Chapter 2993 — Little Yun'er Has Grown

"Need a hand?" Yang Kai asked with a smile.

"No need!" The young girl declined gracefully, her expression brimming with confidence. As soon as she finished speaking, she threw a punch straight at the massive skull where Xiong Kaishan was hiding. The fist force raged outward, compressing the surrounding space into layer upon layer of irregular ripples — the sheer momentum was terrifying.

Xiong Kaishan was fast, but not fast enough to outrun this punch.

With a thunderous boom, the skull was sent rocking violently, a crack splitting across the bone. A muffled groan echoed from within.

Yang Kai's eyes lit up with surprise. So the little girl had gained quite the fortune after arriving in the Star Boundary, he thought. To wield such power at the First-Order Emperor Realm — he had no idea how Yang Yan had managed to excavate the potential hidden within her.

At the thought of Yang Yan, Yang Kai's heart stirred again. He'd been searching for Yang Yan's whereabouts these past few years, but without any leads, only vaguely guessing that she was involved with a force called the Star Court. Encountering Lin Yun'er by chance now — perhaps he could ask her about Yang Yan's trail.

If he could find Yang Yan, he could figure out a way back to the Heng Luo Star Field and bring his friends and family over.

He had been delayed in the Star Boundary for quite some time. By now, he'd established his own footing here. The vast Lingxiao Palace alone could provide the people from the Dark Star with far better Cultivation environments and resources.

"Little girl, leave some room so we can meet on good terms later! Why be so pushy?!" Xiong Kaishan's panicked voice rang out. In the brief span that Yang Kai had been lost in thought, Lin Yun'er had beaten him so badly he had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

The enormous skull he was hiding in had cracked into countless fissures, the ghostly fire in its eye sockets dimming to almost nothing, on the verge of extinguishing entirely.

He'd realized just how strong Lin Yun'er was. Knowing he was no match, he wanted to turn hostility into friendship.

But Lin Yun'er had no intention of granting his wish. After all these years of who-knows-where Cultivation, the little girl's mind was still rather simple, yet her will was incredibly stubborn. She completely ignored everything he said, merely pressing her lips together and bringing her fists down on the skull, again and again.

After more than a dozen strikes, the skull exploded into dust with a deafening rumble. Xiong Kaishan burst out from the wreckage in wretched disarray, a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth — clearly suffering from internal injuries.

Yang Kai broke into a cold sweat just watching. To destroy someone's Emperor Treasure with nothing but raw physical strength — that was no ordinary feat. This dragon of a girl was nothing like the little kid he remembered.

Girls really do change beyond recognition...

With the skull destroyed and Xiong Kaishan utterly humiliated, his shame turned to fury. Grinding his teeth, he snarled, "If you won't let me off easy, don't expect to walk away unscathed yourself!"

His hands formed a rapid series of seals, and the remaining intact skulls suddenly flew into motion. All at once, they burst into flames, unleashing an eerie, bone-chilling fire that shot toward Lin Yun'er in a volley.

Yang Kai's expression shifted. He could sense the danger of this flame — it counted as a type of natural heavenly fire. If it made contact, the consequences would be dire.

He wanted to warn Lin Yun'er, but before he could, she charged straight into it without fear, without hesitation, without even dodging.

In an instant, the young girl's figure was engulfed by the cold, ghastly flames and completely swallowed without a trace.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Xiong Kaishan burst into triumphant laughter. "The little fool — did she really think she could simply wade through my Nether Ghostfire? Now let's see if you don't d—!"

The laughter cut off abruptly. Xiong Kaishan's eyes bulged as though an invisible hand had seized him by the throat, his face overflowing with shock and terror.

From within the so-called Nether Ghostfire ahead, a graceful figure strode out at an unhurried pace. The icy flames churned around her, yet they couldn't harm her in the slightest.

In that moment, Lin Yun'er's entire body blazed with a brilliant radiance. Within that light seemed to dwell a mysterious power, and it was precisely this layer of light that shielded her from the Nether Ghostfire, leaving her completely unscathed.

Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, his mind reeling.

He could tell this radiance was not the power of a defensive Emperor Treasure. It was some unknown secret art that Lin Yun'er had activated.

What kind of secret art could possess such formidable defensive power?

"My master said — anyone who tries to kill me must be killed," Lin Yun'er murmured softly. Her expression was devout, as if her master's words were absolute law. As soon as the words left her lips, she launched herself body and soul straight at Xiong Kaishan.

Xiong Kaishan drew a sharp breath. His strongest technique had been dismantled so effortlessly — how could he have any confidence left to fight this girl? Seeing her charge at him with such ferocity, he bit down on the tip of his tongue, ignited his essence blood, turned, and fled.

He had barely taken a few steps when he suddenly felt the space around him turn thick as molasses, making every movement feel like wading through mud.

"You..." Xiong Kaishan twisted his head to look at Yang Kai, his face a mask of grief and outrage, eyes brimming with a blood-and-tears accusation. He had clearly sensed that Yang Kai had pulled some trick, cutting off his only hope of escape.

"Farewell!" Yang Kai called out with a friendly wave and a smile, as though bidding goodbye to an old friend.

Xiong Kaishan felt his chest churning with roiling blood. A mouthful of crimson sprayed uncontrom his mouth.

In the very next instant, Lin Yun'er slammed into his back, both fists hammering forward with devastating force.

Blood erupted across the sky like roses in full bloom, and shattered remains rained down — yet the young girl stood among it all like a pristine white lotus, untainted by the mud.

In a flash, the girl withdrew her aura, and the jet-black gauntlets on her fists vanished without a trace. She darted lightning-fast into Yang Kai's arms, calling out sweetly, "Uncle Yang!"