"Let's go," said Huangfu Qingshan's father, Huangfu Longshan. "We continue our advance."
Hearing this, everyone nodded, then quickly left the courtyard and disappeared into the vast night.
On the other side, Huangfu Yunfeng reported this matter to Huangfu Yunxiao.
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Yunxiao's eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow appearing on his face.
"Zhou Yan! I didn't expect you to be so strong!"
Huangfu Yunxiao gritted his teeth.
With Huangfu Qingyun and Huangfu Yunfeng killed under his nose, how could he maintain his dignity?
If he let Zhou Yan go today, would Zhou Yan not ride over him in the future?
"Hmph, this time, I'll see how long you can hide!"
Huangfu Yunxiao snorted coldly, then his figure flashed, turning into a beam of light that tore through the void, flying directly towards the direction of the Huangfu family.
Behind them, a playful smile slowly curved Zhou Yan's lips as he said, "I'll see whether your Huangfu Yunxiao is more formidable, or if I am."
...
Huangfu Yunxiao, the second most important figure in the Huangfu family.
This time, he had led many elite disciples of the Huangfu family to participate in the Heavenly Ranking competition, all with the purpose of killing Zhou Yan.
As long as Zhou Yan perished, his status would undoubtedly soar. At that time, who in the entire Eastern Continent, apart from the three great super families, would be able to stop Huangfu Yunxiao's progress?
"Zhou Yan, you just wait for me!"
In the depths of Huangfu Yunxiao's eyes, killing intent seethed. He would definitely make Zhou Yan pay the price!
...
Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.
A year is a short time, passing in the blink of an eye.
In the Huangfu family, within a sprawling manor.
"Zhou Yan, get out here!"
An angry roar echoed, followed by a burly figure appearing, it was Huangfu Yunfeng.
At this moment, Huangfu Yunfeng was like a madman, his eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at his surroundings, as if he wanted to burn everything around him to ashes.
Beside him, a young man stood silently, enveloped in a white mist that completely obscured his figure, as if he had appeared out of thin air.
This young man was none other than Zhou Yan!
"Huangfu Yunxiao, what do you need from me?" Zhou Yan asked indifferently, looking at Huangfu Yunxiao.
"Zhou Yan, today is the day our Huangfu family's Heavenly Ranking competition begins. I hope you will abide by your agreement then, otherwise, you will absolutely not escape our pursuit." Huangfu Yunxiao said with a cold laugh.
He knew that although Zhou Yan possessed the strength to challenge opponents of higher cultivation, he was still ultimately an ant at the eighth level of Bone Tempering, not worth his concern.
"Heh heh." Zhou Yan chuckled lightly and remained silent.
A cold smile appeared on Huangfu Yunxiao's face. He knew Zhou Yan was mocking him.
"I'm telling you, Zhou Yan, I have already dispatched people to the Huangfu family to notify the family's experts. Your life is destined to remain in the Huangfu family!"
"Your only option now is to surrender to our Huangfu family!"
"Our family head is an elder of the Alchemist Guild. Once he makes a move, your life will surely be saved!"
Huangfu Yunxiao spoke to Zhou Yan in a condescending tone.
In his eyes, Zhou Yan was merely a petty alchemist. Even with his talent, how much resources could he possibly squander?
Therefore, he didn't take Zhou Yan seriously at all.
Hearing his words, a look of deep mockery flashed in Huangfu Yunfeng's eyes. He said, "Brother, you mustn't underestimate this Zhou Yan. His talent is terrifying, and even Grandfather praises him highly. You can imagine."
Huangfu Yunxiao slightly paused, then his gaze suddenly sharpened, falling upon Zhou Yan.
Although Zhou Yan's cultivation was a level lower than his, he could sense that Zhou Yan's true strength was far beyond his own.
For a moment, he couldn't help but recall that time in Black Wind Ridge when Zhou Yan had instantly killed him with a single move, leaving him trembling with fear.
"Could it be that he is truly an alchemist at the Martial King realm?"
Huangfu Yunxiao couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.
Although he was an elder of the Alchemist Guild, the elders of the Alchemist Guild were merely mid-grade alchemists.
Anything higher was only attainable by the ancestors of the Huangfu family. However, he had never heard of any alchemist at the Martial King realm within the Huangfu family.
Therefore, he concluded that Zhou Yan's identity was definitely extraordinary.
"Zhou Yan, you must have been cultivating during this past year, right?" Huangfu Yunxiao stared at Zhou Yan and said, "Your skill in refining Heavenly Grade Pills must be masterful by now, right? I, Huangfu Yunxiao, am here to announce something. The ninth genius of our Huangfu family will head to the Northwest Region to contend for a top ten spot in the Heavenly Ranking competition against Zhou Yan."
"This matter, whether you agree or not, you must accept, because our Huangfu family's ninth genius is someone you cannot afford to offend."
Huangfu Yunxiao said, glaring coldly at Zhou Yan.
"Heh heh, I say, Huangfu Yunxiao, you overestimate yourself. Your Huangfu family's ninth genius is nothing in my eyes, Zhou Yan."
Zhou Yan's face was filled with mockery as he said without reservation.
"Hahaha, hahaha!"
Huangfu Yunxiao burst into laughter.
For the past year, he had been feeling incredibly stifled.
This time, Huangfu Yunxiao had been defeated by a group of people, losing all his dignity. The depression in his heart was imaginable.
Now, hearing Zhou Yan dare to insult his ninth genius, his heart was filled with ecstatic joy.
"Zhou Yan, I advise you to recognize the situation and don't struggle pointlessly! Otherwise, I will let you know what it means to wish you were dead."
Huangfu Yunxiao sneered.
Zhou Yan couldn't help but scoff and said, "You should worry about yourself first, lest you lose your life one day without even knowing how it happened."
"Good, good, good!"
Hearing Zhou Yan's humiliation, Huangfu Yunxiao's eyes immediately turned blood red. He looked at Zhou Yan ferociously and roared, "Zhou Yan, since you are obstinate, then do not blame me for being ruthless!"
"Attack! Take down Zhou Yan for me!"
As Huangfu Yunxiao gave the order, hundreds of disciples from the Huangfu family erupted with powerful auras and launched an attack on Zhou Yan.
Seeing this, Zhou Yan's eyebrows furrowed. He then clenched his fists.
A terrifying aura instantly burst forth from Zhou Yan's body.
Bang bang bang bang...
A series of dull thuds resounded.