Chapter 165: Ningyu vs. Enchantress

"Nether Flame Purgatory!"

The Enchantress flicked her wrist, and a dark purple flame hurtled straight toward Xu Han.

Xu Han's eyes narrowed.

He raised his palm and shouted, "Damage Devour!"

A pitch-black vortex materialized from the center of his palm, placing a protective barrier before him.

However, the dark purple flame did not fly toward Xu Han after all; instead, it struck the ground.

In an instant.

The floor of the grand hall was engulfed by the dark purple flames.

The raging, dark purple blaze spread rapidly toward Xu Han.

Almost in the blink of an eye.

It reached right in front of him.

Chilling tongues of fire lunged at Xu Han.

A mere graze against his clothing instantly reduced the fabric to ash, which drifted away into nothingness.

The Enchantress curled her lips into a breathtaking, captivating smile: "My little male consort, can you still block this?"

A chill ran through Xu Han's heart.

Though the flame seemed devoid of heat, its destructive power was undoubtedly immense!

Damage Devour could not withstand this kind of large-scale area-of-effect skill.

He needed another plan.

Would that other skill be able to block this flame, he wondered?

He let out a low shout: "Blazing Sun!"

The phantom of the Blazing Sun Lion manifested behind him.

A brilliant orb of light shot upward toward the ceiling of the hall.

A golden sun now hung suspended from the vaulted ceiling.

A flicker of surprise crossed the Enchantress's crimson eyes.

This little fellow certainly possessed quite a few tricks up his sleeve.

The illumination from the orb made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Yet, relying solely on this light sphere was entirely insufficient to stop the Nether Flame Purgatory.

Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Xu Han.

Filled with curiosity.

She was eager to see what other methods this fragile human still had left.

"Blazing Sun Dragon Body!"

Xu Han shouted in a deep voice.

Another phantom, this time of a black dragon, emerged behind him.

The Enchantress's pupils constricted slightly.

Although the black dragon was merely an illusion.

The dragon might radiating from it was unmistakably clear!

The Dragon Clan?!

This human actually had ties to the Dragon Clan?

The black dragon raised its head and let out a heaven-shaking roar.

The curiosity in the Enchantress's eyes deepened.

What on earth was the background of this human boy?

The black dragon phantom descended, enveloping Xu Han within it.

Pitch-black dragon scales rapidly covered his entire body.

Beneath the radiant sunlight shining from above.

The dark dragon scales were coated with a faint golden sheen.

Watching the encroaching nether flames wash over him.

Xu Han crossed his arms in front of his chest.

The nether flames made contact with the dragon scales.

A bone-chilling cold swept through him.

Xu Han felt as though his body had been cast into an icy abyss.

The freezing nether flames instantly engulfed his entire form.

Burning fiercely.

The Enchantress rested her chin gently on her delicate hand.

She was terribly curious.

Could this human manage to survive it?

***

Boom!

The nether flames erupted violently.

A figure covered entirely in dragon scales stood at the very center of the blaze.

Patches of nether flames continued to burn across the surface of the scales.

Yet they failed to inflict even the slightest damage upon them.

The Enchantress's eyes widened in mild astonishment.

This was the first time anyone had ever endured the Nether Flame Purgatory head-on!

She extended the tip of her tongue to gently lick her lips.

A smile curved the corners of her mouth.

This male consort—she was going to have him, no matter what!

Xu Han lowered his head to look at the scales covering his body.

Seeing them completely intact, a smile broke out across his face.

It worked!

The Blazing Sun Dragon Body granted immunity to fire-type damage.

Even though the nether flames were unlike traditional fire, they remained fire nonetheless.

And they had been thoroughly blocked by the dragon scales.

With a mental command, he dismissed the dragon scales and reverted to his human form.

The Enchantress stepped forward slowly, a light laugh escaping her lips: "Not bad, you have passed this Queen's test."

"From now on, you shall be my sole male consort, accompanying me here in this grand hall."

Xu Han's mouth twitched.

Being a male consort was one thing.

But was he expected to spend eternity trapped in this barren hall?

It seemed his only option was to fight his way out by force.

Staring at the Enchantress not far away.

Xu Han gritted his teeth and prepared to make his move.

When a gentle voice suddenly rang out beside his ear.

"Sir cannot possibly stay here, you know."

Startled, Xu Han abruptly turned his head to the side.

A spatial portal had materialized beside him without warning.

A woman adorned with ram horns and dressed in a flowing blue gown stepped leisurely out of the gateway.

It was none other than Ning Yu!

"Ning Yu?!"

Xu Han gasped in sheer astonishment.

Ning Yu beamed at him.

Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, warming the heart.

The Enchantress's eyes narrowed.

The smile vanished instantly from her face.

A vast, overwhelming pressure erupted outward.

At this moment, she resembled nothing less than a true queen reigning supreme over the world!

Xu Han's expression shifted slightly as he braced himself against the oppressive aura.

Yet Ning Yu merely smiled faintly and took a single step forward.

Where her delicate foot touched the ground.

Pristine, azure-blue frost bloomed across the stone tiles.

The ice spread instantly, blanketing half the grand hall.

Howling winds swept through the space, and snowflakes drifted down from above.

In a split second.

Ice and the nether realm stood in rival equilibrium.

The Enchantress demanded coldly, "Who are you?"

"How dare you attempt to snatch a male consort from this Queen?"

Ning Yu replied softly, "Sir is not my male consort."

"Whether he serves as your consort is of no concern to me."

"However, Sir simply cannot remain here."

Dark lines etched themselves across Xu Han's forehead.

The Enchantress's eyes grew steely. "Hmph! Anyone belonging to this Queen must stay by her side to serve!"

"If you wish to take him away, let us see if you have the capability to do so!"

She flicked her hand.

***

The floor shattered violently with a thunderous crash.

Five armored corpses wielding long spears clawed their way up from beneath the earth.

These were the Queen's personal guards!

"Kill her for me!"

The Enchantress commanded coldly with a wave of her hand.

The five mummified corpses roared in unison, gripping their spears tightly as they charged toward Ning Yu.

In the blink of an eye.

They were upon her.

Their spears carried a lethal intent, thrusting directly at Ning Yu's face.

Ning Yu merely raised a finger and tapped the air a few times.

Howling gales raged fiercely through the air.

Just as the spear tips were about to pierce her body.

All five corpses froze into solid ice sculptures, standing motionless where they stood.

Xu Han silently swallowed hard.

In a battle of this caliber, he had no way to intervene; he could only stand by as a spectator.

The Enchantress frowned slightly.

She could sense that an unimaginably terrifying power was concealed within this seemingly gentle woman!

To instantly freeze her five elite guards solid.

Even seventh-tier powerhouses could not accomplish such a feat.

It seemed she would have to use her true strength!

She declared coldly, "Nether Domain!"

The grand hall underwent an instantaneous transformation.

The physical hall vanished entirely.

A crimson blood-moon hung high in the sky.

Blood-red moonlight bathed the earth.

Eerie and grotesque.

The ground transformed into a vast, desolate wasteland.

Countless severed limbs and broken bones littered the earth.

Shattered weapons and armor protruded from the soil.

Absolute death permeated the landscape.

Xu Han's eyes tightened.

He felt as though all his skills had been sealed.

Even his strength had been more than halved.

He couldn't even clench his fists properly.

So this was the Nether Domain?

If that woman had unleashed this technique from the very beginning.

He would likely have been left completely helpless, awaiting his execution.

Having one's life resting entirely in the hands of others was a truly wretched feeling!

To grow stronger!

He must grow stronger!

His life belonged to him alone, and he would dictate its course!

No one else had the right to control it!

The Enchantress's body slowly levitated into the air.

Looking down at Ning Yu from above, she spoke with disdain, "You are unworthy to vie with this Queen for a male consort!"

Ning Yu smiled faintly.

Showing not a trace of fear, she took a step into mid-air.

As if walking on invisible stairs, she ascended step by step toward the sky.

The frost behind her spread rapidly.

The desolate, lifeless ground was soon covered entirely in ice.

A blizzard of swirling snowflakes filled the heavens.

"Then... let us put it to the test."