Chapter 347: Xiao Yan: Damn It, I've Become the Scapegoat!
The Heaven Nether Sect wielded immense power, with three of its subsidiary sects being particularly formidable: the Earth Nether Sect, the Profound Nether Sect, and the Yellow Nether Sect.
Chen Xian and Chen Tiannan were the young sect master and sect master of the Profound Nether Sect, respectively. The "Nie Yang" mentioned by Chen Xian was a prominent figure from the Earth Nether Sect.
Nie Yang, having heard rumors that the so called "Dou Emperor Potential" Xiao Yan possessed the Heaven Nether Shura Hand, had once brought a Four Star Dou Zun level guard to challenge Lu Bu. He found Lu Bu with pinpoint accuracy at the Falling God Ravine.
But instead of succeeding, Nie Yang was counter killed by Lu Bu, whose soul had just reached the Spirit Realm. Furthermore, Lu Bu turned the Four Star Dou Zun guard's corpse into a puppet.
To Lu Bu, this incident was a minor detail. If not for Chen Xian mentioning Nie Yang's name, Lu Bu might not have even remembered it.
After all, compared to later adversaries like the Nine Sky Envoys of the Soul Hall or Hei Qing of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, Nie Yang and his lackey were barely worth a footnote.
"Kehehe… so you figured it out!" Lu Bu smirked, puffing out his chest. His sinister grin was laced with mockery as he declared, "That's right! I'm Xiao Yan! I am the legendary Dou Emperor Potential!"
As his words echoed, a chilling, murderous aura erupted from Lu Bu, sweeping through the area like a storm. The icy killing intent made the four members of the Heaven Nether Sect shiver uncontrollably.
Their faces darkened as they felt a familiar power radiating from Lu Bu it was unmistakably the Heaven Nether Sect's secret technique: the Heaven Nether Shura Hand!
"Damn it… you really are Xiao Yan, the Dou Emperor Potential!" The Demon Flower Evil Lord's face twisted in anger as he shouted, "We've been deceived! We've all been deceived!"
"We disregarded the Dou Emperor Potential because of that damned disciple of Yao Chen. We let him fade from memory!"
Back when the Dou Emperor Potential first appeared, the Heaven Nether Sect was highly wary. This person wielded their Heaven Nether Shura Hand, provoked the Soul Hall, and bullied the Wind Lightning Pavilion with unparalleled arrogance.
The sect had suspected internal sabotage, so they decided to observe from the sidelines. They denied any involvement when questioned by other factions, such as the Soul Hall or the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, firmly distancing themselves from the conflict.
But as the Dou Emperor Potential faded into obscurity, another Xiao Yan Yao Chen's famed disciple rose to prominence in the Central Plains. Given Yao Chen's long standing reputation, this new Xiao Yan naturally attracted far more attention.
The original Dou Emperor Potential became a fleeting memory, almost forgotten. That is, until today.
Xiao Yan's eye twitched as he turned to glare at Lu Bu. You bastard! How many shady things have you done using my name?!
Feeling the weight of Xiao Yan's gaze, Lu Bu awkwardly scratched his head, flashing an apologetic grin.
Xiao Yan: "…"
What are you blushing for, you shameless tea kettle?!
"No!"
At that moment, the gray robed elder leading the Heaven Nether Sect party froze, his face changing as if he'd just pieced something together. "Wait… wasn't this so called Dou Emperor Potential not just a terrifying fighter, but also an extraordinary Tier Eight alchemist?"
"That's true!" the Demon Flower Evil Lord responded solemnly. "Back at the Dou Saint Remnants, he offered Tier Eight pills as a reward and nearly caused the Sky Demon Phoenixes to become everyone's target!"
Back then, even the arrogant Sky Demon Phoenix Clan had been forced to hold their tongues and back down in front of the Dou Emperor Potential.
As the Evil Lord's words trailed off, both Chen Tiannan and Chen Xian stiffened, a strange and absurd thought creeping into their minds.
"You're Xiao Yan!" the gray robed elder declared, his gaze sharpening. "You're not just the Dou Emperor Potential, but also Yao Chen's disciple Xiao Yan!"
"WHAT?!"
Before Lu Bu could even respond, Xiao Yan nearly fell apart. His eyes bulged with disbelief as he shouted, "He's Yao Lao's disciple? Then… who the hell am I?!"
Xiao Yan was utterly flabbergasted. How did these four idiots even arrive at such a ridiculous conclusion?
Wasn't I literally just inside the Flower Sect refining pills and demonstrating the Spirit Awakening Technique?
Xiao Yan's mind reeled, his expression mirroring his internal chaos. The absurdity of the situation left him momentarily speechless.
"Hehe… Yao Chen is cunning and devious, always scheming," the gray robed elder sneered. "I imagine you're merely a stand in, a decoy he uses to shield the real Xiao Yan from danger!"
Lu Bu eagerly nodded in agreement. "Absolutely right. Yao Chen is indeed cunning and devious."
Xiao Yan's eye twitched uncontrollably. Great. I'm officially a scapegoat now!
"Regardless, today, both the real and the fake Xiao Yan will die!" the gray robed elder sneered coldly. "It doesn't matter how you disguise yourselves or what tricks Yao Chen has up his sleeve. Neither of you will escape my grasp!"
"Remember this: I am Senluo Ghost Sovereign of the Heaven Nether Sect. This time next year, you'll be nothing more than a footnote in history!"
As his words fell, Senluo Ghost Sovereign's vast Dou Qi surged outward, enveloping the area.
"Kill!" he roared, disappearing into thin air as he launched his attack.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yan stepped forward, flames erupting around him in shades of crimson, deep blue, and ghostly white. The intense heat distorted the surrounding space as a streak of black fire shot toward a void in the air.
Boom!
The void trembled violently as Senluo Ghost Sovereign was forced to retreat, his expression darkening.
"Four… no, Three Star Dou Zun?!"
This so called decoy was far stronger than anticipated. At the peak of the Three Star Dou Zun level, he was only a step away from Four Star Dou Zun. Yao Chen's extravagance in cultivating a mere decoy was shocking.
"Blind fools. Die!" Xiao Yan sneered, waving his sleeve as a golden Heavenly Monster Puppet appeared beside him. Its figure blurred as it charged toward Senluo Ghost Sovereign alongside its twin.
You might not be able to beat Lu Bu, but don't think you can take me!
Senluo Ghost Sovereign merely a Six Star Dou Zun had no right to act so arrogant before him!
"Evil Lord, hold off the Dou Emperor Potential. Chen Tiannan, Chen Xian, deal with the women. Buy me time to handle the decoy and his puppets!" Senluo Ghost Sovereign barked out orders.
"Deal with your mother!" Xiao Yan roared, his fury reaching its peak. Gripping the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly, he unleashed relentless strikes, transforming the Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler technique into a basic attack in his rage.
"Kill!" Chen Tiannan and Chen Xian exchanged glances before lunging toward Qing Lin and Nalan Yanran.
"Die!" Chen Tiannan sneered, his blade flashing as bloodthirsty arcs of light slashed toward Qing Lin.
A mere Seven Star Dou Zong? Capturing her will be child's play!
"Hmph!" Qing Lin snorted coldly, her eyes gleaming with a strange light as her body twisted gracefully. With a single palm strike, a torrent of bone chilling frost collided with Chen Tiannan's attack.
The blood colored blade lights disintegrated instantly as Qing Lin glided through the gaps, unharmed.
"Parlor tricks!" Chen Tiannan scoffed, his figure vanishing in a blur as he reappeared above Qing Lin, his blade raised high to deliver a fatal strike.
Cold light flashed in Qing Lin's eyes as her hands rapidly formed seals. With the change of her hand movements, a terrifyingly ancient and bloodthirsty aura burst forth, as if a murderous demon thirsting for blood had descended upon the mortal world.
"What?! How does this little girl possess such an aura?" Chen Tiannan's face paled, and the aura surrounding his blade involuntarily weakened by three points.
Qing Lin swept her sleeve, and a surge of terrifying soul power, filled with bloodlust, shot forward. It condensed into a spear of pure soul energy and flew toward Chen Tiannan.
Clang!
Chen Tiannan groaned, his expression shifting to one of shock and uncertainty. "What powerful soul energy!"
"Heh… A Dou Zun? Your Heaven Nether Sect is nothing more than a bunch of weaklings!" Qing Lin playfully waved her delicate hand, her tone dripping with disdain as she smiled faintly.
"You brat!" Chen Tiannan roared furiously, his veins bulging. Being ridiculed by that arrogant Lu Bu was bad enough, but now this young girl, who didn't even look fully grown, dared to humiliate him too?
Boom!
His Dou Qi erupted, and the overwhelming aura of a Three Star Dou Zun surged into the heavens, shaking the air as if the entire world trembled along with it.
"You little brat, for insulting the Heaven Nether Sect, you'll pay the price!"
Chen Tiannan roared and raised his blade high, releasing dazzling arcs of bloody energy. The overwhelming stench of blood filled the air, enough to make one's head spin.
"Die!" he bellowed, his figure turning into a streak of blood red light. His blade slashed downward toward Qing Lin, aiming to wash his weapon in her blood.
"Hehe… The people of the Heaven Nether Sect really are fools!"
Suddenly, Qing Lin let out a soft giggle. The bloodthirsty and savage aura around her vanished as if it had never existed. In an instant, the ferocious killing intent that radiated from her turned into the innocent and gentle demeanor of a girl next door.
Her large, watery eyes sparkled with kindness and softness, a stark contrast that momentarily stunned Chen Tiannan.
Puff!
Blood sprayed in the air. A slender, fair hand pierced through Chen Tiannan's chest from behind, shattering his heart.
Chen Tiannan's body stiffened, his face drained of all color as excruciating pain overcame him. His mouth opened wide, but he was unable to utter a single word.
"You… Nine Nether Earth Python?" Chen Tiannan managed to whisper as his lips trembled. His face was full of confusion. Why would a Nine Nether Earth Python suddenly appear here?
"It's just a simple trap to lure you in, and you didn't even notice?" Yao Rong chuckled smugly, slapping her palm against Chen Tiannan's skull.
Meanwhile, Chen Xian had launched his own attack. Wielding his folding fan like a short baton, he struck downward at Nalan Yanran's head.
"Die!"
Nalan Yanran's eyes gleamed coldly. With a light tap of her foot, silver light flickered as her Three Thousand Lightning Movement skill activated, leaving behind a trail of afterimages as she swiftly retreated.
Clang!
Chen Xian's iron fan collided with a silver puppet, the powerful recoil causing his face to change. Looking closely, he realized it was another puppet.
The puppet's entire body shimmered with silver, faintly dotted with golden specks. It was none other than the Earth Monster Puppet that Lu Bu had refined for Xiao Yan back in the Black Corner Region. After years of nurturing it with pill lightning, it was now nearing the level of a Heavenly Monster Puppet.
"Damn it…" Chen Xian's expression twisted, and he quickly retreated. He recognized this puppet it was one of the ten silver puppets that the Dou Emperor Potential had taken from the Dou Saint Remains' plaza.
The silver puppet possessed the strength of a peak Dou Zong, making it impossible for him to defeat it.
However, just as he tried to retreat, the Earth Monster Puppet raised its fist and swung down, its deadly blow enveloping Chen Xian in an inescapable shadow of death.
"Father, save me!" Chen Xian cried out in terror. But when he turned to look, he saw Chen Tiannan's skull shatter under Yao Rong's palm. His father fell lifelessly to the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief.
…
On the other side, the Demon Flower Evil Lord unfurled his folding fan with a sharp "swish." The metallic sheen of the fan reflected the light as it emitted an invisible wave of energy, slicing toward Lu Bu's throat with deadly precision.
"Boy, without the Heaven Calamity Poison Body, I'd like to see how you can remain arrogant this time!"
The Demon Flower Evil Lord sneered wickedly. He had never believed that his loss during the Dou Saint Remains battle was due to his own weakness. No, it was only because of the poison he had underestimated.
If given another chance, not even that poison wielding woman, let alone this so called Dou Emperor Potential with only one or two stars as a Dou Zun, would be able to defeat him!
"Die!" the Demon Flower Evil Lord roared, his face twisted with madness and ecstasy. He was determined to avenge his humiliation and wash away the disgrace with the blood of this so called Dou Emperor Potential.
Clang!
With a flick of his hand, Lu Bu casually caught the fan's sharp energy slash. The golden glow on his fingertips glimmered faintly as intricate scales appeared, rendering the attack futile.
The deadly strike flashed desperately against his fingertips but couldn't move forward even an inch.
"What?! How is this possible?" The Demon Flower Evil Lord's pupils shrank in horror. "You're just a one or two star Dou Zun. How can you possess such strength?"
"Kehehe… Guess!" Lu Bu sneered, clenching his fist and swinging it toward the Evil Lord's face.
Bang!
"Ahhh!" The Evil Lord screamed as his nose shattered under Lu Bu's punch. Blood and teeth flew out, and the excruciating pain made tears stream down his face as he was sent flying backward.
"Heh… this Northern Darkness Stabilizing Technique is quite handy," Lu Bu mused with a grin. Everyone believed him to be only a weak Dou Zun, making their reactions all the more amusing.
He cast a glance across the battlefield. Chen Tiannan and Chen Xian were dead, and Senluo Ghost Sovereign was locked in a fierce battle with Xiao Yan and two Heavenly Monster Puppets.
Raising an eyebrow, Lu Bu noted Xiao Yan's impressive strength. Despite missing the Flame Lotus of Anger due to Lu Bu's earlier theft of the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan had still managed to fuse his flames creatively.
With four Heavenly Flames at his disposal, Xiao Yan could undoubtedly kill the Senluo Ghost Sovereign given enough time.
"This guy is grinding experience points…" Lu Bu chuckled, shaking his head before turning his attention back to the Demon Flower Evil Lord.
Unlike Xiao Yan, Lu Bu didn't like to drag things out. The Demon Flower Evil Lord was tied to the Scorpion Demon trio, and the longer he lived, the greater the risk.
Buzz!
A deep black glow appeared in Lu Bu's palm as an eerie, annihilating aura filled the air.
"Demon Flower Evil Lord, it's time for you to go," Lu Bu sneered, raising his palm to strike.
"Great Heavenly…"
"Stop!"
Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared, shielding the Evil Lord as a sharp cry rang out.
"Flower Jin, I haven't lost yet. Step aside!" The Evil Lord wiped the blood from his face, glaring coldly. He had only taken a single punch, not some ultimate skill he could still fight!
"Oh? Is this… the married lady Flower Jin?" Lu Bu's eyes sparkled as he looked her up and down.
"Not bad, not bad. Beautiful and with a unique charm."
Lu Bu grinned wickedly. "I approve."
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