Under Zhou Yan's feet, there was a formation that had transported him to this place.
Outside the valley, four or five people stood, all clad in black.
These were the same black-clad figures who had been waiting near the mountain pass earlier. They had been awaiting news from Zhou Yan, so as soon as he appeared, they materialized.
Leading them was a young man around thirty. He was tall, with an handsome face and wore a set of black combat attire. His skin had a healthy bronze hue, appearing exceptionally fit and exuding a dynamic aesthetic.
As soon as the youth appeared, his gaze locked onto Zhou Yan, filled with hatred, as if Zhou Yan were the murderer of his father.
"Hahahahaha~~!"
The youth suddenly let out a long, wild cry towards the heavens, his voice brimming with fury and venom, "Zhou Yan, I've finally found you. Today, I will tear you to shreds!"
This youth was none other than Zhao Tianyu, the Crown Prince of Zhao.
As Zhao Tianyu's voice echoed, the several black-clad figures around him also roared in unison.
"Zhou Yan, you're dead today!"
"Zhou Yan, you despicable wretch, you actually ambushed our leader! You deserve to die!"
"Zhou Yan, how dare you injure our leader! Today, no matter where you run, we will capture you and then kill you!"
Zhou Yan looked at Zhao Tianyu and said coldly, "Hmph, Zhao Tianyu, I've come today to take your dog's life. My life belongs to me, and no one can take it away. But your life belongs to me, so your dog's life must be handed over to me!"
"You court death!" Zhao Tianyu roared, his body instantly transforming into an afterimage as he lunged towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan sneered, his figure flashing as he evaded Zhao Tianyu's attack, then he unleashed a punch.
Zhao Tianyu met the attack with his own fist.
Their strikes collided.
Zhou Yan felt a pain in his fist as a terrifying force surged from Zhao Tianyu into his own, causing him intense pain. He felt his palm go somewhat numb.
Having landed a blow, Zhao Tianyu immediately pressed his advantage, his fist, carrying immense power, smashing fiercely towards Zhou Yan's forehead.
Zhou Yan's pupils constricted. His figure flashed again, dodging Zhao Tianyu's strike. Simultaneously, his right leg swept out with a sharp whistling sound, kicking viciously towards Zhao Tianyu's chest.
Zhao Tianyu was startled. He quickly sidestepped, evading Zhou Yan's leg sweep. Then, he brought out both hands, imbued with a fearsome surge of True Qi, and slammed them forcefully towards Zhou Yan's shoulder.
Zhao Tianyu and Zhou Yan engaged in a fierce battle mid-air.
One at the seventh level of Martial Master, the other at the eighth, their combat sent waves of energy and gales of wind raging.
Although Zhao Tianyu's strength was slightly inferior to Zhou Yan's, he had practiced the Nine Transformations of the Divine Dragon. Furthermore, when he cultivated the Nine Transformations of the Divine Dragon, he had absorbed Zhou Yan's pure inner energy. Therefore, his physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Martial Master, and his fist and foot techniques were also formidable. The two fought to a standstill, neither gaining a decisive advantage.
This time, Zhao Tianyu's strength had greatly increased. After unleashing the Nine Transformations of the Divine Dragon, his striking power was more than double that of his usual level. Thus, he could easily suppress Zhou Yan.
As Zhao Tianyu and Zhou Yan battled, the four black-clad men watched Zhao Tianyu's movements with joy. It seemed their leader's strength had indeed surged. Not only could he defeat a Martial Ancestor realm expert, but he was also fighting on par with an eighth-level Martial Disciple.
Their admiration and awe grew even deeper than before.
Although Zhou Yan's attacks were sharp, Zhao Tianyu showed no fear, and instead, his attacks became even more ferocious.
Each of Zhao Tianyu's moves contained a torrent of True Qi. Moreover, his strength and speed had both increased significantly, which greatly surprised Zhou Yan. Zhao Tianyu's movement technique was truly extraordinary.
As they fought in mid-air, the surrounding vegetation and rocks continuously collapsed. The entire valley felt as if doomsday had arrived.
At this very moment, the vegetation and rocks in the valley split open once more. Zhou Yan and Zhao Tianyu's attacks were immediately blocked by the falling debris and soil, forcing them to separate temporarily.
After Zhou Yan steadied himself, Zhao Tianyu stood at a distance, his eyes still burning with hatred.
"Zhou Yan, I will kill you today to avenge my father!" Zhao Tianyu gritted his teeth and said, "You despicable scoundrel, you used vile tactics to ambush me. I will never forgive your crimes!"
Zhou Yan smiled faintly and said, "I did indeed use vile tactics, but you did too, didn't you? Your entire Zhao family are despicable scoundrels. Your father was no better!"
Zhao Tianyu's face turned extremely ugly as Zhou Yan exposed his past. He clenched his fists tightly, the anger in his eyes reaching its peak. Suddenly, a dazzling white light erupted from his body, engulfing him, making him appear like a god of war, majestic and imposing.
Zhao Tianyu looked at Zhou Yan and said in a deep voice, "Today, I must kill you!"
Zhou Yan snorted coldly and said, "Zhao Tianyu, no matter how powerful you are, you are no match for me! I tell you, you will die today without a doubt!"
As the words fell, Zhou Yan's figure once again transformed into a streak of meteor, charging towards Zhao Tianyu.
The two resumed their battle.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
A series of sounds echoed as Zhao Tianyu's and Zhou Yan's attacks continuously collided, erupting into dazzling sparks. Both Zhou Yan and Zhao Tianyu were fighting with all their might, relentlessly attacking each other. Neither held back, unleashing their strongest abilities and attacking without cessation. In this short period, they had exchanged over a hundred blows.
Zhou Yan's attack power was slightly inferior to Zhao Tianyu's, while Zhao Tianyu's strength had increased considerably. In this short time, he had fought thousands more rounds with Zhou Yan, and neither had gained a decisive victory. Moreover, as time passed, Zhou Yan's stamina began to wane, and his attack power gradually weakened.
Zhao Tianyu, on the other hand, grew stronger with each passing moment. His body's strength was continuously channeled into his fists and palms, striking Zhou Yan relentlessly. Zhao Tianyu's attacks were not only incredibly fast but also pushed Zhou Yan back with each blow.
At this moment, their fierce battle resembled two colossal dragons entangled and clashing in mid-air.
Both had employed their most powerful moves, eschewing any elaborate techniques, relying solely on brute force and desperately attacking each other.
They fought for an unknown duration, both utterly exhausted.
"Hoo, hoo!"
Zhao Tianyu panted heavily, while beads of sweat appeared on Zhou Yan's forehead.