After being provoked, Qing Hai's speed was even faster than before. Even though Lin Xiu had used the Heaven and Earth Reincarnation Wheel to trap him for a while, the distance between them was rapidly closing.
Lin Xiu exerted all his strength, breaking through the void and flashing into the outside world.
But this didn't shake off the pursuit behind him.
Outside was a vast mountain forest, desolate and uninhabited.
"Damn it!!"
This left Lin Xiu's plans in shambles.
If there had been a city around, he might have been able to use the inconvenience of Hall of Souls revealing itself to stall for time.
"Stop struggling."
The pursuing Qing Hai looked at Lin Xiu's back, his eyes bloodshot and filled with rage.
I don't believe anyone can save you this time!
Qing Hai's heart roared with anger as his claws reached out once again, aiming for Lin Xiu's back.
The distance between them was closing rapidly.
A chill rose from behind, with clothes clinging to the sweat-soaked back.
A wave of coldness surged from the bottom up, directly to the top of his head.
Lin Xiu was giving his all.
"Sigh, fate and destiny. I, Yao Tian Huo, am doomed not to live a second life."
Venerable Tian Huo sighed, his tone filled with regret and emotion, "Kid, thank you for bringing me out from underground. I'm satisfied with experiencing the outside world for this long."
"Venerable Tian Huo, what are you going to do?"
Hearing this, Lin Xiu's heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition.
"If you have the chance to escape, find a successor for me and pass down the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique."
Yao Tian Huo's figure emerged from the ring, looking at the approaching blue-haired elder. "After years of silence, even a 2 Star Dou Venerate dares to look down on me. Today, Venerable Tian Huo will show you that even a Soul can severely injure you!"
As he spoke, his ethereal form twisted, emitting energy fluctuations like boiling water starting to churn.
Self-destruction!
Venerable Tian Huo was going to self-destruct his Soul!
Lin Xiu, realizing what was happening, was filled with disbelief. He never expected that Venerable Tian Huo would sacrifice himself to give him a chance to escape.
It was impossible not to be moved.
"No physical body, yet so arrogant."
Venerable Qing Hai also realized Yao Tian Huo's intention but showed no sign of panic. Instead, there was a hint of contempt at the corner of his eye.
Playing Soul tricks in front of Hall of Souls? Isn't this a case of a beginner showing off?
Just as Venerable Qing Hai was preparing to counter Yao Tian Huo's Soul self-destruction, a large crack suddenly opened in the nearby void.
The next moment, a massive figure stepped through the space, accompanied by a booming voice that followed.
"Who dares to injure a member of my Ancient Void Dragon clan?!"
The voice was loud and full of overwhelming arrogance, reverberating through the heavens and earth like thunder.
The immense pressure instantly weighed down on everyone present.
Yao Tian Huo's face stiffened as the force he was mobilizing was crushed, abruptly halting the Soul self-destruction.
Venerable Qing Hai's movements also froze, his fingers pausing just a hair's breadth from Lin Xiu's back, unable to advance even for a moment.
This was not an ordinary Dou Venerate!
Qing Hai's face turned pale, as if all his blood had been suddenly drained, and his cheeks twitched.
How unlucky can I be? Just trying to capture a Dou Ancestor, and now I've provoked the Ancient Void Dragon clan.
At this moment, he felt like crying but had no tears, his sadness overwhelming.
As the undisputed ruler of the Magic Beast realm, the Ancient Void Dragon clan had always been a formidable and feared presence.
Even in the Hall of Souls, those great gods would not easily provoke them.
The burly man glared with dragon-like eyes, his imposing aura first sweeping over the blue-haired Qing Hai.
The situation on the scene was straightforward—one was chasing while the other was fleeing.
This old man did not possess the Ancient Void Dragon aura, so it was clear that the blood containing the Ancient Void Dragon's aura he sensed earlier was related to this person.
The remaining fragment of the soul was dismissed.
His gaze then fell on Lin Xiu, briefly stopping to look at the unconscious Zi Yan in his arms.
In just one glance, the burly man seemed struck by lightning, his expression blank. Then, as if realizing something, his eyes reddened and his gaze began to tremble violently.
"This aura, this aura... it's the bloodline of the Dragon Emperor! Heaven bless the void, the Dragon Emperor still has descendants in the world."
The man's voice was extremely loud and filled with sadness, so heartfelt that anyone who heard it would think the heavens were collapsing.
"She..."
The burly man pointed a trembling finger at Zi Yan and looked at Lin Xiu with a questioning expression.
"It's him! Zi Yan was injured by him."
Lin Xiu didn't hesitate, pointing his gaze toward Venerable Qing Hai.
The latter's body suddenly trembled.
Seeing the burly man's angry glare, Qing Hai hurriedly spoke, "I am from the Hall of Souls..."
"Damn souls, daring to injure my Dragon Clan's Little Dragon Emperor, even if I kill you, does the Hall of Souls dare to wage war against my Ancient Void Dragon clan?"
The burly man's eyes widened, and his large hand, like a fan, swung towards Venerable Qing Hai without any hesitation.
Boom!
The space rippled with an unusual fluctuation. Qing Hai, seemingly stunned with fear, didn't dodge and was hit head-on.
He was then thrown back several dozen meters and turned into a cloud of blood mist without even a scream.
A grand Dou Venerate, just like that, was directly blasted apart.
"Time to make a quick exit."
Venerable Tian Huo swiftly retreated into the ring.
"She is from my Ancient Void Dragon clan..."
After dealing with Qing Hai, the burly man looked back at Lin Xiu. But before he could say more, Lin Xiu interrupted, "I know. Please take her back. I brought her to the Central Plains with the intention of returning her to the Ancient Void Dragon clan."
"Kid, which family are you from?"
The burly man clicked his tongue and looked Lin Xiu up and down. Despite his youth, Lin Xiu was familiar with the Ancient Void Dragon.
"I don't belong to any family; I'm just an ordinary person."
Lin Xiu shook his head. "Before handing Zi Yan over to you, I need to know your name first."
"Quite the cautious one. Seems like you've taken good care of her."
The burly man's attitude softened considerably, showing some warmth towards Lin Xiu. "My name is Hei Qing. You can call me Uncle Hei. Rest assured, I will take good care of the girl. She will be safest with the Ancient Void Dragon clan."
Hei Qing?
Lin Xiu, realizing who he was, let down most of his guard and handed Zi Yan over. "Senior Hei, I regard Zi Yan as my own sister. I hope you keep your word today. Otherwise, if I find out she's been mistreated, I wouldn't hesitate to challenge the Ancient Void Dragon clan."
"Haha…"
Hei Qing laughed heartily, puzzled by the confidence of a mere Dou Ancestor child to speak such words. But he understood that Lin Xiu's intentions were good for Zi Yan, so he didn't mock him and instead showed appreciation. "Would you like to stay with the Ancient Void Dragon clan for a while?"
The kid is quite interesting, considering he was just being chased a moment ago.
"Thank you for the offer. I will visit the Ancient Void Dragon clan eventually, but not right now."
"Very well, I look forward to the day you come to the clan. At that time, you can see for yourself how Zi Yan is doing."
Hei Qing took a glance at him, cradled Zi Yan in one arm, and tore through the void with the other before disappearing inside.
Soon, the void returned to normal, and Lin Xiu withdrew his gaze.
"Are you foolish? The Ancient Void Dragon clan isn't even afraid of the Hall of Souls. You haven't figured out what's on the mark left on you yet, and you missed such a good opportunity to take refuge?"
Venerable Tian Huo's voice echoed in Lin Xiu's mind, lamenting the missed chance for safety.
"The mark left by the Hall of Souls is something I'll resolve after I investigate it further," Lin Xiu responded. "Besides, I've remembered there's something even more important to do."
Yao Tian Huo was taken aback. "Is there something more important than personal safety? What is it?"
"Refining a body for you."
Lin Xiu's lips curled into a smile as he flew towards the location where Venerable Qing Hai had fallen. After searching the area and finding no Spatial Ring, he turned and left.
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