122: The Annihilated Burning Venerable One, the Python Emperor Submits

Above Illusion Heart Lake, the battle situation changed in an instant, splitting into two breathtaking battlefields.

One was a duel between the Emperor of Snakes and an Eighth-Rank overlord!

Medusa’s body was surrounded by seven-colored light that shot into the sky; the dark seven-colored Emperor’s Mark seemed to burn.

She no longer held back, forming mysterious hand seals, and the solidified Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python phantom behind her let out a hiss that seemed to come from ancient times! A more ancient, more majestic, terrifying pressure, as if it controlled the life and death of all snakes, swept out like a tide!

"Heavenly Serpent Secret Art—Imperial Authority Deprivation!"

Her jade finger pointed remotely at the pouncing Eighth-Rank Illusion Heart Python!

The Illusion Heart Python, which had been ferociously aggressive, suddenly stiffened its massive body, and the ferocity in its pupils was instantly replaced by boundless fear!

It felt that the seven-colored Illusion Heart Python Bloodline, which it was so proud of, at this moment seemed to have encountered a monarch's subject, becoming stagnant, trembling, and even showing signs of subtly breaking free from control and backlashing against its master!

The seven-colored illusory light around its body dimmed, and the fatal strike condensed on its single horn also suddenly dissipated due to the chaotic Bloodline!

Bloodline Deprivation! This was the authority of an Emperor that Medusa comprehended after fusing with the heavenly serpent emperor's reverse scale! It had an almost rule-level suppression over creatures of the same snake species!

"Hiss—!"

The Illusion Heart Python let out a terrified and unwilling hiss, its massive body twisting violently due to the Bloodline backlash, its aura instantly weakening by more than half!

Its gaze towards Medusa was filled with fear and a hint of... submission?

Medusa’s purple eyes were cold, seizing this rare opportunity.

Her figure moved like lightning, instantly appearing before the Illusion Heart Python’s massive head.

Her jade hand, covered in seven-colored light, slammed fiercely onto the root of its dim single horn on its forehead!

"Submit, or... die!"

The cold voice was like a final judgment, accompanying an even more immense imperial pressure, fiercely impacting the Illusion Heart Python’s Soul!

In the struggling pupils of the Eighth-Rank Illusion Heart Python, fear finally overwhelmed all ferocity.

It let out a low, pleading whimper, its massive head slowly lowering, lying flat on the lake surface, indicating submission.

Medusa snorted coldly, forced out a drop of blood containing dark seven-colored light from her fingertip, flicked it, and it merged into the Illusion Heart Python’s glabella, transforming into a complex Emperor’s contract rune.

"Considering your arduous cultivation, from now on, you shall be a Protector under this King's throne, atone for your sins and earn merit!"

Subduing an Eighth-Rank Demonic Beast as a Protector! Such methods made Fei Tian, the Old Woman of the Glacial River Valley, and others, who were entangled with the Hall of Souls Protector in the distance, feel their hearts race with shock!

Meanwhile, in the other battlefield, the battle between Li Ao and Protector Wu (Early Stage Five-Star Dou Zun) of the Hall of Souls was even more bizarre and dangerous.

"Nether Ghost Domain, Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Heart!"

Protector Wu roared, waving his hands, and the shattered Soul Banner once again condensed dense black mist, turning the space around Li Ao for dozens of feet into a pure Nether Hell!

Countless twisted and wailing Soul shadows shuttled within it, emitting shrieks that struck the Soul directly, and invisible Soul chains wrapped around him from all directions, attempting to restrain his movements and devour his Soul!

The other three Hall of Souls Protectors (two Seven-Star Dou Zong, one Eight-Star Dou Zong) also each displayed their signature Soul skills: condensed Nether Finger Lights, corrosive black mist breaths, and giant ghost claws, attacking Li Ao from different angles!

Facing the combined siege of a Five-Star Dou Zun and three high-rank Dou Zong, Li Ao's eyes were as calm as a deep pool.

In his left palm, the deep, dark Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire suddenly surged, transforming into a rotating flame vortex, protecting his entire body.

Those incoming Nether attacks, whether energy or Soul impact, were forcibly dragged in and annihilated by the terrifying Devouring power the moment they approached the flame vortex!

And in his right hand, his fingers were pressed together like a blade, and that wisp of grayish Return to Stillness Qi stream condensed and compressed at an unprecedented speed!

He did not directly attack those Soul skills, but rather raised his Soul perception to the extreme, his gaze penetrating through layers of black mist, firmly locking onto the core of the Nether Ghost Domain—Protector Wu's main body, and the most crucial nodes for the energy flow between him and this ghost Domain!

"Found it... Annihilation, Cut Off the Origin!"

He whispered in his heart, and his right hand, with fingers pressed together like a blade, flickered seven times like lightning at several points in the Void Realm!

Seven subtle, almost imperceptible silver-gray threads silently merged into the rolling black mist!

"Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Seven soft sounds, as if something inside had broken and collapsed.

Protector Wu's face suddenly turned pale, and he spat out another mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief!

He felt that his connection with the Nether Ghost Domain, as well as several core hubs for energy circulation within the ghost Domain, were forcibly severed and annihilated at the same time by an even more fundamental, more terrifying power!

The entire Nether Ghost Domain, like a house from which the framework had been removed, trembled violently, and the Soul shadows within it let out even more shrill wails, then shattered and dissipated like bubbles!

The dense black mist also began to rapidly thin out!

"Impossible! What kind of Rule is this?! How can it directly annihilate the structure of my Domain?!" Protector Wu let out an angry roar, he had never encountered such a bizarre method!

The opponent's Rule power seemed to transcend his Nether Rule, capable of destruction from the most Origin level!

"You have too many questions."

Li Ao's cold voice appeared behind him like a ghost!

Protector Wu turned around in horror, only to see that Li Ao had somehow broken through the obstruction of the three Protectors, and his fist, covered in bronze luster and the Annihilation Rule, rapidly expanded in his pupils!

"Nether Bone Shield!" Protector Wu hastily condensed all his Nether Dou Qi, forming a thick shield made of countless pale bones in front of him!

"Crack—!"

Li Ao's fist, like a destructive force, slammed heavily onto the bone shield!

The bone shield, which was enough to withstand attacks from Dou Zun of the same rank, had its core structure instantly disintegrated by the Annihilation Rule the moment it touched the fist, and it exploded with a bang without even lasting a single breath!

The fist struck irresistibly, landing on Protector Wu's chest!

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, Protector Wu's chest visibly caved in, the shock in his eyes solidified, and his body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, spitting blood wildly, his aura instantly weakening to the extreme!

A Five-Star Dou Zun, severely wounded with one blow!

Seeing this, the three Hall of Souls Protectors were scared out of their wits, no longer daring to stay, they turned and tried to escape.

"Since you've come, stay."

Li Ao's eyes turned cold, and he pointed his fingers repeatedly, three Nirvana Finger winds arrived first despite leaving later, instantly catching up to the three.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

The three's bodies suddenly stiffened, then, like sand sculptures weathered by the wind, they silently turned into flying ash and dissipated into the air.

In a flick of a finger, he severely wounded a Five-Star Dou Zun and killed three high-rank Dou Zong!

The entire Illusion Heart Lake once again fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked at the young man, who slowly retracted his fist and whose green robe was spotless, with eyes as if looking at a monster.

Fei Tian had already stopped his snatching from the Old Woman of the Glacial River Valley, his face changing uncertainly, finally turning into an unwilling sigh, knowing that no matter what, he would not get anything good today.

The Old Woman of the Glacial River Valley tightly clutched the lotus seed she had obtained, vigilantly watching Li Ao and Medusa, but not daring to make any move.

The Demon Flower Evil Monarch's disciples and those Loose Cultivators were even more silent, like cicadas in winter.

Medusa stood on the head of the now-submissive Eighth-Rank Illusion Heart Python, her purple eyes sweeping across the entire scene, imperial majesty permeating the air, her voice clear and domineering:

"Is there anyone else who wants the lotus seed in this King's hand?"

No one answered.

In the face of absolute strength, all greed and calculations seemed so pale and powerless.

Li Ao flew to Medusa's side, his gaze falling on the severely wounded and dying Protector Wu, his eyes cold, about to step forward and end his life.

However, at this very moment—

Protector Wu's face revealed a crazy and venomous smile, and he used his last strength to crush a black heart-shaped object!

"By my Soul, I summon the Heavenly Venerate to descend... The Hall of Souls... will not let you go..."

An indescribable, terrifying pressure far beyond the Dou Zun level, like an ancient Demonic Beast awakening from slumber, suddenly descended with a wisp of will, locking onto Li Ao and Medusa!

Although it was just a wisp of will, it caused the space of the entire Illusory Mist Swamp to solidify!

Everyone felt their Souls as if they were about to explode!

Heavenly Venerate! The Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate was at least Peak Dou Zun, and possibly even... a Half-Saint!

"Go!"

Li Ao's face changed drastically, he pulled Medusa without hesitation, disregarding the newly subdued Illusion Heart Python, and increased his speed to the extreme, frantically fleeing towards the outer perimeter of the swamp!

That wisp of Heavenly Venerate will seemed to not directly launch an attack, perhaps because the distance was too far, or Protector Wu's sacrifice was insufficient, it merely locked onto them firmly, filled with cold killing intent.

Fei Tian, the Old Woman of the Glacial River Valley, and others were also scared out of their wits, scattering like birds and beasts, fleeing in different directions.

The struggle for Illusion Heart Lake ended with Li Ao and Medusa obtaining two lotus seeds, severely wounding a Hall of Souls Elder, and deterring various forces, but it also attracted the Hall of Souls' highest-level pursuit order!

A greater storm sweeping across the Central Plains had already begun because of them!

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