Chapter 220: Azure Snake: "How Dare You Threaten Me?"
High above the sky, Lu Bu stood side by side with Elder Bai Lie. Behind them stood Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan in a neat line. Lu Bu hadn't initially planned on bringing Zi Yan, given that the girl was only at the Dou Huang level. However, she was relentless, clinging to him like a koala, leaving him no choice but to bring her along.
Swish!
The space in front of Lu Bu and Bai Lie rippled slightly as two figures emerged.
"You brat, what do you want from me this time?" Azure Snake Elder grumbled. If not for Lu Bu's status as a member of the Black Abyss Army, the elder would have taught him a lesson long ago.
Beside him, the middle aged She Lin squinted his eyes as he scrutinized Lu Bu. He saw nothing but a fair, clean cut young man who seemed entirely non threatening. If not for the earlier demonstration of immense soul power in Lu Bu's voice, She Lin would have never believed such a "pretty boy" could possess such overwhelming spiritual strength.
Recalling what the elder had said earlier, She Lin couldn't help but take a deep breath. Truly, appearances could be deceiving. It was almost unimaginable that a Soul Hall Dou Zun had fallen at the hands of this young man.
"Hehe… I'm here to ask for the Azure Snake Elder's help in a matter," Lu Bu said with a faint smile.
"You… you want to take the initiative?" The Azure Snake Elder asked, slightly surprised.
"Take the initiative?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. Could it be that the Lion Swallowing Sect was planning to move against the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake People Tribe? Had they discovered Dou Zong Dou Xi's death in the Jia Ma Empire? Or was this simply an act of blind retaliation?
"You didn't receive the Heavenly Snake Mansion's message?" Noticing the brief flash of confusion on Lu Bu's face, the elder exchanged a glance with She Lin. If this wasn't a preemptive strike, then it was…
"You little brat, you planned to destroy the Lion Swallowing Sect from the very beginning!" She Lin exclaimed, thoroughly shocked at Lu Bu's audacity.
The Lion Swallowing Sect's strength was formidable even the Heavenly Snake Mansion wouldn't dare to claim an easy victory. And yet, this young man stood there as if obliterating the Lion Swallowing Sect was as simple as lifting a finger.
"The Soul Hall doesn't intimidate me. Do you think the Lion Swallowing Sect is any harder to deal with?" Lu Bu said with a relaxed smile.
"So you came to drag me into this?" The Azure Snake Elder's gaze turned cold. He was hoping to watch from the sidelines, not to get involved. Ideally, Lu Bu and the Lion Swallowing Sect would tear each other apart.
"I'll split the spoils with you 90 10. The Heavenly Snake Mansion gets 90%, and we take 10%," Lu Bu said with a grin.
Hearing this, She Lin's eyes lit up instantly. The Lion Swallowing Sect had a thousand year legacy, with wealth beyond imagination. If the Heavenly Snake Mansion could claim it all, they would rise to new heights. With such resources, She Lin's path to breaking through to Dou Zun would be significantly shortened.
"No!" The Azure Snake Elder's face darkened. "Lion Heaven is a four star Dou Zun. His strength matches mine. Even with Bai Lie, we'd have to pay a heavy price to kill him, not to mention facing the risk of his desperate counterattacks."
She Lin's fervor cooled at once. Compared to the elder's safety, any potential gains were insignificant. They couldn't afford to take such a gamble.
"That's not a problem." Lu Bu chuckled softly and flicked his finger. A golden light materialized before them, and the golden Dou Zun puppet appeared in front of the Azure Snake Elder and She Lin.
"I have another Dou Zun."
"What?!" The Azure Snake Elder's pupils contracted as he stared in disbelief. He recognized the puppet's face from the battle between the Soul Hall and Jia Nan Academy. This was Qin Tian, a three star Dou Zun from the Soul Hall!
This brat had turned a Soul Hall Dou Zun into a puppet?
"Would you like to test its strength?" Lu Bu asked, patting the shoulder of the Dou Zun puppet with a sly grin.
"No need. I know it's powerful enough to hold off a four star Dou Zun," the Azure Snake Elder said, his eyelid twitching. "But I have no interest in your feud with the Lion Swallowing Sect. You should leave."
The elder wanted to be a spectator, not an active participant in this chaos.
She Lin, though disappointed, didn't argue. After all, without the elder's help, dealing with Lion Heaven was simply unrealistic.
"Really?" Lu Bu's eyes narrowed. Since persuasion didn't work, it was time for intimidation.
"By the way, Qing Lin should come home. The Heavenly Snake Mansion is no place for her," Lu Bu said with a faint smile.
"You dare threaten me?" The Azure Snake Elder rolled up his sleeves, pointing angrily at Lu Bu's nose.
Lu Bu's smile didn't falter. Behind him, the Dou Zun puppet stepped forward, while Elder Bai Lie grinned, his black robe fluttering ominously.
"How do you need me to help you?" The Azure Snake Elder's anger vanished in an instant, his tone flat.
"Let's go. We're heading for the Lion Swallowing Sect."
The Lion Swallowing Sect
In the shadows of a tree canopy, Iron Protector from the Soul Hall observed the bustling sect below.
Despite Lion Heaven's harsh attitude toward him, Iron Protector looked down on the Lion Swallowing Sect's strength. Their sect boasted only a single Dou Zun, four or five Dou Zong elders, and had recently lost Dou Xi, a six star Dou Zong.
Compared to the Soul Hall, even one of their branch halls surpassed the Lion Swallowing Sect in strength. At best, the Lion Swallowing Sect could be considered mediocre. Against a true powerhouse like Wind Lightning Pavilion, they were utterly insignificant.
Iron Protector's blood red eyes gleamed with scorn. The Lion Swallowing Sect may have a long history, but it had only emerged as a major player in the past century. Its foundation paled compared to the likes of Wind Lightning Pavilion.
Even when compared to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, the Lion Swallowing Sect was lacking in Dou Zong level combatants. It was practically a hollow force.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall below, Lion Heaven, the sect master of the Lion Swallowing Sect, sat on his lavish throne. At his side rested a massive golden blade, and beside him lounged a colossal lion.
The beast's entire body was a resplendent gold, its mane gleaming as it breathed steadily. Its powerful limbs rested on the floor, and faint glimmers of light flickered between its claws.
This was a seventh tier magical beast the Golden Abyss Lion!
"Purr…"
The Golden Abyss Lion let out a comfortable growl, its bright yellow eyes narrowing contentedly. However, something was off.
At the seventh tier, magical beasts were supposed to possess intelligence rivaling that of humans, yet the Golden Abyss Lion's eyes lacked the spark of sentience, appearing more like a mere wild animal.
Lion Heaven stroked the lion's massive head with his broad hand. The beast nuzzled against his palm affectionately, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Hahaha, good boy…" Lion Heaven laughed, evidently pleased.
Swish!
A shadowy figure suddenly appeared in the hall.
"Sect Master, the orders have been given. All Dou Wang and Dou Huang are ready to march at any moment!"
"Well done!" Lion Heaven praised as he continued stroking the lion.
"Um… Sect Master…" The elder hesitated, his face full of apprehension.
"What is it?" Lion Heaven asked, his tone sharp.
"Sect Master, mobilizing the entire sect like this… isn't it a bit risky?" The elder gritted his teeth, voicing his concern.
Lion Heaven sneered. "Elder Miao Jin, I understand your worries. But tell me, who in the entire Northwest Continent dares to covet the Lion Swallowing Sect?"
"Who dares make a move against my Lion Swallowing Sect? All of our strongest forces have been mobilized! Anyone who dares challenge us will have to consider the wrath of the Lion Swallowing Sect!"
Elder Miao Jin silently nodded. Although he was uncomfortable with the idea of sending out their entire force, the sect leader did have a point. Still… mobilizing every elite to deal with the Snake People Tribe and the distant Jia Ma Empire seemed like overkill. Even if Medusa, the Queen of the Snake People, was an eight star Dou Zong, so what? The Lion Swallowing Sect wasn't lacking in peak Dou Zong level experts.
"Sect Leader… could there be more to this than meets the eye?" Elder Miao Jin hesitated before voicing his thoughts.
"Indeed. Heh…" Lion Heaven chuckled faintly, not bothering to deny it. "Medusa is a fine woman her strength, talent, and beauty are all top tier. I've taken a liking to her and intend to make her my concubine."
"Ah, I see!" Elder Miao Jin's conflicted expression instantly relaxed, and he chuckled. "Sect Leader, you are young, talented, and possess the potential to become a Dou Saint. After all these years of cultivation, it's only natural for you to form bonds with women."
"Medusa should consider herself fortunate. To catch the eye of the Sect Leader is a blessing for her!"
"Haha, that woman is quite fiery…" Lion Heaven stroked his beard as his rough hand scratched at his stubbled jaw, but his grin betrayed his confidence. "If I can't subdue her, there could be some trouble."
"With the Sect Leader's strength and talent, taming her should be a matter of ease," Elder Miao Jin replied with a hearty laugh, brimming with confidence in his leader. Over the years, how many women hadn't fallen under the Sect Leader's dominating charisma? Even those who seemed aloof at first eventually became utterly devoted.
But Medusa was different. As an eight star Dou Zong, she was only a step away from Dou Zun. With a bit of guidance, she could be cultivated into one. Indeed, she was a worthy match for the Sect Leader. Of course, she couldn't be given the position of main wife that role needed to be reserved for someone even better if the opportunity arose. However, making her a concubine was perfectly acceptable.
"Sect Leader's foresight is beyond me!" Elder Miao Jin praised with a smile.
"Go. Tell the brothers this: the first goal of our march to the Jia Ma Empire is vengeance. And the second…"
"Steal women!" Elder Miao Jin grinned. "Understood, Sect Leader!"
With that, he turned to leave. But just as he stepped out of the hall, a faint fishy smell wafted through the air, gradually filling the grand chamber.
Elder Miao Jin frowned. Had something happened to the Golden Abyss Lion again? That shouldn't be possible, not with the Sect Leader right beside it.
However, as he stepped outside, he immediately noticed something was amiss. The once clear, sunny sky had turned unnaturally dark. A small, ominous black cloud hung over the mountain that housed the Lion Swallowing Sect's main headquarters. The strange, pungent odor lingered in the air, spreading throughout the sect.
"What's going…"
"Skyshade Poison Spring!"
Before Elder Miao Jin could finish his thought, a sharp voice echoed from within the black cloud. In the next moment, countless gray brown raindrops began to fall from the cloud, filling the air with an overwhelming stench. Even as a Dou Zong, Elder Miao Jin felt a slight dizziness creeping in.
"An attack?" Elder Miao Jin froze, briefly stunned. Who would dare attack the headquarters of the Lion Swallowing Sect?
"No… it is an attack!" Snapping out of his daze, Elder Miao Jin let out a sharp cry. His voice boomed like rolling thunder, spreading throughout the Lion Swallowing Sect's headquarters.
Clang!
A brilliant golden slash of blade energy erupted from the grand hall, cutting through the roof and slicing toward the poisonous cloud above. The slash radiated unparalleled dominance, its energy tearing through the sky as if to split the heavens themselves.
However, the cloud suddenly churned, and a figure cloaked in black descended from its depths. A golden fist clenched tightly as the figure stepped forward and unleashed a crushing punch.
Boom!
The golden glow of the punch collided with the overwhelming energy of the blade slash. The resulting shockwave surged outward in a frenzy, scattering the poisonous rain even further.
"Aaaargh!"
Shrieks of pain echoed incessantly from within the Lion Swallowing Sect below.
Swish!
Lion Heaven's expression darkened. The sect had gathered a large number of Dou Wang and Dou Huang to prepare for their march on the Jia Ma Empire. But now, this poisonous rain had severely wounded many of their elite forces, drastically reducing their combat capabilities.
"Who dares?! Do you not know this is the Lion Swallowing Sect?!"
From below, a voice laced with fury rang out. A violent wind howled as three Dou Zong experts flew up toward the source of the disturbance. One of them clutched his arm, from which the stench of rotting flesh wafted.
Even Dou Zong level experts were vulnerable to this poisonous rain it was truly terrifying in its potency.
At this moment, the poisonous cloud dissipated, revealing eight figures standing proudly in the sky.
Swish!
Xiao Yi Xian stepped back lightly, landing behind Lu Bu. As a two star Dou Zong, she didn't need to rush into the fray.
Beneath his black robes, the Azure Snake Elder and She Lin's eyelids twitched as they stared at Xiao Yi Xian, astonished. Her earlier attack alone had reduced the Lion Swallowing Sect's Dou Wang and Dou Huang forces by at least 20 30%.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sound of wings slicing through the air rang out as dozens of Dou Wang and Dou Huang warriors arrived in a rush. However, their appearances were utterly pitiful missing limbs, exposed bones, and grayish purple complexions indicated that the poison had already infiltrated their bodies.
She Lin's gaze flickered. Although the Heavenly Snake Mansion had some expertise in poisons, no one in their ranks could unleash an attack as devastating as this. This woman… was no ordinary figure.
"Who are you? Are you declaring war on my Lion Swallowing Sect?" Lion Heaven's expression was grim as he scrutinized the black robed golden figure. Sensing the overwhelming aura radiating from it, his arrogance gave way to caution.
"Lion Swallowing Sect Master, Lion Heaven, I presume?" Lu Bu lowered his hood, revealing his face as he spoke in a calm tone.
"And who are you?" Lion Heaven asked, his expression flickering with uncertainty. The young man before him appeared no stronger than a Dou Huang a level he could crush with ease. Yet, someone this young with such strength… there was more to him than met the eye.
"Didn't you say you'd destroy us in three days? Now that I'm here before you, don't you recognize me?" Lu Bu's lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"You're from the Jia Ma Empire?" Lion Heaven paused before his face twisted with rage, as though he'd been insulted. "How arrogant! Even the Jia Ma Empire dares to challenge the Lion Swallowing Sect now?"
"I'm here to crush the Lion Swallowing Sect!" Lu Bu bared his teeth in a savage grin. "What? You don't like it?"
Boom!
Beside him, the Dou Zun puppet erupted with golden light, exuding a murderous aura so intense it made the air tremble.
"A Dou Zun?" The Lion Swallowing Sect elders' faces went pale with shock.
Lion Heaven's expression turned icy. "No wonder you're so bold. You've got someone backing you."
"Boy, state your name, and I may spare your life!"
"Names? I've got nothing to hide Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan!" Lu Bu sneered, his killing intent palpable.
"Spare me? Don't bother. I've come to the Lion Swallowing Sect today for three things:
"To kill… to kill… and to kill again!"
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