deeply toward the Heavenly Serpent Manor Master.
"Thank you, Manor Master, for saving us!"
The Proposal
"So, young one," the Manor Master began, "does this mean you're willing to share the treasure with me?"
A flicker of relief crossed his face. Despite his calm demeanor, he had no desire to confront Xiao Yan. The youth's power, combined with the likely support of an even stronger backer, made him a risky opponent.
But Xiao Yan shook his head.
"No," he said simply.
The Manor Master's relief turned to confusion.
Then, Xiao Yan added:
"I'm currently looking for a lackey. Your cultivation is a bit lacking, but you might prove useful. Would you like to work under me?"
Shockwaves Across the Battlefield
A stunned silence fell over the battlefield.
"Did he... just ask a Dou Zun to be his lackey?"
"Am I hearing things? This can't be real!"
Even the Dou Zong experts, still reeling from their defeat, stared at Xiao Yan as though he had gone mad.
The Heavenly Serpent Manor Master froze for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, a faint smile returned to his face, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Heh, young one, you certainly have a sense of humor. It's been ages since I've encountered someone so amusing."
"No," Xiao Yan replied flatly. "I'm serious."
The smile vanished from the Manor Master's face, replaced by a dark scowl.
(Chapter End)
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