"Senior Brother!"
Xiao Yan crawled out of the huge hole in the ground, looking utterly bedraggled, only to see Xiao Fan swallowed whole by the fallen heart flame. He could not help crying out in alarm.
Ever since they had set out from the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Fan had been his role model, protecting him time and again. Xiao Yan had always kept every bit of it close to his heart.
Within Xiao Yan, Yao Lao had also remained silent for a long time, but the increasingly violent fluctuations of his soul betrayed his turmoil.
Xiao Yan stared at the Fire Python's enormous body ahead, clenching his fists as his eyes reddened.
"Die, you beast!"
Just as Xiao Yan was about to charge forward again, the First Elder arrived beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said softly, "Rest for a while, little fellow. Leave this to us."
As he looked at the grief-stricken Xiao Yan, bitterness also crossed the First Elder's face.
"First Elder, hurry! Once this beast breaks out, we'll never be able to catch it again!"
Not far away, the gathered elders cried out in alarm. A dense, netlike formation shrouded the entire sky.
The enormous Fire Python struggled to break through these obstructions and escape beyond the Inner Academy.
"Heh. It won't be going anywhere."
The First Elder gave a grim chuckle, then glanced at the silent Xiao Yan. In a flash, he appeared at the edge of the formation. Looking into the Fire Python's enormous eyes, he said flatly, "Even if I have to stake this old life of mine on it, you won't be getting out today."
As his words fell, the vast Dou Qi within the First Elder poured directly into the formation.
Watching the Fire Python continue to struggle