Compensation Issues

The immense aura radiating from his fist instantly enveloped everyone. A powerful pressure unlike anything they had ever felt made their legs buckle involuntarily, forcing them to their knees.

"Th-this is a Dou Emperor?" Shaluo had no idea this was strength only a Dou Zong possessed.

The strongest expert he had ever seen was a Dou Emperor. As for those beyond Dou Emperor, that was probably something he would never encounter in his lifetime.

"Is the Pavilion Master really this powerful?" The members of Lingyan Pavilion were so stunned their jaws nearly dropped.

A strange light flickered in Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes. "Junior Brother, is this the true power you've been hiding?"

The Sixth Elder, who had yet to show himself, looked as though he had seen a ghost.

A Dou Zong? Was this some kind of joke?

"Little Yanzi!"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions changed when they saw this. If that terrifying punch landed, Little Yanzi would...

"Ah! Save me! Commander, save me!"

Just as the two worried about Xiao Yan, scorching magma instantly swallowed several mercenaries from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

The remaining mercenaries were also burned to varying degrees after being splashed by the magma.

Before the battle had even begun, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had already lost more than half its strength.

"Brothers, what are you standing around for? Get them!" Shaluo shouted, wearing the expression of someone ready to beat a drowning dog.

Lingyan Pavilion immediately rushed forward as one.

On Xiao Yan's side, the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force firmly suppressed Elder Ya's Soul Power, leaving him able to wield only half his strength.

He had barely managed to dodge the lightning pillar just now, but there was clearly no evading this earth-shaking punch.

He could only raise the Heavy Xuan Ruler before him, hoping to rely on its defenses to block part of the attack.

Bang!

A figure shot backward like a cannonball.

Chen Mo naturally understood the principle of striking when one's enemy was down. He flashed through the air and appeared above Xiao Yan. The Underworld God's Spear condensed in his hand, and he viciously thrust its tip toward Xiao Yan's heart.

"Little Yanzi!"

"Young Master Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Qing Lin watched the scene in panic.

"Arrogant. You still dare let your mind wander while fighting me?" Shaluo viciously slashed his blade across Xiao Ding's back.

"Commander!"

"Eldest Brother!"

Before one side had even determined a victor, the other had already suffered severe injuries. Xiao Li could only grit his teeth and rush over to help Xiao Ding.

At that extremely critical moment—

A sharp cry rang out, and the spear tip struck a suddenly appearing energy shield.

The energy shield shattered, but in the next instant, Xiao Yan's figure had already pulled far away from Chen Mo.

"You finally decided to show yourself?" Ignoring the half-dead Xiao Yan, Chen Mo raised his head and fixed his gaze on an empty patch of space.

The next moment, a black figure eerily emerged from the void.

It was an old man in black robes, standing in midair as he looked down upon everyone below.

"Hovering in the air without external assistance—a Dou Emperor." The people below sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Another Dou Emperor." To those of lower realms, it was impossible to tell that Chen Mo and Xiao Yan were relying on external aid.

Seeing that the Experience Card's time was about to run out, Chen Mo frowned. When he had emerged from the passage, he had noticed a Dou Emperor hiding in the void and had wondered who it was.

Now, it seemed that it had to be Ling Ying.

But hadn't he only appeared during the Three-Year Agreement?

Had some other change occurred because of his appearance?

Or perhaps...

Had he been silently protecting Xiao Yan all this time?

Chen Mo's eyes turned cold as he demanded, "You intend to protect him?"

"I truly didn't expect that such a small Jia Ma Empire would have someone as gifted as you." Ling Ying had no idea how he had exposed his whereabouts and allowed the youth to discover him so early.

He did not hide his purpose and nodded. "No matter what, I will take this boy called Xiao Yan away today."

"Just you?" Chen Mo cast the old man a disdainful glance.

"From what I know, this power does not belong to you. It must have a time limit. Once that time expires..."

Ling Ying did not finish the latter half of his sentence. As an experienced old hand, he would not make such an overt threat.

Especially while that power had yet to disappear.

"Before that time expires, I'm confident I can send you to hell first."

Chen Mo spoke coldly. You say you'll protect him, and I'm just supposed to let you? Where would that leave my pride?

Chen Mo did not attack immediately, and Ling Ying knew the other party was looking for a way out.

"Tell me, what will it take for you to release him?"

"Very simple. Make him get out of the Tagor Great Desert, and—"

"Impossible!"

Before Chen Mo could finish his condition, Xiao Yan interrupted him. He had come here to search for Heavenly Flames and improve the Flame Mantra. How could he possibly leave?

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

Chen Mo's body slowly rose into the air. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the same height as Ling Ying.

Before the time limit expired, he needed to deal with this troublesome old man first.

"Wait." Ling Ying watched the aura within Chen Mo's body begin to spread once more and became somewhat flustered. The gap between a Dou Emperor and a Dou Zong was still quite considerable.

"I agree."

"Very good."

Neither side paid any attention to Xiao Yan shouting below.

Ling Ying continued, "What other conditions do you have? State them all at once."

"As expected of one of the Eight Great Clans. So generous." To prevent Ling Ying from going back on his word after the time limit expired, Chen Mo pointed out his identity and fabricated a powerful force behind himself.

Ling Ying's pupils shrank. How did he know his identity? He guessed inwardly, Is he also from one of the Eight Great Clans? Judging from that Lightning Technique earlier, could he be from the Lei Clan?

Chen Mo continued, "You know that I had just emerged from the passage when he started shouting about killing and fighting. My subordinates were all seriously injured because of me. So it isn't excessive for me to ask for some medical expenses, is it?"

Upon hearing this, the Lingyan Pavilion members below, who had been perfectly lively moments before, immediately lay down and began crying out in pain.

"I can't take it anymore! My hand hurts so much!"

"My leg hurts too!"

"My whole body hurts!"

Ling Ying's mouth twitched. With acting this exaggerated, could they at least try to make it look convincing?

He did not bother arguing with them. With a sweep of his black robe, a pile of bottles and jars floated in the air before Chen Mo.

Chen Mo accepted them without the slightest bit of politeness and smiled. "We've settled Xiao Yan's compensation. Now let's discuss the compensation for his two brothers."

Ling Ying frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Just now, you only said you would protect Xiao Yan. You never said you would protect his brothers. One matter is one matter. What I said is perfectly reasonable."

Shaluo understood at once and immediately collapsed, coughing up blood.

"See? My capable subordinate was beaten until he vomited blood."

Ling Ying painfully handed over another batch of compensation.

Just when he thought it was over—

"Now let's discuss the compensation for his brothers' subordinates."

Ling Ying could not endure it any longer. With a sweep of his sleeve, he grabbed Xiao Yan and his two brothers and fled.

Three updates today. There will be another one tonight. Please vote.