The resounding roar echoed through the inner courtyard, its reverberation lingering in the air like sacred chants, causing the hearts of those present to tremble. Soon after this aged roar, figures darted swiftly across various parts of the inner courtyard, converging over the area where Xiao Yan and the others were located. The one leading them was none other than the Great Elder Su Qian, his expression grave as he gazed toward the direction from which the roar had come. His fists tightened slightly, and he muttered, “Earth Demon Old Ghost…”
As Su Qian slowly lowered his head, his eyes met those of Xiao Yan and the others below. Their brows furrowed, clearly indicating that this trouble had indeed come knocking.
Not long after that aged roar rang out, a series of piercing sounds echoed from the horizon. In a mere moment, a group of small, dark silhouettes appeared in the vision of the onlookers. After a few blinks, these figures transformed into a group of people exuding a malevolent aura, hovering above the inner courtyard.
Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over the group, estimating about twenty people. His eyes then paused on the two central figures. One of them was familiar—the traitor Han Feng. The other was an old man with blood-red hair, clad in a yellow skull robe. His face was emaciated, almost skeletal, and his sunken eyes emitted a faint, eerie glow, akin to ghostly flames, giving off a chilling and sinister aura.
This blood-haired old man hovered in the air, his sunken pupils coldly observing the inner courtyard below. Whenever his sleeves rustled, the surrounding space would subtly ripple with a faint but noticeable disturbance. Although it was extremely slight, Xiao Yan still sensed it, causing his pupils to constrict slightly. This old man’s profound Dou Qi was the most powerful he had ever encountered. It seemed that this man was likely the infamous founder of the Demon Flame Valley, the Earth Demon Old Ghost, whom Su Qian and the others so feared.
As the group of menacing figures appeared, a sense of oppression descended upon the inner courtyard, affecting some of the weaker students whose expressions changed. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a hint of fear.
Feeling the oppressive silence, Su Qian frowned and raised his head, looking at the blood-haired old man. “After all these years, I didn’t expect your strength to have improved so much.”
“You are Su Qian, right?” The Earth Demon Old Ghost cast a dismissive glance at Su Qian. “I never imagined you would reach the Battle Sect stage. When we last met, you were just a peak Battle Emperor elder. As for my purpose here, you should know. Hand over that young man named Xiao Yan. He killed three of my elders, and this account must be settled. Otherwise, how can our Demon Flame Valley continue to stand in the Black-Corner Region?”
Su Qian’s face darkened, and he barked, “Earth Demon Old Ghost, Xiao Yan killed Dialect and the others for a reason. In a fight, injuries are inevitable. Moreover, they tried to kill him first; should he have let them kill him?”
“I don’t care about any of that,” the Earth Demon Old Ghost waved his sleeve, sneering. “I will not waste time on words. Just bring Tianchi Mang out to talk to me.”
Upon hearing this, Su Qian’s face twisted into a sneer. “Earth Demon Old Ghost, do you not fear becoming a laughingstock? If Dean Mang were here, would you dare to come here with such a display of force?”
The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s eyes flashed with a murderous gleam. “Su Qian, do not think that I am afraid of Tianchi Mang. Even if I do, you have no right to speak to me like this! I will leave this harsh warning: if you do not hand over Xiao Yan, this inner courtyard need not open again!”
At these words, the faces of the inner courtyard elders changed, and anger flared up. This old devil was too audacious.
A clear, bright laugh suddenly echoed in the square. Behind Xiao Yan, brilliant green fire wings burst forth, and he shot into the air, coming to a stop beside Su Qian, addressing the Earth Demon Old Ghost, “It’s quite an honor to have such a powerful expert remember my name…”
As Xiao Yan appeared, Xiu Yanxian and Zi Yan followed closely, their eyes wary as they gazed at the Earth Demon Old Ghost and his group.
“Are you Xiao Yan?” The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s cold gaze shifted to Xiao Yan, his grim voice sending chills even in the broad daylight.
Xiao Yan chuckled, “Earth Demon Senior, it is I, Xiao Yan. Dialect and the others died by my hand, and the Bodhi Transformation Saliva is also in my possession.”
Before Xiao Yan could respond, Han Feng, standing beside the Earth Demon Old Ghost, interjected, his eyes casting a sinister glare at Xiao Yan. It was clear he had put considerable effort into bringing Xiao Yan down.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost nodded, his gaunt face unreadable, as he fixed his ghostly gaze on Xiao Yan. “Will you come with me quietly, or shall I personally sever your limbs and take you with me?”
“Earth Demon Old Ghost, this is the inner courtyard, not the Demon Flame Valley. You cannot act recklessly here. I, too, will issue a harsh warning: if you dare to make a move here, I will use my old life to show you that the Jia Nan Academy is not made of clay!” Su Qian roared, his eyes flashing.
As these tense words fell, the atmosphere in the sky grew taut. Everyone knew that this situation would not end well…
“Hah, such bravado, worthy of being the great elder. But do you really think you are Tianchi Mang?” The Earth Demon Old Ghost cackled, then said slyly, “If you insist on interfering, I don’t mind teaching you a lesson in front of all your students. Otherwise, your words will offend me further. Xiao Yan killed my three elders, and anyone who helps him today is an enemy of the Demon Flame Valley!”
“Perhaps your goal is the Bodhi Transformation Saliva. What a grand excuse. A person who has lived long enough seems to have grown thicker-skinned,” Xiao Yan said coolly.
“Sharp tongue!” The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s eyes turned icier, and with a flick of his fingers, five streams of icy-cold, lethal Dou Qi shot toward Xiao Yan’s head.
As the icy beams neared Xiao Yan, a graceful white figure suddenly appeared, releasing a burst of overwhelming Dou Qi, tinged with a faint scent of decay. This force dispersed the five icy beams, but the white figure trembled slightly and emitted a low, pained groan, taking a step back.
Seeing the Little Immortal Healer forced back, Xiao Yan’s face darkened. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, be careful. This old man is extremely strong, and his Dou Qi is filled with cold. With your current strength, a hit could be very damaging,” she warned, her expression serious.
“A young woman at the Battle Sect level, truly unexpected. Has advancing to Battle Sect become so easy?” The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s eyes glittered, eyeing the Little Immortal Healer.
“Are you assuming everyone is like you, an old man who shows little progress despite years of cultivation?” Xiao Yan retorted, unyielding.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost’s eyes twitched, his killing intent rising. His talent was not bad, but compared to Tianchi Mang and other old men who had left the Black-Corner Region, he lagged behind. While Tianchi Mang had become a Dou Zun, he remained at the Battle Sect level, a source of frustration.
“Earth Demon Senior, don’t bother with this sharp-tongued brat. Now, let’s strike. We’ll pluck his teeth and cut his tongue once we capture him,” Han Feng hissed, eyes cunning.
“Leave Su Qian to me. Xiao Yan and the white-robed Battle Sect woman are for you, Earth Demon. With your skills, disposing of them shouldn’t be hard.” Han Feng’s eyes gleamed with hidden scheming, assigning Xiao Yan and the enigmatic Little Immortal Healer to the Earth Demon, while he took on the relatively easier target, Su Qian.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost nodded, his sunken eyes filled with a murderous light.
The inner courtyard elders, sensing the murderous intent, became highly alert, their profound Dou Qi ready to surge at a moment’s notice.
In the tense atmosphere overhead, the students below whispered in awe and admiration for Xiao Yan’s daring words to a renowned Battle Sect. He was a legend at the Jia Nan Academy, a man of unparalleled courage. However, as they admired him, they couldn’t help but worry. This old monster was of the same era as the mysterious dean, a formidable foe…
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