Fierce Battle

He could not be certain that Chen Xiong had left by this route, so he devised two plans.

"What is Chen Xiong's background? He isn't some faction backed by the Chen Clan, Han Clan, or Li Family, is he?"

Ye Yutang continued asking.

"Of course not. If that were true, we'd have been dead long ago. Like me, he's a Rogue Cultivator who makes a living hunting Monster Beasts. During one struggle over prey, I killed his cultivation partner. The last time we encountered them while hunting Monster Beasts, they nearly wiped us out."

Xu Lei said.

"That's right. Lady Liu was killed by them. This time is a golden opportunity to wipe them out."

Qin Qing chimed in.

Ye Yutang looked toward Shen Long. Shen Long nodded, expressing his agreement.

"Fine, then we'll make our move and wipe them out. But if we run into your enemies again in the future, we won't help you. We're cooperating with you to hunt Monster Beasts, not helping you take revenge."

Ye Yutang said.

She was worried Xu Lei might use them as a gun, so she had to make things clear and state her bottom line.

Shen Long secretly nodded to himself. Ye Yutang considered everything thoroughly. No wonder Ye Yuqing obeyed Ye Yutang's instructions in all things.

Xu Lei nodded. "Naturally. Chen Xiong is my only enemy. I have no other enemies."

"Then that settles it. Yuqing, set up the Formation!"

Ye Yutang instructed.

Ye Yuqing answered and took out Formation Flags and a Formation Disk to set up the Formation.

She arranged the Formation at the valley entrance. If Chen Xiong and the others passed through the valley, they would definitely enter the Formation.

Once the Formation was set up, they gathered in a corner.

Ye Yuqing took out a command flag flickering with cyan light and gave it a gentle wave. A cloud of cyan mist billowed out, concealing their bodies.

A breeze swept through, and the cyan mist dispersed. They vanished as well.

After a while, the explosions ceased.

"They've killed the Fire Cloud Toad. I hope they return through the valley."

Xu Lei said softly.

They waited silently. After less than half an incense stick's time, a flying boat flickering with cyan light rose into the air and flew into the distance.

Chen Xiong and eight other Qi Refining Cultivators stood atop the cyan flying boat, their faces filled with delight.

This time, while hunting Monster Beasts in the mountains, they had been tracking a Spirit-Swallowing Rat when they unexpectedly discovered two First Rank Late Stage Fire Cloud Toads. There were also spirit herbs within their nest.

The nine of them had joined forces and easily killed the two Fire Cloud Toads, gathering the spirit herbs and making a fortune.

A sharp whistling filled the air as dozens of Cyan Wind Blades, each over a foot long, shot up from the ground toward them. At the same time, eight Dharma Artifacts glittering with spiritual light came hurtling at them.

A Li Fire Falcon rose from the ground and swooped toward them.

"Not good, enemy attack!"

Chen Xiong frowned. With a hand seal, he sent the cyan flying boat rapidly descending toward the ground.

Li Yue threw out a shield flashing with red light, blocking the incoming Cyan Wind Blades.

The Li Fire Falcon lightly flapped its wings, sending more than a dozen bowl-sized Crimson Fireballs shooting forth, but they too were blocked by the red shield.

The cyan flying boat landed on the ground. Chen Xiong and the other eight disembarked, each moving to block the eight incoming Dharma Artifacts.

Shen Long and the other seven revealed themselves and attacked Chen Xiong's group.

Ye Yuqing also released the Green Wind Tiger, while the Li Fire Falcon circled high in the sky.

"Xu Lei, it's you!"

Chen Xiong said with a frown, a trace of wariness flashing through his eyes.

"On this day next year will be the anniversary of your deaths. Kill them—make it quick!"

Xu Lei said. He took out a Cyan Feather Fan and gave it a light wave, sending more than a dozen foot-long Cyan Wind Blades hurtling toward Chen Xiong's group.

Shen Long and the other seven all attacked Chen Xiong and the others.

"Have a taste of the Heavenly Thunder Bead's power."

Chen Xiong sneered. With a flick of his sleeve, a Cyan Round Bead shot out toward Xu Lei and the others.

At the words "Heavenly Thunder Bead," Shen Long and the other seven's expressions changed. A Heavenly Thunder Bead was equivalent to a strike from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator—far beyond what they could withstand.

Shen Long hurriedly activated the Black Tortoise Shield, positioning it before himself. At the same time, a water-blue light screen appeared around him.

Ye Yutang reacted swiftly, activating an Earth Wall Talisman that transformed into a yellow earth wall over thirty feet tall and several feet thick before her. Xu Lei and the other six were not idle either, each applying defensive measures to themselves.

The Cyan Round Bead exploded, turning into a vast expanse of Cyan Flame that swallowed their figures.

Not long afterward, the Cyan Flame dispersed. Xu Lei and the other seven were unharmed, though the Yellow Earth Wall had vanished.

"We've been played!"

Sun Yang said with a dark expression.

Chen Xiong's group of nine scattered and fled. Because of the Li Fire Falcon, they could only escape across the ground.

"Chase them! Don't let them get away."

Chen Xiong activated the Azure Cloud Boat and stepped aboard it.

Shen Long took out a Flight Talisman and slapped it onto himself. Cyan light flashed, and a pair of Cyan Feather Wings appeared on his back. With a light flap, he soared into the air and chased after a short, fat man in red robes.

Cyan light flickered beneath the red-robed man's feet, and he moved extremely quickly.

As Shen Long pursued him, he released Crimson Fireballs to attack the red-robed man.

A vat-sized Crimson Fireball descended from the sky. Cyan light blazed beneath the red-robed man's feet, turning him into an afterimage as he appeared several yards away. The Crimson Fireball smashed into the ground, instantly blasting out a massive pit several yards wide.

Thunderous explosions rang out as Shen Long released one Crimson Fireball after another, but the red-robed man evaded every one.

"Wind Control Technique at Great Perfection!"

Shen Long frowned.

With a flick of his right hand, a streak of cyan light flew out and sank into the ground.

A Cyan Vine as thick as an adult's arm burst from the earth and wrapped around the red-robed man's right leg.

The red-robed man hastily activated a Red Flying Knife and severed the Cyan Vine. But another Cyan Vine soon burst from the ground, coiling around his left leg, while a Crimson Fireball fell from above toward him.

The red-robed man hurriedly activated a red shield in front of himself. At the same time, a thick Yellow Light Screen materialized around him, protecting his entire body.

The Crimson Fireball struck the red shield and exploded at once, turning into surging flames that engulfed it.

A deafening peal of thunder came from the sky. A Thunder Cloud more than thirty feet wide appeared overhead, and a silver lightning bolt as thick as an infant's arm tore through the air and struck the red shield. The red shield trembled, its spiritual light dimming.

"Lightning Attraction Talisman!"

The red-robed man's face went pale. Just as he was about to use the Wind Control Technique to evade, another Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around his right leg.

The Red Flying Knife severed the Cyan Vine, but the second silver lightning bolt struck as well, crashing onto the red shield and dimming its spiritual light even further.

At the same time, a Crimson Fireball shot over and slammed into the Yellow Light Screen, surging flames engulfing it.

The third silver lightning bolt struck, and several tiny cracks appeared on the red shield's surface.

The Mystic Water Blade shot forward and struck the Yellow Light Screen with a dull thud.

The red-robed man frowned deeply. With a flick of his sleeve, a yellow Earth Spike over two feet long flew out toward Shen Long.

"Earth Spike Technique at Great Perfection!"

Shen Long was somewhat surprised. This man had actually cultivated two First Rank spells to Great Perfection.