Chapter 245: Lu Bu Frowned, Feeling a Sense of Déjà Vu...
"Die, Yang Hao!"
Hun Li's figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning, suddenly appearing in front of Yang Hao. His fist, cloaked in black mist, came crashing down toward Yang Hao's face with a fierce roar, the chilling aura emanating from it slicing through the air like a blade.
Yang Hao's eyes narrowed. With a sharp motion, his hand tightened into a fist, and a long spear of Dou Qi condensed instantly in his grip. His wrist flicked, and the spear shot forward like a venomous snake, aiming directly for Hun Li.
Clang! Boom!
The clash of fist and spear sent out a deafening explosion. Wild winds howled through the sky, their cutting edge slicing through the atmosphere like invisible steel blades.
Hun Li let out a muffled grunt, his body staggering backward as a faint red flush rose to his face.
Meanwhile, Yang Hao and the rest of the Black Armored Army, standing together as a united formation, only swayed slightly from the recoil. Within moments, the force was dissipated, leaving them unscathed.
"As expected of the Black Armored Army," Hun Li muttered, licking his lips. A flicker of excitement crossed his face. Though he held an advantage in strength over Yang Hao, the battle formation of the Black Armored Army, with Yang Hao at its core, made it impossible for him to completely overpower them.
"Kehehehe…" Hun Li's chilling laughter echoed. "Yang Hao, aren't you curious where Hun Sui and Hun Po have gone?"
Yang Hao's expression didn't change. Both hands firmly gripped his spear, its sharp tip radiating a murderous aura. Yet despite his composed exterior, a trace of anxiety flickered in his eyes.
"Heh…" Hun Li sneered cruelly. "Yang Hao, you've already lost."
Clang! Clang!
With a sinister grin, Hun Li's hands moved, and the black mist around him thickened. A chain covered in strange, eerie black runes materialized in his grasp.
"I don't know what game you're trying to play…" Yang Hao took a deep breath, suppressing his unease. He smirked coldly. "But I'll tell you this: our Commander in Chief, the Grand Commander, and even the Deputy Commander possess strength far beyond your imagination. Defeat is the only outcome awaiting you!"
"Kehehe… Yang Hao, what we want is also far beyond your imagination!" Hun Li cackled, his voice dripping with malice. "You'll soon understand our purpose… Oh, I'm sorry you and that little Dou Huang boy won't live to see it!"
With that, the chain in Hun Li's hand whipped forward violently, the black runes on it lighting up with a terrifying glow.
Clang!
The sound of the chain cutting through the air was deafening. It twisted and writhed like a black dragon, shattering layers of sound barriers before expanding to the size of a man's waist and smashing toward Yang Hao at the heart of the formation.
"Kehehe… Die!"
The formation's core was both its strongest point and its greatest weakness. If Yang Hao was taken out, the rest of the Black Armored Army would crumble instantly.
Seeing the massive chain hurtling toward him like a black dragon, Yang Hao's pupils constricted. He abandoned his spear, his hands moving at lightning speed as he formed seals.
"Mountain Cracking Seal! Ocean Splitting Seal! Earth Covering Seal! Heaven Shattering Seal!"
"Four Seal Fusion!"
With a roar, Yang Hao's seals merged in an instant. A massive crystalline seal expanded before him, growing larger and larger until it resembled a towering city wall.
Boom!
The black dragon like chain slammed into the crystalline seal, resulting in a thunderous explosion. A terrifying shockwave rippled outward, like an iron curtain slicing between the two sides.
On the ground below, the shockwave carved a deep trench through the earth, obliterating several stone buildings within the Black Armored Army camp. It was a scene of utter devastation.
"Annoying technique!" Hun Li cursed under his breath. His carefully prepared strike had failed to produce any results.
In the distance, Lu Bu's eyebrow arched slightly. It seemed obtaining the Emperor Seal Technique had been the right choice.
The Emperor Seal Technique wasn't just good for offense it excelled at defense too. Its seals could be formed rapidly and weren't tied to any specific Dou Qi attribute, making it incredibly versatile.
Its only shortcoming was that its upper limit didn't quite reach the level of true Heaven ranked Dou Techniques. Still, it was a solid all rounder.
The Soul Clan knew the Emperor Seal Technique inside and out. As soon as the seals were formed, they could predict what was coming. But…
So what if they know?
Without understanding the technique's weaknesses or countermeasures, their only options were to dodge or endure the blow. It wasn't as though they could just cut off their opponent's hands if they were strong enough to do that, they might as well go straight for the head.
This wasn't a certain pirate family where a single leg could keep someone airborne long enough to shoot a key instead of aiming for the face.
As the smoke and shockwaves dissipated, Yang Hao's pale face came into view. The four seal fusion had taken a toll on him. Without the support of the battle formation, he likely wouldn't have been able to pull it off.
The Emperor Seal Technique consumed a massive amount of Dou Qi, and Yang Hao's soul strength wasn't sufficient to quickly gather and condense such a large amount of energy into a single seal.
"Not bad, you blocked it…" Hun Li sneered, his hands moving swiftly to form seals of his own. A sinister, swirling rune appeared on his forehead.
Hun Li's aura surged rapidly, nearly stepping into the Dou Zun realm.
"Damn, reaching Dou Zun isn't easy after all…" Hun Li muttered to himself. His gaze shifted, and he looked at Yang Hao with a menacing grin. "Kehehe… Die!"
He had even activated his clan's bloodline mark. His intention was clear: he wanted to utterly annihilate the Black Armored Army.
"Tch…" Yang Hao snorted disdainfully. "Hun Li, take a good look at your Soul Slaves. Don't you notice anything unusual?"
"What…" Hun Li paused, his soul sense diving into his Soul Slaves. To his shock, he discovered that two of the three soul imprints he had left on them were shattered.
"What?!"
Hun Li turned abruptly, his face paling as he saw his final Soul Slave held in Lu Bu's grasp. Transparent, formless flames burned silently, their heat nearly nonexistent. Yet the Soul Slave writhed in silent agony, its form disintegrating bit by bit under the fire's relentless assault.
"Who… who are you?!" Hun Li's pupils contracted sharply. Who is this man? How could someone extinguish his Soul Slaves without a sound? Could this man's cultivation level actually surpass Dou Zun?
Fear gripped Hun Li's heart, making him momentarily forget that Lu Bu still carried Dou Qi wings on his back. How could a Dou Huang possibly deal with my Soul Slaves so effortlessly?
"The Soul Clan's mastery over souls… is this all?" Lu Bu chuckled coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Hun Li, I've already told you…" Yang Hao began forming seals again, his smirk brimming with confidence. "Our strength is far beyond what you can imagine!"
As Yang Hao spoke, a familiar energy surged through the air:
"Mountain Cracking Seal! Ocean Splitting Seal! Earth Covering Seal…"
"Hun Li, is it? Stay here!" Lu Bu's voice was icy as his hands came together. In mere moments, a brilliant crystalline seal took shape.
"Mountain Cracking Seal! Ocean Splitting Seal! Earth Covering Seal! Heaven Shattering Seal! Ancient Emperor Seal!"
In the blink of an eye, Lu Bu's five seal fusion was complete!
"What?!" Yang Hao's eyes widened in disbelief. It had taken him ages to form just three seals, yet Lu Bu had effortlessly completed all five?
"What?!" Hun Li's face twisted in horror. How does he know the Emperor Seal Technique so well?
"You… you're not Xiao Yan!" Hun Li stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
"Shut up! I AM Xiao Yan!" Lu Bu roared, his eyes blazing as he stepped forward. His figure vanished in an instant.
Hun Li's expression shifted drastically. He tried to dodge, but a silver formation had appeared beneath him without his notice. It felt as though he were trapped in a quagmire, his movements sluggish and his very soul suppressed.
Meanwhile, a dazzling crystalline seal, radiating with a greenish glow, descended toward him like a falling star.
Purple gold light flickered in Lu Bu's eyes as the dark gold scales on his skin gleamed brightly. His power surged once more.
"Explode!" Lu Bu's voice boomed as he delivered his final blow.
Boom!
It felt as if space itself had shuddered violently. The next moment, a raging energy storm swept across the battlefield.
Lu Bu frowned slightly and let out a sigh. He was still too weak. Otherwise, dealing with someone like this wouldn't have required him to use both the Azure Dragon Transformation Art and the Emperor Seal Technique.
Seeing Lu Bu take action, Yang Hao sensibly dissipated the three fused seals he had formed and led his subordinates away from the battle.
Yang Hao was well aware that in a hastily arranged fight, with his focus shaken, Hun Li was no match for Lu Bu.
Boom!
Hun Li's physical body suddenly exploded into fragments, leaving behind a shadowy, phantom like figure that screamed as it fled into the distance. "Damn you both! Wait for me!"
"That's his soul!" Yang Hao exclaimed in panic. "Quick, we need to chase him down!"
"Why the rush?" Lu Bu grabbed Yang Hao by the arm, rolling his eyes at him.
"He's about to escape!" Yang Hao shouted anxiously.
"If he doesn't run, how am I supposed to find the rest of the Soul Clan?"
"Uh…" Yang Hao was momentarily stunned before realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"Don't just stand there like an idiot. Hurry up and follow him!" Lu Bu said. The Dou Qi wings on his back flapped as he calmly gave chase.
"Sigh…" Watching Lu Bu fly off, Yang Hao flushed slightly with shame. This guy... hurry up and break through to the Dou Zong level already. Then maybe I won't feel so uneasy anymore!
Boom!
A violent ripple spread through the air, shaking the very fabric of space. The reverberations filled the surroundings with an ominous hum, as if the world itself was about to shatter.
Four figures separated abruptly, their bodies emanating surging Dou Qi, killing intent thick in the air.
"Damn it… you've both become Dou Zongs!" Hun Sui muttered as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. A look of shock flashed across his face this development was far beyond what they had anticipated.
Just three or four months ago, Hun Yu had only just reached the Dou Zong level. His bloodline was much stronger than Gu Yao's, and he was older than Xiao Xun'er by a fair margin.
Don't underestimate the significance of three or four months. For those with Dou Di bloodlines, that amount of time could create a massive gap. Not only did they possess Dou Di blood, but they also had an endless supply of auxiliary pills to aid their cultivation.
Golden flames danced in Xiao Xun'er's palm, her beautiful eyes glowing with the same golden hue. The heat radiating from her body was enough to scorch the very air.
Beside Hun Sui, Hun Po wiped the blood from her temple, her face devoid of expression. However, her eyes were cold as ice. A fresh scar ran from her forehead to her temple a mark left by Gu Yao's spear. Tiny fragments of blood stained ice crystals still clung to it.
Meanwhile, three of the Black Armored Army commanders hovered above, mounted on their four winged unicorn beasts. Together with their subordinates, they formed a battle formation, ready to intercept the two Soul Clan members and prevent their escape. At this point, Hun Sui and Hun Po were like fish in a barrel, with nowhere to run.
"You two put up a decent fight. Let's go again!" Gu Yao said coldly, his face expressionless as frost. The long spear in his hand radiated a chilling aura, exuding deadly intent.
Xiao Xun'er said nothing, but a sharp glint flickered in her eyes, her eagerness to fight evident. Having just broken through to a new level, she needed a good battle to solidify her cultivation. These Soul Clan members were perfect for the task.
"Heh… Gu Yao, everything has a price," Hun Sui said, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he dusted off his disheveled robes.
"Do you think we've been letting you pummel us all this time for no reason?" Hun Po added, a cold smile on her lips as she touched the scar on her face.
Gu Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and the expressions of the Black Armored Army members tensed. Had they fallen into a trap?
"Kehehe… of course, it was all to buy time!" Hun Sui cackled. "Now, take a guess what's your greatest weakness?"
Xiao Xun'er's golden flames flickered in her eyes, but she said nothing, the heat around her intensifying like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Gu Yao's expression shifted briefly but quickly returned to calm. "Are you talking about Yang Hao and Lu Bu back at the camp?"
"If so, then you're mistaken. Their combat strength is not beneath yours."
"Kehehe… that's not my target," Hun Sui sneered. Just as his words fell, a golden spear shot through the air.
Pfft!
The golden spear pierced through Hun Sui's chest, pinning him to the ground. The fiery gold flames burned through his body relentlessly.
"Ahhh!" Hun Sui's agonized screams echoed as the scorching pain spread through his entire body.
The Black Armored Army froze, their gazes darting nervously around. They all knew that young elites like them had the protection of powerful elders within their respective clans. If Xiao Xun'er had struck with such force, it was bound to provoke a response.
But… nothing happened.
"Where are your elders?" Xiao Xun'er's voice turned icy, and a sense of foreboding settled over her.
In her experience, elders always stayed close to their clan's younger generation to ensure their safety. The absence of Soul Clan elders was unthinkable a deadly oversight born of complacency.
"Kehehe… cough cough, as expected of the strongest bloodline in the Gu Clan for a thousand years," Hun Sui rasped, laughing through the pain.
His words sent a chill through the Black Armored Army. Something was wrong. Their worst fears had come true Gu Zhen and Lin Xiu, who had been stationed at the spatial wormhole, must have encountered trouble.
"Kehehe… if not for you two unexpectedly becoming Dou Zongs, our plan would have been flawless!" Hun Sui sneered.
"You've run out of time. Die!" Gu Yao growled, raising his hand as a streak of icy white energy shot forward.
"Hehe… no, you'll die with me…"
"Retreat! The Gu Clan has set a trap!"
A horrifying scream suddenly tore through the air like a warning siren. A twisted soul figure hurtled toward them, wailing, "Their Commander in Chief, Xiao Yan, is no ordinary foe!"
"Hun Li?!" Hun Sui's face twisted in confusion at the mention of Xiao Yan's name. "What Xiao Yan?!"
Before he could get an answer, Hun Li's soul was suddenly engulfed in an invisible flame.
Whoosh!
"Ahhhhhh!" Hun Li's screams were cut short as the flames consumed him entirely, leaving nothing behind.
"Kehehe… it seems we arrived just in time," Lu Bu said, looking down at the battered Hun Sui and Hun Po with a sly grin.
"Kehehe… no, you're right on time," Hun Sui replied through gritted teeth, his aura surging violently as his hands began forming seals.
"He's going to self destruct!" Yang Hao shouted in alarm, his eyes widening as he instinctively backed away.
But instead of an explosion, a muffled "poof" sounded. Hun Sui's body seemed to evaporate into thin air, leaving behind only his clothes.
This eerie scene left the Black Armored Army bewildered. What was going on?
Suddenly, the air twisted, and two sinister figures materialized, their cold gazes fixed on Lu Bu and the others. With a final hateful glare, they vanished, taking Hun Po with them.
"You Gu Clan scum won't escape retribution!" Hun Po's venomous voice echoed as it faded into the distance.
The Black Armored Army exchanged uneasy glances. Though Hun Sui's bizarre disappearance left them unsettled, they couldn't pinpoint the danger.
Whoosh!
The air shimmered, and Lin Lao appeared alongside Gu Zhen and Lin Xiu.
"Miss, Commander in Chief, the spatial wormhole has been destroyed. We've lost contact with the clan!" Lin Lao reported grimly.
Xiao Xun'er's pupils contracted as her face darkened.
Lu Bu furrowed his brow, replaying the Soul Clan's series of moves in his mind.
"Hmm… why does this feel so familiar?"
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