At this moment, an ancient bell rang, its vast sound spreading in all directions.
Everyone who heard it trembled, their bodies stiffening, unable to move.
*Whoosh!*
As the bell continued to ring, Zhou Yan flicked his arm, a sword's radiance flashing. He thrust his sword towards Yama King.
The ancient bell chimed again and again, each peal like celestial music from the nine heavens, echoing through the firmament, captivating souls and inspiring submission.
The sword's radiance was like lightning, sharp and peerless. It instantly pierced Yama King's shoulder, blood gushing, his clothes torn, revealing charred wounds.
"Ah!"
Yama King cried out in pain, staggering and nearly falling to the ground.
"Pathetic."
Zhou Yan sneered, his black longsword in hand, he strode forward, approaching like a demon god.
Yama King's expression turned fearful. His eyes widened in panic.
Zhou Yan's strength was too terrifying.
With just this dark longsword, he could easily suppress him, even kill him on the spot.
"Youngster, you cannot kill me. We have no enmity."
Sweat beaded on Yama King's forehead as he quickly said.
Zhou Yan snorted, unwilling to waste words, and swung his sword again.
The next instant, Yama King was overwhelmed with rage, fire spewing from his eyes. He ignored the injury to his shoulder and used all his might to fight Zhou Yan.
After a few exchanges, Yama King gradually fell into a disadvantage.
In terms of combat power, he was far inferior to Zhou Yan.
More crucially, his mindset was in disarray. Being held back by Zhou Yan, he found it difficult to break free.
"No, I absolutely cannot continue fighting. Otherwise, it will be a dead end."
Yama King's mind was in turmoil. He kept issuing warnings, trying to disrupt Zhou Yan's concentration to find an opportunity to counterattack.
However, these words were of no use to Zhou Yan.
Yama King retreated, his left arm severed at the elbow, blood spurting.
He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with cold light.
Seizing this opportunity, he unleashed a secret technique, forcibly boosting his strength, and vanished from his original position like a phantom.
"Stay where you are!"
Zhou Yan snorted and unleashed a sword strike.
*Screech!*
A flash of silver light shimmered. The sword's radiance, incredibly sharp, pierced through a mist of blood, turning it into scattered flesh.
"Hahaha, you little brat, just wait. This King will return."
Yama King screamed. Blood stained his body, his form incomplete, and he fled in disarray.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yan's brows furrowed, a hint of surprise in his heart.
He clearly sensed that Yama King was not truly dead but had survived by using a secret technique.
Indeed, at that moment, Yama King's aura rapidly weakened, as if he were in his twilight years. His body gradually shriveled.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Yan cursed inwardly, feeling annoyed.
Yama King's secret technique defied heavenly principles. He had paid a heavy price for a chance at survival.
This one instance had exhausted Yama King's potential, making it difficult for him to recover in the short term.
"Heh heh, don't leave yet."
Zhou Yan's gaze swept over, seeing Yama King about to escape. A mocking curve lifted the corner of his lips.
Immediately, his body moved, becoming a blur. He instantly gave chase.
Yama King's face was ashen, his body trembling, his eyes filled with deep fear.
This time, he was truly terrified!
Zhou Yan's strength was too terrifying, leaving him no room to breathe.
"Zhou Yan, you can't kill me!"
Yama King cried out in terror, bringing his palms together and striking at Zhou Yan.
However, his attacks landed on Zhou Yan like stones sinking into the sea, causing not even the slightest ripple.
"Yama King, I detest cunning villains like you. Today, you must die."
Zhou Yan's gaze was icy, showing no mercy.
He took a step forward, thrusting a finger towards Yama King's brow.
The sword-finger whistled, tearing through the air, and fiercely struck forward.
This scene made Yama King's blood run cold, filling him with horror.
Yet, as the finger drew closer and closer to his brow, he could do nothing.
Despair filled his eyes, his pupils dilating.
He was unwilling, refusing to wait for death!
He hardened his heart, frantically channeling his vital energy, preparing to self-destruct. Even if he died, he would not let Zhou Yan have an easy time.
However, at that moment, a crisp sword hum suddenly rang out.
Immediately after, a brilliant white light streaked across, like thunder from the heavens, instantly deflecting the black longsword.
*Poof!*
A look of astonishment appeared on Yama King's face. Then, a large mouthful of bright red blood spewed from his mouth. His aura plummeted, and he swayed unsteadily, almost falling to the ground.
He managed to steady himself, his gaze vacant. He looked around, utterly surprised, and murmured, "Who saved me?"
His memory was vivid: a moment ago, an ancient longsword had been drawn, instantly repelling the black longsword.
"Huh? He actually dodged it?"
Not far away, Zhou Yan exclaimed in surprise.
He had long sensed that Yama King possessed a protective spirit artifact. He had deliberately pretended to want to kill Yama King, intending to lure him out.
However, Yama King was cunning and treacherous, managing to evade his fatal blow, preventing him from killing him.
This ruined his plan, and he was bound to suffer some losses.
After all, Yama King was a third-rank Martial Master with profound cultivation. If he escaped, he would undoubtedly become a hidden threat.
However, since he had already made his move, he didn't mind delivering another blow.
*Swish!*
Instantly, Zhou Yan's toes pushed off the ground, leaping into the air like a dragon emerging from its lair. A ferocious aura erupted from him as he punched towards Yama King.
*Bang!*
A dull thud echoed. Yama King was sent flying backward, his chest caved in, his internal organs displaced, blood flowing from his seven orifices. He was severely injured.
"You little brat, how dare you!"
Yama King roared, his face contorted with extreme hatred. His eyes were filled with malice and killing intent...
"Die."
Zhou Yan's expression was indifferent. He raised his hand and unleashed another sword strike. The sword qi was sharp, as if it intended to cleave Yama King in two.
Just then, the storage bag at Yama King's waist vibrated violently, emitting a low hum.
"This is..."
Zhou Yan's expression flickered. He reached for the storage bag and pulled out its contents, examining them closely in his palm.
"This is... a Sheng Yu!"
In an instant, Zhou Yan's expression changed drastically, and a wave of ecstatic joy surged through him.
Sheng Yu were rare and precious, possessing extraordinary effects, highly sought after by alchemists and artifact refiners.
Furthermore, Sheng Yu were scarce; each plant was exceptionally valuable and priceless.
He never would have imagined that Yama King would carry Sheng Yu.
"Hahaha, heaven helps me."
Zhou Yan laughed heartily, exhilarated, as if he had encountered the happiest thing in the world.
"Yama King, I never expected you to possess Sheng Yu. It seems I don't need to go to great lengths to find you."
Zhou Yan grinned, his eyes flashing with cold light as he stared at Yama King and said word by word: "This Sheng Yu belongs to me."
Upon hearing this, Yama King's eyelids twitched, and he trembled all over, terrified.
This Sheng Yu was a treasure he had purchased at great expense, originally intended for breaking through his cultivation realm. Now, it was being snatched away by Zhou Yan.
Thinking of this, Yama King was furious, his face contorted.
"Zhou Yan, I will never rest until you are dead! I curse you to a miserable death!"