In an instant, a surge of ferocious aura emanated from the Golden Lion, forming visible ripples that spread throughout the stone hall.
The surrounding rock walls trembled, cracking and splitting with a series of sharp noises.
These fissures quickly laced the entire hall, resembling a dense spiderweb.
The next moment, the stone hall dramatically collapsed, sending clouds of dust billowing.
Powerful energies, like hurricanes, raged within the hall, whipping up tremendous waves.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yan's gaze swept over the scene, a slight frown creasing his brow.
The Golden Lion now stood with bloodstained robes, his body hunched, hair disheveled, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, a picture of misery.
Yet, the Golden Lion's aura remained sharp and dominant, like a primordial beast awakening—fierce, ruthless, and bloodthirsty.
Despite suffering grievous injuries, there was no hint of retreat or fear. His eyes remained sinister, glinting with a cruel killing intent.
It was evident that in the recent clash, the Golden Lion had held the upper hand and remained unharmed.
"Heh, you little beast, you have indeed impressed me."
The Golden Lion let out a cold laugh, his eyes narrowing to a dangerous glint. "But do you think this is enough to defeat me? You are far from it."
"Is that so?" Zhou Yan's expression was calm as he replied nonchalantly, "Then try this again..."
As he spoke, Zhou Yan reached for his waist.
To everyone's bewilderment, Zhou Yan produced a jade pendant and held it between his fingers.
Subsequently, Zhou Yan circulated his true essence, infusing it into the jade pendant. A bright light suddenly appeared, illuminating the void.
The next moment, the light dissipated, and the jade pendant returned to its original appearance.
"Swish!"
A dark, obsidian mirror materialized out of thin air. Its surface was smooth, refracting strange beams of light that pierced the Golden Lion's eyes like sharp swords.
"Not good!"
Instantly, the Golden Lion's divine sense screamed in pain, his head throbbing as if pricked by needles. He couldn't help but cry out, his face paling dramatically.
"What the hell is this thing?"
The Golden Lion exclaimed, his expression panicked, sweat beading on his forehead. His heart pounded furiously. If he could, he would have fled this place immediately.
Suddenly, a beam of light flashed across the mirror, accompanied by a surge of icy air that seemed to freeze the very atmosphere.
"No!"
The Golden Lion's face contorted in terror, a profound sense of dread washing over him, as if an terrifying tide of cold was surging towards him, chilling him to the bone.
The next second, a crisp ringing sound echoed.
Following it, a mist of frost enveloped the area, and ice crystals rained down, coalescing into a sharp, gleaming spear.
The spear whistled through the air, swift as a viper's strike, tearing through the atmosphere with electrifying speed. It effortlessly pierced the Golden Lion's throat, drawing a spray of crimson blood.
The Golden Lion's eyes widened in disbelief. He looked down at his neck, his eyeballs bulging, his lips trembling, a look of utter incredulity etched on his face.
In the following instant, the Golden Lion's body went rigid and slumped to the ground, lifeless, all aura extinguished. He was dead.
"Gulp..."
Nearby, the numerous guards and maids stood petrified, their faces ashen.
The scene was too astonishing!
Zhou Yan's strength was terrifying!
"Hmph!"
Zhou Yan put away the mirror, casting a dismissive glance at the crowd. He let out a cold snort and said, "You few, quickly dispose of him."
"As you command!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding individuals respectfully complied, hurrying forward. They worked together, dragging the corpse away from the stone hall.
They dared not show the slightest disrespect when handling the Golden Lion's remains.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yan looked at the Golden Lion's corpse, drawing in a sharp breath.
"The Golden Lion was a Martial Ancestor realm expert, with extraordinary strength. How did he become so weak?"
Zhou Yan's eyes flickered as he mused, "Could it be that the physical body I absorbed has exhausted its potential?"
The Golden Lion was a Martial Ancestor, a formidable power with terrifying combat prowess. Zhou Yan had initially believed that his true essence would require a body at least at the peak of the Innate realm to be contained.
However, it now seemed that things were not as Zhou Yan had anticipated.
"It appears this body harbors some secrets," Zhou Yan mused.
After a moment of contemplation, he murmured, "Perhaps I need to find a new body to continue cultivating the 'Heavenly Emperor Scripture'!"
Though the Golden Lion royal family was one of the top royal lineages on the Saint Martial Continent, boasting profound heritage, vast treasuries, and mountains of resources, the most precious wealth in this world was the legacy of peerless experts.
Especially Heavenly grade cultivation techniques, which held immense value and could ignite bloodshed.
Therefore, even the Golden Lion royal family held a bloodline ritual every thousand years, selecting outstanding direct descendants to enter the treasury and choose suitable Heavenly grade cultivation techniques.
However, the preciousness of Heavenly grade cultivation techniques was undeniable, and very few could enter the treasury to choose one—one in ten thousand.
The Golden Lion royal family, with its three thousand clans and a massive population, could barely manage five hundred such opportunities.
"Since I've decided to possess another body, I must be prepared," Zhou Yan declared with firm resolve. "While Heavenly grade cultivation techniques are rare, it's not entirely hopeless to obtain them."
The original owner of this body was once a formidable figure who left behind numerous legacies, including the 'Heavenly Emperor Scripture.'
"According to the memories, there are seven chapters to the Heavenly grade cultivation technique," Zhou Yan mused. "However, the cultivation technique I practice is called the 'Chaos True Essence Codex,' which I stumbled upon in an ancestral cave."
The 'Chaos True Essence Codex' was classified as high-grade Xuan tier, possessing astonishing power.
But among high-grade Xuan tier cultivation techniques, it was at the bottom rung, not even ranking among the mediocre.
Therefore, Zhou Yan found it easy to cultivate and quickly mastered the 'Chaos True Essence Codex.'
However, the 'Chaos True Essence Codex' was merely a rudimentary body-refining technique, and Zhou Yan naturally disdained it.
"Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment realm and cultivate the 'Heavenly Emperor Scripture,' it will surely be far superior to this trash technique!" Zhou Yan said with anticipation.
"Rumble!"
At this very moment, a thunderous roar erupted from within Zhou Yan's body, like a heavenly tribulation descending, permeating the depths of his soul and lingering indefinitely.
Zhou Yan's heart tightened, and he quickly closed his eyes, desperately suppressing the violent aura to avoid being backlashed and meeting an unfortunate end.
After a long while.
The violent lightning power gradually subsided.
"This is the Foundation Establishment thunder, tempering the tendons, bones, skin, and membranes."
Zhou Yan opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face. "This body's aptitude is quite good, possessing a fourth-grade fire attribute spiritual body."
"Not bad."
Zhou Yan examined the body, nodding slightly.
"Huh?"
Immediately afterward, Zhou Yan's brow furrowed. He sensed that within the body's dantian, there was a radiant purple light.
This cluster of purple light was extremely peculiar.