Chapter 201: Two Elders of the Hundred Scars?
The fierce battle between Dou Zuns and Dou Zongs quickly drew countless spectators from various factions in the Black Corner Region.
The crowd watched in terror as three Dou Zuns clashed in the skies above, their attacks unleashing deafening explosions and spatial distortions filled with black light.
"Dou Zuns are truly terrifying!"
"Damn it, the Jia Nan Academy is so strong! They're holding their ground against two Dou Zuns and four peak Dou Zongs!"
"Doesn't Jia Nan Academy only have Elder Su Qian as their Dou Zun? Where did this other Dou Zun suddenly come from? How can I avenge my father's death now?"
"It must be the headmaster of Jia Nan Academy. I heard long ago that the headmaster was a Dou Zun, but he hasn't shown himself for over a century. This crisis must have forced him out."
"So that's the reason..."
"Huh? Why that expression? Aren't you going to avenge your father?"
"Just a grudge over my father's death, nothing to dwell on. It's better to let it go. I've decided to make peace with Jia Nan Academy this time!"
Within the Black Corner Region, countless people observed the battle intently. In the void, faint distortions began to appear in several spots other Dou Zuns were arriving.
"Hmph..." The green robed elder snorted coldly. He sensed many "old acquaintances" nearby. If his disciple weren't present, he'd likely take this opportunity to exchange pleasantries with them.
The green robed elder refocused on the battlefield. Battles of this magnitude between Dou Zuns were worth studying, especially when he wasn't personally involved.
"It seems the Hall of Souls came prepared. The outcome of this battle will hinge on the Dou Zong level skirmishes..." the elder muttered to himself.
Above the Inner Academy's spatial barrier, the three Dou Zuns were locked in a fierce stalemate. One side unleashed earth shaking chains that roared with black mist, while the other drove a massive Dou Qi dragon, rampaging back and forth yet unable to overpower the two from the Hall of Souls.
"Jie jie jie... Lin Hao, you're getting desperate!" Qin Tian cackled, his palms striking forward in rapid succession.
As expected, everything was going according to his plan. He had anticipated this exact scenario!
Hiss hiss hiss!
Shrill screeches suddenly erupted, making everyone's scalp tingle. Nearly a hundred black poisonous snakes shot out with Qin Tian's deadly palm strikes.
The snakes' fangs gleamed white, their crimson eyes dripping malice, and the stench from their mouths quickly filled the sky.
"Tricks like these!" Lin Hao sneered. The massive Dou Qi dragon beneath him opened its maw, and countless spiraling earth spikes burst forth, targeting each of the black snakes with precision.
Puff puff puff!
A series of muffled sounds echoed as Lin Hao's spikes easily shattered Qin Tian's attacks. After all, Lin Hao was a four star Dou Zun, and his strength allowed him to obliterate Qin Tian's offensive in a single move.
The Dou Qi dragon roared skyward and charged forward with its tail whipping violently.
Take advantage of their weakness to finish them off!
There was no need for honor when dealing with the Hall of Souls' scum cheap shots and sneak attacks were the best strategy!
Clang!
At that moment, a thunderous metallic hum echoed as an enormous spear formed of chains pierced through the earth spikes ahead, striking the Dou Qi dragon's massive head with force.
At the end of the chains, Elder Xiu Tu's face turned slightly pale. Even with his strength, keeping up with the pace of the battle was a struggle.
Boom!
The spear collided with the dragon, causing a deafening explosion. In the next instant, faint cracks appeared on the spear, spreading rapidly across its surface.
A vicious glint flashed in Qin Tian's eyes as he howled and slammed his palm against the base of the spear.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Dark, eerie runes lit up along the chain spear. It exploded with a sinister black glow that engulfed everything.
The Dou Qi dragon's eyes flashed with panic. It flicked its tail and retreated like lightning, while Lin Hao dashed forward, his hands glowing with an earthy yellow light.
A dazzling yellow crystal seal materialized.
"Overturning Earth Seal!"
Lin Hao thrust his palm forward with a roar, sending the crystal seal crashing into the chain spear.
Boom!
The chain spear shattered into countless fragments, scattering across the sky like deadly scythes. Screams erupted from those too close to the battle as they were instantly slain by the flying shards.
Those lucky enough to survive screamed and scrambled away, knowing full well they could be killed at any moment.
Lin Hao's expression darkened. The two from the Hall of Souls shared a coordinated set of techniques, making them an annoyingly difficult duo to deal with.
"Jie jie jie... Lin Hao, you won't leave here alive unless you defeat us!" Qin Tian cackled. "I've anticipated everything, old man! My plans aren't so easy to thwart!"
Elder Xiu Tu remained silent, his expression grim. He knew the true key to victory lay not in their Dou Zun clash but on the Dou Zong battlefield below.
Their target was Yao Chen. If they captured him, victory would be assured, and they could retreat without hesitation.
Battling Lin Hao wasn't the priority.
"In that case... all of you can go to hell!" Lin Hao roared. His palms flared as two brilliant crystal seals appeared once more.
"Imperial Seal Technique? Jie jie jie... Do you think I don't have high level Dou Techniques?" Qin Tian sneered. "But Lin Hao, Yao Chen isn't doing well. You don't have much time left!"
Qin Tian taunted Lin Hao relentlessly. It was all part of his plan, premeditated to provoke the enemy.
...
Meanwhile, on the Dou Zong battlefield, Qin Tian's words rang true Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were struggling. Facing the ferocious attacks of a peak Dou Zong, they were barely holding their ground, unable to retaliate as they were pushed back step by step. They seemed like a lone leaf in a storm, always on the verge of being swallowed by the waves.
And yet... strangely enough, they remained unyielding. The Hall of Souls' protector couldn't seem to finish them off.
Xiao Yan's mastery of the Bone Chilling Flame had reached an extraordinary level. Despite his limited strength, he always managed to launch a desperate counter at critical moments, forcing his opponent to back off.
This infuriatingly persistent strategy drove the Hall of Souls' protector to rage, but there was nothing he could do. He could only hope that his allies would finish their fights quickly and come to his aid.
However, upon glancing around, his face twitched everyone else seemed to be in the same situation, locked in stalemates with their opponents.
On one battlefield, the Hall of Souls had even fallen into a disadvantage. Over time, they were bound to lose.
"Jie jie jie... Bai Lie, you decrepit old fossil, how much longer can you hold on?" sneered a Hall of Souls protector standing before Lu Bu.
Based on his intel, Bai Lie had been stuck at the peak of Dou Zong for nearly a century. With his advanced age and prolonged battles, death was inevitable.
A Dou Zong who couldn't break through after a hundred years what kind of pathetic talent was that? Calling him a fossil or a walking corpse wasn't an exaggeration.
"It's enough to deal with you!" Lu Bu, speaking in Bai Lie's voice, replied calmly, his attention still fixed on the Dou Zun battlefield. He was waiting for an opportunity a chance to turn the tide.
"Jie jie jie... A dying waste like you dares to talk big?" The Hall of Souls protector sneered and swung his chains, launching an intensified attack to crush his opponent.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Under his mask, Lu Bu's face remained calm, though his expression darkened. A deep yellow flame surged violently around him, its power on par with beast flames despite being mere Dou Qi.
"Jie jie jie... An old relic indeed," mocked the Hall of Souls protector. "At your age, you can't even get a proper flame. No wonder you've been stuck at Dou Zong all your life!"
"Shut up!" Lu Bu pretended to be enraged, swinging his sleeve and unleashing a fierce wave of fire that momentarily forced the Hall of Souls protector to retreat.
But soon, the attack lost its momentum, revealing the limitations of his strength.
"Jie jie jie… You're old, the coffin is where you belong!" The Hall of Souls Protector became even more arrogant upon seeing this, letting out a piercing, hideous laugh as his aura surged. He unleashed a torrent of attacks against Lu Bu, disguised as Elder Bai Lie, forcing him into a defensive state.
"Jia Nan Academy might be in real danger!"
The spectators' gazes sharpened. Across the various Dou Zong battlefields, only the one with Qian Mu seemed to hold the upper hand; the others were precariously close to collapse at any moment.
"This is bad. With the Hall of Souls' ruthless nature, those students in the Inner Academy might be in grave danger."
"Yeah, Jia Nan Academy's students are mostly weaklings. The strongest among them are a few Dou Ling, while the rest are just Da Dou Shi. They're no help in this kind of battle."
"Jia Nan Academy's admissions policy is flawed. They shouldn't accept so many average students."
"What's the alternative? Only recruit prodigies and ignore everyone else? That's ridiculous! If I were already a prodigy, why would I need you to teach me anything? Have you forgotten that the purpose of an academy is to educate and nurture, not to pick fights?"
It's like the neighboring Shrek Academy students there don't even get proper meals, much less guidance. All they're taught is to stir up trouble and fear nothing. And that's it, apart from some basic physical training.
As for spirit rings… please, aside from village kids like Oscar and Ma Hongjun, whose families can't afford them?
The person criticizing Jia Nan Academy turned red with embarrassment after this retort and fell silent. Unable to argue further, they redirected their attention to the Dou Zun battlefield.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The massive Dou Qi Earth Dragon roared continuously, its voice filled with urgency and rage. Under Lin Hao's control, the dragon twisted its body and lashed its tail in a series of earth shaking attacks, its power surging like an unending tide.
"Haha… Lin Hao, is this all you've got?" Qin Tian laughed heartily.
However, the Hall of Souls' Qin Tian and Xiu Tu evaded every attack with slippery precision, refusing to confront him head on.
Xiu Tu Elder's breathing had grown somewhat labored, but he could still hold on. His condition was far better than the Dou Zong combatants across the three other battlefields.
Lin Hao's face darkened, a sense of urgency creeping into his heart. His mission was to drain their Dou Qi and separate the two opponents. But these two stuck together like conjoined twins, refusing to split. Though Lin Hao's cultivation level was slightly superior, he couldn't fight effectively against two at once, failing to create the situation he needed.
"This isn't working…" Lin Hao's expression turned grim. If this dragged on any longer, Su Qian and Yao Chen might not hold out.
Tsk, tsk!
Lin Hao lightly tapped his foot on the Dou Qi Earth Dragon. His face grew solemn as he suddenly pressed his palms together with a resounding clap. His hand seals moved rapidly, causing earthy yellow light to burst forth in an instant.
The Mountain Splitting Seal and Sea Overturning Seal materialized in the blink of an eye.
"Not good it's the Imperial Seal Technique again!" Qin Tian's expression shifted dramatically. Each seal of the Imperial Seal Technique was a high level earth class Dou Technique, immensely powerful. Each subsequent seal was stronger than the last, and what made this technique truly terrifying was its ability to stack seals.
When all five seals were combined, their power rivaled that of a heaven class Dou Technique!
After numerous battles against the Black Submerged Army, the Hall of Souls had long familiarized itself with their signature Dou Techniques. Judging from Lin Hao's stance, this wasn't going to be a mere single seal attack like before.
"Damn old fool, you'd risk your life for Yao Chen!" Qin Tian roared. The latter seals of the Imperial Seal Technique grew progressively harder to execute, requiring intense focus. To perform such a technique amidst a heated battle, even for a Dou Zun, was no easy feat.
"Fall back!" Qin Tian shouted sharply, his eyes cold. Lin Hao wanted to crush them in one move, but Qin Tian and Xiu Tu wanted nothing more than to take Lin Hao's head and return to the Hall for glory. As long as they endured this attack, the tables would turn, allowing them to deal with Lin Hao, Yao Chen, and Jia Nan Academy as they pleased.
They had a plan and were well prepared for Lin Hao's desperate counterattack.
Behind him, Xiu Tu lightly tapped his foot and quickly retreated. He was the weaker of the two and couldn't afford to sustain any injuries; otherwise, Qin Tian would be in trouble.
"Qin Tian, do you know why I'm so determined to protect Jia Nan Academy?" Lin Hao suddenly smirked coldly, his hands still forming seals.
Qin Tian's heart sank. He had no idea. If it weren't for Xiu Tu's intelligence, he wouldn't have even known Lin Hao was here.
Xiu Tu Elder was equally clueless they couldn't penetrate the Black Submerged Army's inner workings.
Even the green robed Dou Zun elder from the Heavenly Snake Mansion, who was spectating, was at a loss. In their eyes, Jia Nan Academy was merely a local tyrant within the Black Corner Region, insignificant to the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
Everyone present grew focused, eager to know what Lin Hao had to say.
"Hehe… It's because their headmaster, Mang Tian Chi, is an old friend of mine. And Mang Tian Chi is an elder of the Thunder Clan, a close ally of my Gu Clan!" Lin Hao laughed, dropping a bombshell.
"What?"
Qin Tian and Xiu Tu's faces changed drastically. This revelation struck like a thunderbolt, leaving their minds in turmoil. Jia Nan Academy was backed by the Thunder Clan? The Hall of Souls had provoked both the Gu Clan's Black Submerged Army and the Thunder Clan?
How was that possible?
A gleam flashed in Lin Hao's eyes. Now's my chance!
"Dragon Serpent Footwork!"
With a loud cry, Lin Hao lunged forward. His movements were ghostly and unpredictable. In a flash, he appeared above Xiu Tu Elder, who was caught off guard.
With a roar, Lin Hao unleashed the Mountain Splitting Seal and Sea Overturning Seal simultaneously, slamming them toward Xiu Tu's Baihui Acupoint.
"Haha… Die!" Lin Hao laughed heartily, finally seizing control of the battlefield.
As Lin Hao leaped away, the Dou Qi Earth Dragon beneath him collapsed into drifting sand, leaving behind only a faintly glowing dragon head.
"Damn it!"
Qin Tian's heart dropped as he saw this. He let out a furious howl, summoning black mist from his palms and launching it toward Lin Hao's back. He aimed to force Lin Hao to defend, giving Xiu Tu a chance to survive.
This was a desperate rescue tactic. Plans and contingencies no longer mattered saving Xiu Tu took priority!
However, in that moment of haste, Qin Tian exposed his back to the crumbling Dou Qi Earth Dragon.
"Perfect…"
…
"Perfect!"
In the Dou Zong battlefield, Lu Bu's eyes sparkled as he heard Lin Hao's booming voice. It's time!
"Jie jie jie… Bai Lie, distracted while fighting me? You're courting death!" The Hall of Souls Protector sneered and lashed his chains toward Lu Bu's throat.
Snap!
Lu Bu abruptly shifted from his defensive stance, raising his left hand to firmly grasp the incoming chain.
"Courting death… Huh?"
The Hall of Souls Protector sneered, ready to pull back, but the next instant, an invisible flame flickered to life. It radiated a strange, ominous energy that spread throughout the battlefield in moments.
The Protector's heart tightened, and the invisible flame traveled along the chain, attaching itself to his soul.
"Falling Heart Flame…"
Poof!
The black mist dissipated as the Protector disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only his unfinished words hanging in the air.
"Hmph… Fool," Lu Bu sneered.
In the distance, Qin Tian froze mid charge to rescue Xiu Tu. A sudden burst of invisible flame ignited within his chest, spreading chaos through his body.
"Damn it! What's happening?!" Qin Tian's face turned crimson as his heart was engulfed in flames. His plan had never accounted for this!
Before he could react, a black robed figure appeared behind him like a phantom. Dust and sand clung to the robe, hinting at its recent concealment.
"Who "
Pfft!
A flame clad hand pierced through Qin Tian's heart, sending shards of flesh and blood flying.
"Hehe… Surprised, Dou Zun of the Hall of Souls?" A familiar voice chuckled. Qin Tian recognized it as someone from Jia Nan Academy.
"A Dou Zun… You… Bai Lie?"
Qin Tian's voice trembled with confusion and terror. Why were there two Bai Lie? This wasn't in his plan!
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