The area was carved into a circle, within which lay a vast array of rare treasures and abundant spiritual energy, clearly a spirit gathering formation.
At this moment, a fiery red fruit lay quietly within the formation.
The Flame Fruit, a fifth-grade spiritual medicine, was extremely effective for those cultivating fire-attribute techniques.
Furthermore, the immense energy contained within was sufficient to allow a cultivator at the third level of the Innate Realm to directly break through their bottleneck, advancing to the fourth level of the Innate Realm, or even higher.
"The efficacy of this Flame Fruit is comparable to a sixth-grade spirit pill, and it is the very thing this young master desires most!"
Gazing at the Flame Fruit, Zhou Yan licked his lips, his eyes glinting with greed.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand to snatch the Flame Fruit.
"Hoo~~"
But just then, the entire formation suddenly lit up, and an unparalleled, blazing fire erupted instantly, engulfing everything.
Bang bang bang!
The stone chamber immediately exploded, shattering into flying debris.
Following this, a terrifying punch descended from the sky, smashing down heavily on Zhou Yan. He was utterly unable to evade it and was forced to endure the blow head-on.
"Pfft!"
Instantly, blood gushed forth. Zhou Yan spat blood, sent flying several meters back. His chest bone was fractured, his ribs piercing his skin, revealing chilling white bone.
"Hiss! Such a potent fist aura! I almost died!"
Zhou Yan endured the pain, looked up ahead, his pupils contracting, his heart pounding with immense shock.
He saw that in the mid-air before him, the Golden Lion stood proudly in the void, his fists clenched, his body as majestic as a mountain. Strands of golden flame coiled around him.
"What? He's not dead!?"
Seeing Zhou Yan still alive, the Golden Lion frowned, his gaze deep and filled with solemnity.
The power of that punch was extraordinary; even a martial artist of the same level would have been instantly killed.
Yet, Zhou Yan had managed to block it!?
"Heh heh, you truly have a thick skin. As expected of a descendant of Zhurong, the God of Fire. Your physique and endurance are far superior to ordinary people."
The Golden Lion let out a cold laugh and slowly strode forward, his gaze icy.
"However, in your current state, how can you possibly fight against this Emperor?"
Before his words had finished, the Golden Lion raised his right arm again. On the fist, golden flames flickered, resembling a blazing sun, instilling terror.
"Hmph! Since you want to kill me, then I'll fight you with all my might, what of it?"
Zhou Yan grinned, his expression turning ferocious, a look of madness in his eyes.
"Hahaha... Good! Now that's more like a man!"
The Golden Lion threw his head back and laughed heartily, speaking with heroic spirit. "However, your strength is too weak. This Emperor can crush you with just one finger. So, there's no need for you to struggle. Surrender obediently!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, sighing with a touch of disappointment. He muttered to himself, "It seems we are destined to be separated by fate."
Upon hearing this, the Golden Lion paused, then, enraged, burst into laughter, cursing, "You scoundrel, are you seeking death?! Today, I will beat you until your teeth are all over the ground and you beg for mercy!"
"Alas... you misunderstand."
Zhou Yan gave a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "What I mean is, we are destined to have no intersection."
"What do you mean?" The Golden Lion was slightly taken aback.
"Because..."
Zhou Yan raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes, and said indifferently, "You are about to die!"
As soon as his voice fell, Zhou Yan's body erupted with dazzling starlight. A celestial map appeared behind him, with bright stars hanging upon it, radiating infinite brilliance that enveloped his entire being, exuding astonishing power.
This was Zhou Yan's trump card!
The Star Phenomena Sacred Sect's ultimate technique – the Star Phenomena Grand Codex – was an extremely potent body-refining art.
When cultivated to its peak, the body would be as sturdy as iron, impervious to all evil, possessing the power to destroy everything.
"Huh!?"
Sensing Zhou Yan's change, the Golden Lion's gaze froze. He vaguely sensed a hint of ill omen and quickly urged the spiritual energy within his body, preparing to resist the onslaught.
"Kill!"
However, Zhou Yan gave him no opportunity.
Rumble!
Zhou Yan stomped his foot, and his entire body shot up into the air, like a falling meteor, carrying terrifying power as he charged.
"Not good!"
The Golden Lion's face changed greatly, and he inwardly cried out that it was bad.
"Boom!"
In an instant, Zhou Yan's fist descended, engulfing the Golden Lion in a barrage of punches.
"Bang!"
The next moment, the protective spiritual armor on the Golden Lion's body shattered. His chest caved in, and he opened his mouth, spitting out a stream of blood. His body seemed struck by lightning, sent flying back over ten zhang before crashing to the ground.
"Pfft!"
The Golden Lion lay on the ground, coughing up blood and trembling incessantly. His face was extremely pale, and his body was covered in horrifying wounds.
"Damnable bastard, how dare you ambush me?"
The Golden Lion's eyes widened with rage, and he gritted his teeth, wishing he could flay Zhou Yan alive and grind his bones to dust.
He, the dignified Martial King, the monarch of the Golden Lion Kingdom, had been defeated by a mere trash at the ninth level of Body Tempering. It was utterly humiliating.
"Heh heh, you think you're the only one who can ambush?!"
Zhou Yan sneered, killing intent blazing in his eyes.
"Whoosh!"
With that, Zhou Yan threw another punch, like a storm, pouring down on the Golden Lion. Each punch fell with a crackling sound, tearing through the air.
In an instant, a series of muffled thuds echoed endlessly.
As these fist imprints fell, the Golden Lion's protective spiritual armor cracked repeatedly, eventually shattering completely.
The Golden Lion let out a mournful cry, spewing blood from his mouth, utterly disheveled and stripped of all dignity.
"Damnable brat, stop immediately..."
The Golden Lion roared, his eyes filled with intense killing intent.
"Stop? Dream on!"
Zhou Yan's lips curved into a cold smile, and he threw another heavy punch.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the protective armor on the Golden Lion's body was once again pierced, creating a large hole, through which bright red blood flowed.
"Ah~~~"
Piercing screams continued to echo. The Golden Lion's face was contorted, his eyes filled with terror.
He could already feel that the true essence within Zhou Yan's body was as vast as the sea, far surpassing the ninth level of Body Tempering, and even faintly reaching the level of a Martial Master.
"Kid!"
"Who exactly are you?!"
The Golden Lion gritted his teeth, his face filled with fury.
Zhou Yan's cultivation speed was too unbelievable, completely defying common sense. There must be something strange going on!
"Heh heh..."
"You ask me? I was about to ask you the same thing."
Zhou Yan sneered, saying, "Don't you know that in my world, you are merely a lowly slave, and a stupid pig at that."
"You're seeking death!"
The moment he said this, the Golden Lion became enraged, roaring, "A mere ant dares to insult my dignity! I will surely skin you alive, dismember you, and scatter your soul to the winds!"
As he spoke, the Golden Lion glared at Zhou Yan, each word like a thunderclap, shaking the surroundings, filled with boundless malevolence.