"Hmph!"
The Old Ground Demon Ghost let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with dark malice. He took a deep breath, suppressing the raging fire within his heart. "Save your pitiful taunts, brat. You should be more concerned about the moment your Secret Technique wears off. When that time comes, and you fall helpless into my hands, don't expect even a shred of mercy from me."
Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed at the threat. He was all too aware of the limitations of his Secret Technique. At most, he had two hours left, three if he forced his body beyond its limits. Yet he knew that if he dared to push further, exhaustion would overtake him, and he might fall unconscious, completely vulnerable.
He had hoped to rile the Old Ground Demon Ghost, to shake his resolve. Yet this old fiend was indeed a wary and shrewd opponent, well aware of Xiao Hua's hidden powers and unorthodox methods.
Xiao Hua cast a glance at the orange-hued Lightning Beast, which stood still as a statue, its eyes closed, exuding an air of indifference. He couldn't understand what had befallen it, but he could sense the rising storm within—its violent aura was intensifying by the second, its destructive force becoming even more untamed and unrestrained.
'It seems I can't rely on this one for assistance…' Xiao Hua let out a wry smile as he observed the indifferent creature.
Without the Lightning Beast's cooperation, he wouldn't be able to wield the Heavenly Wrathful Lightning just yet. Unlike the previous three Heavenly Lightning, this one was notoriously difficult to control. Its wild, tempestuous energy demanded mastery—a precise command that required rigorous practice. Otherwise, there was a grave risk it could spiral out of control, leaving him vulnerable to a fierce backlash.
With a calm breath, Xiao Hua closed his eyes. The colourful wings behind him trembled slightly, emitting a low, resonant hum. At the same time, a boundless, formidable Spiritual Strength surged from his brow, encasing his entire being in a powerful aura, one that braced itself for the impending clash.
A piercing, silver light suddenly erupted from Xiao Hua's wings, spreading across his body in the blink of an eye, as if he were cloaked in molten starlight.
His eyes snapped open, the radiant silver glow illuminating his heterochromatic gaze. His right eye, once golden, and his left, once azure, both shimmered with a brilliant silver hue. Inside them, lightning danced wildly before leaping out, crackling with boundless vitality entwined with the forms of four ethereal phoenixes that occasionally appeared.
"Four Illusionary Phoenixes!" Xiao Hua's voice resonated through the air like thunder.
For a brief instant, his figure blurred, as if a mirage had overtaken his form. Then, to the horror of the Old Ground Demon Ghost, three identical silhouettes—each radiating the same fierce silver light and bearing the same formidable aura—split from Xiao Hua's body, surrounding him like ethereal phoenixes ready to strike.
The four silver clones, each an exact replica of Xiao Hua, spread out in four directions. They stood beside him, silent yet brimming with energy, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the Old Ground Demon Ghost, as if daring him to make a move.
Four Illusionary Phoenixes!
This technique was one of the concealed Dou Technique within the legendary cultivation method, Four Divine Phoenixes, Fly and Dance Across Heaven, known collectively as the Four Mysterious Body. Xiao Hua had not initially been aware of its existence; he stumbled upon it only after refining his first pair of wings. Even amidst the vast torrent of knowledge transmitted to him about this mysterious method, this technique remained carefully concealed, a secret hidden even from him.
Only by refining his first wings and fusing his blood with the Blood Essence of a Magical Beast carrying an exceptionally pure Phoenix bloodline did the knowledge of these hidden techniques begin to reveal itself to him.
From what Xiao Hua had gleaned, the Four Mysterious Body held within it four hidden abilities. However, information on the remaining three was still as elusive as shadows on a moonless night, shrouded in cryptic hints and whispers that only pointed to a deeper, untapped potential within the method.
The first of these abilities had now been unlocked, a technique akin to the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body of the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Yet, unlike that technique—which produced a single avatar of comparable strength—Four Illusionary Phoenixes allowed Xiao Hua to summon not one, but four identical avatars, each equal to his own strength and power.
This technique came at a steep cost to his Spiritual Strength. However, unlike the avatars formed through the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body, these phoenix avatars required no additional tempering or cultivation, manifesting instead as extensions of Xiao Hua's own strength, fully capable and ready to confront any foe that dared cross his path.
The discovery left Xiao Hua filled with boundless excitement. From what he understood, once he completely formed the fourth and final pair of wings, not even a Dou Sheng could bind him using Spatial Lock or suppress him with their overwhelming aura.
To think this Four Mysterious Body would reveal itself in such a manner! What he had originally believed to be merely a flight technique turned out to conceal an astonishing hidden Dou Technique. Only now did he truly grasp the reason behind Lady Azure's creation of this method!
Initially, he had thought the technique to be at the Xuan or Di class, yet he now realized with the hidden Four Mysterious Body, this technique was nothing less than a Tian-class Dou Technique! And even among Tian-class Dou Techniques, this was undoubtedly of a superior grade, far exceeding his wildest expectations.
One of Xiao Hua's four avatars stepped forward before transforming into a streak of silver light. The air around him crackled with muffled thunder and the howl of violent wind as he shot toward the Old Ground Demon Ghost at blinding speed. In an instant, the clone appeared before the old demon, its fist raised high before striking down toward his head with ruthless precision.
The Old Ground Demon Ghost's expression darkened, a sinister glint flickering in his eyes. In response, a wave of dark, frigid energy surged from within him, coalescing around his hand. It radiated a bone-chilling cold as he thrust it forward, leaving a dark trail of frost in its wake.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fist and palm met in a fierce clash, fiery blows colliding against frigid strikes. Neither moved an inch, their attacks entangled in a deadly, rhythmic exchange. Their blows blurred together like lightning in the sky, neither yielding, each determined to see the other fall.
The booming sounds of muffled explosions echoed like thunder, sending out ripples of shocking force that spread through the air, leaving all who watched with a chill in their hearts. The sheer ferocity of the battle left onlookers breathless, caught between awe and terror.
'How could this clone possessed the same strength as that boy?!' The Old Ground Demon Ghost's heart filled with shock and a flicker of frustration. He had witnessed Xiao Hua use this technique just moments ago and assumed that the four avatars would possess only half of Xiao Hua's power.
His deduction was reasonable, yet he overlooked a crucial detail, failing to grasp the truth behind Xiao Hua's technique.
Earlier, when Xiao Hua unleashed the Four Illusionary Phoenixes against the four Dou Zongs, he hadn't fully manifested the technique's true power. In his rush to strike, he had only formed hazy clones, mere phantoms that bore only half his strength. They hadn't been true avatars, but fleeting imitations lacking his full might.
This time, however, Xiao Hua was fully prepared. Activating the technique at full strength required an immense outpouring of both Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength—so much that even his vast reservoirs felt noticeably drained. He could sense a substantial depletion within his soul and core, despite the formidable capacity of his Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength reserves.
The Old Ground Demon Ghost had no way of knowing the price Xiao Hua paid to bring forth these fully empowered avatars, and now he was paying dearly for underestimating them.
The two additional avatars glanced briefly at Xiao Hua and the final clone, exchanging a silent understanding before leaping into action. They surged forward, joining the attack and catching the Old Ground Demon Ghost completely off guard, placing him in a tight, nearly inescapable situation.
Meanwhile, the fourth avatar remained by Xiao Hua's side, vigilant. This old ghost was as cunning as he was ruthless, and if an opportunity arose, he wouldn't hesitate to target Xiao Hua directly.
'Curse it!' The Old Ground Demon Ghost's heart sank, his expression growing darker and more grim as the two new avatars joined the fray. 'If these two have the same power as the first, I'm in a truly dire position!'
In desperation, he summoned a wave of dark, icy energy, condensing it into a foot-long shard of black ice aimed directly at the nearest clone. He turned, attempting to rip through space to escape, but found his path blocked as the other two clones appeared before him, cutting him off.
With grim determination, the Old Ground Demon Ghost transformed into a streak of black light, surrounded by a chilling, pitch-black aura, as he tried to flee. Yet the three avatars moved as one, each a streak of blue lightning interwoven with muffled thunder and a fierce gale, chasing him with unrelenting speed, refusing to give him any avenue of escape.
"I despise resorting to this… but it appears I have no other choice," Xiao Hua murmured within, watching as his three avatars relentlessly pursued the Old Ground Demon Ghost, sealing off any chance of escape. He sighed slightly, knowing that even if he and his last avatar joined the battle, the Old Ground Demon Ghost might grow desperate enough to launch a suicidal counterattack.
Having read countless cultivation tales, he knew all too well that some cultivators, when cornered, would rather perish than surrender, often dragging their foes down with them. Though the old ghost was a coward at heart and unlikely to self-destruct, there could very well be hidden forces or traps he hadn't yet revealed.
And the Hall of Souls… Xiao Hua's thoughts flickered to the Hall of Souls members known to lurk in the Black-Corner Region. He couldn't be certain when they had arrived, nor was he eager to find out. The current Xiao Hua stood no chance against them, and if it were someone like Protector Wu or Protector Xuan—both powerful Dou Zongs armed with mysterious and strange abilities—he would be gravely outmatched.
Left with no alternative, he resolved to unleashed the First Strike of the Nine Supreme Chaos Strike. It was a technique meant to end things swiftly, a strike designed to leave no opening for interference. If he were to finish this, it had to be done now, decisively, before any unwanted parties had the chance to intervene.
"Yet I doubt even my first strike will be enough to end this old ghost. Without another Primordial Heavenly Flame to fully control it, the power will run rampant… but the second strike should ensure he meets his end," Xiao Hua murmured, his gaze sharpening with deadly resolve.
As his words faded, a blinding golden-green light erupted from his body, so intense that onlookers had to shield their eyes. When the glow dimmed, Xiao Hua's right hand crackled with golden lightning, while a vibrant green flame flickered around his left hand.
The air buzzed with the intense crackling of the golden lightning that danced along his arms, casting a faint, shimmering glow. Though barely visible, its power caused the entire atmosphere to tremble. Meanwhile, the green flame emitted an oppressive heat that forced the temperature to surge, raising it more than tenfold.
"Old Ghost," Xiao Hua's voice rang out like thunder, "prepare to greet King Yama for me!"
With that, he brought his palms close, hovering one above the other. The golden lightning and the green flame surged toward each other, merging at the center. As they converged, the natural energy around them grew chaotic, swirling in violent waves as if the very heavens had been provoked, ready to unleash a cataclysmic wrath.
"Oh no! This is… bad!"
The Old Ground Demon Ghost's face drained of color as he sensed the wild, uncontrollable surge of natural energy in the air. He could feel the looming threat of Xiao Hua's technique—a power capable of inflicting serious injury upon him, maybe even worse. He had never imagined this young cultivator could wield such a terrifying technique.
Desperately, he tried to disrupt it or escape, but the relentless assault of Xiao Hua's four avatars left him no openings. Each time he managed to block one, the others closed in immediately, pressing the attack from every angle. Dodging and deflecting strikes with every ounce of his strength, he found himself trapped in a flawless onslaught, unable to exploit even the smallest gap to flee.
Then—
Boom!
Suddenly, as he was caught within the ceaseless barrage, a terrifying force exploded from Xiao Hua's direction, surging outward like a torrential flood. The overwhelming power spread rapidly, and even the Dou Qi within the Old Ground Demon Ghost felt sluggish and restrained, as if yielding to the pressure of this monumental energy.
The onlookers stared in shock, their eyes fixed on the source of the terrifying force. Suspended above Xiao Hua's right palm was an elegant orb of golden-green light, swirling quietly yet radiating an aura of immense, destructive power.
"What… what is that?" one of the spectators stammered, his face drained of color as a sense of dread crept into his heart. Even from afar, the violent energy emanating from the orb filled him with a primal fear.
"This… such destructive energy—it can't be from any ordinary Dou Technique…" another muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
One of the onlookers shook himself from his trance and shouted, "Who cares what it is? If he releases that attack, we'll all be caught in the blast!"
"Everyone, retreat! Now!"
"Run! Don't look back!"
"That's no ordinary child! He's a monster in disguise!"
At that, the crowd broke free from their shock, scrambling to retreat in fear. They bolted, desperate to put as much distance between themselves and the impending devastation as possible. Among them, leaders of various factions quickly ordered their lower-ranking disciples and members to fall back. A deep, unshakable fear took root in their hearts, engraving Xiao Hua's image within them—none among them would ever dare cross paths with this monstrous boy, nor would they allow anyone in their sects to offend him.
Even the distant onlookers could sense the destructive energy rippling out, so it was only natural that the Old Ground Demon Ghost, standing closer than anyone, would feel it more acutely. In fact, with his heightened perception and profound cultivation realm, he perceived the devastating power within the orb with frightening clarity.
The expression of the Old Ground Demon Ghost shifted drastically. The dense killing intent and hatred that once filled his heart had entirely evaporated, replaced by a chilling dread. The surging, violent energy contained within the orb was far more terrifying than the outward force it radiated, an overwhelming power that could easily obliterate him if he stayed a moment too long.
Now, he had only one thought—escape. Escape from this place as swiftly as his abilities would allow!
But that was merely his desire. Xiao Hua's three avatars had formed an unbreakable barricade, blocking his every attempt to flee and even preventing him from tearing through the space to retreat. The avatars pursued him relentlessly, sealing off every escape route and forcing him to confront the inevitable.
Xiao Hua paid no mind to the clamor around him, his gaze fixed on the golden-green orb in his palm. With a slight sigh, his eyes shifted to the disheveled figure of the Old Ground Demon Ghost, struggling desperately against three of Xiao Hua's avatars.
"You're so eager to flee? Then allow me to send you off with a gift!"
A chilling smile touched his lips as he flicked his fingers lightly. The golden-green orb slipped from his hand, spinning fiercely in mid-air. From the surrounding void, threads of fiery-red essence and crackling silver energy converged into the orb, weaving an otherworldly beauty around its violent, destructive aura.
With an almost ethereal grace, the orb glided toward the Old Ground Demon Ghost, tracing an entrancing golden-green arc through the air. Its pace was neither swift nor slow, yet it bore an inescapable inevitability. It was as if no matter how one tried to evade, the orb would always find its way.
Wherever the orb passed, the very fabric of space was torn, leaving in its wake a yawning, dark fissure—an abyss so deep and forbidding that once touched, escape was but a fleeting dream…
In an instant, Xiao Hua's three avatars withdrew, positioning themselves silently beside him. They shared Xiao Hua's profound understanding of his techniques, and naturally, they knew there was no need to continue stalling the Old Ground Demon Ghost.
Noticing their retreat, the Old Ground Demon Ghost clenched his teeth, frustration and rage coursing through him. He knew well that his miscalculation had allowed Xiao Hua the freedom to unleash his full power, pushing him to this precarious edge.
Desperation clawed at him—he wanted to escape, yet the golden-green orb was already upon him, hovering menacingly close. The intense heat and crackling lightning within the mesmerizing sphere tightened every pore in his body. His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
There was no room for hesitation. If he wished to survive, he had to confront this deadly attack, even if only to buy a sliver of time. Only then could he consider slipping away from this place, escaping the grasp of this monstrous youth.
....
The elegant golden-green orb glided through the sky, leaving a mesmerizing trail. With each graceful movement, it released powerful ripples that spread outward, undulating through the air with an unstoppable force. Every pulse from the orb deepened the Old Ground Demon Ghost's solemn expression, until his very soul seemed to grow numb.
He understood all too well—he might truly perish at the hands of this mere youth, a Dou Wang whose strength had been artificially elevated through some secret technique. The humiliation and dread gnawed at him, but he dared not hold back now.
Drawing a deep, shuddering breath, his face flushed an unnatural crimson. With a hissing sound, waves of frigid black energy surged from his pores, forming a dark mist that spread around him. Mixed within the black miasma were faint, flickering traces of crimson—a sinister brightness that deepened the darkness and chill in the air, transforming it into something unearthly, malevolent.
The Old Ground Demon Ghost's power was terrifying, but even he could feel the weight of impending doom bearing down upon him.
"Winter Cold Blood!"
A hoarse, malevolent cry escaped from the mouth of the Old Ground Demon Ghost. In the wake of his voice, the dark, frigid air around him surged, expanding rapidly until, in the blink of an eye, it condensed into five layers of blue, octagonal barriers, each emanating an intense, bone-chilling frost.
The appearance of these barriers instantly plunged the surrounding air into a deep freeze. Tiny ice crystals began to drift down from the sky, an eerie and unnatural spectacle. To a keen observer, it would be evident that these crystals were not mere snowflakes but were formed from the water vapor in the air, frozen instantly by the bone-piercing cold radiating from the Old Ground Demon Ghost's dark aura.
The biting chill radiated outward like ripples on a frozen lake, extending rapidly across the landscape. In an instant, the freezing wave reached as far as the distant onlookers, who had already withdrawn from the forest. The oppressive cold passed through the trees and over the earth, forcing even those far from the battlefield to feel the Old Ground Demon Ghost's chilling, deadly power.
Xiao Hua sensed the strange, bone-chilling cold seeping through the air. If not for the unique nature of his Dou Qi, even his own energy would surely have shown signs of freezing in the presence of this unearthly frost…
The Old Ground Demon Ghost's chilling aura was so potent it could freeze even the Dou Qi within one's body—a terrifying feat indeed, befitting a powerful seven-star Dou Zong. This level of technique was truly nightmarish!
As the frigid blue octagonal barrier fully materialized, the golden-green sphere finally closed in. Its destructive energy radiated an intense heat and vibrant, thunderous power. The blue barrier wavered, trembling against the scorching force bearing down on it.
With each approach of the golden-green orb, the searing heat and thunderous energy pressed upon the chilling cold, swiftly overpowering it. The orb traced an elegant, captivating arc through the air, like a shooting star gliding through the night sky, leaving a radiant trail as it cut through the oppressive frost toward its target.
Xiu-xiu!
The golden-green sphere sliced through the air, whistling softly as it streaked toward the blue octagonal barrier surrounding the Old Ground Demon Ghost. It was like a meteor blazing through the heavens, carrying an almost serene power within its lethal descent.
Boom—!
Crack—!
The golden-green sphere crashed into the octagonal barrier with a thunderous impact, followed by the chilling sound of shattering glass. A massive crack splintered across the first barrier layer, which then burst into countless icy fragments, instantly vaporized by the sphere's overwhelming heat.
The Old Ground Demon Ghost fought desperately, channeling all his power to reinforce the barrier. But against the might of the golden-green sphere, his efforts proved futile. One by one, each layer of the five-fold octagonal barrier was obliterated in quick succession, unable to withstand the relentless, destructive force tearing through them.
"Kgh! Just what is this wretched technique? How did this brat even acquire such a monstrous skill?" the Old Ground Demon Ghost snarled in frustration. "The destructive power within that orb is horrifying. And to make matters worse, there's a powerful suction force, draining my Dou Qi from my body!"
He could feel the surrounding space growing increasingly unstable, warping under the violent energy radiating from the golden-green orb. This instability made it almost impossible to tear open the fabric of space for an escape. With the orb's destructive energy tearing through reality itself, even hiding within the void might not keep him safe. Yet, he reasoned grimly, it was still better than waiting here, helpless.
"Better to take the risk than wait for death!" The Old Ground Demon Ghost swiftly waved his hand, tearing a rift in the air. As a two-meter spatial crack appeared, he immediately lunged toward it, determined to seek refuge in the void.
Danger still loomed; he knew there was a high chance that the destructive force would breach even the void. But if he stayed outside, his Dou Qi would continue to be forcefully drained, leaving him utterly defenseless against the boy's overwhelming attack. He would rather take the slim chance of survival in the void than face certain doom here.
"As expected, he chose to hide in the void, despite the risks…" Xiao Hua murmured, a faint, cold smile touching his lips. He had anticipated this move—just as the Old Ground Demon Ghost had once sought refuge in the void to escape Xiao Yan's Annihilation Lotus Flame in the novel, he now attempted the same tactic here.
But Xiao Hua knew how this story ended. In that battle, the Old Ground Demon Ghost's plan had been foiled by the Guardians of Jia Nan Academy, Bai Lie and Qian Mu. Their timely arrival had sealed the old ghost's fate, leading to his ultimate downfall.
Without hesitation, Xiao Hua extended his hand, his fingers spread wide, and then clenched them into a tight fist. His voice was cold, sharp as steel: "Explode!"
The golden-green orb halted, hovering in place before it began to expand, swelling to the size of a ball, only to shrink down to a single pinprick of intense light. Then, in an instant, it burst outward, expanding to a hundred-meter radius with frightening speed.
Recognizing the impending chaos, Xiao Hua immediately retreated over two hundred kilometers to avoid being ensnared by the orb's violent blast radius. He could have let the expansion reach several hundred kilometers, but he held it at two hundred meters, ensuring he could control its berserk surge without getting caught in its wrath.
The orb's monstrous suction force activated, amplifying with each passing second. This was the true danger of his technique. The powerful pull remained even as the orb went berserk, its strength multiplying to terrifying levels.
This same suction would ensnare the Old Ground Demon Ghost, binding him to the forest and sealing any path of escape. With a fierce resolve, Xiao Hua knew that this time, there would be no fleeing for his opponent.
"Once again, the Old Ground Demon Ghost faces his own downfall, felled by his arrogance and overconfidence in his power," Xiao Hua mused to himself, pondering the old ghost's behavior.
He understood well that the Old Ground Demon Ghost held an extreme sense of superiority, often looking down on anyone whose strength didn't seem equal to his own. Even though Xiao Hua had shown him repeatedly that his techniques and strength had surpassed those of Xiao Yan at the time, even reaching a level where he posed a true threat, the old ghost's arrogance remained unshaken.
This left Xiao Hua curious. Why did the Old Ground Demon Ghost, after witnessing such powerful techniques, continue to underestimate him? If the Old Ground Demon Ghost had unleashed his full power from the start, the battle might have turned differently. Perhaps, even if the old ghost couldn't defeat him outright, he could have at least forced the battle to a stalemate, compelling them both to retreat.
Xiao Hua couldn't help but wonder if it was pride, stubbornness, or simply a deep-rooted disdain for anyone he deemed inferior that had clouded the old ghost's judgment. It seemed that, once again, the Old Ground Demon Ghost had fallen victim to his own pride.