The heavens quaked as two Tribulation Crossing titans clashed, Sea Continent's skies trembling violently. Countless cultivators, from minor to mighty, spat blood under the overwhelming pressure, hastily retracting their divine senses. In the Elf Queen's hand appeared a massive leaf-shaped shield, its surface swirling with mysterious green runes, radiating unyielding defensive power to protect herself, Lan An, and A Lian Ya.
Even so, Lan An's heart shuddered at the collision's might. Tsunamis surged, the sky quaked as if doomsday loomed, yet this was but a fraction of Tribulation Crossing power.
"This isn't their full strength," the Elf Queen said, her eyes narrowing. "If it were, even I couldn't withstand the shockwaves."
A Lian Ya gasped, covering her delicate mouth. She'd never witnessed a Tribulation Crossing battle, and to hear her invincible master admit such a thing shook her.
"The gap between Integration and Tribulation Crossing is that vast?" she murmured, her mind tangled.
Recalling Lan An and Yan Yue Qi's warnings about Bach Hieu Sinh's schemes and his father's potential involvement, she feared Elf Island would be helpless. Her resolve to join the harem solidified, her small hand clenching tightly.
"Some breakthrough has made your Dan Clan bold enough to provoke me?" a voice thundered, dripping with menace.
Under the wary gazes of those strong enough to observe, a ruthless fist shattered space, carving a massive void. From it emerged a woman of indomitable presence. Her martial robes hugged a fiery figure, her hair flowing freely, her crimson lips curled in defiance. Her phoenix eyes and dragon-like aura exuded terror, each step cracking Sea Continent's space as if it couldn't bear her arrival.
Hearts raced, captivated by her heroic beauty yet haunted by her past deeds. Ancient experts instinctively shrank, phantom pains gripping them, their fear palpable.
"It's her…" the Heavenly Secret Palace Master rasped.
"Mad Queen Wu San Niang…" elders choked out, her infamous ferocity overshadowing her title as Sacred Lotus Academy's Headmaster.
Dan Yan Ji's face darkened, her hand trembling beneath her sleeve from the earlier clash's pain. She'd suffered a loss. The Dan Clan's twin cauldrons quivered, reflecting their masters' unease. Facing Wu San Niang, the Dan Clan Ancestors held no arrogance, their presence merely to preserve their clan's dignity and seek a graceful retreat. Only a fool would fight her to the death.
But Wu San Niang craved battle.
"Let's test the might of Yellow Sand Continent's top clan!" she roared.
Her fists clenched, one foot shattering space as she appeared before the Dan Clan Ancestors. A vortex of air swirled around her, powered not by spiritual energy but raw physical strength. Each movement fractured space, thunder exploding as the heavens paled before her might—a Level Eight Body Cultivator's dominance laid bare.
"My eyes!" Refining Void cultivators screamed, blood tears streaming as they tried to probe her attack. Even Integration Realm experts winced, barely enduring.
Lan An's White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye flickered, his boundless Soul Force faintly capturing the mystic patterns in his master's strike.
"A Soul Cultivator?" the Elf Queen noted, her interest piqued. This youth hid many secrets.
A Lian Ya shielded her eyes, unable to withstand Wu San Niang's power.
Facing the Dan Clan Ancestors, Wu San Niang unleashed a simple yet devastating fist, shattering space into countless black vortexes. All in its path turned to nothingness, dwarfing Lan An's Harmonious Spirit Palm in sheer power.
The Ancestors, Dan Tian Xing and Dan Yan Ji, braced as if facing a mortal foe. They exchanged a glance, knowing retreat was no longer an option.
"Beast Tide Origin!" Dan Tian Xing roared, his cauldron unleashing thousands of flame-forged beast phantoms, engulfing the sky and boiling the sea.
Dan Yan Ji, undaunted, shouted, "Bone Flame True Form!"
A colossal blood-red skeletal flame, hundreds of meters tall, enveloped her, with her at its core. The sky evaporated, the air scorched, the heat indescribable.
"Haha, shatter for me!" Wu San Niang laughed, her eyes blazing with battle lust.
Her heroic figure charged, her second fist joining the first, both tearing space apart. Thousands of flame beasts met one fist, while the skeletal flame's claws blocked the other.
Boom! An apocalyptic explosion shook Sea Continent, countless beings spitting blood.
Lan An and A Lian Ya's lips bled, the Elf Queen's face paling. Their vision turned white, senses sealed. Only a handful could witness the battle's outcome.
The Heavenly Secret Palace Master's face twitched. Behind Wu San Niang, a massive flame-forged elephant phantom roared, its gravity-warping presence weakening the Ancestors' attacks. The result was clear.
Time passed, and the world stilled. No shattered space or dried seas materialized. Instead, countless shimmering runes formed a grand formation, sealing the battlefield, though it bore countless cracks.
"Bach Vo Sinh?" countless Sea Continent experts cried, awed.
Lan An's expression grew grave, looking skyward. A middle-aged man in white robes, radiating calm, resembled Bach Hieu Sinh. Runes swirled in his palm, his hair disheveled, his face weary.
"Hail Bach Vo Sinh, Sea Continent's peak expert and Level Eight Formation Master, shielding us from the Tribulation Crossing clash!" a cultivator shouted in worship.
"No one can cause chaos with him here!" an elder exclaimed.
The crowd gazed at Bach Vo Sinh with reverence.
Within the formation, Wu San Niang stood relaxed, stretching lazily, her battle lust undimmed. Opposite, Dan Yan Ji and Dan Tian Xing bled from their lips, their faces grim. They'd suffered a loss against this monstrous woman. Yet, they refrained from using the Dan Clan's battle-enhancing pills, wary of their severe side effects.
"You alright, kid?" Wu San Niang called to Lan An, her eyes softening, ignoring Bach Vo Sinh and the crowd.
Lan An's face twisted in feigned pain, collapsing into A Lian Ya's arms. Biting his tongue, he spat blood, pointing at Dan Qin, now retreating far away, and gasped, "Master… I've disappointed you. He gravely wounded me… I can barely speak…"
He bit his tongue again, spitting more blood, looking utterly pitiful.
"Shameless!" the crowd cursed inwardly. Moments ago, he was vibrant; now, with his master here, he played the victim. Could anything be more absurd?
"You…" Dan Qin, seeing this, rolled his eyes, speechless.
A Lian Ya and the Elf Queen exchanged odd looks, catching Lan An's tongue-biting act at close range.
Wu San Niang's eyes twinkled with amusement, but her face darkened, glaring at the Dan Clan as she snarled, "I train my disciple harshly. Even if a Peak Refining Void killed him, I wouldn't care."
The crowd reeled. This wasn't strict—it was madness. Only a prodigy like Lan An could face Peak Refining Void at Late Fusion Realm. They feared and admired her teaching.
Sneering at their reactions, Wu San Niang continued, "Yet the Dan Clan, shamelessly, sent Integration Realm elders to hunt a Fusion Realm junior. Dan Yan Ji, Dan Tian Xing, give me a satisfactory answer, or you won't leave today!"
The crowd nodded silently. The Dan Clan's actions were indefensible. Had they sent a junior to defeat Lan An, none would object, but deploying thousand-year-old elders against a youth was excessive.
Dan Yan Ji and Dan Tian Xing's faces soured. As a top clan, reputation mattered, and they couldn't tolerate silent scorn. Wu San Niang was an iron wall, and the Dan Clan had never suffered such a loss.
Dan Tian Xing took a deep breath and said, "The Dan Clan failed to discipline its elder. But he's nearly crippled by you, Mad Queen. Can we call it even?"
"Hah! If I hadn't arrived, my disciple would be the cripple," Wu San Niang retorted, her tone profound. "I shield my disciple but won't meddle too deeply. Lan An's battles are his own."
"What do you mean?" Dan Yan Ji frowned.
She'd been in seclusion for a century, leaving clan affairs to Dan Tian Xing. Only his urgent call brought her here.
"Those two bullied my disciple with their Integration Realm power. Dare they suppress their cultivation for a life-or-death duel with him? Winner takes all," Wu San Niang said, pointing at Dan Qin and Huo Li, her lips curling.
"I accept!" Huo Li growled, glaring at Lan An, his killing intent blazing.
"No!" Dan Tian Xing and Dan Yan Ji shouted, glaring at the fool.
Though they hadn't seen Lan An's full strength, Wu San Niang's confidence suggested a trap.
"Since when is the Dan Clan so cowardly? Even Fire Underworld Sect outshines you!" Wu San Niang mocked.
"Don't push us!" Dan Tian Xing and Dan Yan Ji's faces darkened.
"Pop some pills, then! Let's see how great your Dan Clan's drugs are!" Wu San Niang taunted, fearless.
As tension peaked, Bach Vo Sinh descended, smiling at Wu San Niang. "The Dan Clan excels in alchemy, not combat. Challenging them to fight is unfair."
"Bach Headmaster!" the Dan Clan Ancestors clasped their hands, relieved.
"The debt I owed the Dan Clan is repaid today," Bach Vo Sinh transmitted, smiling.
"Old fox!" Dan Yan Ji and Dan Tian Xing cursed inwardly. Years ago, the Dan Clan refined a Supreme Spirit Pill for him—a significant favor. His intervention now conveniently cleared that debt. But in this situation, they could only agree.
Wu San Niang's battle lust flared at Bach Vo Sinh's interruption. "They didn't challenge Lan An to alchemy when attacking him. Why meddle in others' affairs? I'm itching for a one-on-three!"
Bach Vo Sinh's eyes narrowed, but he said calmly, "Sea Continent isn't a battlefield. Please leave."
As a rational man, he wouldn't fight without gain.
Wu San Niang nodded unexpectedly, smirking at the Dan Clan Ancestors. "If you don't give me an answer, I'll visit your clan anytime!"
Dan Yan Ji and Dan Tian Xing gritted their teeth. This madwoman visiting would turn their clan upside down.
Seeing Wu San Niang's resolve, Bach Vo Sinh's eyes flickered, transmitting, "The Dan Clan is in the wrong. I can't help too much. Great deeds overlook minor details."
The Ancestors exchanged glances, then looked at Huo Li and Dan Qin. Gritting their teeth, they decided.
"Dan Qin is near-crippled, unfit to fight. Let Huo Li face your disciple, as you wish. After this, it ends!" Dan Tian Xing said, eyeing Huo Li.
Huo Li, from Fire Underworld Sect, wasn't core to the Dan Clan like Dan Qin. He was expendable. Plus, his strength might surprise.
"Your thoughts?" Wu San Niang asked Lan An.
Lan An's eyes burned. Knowing overreaching could backfire, with Dan Qin protected and forcing pill-enhanced fights risky, claiming one Strange Fire was enough. He nodded, "I couldn't ask for more!"