Chapter 46: The Battle Begins
Tianxing Mountains
"Soul Heaven Emperor, weren't you going to send me off? Then come and show me what progress have you made in the past hundred years?"
Xiao Xuan's domineering aura radiated in all directions, making him appear like an invincible war god descending from the heavens. Without a weapon in hand, one could still imagine him wielding a war halberd and towering over the battlefield, the epitome of strength and grandeur.
It was undeniable that the bloodlines of the Ancient Eight Clans were exceptional. Their men were strikingly handsome, their women beautiful. Even those considered "ordinary" within their ranks were still far above the average. Xiao Xuan, despite not possessing Xiao Tiance's sharp handsomeness, exuded an unmatched, awe inspiring charisma born from his overwhelming might.
"Let's see what's left of you, now that you're gravely injured. Hopefully, you won't disappoint me."
The Soul Heaven Emperor's cold smirk deepened as his Dou Qi surged violently.
Behind him, Soul Yuan Tian and the other Soul Clan powerhouses exchanged glances. Without hesitation, the four experts vanished, reappearing in the cardinal directions around Xiao Xuan and the Soul Heaven Emperor.
"Gate of Silent Death!"
With a synchronized shout, the four unleashed massive formations, their imposing auras locking down the area. The resulting Death's Domain Formation was complete, sealing both Xiao Xuan and the Soul Heaven Emperor within.
Xiao Xuan's gaze flicked across the four gates, and his expression darkened slightly. He had long heard of the Gates of Silent Death, the Soul Clan's infamous formation tools. When combined, they created the Death's Domain, a formation said to suppress any being below the Half Emperor level, ensuring no escape.
As he sensed the formation's oppressive power, Xiao Xuan smirked coldly. "It seems you've gone to great lengths to deal with me. The Death's Domain Formation... not bad."
"Of course. You're Xiao Xuan. Do you think I'd make the mistake of underestimating you?"
The Soul Heaven Emperor's tone was calm and confident. To him, Xiao Xuan's arrogance was expected, even admired. After all, without such hubris, Xiao Xuan wouldn't have reached his current heights. But today, his downfall was inevitable.
As far as the Soul Heaven Emperor was concerned, the Xiao Clan was already as good as dead. Without their Dou Di bloodlines, the Xiao Clan would crumble before his forces in mere moments.
"Enough talk. Kill me if you dare and be done with it."
Xiao Xuan roared, and his Dou Qi surged violently. His hands gathered immense power, the surrounding air trembling under the pressure.
"Heavenly Skill Skyshattering Palm!"
With a shout, Xiao Xuan thrust his palm forward. The massive energy imprint tore through everything in its path, heading straight for the Soul Heaven Emperor.
The Soul Heaven Emperor's expression didn't waver. He countered with a palm strike of his own.
"Boom!"
The two attacks collided, generating a deafening explosion. The shockwave reverberated through the Death's Domain, shaking the formation to its core. The four Soul Clan elders gritted their teeth, funneling more Dou Qi into the gates to stabilize the formation.
"Hold steady!" Soul Yuan Tian barked, veins bulging as he reinforced his gate.
Despite the devastating clash, the Death's Domain held firm. Its resilience affirmed its reputation as one of the Soul Clan's most prized treasures.
If Xiao Tiance had been present to witness this, he might have felt relieved for not recklessly attacking the Soul Clan. Had he been caught within this formation, escape would have been impossible. Even with his strength, facing this setup alongside the Soul Heaven Emperor would have spelled certain death.
"Again!" Xiao Xuan roared.
Excitement flashed in his eyes as he launched another assault, pouring his frustrations and fury into every strike.
"Bring it on!"
The Soul Heaven Emperor retaliated with Heaven Destroying Devil Palm, meeting Xiao Xuan's ferocity head on.
"Soul Shattering Hand of the Dead!"
The area erupted with another series of devastating explosions. The sheer intensity of their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, strong enough to obliterate weaker Dou Shengs caught in the crossfire.
"HAHAHA! Soul Heaven Emperor, you've improved!"
Xiao Xuan's laughter boomed as his palm strike sent the Soul Heaven Emperor staggering backward.
He was genuinely impressed. In the past, a blow of this caliber would have severely injured the Soul Heaven Emperor. Now, the man stood firm, albeit with slightly unstable Dou Qi.
The Soul Heaven Emperor slammed his foot into the ground, halting his backward momentum. His face was grim, his heart heavy with unease.
"This man... even with such grave injuries, his power is terrifying. If he weren't already weakened, I wouldn't dare face him."
The Soul Heaven Emperor's mind raced. Xiao Xuan's battle prowess was monstrous. Even now, he hadn't used his full strength.
The Soul Heaven Emperor recalled Xiao Xuan's secret technique, the Heavenly Flame Triple Change, which boosted his combat power to unimaginable levels. This technique had once allowed Xiao Xuan to fight his way into the Soul Clan's stronghold, defeating their elites and leaving unscathed.
"Void Swallowing Flame, aid me!"
The Soul Heaven Emperor's voice cut through the chaos. He couldn't afford to fight Xiao Xuan alone, not with the stakes this high.
"Understood!" Void Swallowing Flame's figure blurred as he appeared at the Soul Heaven Emperor's side.
"Be cautious. Xiao Xuan's power is immense. We don't need to defeat him outright just hold him off until his injuries take their toll."
"I'm not foolish enough to challenge him head on."
Void Swallowing Flame nodded solemnly. He had witnessed Xiao Xuan's might firsthand and knew better than to underestimate him.
Xiao Xuan observed the two with a mixture of disdain and grudging respect. He admired the Soul Heaven Emperor's pragmatism but couldn't help but sneer at his lack of courage.
"Two against one? Fine by me."
Void Swallowing Flame and the Soul Heaven Emperor unleashed their techniques simultaneously.
"Void Domain: Heaven Devouring Abyss!"
"Death March: Legion of Wailing Souls!"
The atmosphere grew dark and oppressive. Cold, damp energy filled the air, like stepping into the depths of the underworld.
Xiao Xuan sneered. "Two opponents or ten it makes no difference."
With a roar, his Dou Qi surged, and he activated a counter skill.
"Inferno That Shatters the Sky: Army of Flames!"
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