BTTH: Demon Emperor Xiao Yan

Bang! As Xiao Yan's flaming fist fell, a sharp explosion echoed through the sky. However, it wasn't the sound of Queen Medusa's head exploding—instead, her outstretched palm had caught the full force of the blow.

Although this strike was a stronger version of the Eight Extreme Collapse that had heavily injured Mobas, it still failed to harm Queen Medusa. A radiant, multicolored energy coated her palm, revealing that she too had employed a close-combat Dou Technique—one clearly of high rank, capable of neutralizing Xiao Yan's attack entirely.

Xiao Yan could clearly sense that the hidden strength of the Eight Extreme Collapse hadn't managed to penetrate her defenses—it had been stopped cold by the rainbow-hued energy membrane. Without its layered shockwaves burrowing into the opponent's body, the technique lost its edge. As time passed, the overwhelming force gathered on his fist began to dissipate.

Realizing this, Xiao Yan's expression darkened slightly. He instinctively tried to withdraw, but Queen Medusa reacted faster. Her hand twisted and seized his arm, and with her other hand, she drove her multicolored sword straight toward his throat, aiming for a fatal blow.

Faced with this deadly counter, Xiao Yan didn't even try to dodge. He knew it was too late. Instead, his body erupted in a wave of pitch-black and purple flame. The Woeful Flame Armor, formed from the Nine Nether Illusion Flame, solidified over his skin, shielding him just in time to intercept the strike.

The fiery armor flared as the blade pierced it, slowing the impact enough for Xiao Yan to survive. Simultaneously, his free hand smacked against Medusa's wrist. Though the strike looked light, it sent a jolt through her arm, numbing her fingers and forcing her to release him.

Wasting no time, Xiao Yan pushed forward rather than retreating. He stepped into her space, fists and limbs moving like a storm. Palm strikes, punches, kicks, finger jabs—all manner of close-range Dou Skills burst from his body like a relentless tide.

The flurry caught Queen Medusa off guard. Her sword was knocked from her grip within seconds, leaving her momentarily on the defensive. Despite being a peak Dou Huang, even she struggled to keep up with the variety and fluidity of Xiao Yan's attacks.

Still, Queen Medusa was no ordinary opponent. With a cold glint in her eyes, her palms bent into a strange arc, summoning two serpentine energy heads from her sleeves. Wrapped in multicolored energy, the twin serpent strikes clashed against Xiao Yan's attacks with thunderous impact.

"That guy… he's actually holding his own against Queen Medusa?" In Rock Desert City, cries of disbelief rang out from those watching. To confront the queen directly was no small feat—even within the Jia Ma Empire, there were barely a handful capable of such a thing. Who was this mysterious man? How could a mere Dou Wang exchange blows with the terrifying queen and emerge unscathed?

Boom! Another intense clash forced both combatants apart. Xiao Yan was blasted dozens of meters away, his boots tearing trenches through the sand. Medusa, by contrast, was pushed back only a few meters.

Yet her expression didn't show joy. A line of blood traced down the corner of her lips. She had clearly taken internal damage.

She knew that while her higher cultivation gave her the edge, in pure close-quarter combat skill, she was actually at a disadvantage. If she hadn't relied on the superior might of a peak Dou Huang, she might've suffered grievous wounds in that exchange alone. The realization grated against her pride.

Xiao Yan, too, had sustained injuries. But unlike others, he was an alchemist. As he retreated, he popped a medicinal pill into his mouth, the bitter taste quickly spreading. His Dou Qi stirred again, patching the minor internal damage, even as his gaze remained locked on the queen.

'She won't stop now. The next move… will be her strongest.'

Queen Medusa wiped away the blood at her lips with a casual flick. Her hands moved quickly, forming a complex series of seals. A massive wave of rainbow-colored energy surged around her, twisting space itself. A moment later, a gigantic, multicolored serpent began to form before her. It stretched for over ten meters, its eyes glowing with deadly intent.

Xiao Yan's expression shifted. He could sense the terrifying energy within the serpent. It wasn't just for show—this attack could threaten even peak Dou Huangs. He knew that even if he used Flame-Splitting Ruler Slash, it might not be enough to stop it.

But retreat wasn't an option.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and brought his hands together, forming an intricate and ancient hand seal. A wild fluctuation rippled through the world around him. The air grew heavier. The earth trembled. The nearby soldiers and guards watching from the walls felt the Dou Qi in their own bodies grow sluggish under the pressure.

Only Earth Rank Dou Techniques could stir heaven and earth like this.

As the final seal fell into place, a brilliant glow erupted from Xiao Yan's palm. It expanded into a luminous sigil of force and pressure, radiating raw destruction. With a roar, he thrust it forward.

"Mountain-Crushing Seal!"

If Xun'er had been there, she would have recognized the move instantly. This wasn't just any technique. It was a forbidden Dou Technique known only to the Gu Clan—Emperor's Seal Art.

Specifically, this was the first form: Mountain-Crushing Seal.

A high-tier Earth Rank Dou Technique, its power neared that of Heaven Rank techniques. The very fact that Xiao Yan could wield even the first stage at the Dou Wang level was already astounding.

In his previous life, Xiao Yan had made enemies of nearly all the ancient clans. From the Gu Clan to the Hun Clan, few of their young prodigies had escaped him unscathed. Many had died by his hand, and he had been placed on the most-wanted list of seven ancient clans simultaneously.

This Emperor's Seal Art had been seized from one of those very clans after he slew a Gu Clan genius. And after refining the technique during his reincarnated life, he had finally chosen this moment to wield it once more.

The dazzling seal streaked through the air like a falling mountain, colliding with the enormous rainbow serpent with apocalyptic force.

(End of Chapter)

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