BTTH: Purple Thunder Emperor

Chapter 89: Do You Think You Deserve It?

Lu Man's face was pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had assumed the young man in black was the easiest target among those present. But he turned out to be the most unpredictable!

The moment his soul attack struck, it felt as if her soul was unraveling, sparking a panic she hadn't felt since she began cultivating. The Heavenly Snake Mansion prided itself on its knowledge of soul techniques, yet she had never heard of a soul seal like the one now binding her.

What is his cultivation level? Lu Man stared at Xiao Bai with a mix of awe and fear. She initially thought he'd used a rare treasure to overpower her. But the soul power he unleashed with a single glance rivaled that of Dou Zong experts she'd encountered. Could he be a Dou Zong? Medusa's deferential attitude toward him only reinforced her suspicion, making her 80% certain.

"Lu Man, what are you doing? Hurry up! I'm not waiting!"

The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor, White Fang, was in a sorry state, his body covered in scars. Focused on battling Medusa, he hadn't noticed Lu Man's predicament. Glancing over mid-fight, he saw her standing motionless beside the man in black. Anxiety flashed in his eyes as he sent a voice transmission to urge her.

Lu Man glanced cautiously at Xiao Bai. At White Fang's prodding, she could only muster a bitter smile. Run? Escape? If the man beside her was truly a Dou Zong, fleeing was futile. Could anyone outrun a Dou Zong wielding spatial power?

"Ah!"

A beam of energy from Medusa tore into White Fang. He screamed, his tattered eight wings trembling as he retreated swiftly, fleeing in one direction. "Lu Man, enjoy yourself! I'm out!" he shouted.

"Hai Lao, stop him!" Xiao Bai called out.

Hai Bodong shot forward to intercept. His sleeves fluttered, and ice-blue cold air erupted, forming a swirling vortex filled with ice blades. "Mysterious Ice Strangling!" he roared.

White Fang, with Medusa closing in behind him, had no time to evade. Gritting his teeth, he used his body to withstand the attack and charged at Hai Bodong.

"Damn it!" Hai Bodong cursed, dodging hastily. He wasn't foolish enough to take a direct hit from a frenzied magical beast—it could be fatal.

As Hai Bodong moved aside, White Fang exhaled in relief. Despite the numbing pain coursing through him, he flapped his eight wings, leaving afterimages as he sped a thousand meters away.

"Xiao Bai, I…" Hai Bodong, unable to pursue, landed before Xiao Bai, his face flushed with embarrassment, hesitating to speak.

"It's fine," Xiao Bai said calmly.

Medusa descended, her voice cool. "That snake relies on speed. If he's set on escaping, you can't catch him."

Xiao Bai's gaze lingered on her, a faint smile spreading across his face. "Thank you for your efforts," he said with a gentle nod.

Lu Man exhaled quietly, relieved that Xiao Bai hadn't pursued White Fang. If the snake escaped, he could report to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, and they might send a stronger force to free her. If both she and White Fang were trapped, it could be years before the mansion noticed their absence, given their long missions.

Xiao Bai stood with his hands behind his back, staring in the direction White Fang had fled. Abruptly, he turned to Lu Man. "He escaped. You seem pleased."

Lu Man's heart skipped, but she straightened, her voice bold. "No matter your force, I advise you to release me. The Heavenly Snake Mansion isn't to be trifled with!"

"Really?" Xiao Bai replied noncommittally. A cold, melodious voice reached his ears.

"The Heavenly Snake Mansion has many strong fighters. You'd best not kill her," Medusa said.

"Your Majesty, is this… concern for me?" Xiao Bai teased, his eyes twinkling as he looked at her.

Medusa scoffed, not sparing him a glance. Her concern was for the snake people, not him.

A sudden scream echoed from the distance, followed by furious shouts. "Who are you? How dare you ambush me?"

"Do you know I'm from the Heavenly Snake Mansion? Aren't you afraid of their revenge?"

"White Fang!" Lu Man gasped, recognizing the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's voice. She stared at Xiao Bai in disbelief. No wonder he was so calm—an ambush was waiting! Anger and frustration surged. A Dou Zong, two Dou Huangs, and now an ambush against just the two of them? Where was the fairness?

Medusa, too, glanced at Xiao Bai with surprise. She hadn't expected him to have another card up his sleeve, one capable of reducing White Fang to screams. Who else is with him?

"Heh, Heavenly Snake Mansion? Strong? Do you think you deserve to compare backgrounds with me?" The distant screams faded, replaced by a disdainful voice.

Lu Man's gaze on Xiao Bai grew uncertain. The speaker's tone suggested utter disregard for the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Who is this young man? Xiao Bai, meanwhile, suppressed a wry smile. Ling Ying, Xun'er's guard, had dropped his low profile after revealing his role. While he hadn't mentioned the eight ancient clans, his demeanor now carried their arrogance.

"Let's go take a look," Xiao Bai said, lifting Qing Lin and flying toward the sound. The others followed closely.

In a patch of desert, they found White Fang sprawled on the ground, barely alive, with no sign of his attacker.

"It's over. My last hope is gone," Lu Man thought, despair settling in.

Xiao Bai approached the snake's massive head and applied a soul sealing formation, deepening Lu Man's hopelessness. He kicked White Fang's head lightly. "Can you still walk?"

White Fang opened his eyes weakly, glanced at Xiao Bai, and ignored him.

Xiao Bai chuckled. "What's this?" he asked, drawing a cold-glinting dagger and gesturing at the spiral horn on White Fang's head—a prized feature of his tribe, akin to a human's face.

"What are you doing?" White Fang rasped, panic creeping into his voice.

"Since you can't walk, I'll harvest materials. A sixth-level magical beast left to rot? What a waste," Xiao Bai said matter-of-factly, musing that the horn's poison might benefit Xiao Yi Xian.

"No, no, I can walk!" White Fang, ignoring his agony, staggered upright, his resilience astonishing Xiao Bai. This beast's vitality is incredible.

"Can I walk? I can't fly now," White Fang said, his triangular pupils flashing with a fawning look, terrified Xiao Bai might follow through.

Xiao Bai said nothing, sheathing the dagger. White Fang exhaled, muttering inwardly, This snake nearly died of fright!

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(End of this chapter)