BTTH: Demon Emperor Xiao Yan

Watching the purple-black arc of flame-filled ruler energy tear through the sky, a sharp glint of seriousness flashed across Queen Medusa's captivating features. Without hesitation, she raised her energy-forged longsword in front of her. At the same time, a multicolored surge of Dou Qi erupted from within her slender body, quickly enveloping her in a radiant, translucent shield of rainbow-colored energy.

The barrier had only just taken shape when the fierce arc of ruler energy descended like divine judgment. A thunderous boom exploded across the sky as the flame arc crashed into the barrier. Under the pressure of that vicious momentum, the multicolored shield was hurled into the desert below, dragging Queen Medusa along with it and slamming her hard into the sand.

The entire battlefield fell into stunned silence. The snake warriors, who regarded Queen Medusa as a divine and invincible being, stood motionless in disbelief. Even Yao Ye, standing atop Rock Desert City's walls, couldn't help but gasp. Her pupils trembled as she stared at the sight. "She... she was knocked down?"

To force Queen Medusa out of the sky—such a feat had never been seen before, not even by Jia Xingtian himself, the royal guardian of the Jia Ma Empire. Yet now, a mysterious young Dou Wang had accomplished it. The shock in everyone's hearts was difficult to describe.

Unlike those around him, Xiao Yan remained eerily calm. He had no illusions about the outcome of his strike. Although the Flame-Splitting Ruler Slash was a formidable Earth Rank Dou Technique, he knew full well that there was still a great chasm between his power and that of Queen Medusa. Defeating her with a single strike? That was pure fantasy. From the moment the ruler light landed, he had already sensed that most of its destructive force had been absorbed by that multicolored barrier. It was unlikely she had suffered any real damage.

Sure enough, moments later, a graceful figure burst forth from the sand below. Queen Medusa rose slowly into the sky, her robe tattered in places, a few strands of hair out of place, and sand clinging to her graceful silhouette. Although her appearance was slightly disheveled, her aura remained unshaken, still radiating an oppressive and terrifying pressure.

Her piercing gaze locked onto Xiao Yan. She lifted her chin slightly and said, "An Earth Rank Dou Technique, is it? I truly underestimated you."

Xiao Yan stood in the air, expressionless. He could tell from the rhythm of her breathing that the last strike had at least stirred her internal flow of Dou Qi. But it hadn't caused any lasting harm. His heart sank a little.

'She took that hit head-on and only got slightly rattled. No wonder even surrounding empires fear her presence. She's stronger than most peak Dou Huang. This is no easy opponent.'

Most ordinary Dou Huang experts, even if they survived a direct blow from that attack, would have suffered at least internal injuries. He had intended to use the strike to weaken her, but it seemed Queen Medusa was more than capable of enduring it without much consequence.

"The power behind that move is indeed impressive," Queen Medusa said softly, her voice like a cold breeze, "but the gap between our strength cannot be bridged with a single technique. Still, I'm curious… how many more times can you unleash something of that scale?"

As her words fell, a strange light surged in her pupils. Those beautiful, enchanting eyes shimmered with a dangerous and bewitching hue.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan felt a deep sense of danger surge up from the bottom of his spine. His pupils contracted sharply. Without hesitation, he activated the Annihilation Flame Eyes. Pale gray flames burst from his gaze, surging forward like a tidal wave, aimed straight at Queen Medusa.

However, what happened next made even Xiao Yan's expression darken.

Mid-air, the gray flames—seemingly unstoppable—suddenly began to twist unnaturally. In the blink of an eye, they solidified and transformed into stone, plummeting to the ground like lifeless rocks. The entire crowd gasped.

'What the hell?' Xiao Yan's brows furrowed. 'Even though I held back and used Alchemized Flame, it should've done something! But it got completely nullified?'

"That's the Medusa bloodline's innate talent—petrification," Yao Ye murmured in disbelief. Standing on the city wall, her fists clenched unconsciously. "It's an ability only the royal Medusa lineage can use. Very few even know about it… My great-grandfather once mentioned it, but I thought it was an exaggeration."

She remembered his words clearly. Back then, Jia Xingtian had said that had he not prepared specific countermeasures in advance, he might've fallen to that ability. And even with preparation, he had ended up at a severe disadvantage during their confrontation. That memory had deeply etched fear into the veteran Dou Huang's heart.

Had Xiao Yan not reacted instantly with his Annihilation Flame Eyes, he likely would have been petrified where he stood. Even now, though his flames failed to burn through the effect, they had bought him a brief moment of safety.

Queen Medusa's eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was her first time witnessing someone completely resist her petrification. 'Interesting… This boy…' she thought.

Of course, the effect of petrification depended on strength. Those below Dou Wang would be turned permanently to stone. For Dou Wangs, it resulted in temporary immobilization. But Dou Huang experts were merely frozen momentarily—yet even a second of paralysis in such battles could be fatal.

If Xiao Yan had been a Dou Huang, his resistance wouldn't have shocked her. But for a mere Dou Wang to shake off her bloodline's innate talent? That was something else entirely.

Still, Queen Medusa was not someone who dwelled on surprises. With a sharp flap of her multicolored wings, her figure disappeared into the air like a phantom. When she reappeared, she was already above Xiao Yan, her colorful longsword driving downward toward his skull like a falling meteor.

But all her blade struck was a flickering afterimage.

Xiao Yan had long moved. With Flamecloud Soaring Step, he reappeared to the side, swiftly evading her ruthless strike. Before Queen Medusa could shift targets, a black shadow flashed from the void—his massive black ruler weapon flew at her from an unexpected angle.

The weapon howled through the air, causing the surrounding wind to cry out like a siren.

Queen Medusa turned and flicked her wrist. The blade in her hand clashed with the incoming weapon, sending it flying away.

As she focused on it, she realized it wasn't a sword but more like a ruler, massive and dense. 'So this is the strange weapon that boy uses? But where is he now?'

As the thought crossed her mind, a sharp whistling sound split the air behind her. Her eyes snapped wide as she spun around—and there he was.

Xiao Yan had appeared behind her, his body cloaked in blazing purple-black flames. His right fist was clenched tightly, the flames coiling around it like a vengeful serpent, and with explosive force, he threw his punch.

"Eight Extreme Collapse!"

The flames howled as his fist roared through the sky, aiming to shatter the heavens.

(End of Chapter)

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