Word Count: 2,631 Words
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Xiao Yan's lips curved upward. He raised two fingers like a sword, and in an instant, his Spiritual Strength condensed into a soul blade. His perfected Mortal State soul howled across the sky, as if it were a divine blade cleaving through stars and slashing moons, directly cutting toward Ling Tian.
Now that he had cultivated this Soul Skill to the entry level, he could manifest his Spiritual Strength into tangible form. Soul Skills attacked the soul directly, whereas ordinary Dou Techniques could only defend against Dou Qi-based assaults. Most people had no effective way to guard against such bizarre soul attacks.
"A Soul Skill!" Ling Tian's expression changed drastically. The power of his bloodline surged within him, and a Ling Clan Mark appeared on his forehead.
Ling Tian was actually forced to use his Clan Mark to activate his Dou God Bloodline for defense!
Xiao Yan's soul sword slashed forth with a resonant sound. Although Spiritual Strength was formless, Ling Tian perceived it as a true divine sword cleaving toward him, penetrating his body to strike his soul directly!
Under this single move, the dazzling spiritual light surrounding Ling Tian dimmed noticeably. He suffered a great loss and retreated several steps with heavy thuds.
"Pu!" A mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth!
"Y-You're from the Hun Clan!" Ling Tian pointed a trembling finger at Xiao Yan, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
Their Ling Clan had always hidden within their own Ling Realm, not daring to come out. Some within the clan had even suggested sealing off their realm entirely to remain hidden.
Wasn't this precisely because they feared the Hun Clan!
The Hun Clan were terrifying demons with a precedent! Wasn't the Xiao Clan destroyed by the Hun Clan? And now, the Ling Clan was the weakest among all the Dou God Clans, yet they still possessed the Tou She Ancient God's Jade.
Some within the clan had once proposed handing the Tou She Ancient God's Jade over to the Hun Clan. But ultimately, their remaining dignity as a Dou God Clan stopped them from bowing their heads. They believed the other Dou God Clans wouldn't allow the Hun Clan to eliminate more Dou God Clans or obtain more pieces of the Tou She Ancient God's Jade.
Nevertheless, the fear of the Hun Clan remained deeply etched in their hearts.
Now, Xiao Yan had not only drawn upon a formidable Spiritual Strength but also unleashed a strange Soul Skill. Wasn't this unmistakably someone from the Hun Clan?!!
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed Ling Tian's shock, and a plan formed in his mind.
"Jie Jie Jie… It seems the Ling Clan has grown bold indeed, daring to crawl out of your dog hole and come here."
Ling Tian recoiled half a step upon hearing the piercing, unpleasant laughter echoing from Xiao Yan's Soul Robe. That laugh! It was unmistakable!!
It was the Hun Clan!
Xiao Yan took out the Soul Command Token with a low hum. The character 'Hun' was prominently displayed on it!
"Jie Jie Jie," Xiao Yan laughed strangely, his eyes gleaming. "You dare meddle with the Tunling Clan? It seems you Ling Clan folk don't take my Hun Clan seriously at all."
Ling Tian's expression shifted rapidly. "Indeed," he finally gritted out, "the Tunling Clan once possessed the unique ability to devour the bloodline strength of other races. All the Dou God Clans had to join forces to destroy them, but that was thousands of years ago… Our Ling Clan's bloodline has weakened far more than the others. What's wrong with me borrowing the Tunling Clan's power!"
!!!?
Xiao Yan's heart trembled! The Tunling Clan was so formidable that all the Dou God Clans had to join forces to exterminate them?!!
He had initially thought the Tunling Clan were some kind of powerful magical beasts. Only after bluffing Ling Tian into revealing the truth did he discover the Tunling Clan could devour the bloodline strength of other races!
'Then what on earth is that thing below? Weren't they exterminated? Could one have survived for thousands of years?!!' Xiao Yan secretly swallowed hard. Were those Dou God Clans so unreliable? How could they have left such a thing behind?!
"Hmph, if you don't want me to inform the other Dou God Clans about this, hand over the Clear Soul Nether Orchid. I'll leave at once and say nothing," Xiao Yan said in a deep voice.
He naturally wanted to avoid a fight if possible.
Just then, the ground behind Ling Tian suddenly split open with a sharp crack, and a pair of ghostly hands emerged from the underground. Before the creature had even fully emerged, an ancient and shrill voice rang out:
"Assist me in my resurrection, and I shall kill him in your stead. Then no one will learn of this."
Xiao Yan and the others felt their hearts skip a beat at this chilling voice.
Could this be the so-called remnant of the Tunling Clan?!
Ling Tian trembled as a fierce struggle flickered in his eyes. His gaze then turned blood-red as he stared venomously at Xiao Yan.
The hoarse voice from underground faded. The ghostly hands stretching out from the fissure suddenly opened. Spherical objects resembling embryonic eggs slowly floated out from the palms one after another. Black light swirled around them.
The densely packed black egg-like spheres suddenly exploded. Instantly, sharp, piercing screams echoed through the sky, making one's scalp tingle. Ominous black shadows poured down from the sky like a torrential downpour, flooding into the entire valley in a frenzy.
The targets included not only the Dou King experts who had ventured deep into the valley but even the low-tier alchemists on the outskirts who only intended to pick some ordinary herbs to sell!
Everyone's expression changed drastically as they hurriedly circulated their Dou Qi. However, just as their Dou Qi began to surge, black flashes appeared before their eyes. Many people felt a sharp pain in their chests. Looking down, they found a massive bloody hole where their heart should be, with blood and internal organs gushing out!
"Wh-What are these things?!"
"Ahh! Save me!"
Xiao Yan's expression turned grim. He froze one of the black shadows with the Bone Chilling Flame and snatched it up. These creatures possessed human-like bodies, but their hollow and blood-red eyes, as well as their beast-like sharp claws, made it evident they were not human at all!
'These things are the Tunling Clan?!'
'They can devour a person's flesh, blood, and Dou Qi!'
A chill ran down Xiao Yan's spine. Were these tiny, imp-like creatures the Tunling Clan that had required all the Dou God Clans to join forces to combat?!
The entire mountain range descended into chaos in the face of these bizarre Tunling creatures. Fierce battles raged everywhere, accompanied by ceaseless, anguished screams and scarlet blood staining the earth.
Ling Tian watched from mid-air as the mountain range rapidly fell into chaos. His expression turned extremely gloomy. Then, gritting his teeth, he actually released his Dou Qi defenses, spread his arms, and took on the appearance of willingly offering himself!
"Kekeke, you have resolve! Rest assured, you've given me so many sacrifices. Once I am resurrected, I will naturally seek out other members of the ancient Dou God Clans to absorb their bloodlines. Then I shall restore yours, and even grant you the Divine Grade Bloodline you desire!"
Puk! Puk! Puk!!!
Countless black Tunling creatures burrowed into Ling Tian's body as the voice fell and began absorbing his Dou God Bloodline!
"Ah!!" Ling Tian let out a piercing scream as his bloodline was drained away. His body shriveled visibly at an astonishing rate.
In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a handsome young man into a decrepit old man. Even the Dou Qi within his body was completely drained!
"Kill him! Don't let him carry word to the Hun Clan!"
Xiao Yan never dreamed that pretending to be from the Hun Clan would provoke such a reaction! Ling Tian was willing to sacrifice himself just to silence him and prevent him from reporting back!
Truthfully, Xiao Yan didn't understand what the Tunling Clan represented to the Dou God Clans. For them, meddling with such power was tantamount to making enemies of all Dou God Clans. Their Dou God Bloodlines were their very foundation; how could they possibly allow a race capable of absorbing bloodline strength to survive?
Once the Tunling creatures returned, the earth rumbled and split apart as a monstrous creature crawled out from underground.
This creature possessed an enormous body: an insectoid torso topped with a human head. Six fleshy wings extended from its back, and a massive, pitch-black horn protruded from the top of its head!
The entire world seemed to tremble as this monstrous being stood there. It emitted a terrifying aura that vastly surpassed that of a Dou Ancestor!!
"Venerable Yao, this isn't a Dou Venerate, is it?" Xiao Yan felt his scalp tingle slightly; he didn't want to accept it.
After a moment of silence, Venerable Tian Huo's voice came from the storage ring, delivering grim news.
"Although weaker than I was in my prime... it possesses the strength of a 1-star Dou Venerate." Venerable Tian Huo's voice was heavy. He had once been stronger, but that was in the past. Now, forget about him being just a soul body; even if everyone here joined forces, they would just be serving themselves up.
"What... what kind of monster is this?!"
"Is that Venerable You Du?!"
"Are you stupid? How does that look human at all!"
Even some Dou Emperor-level Poison Masters couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle upon seeing such a creature.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he observed the numerous corpses dangling from the creature's body. His mind seemed to explode when he saw the emblems on their clothing!
These were all members of Dou God Clans! The emblems on their attire even included those of the Gu Clan and the Hun Clan!
Moreover, several corpses hadn't decayed and looked quite 'fresh'. They were likely members from the Yao Clan, Yan Clan, and Shi Clan whom that fellow Ling Tian had lured here!
The flesh and blood of these members from the various Dou God Clans had been completely drained!
"Has the Ling Clan been raising this thing all along?" Xiao Yan asked solemnly.
"No. Judging from its life signature, it doesn't seem to have been continuously nurtured. It was likely in a severely injured, near-death state, clinging to existence by devouring flesh and blood, gradually transforming into this neither-human-nor-ghost creature. Furthermore, it bears heavy injuries; it hasn't fully recovered," Venerable Tian Huo denied Xiao Yan's speculation.
And reality was indeed as Venerable Tian Huo described. When the Tunling Clan was exterminated, the remnants fled in all directions. The Ling Clan had participated in the hunt, and this place was one of the battlefields.
Ling Tian accidentally discovered this piece of history and found this monster when he came to investigate.
This creature could no longer even be called an original Tunling Clan member now; it was more like a demon formed from merging with Tunling remnants!
"Kill him! He's from the Hun Clan; there's Dou God Bloodline in his body!" Ling Tian shrieked, pointing at Xiao Yan.
The monstrous creature called Tun Yuan slowly turned its colossal head and revealed a ghastly grin. "Heh, someone from the Hun Clan. Back then, it was your Hun Clan that killed my clan's Tunling King. You shall repay that blood debt today!"
Xiao Yan was dumbfounded! I'm not from the Hun Clan, I was bluffing!
A thunderous boom rang out as the gigantic monster finally made its move. Regardless of whether this monster was still a member of the Tunling Clan or had become something else, it was undeniably a genuine Dou Venerate!
No matter what kind of Dou Venerate it was, in Xiao Yan's eyes, it was an existence capable of destroying the sky and earth!
A massive hand swung fiercely toward him. Xiao Yan's heart jolted. He rapidly circulated Dou Qi through his meridians and roared, "Open Mountain Seal!!!"
Xiao Yan finally unleashed the true power of the Open Mountain Seal at the critical moment. A colossal handprint blasted forward and collided with the giant monster's palm.
"Open... Open Mountain Seal! H-How do you know the Gu Clan's Dou Technique? Who on earth are you?!" Ling Tian was dumbfounded. That was the Gu Clan's secret Dou Technique; how could someone from the Hun Clan know it!
The younger generations of the Dou God Clans often held exchange competitions, so he naturally recognized the Gu Clan's God Seal Technique. But seeing the God Seal Technique from someone from the Hun Clan???
Unheard of!
Although Xiao Yan finally unleashed the true power of the God Seal Technique, his strength as a half-step Dou Ancestor was still no match for a Dou Venerate's casual blow. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward, crashing into a distant mountain.
"Xiao Yan!" Little Fairy Doctor cried out as she unleashed a burst of poisonous Dou Qi. She immediately shook off her opponent, waved her sleeve to pulverize all the rubble, and pulled him out.
"I'm... fine." Xiao Yan forced himself to stand and put a tier 6 healing pill into his mouth. The pill's medicinal effect quickly began healing his injuries.
He glanced into the distance. Through his perception via the Nihility Devouring Flame's Seed Flame, he knew Zi Yan hadn't yet managed to create a spatial rift.
Whoosh!
Before he could think further, the giant monster came sweeping in again. Xiao Yan clasped his hands together and rapidly merged the terrifying Heavenly Flames between his palms.
Little Fairy Doctor dared not hold back either. She activated the Woeful Poison Body, causing seven-colored patterns to light across her skin, illuminating everything around her.
There was a resounding clang just at that moment. A sword light flashed, piercing through Tun Yuan's massive hand and pinning it to the ground.
A figure then burst out from the ground, instantly appearing above the basin, sword in hand!
One person, one sword, stood before Xiao Yan and his companions, their bearing peerless!
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed when he got a clear look at the newcomer's appearance. This person looked exactly like the Venerable You Du whom Ling Tian had initially impersonated!!
Xiao Yan was even more shocked when his Spiritual Strength swept over. This wasn't a human at all! Rather, it was a manifestation formed from the Ghostly Poison Flame!!
Venerable Tian Huo's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, "I understand now. No wonder this monster carries such severe wounds. Back then, the real Venerable You Du must have been attracted here by the Clear Soul Nether Orchid, stumbled upon this monster, and ultimately detonated his Woeful Poison Body while using his Heavenly Flame to permanently seal this creature here, intending to use the Ghostly Poison Flame's power to poison it to death!"
"That barrier of poison miasma cutting off this entire valley is the power of the Ghostly Poison Flame."
Xiao Yan understood why this area was so desolate, unlike the vibrant place near the entrance. It turned out a Woeful Poison Body explosion had occurred here previously, poisoning the very land!
"It was likely awakened by that girl's Woeful Poison Body, triggering some kind of will hidden within the Ghostly Poison Flame. Perhaps he also guessed that someone in the future might break the seal, so he left behind a contingency!"
"You Du!!!" The enormous monster roared furiously upon seeing the figure before it. "Detonating your Woeful Poison Body back then couldn't kill me! It's even more impossible now!"