Xiao Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling a sense of shock, but his face maintained an arrogant expression: "Boy, I didn't expect your strength to be not weak. No wonder you dared to break into the treasury alone, it turns out you had some means! Unfortunately, you are no match for me now!"
With that, Xiao Chen raised his sword and charged again.
"Do you really think you can defeat me with your cultivation? You're simply wishful thinking!" Zhou Yan snorted coldly and unleashed his Phantom Steps again.
Seeing Zhou Yan disappear suddenly, Xiao Chen was greatly alarmed. He quickly looked around but found no sign of Zhou Yan.
"Not good!"
"Damn! He actually used the Art of Invisibility!" Xiao Chen's heart was filled with dread.
The Art of Invisibility allowed one to conceal oneself in the void, but its activation required a certain amount of soul power for support.
The so-called soul power was essentially spiritual power. Only cultivators who had reached the Half-step Emperor realm possessed such formidable spiritual power, capable of void teleportation.
However, such techniques were exceedingly rare. Take Xiao Chen, for instance; he had learned a secret method by chance many years ago. But at only the Two-star Half-saint realm, its power was far inferior to that of a true Half-step Emperor realm expert.
Xiao Chen's soul power was not particularly dense, but it was sufficient to sense anything nearby. His divine sense could also detect movements within a one-meter radius.
With a flicker of thought, Xiao Chen immediately sensed that Zhou Yan was less than five meters away from him.
"Boy, you have courage to dare to track me!" Xiao Chen sneered. "But your luck seems to be at an all-time low. I am a Half-step Emperor realm expert. For a mere runt like you to try and catch up to me is simply a pipe dream!"
With that, Xiao Chen's figure flickered, and he instantly appeared before Zhou Yan.
A grim expression flashed in Zhou Yan's eyes. The sword strike that Xiao Chen made, though seemingly effortless, contained infinite sword energy, sending a chill down his spine.
This was a sense of crisis he had never experienced before, leaving Zhou Yan utterly stunned.
"So strong!" Zhou Yan thought to himself.
Zhou Yan's strength was indeed not much different from Xiao Chen's. Without the Black Iron Dagger, Zhou Yan would have had no chance of defeating Xiao Chen.
However, the Black Iron Dagger possessed extremely potent offensive capabilities and a powerful absorption force. If it could be fully refined, it would grant a million jin of strength. This was Zhou Yan's trump card, which he would never use lightly unless his life was in danger. Once revealed, his combat power would increase by at least ten percent.
And Xiao Chen, with just a sword, could defeat him!
Yet, Zhou Yan remained calm. Within his storage ring, he still possessed two Divine Origin Pills.
To ordinary people, Divine Origin Pills were treasures that were hard to come by.
But to Zhou Yan, they were common items, so he felt no pangs of regret.
Zhou Yan flicked his wrist, and a Black Iron Dagger reappeared in his palm.
"What is this weapon!"
Xiao Chen's expression shifted slightly, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
For the dagger Zhou Yan held was a crescent-shaped long blade. Its cutting edge was hooked, and the blade emitted a chilling, icy glow. A sinister killing intent made Xiao Chen's blood run cold.
The material of this long blade was likely something that even ordinary Half-step Emperor realm experts would find difficult to damage.
Zhou Yan, wielding the crescent-shaped Black Iron Dagger, directly slashed at Xiao Chen.
Seeing this, Xiao Chen quickly channeled the soul power within his body, attempting to block it.
"Boom!"
As soon as Xiao Chen's soul power was released, Zhou Yan's long blade fiercely struck his chest. An intense stinging sensation spread throughout his body, causing Xiao Chen's face to change drastically.
"How can this be? I am a Two-star Half-saint! How could this fellow break through my defenses!" Xiao Chen's face turned somewhat pale.
He felt the wound on his chest, where the Black Iron Dagger had grazed him, bleeding. Yet, there was no pain whatsoever.
The sharpness of this dagger was far superior to the Purple Crystal Dagger he had used before.
"Could he be a Half-step Emperor realm expert?" This thought flashed through Xiao Chen's mind.
However, upon closer observation, he felt it was unlikely. If he were a Half-step Emperor realm expert, he would not have given himself any chance to counterattack and would have killed him directly. Why wait until now?
Seeing Xiao Chen heavily wounded by his single move, Zhou Yan couldn't help but let out a triumphant cold laugh: "With your meager skills, you dare to provoke this young master? You're tired of living! Today, I will let you know what it means to have someone stronger than you!"
With that, his wrist flickered, and another black streak flashed.
The speed of this black streak was several times faster than the previous one.
"Swish swish swish!"
The long blade in Zhou Yan's hand seemed to change like a magician's trick, constantly shifting its trajectory. With each change, a black streak would shoot out.
"What... what kind of weapon is this? How can it be so fast?" Xiao Chen's face grew increasingly grim.
Although his reaction was extremely quick, several wisps of azure flame still left bloody gashes on his left arm.
"Boy, do you think you're worthy of comparing speed with me? Today, you will obediently accompany me to the grave!" Zhou Yan sneered.
This scene made Ye Yufei and the others watching unable to bear witness. Some even closed their eyes.
Xiao Chen could no longer concern himself with anything else. He quickly channeled the strand of chaotic spiritual energy in his dantian into the Immortal Slaying Sword in his hand.
Xiao Chen poured all the chaotic spiritual energy within his body into the sword, making it even sharper. Every trace of destructive power was immensely potent.
"Rumble!"
Xiao Chen unleashed a fierce sword strike. Instantly, a massive sword energy, several zhang long, cleaved directly towards Zhou Yan, as if tearing apart the heavens and earth.
Zhou Yan's expression finally changed slightly.
"Boy, your strength is not bad. You can actually block this move of mine! But it's still not enough!" Zhou Yan said coldly.
"Then I shall see just how powerful you truly are!"
"Boom!"
The colossal sword energy landed directly beside Zhou Yan, instantly tearing his clothes to shreds. Pieces of flesh fell to the ground, and bright red blood flowed down his chest.
"Pfft!"
Following that, Xiao Chen spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back several steps.
He had used his full strength for this sword strike, but the opponent's power was simply too formidable. He was unable to kill him.
Seeing Xiao Chen's state, Zhou Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Boy, let's see if you dare to act so arrogant in the future!"