At that moment, in the city of the Snake-People, every commoner felt the violent spatial fluctuations. Terrified, they curled up, huddled together, and cowered in fear.
Within a fifty-meter radius of the city, the Magical Beasts—sensing the chaotic surge of heaven and earth energy—fled in a frenzy, trampling over anything and anyone in their path.
The destructive aura was so overwhelming, it felt as though death could descend at any moment.
Regardless of age or strength, every living being within that fifty-meter radius broke out in a cold sweat.
At the same time, a five-coloured energy flowed out from the shattered token, gradually condensing into the figure of a young man with closed eyes. Part of that radiant energy also surrounded Yue Mei, forming a protective veil that shielded her from all harm.
Yun Yun's attack, which had just reached Yue Mei, was completely blocked by the five-coloured veil—without even causing a ripple.
"Damn it!" Yun Yun cursed under her breath, her soft lips tightening in frustration.
She swiftly withdrew and lifted her gaze to the sky, which had suddenly darkened as black clouds surged forth. Terrifying energy churned and roared within them, producing thunderous booms that echoed across the heavens.
Her expression turned grim as she glanced at a group of people staring up in shock—frozen in place. Among them were Gu He and the others, unable to move as they felt the overwhelming destructive aura emanating from the dark clouds that loomed over a fifty-meter radius of the city.
Clicking her tongue in frustration, she sighed and vanished in a blur, reappearing instantly beside Gu He and his companions.
"I told you to leave this place!" Yun Yun scolded the dazed elders who continued to stare at the sky. With a flap of her Dou Wings, she shot into the distance, flying swiftly away from the city.
Her sharp voice snapped Gu He and the others out of their daze, and they quickly turned to follow her.
"We apologize for not leaving sooner. We were simply too curious about what made Ms. Yun react so strongly. But... could you tell us what's going on? Did Xiao Hua give that token to the Snake-People?" Gu He asked with an awkward smile as he flew just slightly behind her. His expression soon turned solemn as he continued.
He had made meticulous preparations to obtain the Heavenly Flame, yet none of them had anticipated such a sudden disturbance. Judging from Yun Yun's reaction, she clearly understood the situation—making him all the more curious.
Moreover, the aura from earlier was unmistakably Xiao Hua's. That crimson token was clearly related to him... but what exactly was happening?
"That's a Profound Chaos Token—created by Xiao Hua himself," Yun Yun replied, her expression darkening. "According to him, it can store any Dou Technique, which can be unleashed upon crushing the token. The technique imprinted on the front indicates what's stored inside."
She clearly remembered the time Xiao Hua had shown her the token—it had no image of a finger back then. That meant he had recently stored the technique and handed it to Queen Medusa.
And Yun Yun recognized that technique. It was the same one she had witnessed half a year ago.
At this moment, she finally understood the reason behind Queen Medusa's calm and composed demeanor. She hadn't expected that it was because of this.
The difference between the Profound Chaos Token and the Chaos Heaven Token, which Xiao Hua had given to Xiao Yan, lay in their capacity and strength. The former could only store a single strike—and even then, only up to a certain level of power. If the stored technique exceeded its limit, the token would shatter before it could even seal the energy. In contrast, the latter could contain three powerful strikes, each far surpassing what the Profound Token could endure.
"Front, you say…?" Gu He's brow furrowed as he tried to recall the token's image. "If I remember correctly... the image on the front—it was a golden-green... finger…"
His expression changed drastically, twisting into horror. In that instant, he understood the reason behind Yun Yun's alarmed reaction. The Dou Qi within his body surged violently as he flared his Dou Qi Wings.
Just before accelerating, he turned sharply to the others and shouted, "Everyone, speed up immediately! That Snakewoman... she's an absolute lunatic!"
Seeing that Gu He wasn't exaggerating, the others responded without hesitation. Their Dou Qi erupted like a tide, pouring through their meridians as they flew at full speed.
"Old He, what kind of attack is that damn snake-woman preparing to unleash?" asked the fierce, broad-shouldered man, his voice edged with urgency. He was curious about the reason behind both Gu He's and Yun Yun's panicked reactions.
"Old Shi, Feng Li... you both saw that massive crater before we reached the fortress, didn't you?" Gu He took a deep breath and spoke gravely. "That crater was caused by the very strike we're about to face."
The fierce, broad-shouldered man, Yan Shi, and the elegant, feminine-looking Feng Li both revealed horrified expressions. On the way to the Snake-People's sacred city, they had indeed passed an enormous, deep crater—its sheer scale had left a deep impression.
After asking Gu He about it, they were shocked to learn that it had been created by Xiao Hua. Both men, among the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, had long heard of Xiao Hua's talent and fearsome reputation.
But even with that knowledge, they never imagined that he possessed a technique of such devastating might—one they could not even hope to replicate. That realization stirred not only shock, but a deep sense of admiration and respect for him.
"Ancient Desolate Hand, First Finger: Imprisoning Endless Land!"
Before any of them could flee at full speed, the young figure—formed from the five-coloured aura—slowly raised his finger and thrust it forward. As he did, his voice rang out, cold and unfeeling, like a decree from the heavens:
Bang!
A deep, thunderous boom exploded from the churning black clouds above. In the next instant, those clouds violently drew in the energy of heaven and earth, condensing it into an enormous golden-green finger that seemed to blot out the sky itself.
The moment it appeared, Yun Yun and the others felt it—an invisible force had locked onto their auras. A cold chill ran down their spines as they understood the terrifying truth.
No matter how far they fled, that finger would follow—relentlessly—until it struck them down… unless someone powerful enough stepped forward to take the blow in their stead.
"Old He, is there any method to escape that strike?!" the fierce-looking man shouted in fear, his voice trembling as he watched the giant finger descend. Though its movement seemed slow, there was an oppressive swiftness behind it—like inevitability itself closing in.
With every inch the finger moved forward, waves of destructive force rippled outward, shaking the air and amplifying the dread in their hearts. The pressure was unbearable, as if the heavens themselves were descending upon them.
"Ms. Yun, do you have a plan?" Gu He asked anxiously, his voice strained. He couldn't think of a single way to avoid the attack. The golden-green finger was simply too overwhelming.
Yun Yun turned sharply, her gaze locking onto the descending finger. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge the strength contained within.
"I doubt Xiao Hua used his full power when he stored this technique," she said calmly, though her expression remained tense. "We can try to resist the attack—but doing so will leave us severely injured and utterly defenseless afterward."
Her voice dropped slightly, a shadow of worry crossing her face.
"And that would be dangerous... especially while we're still in the Snake-People's territory."
"So... we're leaving without obtaining the Heavenly Flame…" Gu He muttered gloomily, disappointment clouding his expression. Though frustration burned in his heart, he held his tongue—he understood all too well that their current situation left them with little choice.
"We'll talk after we repel the attack. Once it's over, give me healing pills. I'll make an attempt to seize the Heavenly Flame myself," Yun Yun replied, having heard his quiet murmur.
"You're serious? What about Queen Medusa?" Gu He hesitated, recalling Queen Medusa's intention to use the flame to evolve.
"It's not an issue," Yun Yun said calmly, her voice steady and composed. "The chances of her successfully evolving are incredibly slim. And even if she does, she'll need time to stabilize her transformation before she can act. I'll have enough time to escape."
Gu He stared at her for a moment, then slowly nodded. The hesitation in his eyes faded. "In that case, I'll have to trouble Ms. Yun to retrieve the Heavenly Flame on my behalf."
Ever since learning that Xiao Hua possessed a Heavenly Flame, Gu He couldn't help but feel a surge of envy. That envy only deepened when he saw Yun Yun's soft and tender gaze directed at Xiao Hua.
He firmly believed that, if he too had a Heavenly Flame, he could replicate Xiao Hua's achievements. Even if he couldn't surpass him as a martial practitioner, he could at least outshine him as an alchemist.
In his eyes, it wasn't a matter of talent—it was simply a matter of opportunity. With the Heavenly Flame in his grasp, he believed his alchemical skills could place him on equal footing with, or even above, Xiao Hua.
That was why he had offered such generous rewards to recruit Yan Shi and Feng Li, urging them to risk entering the inner desert and accompany him on his mission to steal the Heavenly Flame.
No matter what happened, he refused to leave the desert empty-handed. Giving up was not an option.
He believed that once he obtained the flame, Yun Yun would finally turn her gaze toward him—instead of focusing solely on Xiao Hua.
Moreover, Gu He had recently learned that Xiao Hua would soon be departing for the Central Plains. Confident in the strength of his long-standing friendship with Yun Yun, he believed that once Xiao Hua was gone, he would have the chance to draw her attention—and perhaps even plant the seed of romance in her heart.
If Xiao Hua remained in the Central Plains longer, Gu He was certain he could nurture that seed, make it bloom, and ultimately win Yun Yun's heart.
But if Yun Yun could hear Gu He's thoughts, she would only shake her head and sigh.
She knew better than anyone that Xiao Hua did not possess just one Heavenly Flame. She had personally witnessed him undergo the eighth trial—an ordeal so harrowing that even now, the memory sent chills down her spine.
Though she acknowledged Gu He's talent, the gap between him and Xiao Hua was simply too vast.
Xiao Hua wasn't just talented—he possessed a relentless determination to defy the impossible and a will that could not be shaken. Even when he said he couldn't retreat after practising his Qi Method, he didn't hesitate. He faced the path ahead, no matter how thorny or perilous, and continued forward without fear instead of remained standing.
That unyielding spirit was one of the reasons Yun Yun had been drawn to him.
She still remembered how he risked everything—nearly his life—to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal for her. He had done it without hesitation, going far beyond what anyone would expect. Her once-calm heart had trembled for the first time in many years.
As for Gu He, she had only ever seen him as a friend—a trusted comrade, perhaps even like an elder brother. There had never been a seed of romance between them. Not then, and certainly not now.
But Gu He had failed to see this. Blinded by the pride and arrogance so common among alchemists, he mistook admiration for affection and overlooked the hardships and sacrifices Xiao Hua had endured.
To him, Yun Yun admired only Xiao Hua's talent and achievements—not the suffering and relentless effort behind them.
"This is far enough."
After reaching a point more than five hundred meters away from the Snake-People's sacred city, Yun Yun suddenly halted and turned to face the descending, colossal finger.
"Don't hold back—if you do, we'll all suffer for it!" she shouted, her voice sharp as a blade. With a fierce expression, she spun her strange sword, its blade whistling through the air.
The atmosphere around her began to shift. Violent winds surged to life, swirling and howling around her elegant figure. As the pale-green winds gathered with increasing ferocity, a blinding white glow suddenly formed at the tip of her sword—strange and radiant, almost otherworldly.
With each breath, more wild wind converged, feeding the growing brilliance at her sword's tip. Soon, the white light blazed like a miniature sun suspended in the sky—blinding and intense.
"Wind's Peak: Killer Meteorite!"
The moment the words left her lips, the surrounding air solidified under immense pressure. Her sword pointed directly at the approaching golden-green finger, and with a piercing flash, a razor-thin beam of light erupted forth with explosive speed.
The beam was terrifyingly fast—so fast, the eye could barely follow it. Wherever it passed, the air warped and twisted in its wake, leaving behind a searing white trail etched across the sky. It was as if the heavens themselves had been slashed open by pure light.
This terrifying Dou Technique was the same one Yun Yun had once used during her battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion. Back then, it had cleanly severed one of the lion's horns—the hardest part of its body—even though the beast possessed the strength of a Dou Huang.
That alone was enough to demonstrate the sheer, terrifying piercing power of this mysterious technique.
However, unlike her previous confrontation with the Lion King—where she had held back, aiming only to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal—Yun Yun was now going all out. She had no intention of restraining herself. In terms of momentum, force, and lethality, the current strike far exceeded the power she had displayed back then.
Seeing her take the lead, Gu He followed without hesitation. He raised his hands, curling his fingers into a strange claw-like shape as Dou Qi surged through his meridians like a flood, converging into his palms.
Moments later, his hands were engulfed in a dense, blue-colored flame. The fire condensed and withered, before finally solidifying into a fist-sized blue eagle-shaped construct, faintly emitting a sharp, echoing eagle cry as if it were alive.
"Blue Eagle Incineration!"
Gu He roared, and the blue eagle perched upon his claw suddenly expanded, transforming into a massive beast dozens of feet wide in the blink of an eye. The fiery eagle let out a sharp cry as its enormous wings unfurled, wrapping protectively around Gu He's body.
With a fierce swing of his claw, Gu He launched the attack. His claws tore through the air, sending out violent shockwaves that rippled outward like waves across a lake. The blazing fire eagle surged forward, its wings igniting the sky as it charged straight toward the colossal golden-green finger descending from above.
At the same time, Yan Shi and Feng Li had no intention of holding back. They each unleashed their strongest techniques, knowing full well that any hesitation or restraint would spell their doom.
Boom!
Four powerful Dou Techniques clashed violently with the descending golden-green finger, unleashing a powerful explosion. A thunderous roar echoed across the blue sky as waves of destructive energy surged outward from the point of impact.
The terrifying ripples of power spread across the sky, reaching nearly nine hundred meters, while the ground below split and cracked under the immense pressure. Unfortunate Magical Beasts and humans within the vicinity were overwhelmed by the force, some collapsing directly into a fetal position from the sheer weight of the residual energy.
Gradually, after half an incense stick's time, the rippling energy began to dissipate. As the dust cloud finally settled and scattered, the battered figures of Yun Yun and her companions were revealed.
Though Yun Yun fared slightly better due to her higher cultivation and powerful Dou Technique, Gu He and the others were in dire condition. Their bodies were riddled with wounds, and it was clear it would take several months of recovery to return to full strength.
Despite his own injuries, Gu He didn't act selfishly. He took out a large number of recovery pills and distributed them among the group. After carefully sensing the surroundings and confirming that no Snake-People were pursuing them—which wasn't surprising, considering no one would dare approach such chaos—they landed on the cracked yellow earth and began recuperating on the spot.
The first to recover was Yun Yun. Though her injuries were slightly serious, they were far lighter compared to those of Gu He and the other two. Rising slowly to her feet, she turned to face her injured companions.
Gu He, Yan Shi, and Fei Ling—still seated and circulating their Dou Qi to heal their injuries—halted their recovery upon seeing her movement. Their gazes fixed on her, silently waiting for her to speak.
However, Gu He felt something unusual about her condition. He couldn't quite place it, but the feeling lingered in his heart. After a brief moment of hesitation, he dismissed it as mere imagination and let the thought fade.
"I'll return to the sacred city of the Snake-People," Yun Yun said calmly. "If the opportunity arises, I'll try to steal the Heavenly Flame. If not, I'll retreat and rendezvous with you in Yan City."
She glanced over the group and continued, "Regardless, the three of you should head back to Yan City and recover in safety. It's too risky to remain exposed out here without protection."
She could clearly see that Gu He and the others would need a long time to fully recover. Letting them remain in this vulnerable place, so close to the enemy's territory, was simply too risky.
"There are still a few recovery pills left in this jade bottle. Don't hesitate to use them," Gu He said after a moment of thought. He understood clearly that, among them, Yun Yun had the best chance of either retrieving the Heavenly Flame or escaping without getting caught.
After handing her the bottle, he turned and left without further hesitation. With Yan Shi and Fei Ling by his side, they slowly made their way toward Yan City. They might pause to recover briefly along the way, but it would be far safer than lingering near the sacred city of the Snake-People.
Once their figures disappeared into the distance, Yun Yun turned her gaze toward the sacred city. Her eyes narrowed, sharp and focused. With a soft flutter, she unfurled her Dou Qi wings and soared into the sky, flying swiftly yet discreetly toward the Snake-People's capital.
She had no intention of infiltrating the city right away. Instead, she planned to wait for the moment Queen Medusa began her evolution. That would be the most opportune time to slip into the shrine unnoticed—when the entire Snake-People tribe would be wholly preoccupied with the commotion surrounding their queen.
'Even so, I never expected Xiao Hua to give something like that to Queen Medusa…' she thought, recalling the token Yue Mei had used. 'It must've been Zi Yan who asked him for it…'
Given how much Xiao Hua spoiled Zi Yan, it was obvious to Yun Yun that he would have complied with her request, offering Queen Medusa something powerful—something to ensure no one would dare disturb her during the perilous process of evolution.
She wasn't angry with him for doing so. Instead, what she felt was regret—regret for not asking him about the token beforehand. If she had, she would have refused Gu He's request outright, and perhaps even warned him about the possible protections Xiao Hua had provided to Queen Medusa.
Moreover, she recalled the moment her technique clashed with the finger. She could faintly sense that the finger hadn't resisted her attack as strongly as it did the others. While it had fiercely pushed back against Gu He and the others, its force seemed to lessen when colliding with her strike.
It was for this reason that Gu He and the others suffered such severe injuries, while she emerged relatively unscathed. Her wounds came from the backlash of her technique being shattered—but that was all.
The others, however, had to endure the full brunt of the finger's resistance, which resulted in a devastating backlash.
This subtle difference was why her injuries were far lighter than expected. It was also the strange sensation Gu He had noticed earlier, though he couldn't quite place it.
'That must mean Xiao Hua took me into consideration when sealing the technique... just in case Queen Medusa used it against me,' Yun Yun thought to herself, understanding better than anyone else the quiet protection Xiao Hua had shown her even through a sealed technique.
That realization brought a warm, tender smile to her usually composed face.
She knew she shouldn't feel this way toward a younger man—especially one who already had a fiancée. But no matter how she tried, her heart simply wouldn't listen. Deep down, she hoped to see him once more before he left for the Central Plains. She knew that once he departed, it would be a long, long time before their paths crossed again.
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