In the blink of an eye, Xu Changfeng swallowed four or five black pills before stopping.
"Kid, I'll slice you into a thousand pieces!" Xu Changfeng glared at Zhou Yan, gritting his teeth.
"Xuan You Valley, no wonder you were so confident earlier. Your background is not simple. But today, you are destined to become a wandering ghost," Zhou Yan said coldly, a strong killing intent emanating from him as well.
"Arrogant brat, since you wish to die, I shall grant your wish. After I kill you, I can still obtain the treasure," Xu Changfeng said venomously, his face contorted as he roared.
"Heh heh!" Zhou Yan chuckled coldly, a chilling murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He leaped into the sky and attacked Xu Changfeng.
"Hmph! Seeking death!" Seeing this, Xu Changfeng immediately met him, and they began to fight.
Although Zhou Yan's cultivation was only at the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm, his physical strength was incredibly formidable. Combined with his rich combat experience, his moves were immensely powerful, and each strike was aggressively offensive, making it impossible to defend against.
*Bang!*
Zhou Yan unleashed a whip kick that whistled through the air, striking Xu Changfeng hard in the chest and sending him flying several meters back.
"Pfft!" Xu Changfeng spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura becoming extremely weak.
*Swish!*
Zhou Yan pressed his advantage, launching a punch. Immense true essence converged on his fist, radiating a fearsome glow, and smashed directly onto Xu Changfeng's head.
*Crack!*
With a crisp bone-shattering sound, Xu Changfeng's head exploded like a watermelon, scattering into countless fragments. Blood mixed with brain matter splattered across the ground.
Xu Changfeng was dead!
"Such brutal methods, but they only excite me further. The taste of slaughter is truly wonderful; this is the feeling I enjoy." Zhou Yan licked his crimson lips, his eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light.
*Whoosh!*
Zhou Yan turned to leave but suddenly sensed an extremely dangerous aura rapidly approaching. His expression changed instantly, and he turned to see a young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, emerging from the forest, holding a long spear. He wore a black long robe, exuding a heroic and valiant aura, with a pair of star-like eyes emanating a hint of murderous intent.
This was a master of the Innate realm, specifically, a martial artist at the second level of the Innate realm.
"Who are you, and why do you attack me?" Zhou Yan asked calmly, his gaze fixed on the newcomer, a hint of solemnity in his eyes.
Masters of the Innate realm could be considered true experts. Once one reached this level, they possessed the ability to fly through the air and could briefly hover. On the ground, they moved with the agility of a phantom, their combat power equivalent to martial artists of the Postnatal realm, making them extremely formidable.
"You dare to cripple the cultivation of our Xuan You Valley elder? You are truly audacious, and therefore, you must die," the black-robed man said coldly, advancing step by step towards Zhou Yan.
"Xuan You Valley?" Hearing the black-robed man's words, Zhou Yan's eyebrows shot up. He muttered to himself, 'This world is indeed not as simple as it seems. This is my first time in Donghai City, and I've already encountered a disciple of Xuan You Valley, and a master at the second level of the Innate realm at that."
"Brat, die!" The black-robed man's gaze fixed on Zhou Yan. His silver-white spear shimmered with a brilliant light, then thrust out rapidly, carrying a sharp, piercing sound as it aimed directly at Zhou Yan's throat.
*Clang!*
Zhou Yan, undaunted, punched out. The silver-white spear met his fist with a metallic clang. Visible ripples spread out in all directions before disappearing into the air.
*Stomp stomp stomp!*
After the collision, the black-robed man retreated three steps before steadying himself. His eyes, fixed on Zhou Yan, were filled with shock. A young man at the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm had managed to directly block his spear strike at the second level of the Innate realm without moving an inch. This astonished him and filled him with a deep sense of jealousy.
He was a core disciple of Xuan You Valley, and at twenty-six years old, he had already reached the second level of the Innate realm, a testament to his extraordinary talent.
Yet now, a youth at the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm could withstand his attack. This was beyond his comprehension.
"This young man's talent is that remarkable?" the black-robed man thought, his apprehension growing with every passing moment. A sense of inexplicable dread began to creep into his heart.
"Kill!" A chilling glint flashed in the black-robed man's eyes. Then, like a gust of wind, he surged forward. His silver-white spear sliced through the night sky, aiming for Zhou Yan's throat.
Zhou Yan flickered, dodging the black-robed man's spear. He then formed his hands into claws and lunged for the black-robed man's shoulders, intending to cripple his arms to resolve the threat permanently.
*Swish swish swish!*
The black-robed man reacted with equal agility. Seeing Zhou Yan's claw attack, he sidestepped sharply and swung his silver-white spear horizontally, aiming for Zhou Yan's wrist to disarm him.
"Get lost!"
Seeing the black-robed man's move, Zhou Yan roared. He stomped the ground with his right foot, leaping into the air. He then slammed his palm down towards the black-robed man. The surging true essence erupted with destructive force, hitting the black-robed man squarely in the chest and sending him flying.
*Thump!*
The black-robed man was sent several feet flying before crashing heavily to the ground. Blood oozed from his mouth, his chest caved in, and several ribs were broken.
"You... Who exactly are you?" the black-robed man asked, clutching his chest and struggling to stand, his gaze filled with dread as he looked at Zhou Yan.
"My name is Zhou Yan," Zhou Yan said calmly, standing with his hands behind his back, looking down at the black-robed man.
"Zhou Yan?!" Hearing Zhou Yan's name, the black-robed man's pupils contracted instantly. A look of solemnity then spread across his face.
"It seems you already know my name," Zhou Yan said indifferently, then slowly walked before the black-robed man, his gaze cold and piercing.
"Hmph! Zhou Yan, I admit you are very powerful. But let me tell you, even if you crippled my master's cultivation, you still won't escape. You killed my Xuan You Valley disciple, and I will absolutely not let you off." The black-robed man said fiercely, then leaped up and fled into the distance.
"Hmph!" Zhou Yan snorted disdainfully as he watched the black-robed man's retreating figure.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's figure flashed. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the black-robed man.
"Ah!"
The black-robed man shrieked in terror, his face pale with fear.
*Slap!*
Zhou Yan swatted the black-robed man across the face, sending him spinning around three and a half times before he finally collapsed to the ground.