"Damn it!" Xiao Han sank, realizing something was wrong.
Before he could think it through, waves of chilling, undisguised, terrifying killing intent surged in from all directions like a tidal wave, locking onto him firmly!
"Hehehe... We've finally waited for you, kid who possesses the 'Primordial Shadow Source Crystal' and the 'Blood Soul Source Crystal'!"
Amidst the eerie laughter, figures clad in ferocious blood-red armor slowly emerged from the shadows of the ruins not far away, surrounding Xiao Han.
Each of them exuded a strong aura of bloodlust, their eyes greedy and cruel, like hungry wolves eyeing their prey.
The leader was a burly man with a hideous scar on his face. The aura emanating from him was clearly that of the Peak of the Martial Emperor Realm!
On the scorched earth, amidst broken walls and ruins, the air was thick with the stench of blood and malevolent energy, so intense it was nauseating. As soon as Xiao Han steadied himself, he noticed dozens of malevolent gazes locked onto him like venomous snakes.
"Hehehe... Kid, we've been waiting here for quite some time!"
From the shadows, figures clad in ferocious blood-red armor slowly emerged. The leader, with a grotesque scar across his face, made no attempt to conceal his Peak of the Martial Emperor Realm aura. He was none other than Xue Tu Blood Fiend Hall. His greedy gaze swept over Xiao Han, finally settling on Xiao Han's left ankle, where a strange black ring mark was faintly visible.
"The Primordial Shadow Source Crystal, the Blood Soul Source Crystal, and that interesting little gift on your foot—leave them all here today!" Xue Tu sneered.
Tracking marker! Xiao Han's heart skipped a beat.
[Ding! The God-Level Choice System has been activated!]
[Option 1: Fight your way out! Use swift and decisive action to intimidate the villains and break through the encirclement. Reward: Random fragment of a Royal-Rank Killing Technique, [Baleful Qi Immunity] (temporary).]
[Option Two: Feign Weakness! Pretend to be outmatched, show weakness, and use the environment and unknown markings to find an opportunity to escape. Rewards: [Myriad Transformations Mimicry Mask] (can simulate aura and appearance), [Scorched Earth Evasion Technique] (fragment).]
[Option 3: System friendly reminder: Host, look at that thing on your foot, it's so dark it looks like a dog collar. If you don't run, are you waiting to be skewered like a candied hawthorn? Immediately burn 30% of your [World Tree Heart Fragment] essence to forcibly break through the spatial barrier and escape! Reward: [Void Message Bottle] (Contains unknown surprises or shocks; opening the bottle carries risks, please bear the consequences yourself.)]
The system still had that familiar feel to it. Xiao Han's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Option three came at too high a price, while option one meant confronting a multitude of enemies head-on. In this unfamiliar land, there were too many variables.
I choose option two.
Seeing Xiao Han remain silent, Xue Tu assumed he was terrified and waved his hand, shouting, "Kill! Take his head and all his treasures!"
Dozens of the Blood Fiend Hall elites, including many High-Rank Martial Grandmaster and several Martial King Realm, unleashed their blood fiend aura, which surged into the sky and transformed into streaks of blood-red light, attacking from all directions.
"Hmph!" Xiao Han snorted, instantly activating his dual Martial Souls!
The Chaos Green Lotus bloomed behind him, its azure light swirling and casting down protective light screens. He activated the [Myriad Trees Spring Forth] divine power, and countless resilient vines broke through the soil, coiling around the attacking enemy like serpents to block their advance.
The Eternal Night Void Emperor Martial Soul released boundless shadows, and the nascent [Eternal Night Void Realm] instantly enveloped an area. Combined with the ghostly movement technique of "A Step to the Ends of the Earth, Far Away," Xiao Han weaved and moved through the dense attacks.
Green Lotus Sword Qi pulsed at his fingertips, while the divine intent of Annihilation coalesced at the tip of his fist.
Pfft!
The Blood Fiend Hall disciple, a High-Rank Martial Grandmaster, had just unleashed his Martial Soul when the Green Lotus Sword Qi pierced through his brow, killing him instantly without a sound.
"Court death!"
Another Blood Fiend Hall elder, at the Early Stage of the Martial King Realm, roared angrily, his blood-red broadsword carrying a foul stench, aimed straight at Xiao Han's face.
Instead of retreating, Xiao Han advanced, his figure flashing as he disappeared into the shadows like a ghost, arriving at his side and behind in the next instant.
The Annihilation Divine Fist was activated, unleashing a fist intent capable of Obliteration everything, which slammed heavily into the elder's protective Gang Qi!
Click!
The protective Gang Qi shattered instantly!
The elder coughed up blood, his body flew backward, and a large part of his chest caved in.
In the blink of an eye, several Blood Fiend Hall Martial Grandmasters had become the dead under Xiao Han's sword, and even Martial King experts suffered a great loss!
Xue Tu's expression darkened, and he was about to personally intervene when a sudden change occurred!
The strange black ring mark on Xiao Han's left ankle suddenly burst forth with a chilling dark light!
A terrifying suction force emanated from the mark, frantically devouring the spiritual and soul power within his body!
Even more sinister and domineering will followed the mark, rushing straight into his sea of consciousness, attempting to disrupt his mind!
"Well!"
Caught off guard, Xiao Han's body trembled violently, and the circulation of his spiritual energy within his body stalled!
A battle between masters is ever-changing!
"Die!"
Seizing this fleeting opening, Xue Tu unleashed his crimson giant axe, tearing through the air with a ferocious power capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, and furiously slashed at Xiao Han!
Bang!
The protective light barrier of the Chaos Green Lotus trembled violently, dissipating most of the force.
But the remaining energy was still fierce. Xiao Han felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale instantly.
"Damn it!" Xiao Han cursed angrily, his anger rising.
In the critical moment, Xiao Han activated the [Soul Origin Treasure Jade] within his dantian!
Pure soul power surged forth, fiercely resisting the black ring mark's absorption and erosion of will.
At the same time, the [World Tree Heart Fragment] in his chest also exerted its power, with a gentle flow of life essence rapidly repairing his injured meridians and body, temporarily stabilizing his decline.
"Boy, let's see how long you can last!" Xue Tu grinned maliciously, raising his giant axe high once more.
His body was filled with frenzied bloodlust, clearly preparing to unleash a thunderous attack to completely obliterate Xiao Han!
At this critical moment—
Roar--!
A deafening, terrifying roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the ruins!
Immediately following, a colossal black shadow, enveloped in overwhelming demonic energy, soared into the sky!
The sheer power of that pressure far surpassed the peak of the Martial Emperor, and was approaching the Martial Venerable Realm!
As soon as the giant shadow appeared, it didn't distinguish between friend and foe, and its thick claws directly slammed towards the few Blood Fiend Hall disciples closest to it.
"Ah--!"
Screams erupted as the Blood Martial Grandmaster Realm Blood Fiend Hall disciples, along with their Martial Soul, were instantly smashed into a pile of minced meat!
It was a mutated monster with blood-red eyes, jet-black scales all over its body, and an extremely violent aura!
Clearly, it was thoroughly alarmed by the intense bloodlust and fierce battle raging here!
"What the hell?!"
The Blood Fiend Hall members were terrified by the sudden appearance of the giant beast, their formation was thrown into chaos, and screams of horror filled the air.
The Blood Fiend Hall elites, who had been so arrogant just moments before, now felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.
Xue Tu's offensive was interrupted by the arrival of this uninvited guest, and his expression changed drastically.
The terrifying pressure emanating from that demonic beast was so powerful and domineering that even a strong person like him felt a chill run down his spine.
This is definitely no ordinary monster!
Xiao Han certainly deserves to die, but this beast is far more troublesome!
He made a quick decision and temporarily put Xiao Han out of his mind.
"You beast, how dare you be so insolent before me!"
Xue Tu was enraged, his hair standing on end, and he roared like thunder.
He twisted his body abruptly, his blood-red giant axe slicing through the sky, stirring up a cloud of bloody energy, and viciously cleaved down towards the enormous beast!
Wherever the giant axe passed, the air shrieked under its strain!