The power of a soul crystal core could nourish the physical body, making it more robust, even capable of withstanding attacks from peak Nine-Star Martial Emperors.
He hadn't consumed such a precious medicinal pill in a very, very long time.
"Fine, since you wish to die, I shall grant you your wish!"
The man in the white robe sneered, "Once you become nourishment for the soul crystal core, I will refine your body into a soul weapon!"
"Overestimating yourself!" Zhou Yan scoffed.
In the next instant, his figure vanished from his original spot and reappeared before the man in the white robe.
"Boom!"
A single iron fist landed directly on the man in the white robe's cheek.
"Bang!"
The man in the white robe was sent flying backward.
Half of his face instantly swelled up.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of bright red blood was spat out from the man in the white robe's mouth.
"Ah..."
The man in the white robe roared, trying to struggle to his feet.
However, the moment he moved, a burst of searing pain erupted from within his body.
"Hiss!"
He spat out another mouthful of blood.
"You little beast, I'll fight you to the death!" The man in the white robe roared furiously and lunged at Zhou Yan again.
The figures of the two quickly clashed.
Every move Zhou Yan made carried potent true qi. Each strike that landed on the man in the white robe sent him flying.
The man in the white robe was indeed a Nine-Star Martial Venerable. Despite being injured, he did not die, and his healing speed was remarkably fast, recovering almost instantly.
"What kind of secret technique is this? Why is it so bizarre?!"
The man in the white robe was shaken, secretly contemplating countermeasures.
Just then.
He saw a black mist emanating from Zhou Yan's body, enveloping him entirely.
He felt his entire body weaken, his spiritual energy circulation becoming sluggish, unable to utilize his true qi.
This filled him with dread.
"No... This is bad! Zhou Yan is absorbing my soul power! This little beast..." the man in the white robe exclaimed in panic.
"No, if this continues, my soul will soon be drained by Zhou Yan!"
The man in the white robe gritted his teeth, venom flowing in his eyes.
He abruptly bit the tip of his tongue, and a drop of crimson blood flowed out, merging with the soul crystal core.
The next moment.
The soul crystal core emitted a blinding blue light, transforming into a long serpent that shot directly towards Zhou Yan's mind.
"Hmph?"
A look of confusion appeared on Zhou Yan's brow.
He felt that the blue light was attempting to penetrate his sea of consciousness and merge with it.
"Hmph! Trying to occupy my sea of consciousness? Dream on!"
A hint of flame power erupted from Zhou Yan's body.
"Boom!"
A raging inferno appeared on Zhou Yan's surface, engulfing the blue light.
The blue light, burning in the flames, struggled fiercely.
"Little beast, you don't mean to refine my soul into a puppet, do you?"
A chilling voice emanated from the blue light.
Zhou Yan was slightly stunned. "So, not everyone in this world seeks to possess another body for rebirth!"
"I simply don't want to die!"
The voice of the blue light sounded quite ancient.
Zhou Yan nodded slightly.
A rumbling sound, originating from an unknown source, echoed.
The entire cave dwelling began to shake.
"Bad!" The man in the white robe's heart skipped a beat. He quickly mobilized the soul power within his body and charged out of the cave.
"Little beast, we part ways here today." The man in the white robe spoke, his figure swiftly moving away into the distance.
"You still want to run?" Zhou Yan sneered. "In that case, I'll kill you first, then go after those humans!"
As his words fell.
Zhou Yan's figure flashed, instantly disappearing from the cave dwelling.
He pursued the man in the white robe relentlessly.
Zhou Yan's speed was incredibly fast. In a short while, he caught up to the man in the white robe and extended his hand, reaching directly for his neck.
"No!"
The man in the white robe shouted.
Zhou Yan's hand did not slow down in the slightest, continuing its grasp towards the man in the white robe's neck.
"No..."
The man in the white robe let out a miserable cry.
He wanted to turn and flee, but found that his vision was completely immobile.
This sensation filled the man in the white robe with immense terror.
He tried to break free from the restraint, only to find the sensation intensifying.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound came from his neck.
Immediately after, he heard "crack, crack" sounds emanating from his neck.
The man in the white robe's eyes widened.
His neck had snapped.
Blood gushed out.
"This..."
The man in the white robe's eyes were wide with disbelief.
He had never imagined that he would ultimately meet such a tragic end.
His soul crystal core was crushed by Zhou Yan's claw.
The man in the white robe's body crashed to the ground, no longer able to move.
A grim smile spread across Zhou Yan's lips.
He reached out and scooped up a mass of blue soul power, holding it in his hand.
Zhou Yan examined the soul power carefully, contemplating.
"This soul power seems very special, containing a trace of blue soul energy, and it is incredibly pure. It seems he should be a member of the Blue Dragon clan!"
Greed flickered in Zhou Yan's eyes.
"No, the Blue Dragon clan must be eradicated. This race is far too terrifying. If they are allowed to grow, they will surely bring about a catastrophe!"
A solemn expression appeared on Zhou Yan's face.
With a thought, he stored the Blue Dragon clan into his storage ring.
Afterward, he collected the corpse of the man in the white robe into his storage ring.
Having done all this, he then left the cave dwelling.
Outside the cave, a considerable number of cultivators had already gathered.
The majority of them were young men and women.
They wore unified attire, were robust and tall, with bulging muscles, exuding explosive strength.
"Look quickly, that brat seems to have blue soul power fluctuations on him!"
"That's right, he's that good-for-nothing! Let's all go together and kill him!"
"Agreed!"
"..."
The cultivators began to discuss amongst themselves, their gazes towards Zhou Yan filled with contempt and mockery.
Zhou Yan's reputation had long since been ruined.
In their eyes, Zhou Yan was a complete coward.
Now that he had encountered someone from the Blue Dragon clan, he would surely flee.
"You... court death!"
Zhou Yan let out a cold roar and charged directly towards the crowd.
"Go to hell!"
Zhou Yan took a step forward and appeared amidst the crowd.
His speed was extremely fast. In an instant, he was before a green-robed cultivator.
The green-robed cultivator merely saw a blur, and Zhou Yan's figure was already before him.
Zhou Yan's palm, like a steel-forged pincer, struck out fiercely.
"Bang!"
The green-robed cultivator was sent flying by Zhou Yan's strike.
After crashing through a towering ancient tree, the green-robed cultivator's body finally stopped falling.
Blood gushed from his body.