"Not bad, this is the Blood Fusion Pill bestowed upon us by the elders, capable of helping us Blood Fiend Cult disciples refine our blood bodies and break through bottlenecks! Want it?" A dangerous smile spread across Deng Ning's face. In the next instant, he flung the Blood Fusion Pill toward the Flowing Flame Sand Area and let out a wild laugh: "If you want it, go in and pick it up yourselves — if you've got the guts to make it out alive!"
Knowing full well he couldn't hold onto the Blood Fusion Pill against the combined efforts of his two senior brothers, he'd rather not let anyone else have it either.
"Stop him!" Ye Yangrong shouted, seemingly lunging at Deng Ning to cut him off. But mid-stride, he twisted his body and darted after the Blood Fusion Pill instead.
An Zhiyong likewise feinted and bolted toward the pill. Their goals at this moment were strikingly aligned.
But Deng Ning had thrown it with all his fury and every ounce of strength. The Blood Fusion Pill rocketed forward at tremendous speed, and in the blink of an eye, it pierced into the dark-red energy barrier of the Flowing Flame Sand Area and vanished. By the time Ye Yangrong and An Zhiyong reached the barrier, there was nothing to be done.
For a moment, both wore expressions ashen with rage. They whipped their heads toward Deng Ning, their killing intent erupting without the slightest pretense of restraint — all trace of their earlier pleasant demeanor and earnest persuasion had evaporated. They looked as though they wanted to tear Deng Ning to shreds.
The Blood Fusion Pill had been thrown into the Flowing Flame Sand Area, and retrieving it was now impossible. They had no confidence in forcing their way into such a forbidden zone at the third level of the Saint King Realm, especially now, when the Flowing Flame Sand Area was at the peak of its ferocious power. Setting foot inside meant certain death.
The instant Deng Ning hurled the pill, he was already shooting backward, trying to flee. But Ye Yangrong let out a sharp cry, his body flickering as he transformed into a cloud of blood that streaked overhead with incredible speed. The blood cloud swept down and enveloped Deng Ning within it.
Inside the cloud, a murderous aura surged skyward, and a nauseating stench of blood spread in all directions.
In an instant, Deng Ning's horrified voice rang out from within the blood cloud: "Demonic Body into Blood — when did you ever cultivate this?!"
He sounded utterly shocked by the technique Ye Yangrong had just deployed, his voice trembling. The next moment, fierce sounds of combat erupted from within the blood cloud, punctuated by Deng Ning's muffled grunts.
Ye Yangrong's sinister laughter drifted out: "Your senior brother is only so-so, but he managed to glimpse the basics of this art three years ago. This is the first time I've actually used it in battle, Junior Brother Deng. Tell me — where will you run now?"
As he spoke, he issued an order: "Junior Brother An, kill that eyesore, then come help me. The Blood Fusion Pill may be gone, but as far as I know, Junior Brother Deng still possesses the secret technique — the Blood Fiend Silk cultivation method. If you want it, you'd better move fast."
When he first saw Ye Yangrong transform into a cloud of blood and swallow Deng Ning, An Zhiyong's expression had darkened considerably. He'd never imagined this Senior Brother Ye of his was so deep and calculating — cultivating this secret art three years ago without ever revealing it. A look of extreme wariness surfaced on his face.
With the Blood Fusion Pill gone, An Zhiyong was half-tempted to call the whole thing off. Even if he joined forces with Ye Yangrong to kill Deng Ning, there was no guarantee of a worthwhile reward.
But the moment he heard that Deng Ning actually possessed the secret method for cultivating Blood Fiend Silk, his interest reignited. His eyes lit up, and his expression turned indecisive.
Ye Yangrong could tell what was holding him back. Without missing a beat, he called out in a clear voice: "Junior Brother An, this Demonic Body into Blood drains my Sacred Yuan at a tremendous rate. Using it against Junior Brother Deng alone is already pushing my limits. You needn't fear that I'll turn on you afterward — besides, with your abilities, your senior brother would only be making trouble for himself if he tried."
An Zhiyong's face was grim as he pondered for a moment. Then, as though he'd made up his mind, his expression hardened into resolve and he nodded: "Very well — then this junior brother will join forces with you one more time!"
With that, he turned and fixed Yang Kai with a cold stare.
Right at that moment, a streak of fire shot out from within the Flowing Flame Sand Area, flashed past in an instant, and plunged into Yang Kai's chest. The sight left An Zhiyong momentarily stunned. He frowned: "What was that?"
"Nothing." Yang Kai let out a soft sigh, then after a moment's thought, said: "If I told you I have absolutely no connection to your junior brother and wasn't here waiting as his ambush partner — would you believe me?"
"Would you believe it if you were me?" An Zhiyong snorted coldly.
"If I were you, I wouldn't believe it either." Yang Kai wore a helpless expression. Setting aside the fact that Deng Ning had lit up with joy upon seeing him and the two of them had seemed to recognize each other, this was the Flowing Flame Sand Area — even if it was the outer perimeter, it was still unbearably hot. The idea that Yang Kai would just happen to appear here of his own volition, rather than as Deng Ning's planted accomplice, was absurd. Had he come here sightseeing?
Apart from the brief period when the Flowing Flame Sand Area opened — when crowds would descend — no one ever willingly set foot near this place at any other time.
If Ye Yangrong and An Zhiyong hadn't been chasing Deng Ning, would they ever have come here? And Deng Ning, desperate and with nowhere else to turn, had gambled on fleeing here in hopes of shaking off his two senior brothers — never expecting that the Blood Fusion Pill's lure would drive them to pursue relentlessly.
By pure chance, Yang Kai had been swept into this conflict.