Bizarre creatures emerged from the lava lake depths, surrounding Han Jue in a tightening circle.
"More puppets?" Han Jue muttered, activating his movement technique to gain distance immediately.
Most of these constructs registered at Universe Level on his Six Eyes' perception, with only a handful reaching Domain Lord strength. Their bodies were covered in a specialized membrane that negated the intense heat of the lava lake, allowing them to move freely through the molten environment.
These puppets lacked true sentience, operating on basic combat instincts. They reminded him of the flame beasts from the Chaos Lands, perhaps the Void Emperor had drawn inspiration from those creatures when designing his guardians.
"What a nuisance," Han Jue frowned, assessing the situation.
"Ice Wasteland World!"
Countless snowflake sword energies materialized around him. Han Jue unleashed thousands of strikes in an instant, annihilating the surrounding puppets completely. However, a steady stream of reinforcements continued emerging from the lava lake's depths, like an endless tide of mechanical servants.
"Hmph."
Above the lava lake, chaos reigned.
The Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass had unleashed its full power, instantly obliterating everyone except Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian. The weaker cultivators had been consumed before they could even process what was happening.
Most of the plant's massive vines restrained the lava puppet, immobilizing the construct completely. The remaining tendrils captured Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian, who still struggled desperately despite understanding their fate approached.
The entire sky above the lava lake had been obscured by the Star-Eating Grass's overwhelming presence. Even Yaoguang Ye, watching from a safe distance, felt genuine horror at witnessing such absolute domination.
"Please don't get hurt, Brother!" Yaoguang Ye prayed silently for Han Jue's safety, his concern genuine despite their brief acquaintance.
Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian, barely able to resist the crushing pressure, exchanged glances that communicated mutual helplessness. Unaware of their attacker's identity or location, yet facing certain death from this parasitic plant, who wouldn't feel mortified?
"Qi Yunxian, you, a renowned genius, have been reduced to this!" Puyang Wan suddenly burst into wild laughter, the sound echoing across the volcanic landscape with manic energy.
"Puyang Wan, you're still an elder of the Puyang family! How dare you criticize me?" Qi Yunxian snorted derisively, struggling against the vines binding him.
"That's different," Puyang Wan said with a bitter smile despite his predicament. "My death wouldn't mean anything to the Puyang family hierarchy. But even if you survive this encounter, your family's top leadership is gone. Yaoguang City no longer has a place for your Qi family! Hahaha!"
"You, !" Qi Yunxian's face flushed with anger, but entangled in the Star-Eating Grass as he was, he couldn't retaliate physically.
"Qi Yunxian, if you have any hidden trump cards, use them now," Puyang Wan said with sudden seriousness. "You were a genius who shocked all of Yaoguang City. Even I, residing in distant Puyang City, heard tales of your accomplishments. The Mirror Lake Holy God even summoned you for an audience, though he didn't accept you as a disciple. But surely you received something valuable from that encounter?"
"Puyang Wan, are you begging me for mercy?" Qi Yunxian sneered, his tone dripping with condescension.
"This isn't begging," Puyang Wan said dismissively. "If you don't act, we'll all be killed by this parasitic plant. By then, even your hidden Origin Fire won't matter."
"Heh." Qi Yunxian sneered but fell silent, his expression unreadable.
Just when Puyang Wan thought his companion truly lacked any backup options, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from Qi Yunxian's body. The energy wave rippled outward, distorting the superheated air around them.
"Holy Flame!" Puyang Wan's eyes widened in shocked recognition.
"BOOM!"
Pale blue flames exploded from Qi Yunxian's form, the cold fire paradoxically blazing in the midst of volcanic heat.
Qi Yunxian's aura continued climbing rapidly, ascending from third-level World Master to fourth, fifth... eighth, ninth! The energy signature peaked at the absolute pinnacle of World Master cultivation!
"Hngh." Qi Yunxian grunted, his breathing becoming erratic and labored.
His physical condition clearly wasn't robust enough to sustain this enhanced state indefinitely. He could launch perhaps one decisive strike before needing to stop, or risk being consumed by the Holy Flame's power from within.
"Water Sky Holy Flame! As expected, the Patriarch was correct," Puyang Wan thought rapidly, his mind racing through implications. "Although Qi Yunxian hasn't been accepted as a formal disciple, he's still received a gift from the Holy God. He might even have connections to the Yaoguang Clan's inner circle."
Qi Yunxian's power surged so explosively that the Star-Eating Grass couldn't adapt in time to the sudden escalation.
"Burn!" Qi Yunxian shouted, channeling all his temporarily enhanced power.
Pale blue flames erupted across the Star-Eating Grass's massive form. Rather than searing heat, the cold fire delivered excruciating pain, like being frozen into solid ice before being shattered into countless fragments, literally pulverized into dust. The Star-Eating Grass was struck before it could mount effective defenses. However, mindful of Han Jue's strict orders, it refused to release the lava puppet despite the agony. The plant could only forcibly withstand Qi Yunxian's devastating assault, its vitality rapidly declining.
Fortunately, Qi Yunxian's target wasn't exclusively the Star-Eating Grass, he also attacked the lava puppet with equal fury.
The puppet's hardened shell shattered instantly under the cold flames, its spherical head exploding to expose the glowing core within. Its upper body was completely obliterated, leaving only the lower half still rooted in the lava lake's surface.
"Puff!"
Following that single devastating strike, Qi Yunxian's aura withered rapidly. His enhanced state collapsed, and he fell toward the ground like a puppet with cut strings.
A figure in elegant robes caught him mid-fall. Qi Yunxian forced his eyes open with effort and beheld an unexpected face.
"Ye'er?" Qi Yunxian asked in surprise, confusion evident in his weakened voice.
"Teacher," Yaoguang Ye said respectfully, genuine concern showing in his expression.
"Teacher, why are you here? And that scent just now, was that the Holy Flame?" Yaoguang Ye's face displayed obvious confusion at witnessing powers he didn't fully understand.
"It was... Ye'er, be careful!" Qi Yunxian's expression suddenly changed to alarm.
Puyang Wan materialized behind Yaoguang Ye, clearly not approaching to witness the reunion between master and disciple. His intentions were obviously hostile.
Qi Yunxian's earlier attack had been area-of-effect in nature, primarily targeting the Star-Eating Grass and the lava puppet. Puyang Wan, somehow, didn't appear seriously injured despite being caught in the blast radius.
Puyang Wan wore a grim smile, wielding a curved scimitar as he prepared to strike the critically injured Qi Yunxian and the defenseless Yaoguang Ye.
"Who hurt my Star-Eating Grass?" A cold voice cut through the tension like ice.
A longsword pierced directly through Puyang Wan's chest from behind, the blade emerging cleanly through his sternum. Blood sprayed across the volcanic stone as the elder's eyes widened in shock.
Yaoguang Ye's face lit up with joy and relief.
"Big Brother!"
"Big Brother?" Qi Yunxian looked puzzled, struggling to understand the relationship despite his exhaustion.
Wasn't Yaoguang Ye's elder brother supposed to be Yaoguang You?
Han Jue nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then raised his hand and slashed horizontally with devastating efficiency. Puyang Wan had already been in a weakened state, and with the surprise attack from behind, he was killed instantly without any chance to defend himself.
Han Jue's expression then turned cold as he looked down at Qi Yunxian lying on the ground, his eyes filled with obvious killing intent.
My Star-Eating Grass finally broke through to World Master level, but before I could properly utilize it in major battles, it was severely damaged by your attack. Who knows how long recovery will take now.
"Brother, this is my teacher. Can you spare his life?" Seeing Han Jue's hostile intent, Yaoguang Ye gritted his teeth and spoke carefully.
"Your poison fruit, Teacher can consume it! Teacher has exceptional qualifications. He nearly became a personal disciple of the Mirror Lake Holy God years ago. He also maintains good relations with my grandfather. He's watched me grow up since childhood and taught me cultivation methods." Yaoguang Ye spoke rapidly, desperately making his case.
"Teacher?" Han Jue narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, evaluating the situation with cold calculation.
A crippled third-level World Master didn't seem worth investing one hundred Hunyuan Units. The cost-benefit analysis wasn't favorable.
However, Han Jue's developing plans would require assistance from individuals in positions of authority and influence. Perhaps this connection had value beyond immediate combat capability.
"Consume this, and then we'll proceed to investigate the Void Emperor Treasury together," Han Jue said finally, tossing down a Moshu Poison Fruit with casual authority.
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