Three figures hurtled through the void at breakneck speed — the three Mountain Lords fleeing desperately toward Xuan Yang Mountain. Geng Qing and Zhou Ya flanked Yun Feibai on either side, supporting him as they flew like streaks of lightning.
Yun Feibai was coughing up great mouthfuls of boiling blood at intervals. The blood seethed and scalded, and over the wound that pierced his chest, pitch-black flames still raged fiercely. Even with his Sixth Grade Open Heaven cultivation, he could barely suppress them and prevent the injury from worsening — there was no way to purge the flames in the short term.
The Golden Crow True Fire was a superior-grade power that incinerated all things. Unless Yun Feibai possessed a power of equal rank that could counter it, there was no hope of neutralizing it quickly.
His only option was to return to Xuan Yang Mountain and seek the First Mountain Lord's help, or enter seclusion and devote himself to refining the flames away — either path would consume a great deal of time.
His appearance was wretched, and Yun Feibai's eyes burned with hatred.
He had endured this same injury twice now. A month ago it had been carelessness born of underestimating his opponent — he'd been ambushed and caught off guard by that young man. This time, however, he'd been wounded in a head-on clash.
No matter how he turned it over in his mind, he couldn't understand — in the span of a single month, how had that young man gone from Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade? Had he been concealing his true cultivation all along, or had he actually advanced within this one month?
He had a lingering suspicion it was the former.
The young man must have had some method of masking his cultivation, causing Yun Feibai to misjudge his true strength. That was the only explanation for taking losses twice in a row.
Deep hatred festered in his heart — how cunning this brat was. Next time they met, he absolutely could not let his guard down again.
His turbulent emotions aggravated his wounds, and another mouthful of seething blood sprayed from his lips.
"Second Brother, are you all right?" Zhou Ya asked with concern.
Yun Feibai slowly shook his head. "I won't die."
Geng Qing let out a soft sigh. This expedition by Xuan Yang Mountain had been a powerful strike — they had expected to crush Lan Youruo and her group without trouble. In the end, they'd returned with egg on their faces and heavy casualties.
Still, the sortie hadn't been entirely without result. At the very least, they had uncovered Lan Youruo's true strength, and that inexplicable young man's as well.
A cultivator at the Sixth Grade Open Heaven realm had actually manifested a Divine Ability Dharma Idol. This was something that absolutely had to be reported to the First Mountain Lord upon their return, so he could prepare in advance.
The reason Xuan Yang Mountain had become the most powerful force in the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven was twofold. First, they had more Sixth Grade Open Heaven cultivators than anyone else. Second, the First Mountain Lord's strength was immense — he was infinitely close to the Seventh Grade. If not for the scarcity of resources within the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven, the First Mountain Lord would have advanced to the Seventh Grade long ago and wouldn't still be lingering at his current level.
But now, someone like that young man had appeared in the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven — someone capable of manifesting a Divine Ability Dharma Idol. His strength was likely no less than the First Mountain Lord's.
Against such a person, one could never have too many precautions.
While he was mulling this over, Zhou Ya suddenly glanced back with worry: "He wouldn't actually chase us here, would he?"
Geng Qing replied, "Unlikely. Lan Youruo seems to have activated some sort of Artifact with severe aftereffects. She's probably in a terrible state right now — I'd wager things are in chaos over there, and they have no leisure to chase after us. Besides, you and I are not soft persimmons that anyone can squeeze at will."
Their retreat had been motivated primarily by Yun Feibai's serious injury and the urgent need to get him back for treatment. Their wariness of Yang Kai and Lan Youruo's strength had been secondary.
No sooner had those words left his mouth than a piercing shout echoed from the distant rear: "Yun Feibai! Where do you think you're running?!"
Zhou Ya's face changed. She whipped her head around and spotted a streak of light hurtling toward them from the horizon. The light flickered erratically, and with each flash, it drew dramatically closer. It would overtake them in no time at all.
"He really did come after us!" she cried.
Geng Qing's fury erupted: "This brat is going too far!"
Xuan Yang Mountain had stood as the undisputed leader of the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven for thousands upon tens of thousands of years. Each of the Mountain Lords was renowned and formidable in their own right. When had any of them ever been chased down like stray dogs, fleeing in panic?
He spun his head around and barked the order: "Stop him!"
Behind the three Mountain Lords, the several dozen mid-grade Open Heaven cultivators had been following in tight formation. At Geng Qing's command, their faces all twisted with dismay. Yang Kai had killed seven or eight of their companions in a single exchange before — even the Second Mountain Lord had been gravely wounded. How could they possibly be his match?
Still, Geng Qing had given the order, and none dared disobey. Gritting their teeth, they halted and grouped into formations of three to five, bracing themselves for battle.
Geng Qing and the other two Mountain Lords pressed on without breaking stride, hurtling toward Xuan Yang Mountain.
Behind them, Yang Kai's figure flickered and shifted as his gaze locked onto the direction the group was fleeing. The wine jug in his hand was already uncorked, and he tilted his head back, gulping it down in great swallows like a bull at water.
Moments later, the entire jug was drained. He tossed it aside casually, and it shattered with a crash on the ground below.
Strong wine kindled the killing intent. Yang Kai gripped his spear and strode forward, step by step, swaying slightly as he declared: "I'll say this only once — if you don't want to die, get out of my way. Those who stand before me will be killed without exception!"
With each stride, the aura surging from his body climbed higher and higher, soaring straight into the heavens. The wind and clouds churned in response.
Ahead, the several dozen mid-grade Open Heaven cultivators arrayed in formation were struck with terror. Many involuntarily retreated several steps, the image of their seven or eight comrades dying in agony before their eyes resurfacing unbidden. Their hearts trembled with dread.