Dou Qi Continent.
Central Plains.
In the blink of an eye, the day had arrived for Zhou Yi to go and fetch Feng Qing'er for his wedding.
As the pride of the Tian Yao Huang (Heaven Demon Phoenix) Clan, Feng Qing'er's marriage to Zhou Yi was of utmost importance to her people.
After all, Zhou Yi was the one who singlehandedly annihilated the formidable Soul Hall's master, Hun Miesheng—and he was also a powerful alchemist.
Though the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan is one of the three major demonic beast clans and boasts considerable strength, even their clan head, Huang Tian, was only at the latter stage of a Five-Star Dou Saint.
Even if he surpassed Hun Miesheng, the margin was not vast. Naturally, the clan placed great importance on this matrimonial affair.
After Feng Qing'er returned to the Central Plains with Lei Zun, Huang Tian and his peers learned of the matter and, while voicing no opposition, recalled Feng Qing'er back into the clan.
On the wedding day, Feng Qing'er's escort—a battalion from the Tian Yao Huang Clan—set off riding powerful flying demonic beasts.
Their plan was to head first to the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, where Feng Qing'er would await Zhou Yi's arrival to be escorted in marriage.
However, trouble struck as soon as Feng Qing'er's escort reached the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.
Space itself shattered as a colossal hand, large enough to blot out the sky, surged forth to grab Feng Qing'er.
"Out of line!" roared an enraged voice laden with overwhelming pressure—its fury like the sound of thunder echoing through the heavens.
A gigantic demonic phoenix, its wings spanning hundreds of zhang, beat the air as it soared forward.
Atop its head stood a figure clad in a purple-gold robe, hands clasped behind his back.
His eyes, glowing with a golden light and exuding an aura of supreme authority, surveyed the void beyond.
In that moment, he stretched out his hand to intercept the monstrous grasp aimed at Feng Qing'er.
The two massive forces collided in midair.
The resulting shockwave of raw energy battered the surrounding space—so intense that even a Dou Venerate expert caught in its path would be reduced to dust.
And Feng Qing'er was only at the Dou Emperor stage.
Yet, at Feng Qing'er's side stood the foremost of the Heaven Demon's Three Phoenixes—a phoenix whose cultivation had reached the level of a Two-Star Dou Saint, ranking only just below the clan head, Huang Tian.
She immediately rushed to shield Feng Qing'er and led her to fall back, for the assailant's strength was terrifying.
It was then revealed that even Huang Tian, a Five-Star Dou Saint in the latter stage, had been blasted away by a single palm strike from this mysterious foe.
Remember, as the clan head of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan—a being considered among the pinnacle of demonic beasts—Huang Tian's battle prowess was top-tier in his realm.
In the original narrative, even Xiao Yan, when he reached the Five-Star Dou Saint level, had felt immense pressure when confronting an opponent of Huang Tian's caliber. The magnitude of his strength was, therefore, self-evident.
"Show yourself!" the attacker bellowed.
Huang Tian, having been flung by the palm strike, seethed with indignation. Rising from the ruins in a burst of brilliant golden light, a pair of enormous golden wings—each stretching hundreds of zhang from his back—unfurled.
Bathed in resplendent light, they radiated an aura of majesty and nobility.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Huang Tian's massive golden wings trembled slightly, and in a display of terrifying speed that almost resembled instantaneous teleportation, he tore through space and reappeared right before the assailant.
With a sweeping motion, a dazzling golden claw, shimmering with radiant light, descended upon the enemy. As the claw swept downward, the surrounding space exploded with violent ruptures.
"Know your place!" came a hoarse, disdainful snort.
The attacker, an elderly man draped in a black robe, exuded an aura of swirling black mists and ominous spiritual power.
His withered, bony hand extended, morphing into a ghostly appendage. That spectral hand, emanating a chilling wind, clashed with the golden claw.
The ensuing collision of power was cataclysmic, and once again, Huang Tian was blasted backwards.
"Six-Star Dou Saint in the latter stage!" Huang Tian gasped, his eyes wide with shock.
Then a voice rang out with haughty arrogance:
"Soul Clan business—this is not for idle bystanders! If you don't wish to die, get out of my way!"
The speaker, known as Hun You, declared with cold pride.
Though the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan might have a few Dou Saints, the strongest among them barely reached the Five-Star Dou Saint level—none even approached the level of a late-stage Dou Saint.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Soul Clan was a peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, widely acclaimed as the strongest on the Dou Qi Continent.
Moreover, the Soul Clan boasted the bloodline of a Dou Emperor—truly a cut above the rest.
"Trying to abduct someone under my watch? Not a chance!"
Although Huang Tian was not a match for Hun You, his own formidable strength made him unafraid of a mere kidnapping attempt by the Soul Clan.
After all, the Tian Yao Huang Clan was renowned for its speed.
"If the Soul Clan wants to achieve their ends, nothing is impossible for us!"
Hun You and Huang Tian clashed in battle. Despite being pressed down by his opponent, Huang Tian persevered.
He knew that Hun You's true target was Zhou Yi. As long as he could hold out until Zhou Yi arrived, the situation could still turn.
Even though Huang Tian did not wish to antagonize the Soul Clan, he could not allow Hun You to snatch Feng Qing'er away—surely, his pride would not permit such a humiliation.
Boom!
At that very moment, another Dou Saint expert intervened—a Five-Star Dou Saint. With a single move, he severely injured the Two-Star Dou Saint phoenix guarding Feng Qing'er.
Following that, a black chain materialized, wrapping around Feng Qing'er and tearing through space as it whisked her away.
"Bastards!" roared Huang Tian and his compatriots. They surged forward to pursue, but Hun You repelled them with a single palm strike.
"Hun You, if you want Feng Qing'er, then let Zhou Yi come fetch her from the Soul Hall!" declared Hun You coolly before departing.
"Damn it!" Huang Tian and his allies were livid—this time, they had not only failed in their mission but had lost face as well.
In the wedding procession they had been escorting the bride, Feng Qing'er, she had been snatched away.
For a proud clan like the Tian Yao Huang, this was a deep disgrace.
Meanwhile, Lei Zun trembled with anxiety.
Although he was a strong Three-Star Dou Venerate—a pillar of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion—in comparison with the might of the Soul Clan and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, he was but a minor figure.
Dou Venerate are ranked in nine stars, and above them lies the peak of Dou Zun; beyond that comes Half-Saint, subdivided into three tiers, and then Dou Saint.
A Four-Star Dou Saint is already considered a mid-level Dou Saint—among the elite of the Dou Qi Continent—and his strength far surpassed that of a First-Stage Dou Saint.
In one fell swoop, the enemy had dispatched two opponents. With but a simple gesture, they could wipe Lei Zun out.
"Clan Chief Huang Tian, what now?" Lei Zun timidly inquired as he hurried to his side.
"Wait until Zhou Yi arrives," Huang Tian replied coldly, his expression grim. Deep in his heart, he vowed to remember the insolence of that aged Hun You.
Soon, amid raucous celebration, Zhou Yi's wedding procession arrived.
Zhou Yi rode atop a striking, black-and-white giant panda.
The panda's limbs seemed to tread effortlessly through the air as if walking on solid ground—a reward bestowed upon him not long ago.
Merely half a month earlier, Zi Yan had unexpectedly burst into his chamber—was this some kind of test for veteran cadres? Who could possibly withstand it?
Naturally, Zhou Yi was not one to hold back. Wu Yi Cuo Yi Shou Yi Fa Yi Nei Yi Rong Yi Zai 169 Shu Yi Ba Kan! (A phrase denoting the flawless execution of his technique.)
After all, this was none other than the Ancient Void Dragon—a being whose offspring were renowned for exceptional potential.
A true Dragon Knight, Zhou Yi was no stranger to venturing into the lion's den.
Although Zi Yan harbored an innate distaste for Feng Qing'er—a natural, instinctive repulsion—she did not mind, for she was deeply attached to Zhou Yi.
Indeed, Zhou Yi cherished Zi Yan greatly, especially since she always provided him with unconditional warmth and support.
It wasn't until the day of celebration arrived that Zhou Yi finally left Zi Yan's chamber.
Mounting his reward—a giant panda gifted by Zi Yan—he set out to fetch his bride.
This giant panda, though still a baby, was an extraordinary beast from the primordial era and already possessed Dou Saint-level strength.
A powerful mount is the hallmark of a formidable warrior. (As for the Crystal Winged Lion King—an abysmal excuse at best—even after being fed countless medicinal pills by Zhou Yi, it could barely reach the level of a Dou Venerate, with its potential nearly exhausted. To ride such a creature would be utterly embarrassing.)
Behind Zhou Yi was an escort formed of flying demonic beasts. But the moment they arrived at the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, a problem became apparent.
"Master Zhou, you're finally here!"
Lei Zun rushed forward, anxiety in his voice. "Qing'er has been abducted! The assailants dispatched two Dou Saint experts—one a Five-Star Dou Saint, the other a late-stage Six-Star Dou Saint! They claim to be from the Soul Clan and have ordered you to go to the Soul Hall to retrieve her!"
"Those Soul Clan bastards—looking for death!" Lei Zun fumed.
Zhou Yi's eyes narrowed.
How dare they try to steal his bride? Despite having married so many wives before, he had never encountered anyone audacious enough to snatch his intended.
At that moment, representatives of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan—Huang Tian, the phoenix, and others—converged before Zhou Yi.
When they caught sight of the giant panda, "Gung Gun," they couldn't help but shrink back. From the aura emanating off Gung Gun, they sensed an overwhelming bloodline pressure.
Even the mightiest Ancient Void Dragon on the Dou Qi Continent could never evoke such a sensation.
"What kind of beast is this?" Huang Tian's golden eyes fixed intently on Gung Gun. There were no beasts like the Iron-Eating Beast on the Dou Qi Continent, and he had never seen one like this.
"Roar!"
Gung Gun raised its head and let out a fearsome, dragon-like bellow. In that moment, Huang Tian and his compatriots felt as if they were struck by a shockwave, tumbling from the sky like frightened birds.
"Aw, you weaklings!" Gung Gun crowed proudly. It was far superior to the three-legged golden feathered birds from its ancestral memory.
"Enough fooling around!" Zhou Yi lifted a hand and smacked Gung Gun on the head.
Glancing back at Huang Tian and his now reddened and stiff expressions as they resumed their flight, he offered an apologetic smile: "Sorry, Gung Gun is still a child and can be a bit mischievous!"
Huang Tian: "..."
Phoenix: "..."
Though anger simmered within them, seeing the playful panda left them no choice but to hold their tongues.
"I will deal with the Soul Clan matter. Now, let's go rescue your mistress," Zhou Yi declared as he patted Gung Gun's furry head.
"Roar!" Gung Gun howled, and with a swift sweep of its forepaws, it tore through space and charged ahead.
"Let's follow!" Huang Tian, watching Zhou Yi's retreating back, addressed the phoenix and the others.
"Yes!"
Together, they tore open space and set off for the Soul Hall.
Soul Hall.
Hun You led Feng Qing'er into the presence of Void Devouring Flame to report. Void Devouring Flame said nothing further, waiting silently.
He knew that Zhou Yi would soon appear. Possessing the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Saint and being ranked second on the list of extraordinary Heavenly Flames, he was not overly worried about Zhou Yi's threat.
In fact, he suspected that the mysterious flame in Zhou Yi's grasp was a newly emerged, previously unknown Heavenly Flame.
If he could absorb Zhou Yi's flame, his own power might surge—and he might even ascend to the level of a Dou Emperor.
Before long, space shattered. A round, fluffy head—black and white in color—burst forth, followed closely by Zhou Yi riding atop Gung Gun.
Arriving outside the Soul Hall, Zhou Yi's mighty divine sense instantly detected an immensely powerful aura within—a dark vortex that seemed to swallow everything.
"At least a late-stage Dou Saint!" Zhou Yi mused silently.
But now that he had advanced to Dou Saint, armed with several innate spiritual treasures for protection, he felt no fear. Even if Hun Tiandi were to appear, he would not be intimidated.
"Zhou Yi is here—come out and die!"
Thus, with that challenge echoing through the void, Zhou Yi stepped forward to face his foe.
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