Chapter 106: Xiao Yuan, Feeling Refreshed and Clear-Headed
"I am Gu He from the Jia Ma Empire, a sixth-tier alchemist. If the lady would be so kind as to let the three of us pass, I will surely reward you handsomely afterward!"
Feeling the increasingly terrifying aura of the mysterious Dou Huang in the sky, Gu He could no longer remain silent and clasped his fists, speaking respectfully.
If they really had to fight this person, not only would chasing the Heavenly Flame become impossible—they themselves might not make it out of the desert alive.
But high above, the tall figure in white robes remained unmoved. A cool, indifferent voice drifted from beneath the white veil she wore:
"A sixth-tier alchemist? So what?"
Gu He's expression darkened.
He was now absolutely certain that this female Dou Huang was allied with the one who had fled!
This whole "sparring" thing was just a cover to stall them.
"This woman is unreasonable. Let me test her strength myself!"
Yan Shi, hot-tempered as ever, was furious. His Dou Qi wings flared open as he shot up toward the white-robed figure in the sky.
Yun Yun, still engaged with the Snake-People's Dou Wangs and unable to intervene, nevertheless sensed that the mysterious Dou Huang was at least as strong as herself and quickly warned:
"Be careful!"
Yan Shi flew straight up and saw the white-robed figure wield a black ice dragon spear. With a casual wave, black snowflakes began to fall, condensing into sharp ice spikes. She pointed her spear—and they shot straight at Yan Shi.
Yan Shi instantly sensed the ferocity of the attack and moved to counter it.
However… Xiao Yuan was in urgent need of venting the energy inside him, so he didn't hold back. Every single one of those ice spikes was powerful enough to severely injure a Dou Ling.
This overwhelming force sent Yan Shi reeling, eventually pushing him back beside Gu He.
"So this is the power of a Dou Huang?"
After discharging a fair amount of energy, Xiao Yuan felt significantly better. The intense energy inside him had lessened, and he was beginning to enjoy the sensation of resonating with the world's energy.
"Damn it! Who the hell is this person!?"
Gu He felt like swallowing broken glass. All this effort, and now it looked like they'd go home empty-handed.
And worse—they'd still have to refine the pills they promised in exchange for help.
It was infuriating.
Elsewhere, Yun Yun had easily suppressed the two Snake-People Dou Wangs before her. She even had time to glance toward Gu He and the others.
Seeing Yan Shi get beaten back, she realized this mysterious Dou Huang's strength might even match her own.
Fortunately, the mysterious one wasn't showing killing intent. Otherwise, Gu He's team would've been in the same miserable state as her opponents.
Just as this thought formed, the temperature plummeted again. The white-robed figure began forming seals with her hands. Her Dou Qi surged forth, condensing in the sky into three colossal black ice dragons.
The dragons coiled around her, vivid and lifelike.
A roar split the heavens. The Snake-People below Dou Ling level were paralyzed by the pressure. Even Gu He and his companions looked terrified.
Black Ice Dragon Flight, a high-level Xuan-rank Dou Technique.
"Hoo…"
Xiao Yuan smiled faintly, his eyes bright and clear.
At this moment, he felt incredibly refreshed.
He had expelled a good portion of the energy in his body and finally felt comfortable. At least for now, there was no risk of bursting apart.
This immense energy was not only flowing through his body—it was also expanding his Qi Paths.
Xiao Yuan had a strong feeling: if he handled this right, his cultivation might soar dramatically.
The three black ice dragons roared and charged toward Gu He's group.
They hurriedly unleashed their defenses, but it was obvious—each dragon carried power that no ordinary Dou Wang could withstand.
Their counterattacks were frozen midair by the dragons' icy breath and then shattered to pieces.
Seeing this, the trio was scared out of their wits.
Such pure, extreme cold Dou Qi, combined with a terrifying technique—this mysterious figure was easily among the top five powerhouses in the entire Jia Ma Empire!
Even Yun Yun was startled. The figure's strength had exceeded her expectations.
The situation now dire, she decided to step in.
With a swift movement of her sleeve, her aura surged. She rose sharply into the air and formed hand seals with lightning speed, shouting:
"Winds Return to Earth!"
A massive gale of green Dou Qi swirled above her, like rolling green clouds.
With a wave of her hand, the storm descended. Countless deep-green wind blades rained down like a deadly drizzle.
Sensing this incoming force, Yue Mei and Yan Ci looked grim. They combined their respective Dou Qi attributes into towering pillars, bracing against the pressing windstorm.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun flapped her wings and flashed in front of Gu He and the others, summoning green Dou Qi.
"Hmm?"
Just then, Xiao Yuan sensed two high-level Dou Wang auras approaching in the distance.
"Not playing anymore. Time to leave!"
With a playful giggle, the white-robed figure spread her wings and flew toward the desert's edge.
As she flew off, two of her ice dragons turned and charged the approaching Snake-People Dou Wangs, while the last one exploded into black snow in front of Yun Yun.
???
Gu He's group was stunned, and even Yun Yun looked confused.
What exactly was this person planning?
But sensing the incoming enemies, Yun Yun decided not to linger.
"Let's go. The Snake-People are gathering!"
"Right!"
Gu He nodded bitterly and led Yan Shi and Feng Li to follow her.
As for the five Dou Lings they'd brought—they were already chasing Xiao Yan atop flying beasts.
Unfortunately, while fast, they couldn't match Yao Lao's elite tactics. They only dared follow from afar, unable to close in.
In the desert's northeast and southwest, two beams of light streaked in, arriving over the city. Covered in black frost, they quickly acted, blasting apart the massive wind barrier with internal and external attacks.
"After them!"
Yue Mei and Yan Ci darted into the sky without even greeting the new arrivals. They charged after the vanished black-cloaked figure. The two newcomers, momentarily stunned, quickly followed.
Moments later, Mobaas recovered and also took off.
Five beams of light—blazing with immense power—cut across the sky and vanished into the horizon.
…
Whoosh!
A figure streaked across the sky, pursued by four others.
Seeing his relentless pursuers, Xiao Yuan's expression turned odd.
What's the point of chasing me? Xiao Yan's aura disappeared long ago!
And trailing behind… were five Dou Wang-level Snake-People.
Fortunately, Xiao Yuan's speed was incredible. Only Yun Yun could keep up. Gu He's group was falling behind.
"Old Gu, maybe we should give up. That Dou Huang is young and dangerous. Probably from some big power. Not someone we want to mess with!"
Yan Shi, no longer cocky, muttered. Xiao Yuan's earlier dragon attack had given him a clear taste of death. If the guy had meant to kill him, he would've been done for.
"Who'd have thought… we'd run into two Dou Huangs while chasing a Heavenly Flame. And with that terrifying black ice-white flame combo—they're neither from Jia Ma nor nearby empires."
Gu He sighed with frustration.
Not even a sixth-tier alchemist could impress them—they were clearly well-traveled. There was nothing he could do.
"Forget it. Let's get out before the Snake-People catch up."
Resigned, Gu He waved his hand and sighed again.
Ahead, Yun Yun's thoughts were adrift. The moment the ice dragon exploded replayed in her mind.
It felt oddly familiar…
That black ice Dou Qi…
Her memory stirred—of a boy whose hand had turned black from frost.
But… he wasn't a Dou Huang. And he wasn't a girl!
Her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
She couldn't make sense of it—so she decided to find out.
"Lady Yun?"
Gu He called out, breaking her thoughts.
"What are you thinking? Let's retreat."
"I'm fine. I want to investigate this Dou Huang's identity. You go on ahead."
Yun Yun shook her head, then flared her wings and surged forward after Xiao Yuan.
Gu He shook his head helplessly and turned to Yan Shi and Feng Li.
"Let's go. With her strength, she'll be fine."
"Got it."
The two nodded and followed him in another direction.
In the desert sky, sonic booms echoed.
A black shadow flashed, pausing briefly before reappearing hundreds of meters away.
Moments later, a green figure followed. She floated like a willow in the wind—graceful yet fast. Behind her, up to eight afterimages shimmered before fading in the sun.
Xiao Yuan sensed Yun Yun accelerating and glanced back.
Seeing Gu He's group veering off, he stopped. Cold air surged as a black ice dragon reappeared and circled him midair.
Whoosh!
Yun Yun landed a hundred meters away, hesitating.
"Are you... Yuan?"
After a brief pause, she asked.
"Knew I couldn't fool Sister Yun."
Xiao Yuan's voice shifted smoothly from cold and feminine to his usual tone. His long, slender fingers pinched the edge of his veil and removed it, revealing his smiling, handsome face.
"It's really you?"
Yun Yun stared, still a bit in disbelief.
"Just a little throat muscle trick. As for the clothes, after we parted last time, I figured—if you ever ended up in my care again, you'd need something to wear. I prepared a few sets. Who knew you'd actually like them?"
Xiao Yuan chuckled.
Yun Yun frowned. "What kind of nonsense are you saying? I wore your robes only because I had to hide my identity. Once this mission ends, I'll throw them out!"
"Heh, it's not that I hoped you'd be injured—I hoped you'd end up in my hands. I may only be a temporary Dou Huang now, but at least I'm worthy of you, right?"
He leapt up onto the dragon's head and sat down, grinning.
"Wait, what happened? How did you—?"
Yun Yun joined him and folded her wings, curious.
"Sigh… Queen Medusa 'rewarded' me with some energy. Nearly blew me up!"
Xiao Yuan looked conflicted. He wasn't about to say he got force-kissed in a daze.
"How is a Dou Shi body supposed to endure so much energy?"
She grabbed his wrist to check.
"My god! You're a walking bomb!"
Her eyes widened.
"Nothing I could do. At least I had my Heavenly Flame to protect my meridians. And I've got a plan. Since you're here, maybe you can help guard me while I stabilize it."
Xiao Yuan smiled.
"Even I'd need days to manage this much energy. You're juggling ice dragons and refining your energy—can you really handle it?"
"No problem. Already working on it."
He pointed to the dragon.
Yun Yun followed his gaze—and saw the dragon glowing faintly with rainbow light. Xiao Yuan's aura was also diminishing.
"You're transferring energy into the dragon? Not a bad idea… but a bit wasteful, no?"
Xiao Yuan didn't reply—just smiled.
Then, as his aura dropped to the Dou Wang level, he changed his hand seals. A rainbow light glowed in his palm, forming a circular seal shaped like a coiled, seven-colored snake. It radiated an ominous energy.
Sensing its danger, Yun Yun instinctively recoiled, Dou Qi flaring.
"A sealing technique?"
"Yep. Queen Medusa's Serpent Seal. Picked it up by luck. Too raw to use in battle—but it'll work fine on myself."
Xiao Yuan nodded and pressed the seal onto the dragon.
Rainbow light burst forth. The black ice dragon shrank, then turned into a vibrant seven-colored glow and merged into Xiao Yuan's chest.
Then—
With no mount, both Xiao Yuan and Yun Yun began falling.
Thankfully, Yun Yun reacted instantly, sprouting her wings to stabilize herself.
She was about to grab him—but remembered his flying skill. Better not give him another excuse to cling.
Then she realized something was wrong.
Xiao Yuan wasn't flying. His aura was dimming—and he wasn't adjusting his fall.
"Did the sealing technique backfire?!"
Startled, she dove after him using her high-level movement technique Floating Wind Remnants.
As she got closer, she saw the rainbow glow on Xiao Yuan's face. His aura was calm—but ready to explode.
"This reckless idiot!"
Grumbling, she rushed forward and caught the still-white-robed Xiao Yuan in her arms.
His hands continued to shift through seals. Though his energy wasn't as overwhelming as before, it still far exceeded what a Dou Shi could handle.
He was using this moment… to charge into the realm of Da Dou Shi!
(END CHAPTER)
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