When the others recovered, they gritted their teeth, their eyes filled with malice. Simultaneously, they unleashed their killing moves, lunging towards Zhou Yan.
Their attacks were peerlessly sharp. Each swing of their blades tore through the void, accompanied by piercing shrieks, enveloping Zhou Yan.
"Hmph, since you refuse to see reason, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Zhou Yan's gaze was indifferent. He leaped into the air, his body erupting with dazzling spiritual light, akin to a radiant sun.
In the next moment, he raised his right hand and pressed it down fiercely.
Instantly, an infinite torrent of lightning surged from Zhou Yan's palm. This lightning converged on his hand, forming a hammer of thunder.
"Begone."
Then, Zhou Yan swung his arm violently. The thunder hammer flew out, transforming into a brilliant streak of lightning that shot forward.
The lightning roared, cleaving the air as it passed, causing a violent explosion.
Bang~
The next moment, a muffled sound was heard as the thunder hammer collided with the myriad attacks. Innumerable electrical snakes writhed out, swift and unstoppable, knocking each of the black-clothed figures to the ground.
"What is this? Such overbearing lightning!"
The remaining individuals' expressions changed, filled with terror.
"No, we must retreat!"
They exchanged glances, all filled with the urge to flee.
In just a brief exchange, they realized that the young man before them possessed strength far exceeding their expectations, far beyond their ability to contend with.
"You want to leave now? Too late!"
Zhou Yan let out a cold shout, his figure darting out like lightning, moving at extreme speed.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Streams of sword light erupted, surging forward like a tide, engulfing all the black-clothed figures.
Puff puff puff....
In an instant, blood mist sprayed, and corpses tumbled to the ground.
In mere moments, the black-robed elder and the others perished, leaving only the black-robed elder alive, whom Zhou Yan firmly pinned beneath his foot.
"Spare... spare my life..."
The black-robed elder trembled all over, his face pale with fear, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy. "Young Master, I was wrong, please let me go..."
"Hmph, let you go? Dream on?" Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes. Immediately, a sharp killing intent permeated the air, and he sneered, "You wanted to kill me just now, and now you expect me to show mercy?"
"No!"
Upon hearing this, the black-robed elder was utterly terrified. He quickly roared, "Young Master, I am willing to pledge allegiance to you and serve you. Please spare me..."
"Too late."
Zhou Yan shook his head. With a flip of his palm, a fiery red pill appeared in his hand.
"This pill is called the 'Soul Devouring Pill,' refined from the essence blood of the Nine Nether Nether Beast. After consuming it, one falls into an illusion, eternally trapped within it, unable to awaken. Furthermore, this pill is incurable."
"Therefore, prepare yourself to endure this torment."
"No... don't..."
The black-robed elder's face turned ashen, all hope lost. He roared madly, "Zhou Yan, if you kill me, my father will not let you go. He will surely grind you to dust."
"Oh? Your father? Is he very powerful?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan's eyebrows rose, and his eyes narrowed slightly, his tone laced with amusement.
Though he had never met the black-robed elder's father, from the other's words, Zhou Yan had already deduced that the black-robed elder was undoubtedly supported by a powerful force.
"Hahaha, Zhou Yan, you are finished!"
The black-robed elder laughed maniacally, his eyes filled with a chilling ferocity. He spoke maliciously, "My father is the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, Old Man Black Wind. His cultivation is unfathomably deep, having reached the Profound Access realm. Once he emerges from seclusion, he will surely kill you!"
Profound Access realm?
Upon hearing these three words, Zhou Yan's expression flickered, and then his eyes lit up.
He had been looking for martial artists of the Profound Access realm to spar with. To his surprise, there was actually a strong practitioner of this realm here. If he could kill the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, the reward for this mission would surely be immense.
"Heh heh, you've delivered yourself to my doorstep. Don't blame me for being impolite!"
Zhou Yan grinned, his eyes filled with intense excitement.
"No....."
The black-robed elder was greatly alarmed and quickly called out, "Young Master, I am willing to submit to you. I have a treasure that might help you break through your realm."
"Oh?"
Zhou Yan's gaze shifted, and he asked, "Show it to me first. If it truly has value, I might consider sparing your dog life."
"This is...."
The black-robed elder nodded and slowly extended his hand. In his palm, a jade token the size of a palm appeared.
"Hmm? Is this a Spiritual Source Stone?"
Zhou Yan's eyes gleamed with joy. This jade token was dark gold in color, its surface covered in runes. It was clearly a Spiritual Source Stone of extraordinary quality.
One had to know that Spiritual Source Stones contained boundless spiritual energy. Absorbing this single Spiritual Source Stone would be enough to elevate him to the sixth level of Body Tempering.
"How do you possess such a thing?"
The next moment, Zhou Yan's face instantly turned grim. He stared intently at the black-robed elder and asked coldly, "Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Spiritual Source Stones were exceptionally precious. Even some large sects would not possess such a treasure.
"This jade token was given to me by a certain expert back then, who told me to keep it with me and seek opportunities. I thought that in a few more days, I would smoothly reach the eighth level of Body Tempering, or even break through to higher realms."
The black-robed elder sighed, his expression dejected and filled with sorrow.
"What is the name of that expert?" Zhou Yan pressed.
"I don't know him."
The black-robed elder shook his head. He truly did not know the person. However, when he was young, he had coincidentally met that person once. At that time, the expert had gifted him some pills and then left in haste.
Therefore, this jade token held only sentimental value for the black-robed elder.
"Your luck is truly terrible. Not only did you not obtain the Spiritual Source Stone, but you also lost a Soul Devouring Pill," Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh.
He knew the effects of this Soul Devouring Pill. Once swallowed, one would enter a world of illusions, where they would suffer all sorts of torment. In the end, they would slowly exhaust their vitality and spirit amidst this illusory torment and die.
"Young Master, save me! If you save me, I guarantee that I will do my utmost to assist you!"
The black-robed elder pleaded repeatedly. He could see that Zhou Yan was determined to obtain the Spiritual Source Stone. Whether he could keep his life now depended entirely on Zhou Yan.
"This jade token is mine!"
Zhou Yan's gaze swept over it. He immediately set his sights on the jade token and reached out to grab it, intending to put it into his storage ring.
"You wish!"
The black-robed elder was enraged and resisted with all his might.
Suddenly, a dark light surged from his body. A mass of black smoke formed a skull-like face in the void and lunged to bite Zhou Yan.