After Xiang Chu was killed, the destructive energy lurking within the dark clouds overhead seemed to be fully unleashed. Bolts of it struck down at Yang Kai one after another without pause, making everyone's hearts pound with fear. They wondered whether the youngest young master of the Yang Family would emerge reborn from this baptism, or be utterly destroyed.
Yang Zhao stared blankly at the sky and roared, "Eldest Brother, are you siding with Ninth Brother too?"
Yang Wei shook his head and said coldly, "It's not that Eldest Brother wants to side with Ninth Brother. It's that you've gone too far, Second Brother. Clear your head and think carefully about what you're doing right now!"
"In the Succession War, all means are fair game. I know exactly what I'm doing," Yang Zhao snorted coldly.
Yang Wei's face was filled with disappointment, and he said with anguish, "You wanted to protect Nan Sheng and Xiang Chu from Ninth Brother's hand—there's nothing I can say about that. But if you try to ruin Ninth Brother's potential for life, I can't stand by and watch. I think... even Ninth Brother wouldn't have disrupted your advancement when you were breaking through to a major realm."
Yang Zhao froze. For a fleeting instant, a hint of clarity flickered in his crimson eyes, and a look of pain crossed his face. But it was quickly replaced by a hideous expression, turning utterly manic.
Right now, he simply couldn't stabilize his mental state.
If he were in his right mind, he might have realized something. But as it was, the only thought surging through his heart was the desire to defeat Yang Kai, driving every ounce of his will.
BOOM...
While the two brothers were speaking, a deafening explosion suddenly rang out. Along with the blast, incomparably sinister demonic energy erupted once more from Yang Kai's body—thicker than before, even harder to resist.
Under the influence of this aura, every martial artist present found it nearly impossible to suppress the evil stirring within their hearts, including even the Shenyou Realm experts.
The Earth Demon laughed maniacally, weaving through the demonic energy as if it were a fish in water. His own power seemed to have surged up an entire level.
"What exactly is going on with this kid?" In the distance, Meng Wuya's expression was grave as he murmured to himself.
He had never known that Yang Kai's body harbored so much demonic energy. Then where had all that True Yang Energy from before gone? That should have been the bane of evil energy.
"Master, is he in danger?" Xia Ningshang was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. Even from this distance, the demonic energy was affecting her. The faint blue gemstone on her forehead was emitting soft rays of light, dispelling the darkness around her.
"I don't know." Meng Wuya was equally bewildered. "His consciousness should be immersed in his mind right now, completely unable to control the eruption of energy within his body."
This advancement was different from ordinary breakthroughs. This time he was advancing to the Shenyou Realm, the stage where a martial artist could open up their own sea of consciousness.
Yang Kai's mind was surely trapped within his own consciousness at this moment. In other words, he had absolutely no control over his body and couldn't regulate the energy inside him. The sinister forces, naturally, were surging out without restraint.
"This can't go on." Watching the battle grow increasingly violent and bloody, deep worry crept across Meng Wuya's face. He wasn't worried about whether Yang Kai could survive this tribulation—he was worried about what would happen to everyone in Battle City after being influenced by this evil force.
If tens of thousands of people in Battle City had their natures twisted because of Yang Kai's advancement, then he would become a sinner for all eternity.
Meng Wuya extended his divine sense. His expression grew darker and darker.
He sensed that battles were breaking out all across Battle City. These people might have nothing to do with the Succession War, but having been triggered by the energy radiating from Yang Kai's body, they could no longer control their own emotions. Even the slightest grudge was enough to ignite a massive conflict.
At that moment, all of Battle City felt like it was on the edge of disaster, with swords flashing and blood splattering everywhere.
And as time went on, the situation was only going to get worse—unless Yang Kai could draw all that demonic energy back into his body.
One person's advancement was enough to affect an entire city. This was truly an unprecedented spectacle. Even Meng Wuya was deeply shaken.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He focused his gaze toward the very center of Battle City and sighed, "They've finally been roused."
"Who's been roused?" Xia Ningshang asked urgently.
"A few old fossils." Meng Wuya took a deep breath and said, "Disciple, go back to the residence first. Things are about to get dangerous here."
"I don't want to go back..." Xia Ningshang shook her head and looked toward Yang Kai. "Junior Brother is still over there."
"Go back." Meng Wuya looked at her steadily. "Trust me, I'll bring Yang Kai back safely."
Xia Ningshang hesitated and struggled with herself for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "Master, you said it. If you can't bring him back, your disciple will just die along with him."
With that, she turned and rushed back toward Yang Kai's residence like a whirlwind.
She knew that staying wouldn't help Yang Kai in the slightest and would only become a burden for her master, so she didn't dare linger.
Watching her retreating figure, Meng Wuya let out a bitter laugh. He truly had no idea what he owed Yang Kai that he had to go to such lengths for him.
In the distance, eight figures were flying toward Yang Kai's location. Meng Wuya sighed softly and drifted after them.
These eight figures belonged to the Shenyou-level experts of the Eight Great Families. Each of them was a hundred or two hundred years old, spending their days presiding over the Sealed God Temple, staying out of worldly affairs. Normally, they wouldn't have wanted anything to do with this conflict. Whether Yang Zhao and Yang Kai killed each other was none of their concern.
But now, they could no longer sit still.