The moment those words left Yang Fan's mouth—
The young Speed Clan members' faces twisted in shock.
If not for their elders' sharp, warning glares, they might have already condemned Yang Fan for his "ingratitude."
"Who are you?" Huyan Hai demanded.
The once-arrogant Elephant Armor Sect now stood frozen. Every member had activated their martial souls, bracing for sudden combat.
"You're not worthy to know."
The voice from beneath the hood remained aged and faceless—yet every soul master present now regarded this small figure with utter seriousness.
Time seemed to freeze.
Only the rustling of leaves in the breeze broke the silence.
After a tense pause—
Huyan Hai ground out a single word through clenched teeth: "Retreat!"
Unsure of his opponent's identity or true strength, he dared not act rashly.
The higher one's rank, the deeper the reverence—and fear—for the soul beast forest's dangers.
The Elephant Armor Sect withdrew, leaving only the cloaked Yang Fan and a bewildered Speed Clan behind.
Yang Fan glanced eastward—the sky already blushed with dawn's first light.
In two leaps, he vanished from their sight without farewell. Only a faint "thank you" from Bai He drifted after him.
Yang Fan smiled.
For the prideful Bai He to utter gratitude? Even his own grandfather couldn't achieve that.
"Grandpa Bai… I'm leaving!"
An old man searching for him in foreign lands… it genuinely moved him.
…
Yao Lao's power was formidable!
Yang Fan felt mere breaths pass before he'd crossed to the hill's far side.
"Master, I'm going back."
"Go. I support you."
Yang Fan's will stirred. Pale-white wings unfurled as he shot toward a new direction.
He wasn't returning to the Speed Clan—he was hunting the Elephant Armor Sect!
As the Spirit Hall's most loyal hounds, half the Broken Sect's deaths were on their hands. Meeting them here in the forest was fate—and he wouldn't let them slip away.
Moreover…
Huyan Hai, humiliated, would surely return with reinforcements to harass the Speed Clan.
Thus—to cut the grass, you must remove the roots!
Yang Fan had noted their path when he left. Ahead lay a sheer cliff, crowned by a waterfall like a milky jade ribbon cascading down.
Elephant Armor Sect members—all Diamond Mammoth soul masters—were too bulky and flightless to navigate such terrain. They'd be trapped. Perfect for an ambush.
His analysis proved flawless.
From his aerial perch, Yang Fan spotted not only Huyan Hai's group but also an unexpected prize:
"Damn!"
"A Woolly Mammoth! Must be 30,000 years old."
This year hadn't just trained Yang Fan—it had honed Yao Lao too.
One glance revealed the beast's age and name.
"Hmm…" Yang Fan crouched at the waterfall's edge.
A 30,000-year soul beast straddled the line between Soul Emperor and Soul Saint. A giant like the Woolly Mammoth—boasting both defense and offense—would give the Elephant Armor Sect hell.
This was Yang Fan's first encounter with a 30,000+ year beast in Sunset Forest.
"Good stuff!" Yao Lao mused. "Those tusks are prime alchemy ingredients."
Even the seasoned alchemist couldn't help marveling at the mammoth below.
"Master, I'll fetch those tusks for you later," Yang Fan promised.
"Brat, they'll just end up in your belly anyway," Yao Lao chuckled.
Yang Fan grinned sheepishly.
He wasn't rushing in yet.
Let the Woolly Mammoth—a party crasher—soften up the Elephant Armor Sect first. Why not?
More crucially, he needed to confirm if Sect Master Huyan Zhen lurked nearby.
The original story mentioned the old man was a Level 89 Soul Douluo—one step from Title Douluo. Even if not there yet, he'd be at least Level 86. A pure-defense expert of that caliber wouldn't fall easily.
…
Below, battle raged.
The 30,000-year Woolly Mammoth exceeded Yang Fan's expectations. In two exchanges, it forced Huyan Hai to unleash his Sixth Soul Skill.
Of course—Huyan Hai had a gaggle of young sect members at his back. As the clan's Grand Elder often complained: "Taking these brats to hunt soul rings is a nightmare. Blink, and one dies—you can't explain that to their parents!"
Diamond Mammoth soul masters were destined for one path from awakening:
Defense.
Huyan Hai's Sixth Soul Skill was no exception.
As the ten-thousand-year black ring flared, his body armored itself in earth-yellow plating—covering every inch except his head.
BOOOOM—!
A valley-shaking impact echoed.
Huyan Hai and the mammoth clashed from the woods to the waterfall's base, churning the deep pool into towering waves.
"When two elephants fight, one must bleed!"
Huyan Hai's might was undeniable. His defense skill instantly tamed the mammoth's fury. Within minutes, his tactical prowess drowned the beast in the pond.
Before he could catch his breath—the air above the waterfall warped. A shadow plummeted.
Seeing Yang Fan, Huyan Hai's face paled.
He knew: Yang Fan had watched the entire fight from above.
And now… he'd chosen his moment.
"You claimed you weren't with the Speed Clan," Huyan Hai said carefully. "We've no feud, then."
Hostile intent!
That thought screamed in Huyan Hai's mind—the only certainty he had.
"We do!" Yang Fan's youthful voice tightened Huyan Hai's nerves further.
"Who are you?"
"You don't need to know."
Yang Fan gave no opening.
He launched himself like a cannonball, Heavy Xuan Ruler in hand.
Dou Qi surged—unleashing his Earth-tier technique once more.
HAHHH—!
Huyan Hai roared, leaping over 2.3 meters high. His massive fist slammed down onto the ruler.
THUMP—!
The shockwave numbed Huyan Hai's arms, forcing his burly frame back across the wet rocks.
His eyes locked onto the Heavy Xuan Ruler—a weapon unlike any martial soul. When his fist struck it, his soul power felt suppressed, his attack reduced to 80% effectiveness.
Meanwhile…
Yang Fan fared no better.
Though pure-defense, Huyan Hai's strength was monstrous. The collision jarred Yang Fan's palms raw. Without Dou Qi shielding his arms, his limbs would've shattered.
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