Chapter 94: Xie Bi Yan
The Purple Phantom Flame Serpent, a rare magical beast carrying the bloodline of the ancient Sky Swallowing Python, was an extraordinary existence even among magical beasts.
This was the real reason the old man had set his sights on Queen Medusa. He needed a single drop of blood containing the Sky Swallowing Python's lineage to perform a secret technique that would allow him to break through the bottleneck hindering his advancement to Dou Zong. He had remained at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Huang for too long. If he didn't break through soon, his lifespan would come to an end.
In his youth, he had been a top-tier genius, reaching Dou Huang at a young age and even founding the Scorpion Sect!
But human potential had its limits.
Xie Bi Yan's cultivation had stagnated ever since reaching the peak of Nine-Star Dou Huang. Nearly a century had passed without further progress. He had even consumed a Breaking Zong Pill, but still failed to advance. Desperate, he turned to ancient secret techniques. Eventually, he discovered one that suited him.
It required the blood of a Sky Swallowing Python combined with the Myriad Venom Pool to break through.
Unfortunately, Sky Swallowing Pythons were ancient beasts and nearly extinct in the current age. Even their corpses were impossible to find. As a substitute, Queen Medusa's blood was a viable option. Xie Bi Yan was already just a step away from Dou Zong—this secret method, he believed, would give him the final push.
And if it didn't? Then it still had to.
Xie Bi Yan's aged eyes turned sharp as he said darkly, "Give up. With your strength, there's no way you can beat me."
"Such nonsense!"
Queen Medusa scoffed coldly and launched her massive violet-red serpent projection, mouth agape as it lunged at Xie Bi Yan. As it surged forward, space itself trembled, and even the surrounding energy rippled violently—proof of the overwhelming power behind the attack.
"Condense!"
Xie Bi Yan gently lifted and then struck his staff down. As space rippled faintly, an invisible wall of spatial force formed in front of him.
Boom!
The giant serpent slammed into the barrier and exploded with a thunderous blast. But even as the air quaked, Xie Bi Yan stood untouched behind the shimmering space wall, watching Queen Medusa coldly. Having touched upon spatial force—something only Dou Zong could normally wield—he now held a distinct advantage over her.
"Spatial force?!"
Queen Medusa's eyes flashed with surprise. She hadn't expected this old man to wield a power only accessible to Dou Zong-level experts.
"I may have failed to break through to Dou Zong, but I still gained something from the attempt."
Xie Bi Yan's tone was calm, confident. He wasn't in a rush. He continued explaining leisurely, convinced that Queen Medusa couldn't escape. "Don't expect anyone to save you. The Snake-People's other powerhouses have already been stalled. No one's coming for their dear queen."
He paused, then added with mock sympathy, "Give up now, and you'll suffer less."
"You really think you've got me cornered, old fool?!"
Queen Medusa's phoenix eyes shimmered with eerie purple light. Her cold voice cut through the air. As the queen of the Snake-People, she had never bowed to threats. If this old relic wanted her blood, he'd have to earn it—with his life. She activated a secret technique, causing her companion soul to fuse with her body.
A multicolored glow flickered around her, and her aura surged dramatically.
"Foolish girl!"
Seeing her sacrifice her very essence just to fight back, Xie Bi Yan roared and abandoned all restraint. He launched a palm strike toward her. A giant gray skeletal hand, reeking of death, screamed through the air.
He had originally planned to keep her alive and slowly drain her blood.
But now she clearly didn't care about living.
So be it. He would grant her wish.
Queen Medusa showed no fear. Empowered by her unleashed essence, she punched forward. Her rainbow-colored Dou Qi was now several times stronger than before. It shattered Xie Bi Yan's skull-shaped energy attack. Then, with a graceful twist, her purple tail turned into a stream of light and lashed toward him.
Boom! Boom!
The two clashed again, their Dou Qi tearing through the sky. The shockwaves could be felt miles away.
At that moment, Yao Yan and the others arrived nearby.
"Wait!"
Caidie was about to rush in when Yao Yan pulled her back. He could see it clearly—this wasn't a battle Caidie could join. As a mere Seven-Star Dou Huang, she'd be more of a hindrance than help. The old man wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
Yao Yan turned to Hai Bodong, who seemed to recognize the old man immediately.
"You know him?!"
Hai Bodong nodded grimly. "I believe that's Xie Bi Yan, head of the Scorpion Sect from the Chu Yun Empire. He's an old Nine-Star Dou Huang powerhouse, even older than Jia Xingtian... I thought he was dead."
That last part was honest.
Nine-Star Dou Huangs didn't live very long. At best, they could survive three to four hundred years. But Xie Bi Yan was clearly well past that.
"And he seems to be able to use spatial force…"
Hai Bodong added, even more serious now. His eyes glanced toward Queen Medusa with surprise—he hadn't expected her to be able to match someone like Xie Bi Yan, even with a secret technique. After all, she was from a much younger generation.
This Queen Medusa was at least two generations younger than Xie Bi Yan!
Hearing this, Yao Yan couldn't help but remark, "So he lived this long just to be stuck at Nine-Star Dou Huang? What a waste of a life."
"…"
Hai Bodong gave Yao Yan a sideways glance, feeling slightly attacked.
"I meant him," Yao Yan clarified quickly, pointing at Xie Bi Yan with an awkward chuckle. Then he looked into Caidie's worried eyes and said gently, "Don't worry. He's strong, yes, but a surprise attack will work better. Later, I'll use my soul power to mask your energy—get in close and hit him hard from behind."
As an alchemist, Yao Yan's control over soul power was versatile.
Masking auras was one of the most basic applications.
With sixth-tier soul strength, masking two Dou Huangs was child's play.
"That'll require Queen Medusa's cooperation," Hai Bodong agreed.
Yao Yan glanced at the intensifying battle ahead, a faint smile forming. "Don't worry. I'll send her a message through soul transmission. Get ready."
As he spoke, a ripple of invisible soul force flowed from the center of his brow…
(END CHAPTER)
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