Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

The power of space was something only Dou Zong could delve into. Now, a spatial rift capable of transporting people appeared before the three of them. However, they showed no sign of joy, instead filled with suspicion.

They couldn't fathom what level of strength it would take to wield the power of space and transport people.

Dou Zong? Or perhaps... Dou Zun!

Thinking about it caused the three of them to shiver with fear. No wonder that little brat—cough, cough, young master—had such impressive means. It turns out he had a high-level mentor!

The three of them immediately understood and carefully retreated, keeping their eyes fixed on the rift, fearful that a giant hand might emerge and erase them from existence.

Only after the rift naturally healed did they breathe a sigh of relief.

At this moment, they saw the now-empty mountain peak and were instantly on edge. Just now, none had sensed the approach of a fifth person. As expected, there was indeed a hidden expert.

"Forget it! The items are gone; it seems they were not meant for me!" Yuan Yi was the first to react, leaving a sentence behind as he headed toward the center of the ruins.

"Unlucky!" Su Mei also pouted coquettishly before following Yuan Yi.

However, Fan Lao had an ugly expression as he stared at where the rift had disappeared. He had suffered the worst losses in this clash. The fiery attack threatened him the most, but he didn't dare make a move against the spatial rift.

He could only leave reluctantly.

In a dense forest far away, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan hid inside a tree hollow, quietly watching as the three left.

The spatial rift just now was jointly created by Jiang Yun and Zi Yan. However, no matter how strong their space talents were, their cultivation level was their biggest shortcoming. They could only teleport a short distance, which wouldn't escape the pursuit of the three Dou Huang.

Thus, Jiang Yun had to come up with this ruse to trick the three!

Once the three had all left, Zi Yan excitedly said, "Xiao Yun, you're so smart. Those three idiots really got scared away."

"Hush—" Jiang Yun, however, wasn't as optimistic as Zi Yan. He covered her mouth, meticulously watching the sky.

Zi Yan was somewhat puzzled—weren't they safe now?

Soon, the sound of breaking air came, and Fan Lao quickly returned, carefully inspecting the area from mid-air. Finding nothing, he left again.

Zi Yan's large, purple eyes widened in shock. Was this a thing?

Even after Fan Lao's second departure, Jiang Yun didn't move, continuing to hide. The next moment, both Su Mei and Yuan Yi returned in turn, leaving empty-handed.

Only after confirming it was truly safe did Jiang Yun release Zi Yan's mouth, admonishing, "When venturing out, the most important thing is to be cautious. Never be fooled by appearances. These people are no weaklings."

"You humans are really too cunning," Zi Yan said, scratching her head in distress. Her eyes brightened before she dove into Jiang Yun's arms with a radiant smile, "Luckily, I have you, Xiao Yun. You'll never let me suffer!"

"You!" Jiang Yun shook his head helplessly, but couldn't hide the affection in his eyes.

"Alright, with these six Life and Death Profound Fruits, your path to the sixth rank should be smooth."

"Mhm, mhm!!!" Zi Yan eagerly nodded, eyes full of anticipation. At the sixth rank, she could finally grow up, right? Surely!

No way could a magical beast reach the sixth rank and not be mature!

"Xiao Yun, let's go inside quickly. There must be more good stuff inside. We can't let them take it!" Brimming with excitement after obtaining the fruits, Zi Yan pulled Jiang Yun, urging him to the inner areas.

"Let's go. I'm also curious about what's inside!" Jiang Yun laughed, taking out two black robes to wrap around them. With a faint layer of soul power concealing them, they discreetly moved deeper.

Along the way, Jiang Yun saw many desperados of the Black-Corner Region, some battling, some hurrying along. Jiang Yun avoided them by staying hidden.

Suddenly, Jiang Yun halted, sensing something extraordinary ahead. Exchanging a glance, he and Zi Yan crept closer, only to be astonished by what they saw on a massive black tree.

"These corpses can move?" Zi Yan exclaimed, pointing out the scene before them.

Ahead lay several massive skeletal remains: a hundred-meter-long python, a tens-of-meters-high giant tiger, a giant eagle with over a fifty-meter wingspan—each a menacing sight of bleached bones, but astonishingly, they were moving. They were fiercely battling with Han Feng and others.

From the battle, Jiang Yun deduced that these magical beasts had been at least at the eighth rank when alive, and not just ordinary ones. Some were comparable to transition stage Dou Zun.

"Let's cooperate fully to deal with these corpses, or else more people will keep pouring in," shouted Mo Tianxing after using a Wind Rending Claw to eliminate a corpse.

The surrounding people frowned but increased their efforts when they saw more groups approaching fast.

"Blood Bodhi Devour!"

"Sea Flame Halberd!"

"Great Stone Pillar Hand!"

One after another, powerful Dou Techniques were unleashed by the Dou Huangs and Dou Zongs, utterly annihilating the remains.

"What a pity!" Han Feng said regretfully, holding a tiger claw. Had there been any high-level magic beast cores, this place would have turned into a bloodbath.

As an alchemist, watching so many high-level beast cores slip away filled him with regret.

He didn't even have an eighth-rank magic core!

"Boom—"

Suddenly, a violent tremor came from ahead.

"The inheritance has appeared!"

Someone shouted, causing the scene to fall into a reverent silence before exploding into a frenzy.

"Those who block me shall die! The Dou Zun inheritance is mine!"

"I, Du Zitong, am destined to rule. Get out of my way."

"Dream on! It is I who am destined by fate."

At this moment, the hidden realm completely erupted into chaos. Dou Lings, Dou Wangs, and Dou Huangs were all fighting each other. Even the Dou Zongs found themselves hard-pressed, having to fully guard against their surroundings.

Following the crowd, they eventually arrived at an altar-like place.

This place, too, was filled with corpses, both of magical beasts and humans. At that moment, all eyes were focused on three items placed on a high platform.

Breaths turned ragged.

In the central position stood a massive stone platform several hundred meters wide and around two meters tall. Atop it were three objects emitting subtle fluctuations.

"That's..."

"Xiao Yun, what is it, what is it!" Zi Yan tugged at Jiang Yun's sleeve, full of curiosity.

"Two of the things, I'm not too sure about. But one of them is an extremely rare heavenly treasure, Bodhi Transformation Saliva!"

Indeed, one of the items was a fist-sized, translucent, faintly glowing green viscous substance.

It was the Bodhi Transformation Saliva that had appeared in the original work. To think it would be in this secret realm—how exactly did Mo Tianxing manage to obtain it from so many people, or was it that, originally, there weren't this many people, allowing him to hide the news?

"What does it do?" Even knowing its name, Zi Yan was still somewhat clueless.

"Legend has it there's a tree called the Bodhi Ancient Tree, capable of making one a saint. This Bodhi Transformation Saliva is a treasure left by that tree. Understanding it could grant one the opportunity to become a saint," Jiang Yun explained softly.

"So we..." Zi Yan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Even someone as carefree as her knew what becoming a Dou Sheng meant in the Dou Qi Continent.

"Let's see if there's an opportunity!" Jiang Yun didn't reject her idea. When faced with such a rare treasure, some risk was worth taking.

Though Jiang Yun also wanted the Bodhi Transformation Saliva, there was another item that drew his eyes even more—a somewhat old yellow sheepskin scroll exuding a faint heat.

"Who'd have thought there'd be a Bodhi tree in the lower realm!" At this moment, Qing Ming's slightly surprised voice appeared in Jiang Yun's mind.

"Grandpa Qing Ming, the vitality you sensed, was it coming from this?"

"Yes and no!" Qing Ming replied calmly, his gaze moving past the Bodhi Transformation Saliva and onto the yellow sheepskin scroll and the last black token.

"This aura? Though faint, it's indeed that presence. Unbelievable that such good things exist in this tiny lower realm," Qing Ming murmured.

"Grandpa Qing Ming, Grandpa Qing Ming…," Jiang Yun called out several times, getting no response.

"Xiao Yun, if possible, try to obtain these items!" Qing Ming regained his composure and said solemnly.

"I'd like to, but I'm just..." Jiang Yun smiled wryly, shaking his head.

He also wanted it all, but his current strength didn't allow it!

"There will be an opportunity!" Qing Ming left off ambiguously and went silent again.

While Jiang Yun and Qing Ming 'chatted', Han Feng and others also saw the three items on the platform.

"Bodhi Transformation Saliva—" Han Feng shouted in shock, his eyes immediately burning with desire.

If he could obtain it, he could advance to Dou Zun and Dou Sheng. Then, he would no longer fear Venerable Feng and others. He could return to Zhongzhou openly and no longer hide in the dark Black-Corner Region.

As Yao Lao's only true disciple, he had always been the center of attention wherever he went. Never had he been a homeless dog.

"Bodhi Transformation Saliva? The legend said it could make one a saint?"

"Become a saint???"

Han Feng's shout was akin to dropping a bomb, instantly causing a massive uproar on the platform. Countless astonished gasps arose, followed by myriad greedy eyes focusing on the Bodhi Transformation Saliva. Breathings grew heavy.

Dou Sheng!

What alluring words!

At this moment, Jiang Yun's mind raced. Surrounded by countless greedy eyes, the so-called ancient scroll that might be the Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame map and the mysterious black token were utterly ignored.

It shows how exceptionally captivating the Bodhi Transformation Saliva was compared to the others. It stood out like a beacon in the dark, brilliantly dazzling.

"Boom—"

A moment later, a powerful presence erupted from Mo Tianxing, his figure swiftly darting toward the platform.

In an instant, faced with the full oppression of a Dou Zong powerhouse, everyone quieted down abruptly, as though cold water had been poured on them in boiling oil.

After a brief moment, colorful expletives erupted directed at Mo Tianxing.

"Mo Tianxing! Darn it, stop right there!"

"Kill! With the Bodhi Transformation Saliva, I can find the Bodhi Heart, and as a Dou Sheng, the Black-Corner Region will be mine!"

"Master Mo, hogging stuff isn't a good habit!"

Suddenly, terrifying energy beams from dozens attacked Mo Tianxing, causing the entire space to tremble.

Mo Tianxing's eyes turned blood-red but showed no panic. One after another, shocking claw strikes were sent out with each movement.

"Wind Rending Claw!"

"Ah—"

In a flash, anyone struck by Dou Techniques, unless Dou Huang level or above, either vomited blood or immediately died. That's how formidable a Dou Zong was!

Momentarily fending off the attackers, Mo Tianxing had reached the platform, passionately looking at the Bodhi Transformation Saliva.

"Hahaha—you're mine!"

"Sea Flame Halberd!" Just as Mo Tianxing was about to reach for it, a loud roar erupted. A massive blue flaming halberd zoomed toward him.

It was Han Feng. While others got disrupted by Mo Tianxing, Han Feng did not. He simply got preempted.

The terrifying heat distorted the surrounding space. Mo Tianxing's calmness faded; he tapped with his toe and pushed out a full-force palm strike.

"Mountain Collapsing Palm!"

"Boom—"

"Different fire!"

With a loud bang, Mo Tianxing barely blocked Han Feng's attack but lost the upper hand. Looking at his scorched sleeve and Han Feng's flaming aura, a deep apprehension filled his eyes. "Han Feng, are you truly opposing me?"

"Master Mo, you jest. Heavenly treasures go to those destined for them. Besides, does anyone really think they can resist the temptation of Dou Sheng?" Han Feng replied, still wearing a scholarly smile, surrounded by flames and clearly not ready to back down.

"I believe Elder Ying and Elder Fang share the same sentiment?"

With Han Feng's words, Elder Ying and Fang Yan, along with others, silently encircled.

(End of chapter)