"I remember the Heavenly Wolf Valley now."
"Don't worry — you won't die," Yang Kai laughed.
Lan He eyed him strangely, unable to fathom where he got the audacity to make such bold claims. Was he blind? Couldn't he see that they were surrounded by dozens of Dao Source Realm cultivators? These weren't ordinary warriors — every last one of them was an elite disciple from a major Sect, and if they joined forces, even an ordinary Emperor Realm master would struggle against them.
Did he really think he was stronger than an Emperor Realm powerhouse?
"You brat still dares to talk big!" the burly man suddenly roared. His wrist flickered, and a battle-axe materialized in his palm, surging with energy and radiating an imposing aura. "If you know what's good for you, surrender quietly. We might even leave your corpse intact. But if you insist on being stubborn—"
"Ptoo!" Yang Kai opened his mouth and spat, the glob of saliva shooting toward the burly man like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The man, who had been blustering moments ago, turned pale and dodged to the side. The spit itself wasn't particularly dangerous, but getting hit by it would be disgustingly humiliating.
After steadying himself, the big man's face was iron-dark. "Are you a child? Spitting at people — have you no shame whatsoever?"
Yang Kai sneered. "Dozens of you are glaring at me like I'm prey, and you have the nerve to lecture me about shame? I spit at you once and suddenly I'm the shameless one? What a joke."
Yin Lesheng snorted. "Enough pointless chatter. You're dead no matter what."
"Am I?" Yang Kai cast him a cold look, then lifted his foot and took a single step forward. His voice rang out with commanding authority. "Then let this young master see which blind fool dares to make a move. Let me warn you all in advance — whoever attacks, I'll make sure every last one of you dies right here!"
The moment those words left his lips, the expressions of everyone present shifted, their faces growing grave.
The staggering cultivation Yang Kai had displayed moments ago was still fresh in their minds. So while his words carried a hint of empty bravado, they were enough to give everyone pause. No one wanted to be the one who pushed him into a desperate, mutual-destruction frenzy.
In an instant, the dozens of warriors froze in place. None wanted to be the first to stick their necks out. They all waited for someone else to make the first move so they could reap the rewards afterward.
Yin Lesheng clearly saw through this too. His face darkened, and he barked, "Since you're all too cowardly to act, then after I seize his Source, don't you dare envy me!"
As his words fell, he suddenly thrust his hand forward and roared: "Netherworld Purgatory Hand!"
A rush of yin wind erupted, accompanied by the wailing of ghosts. A massive phantom materialized — its hideous features twisted with malice — and lunged toward Yang Kai.
Before the apparition even arrived, Yang Kai felt a bone-deep chill, as though his very blood were freezing solid.
He hadn't yet moved to respond when Lan He beside him suddenly shouted, "Heavenly Wolf Howling at the Moon!"
A wolf's cry tore through the air. As Lan He pointed a finger forward, a lithe silver wolf materialized out of thin air — immense and majestic, like the Heavenly Wolf of legend — its maw splitting wide open to clamp down on the ghostly phantom.
In the blink of an eye, the two spectral entities collided, unleashing a maelstrom of clashing energies.
And at the same instant Yin Lesheng attacked, the several Underworld Sect disciples at his side struck as well. Chang Hao and Chang Xian of the Brahma Heaven Holy Land exchanged a glance, then rapidly formed hand seals, apparently channeling some kind of secret art.
The moment someone took the lead, the rest abandoned their spectator stance. Secret treasures blazed to life, secret techniques flared, and torrents of power surged toward Yang Kai.
In a single heartbeat, the void erupted in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors, energy crashing in violent waves.
Lan He's face went deathly white. She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes dimming as the light seemed to drain from them.
This many Dao Source Realm cultivators striking at once — there was no way she could withstand that. All that awaited her was the call of death.
Then, in that very moment, Yang Kai let out a piercing cry. A flash of light blazed past, and a broad longsword appeared in his hand. The aura of an Emperor Treasure erupted outward with a thunderous boom. He stood in place like an unmovable mountain, steady as the abyss, slowly rotating the blade as he murmured, "A million swords emerge — one man holds the pass!"
Shhh shhh shhh shhh—
Countless sword projections streaked outward, swarming toward the enemy like a locust plague descending upon the land.
Thunderous detonations rang out without cease. The sight of energy colliding on such a scale was enough to make one's heart tremble and blood run cold.
"An Emperor Treasure!"
"What's this kid's background? He actually has an Emperor Treasure!"
"Don't let him go — kill him!"
Though many of the warriors who had entered the
Now, seeing Yang Kai produce an Emperor Treasure, the dozens of warriors erupted with fervor.
In their eyes, Yang Kai was nothing less than a walking treasure vault.
Not only did he possess a complete Star Source, he also carried an Emperor Treasure. If they could kill him and seize everything, they would become wealthy overnight — they too would become owners of an Emperor Treasure.
Their hearts burned with greed.
After the exchange of blows, Yang Kai stumbled backward. A sweetness surged up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Though he had relied on the power of the Million Swords to barely hold off the combined strike of those dozens, he was still only one person. How could he possibly contend with so many? The fact that he'd managed this much was only because they had held back at the start, each preserving their strength. Otherwise, his injuries would have been far more than minor.