Chapter 246: Hesitation Leads to Defeat Hun Tiandi's Ultimate Demise
"Damn it! Xiao Tiance, you despicable wretch!"
In the chaotic void, Hun Tiandi's enraged shout reverberated. Xiao Tiance's lips curled into a faint smirk. With a decisive motion, he slammed his palms against his chest, triggering a cascade of intricate spirit array markings to emerge across his body. The glowing patterns resembled an exquisite, otherworldly tattoo.
"Hun Tiandi, if there's a next life for you, remember this: hesitation leads to defeat." Xiao Tiance's voice was as cold as frost.
The moment his words fell, Hun Tiandi felt an overwhelming force anchoring his soul in place. A devouring power, far greater than anything Void Swallowing Flame could muster, began to consume him.
Hun Tiandi's Despair
"Damn it! Damn it! Xiao Tiance, I'll fight you to the end!" Hun Tiandi's soul roared, but his cries carried no weight they were the hollow howls of a defeated dog.
As Xiao Tiance had predicted, from the moment he had revealed Hun Tiandi's presence, the latter had lost all initiative. Even self destruction was no longer an option to take Xiao Tiance down with him.
Now, the devouring power tightened its grip.
"What is this thing?! Why is it on my soul?!" Hun Tiandi's voice was tinged with agony as waves of intense pain wracked his spirit.
Though he had long abandoned his physical body, the pain of his soul being torn apart was far more excruciating than any corporeal suffering.
"Ahhh!"
Hun Tiandi's agonized screams echoed endlessly. The once mighty Soul Emperor now found himself utterly powerless, his struggles futile.
The Collapse of a Soul Emperor
Slowly, Hun Tiandi's spirit began to deteriorate. The devouring runes etched across Xiao Tiance's body crept onto Hun Tiandi's soul, infiltrating every corner of his essence.
Hun Tiandi's formidable soul began to degrade rapidly:
From Emperor Tier to Heaven Tier,
Then to Spirit Tier,
And finally, as it dropped below Spirit Tier, his desperate resistance ceased altogether.
In a rare moment of clarity amidst the pain, Hun Tiandi sighed.
"Hesitation leads to defeat... Yes, that's exactly it. I had the chance to drag you down with me, Xiao Tiance, but I let my greed blind me, and now I've paid the ultimate price."
His voice softened as he lamented:
**"Xiao Tiance, you've won this time. But mark my words your Xiao Clan will one day fall at the hands of my Soul Clan's descendants.
Sadly, I won't be here to see that day come."**
With those final words, Hun Tiandi's soul was fully engulfed by the devouring runes. His essence faded into nothingness, leaving behind only silence.
Victory and Reflection
As Hun Tiandi's presence vanished entirely, Xiao Tiance let out a long exhale.
**"Hun Tiandi... Despite your defeat, you were truly a remarkable opponent. To escape death twice at my hands no one else on the Dou Qi Continent could have accomplished such a feat.
But in the end, the victor takes all, and the vanquished are forgotten by history."**
Xiao Tiance's voice carried a hint of genuine admiration, yet it was overshadowed by the cold finality of his triumph.
He glanced toward Ling'er, who had been watching the entire ordeal in silence. Her face, though calm, betrayed the deep concern she had felt throughout. Now, seeing Xiao Tiance smile, her worry melted away, and a relieved grin spread across her face.
The Final Step
Suddenly, the massive Dou Qi vortex that had been swirling above Xiao Tiance's head began to descend. Like a great celestial river pouring from the heavens, it surged downward with unstoppable force.
The energy contained within was so immense that even Xiao Tiance's soul trembled in response partly from the sheer power of it, and partly from the excitement of nearing the final step.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Tiance threw his head back and laughed.
"Come! Let me embrace this final trial and ascend to the peak of Dou Qi cultivation!"
The Thunderous Trial
As if provoked by his challenge, a deafening thunderclap erupted from the vortex above. Bolts of lightning, thick as ancient tree trunks, began to rain down upon him.
"Crack! Crack!"
Each strike of lightning crashed into Xiao Tiance with terrifying force. Though the spirit arrays etched onto his body absorbed much of the impact, even his robust physique struggled to withstand the onslaught.
Pain seared through him far surpassing the agony of his earlier blood and bone transformations. His sweat poured like rain, soaking his entire body in mere moments.
"Not enough... This isn't enough!"
Despite the excruciating pain, Xiao Tiance remained resolute. With a forceful clap of his hands, he deactivated the protective spirit arrays, allowing the full fury of the lightning to strike him unfiltered.
The pain intensified, nearly causing him to bite through his own tongue as blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.
"More... I need more!"
A Terrifying Scene
One lightning bolt after another rained down. Xiao Tiance was now a figure shrouded in a storm of lightning, his entire body engulfed in blinding arcs of electricity.
From a distance, Ling'er watched in stunned silence, her emotions a mixture of admiration and heartbreak.
**"This little master of mine... He's utterly insane. No one else would endure such torment willingly, let alone invite more of it.
But that's just who he is. Beneath his calm exterior lies a relentless pride and an unyielding determination to grow stronger. It's no wonder he has risen to such heights."**
Ling'er's voice carried a hint of sadness as she observed Xiao Tiance enduring the seemingly endless torrent of lightning.
Half a Year Later
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Xiao Tiance's body was subjected to relentless punishment. Yet, while the pain remained constant, his outward demeanor changed. What had once caused his body to tremble uncontrollably now seemed like mere background noise. His expression was calm, as if the storm raging around him was nothing more than a light breeze.
Suddenly, the vortex above surged with newfound intensity, signaling the arrival of the final test.
Suddenly, Xiao Tiance's eyes, closed for six long months, snapped open. A fleeting golden glow danced within them a trace of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
Over the past half year, he had initially allowed the lightning to temper his soul. Later, he utilized the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame within his body to further refine his physical form. The results were evident. Even from afar, Ling'er could feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from him whenever his aura slipped.
"You're a monster, little master! You've done it!" Ling'er exclaimed in awe.
At that moment, the last strand of energy from the vast Dou Qi vortex above him surged into Xiao Tiance's body. With a resounding boom, the vortex collapsed in on itself, as though an atomic bomb had detonated at its center.
Tasting the Power of the Dou Di Realm
Xiao Tiance exhaled deeply, his voice laced with excitement:
"So this is the Dou Di realm… It's extraordinary! No wonder everyone yearns to ascend to greater heights. This sensation is… intoxicating."
He vanished in an instant, reappearing beside Ling'er. His expression was soft, and his voice carried warmth.
"Ling'er, you must have been worried. But I did it I've become a Dou Di."
Ling'er's face lit up with a radiant smile as she clasped her hands in celebration.
"Congratulations, little master! You are now the first Dou Di since Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. Moreover, your power surpasses even his!"
Her voice was brimming with joy and relief. Though she addressed Xiao Tiance as her "little master," in her heart, she regarded all life on the Dou Qi Continent as her children. Xiao Tiance, however, was more than a mere child; he was destined to become her true master and the one to take her beyond this realm into the Great Thousand World to reclaim her lost sources of power.
The saying goes: A child grows beyond their parent's control; a bird flies far from the nest. Xiao Tiance had now become the strongest being in this world, transcending everything she once nurtured.
Mutual Gratitude
Xiao Tiance chuckled softly.
"We should celebrate together, Ling'er. If it weren't for you helping me gather enough Dou Qi, crafting the spirit arrays to counter Hun Tiandi would've been far more difficult."
Ling'er shook her head modestly, her delicate face blushing slightly.
"I've said it before, little master: your success is my success. Helping you means helping myself. There's no need to thank me for that."
Her small, doll like features turned even more adorable as a rosy hue spread across her cheeks. Xiao Tiance couldn't help but smile warmly. With a casual motion, he used a gentle force to lift Ling'er onto his palm.
Looking at her tiny, palm sized form, he thought with amusement, "My future children might look like this…"
"Hehe, little master, why are you staring at me like that?" Ling'er asked playfully, her sparkling eyes meeting his.
Xiao Tiance grinned and teased her:
"A person's eyes are naturally drawn to beauty and cuteness, and you're just too adorable, Ling'er. It's hard not to look."
"Ah!" Ling'er's face turned even redder as she squirmed in embarrassment, reminding Xiao Tiance of a young Hinata shyly avoiding Naruto's gaze. Her reaction was akin to Chopper's flustered pride when complimented in One Piece.
Focusing on Stabilization
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily before his tone turned serious.
"Alright, enough teasing. Ling'er, I've just broken through to the Dou Di realm. The Dou Qi within me is vast and heavy, and I'll need some time to stabilize it. Stay quiet for a while. Once I've fully mastered this power, we'll discuss the next steps for your refinement."
Ling'er nodded quickly.
**"Of course, little master. After waiting for countless millennia, a little more time is nothing. Take all the time you need to stabilize your strength. When you're ready, we can talk about my refinement.
Oh, by the way, little master, there's something you should know. Half a year ago, right after you eradicated Hun Tiandi and began purifying your soul with lightning, your eldest disciple, that little princess of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan Huang Min went to Eastern Dragon Island to challenge Zhukun."**
Ling'er's voice was lighthearted, but she knew how much Xiao Tiance cared for Huang Min, the disciple he had treated like a daughter for over a thousand years. Even though Huang Min had once been consumed by her obsession to kill Zhukun and failed, Xiao Tiance had always been there to guide and support her.
"Oh? It seems Min'er has made significant progress," Xiao Tiance replied with a faint smile.
Concern for a Disciple
Ling'er tilted her head curiously.
"Little master, aren't you worried about your eldest disciple's safety?"
Xiao Tiance chuckled.
**"There's no need to worry. Even without me, the Xiao Clan is filled with strong warriors. Even if Min'er couldn't defeat Zhukun, they'd ensure her safety.
Besides, Min'er has matured. If she went to challenge Zhukun, it means her strength has grown substantially. Her Heavenly Phoenix Secret Art makes her incredibly fast few on the Dou Qi Continent can rival her speed. If the battle turned against her, she could easily escape."**
Xiao Tiance's calm confidence stemmed from his years of mentoring Huang Min. If she couldn't face such challenges on her own, no amount of protection would help her grow.
Ling'er's Report
Ling'er was impressed.
**"Little master, if I hadn't been with you constantly over the past few years, I would've thought you already knew about Huang Min's battle.
She's indeed grown strong. She's now at the peak of the Nine Star Dou Sheng level and possesses a peculiar flame within her that even I find intimidating. She went to Eastern Dragon Island to challenge Zhukun, and the two fought fiercely for five days and nights, reducing the island to rubble.
In the end, she lost to Zhukun in a single move, but she never used the strange flame within her. If she had, I believe Zhukun might've fallen."**
Xiao Tiance nodded thoughtfully.
"That flame is likely the Phoenix True Flame or perhaps Nirvana Flame both are formidable. I'm surprised she kept it as a trump card and didn't use it."
(Chapter Ends)
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