Han Feng’s gaze pierced coldly towards Xiao Yan’s advancing party making their way slowly into the center of the plaza. Observing they hadn’t brought Grand Elders Bai and Qian with them, his eyes flashed with piercing coldness.
“Xiao Yan, who would’ve thought you’d actually dare to come here willingly? Do you truly think those present here are mere weeds to be trampled?” Han Feng slowly rose from his seat with a chilling smile, then secretly gestured towards a powerful disciple from Hellfire Chasm standing near him, secretly instructing the man to summon guards from the Chasm immediately.
“I target only you, Han Feng, and the Hellfire Chasm, unrelated to anyone else. But if others insist on getting themselves involved… naturally this Xiao Yan shall show no mercy either. “Step by step, Xiao Yan walked resolutely toward the plaza. Each quiet footfall generated a palpable pressurizing aura around its circumference. These events have shaken things in Black Corner Domain quite thoroughly recently. The ferocity associated with the youthful-looking martial artist made him far from the naive teenager he appeared to be to those seated watching nervously.
“There’s no need to signal the Hell Chasm guards outside anymore. We handled them swiftly upon arrival,” Xiao Yan replied in a low grin observing Han Feng’s under-the-table signals with an eerie serenity and hints of carnage coloring in his smiles.
Hearing this, Han Feng and other prominent Hell Chasm figures first looked genuinely alarmed before retorting furiously:
“A ruthless brat as expected! Could it be that your intention is indeed to obliterate even our roosters and hens?”
A faint smile crept across Xiao Yan’s lips. Calmly speaking, he said, “[W]hen Hell Chasm first struck the students innocently studying at Jia Nan Academy in the name of violence then, such repercussions shouldn’t catch you so suddenly shocked. Although the academic halls harbor no appetite for carnage, there’s little foolish indulgence in extending mercy upon the hostile.”
Narrowing eyes flooded with chilling killing intent encircled by thick bursts of martial force radiating outwards so fiercely that the sturdy chair before Han Feng had creakened under the heavy weight, developing ominous cracks amidst the tension.
“Thus, this time indeed, you’ve come seeking the fall of Hellfire Chasm. However — your expectations may misfire here. Reverend Elder Eaglepeak, alongside Headmaster Moy Tse, should surely teach impudence no harbor in today’s affair—should sense speak, immediately surrender the Boddhi Fragment Elixir.”
Amidst Han Feng’s threats and instructions, Xiao Yan subtly turned his glance towards Moy Tse and Eaglepeak Master nearby, continuing in a tone utterly unreadable:
“So the great sirs Moy Headmaster and Master Eaglepeak have settled on siding with Han Feng and Hellfire Chasm now?”
Even as he spoke, from behind his steps, Su Chien and Little Healer Immortal simultaneously emerged a single measured footfall ahead; each gaze locked on Masters Hoy Shen and Eaglepeak ominously—showing all indication that they’d launch immediate conflict if verbal confrontation proved fruitless or unsatisfactory.
The sudden intrusion of Xiao Yan undoubtedly caught Moy Tse and Eaglepeak Master off-kilter. Though both bore serious caution, considering Xiao Yan’s previous clash with Hell Spirit Ancestor, particularly under this threatening pressure with Su Chian standing solidly beside Xiao Yan as a Battle Sect force of reckoning, these two seasoned men naturally found themselves shrinking under sheer martial force pressure.
“Master Xiao Yan, the temptation held by the Bodhi Fragment Saliva remains undeniably substantial to both me and elder Eaglepeak,” Moy Tse’s hands lightly stroked his long beard as he explained calmly: “if Han Feng seeks to rally support based in this desire… temptation’s difficult to ignore entirely!”
“If you’re prepared to hand the item forthright, old Moy shall depart immediately alongside elder companion! Your private conflict with Han Feng becomes no affair demanding external meddle!” affirmed Elder Eaglepeak sternly eyeing Xiao Yan, his gaze intense.
Watching silently from the seat, a flare of anger surged inside Han Feng. The tone in their words bore traces of conceding softness clearly—an ordinary moment he could forgive. But when their current roles demanded forming coalitions against a shared enemy amidst mounting pressure by Xiao Yan’s entrance — their faltering and fear exposed to onlookers, would inevitably breed second guesses amongst other allied powers in attendance…
Indeed so: as thoughts raced through the mind darkly, Han Feng’s vision swept around; he observed unmistakable signs—fellow powers began hesitating already in gaze amidst crowd.
Yet upon hearing Hoy’s elder’s offer and the ultimatum behind, Xiao Yan’s reaction was entirely noncommittal.
Such Bodhi Fragment Saliva remained the vital piece needed helping healer immortal control Nighmare Poison. To even suggest giving that item was unthinkable betrayal.
A bloody conflict today thus looked entirely unavoidable.
“This confrontation lies solely within the score between Xiao Sect gate and our foes of the Hellfire Chasm.” Xiao Yan spoke up clearly standing upon the plaza’s jet-black steellike stone: the power within surged at his utterances amplifying voice into resonant echo reverberatintg within ears of crowd gathered.”For outsiders or spectators present here, I advise simply standing aside. Anyone not siding with these foes — becomes Xiao Gate Friend; to our allies we remain gracious, yet for hostilities…
…extinguishing root-and-branch follows as protocol.”
Upon the young leader’s bold declaration, as the pressure of surging aura erupted forth suddenly around Xiao Yan himself — many among crowd subtly shifted uneasy expressions — for at six-star Battle Emperor levels currently achieved, compounded by the Phoenix Flame cultivation methods alongside inferno effects contained — this Xiao Yan’s aura strength approached parity only matched against Battle Emperor peak-level experts.
Save Han Feng and rare others immune, others suffered from chest-crushing suffocating heaviness weighing on every breath amidst tension.
For Han Feng, Moy Tse, Eaglepeak—and select others—when this vastly escalated power erupted into the open anew for display; glances crossed in brief shocked recognition too… finally identifying in close observation that this martial prowess further matured during only short intervals passed since prior encounters. Though rising only one extra Dou mark, the acceleration remained fearsomely swift…
“Hold him back — he mustn’t parlay further with unchecked dominance!” Glancing sidelong in silent command with a chilling glance thrown toward nearby Gold & Silver Elders—silent cues passed without delay from eyes to allies…
Understanding intentions in the eye contact, hesitation momentarily flicktered over these Silver and Gold Elders’ expressions. But soon both darted in sudden flash-like blur bursts of action landing gracefully onto the platform square, their overwhelming auras rushing upwards, attempting to contain and balance back Xiao Yan’s previously dominant intimidation pressure exerted over onlookers nearby while keeping themselves positioned to engage the younger master. Deep down—however—despite acknowledging that, under raw stats comparison, Xiao Yan’s level remains slightly beyond their individual grasp, they still harbored faith that—without him activating those world-altering Martial Techniques capable of changing outcomes dramatically… both believed themselves able enough to buy crucial moments stalling progress or movement by matching strength and endurance alone.
Yet they assessed by old standards long outdated since previous duels against this youth years past now. Should they measure with same narrow perspectives applied in past encounters… heavy price must pay inevitably as the gap grew beyond all proportion…
“It comes to my duty, Master Xiao, that today the Hellfire Chasm calls in invited guests; thus for any unwelcomed visitor, kindly leave,” the senior elders challenged coldly bowing hands in salute.
Just as voices ended… a sudden ripple like faint distant thunder rolled imperceptibly yet unmistakably through stagnant plaza atmosphere.
Following the silent boom, two long slender palms reached gently forward like shadow striking at their backs from behind — landing squarely and ominously onto Silver & Gold Elder throats… as they froze stiffly in horror — chills crawled creeping upwards spine at contact points. Coldness spreading… pale terror blooming upon faces rapidly petrified into paralyzed panic, mouths opened yet found no voice emerging.
“You’re… no longer worthy in speaking thus far, to Me.”
A youth face gradually emerged silently from shadowed space behind captured elders – two young hands clamping ever-tighter over throat junctions ready to snap spines instantly through precise crushing impulse release!
“Terrifying speed.”
“At his cultivation? How did a Battle Emperor even arrive so swiftly…?”
Stunned murmurs flew around crowd while every individual stared at black-cloaked Xiao Yan’s nearly instantaneous translocational blur materialing silently behind two Elders. A pair of gleaming tenement-like sized bone wings flapped languidly behind his frame like ancient relic reanimated by dark force magic with every flap unleashing sharp bursts of suppressed thunderclaps in waves across atmosphere… sending mini-cyclones scattering outward in turbulent wake.
Such a wingspread — “The Petrified Phantom Wings”— once deployed by Xiao Yan unlocked an unmatched velocity, allowing him to even outpace skilled Battle Sect opponents under current circumstances. Moreover, since the duo remained caught entirely unaware beforehand — thus in mere eyeblinks, swiftly subdued like helpless infants by this deadly embrace: shocking display shaking all spectators gathered.
Frozen and soaked in ice-cold sweat as lethal killing intent seeped down from the shadow engulfing their skulls, neither could dare so much even twitch the slightest muscle. Deep within palms resting lightly yet ominously along their throats, the Elders felt unmistakable coiling pressure of suppressed death-force building like tidal tsunami poised in millisecond release at Xiao Yan whim — any such impulse discharged instantly proving fatal amidst defenseless positions taken.
“S-s-secure mercy… M-m-may it come….” Elder Gold gulped painfully, voice quivering, each syllable trembled like quake. Earlier bravado vanished beneath tidal weight. Unparalleled swift ambush left psychological scars too traumatic too erase — and suddenly dawning recognition hit deep: that Xiao Yan’s strength had eclipsed their once superior mastery of previous conflicts years gone past.
Unseen to others was a secret fact—that without such gross distraction in carelessness coupled with their complete lack preparedness, even the terrifying velocity Xiao Yan boasted wouldn’t suffice catching them instantly so swiftly despite power boosts acquired through rare treasure enhancements recently developed. Simply—too careless the old veterans…
“A pair of foolish old goats. Knowing Xiao Yan far surpassed average Royal Stage cultivator, and still allowed recklessness to govern responses so utterly…”
Han Feng’s face twitched with visible frustration amidst crowd while cursing inwardly, equally taken aback himself at such instant crippling of Silver & Gold so effortlessly. It provided an unintended golden chance for Xiao Yan to dominate all present…
From audience area: Moy Tse alongside Elder Eaglepeak, too, stared fixedly with furrowed brows upon those gleaming skeletal dragonlike wings flaring majestically behind.
From experienced observation, both quickly confirmed that this bone appendage held direct causality behind enabling such previously impossible velocity.
Moreover… both distinctly recollected clearly how, during prior duels, Xiao Yan’s previous speed lagged woefully in contrast.
Scrubbing memory desperately at this strange familiarity—the more Moy Tse squashed mind’s eye, the quicker memory struck back like lightning bolt.
This—these wings!
Certainly—the petrified creature skeletal fragments originally acquired by Xiao Yan via the auction house back then — the ones dismissed as valueless and unrefined relics, which Moy Tse once scorned during evaluation…
What an unforgivable miscalculation. Never had such possibility crossed the mind… that youth Xiao Yan would breathe monstrous potential from discarded husks once deemed lifeless.
This transaction — lost so deeply within memory’s past, seemed now an inexcusable blunder to Moy Tse…
“Cursed was that little bastard…” he thought in bitterness burning heart as he stared jealously enviously at these monstrous bone formations unfolding into terrifying power right here and now.
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