Scrambling back to his feet, a barely perceptible glint flashed through Yang Kai's eyes. His hands rapidly formed spirit seals, and the launched-away Mountain-and-River Bell suddenly began spinning on its own, swelling to the size of a house in an instant. A heaven-and-earth-shrouding suppressive force surged outward, crashing down toward Stone Fire, who was steadily closing in on him.
"Watch out!" Cang Gou's expression shifted as he called out a warning.
Stone Fire was equally stunned, clearly not expecting Yang Kai's physical constitution to be so formidable — to have taken his indirect strike and suffered barely any harm. For an ordinary First-Level Emperor Sovereign, they would probably be dead by now.
The heaven-and-earth-suppressing power caused his movements to stall. Watching the Mountain-and-River Bell descend upon him from above, he tried to dodge in haste, but it was already too late.
BOOM…
Before everyone's eyes, the enormous Mountain-and-River Bell slammed down over Stone Fire, sealing him inside with not a gap to spare.
"Hahaha!" Yang Kai laughed like a madman, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. With a look of pure satisfaction, he declared: "No matter how cunning you are as a ghost, you'll still have to drink this young master's foot-washing water!"
Fan Wu, Luan Feng, and Cang Gou all darkened in expression.
The four great Sovereigns of the Ancient Wilds, though they often found one another disagreeable and even had their share of minor frictions and conflicts, were fundamentally bound together — when one suffered, all suffered; when one prospered, all prospered.
Stone Fire being suppressed by Yang Kai with the Mountain-and-River Bell left the other three with grim faces. This Stone Fire… was really embarrassing all of them Sovereigns. Granted, Yang Kai had relied on the power of the Primordial Treasure to accomplish this, but his cultivation was still low. A First-Level Emperor Sovereign — in the eyes of these Sovereigns, no different from an ant.
Now Stone Fire had been suppressed by an ant. This was nothing short of a slap in the face.
BOOM BOOM BOOM…
Bursts of explosions and furious roars suddenly erupted from within the Mountain-and-River Bell — clearly, the enraged Stone Fire was battering against it, trying to break free.
But the heaven-and-earth-suppressing power of this Primordial Treasure was no trivial matter. The True Phoenix Fire had been suppressed by it for tens of thousands of years, utterly unable to move. Even as a Sacred Spirit, Stone Fire was powerless to resist. On the contrary, his reckless thrashing only caused the bell's resonant hum to send the surrounding Demon Beast Kings into a churning of blood and qi, their expressions twisted in discomfort. The weakest among them, Hu Li, and the gravely injured burly Saint each spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces deathly pale.
Inside the Mountain-and-River Bell, Stone Fire was probably faring no better. Each peal of the bell carried immense power, and being trapped within its interior, he bore the brunt of its effects.
"Stone Fire, stop!" Fan Wu barked coldly.
Stone Fire seemed to have realized the trouble he was in as well, for he ceased his violent rampaging upon hearing the order. Only heavy, labored panting issued from within the Mountain-and-River Bell, like a trapped beast — and within that panting lurked boundless fury and killing intent.
Being suppressed here by Yang Kai — his lungs were about to burst with rage. Evil fire surged through him like a volcanic eruption.
"Boy, you've got some nerve." Fan Wu regarded Yang Kai with cold eyes and said flatly, "Release Stone Fire, or you will die without question."
Yang Kai let out a chuckle, standing in place with his body swaying slightly. With a look of complete nonchalance, he said: "If you distinguished ones want to make a move, go right ahead. In front of you few, this young master knows he can't leave. Since I can't leave, then I simply won't."
"You're not afraid of death?" Fan Wu snorted coldly.
Yang Kai looked back with cold eyes and said evenly: "Killing me would be easy for you few, but if you do… Stone Fire will likely be suppressed in there for many, many years. Perhaps someday in the future, someone will be able to subdue the Mountain-and-River Bell and set Stone Fire free — but it certainly won't be any of you present here."
The moment these words left his mouth, the expressions of the Sovereigns all sank.
They all knew Yang Kai was telling the truth. Tens of thousands of years ago, when the Mountain-and-River Bell was still in the Ancient Wilds, they had tried on numerous occasions to subdue it, yet not one of them had succeeded. In the end, it had even been stolen by some fellow named Yuan Ding.
It had been an utter humiliation!
If they truly killed Yang Kai today, then just as he said, Stone Fire would remain suppressed inside the Mountain-and-River Bell indefinitely — unless someday someone managed to subdue the Primordial Treasure and free him.
Luan Feng narrowed her beautiful eyes and said: "Young one, you're so young. Why so casually speak of death? Release Stone Fire, and we can discuss things properly."
Yang Kai kept up his cold laugh: "When I tried to leave before, it was you distinguished ones who insisted on keeping me here. And now you want to talk about 'discussing things properly'? This young master has no sense of security whatsoever."
Hearing this, Fan Wu and Luan Feng both wore expressions that were none too pleasant — feeling as though they had lifted a rock only to drop it on their own feet.
Drawing a deep breath, Luan Feng asked: "Then what would it take for you to feel secure?"
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow, glanced left and right, and said: "Let me take the Stone Spirit clan and leave this place. Once we're several thousand li away, I'll withdraw the Mountain-and-River Bell and release Stone Fire myself. That way, I might feel a bit more secure."
As long as he could get several thousand li away, he could flee with the Stone Spirit clan to safety, and no one would be able to stop him.
Fan Wu said: "Don't you think your demand is excessive? If it were just you leaving, fine — this sovereign could turn a blind eye. Why must you drag the Stone Spirit clan into this?"
Yang Kai smiled faintly and said: "You distinguished ones have thirty-two Demon Beast Kings and eight Saints under your command. The Stone Spirit clan is merely icing on the cake. A melon plucked by force is never sweet — why insist on this? Rather than forcing the Stone Spirit clan into your service, why not set them free? I'm sure the Elders would remember your kindness, and should you distinguished ones ever run into trouble in the future, they might even be able to lend a hand."
Fan Wu smiled contemptuously. "What trouble could this sovereign possibly encounter?"