The change came too fast for anyone to react. Even Cang Mo himself had been watching with the mindset of an amused spectator, observing coldly as Yang Kai and Yang Yan bombarded the barrier of light. Who could have guessed that the very next moment, they would turn their combined force against him?
Caught completely off guard and influenced by Yang Kai's spiritual power, his mind wavered for a moment.
Fortunately, his foundations were solid enough, and he quickly recovered. With a furious roar, he threw both fists forward, their image multiplying into a sky full of fist-shadows that met the incoming assault.
A barrage of booms erupted. Yang Yan's Three Flames Fire Rings were sent flying, the three rings of fire flickering wildly. Yang Kai's figure tilted backward, stumbling several steps in retreat. On the Azure Dragon Spear, a dark point flashed briefly before vanishing, collapsing a vast stretch of void.
Cang Mo used the momentum to tumble backward, his face turning pale.
Yang Kai's eyes showed a flicker of surprise. He silently acknowledged that this old dog's strength was truly formidable—though having withstood the two great techniques of both himself and Yang Yan in such a rushed manner, his condition couldn't be much better.
But before he could act again, a low voice came from beside him: "Pretty as the morning sun!"
The green-clad figure flickered, and when she reappeared, she was already behind Cang Mo. Blood slid down the edges of the two curved blades in Sheng Yuzhu's hands.
Cang Mo shuddered as though struck by lightning. He looked down at his body and saw two massive wounds—one across his chest, another across his waist and abdomen. He whipped his head around, cursing furiously: "Slut!"
He had no grudge against Sheng Yuzhu. They had never even met before. He simply could not fathom why this woman would attack him, and at such a critical moment at that, leaving him no chance to dodge or resist.
"Thanks!" Yang Kai bellowed. As his shout rang out, the long spear retracted in a flash, then thrust forward again like a dragon surging from the sea.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—three sounds of piercing air. Yang Yan's expression turned solemn as she formed hand seals. The Three Flames Fire Rings returned, transforming into three shackles that closed around Cang Mo, pinning him in place.
This time, Cang Mo's face truly changed. Searing heat poured from the Three Flames Fire Rings, sealing his freedom and the Emperor Yuan within his body. Watching Yang Kai's merciless spear thrust toward him, he roared ceaselessly: "Yang Kai, you wouldn't dare! I am a man of the Star Boundary! With a great enemy bearing down upon us, killing me would be an act that defies the will of the entire world!"
Yang Kai remained unmoved, his voice frigid: "When Lord Feng was thrown to his death by your treachery, did you ever remind yourself that you were a man of the Star Boundary? And now you bring it up—don't you find that laughable?"
The instant his words fell, the Azure Dragon Spear pierced clean through Cang Mo's chest, spraying a torrent of blood.
Cang Mo's body shuddered, his eyes bulging with fury as he glared at Yang Kai. Three zhang away, Yang Kai met his stare without evasion, his own eyes utterly cold and ruthless.
On the spectator stands, a deep silence fell. Every Star Boundary pseudo-emperor stared in horror at the scene that had just unfolded, their minds struggling to keep up. From Yang Kai's sudden eruption to this very moment, no more than three breaths had passed—it had all been far too fast, far too swift for anyone to react. Just moments ago, they had been entirely focused on the life-and-death battle on the platform, silently worrying for Bing Yun's safety. Who could have imagined that before Bing Yun even fell, Cang Mo at her side would meet such a brutal end?
It was not that Cang Mo lacked strength. To have cultivated to the pseudo-emperor level, he had his own share of fortuitous encounters. But on these stands, three people had attacked him in succession, and every single one had struck from behind. How could he have defended himself—let alone once Yang Yan's Three Flames Fire Rings had sealed his freedom?
Not only was the Star Boundary's side of the stands steeped in silence, but the Demon Realm's stands were no different. Numerous demon half-sages had their eyes wide open, staring over at the scene, every one of them wearing an expression of utter disbelief.
Drip, drip… Blood splattered against the ground, spraying in all directions.
Blood trickled from the corner of Cang Mo's mouth. He reached out and gripped the shaft of the Azure Dragon Spear, as though trying to cling to the last thread of his life. His eyes were filled with venom and regret as he rasped: "If I had known… if I had known, I should have killed you back in that lower-plane star field!"
Yang Kai tilted his head, regarding him: "I can manufacture a pill of regret. Would you like to buy one?"
Cang Mo coughed up blood.
Yang Kai gave a cold snort: "There isn't much time. For the sake of the Star Boundary, for the sake of all living beings—please… die!" His hand jerked. Dark Demonic Yuan surged forth and spread wildly, shattering every meridian in Cang Mo's body and extinguishing his last spark of life.
Those bulging eyes were full of unwillingness, but the light within them faded rapidly.
Yang Kai withdrew the spear and swept his gaze left and right. Nearly ten Star Boundary pseudo-emperors stared at him with furrowed brows and guarded expressions. Though they had caught hints of the truth from the exchange between Yang Kai and Yang Yan, no one could be certain whether it was genuine. Still, now that Cang Mo was dead, no one was going to make an enemy of Yang Kai and Yang Yan over a dead man.
But their vigilance would not diminish.
Yang Kai knew full well that this action of his might very well drive a wedge between himself and the surviving pseudo-emperors of the Star Boundary. But Bing Yun's life hung in the balance, and he could not afford to worry about that.
At worst, he could return to the Star Boundary afterward and explain everything properly. With Yang Yan to corroborate his account, the truth should come to light soon enough.
He glanced once more at Sheng Yuzhu and gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment. This time, Sheng Yuzhu asked nothing and said nothing. The moment she had seen Yang Kai make his move, she had come to assist—most likely because he had saved her life before. And if not for her, he and Yang Yan could not have ended the fight so quickly.
In a situation like that, the longer the battle dragged on, the worse things would become for him and Yang Yan.