The air crackled with a piercing explosion, and a surge of immense primal energy swept out like a hurricane.
In an instant, the entire secret chamber was reduced to rubble, with fragments of stone flying everywhere.
"You... you're actually at the peak of Xiantian realm?"
The sight sent a tremor of fear through the man in the green robe, nearly scaring him unconscious. He never imagined Zhou Yan's strength would be so terrifying.
"Bang..."
However, Zhou Yan showed no mercy. He raised his right leg and kicked directly into the green-robed man's chest, sending him flying out and snapping several towering trees.
"Pfft!"
The green-robed man spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing amidst the ruins, utterly pathetic. His bones were shattered, and he lay limp like mud.
"You... you broke your word!"
The green-robed man's face was ashen, filled with venom.
"Heh, why would I, Zhou Yan, need to explain myself to an ant like you?" Zhou Yan sneered, his tone utterly indifferent.
In his past life, he was the Nine Nether Saint Emperor. With a single thought, billions of lives perished. He had killed countless people; what need did he have for promises?
In his eyes, these people's lives were as insignificant as grass, completely unworthy of his negotiation. They were the ones who should be begging for mercy.
"Kid, we'll meet again. My Beiming Mountain Manor will surely kill you." The green-robed man roared.
"Noisy."
Zhou Yan waved his sleeve, sending out a burst of energy that instantly annihilated the green-robed man. He then pointed a finger at his forehead.
*Chira!*
Instantly, the green-robed man's forehead split open, blood gushing out, and then he vanished completely.
Moments later.
Zhou Yan retrieved a black box from his storage ring and opened it. Inside lay three obsidian-like crystal stones, the size of a thumbnail, covered in runes, with a faint, eerie aura emanating from them.
"Three Meteorite Crystals?"
Zhou Yan's eyes lit up. These three Meteorite Crystals were something he had obtained in a secret realm earlier, and they were perfect for enhancing his physical body.
"The effects of Meteorite Crystals are astounding. Once I fuse these three, my physical body can evolve to the second tier, and then I can attempt to cultivate the fifth level of the Vajra Undying Art!"
Zhou Yan's heart surged with excitement, his eyes filled with anticipation.
He remembered that in his previous life, it took him over two years of cultivation to reach the fifth level, and even then, he was just short of fully mastering it. That alone spoke volumes about the difficulty of that level.
However, now he possessed the memories of the sixth level, so he could break through with ease, it would just take some time.
"The vital blood of a Xiantian realm martial artist is of no benefit to me; it would actually harm my body."
Zhou Yan pondered for a moment and decided to give the vital blood to his mother, to replenish her depleted qi and blood and vitality.
Just then, he noticed a jade pendant hanging from the green-robed man's waist, inscribed with a string of strange symbols.
"Hmm? What is this?"
Zhou Yan frowned. He recognized the symbols as a special script, containing some kind of mystical power. For those with lower cultivation, it would be difficult even to decipher.
"Who exactly is this green-robed man?"
Zhou Yan pondered, the more he thought, the more he felt it was not simple.
"It seems this person has an extraordinary background. It's best not to provoke him!"
Zhou Yan thought to himself, making a decision.
"Never mind, I'll leave this place first!"
With that, Zhou Yan turned and walked away, leaving the area.
...
Night fell, and the galaxy above was brilliant. Silvery moonlight cascaded down, blanketing the vast land.
*Whoosh...*
A dark shadow streaked across the sky, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
The shadow moved swiftly, covering hundreds of feet in the blink of an eye. It entered a dense forest and finally stopped on the branch of an ancient tree.
"Hoo hoo..."
Zhou Yan panted heavily. His injuries had already healed, and his cultivation had become even more refined, his aura much more potent.
"The quality of this physical body is vastly inferior to my previous life!"
Zhou Yan sighed. In his past life, his cultivation of the Vajra Undying Art had made his body incredibly robust, capable of withstanding attacks from precious artifacts and divine weapons. But now, after only cultivating the first level, he was already struggling and facing perilous situations.
"It seems I must find some rare materials to replace this husk." Zhou Yan murmured.
"Huh? Someone's coming!"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's eyebrows twitched. He looked towards the northwest and saw a war chariot speeding towards them, its aura arrogant.
"It's the Lord of Beiming Mountain Manor! Zhou Yan is doomed!"
"Heh heh... I heard that this Zhou Yan, relying on his profound cultivation, once forcibly abducted women and killed indiscriminately. He was captured by Beiming Mountain Manor, imprisoned in the Punishment Hall, subjected to all sorts of torture, and finally buried alive!"
"Hmph, that scoundrel deserves to die!"
Along the road, people chattered, their expressions filled with disdain.
At this moment, a knight galloped forward, spotting a dark silhouette in the distance. He immediately reined in his horse, dismounted, and said respectfully, "Reporting to young master, there is a youth ahead."
"Oh?"
A light chuckle sounded from the war chariot, and then the curtain was lifted, revealing a brocade-clad youth who stepped out.
This youth had fair and delicate skin, a tall and straight posture, and an handsome and elegant demeanor, exuding an air of nobility that set him apart.
"Are you Zhou Yan?"
The brocade-clad youth's gaze was sharp as he scrutinized Zhou Yan's face. He finally confirmed that this was the Zhou Yan of legend and immediately shouted, "Hand over everything you have!"
Zhou Yan swept his gaze over the youth, instantly discerning his cultivation: the peak of the sixth level of Body Tempering, equivalent to an ordinary Grandmaster Martial Disciple, not worth mentioning.
"Get lost!"
Zhou Yan couldn't be bothered with the youth and directly cursed him, preparing to leave.
"You little bastard, you're asking for death!"
Seeing this, the brocade-clad youth was enraged. He unleashed a punch that thundered through the air, fierce and sharp, aimed at Zhou Yan.
*Bang bang bang!*
With a single punch, it seemed to stir the void, a powerful and domineering force. The fist aura had not yet arrived, but it carried an astonishing oppressive pressure.
"Trash like you dares to act wild in front of me!" Zhou Yan's eyes were cold.
*Boom!*
The next second, Zhou Yan clenched his hand into a claw. A wisp of true qi surged out, transforming into a sharp, cold sword. With a light slash, incomparably keen, it directly shattered the youth's punch.
*Pfft....*
The brocade-clad youth was sent flying, crashing through a giant tree, spitting out several large mouthfuls of blood, and died on the spot.
"Hiss...."
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding onlookers gasped, their pupils contracting.
This youth had killed the brocade-clad youth in a single move, leaving them stunned.
"Brother, may I ask who this young man is? How could he be so ferocious?"
"Brother, that young man seems to have an extraordinary background. Tell me quickly!"
"Indeed! That young man killed someone from Beiming Mountain Manor. He's bound to be in trouble later."
Instantly, exclamations of doubt and curiosity arose.
The gazes of everyone converged on Zhou Yan, filled with curiosity. Most of them were from various influential families and imperial dynasties, considering themselves of high status.
But now, seeing Zhou Yan's strength,