The overwhelming aura rippled around Xiao Yan, causing the entire mountain range to tremble slightly under this terrifying pressure. Occasionally, a quivering, mournful howl could be heard from the forests, filled with a hint of fear. As the soul power within him grew stronger, Xiao Yan’s toes gradually left the treetops and he floated in the air. His dark eyes, perhaps due to the abundance of soul power, gradually turned silvery-white. As the silver became more pronounced, it soon occupied his entire eyes, transforming his once black pupils into a pair of extremely cold, silver ones.
The rise of his aura eventually slowed to a stop. Xiao Yan lowered his head, looking at Shen Yun, whose face had drastically changed. “Weren’t you planning on disabling my ten fingers?” Though his voice was not loud, it carried a soul-shaking weight that made Shen Yun’s soul quiver.
“What did this brat do? Why has he suddenly become so powerful? Judging by this aura, he must have reached at least the seven-star or even eight-star Battle Sect realm. Is this real or an illusion?” The majestic aura emanating from Xiao Yan left Shen Yun stunned and incredulous. He was certain that Xiao Yan’s true strength should only be at the Battle Emperor level, but now it had skyrocketed like a rocket. It seemed absurd to him.
A flicker of doubt crossed Shen Yun’s mind, making it hard for him to believe that Xiao Yan could have elevated his level so drastically in such a short time. “Even high-level secret techniques shouldn’t be capable of such a terrifying effect. Could it be that this power is just a facade?”
Shen Yun’s gaze was dark and resolute; he couldn’t believe that the roles of cat and mouse had been completely reversed in just a few minutes. “I’ll see today whether your strength is real or just a pretense!” A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he clenched his hand, lightning flashing to form a lightning mace. With a movement, a faint rumble of thunder echoed across the area.
Xiao Yan gazed calmly from the sky at Shen Yun below. After a moment, he suddenly grabbed something behind him, his surging soul power condensing into a half-zhang-sized soul vortex cannon. His arm twitched, and the cannon let out a muted bang, shooting out with a fierce blast.
“Boom!”
The intangible soul vortex cannon exploded violently about a zhang behind Xiao Yan, revealing a disheveled elderly figure rushing out before retreating hastily. In that instant, a look of shock reached its peak in Shen Yun’s eyes. The previous attack made him realize that the imposing aura surrounding Xiao Yan was indeed real, not a deception by any strange technique.
“He wields soul power, but such vastness would be difficult for even a rank-seven alchemist. What is this brat’s origin?” A slight unease filled Shen Yun. Despite Xiao Yan appearing to only have Battle Emperor strength, he was unfathomable, possessing puppets, foreign flames, and now this terrifying soul power—things that exist only in legends. This realization made Shen Yun discard his earlier disdain.
“No matter what method he used to boost his strength, it surely has a time limit. Clashing with him now would be unwise. I should retreat and wait for his power to weaken.” Suppressing the turmoil in his qi, Shen Yun emitted a sharp whistle and turned, unleashing all his “Three Thousand Thunder Movements” and fleeing towards the mountains.
At the sound of the whistle, Hong Tianxiao and the other Hong family attendants, who were fighting the demonic puppet, also felt their expressions change. They knew it was the signal to retreat.
“Damn it. What did this brat do? His strength has skyrocketed to this level.” Hong Tianxiao cursed inwardly, his heart trembling at the imposing aura in the sky. His qi surged as he formed a red blade wall to fend off the puppet before retreating hastily.
“Think you can run?” Noticing Shen Yun’s escape, Xiao Yan sneered. Though his current state wouldn’t last long, he needed to make a breakthrough. Given that this old man hated him, leaving him alive was out of the question. An enemy at the Battle Sect level would always be troublesome, better to end it cleanly.
With a killer intent, Xiao Yan raised his hand, aiming at the fleeing Shen Yun, and clenched his fist. The space a hundred zhang away twisted oddly, solidifying into a tangible barrier.
“Boom!”
Shen Yun, moving at top speed, failed to notice the sudden barrier and collided with it, being forcefully repelled. The impact left a sweet taste in his throat. As he was thrown back, he immediately descended and rushed into the forest.
Before he could land, a figure appeared like a ghost, delivering a straightforward, soul-powered punch. The punch caused the space to ripple, spreading cracks like tiny, chilling black snakes.
Facing this simple punch, Shen Yun’s face distorted. He roared, his qi surging to form a dense, lightning shield. The punch struck, and the soul power exploded like a volcano, breaking the shield and pouring its full force onto Shen Yun’s body.
“Pfft!”
Blood spewed as Shen Yun was pounded into the ground, creating a deep trench over a hundred meters long. Trees along the path shattered, wood fragments flying everywhere. With the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s power, Xiao Yan nearly reached the seven-to-eight-star Battle Sect level, while Shen Yun was only a four-star Battle Sect. Each star in the Battle Sect realm meant a huge gap, and Shen Yun’s attempt to fight Xiao Yan resulted in a gruesome defeat.
Finally stopping, Shen Yun spat blood, the blow having significantly injured him. The intrusive soul power was fiercely destructive, ravaging his body. “If this continues, I’ll truly die in the hands of that little brat. I can’t tangle with him anymore.” Wiping the blood from his mouth, he was about to flee when the ghostly figure reappeared.
“Xiao Yan, if you kill me, the Wind Lightning Pavilion won’t forgive you!” Shen Yun shouted, horrified.
“Even without killing you, they won’t spare me,” Xiao Yan smiled, but to Shen Yun, it was a demon’s grin.
“What do you want to release me? Just say…” Before he finished, Shen Yun hurled several silver orb bombs at Xiao Yan and retreated again. The orbs exploded, flattening the forest within a hundred meters. But before he could catch his breath, the eerie figure appeared again, delivering a soul-powered kick to his head.
“Boom!”
More blood, and Shen Yun was sent flying, crashing through countless trees. From afar, Hong Tianxiao saw Shen Yun, almost defenseless, and his expression changed. “Patriarch, do we help?” an attendant asked, swallowing nervously.
Hong Tianxiao hesitated, glancing at the demonic puppet, which had been delayed by his attendants. “Retreat. Don’t bother. The boy’s power is too terrifying, and with the puppet, we’d only be courting death!”
He ordered, and the attendants hastily followed.
Shen Yun, battered and bruised, slowly rose, his body covered in mud and blood. He had sustained severe injuries, some of his internal meridians even ruptured. His soul power, empowered by the foreign flame, was highly destructive.
As Shen Yun panted, the void before him rippled, and Xiao Yan’s figure reappeared. “Still trying to run?” Xiao Yan’s emotionless voice rang out.
“Little brat, if you kill me, I’ll take you with me!” Shen Yun, his eyes turning red, charged at Xiao Yan, his body inflating like a balloon about to burst.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed. “Self-destruct…?”
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