Earth Dragon's attack came so suddenly that even Yan Heyan, with his Earth Rank cultivation, failed to react in time. By the time the pillar of fire swallowed him, he felt searing heat blast against his face and was utterly horrified.
"An attack of this caliber... this is Earth Rank power!"
There was no mistaking it. What he felt was the genuine power of an Earth Rank spirit creature!
Earth Dragon was clearly only a Human Rank Spirit Tamer. Moreover, he was old, frail, and exhausted, his cultivation having regressed to Human Rank Seven Turns. He was also a Peaceful Cultivator accustomed to unorthodox methods and a hundred miscellaneous crafts, not combat. Yet now, his attack truly bore the bearing of an Earth Rank Expert.
Such a wondrous change had to stem from his newly acquired spirit creature, the True Dragon.
In a daze, Yan Heyan seemed to understand something, but he had no time to dwell on it. He had been engulfed by the pillar of fire for only an instant before he felt his Spirit Essence rapidly draining away, his skin burning hot as scorching pain assailed him.
He hurriedly rolled across the ground and swiftly formed the Hand Seal of Presence.
"Giant Demon Ape!"
Boom!
A mass of violent Spirit Qi seemed to explode in midair, sending powerful wind pressure sweeping in every direction. Yan Song and the others were scattered helplessly, each blown more than ten zhang away.
Where Yan Heyan had stood, a burly ape-man appeared, spiritual flames rising all over him as though he were wrapped in a cloak of fire. It was Yan Heyan, who had used a Transformation Dao method to summon the Giant Demon Ape's Dharma Aspect and attach it to his body.
As he transformed, coarse black bristles seemed to