Silver radiance tore through the fabric of space, as if a thunderbolt cleaving the heavens, streaking towards the elder named Huang Yi with astonishing speed. Along its path, the air, due to the high speed, emitted a series of low sonic booms, and deep pits unexpectedly burst forth on the ground in front of it. Huang Yi’s face turned grim the moment the Earth Demon Puppet appeared. He sensed a terrifying menace from the puppet’s body.
“Is this brat carrying such a formidable puppet with him?” Huang Yi’s expression changed dramatically, but fortunately, his experience was vast. Seeing the Earth Demon Puppet charging at him with murderous intent, he hurriedly stepped back, leaving a trail of afterimages.
His reaction was not slow, but the Earth Demon Puppet’s speed was even faster. With a stomp on the ground, creating a tremor and cracking the earth, it instantly appeared in front of Huang Yi, its fist shining with brilliant silver, without hesitation smashing towards his head.
The invisible air roared around the striking fist, exerting immense pressure, causing Huang Yi to stagger. The low sonic booms echoed like cannon fire in his ears.
*Bang!*
At this critical moment, Huang Yi’s face became serious. Bending his knees slightly, he swiftly moved his hands, and as his palms traced their arcs, red-hot battle energy surged out from his body, forming a gigantic flame cauldron in front of him!
“Flame Cauldron Covering the Sky!” Huang Yi’s face, stained by the fiery battle energy, turned crimson, and his eyes filled with flames. He thrust both hands onto the giant flame cauldron, clashing with the Earth Demon Puppet’s iron fists.
*Ding!*
The silvery fist, undeterred by Huang Yi’s defense, struck with overwhelming force, landing heavily on the flame cauldron. A startling sound echoed over the plain, the resulting shockwave flinging up a layer of earth.
*Bang!*
The collision lasted only a moment before the flame cauldron, formed by Huang Yi’s battle energy, cracked and exploded into shards of energy, shooting in all directions. The Earth Demon Puppet, even at the level of a nine-star Battle Sect, could hold its own against him. Huang Yi, only at the seven-star level, could not match its strength.
*Humph!*
As the flame cauldron shattered, Huang Yi let out a stifled groan, staggering and retreating.
“Such a powerful puppet!” Backing away, Huang Yi was filled with shock. Only after personally engaging it did he truly understand the difficulty of facing the Earth Demon Puppet. Stamping his foot to stabilize himself, he suppressed the surging blood energy, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth. Initially, he had thought that with his seven-star Battle Sect strength, the youth would be somewhat hesitant. But reality was harsh. Not only could he not intimidate the youth, but he also faced a significant challenge in just escaping.
At this moment, Huang Yi regretted his greed. Just as he stabilized, seeing the Earth Demon Puppet approaching, his eyes flickered rapidly, and he shouted, “Young friend, I admit my mistake. I will leave now, and the Earth Heart Spirit Core is all yours!”
Knowing the situation, Huang Yi understood that he must first escape, regroup with his companions, and then deal with the boy. As he spoke, he glanced at where Xiao Yan had stood, only to find him gone.
“Not good…” Startled, Huang Yi’s face changed, and he stomped the ground, ready to retreat. A sharp wind emerged behind him, aiming directly at his heart.
The sudden ambush terrified Huang Yi. He turned abruptly, throwing out a hasty palm.
*Bang!*
The palm and fist collided, but Huang Yi’s hasty attempt immediately crumbled. The punch, like a slippery eel, broke free, landing on his chest.
*Pfft!*
Huang Yi spat blood, his face turning pale, and he flew back, skidding nearly a hundred meters before finally stopping.
Regaining his balance, Huang Yi spat out another mouthful of blood, glancing at Xiao Yan, who appeared in the spot where he had previously stood. With a twisted face, he growled, “Brat, you’ve got guts. But rest assured, I won’t let you off easy. I have two companions in the Pill World. They will seek justice for me!”
Before he finished speaking, he spat more blood and snapped his fingers, sending a beam of light that swirled in the blood, transforming into a bloody glow that shot up into the sky and vanished in a flash.
Huang Yi’s actions were familiar, and Xiao Yan watched the disappearing blood glow with a slight frown. After a moment, he smiled, “If your companions want to die, I won’t mind.”
“Stubborn brat, don’t think having a puppet gives you the right to act arrogant!” Huang Yi snarled.
Xiao Yan smiled and approached, saying, “You should know what comes next, right?”
Huang Yi, wary, backed away, casting a reluctant glance at the Earth Demon Puppet. Holding a spatial stone, he knew he had to use it, or the seemingly gentle young man would truly kill him.
Huang Yi had no doubts; if roles were reversed, he would do the same. And the young man, Xiao Yan, didn’t seem the forgiving type.
“Brat, I remember you. I’ll wait for you in Holy Pill City, and when the Pill Assembly ends, you’ll wish you were dead!”
Holding the spatial stone, Huang Yi crushed it, twisting the space around him. “Brat, if you have the guts, leave your name, so I know who defeated me today!”
Seeing this, Xiao Yan chuckled, gently stroking his ring, and said, “Xiao Yan.”
Upon hearing the name, Huang Yi’s face froze. He remembered it from the day he entered the Pill Region; it was the day Xiao Yan battled the Ice River Valley.
“Damn, why did I run into this unlucky star…?”
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the spatial distortion sucked him in, and Xiao Yan saw the look of regret on his face.
With Huang Yi gone, Xiao Yan stored the Earth Demon Puppet. A mere seven-star Battle Sect wasn’t worth his fear. As for Huang Yi’s companions, Xiao Yan wasn’t too concerned. If they weren’t Dou Zun, he had nothing to worry about. And judging from Huang Yi’s demeanor, he likely couldn’t form an alliance with a Dou Zun.
“This Pill World is nice, but one can only stay for a short time. I must obtain the three heavenly treasures on the list soon. Delaying the Pill Assembly would be a waste…”
Xiao Yan mused, then took out the map of the Pill World from his ring, studying it carefully. “These three items should be at the three red-circled locations. I must go there first…”
After a moment’s thought, Xiao Yan made his decision. Balancing the Earth Heart Spirit Core required some rare herbs, and since the Pill World was rich in treasures, he hoped to gather those herbs as well. If possible, he could break through to the Spirit Realm before leaving, giving him a much better chance of winning the Pill Assembly.
With a plan in mind, Xiao Yan wasted no more time. Rising into the air, he identified the location of one of the red circles on the map and shot off in a streak of light.
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