Another Leg of the Journey

A Nether Star Envoy fell to the ground, the essence in his body dissipating.

Shi Yan circled him three times, then felt the acupoints in his body fill once more with strange essence.

He brandished his dagger, a dim black glow shrouding him as he darted around the other three Nether Star Envoys. Moving at high speed, he evaded them and left one slash after another across their bodies.

All three Nether Star Envoys had been struck by Bone-Corroding Powder. Their strength gradually drained from their arms and legs, and their movements grew sluggish.

Under Shi Yan's assault, the three formed a triangle, struggling to hold their ground.

His expression indifferent, Shi Yan darted away like a ghost. As his dagger flashed, dazzling cold light burst forth.

"Argh!"

One Nether Star Envoy took a slash to the back and let out a miserable howl. "Take this brat out first!"

The other two Nether Star Envoys nodded bitterly. They stopped paying attention to Zhao Xin, Di Ya Lan, and Hu Long, and all three poured their essence into their attacks. Three streaks of rainbow light suddenly shot from their palms.

The rainbow streaks flowed like silken ribbons, moving with their thoughts and fixing on Shi Yan like arrows.

"Careful! Those are Dark Nether's Nether King Spears!" Mu Yu Die cried. "Don't hold their image in your mind, or the Nether King Spears will keep chasing you!"

A strange light flashed in Shi Yan's eyes. He sprang backward, forcibly casting the thought of attacking the three Nether Star Envoys out of his mind, and emptied his heart once more.

The three Nether King Spears abruptly lost their target and shot toward a distant thicket. With a series of crackling explosions, they blasted the grass into flying shreds.

"Damn it!" one Nether Star Envoy cursed, preparing to activate another secret technique.

Just then, Zhao Xin inhaled from a medicine pouch and slowly recovered from the poison of the Bone-Corroding Powder. Seeing the man about to activate his technique, Zhao Xin rushed over.

Zhao Xin flicked out both arms. They stretched and coiled like nimble serpents, and with a sizzling hiss, he slithered forward. His arms seemed able to bend at any angle as they wound toward one Nether Star Envoy with a viciously tricky strike.

"Hu Long!" Mu Yu Die called softly, tossing him the medicine pouch. Hu Long caught it, greedily inhaled, then charged out with a grunt.

With Zhao Xin and Hu Long joining the fight, Shi Yan felt no pressure at all. After inhaling the antidote, the two would gradually recover their strength, while the three Nether Star Envoys, struck by Bone-Corroding Powder, would only grow weaker. It wouldn't be long before Zhao Xin and Hu Long killed them.

"Di Ya Lan, don't join the fight. Take the medicine pouch to Uncle Luo." Mu Yu Die saw Di Ya Lan inhale from a pouch and prepare to help Zhao Xin and Hu Long, and hurriedly stopped her.

Di Ya Lan understood at once. Without a word, she hurried toward Luo Hao.

Shi Yan lowered his hands and unhurriedly walked over to Mu Yu Die. His expression was calm, but as he stood beside her, his gaze roamed over Di Ya Lan.

Di Ya Lan had chestnut-red hair and wheat-colored skin. She wore only a small suit of dark red armor, which covered her full breasts, the cleavage below, and her pert bottom. Her flat, smooth abdomen and long, shapely legs were completely bare.

Di Ya Lan's face was only somewhat above average, but her figure was extremely alluring. Her outfit was wild and untamed, enough to stir any man's desire to conquer her.

Shi Yan stood beside Mu Yu Die, yet he didn't look at her. His blazing gaze rested entirely on Di Ya Lan, and he made no effort to hide his masculine nature.

"Like what you see?" Mu Yu Die's brows furrowed slightly, and she gave a displeased snort.

Shi Yan came back to himself and flashed her a grin. "Any man would be interested in a beauty with such a sizzling figure."

Mu Yu Die's bright eyes fixed on him for a long moment before she covered her mouth and chuckled. "You really are an interesting person. How old are you, anyway? Can you even call yourself a man?"

Shi Yan paused. Her words reminded him that this body was actually only seventeen. And because he had grown so thin lately, other people probably thought he was only fourteen or fifteen.

It was certainly strange for such a young body to call itself a man—and discuss such an indecent topic.

He shook his head and laughed wryly. Without explaining, Shi Yan pretended to be casual as he moved away from Mu Yu Die and approached Zhao Xin and Hu Long by a few paces.

A miserable scream rang out. One Nether Star Envoy's mouth filled with blood as Zhao Xin's Heavenly Serpent Transformation sent a hidden force crashing into his heart and lungs. His body swayed twice, then he died on the spot.

Shi Yan stepped forward. Wisps of essence from the man's body flowed into his own in a way only he could sense. As he felt the essence enter him, killing intent surged in his eyes, and a bloodthirsty, violent impulse rose in his heart once more.

He understood that until the essence in both men's bodies had been purified, such thoughts would keep surfacing from time to time.

After what had happened with Kalu, Shi Yan had gained some experience.

He carefully sensed the change and discovered that, because he had advanced to the Innate Realm, his acupoints had absorbed the entire essence of two dead people at the same level as him—and yet he could still suppress the madness in his heart without losing control.

Shi Yan vaguely understood that this was surely because his realm had improved. The reason he had gone so mad before was likely that he had only been at the Postnatal Realm, while Kalu had been at the Innate Realm. Purifying the essence of someone an entire major realm above him had caused the negative forces that leaked out to become so terrifying.

"After them!"

As Shi Yan pondered, Zhao Xin barked an order and chased after the fleeing Nether Star Envoy with Hu Long.

"Don't chase them! We're leaving at once!" Luo Hao saw that the leading Nether Moon Envoy had also retreated. Instead of pursuing him while the Bone-Corroding Powder was taking effect, he roared at Zhao Xin and Hu Long to stop.

"Uncle Luo, why?" Zhao Xin asked, confused.

Luo Hao took a deep breath from the medicine pouch and spoke urgently. "Someone's coming! It must be another squad sent by Dark Nether. If the two squads join up, it'll be too late for us to leave. Remember, our goal isn't to kill as many of Dark Nether's people as possible. It's to keep Xiao Die safe!"

Hearing that more people were coming, Zhao Xin's expression changed. He quickly nodded in agreement.

Luo Hao didn't waste words. Though he hadn't fully recovered, he rushed over and grabbed Mu Yu Die again. Turning to Shi Yan, he said, "Little brother, thank you so much for helping us this time. But this matter has nothing to do with you. You don't need to suffer alongside us. Let's part ways here."

"I still owe Miss Mu my life."

Shi Yan seemed completely unaware of how fearsome Dark Nether was. He smiled faintly, unconcerned. "A drop of water deserves a spring in return, and Miss Mu saved my life. I've always been clear about gratitude and grudges. If someone targets me, I'll repay them tenfold! If someone treats me well, I'll repay them tenfold just the same! I'll travel with you for another leg of the journey. I hope I can help."

"What a fine, brave young man!" Hu Long praised.

Di Ya Lan's alluring eyes gleamed as she giggled. "You little rascal, you've got both a taste for beauties and a daring heart! You were sneaking peeks at me for ages, and I was going to settle the score with you afterward. But after hearing you say that, I'll forgive you."

"You..." Mu Yu Die was stunned. She hadn't expected Shi Yan to be so stubborn, and her heart stirred with emotion.

"Since little brother insists, I won't try to talk him out of it." Luo Hao didn't waste any more words. He nodded, grabbed Mu Yu Die, and ran off.

Zhao Xin and the others hurried after them. Shi Yan took a breath and immediately followed.

Mo Chao Ge led a group of Mo Family Martial Artists swiftly through the forest. Along the way, he suddenly stopped, his expression grave as several Dark Nether envoys appeared before them.

The Nether Moon Envoy from Dark Nether also paused in surprise. He studied Mo Chao Ge and the others with a strange look, uncertain where they had come from. He secretly worried they might be on Luo Hao's side.

"Second Uncle..." Mo Yan Yu moved her lips. Seeing that the other party didn't look friendly, she wanted to remind Mo Chao Ge to be careful.

Mo Chao Ge's face was stern as he met the Nether Moon Envoy's gaze. After a moment, he spoke first. "We're pursuing a very thin young man carrying a pack on his back. He looks about fifteen or sixteen. He's our only target; we mean no offense to the rest of you."

The Nether Moon Envoy from Dark Nether secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Bone-Corroding Powder had begun to take effect in his body, and his strength was now less than thirty percent of normal. If he really fought Mo Chao Ge, he wouldn't gain the slightest advantage.

After listening to Mo Chao Ge, he had an idea and said ominously, "I've seen that young man. He's mixed in with our target."

"May I ask where he is now?" Mo Chao Ge asked politely.

He didn't know that the Nether Moon Envoy had been struck by Bone-Corroding Powder. But just from the man's sinister aura, Mo Chao Ge could tell he was no one to trifle with, so he didn't dare show any arrogance.

"Over there." The Nether Moon Envoy pointed in the direction and said coldly, "You'd better be careful. That brat's realm isn't high, but one of the people he's with is a Martial Artist in the Hundred Tribulations First Heaven. That Martial Artist also has a Martial Spirit with tenfold gravity. He won't be easy to deal with."

"Hundred Tribulations First Heaven." Mo Chao Ge furrowed his brows slightly, then nodded. "Thank you for the information!"

"Let's go!" Mo Chao Ge waved his hand and hurried off with the group of Mo Family Martial Artists.

"It looks like that man has reached the Hundred Tribulations Realm too." After they left, the Nether Moon Envoy's gaze turned dark. He sneered, "Brat, you ruined my plans. Once I've recovered, I'll grind your bones to dust!"