"I didn't mean to strike with deadly force." Zhou Yan paused for a moment, then said, "I just didn't like him."
Zhou Yan's words carried a hint of grievance, his demeanor appearing somewhat pitiful.
"Nonsense." The old man in white robes roared with rage. This little beast was clearly retaliating out of personal spite.
"Zhou Yan, stop quibbling. If you don't hand over the antidote, don't blame the Dragon Tiger Sect for turning hostile and eradicating you completely today." The old man in white robes bellowed.
"Hahaha." Zhou Yan suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Turn hostile? Very well, then I'll show you who it is that's turning hostile."
With that, Zhou Yan's figure vanished from his spot, reappearing at the summit of Dragon Tiger Mountain, his eyes glinting with sharp, cold light.
"Who goes there?" The old man in white robes' face changed dramatically.
"Zhang Dapeng, we are countrymen, and I am also a disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain. Yet you wish to kill me. Do you think that's fair?" Zhou Yan questioned sternly.
"Fair? Zhou Yan, if you hadn't been so obtuse, you wouldn't have met such an end. Now I give you two choices: either kneel before me and beg for mercy, or die by my sword." The old man in white robes commanded coldly.
"Heh heh." Zhou Yan sneered. "Zhang Dapeng, since you are obstinate, you can only blame yourself. Today, I will send you on your way."
"Hahaha~" Zhang Dapeng roared with laughter in his fury, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yan with icy intensity. He sneered, "Zhou Yan, with just you, you presume to defeat me?"
"We won't know unless we try." Zhou Yan snorted coldly.
"Fine, since you wish to court death, I shall oblige you." Zhang Dapeng shouted, clenching his palm. A sharp, precious sword materialized in his hand, emanating a chilling radiance.
"Zhou Yan, remember this day. I will make you remember it forever, and regret it for the rest of your life."
"Hmph, I, Zhou Yan, act with integrity and stand upright. I need no regrets. Come at me if you dare." Zhou Yan declared fearlessly.
"Very well." Zhang Dapeng roared, his figure flashing as he shot straight into the heavens, sword light flickering erratically.
"Dragon Tiger Fist."
Zhou Yan let out a low growl, his blood and qi churning within him. A torrent of fierce energy erupted, transforming into streaks of golden light that gathered above his right arm.
"Dragon Tiger Collapse Fist."
"Roar!"
Accompanying Zhou Yan's roar, a golden dragon burst forth, fangs bared and claws extended, charging directly at Zhang Dapeng.
"Hmph." Zhang Dapeng bellowed, swinging his sword to meet the attack.
The two clashed instantly. Strike followed strike, sword energy crisscrossing, and gale force winds howling.
In the span of a single exchange, they had collided hundreds of times.
Their figures flickered, their speed akin to startled swallows, sword shadows swirling, and sword energy splashing outward.
"Bang~"
Finally, a muffled sound echoed. Both their bodies retreated several feet.
"Such a robust physique. Zhang Long's cultivation must have reached the peak of the mid-stage Divine Venerable realm."
Zhou Yan sighed inwardly.
In this battle, Zhou Yan felt the terrifying might of his opponent. This man was indeed the chief elder of the Dragon Tiger Sect. The divine techniques he cultivated were all of the Divine King level, and his combat power surpassed that of some veteran Divine King experts. He was certainly not comparable to ordinary Divine Kings.
"Zhou Yan, if you surrender, I might consider letting you off the hook. But if you remain stubborn, don't blame me for my ruthlessness," Zhang Dapeng said coldly.
"Zhang Dapeng, you've gone too far. I respected you as a senior and didn't use my full strength against you. Yet you push your luck and try to force me to go all out," Zhou Yan said indignantly.
"Then don't blame me for being impolite." Zhang Dapeng sneered, and then lunged forward again.
"Boom!"
"Crack~"
"Pfft!"
Zhang Dapeng's sword fiercely pierced Zhou Yan's abdomen. Blood spurted out, splattering onto Zhou Yan's chest.
"I told you, don't think you're so powerful just because you've cultivated a Divine King level technique. In front of me, you're not even worth a fart," Zhou Yan gritted out.
Zhang Dapeng's expression changed slightly. "How is this possible? With this sword strike, even a Divine Emperor expert would be severely injured or even killed. How could...?"
"Zhang Dapeng, you are too foolish. Do you know what a Divine Emperor is? With your caliber, you dare to dream of killing a Divine Emperor? It's simply wishful thinking," Zhou Yan mocked.
"Zhou Yan, don't get arrogant. I refuse to believe I can't defeat you. Just you wait, I'll go notify my master right now. Let's see where you can escape then," Zhang Dapeng shouted, turning to flee.
"Trying to run? Not so easy." Zhou Yan let out a cold roar, his figure flashing as he pursued. He formed hand seals, the earth rumbled, and several huge cracks split open in the ground.
"Boom~"
A powerful suction erupted from Zhou Yan. In the blink of an eye, Zhang Dapeng was sucked into the ground and disappeared.
"Hahaha, I knew it. Even if Zhou Yan is powerful, he can't possibly be Zhang Long's opponent. His strength is simply no match for Zhang Long's," the old man in white robes said with a smug smile, his eyes filled with mockery and ridicule.
"Hmph, this is all your own doing," Zhou Yan snorted coldly.
"Zhou Yan, don't get too pleased with yourself. I will flatten Dragon Tiger Mountain sooner or later. Then you'll just wait for death," the old man in white robes cursed angrily.
"Is that so? I'll be waiting," Zhou Yan said dismissively. Although his cultivation was only at the peak of the early Divine King stage, within his body lay a terrifying power, the Zhou Tian Star Cycle Art.
During his cultivation, the Zhou Tian Star Cycle Art had been completely integrated. The power of the Zhou Tian Star Cycle Art had fully fused into a special cultivation method, namely the "Zhou Tian Star Formation." This "Zhou Tian Star Formation" could allow a cultivator to unleash strength comparable to a peak Divine King. However, this power could not be sustained for long.
Therefore, when he encountered truly powerful opponents, he could only temporarily retreat. But as long as he lived, he would eventually return to Dragon Tiger Mountain, slay Zhang Long, and reclaim what belonged to him.
"Let's go." Zhou Yan glanced indifferently at the old man in white robes, then turned and flew towards the mountaintop.
The old man in white robes stood frozen. He had never expected that under his threats, Zhou Yan would show no trace of fear.
"Are you so certain you can defeat me?" Zhang Dapeng asked, looking at Zhou Yan's retreating back, his voice chillingly sinister. He had already sensed a terrifying aura, one that no Divine Emperor could possess. This indicated that Zhou Yan's strength had reached the Divine Lord level. This shocked him and further fueled his wariness of Zhou Yan's potential.
"If you are not convinced, feel free to try," Zhou Yan said with a cold smile, continuing to soar towards the summit.
"Very well, then I will play with you." Zhang Dapeng said, and then he also hurried to follow.
At the summit, a grand and magnificent palace stood, its imposing aura majestic, like ancient architecture, exuding antiquity and simplicity.
"Rumble..."