Looking at him, the old man in the black robes didn't appear to have suffered any major injuries—his appearance was simply a bit worse for wear.
Having paid the price of a defensive Artifact, he had finally managed to escape from the encirclement of demon flames, his movements decisive to the extreme.
Yang Kai was somewhat surprised, realizing he had underestimated the man. To have cultivated to the second layer of the Return to Void Realm, the old man's combat experience must have been truly extraordinary.
"You brat! This old man will flay your skin and pull out your tendons! Only then will the hatred in my heart be quelled!" The old man in the black robes had escaped with his life, but rather than retreating, his expression had turned savage. He glared at Yang Kai through gritted teeth, hurling vicious threats.
As his words fell, he opened his mouth, puffed out his cheeks, and blew a forceful breath outward. His expression was strained, as though he were preparing to unleash some devastating secret technique.
How could Yang Kai let him have his way? Though he didn't know what trump card the old man might hold, the tide of battle could shift in the blink of an eye. For all he knew, this old fellow really did have some devastating killing blow up his sleeve.
At that thought, Yang Kai straightened the Golden Blood Thread until it was taut as a spear and sent it shooting toward the old man's skull.
The Golden Blood Thread was already incomparably sharp, and after being nurtured by Yang Kai for so long, its power was tremendous. Moreover, it shifted according to his will. With the old man's defensive Artifact already detonated, the protective armor he still wore would be utterly insufficient to block the piercing strike of the Golden Blood Thread.
Yang Kai was fully confident he could kill or severely wound him.
What surprised him, however, was that facing such an attack, the old man showed no intention of dodging whatsoever. He simply stood in place, his expression grave and solemn, the breath he exhaled from his mouth rolling outward like a scorching wave—brilliant red and clearly visible to the naked eye.
In the blink of an eye, a mass of crimson qi had materialized before him. The terrifying power contained within was enough to make even Yang Kai narrow his eyes in alarm.
It was still fire-attribute power, but this sphere of crimson qi was in an entirely different league from the flames the old man had released earlier. No one could tell what mysteries lay hidden within.
The moment the crimson sphere had fully formed, the Golden Blood Thread had already arrived, plunging straight into it.
But in the next instant, Yang Kai's expression shifted slightly. He immediately recalled the Golden Blood Thread, frowning as he examined it—the tip had shown signs of being partially melted.
Had he not pulled it away in time, a portion of the Golden Blood Thread would certainly have been dissolved, and he would have suffered a degree of backlash as a result.
Yang Kai's face turned serious. He hadn't expected the old man's secret technique to be this powerful.
As for the old man himself, his previously ruddy complexion had gone noticeably pale—the strain of executing that technique was clearly enormous. Nevertheless, he threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Brat, come and taste the might of my Heavenly Thunder Fire!"
As he spoke, he thrust a finger forward, flooding the crimson sphere ahead with a torrent of Sacred Yuan. Bolstered by the influx of energy, the crimson sphere swelled abruptly. A wave of searing heat radiated outward, enough to alter the very color of heaven and earth. Then the sphere squirmed and transformed, coalescing into a savage beast wreathed in roaring flames.
The instant it took shape, the beast charged toward Yang Kai with ferocious momentum. In its wake, the very air seemed to melt—the sand and gravel on the ground instantly turned to molten iron, a sight that was nothing short of horrifying.
Moreover, the beast was not merely cloaked in scorching flames. Across its body, tiny black lightning bolts crackled and writhed without cease, popping and snapping in a constant barrage that was truly terrifying to behold.
Yet Yang Kai showed no fear. A curious expression surfaced on his face, his brow furrowing slightly, as though he were mulling something over.
But before long, he gathered his focus. With a thought, a shrill bird cry suddenly rang out, and accompanied by that piercing call, an oddly shaped firebird burst from within his body, spreading its wings wide enough to blot out a dozen zhang of space.
The Artifact Spirit fire bird!
Once released, the Artifact Spirit's eyes blazed with excitement, fixed intently on the charging beast—as if it had just laid eyes on some exquisite feast.
And in the very instant the Artifact Spirit appeared, the monstrous aura radiating from the beast faltered for a single heartbeat. In its eyes, a humanlike wariness surfaced, as though it regarded the Artifact Spirit with deep apprehension. Even its charge toward Yang Kai slowed involuntarily.
The smug expression on the old man's face collapsed spectacularly—as if someone had punched him square in the jaw. His mouth hung open as he stared at the Artifact Spirit fire bird in stunned disbelief.
He had never imagined that Yang Kai could unleash a similar ability.
But now, worry and astonishment would get him nowhere. He refused to believe that whatever Yang Kai had produced could compare to his own Heavenly Thunder Fire—a technique he had cultivated for the better part of his life. His confidence in his own method was absolute.
While the old man was still reeling, the Artifact Spirit fire bird and the lightning-entwined beast had already collided. The two flame-wreathed entities tangled together in an instant, beast roars and bird cries ringing out without cease in a cacophonous clash.
The old man in the black robes quietly broke into a cold sweat. Though he believed his technique held the upper hand, it would be a lie to say he wasn't worried.
By comparison, Yang Kai appeared utterly composed. The Artifact Spirit fire bird had devoured several portions of even the True Solar Fire. Whatever the Heavenly Thunder Fire was, it certainly couldn't match the True Solar Fire—that much was certain.
The Artifact Spirit fire bird should have no trouble dealing with it.
Seizing the opportunity, Yang Kai also took a moment to survey the other ongoing battles.
Kong Wendong and the young woman went without saying—their cultivation realms were evenly matched. Without resorting to that Void King-grade Artifact, the Mysterious Yin Heart-Destroying Drum, they were well-matched opponents, evenly fighting to a standstill in a heated exchange.