Chapter 128: You've Got Some Nerve

"You want to enter the Gate of Life and Death?!!" Ge Ye's face turned pale upon hearing Nalan Yanran's words. He knew exactly what kind of place the Gate of Life and Death was.

The Gate of Life and Death was equivalent to a private training ground owned by the Misty Cloud Sect, or more accurately, a secret realm of the sect.

The reason it was named the Gate of Life and Death was because that place was extremely dangerous. One's life would hang in the balance once inside.

Many talented disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect had attempted to enter the Gate of Life and Death, hoping to gain benefits from it. However, the vast majority went in and were never heard from again.

"That place requires at least a Dou Spirit realm to enter! Although you are the only one in this generation who can resonate with the Gate of Life and Death, it's too dangerous to go in now," Ge Ye said in shock, trying to dissuade her.

"I need to increase my strength. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to defeat him with my current abilities. My current strength is already enough to fight a low-star Dou Spirit. The Gate of Life and Death is the resting place of the past Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect. As a member of the sect, I believe I will be protected by them," Nalan Yanran shook her head and said quietly, her gaze lingering on the sky where Xiao Yan had disappeared.

Ge Ye frowned deeply and tried to persuade her, "Although Elder Gu He couldn't obtain the Heavenly Flame and thus can't refine the highest quality Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, he has already agreed to go to the Chu Yun Empire to acquire the recipe for the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. This 4th-tier pill can increase the strength of a Dou Grandmaster by one star, and it can even be taken twice in succession."

"Yanran, you're already a 3-star Dou Grandmaster, and you've mastered the first form of the Wind's Peak Sword Technique. If you can master the second form, Killer Meteorite, you'll be able to display the true power of a Di Class Dou Technique. You may not necessarily lose to him."

Nalan Yanran turned her head to look at Mo Cheng's corpse not far away and said in an even tone, "If my strength reached the 5-star Dou Grandmaster stage and I mastered the Wind's Peak: Killer Meteorite, perhaps I could have killed Mo Cheng too. But it definitely wouldn't have been as effortless."

"Can you tell how Mo Cheng died in the end, Uncle Ge? Just relying on those things is far from enough."

Ge Ye remained silent for a moment as he stared at the stubborn Nalan Yanran. Ever since he had accompanied her to the Xiao Clan to annul the engagement three years ago, he knew she was a very headstrong girl.

She was as unyielding as an ox; no one could make her budge. Her father and grandfather were nearly driven mad by her stubbornness.

He could only sigh and nod, shaking his head as he said, "The Gate of Life and Death is supposed to be the final trial for the successor of the Misty Cloud Sect before becoming the Sect Leader. Currently, there's still a lot of controversy within the sect regarding your position as the Little Sect Leader. If you insist on entering, I'm afraid it won't be easy to get past the First Elder."

Nalan Yanran turned and walked toward the hall's exit, leaving behind only a faint sentence: "I will discuss this matter personally with Master."

…

Meanwhile, on the other side, three powerful auras swept across the azure sky. Under this terrifying pressure, Yan City below was instantly thrown into turmoil.

All the people in the city felt the horrifying oppressive force and raised their heads in a daze. Their legs couldn't help but tremble uncontrollably as they watched the figures streaking across the sky like meteors.

The aura of an elite Dou Emperor was a rare occurrence in the Jia Ma Empire. Those who hadn't reached a certain level of strength had no chance to experience such an oppressive force.

In the sky, Xiao Yan's face was grim as he locked onto the green-clad woman ahead. Blood-red flames erupted from the wings on his back as they flapped rapidly.

Hai Bodong followed closely beside him. His body was now enveloped in icy white Dou Qi. Sharp, glistening ice spikes covered his withered palms, exuding bursts of bone-chilling energy as he remotely controlled the ice-attribute energy permeating the air a hundred meters away.

Upon reaching the Dou Emperor realm, one could use the Dou Qi within their body to resonate with the energy of the world around them during combat. This allowed one to manipulate that energy to unleash unparalleled and terrifying power.

It was for this reason that Dou Emperors possessed such shocking destructive capabilities.

Right now, Xiao Yan was using his Soul Skill to restrain the green-clad Mysterious Dou Emperor while Hai Bodong launched attacks on her.

Xiao Yan didn't need to go all-out like he did against Queen Medusa. He only needed to distract the mysterious Dou Emperor and create openings for Hai Bodong to strike.

"Old Hai!"

"Ice Snow Sky!"

Xiao Yan's Soul Impact caused the green-clothed Dou Emperor not far away to experience a moment of soul-piercing pain, and her Dou Qi circulation was briefly halted.

In that brief instant, Hai Bodong swiftly closed the distance and unleashed a Di Class Dou Technique he had mastered!

"Damn it!! This accursed Soul Skill!" The woman in green cursed inwardly. Spiritual attacks were incredibly strange and difficult to defend against. Moreover, the price for the powerful physical strength of magical beasts was their inherently weak Spiritual Strength. Longer lifespans meant poorer cultivation talent.

The heavens were indeed very fair.

The green-clad woman violently thrust her right hand toward the empty space in front of her while holding the unconscious Qing Lin with her left hand. Instantly, emerald light surged into the sky as she hurriedly tried to block the incoming ice and snow.

Even the slightest contact with Hai Bodong's ice and snow could freeze his opponent's movements and Dou Qi.

Faced with the sky full of ice and snow, the green-clad Dou Emperor didn't dare to confront it head-on and could only fly to another side to avoid its range. Left with no choice, she gritted her teeth and let out a sharp cry.

This unusual cry was inaudible to humans and could only be heard by snake-type magical beasts.

Shortly after the whistle was sent out, a rumbling sound suddenly arose from a distant forest. Immediately, an enormous serpent, about thirty meters long, suddenly soared into the sky. Its massive shadow covered a large area of the ground.

The serpent's body was entirely black, adorned with strange, colorful patterns that gave it a rather peculiar appearance. On either side of its body were eight black wings tinted with purple, and a dark, spiraling horn protruded from its head.

Its triangular pupils did not exhibit a beast-like nature but instead held a cunning and shrewdness akin to that of a human.

"Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor?!!" Hai Bodong cried out in shock. He recognized this magical beast.

Xiao Yan recognized it as well. When a Winged Black Serpent grew eight wings, it meant it had cultivated to the Rank 6. If it also grew a crown, then its strength had reached the peak of the Rank 6!

A peak Rank 6 magical beast!! The same level as Queen Medusa!

"Lu Man, haha. I can't believe you got chased around by a mere 1-star Dou Emperor and a little brat. If word got back, they might laugh themselves to death!" The huge triangular pupils stared at Hai Bodong, similarly ignoring Xiao Yan. Its mouth emitted an ear-splitting laugh.

The woman in green did not retort. Instead, she slowly moved closer to the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor and said in a low voice, "Do not underestimate this little Dou Grandmaster. His Spiritual Strength is formidable, and he even knows Soul Skills."

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

"Soul Skills?!!"

Upon hearing the words 'Soul Skills,' the expression of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor changed. It cast a grave look at Xiao Yan. Those two words represented too much. In the worst case, it was something their entire Sky Serpent Mansion couldn't afford to provoke.

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he slowly approached the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor. Even though the two elite Dou Emperors opposite him could turn him to ashes with a single breath, he advanced instead of retreating and stopped only ten meters away from the massive beast. He then looked up at the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor, his gaze devoid of fear, and even showed a hint of a smile.

"You dare to snatch something the Hall of Souls has set its eyes on? The Sky Serpent Mansion certainly has some nerve."