Chapter 523: Chapter 334: Accused by Zhong Hui Again
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Xie Lan’s condition was far from good. Her hair was disheveled, and a cut ran across her beautiful face, passing through her eyes. Yet, there was no trace of sorrow in her gaze—only the unshakable determination to continue fighting for the cause she had chosen to believe in for her master. Seeing him as a key advantage, Xu Biao and Xie Lan stepped further into the room, inching closer to Little Dragon. On everyone’s faces were expressions of displeasure, despair, fury, and sorrow, as they understood that for their team to escape the clutches of the most powerful among them, someone had to stay behind to ensure the experts ceased their pursuit. That someone was Yan Xiaobao.
Yan Xiaobao saw the King-level-ranked experts of the royal tribe appear at the doorway, and once again, Zhong Hui charged at him. His intent was to carve out another smooth path—only to slaughter more Kings. However, just as he attempted to step forward, the air in front of him was abruptly sliced open by a sharp beam of light. This made Yan Xiaobao’s hair stand on end, and his entire body halted in its tracks.
"You really think I’d fall for the same trick twice?" Zhong Hui suddenly asked, his face twisting into an odd expression as another golden beam shot toward Yan Xiaobao.
Activating Speed Flow granted Yan Xiaobao only the bare minimum of power. However, this ability had been created by a King-level expert and was considered an advanced King-level skill—one that became more refined with each successive user. Since Lan Feng was a Saint, he could push this ability to its utmost potential, increasing his speed to an astonishing degree. This made him so fast that the only person in the room who could truly keep up with him was Zhong Hui. The others could only catch fleeting blurs as he moved—blurs that often ended with severed heads or pierced hearts.
"I actually had no intention of participating in this fight," Zhong Hui abruptly declared. His voice echoed across the room, so clear it darkened the Commander’s face and momentarily lightened the expressions of his allies.
However, both Yan Xiaobao and Lan Feng were not convinced. They both understood that it was unlikely for Zhong Hui to keep himself from stepping into the fray. As they had suspected, the young General spoke again after a moment,
"Though I didn’t plan to join, seeing how strong you are, Yan Xiaobao, I simply couldn’t resist the urge to test my power against you!"
Hearing those words, Lan Feng immediately screamed into his friend’s mind, "Leave! Now! Please, go as quickly as you can. Leave this to me—just go!"
He could no longer focus entirely on the expert before him. The two experts locked gazes, waves of energy radiating from them. Before Zhong Hui could act, a terrifying howl tore from Yan Xiaobao’s throat. The young man’s features began to change rapidly.
His legs transformed into the hind legs of a wolf. A long, wolf-like tail extended from his tailbone, and fur started emerging on his skin. Oddly, his arms transformed into claws, and his hair turned to feathers. Red mist swirled around his body. This time, it wasn’t Yan Xiaobao controlling his body, but rather Lan Feng. The Phoenix in his Dantian Cave had abused the core of a little demon, fusing with the red mist-like energy, forcing a transformation upon himself.
The pain brought by the transformation was unbearable, and howls of agony erupted from his throat. His body quickly finished its transformation. Unlike Yan Xiaobao’s earlier use of the red mist, Lan Feng was fully capable of controlling the energy. His blue eyes were now paired with a sharp beak, his hair had turned to icy-blue feathers, and his arms had become claws. He resembled a hybrid of wolf and Phoenix—a beast unlike any seen before. Zhong Hui’s wide-open eyes filled with astonishment, and his grin involuntarily widened.
"How marvelous!" he exclaimed loudly. A small golden light ball leaped from his hand into the air, exploding instantly into thousands of golden rays of light. These beams of light killed anyone they touched.
By now, Sha Yun and Wang Julong had managed to ascend the stairs. Following behind them was Deng Wu, who had successfully captured a King-level expert to use as a shield. Yet, as Xie Lan noticed the golden light filling the space, she realized she wouldn’t be able to find another King-level expert to shield both herself and Xu Biao. Seeing the look of horror on his face, she immediately threw herself in front of him. The golden light pierced her heart, and as she collapsed to the ground, a satisfied smile adorned her lips, though her eyes were lifeless. Even as her soul evaporated into the thin air, her lips still bore the faint trace of a smile.
Xu Biao’s eyes widened, brimming with disbelief, as he gripped her arm. Yet, before he could fully comprehend the depth of his loss, Yan Xiaobao’s furious roar filled the air once more. Just as another golden light ball appeared in Zhong Hui’s hand, Yan Xiaobao’s voice echoed in Xu Biao’s mind.
"Run! Get far away from here! Leave, and make sure her sacrifice wasn’t in vain—live for her!"
Upon hearing the voice in his heart, Xu Biao’s disbelieving eyes instantly sharpened with conviction. He nodded, swiftly tucking her body into a crevice of rock. Then, he joined Sha Yun, Wang Julong, and Deng Wu as they ascended the stairs of hope.
None of the King-level experts in the room attempted to advance further; instead, they sought to flee from Yan Xiaobao, who again allowed golden light to gather in the room. The golden light was not something that could be easily stopped.
Seeing how effortlessly the golden light was obstructed, Zhong Hui let out a whistle and brandished a martial power sword. The sword was about a meter and a half in length and thirty centimeters wide. It was a massive blade, yet Lan Feng showed no signs of despair. He merely met the strike head-on. His claws intercepted the blow, producing a thunderous boom that sent ripples of energy coursing through the room, causing the entire castle to tremble.