Luo Yan Empire, the border city of Tian Ya.
"Hm?!"
"This surge of energy… a Dou Huang is breaking through?"
"And it's coming from the Jia Ma Empire. Is this a deliberate provocation or a show of strength?"
Yan Liu Sheng, the Grand Elder of the Jin Yan Sect and a seven-star Dou Huang, was known as the "Sound Emperor," ranking second among the Luo Yan Empire's top ten powerhouses. Having just finished hunting down royal remnants, he was passing through Tian Ya City when he sensed the breakthrough from the Jia Ma Empire's direction, sparking his surprise.
"Hmph! A mere three- or four-star Dou Huang dares to be so brazen? Does the Jia Ma Empire think the Luo Yan Empire is defenseless?"
The Jia Ma and Luo Yan Empires had long been adversaries, and Yan Liu Sheng's mind immediately turned to ambushing the unsuspecting cultivator. With a flare of yellow Dou Qi wings, he sped toward the Jia Ma Empire's border.
At that moment, Yun Yun was at a critical juncture in her breakthrough, fully focused and unable to tolerate any disturbance. Meanwhile, Yun Xian lounged nearby, casually tending a fire to roast magical beast meat, planning to offer Yun Yun a meal to restore her energy once she succeeded.
"Halt! This is Jia Ma Empire territory…"
A Dou Wang guarding the border rushed to intercept.
"Scram!"
Yan Liu Sheng didn't bother concealing his aura, his roar carrying the overwhelming presence of a Dou Huang.
"A Dou Huang?!"
The Jia Ma Dou Wang's face paled, and he turned tail to flee.
Yan Liu Sheng didn't spare him a glance, crossing the border into a sparsely wooded area. His senses quickly locked onto a cross-legged Dou Huang woman and her… Dou Shi protector?
Yan Liu Sheng froze, his face twisting with disbelief. A Dou Shi guarding a Dou Huang's breakthrough? Is this a joke?
"'When a friend comes from afar, is it not a joy?'" Yun Xian quoted, grinning. "Come, have some lion butt."
Pinching his nose, he tossed a pungent, tough chunk of crystal-studded purple beast meat skyward, unmistakably the hindquarters of some magical creature.
Yan Liu Sheng conjured a giant Dou Qi hand to catch it, staring at the grotesque offering. You call this hospitality?
"Tch! Jia Ma folks are so rude!"
His face darkened, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
"Eat it, and I'll spare your life," Yun Xian said, turning the lion ribs on the grill and sprinkling them with special spices, the savory aroma making mouths water.
"Spare my life? What an arrogant little…" Yan Liu Sheng's words caught as his eyes shrank, fixating on the ribs, then glancing back at the lion butt. Despite being dead, the meat still carried a faint trace of a magical beast king's aura.
"This… this is sixth-tier magical beast meat?!"
Yan Liu Sheng's eyes widened, as if witnessing something unimaginable. Sixth-tier magical beasts were equivalent to human Dou Huangs, often stronger due to their robust physiques. To kill one…
His gaze instinctively shifted to the woman breaking through. What? You think I'd look at the Dou Shi instead?
"Not bad for a three-star Dou Huang," he sneered. "Hmph! In that case, I won't hold back!"
Seizing the moment of Yun Yun's vulnerability, Yan Liu Sheng's eyes flashed with cold light, and he launched a sneak attack.
Buzz!
Drawing on the energies of heaven and earth, he unleashed his signature move without hesitation—a High Xuan Class sonic Dou Technique: Eightfold Goose Cry!
Eight illusory geese materialized, forming a Dou Qi array that unleashed a devastating sonic assault. He had once used this technique to slay a five-star Dou Huang from the Luo Yan royal family, and he was confident it could kill a three- or four-star Dou Huang with near-certain success.
Chirp…
The piercing goose cry rang out for a split second before cutting off abruptly.
"???"
Yan Liu Sheng's jaw dropped, horrified to find he could no longer make a sound.
"I gave you a chance," Yun Xian said, glancing at the discarded lion butt, his friendly smile fading. "If you won't eat, leave your life behind."
"!!!"
Something's wrong with that Dou Shi!
Yan Liu Sheng's pupils constricted. Years of life-and-death battles had honed his instincts for danger. Without hesitation, he flared his yellow Dou Qi wings and fled. Glancing back, he saw Yun Xian standing motionless, making no move to pursue.
For a moment, Yan Liu Sheng wondered if he'd misjudged. But after a mere second of doubt, he trusted his gut.
Whoosh!
A pair of cyan-blue fleshy wings burst through his robes—the Heavenly Goose Nine Flight Wings, a secret Jin Yan Sect technique for crafting flight Dou Techniques. Its rank depended on the materials used, and Yan Liu Sheng's were made from the wings of a sixth-tier Wind Lightning Eagle, reaching Low Di Class.
The Dou Qi wings and Goose wings merged together, unleashing a staggering burst of speed. In the blink of an eye, Yan Liu Sheng vanished beyond the horizon, his velocity rivaling some Dou Zongs.
But it was all for naught.
Yun Xian released a wisp of soul force from his brow, traversing space to catch up instantly. Yan Liu Sheng's body stiffened, then plummeted like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground.
Seven-star Dou Huang, soul extinguished, body dead!
___
Three days later, the fluctuations of heaven and earth stabilized.
Yun Yun successfully advanced to four-star Dou Huang!
"Congratulations, gege, on your breakthrough," Yun Xian said, handing her a perfectly grilled lion rib, crispy outside and tender within.
"Thank you…"
Exhausted from the breakthrough, Yun Yun was ravenous and accepted the fragrant rib without a second thought, devouring it eagerly.
"By the way, during my breakthrough, no one came to disturb us, right?" she asked curiously between bites.
"There were some, but I sent them packing," Yun Xian replied nonchalantly, telling the plain truth.
A Dou Huang breakthrough caused significant disturbances, especially in a border region, bound to attract attention. Besides Yan Liu Sheng, the Luo Yan Empire had sent three Dou Wangs, and a five-star Dou Huang from the Chu Yun Empire had also tried to ambush them.
Regrettably, none accepted the lion butt. Refusing his generosity, Yun Xian had no choice but to send them to their deaths.
"Well, thank you, then~"
Yun Yun smiled warmly but didn't take his words seriously, assuming her luck had held and no strong foes had noticed. She never imagined that two Dou Huangs and three Dou Wangs had come to attack during her breakthrough.
____
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