Chapter 53: Xiao Xuan's Last Stand, Gu Yuan Arrives
"So this is what's called a spiritual array? Eight star spiritual arrays... their power matches eight star Dou Shengs?"
At the entrance of the Xiao Realm, within the five layered spiritual array, Soul Yuanpo's face showed deep fear. He now fully understood: as long as he couldn't break through to nine star Dou Sheng, all his struggles would be futile.
"Xiao Tiance, your methods are truly impressive. I admit my defeat!"
Smashing apart a giant falling mountain with a single palm, Soul Yuanpo yelled toward Xiao Tiance.
"Oh? Does that mean you're ready to surrender?" Xiao Tiance replied with a playful smirk.
"Hahaha! Surrender? What kind of joke is that? Xiao Tiance, the Soul Clan has warriors who die in battle, but never cowards who surrender! Come on, I'll be waiting for you below!" Soul Yuanpo laughed madly, his eyes filled with resolve.
Xiao Tiance's cold sneer deepened. "If you won't surrender, then what's the point of all this talk?"
With that, he pushed the five spiritual arrays to their limit. Multiple waves of energy struck Soul Yuanpo, slamming him into the ground. The golden sands rose like ocean waves, swallowing him whole.
"Hahaha! Xiao Tiance, I'll be waiting for you..."
Moments later, silence returned within the array. The battle had ended, and all 100 Soul Clan Dou Shengs who attacked the Xiao Clan were wiped out.
Xiao Tiance withdrew the array, collecting the scattered bodies of the fallen Dou Shengs.
"Even as corpses, they're treasures," he muttered. "Whether turned into Sky Demon Puppets or Beast Puppets, they'll strengthen the Xiao Clan in their own way."
After ensuring no resources were left behind, he turned to gaze at the ruined Xiao Realm.
"What a pity... thousands of years of glory, and it all ends here."
He sighed deeply, his expression tinged with regret.
But his focus quickly shifted to the black jade pendant floating before him. The glow on it was growing dimmer a clear sign that Xiao Xuan's life force was rapidly fading.
"Brother Xuan, forgive me for not coming to your side. I can't risk exposing myself to Soul Heaven Emperor. However, this massacre of his forces is the least I can do for you right now."
With that, Xiao Tiance stepped into the void and vanished.
At the Peak of the Heavenly Star Mountains
Xiao Xuan stood tall, though his strength was fading. One hand clenched around Soul Yuantian's neck before snapping it with a resounding crack.
The eight star Dou Sheng's lifeless body fell limp, and Xiao Xuan summoned a blaze to consume it completely, reducing it to ashes that scattered on the wind.
Not far from him lay three similar piles of ash what remained of Soul Motian, Soul Yao, and Soul Shengtian.
A hundred meters away, the Soul Heaven Emperor stood, his robes drenched in blood and his face pale. Despite his injuries, his aura was still imposing.
Beside him, Void Devouring Flame was equally battered. If not for the Soul Heaven Emperor's timely intervention, he might have already lost his sentience.
"As expected of Xiao Xuan," Void Devouring Flame said solemnly. "He shattered the Deathly Realm Array in mere moments. We no longer have a way to trap him."
The Soul Heaven Emperor's face darkened. "I know, but look at him. He's barely holding on. It's only a matter of time before he succumbs to his injuries. We'll keep dragging this out his death is inevitable."
Despite his confident words, the Soul Heaven Emperor couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.
In less than an hour, Xiao Xuan had shattered their ultimate array, killed four eight star Dou Shengs, and left the two of them in dire straits. Even in his weakened state, Xiao Xuan remained a terrifying opponent.
"Hahaha! What's wrong, Soul Heaven Emperor? Are you scared? Why don't you come and fight me?"
Xiao Xuan's laughter boomed across the mountaintop. Despite his tattered state, his domineering aura remained unyielding.
"Xiao Xuan, I admit you are stronger than me, but today, you are fated to die."
Xiao Xuan responded with another hearty laugh, his hand clutching a wound inflicted earlier by the Soul Heaven Emperor. His body swayed, teetering on the brink of collapse, yet his eyes burned with defiance.
Still, the Soul Heaven Emperor and Void Devouring Flame didn't dare approach. Xiao Xuan had feigned weakness once before, using the opportunity to destroy the Deathly Realm Array and kill four of their comrades.
"Hahaha! If you won't come to me, I'll leave instead!"
Xiao Xuan feigned turning away, his movements deliberate.
The Soul Heaven Emperor's sharp eyes narrowed. Sensing something amiss, he unleashed his most powerful Heavenly Grade Dou Technique:
"Soul Annihilation Sky!"
An overwhelming surge of energy descended upon Xiao Xuan like a divine judgment, shaking the heavens and earth.
Prepared for such a move, Xiao Xuan countered with a devastating palm strike of his own.
Two Heavenly Grade Dou Techniques collided, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave. Mountains crumbled, and the land below was obliterated.
The Soul Heaven Emperor pressed his advantage, launching a flurry of strikes. In the blink of an eye, he exchanged a hundred blows with Xiao Xuan.
The two combatants were forced apart by a simultaneous clash.
Though Xiao Xuan's attacks remained formidable, the Soul Heaven Emperor could see through the cracks in his facade.
"Hahaha! You're just holding on by a thread! Xiao Xuan, today is your end!"
Xiao Xuan's expression didn't falter. He had long accepted his fate. What surprised him, however, was that Gu Yuan, who had promised to join the battle, had yet to arrive.
"Death means nothing to me," Xiao Xuan retorted. "Soul Heaven Emperor, you're pitiful. You lack the courage to defy fate and the strength to sacrifice everything for transcendence."
"Maybe so," the Soul Heaven Emperor replied coldly. "But the result is clear. I'll live, and you'll die. That's all that matters."
Suddenly, the Soul Heaven Emperor's expression shifted. His instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Space rippled above them as Gu Yuan emerged, flanked by the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan.
"Xiao Xuan, sorry to keep you waiting," Gu Yuan said as he descended. He quickly supported Xiao Xuan, helping him stay upright.
"Hahaha! I thought you'd forgotten about me," Xiao Xuan chuckled weakly.
Gu Yuan shook his head. "I was delayed dealing with some intruders, but I'm here now."
Turning to the Soul Heaven Emperor and Void Devouring Flame, Gu Yuan's expression grew icy.
"It's been a long time, Soul Heaven Emperor. I see your ambitions haven't waned. But it seems your plans for the Gu Clan have failed."
The Soul Heaven Emperor's face darkened. "So, you discovered that, Gu Yuan?"
Gu Yuan's smirk was razor sharp. "Of course. Did you think your petty schemes would succeed?"
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