The Chi Dragon spoke in human language, its voice cold enough to pierce bone.
"Hand over the precious medicine, and I'll leave your corpse intact."
Its vertical pupils reflected the golden broth churning in the pot, and a low rumble rose from deep in its throat.
The Blue-Maned Pixiu slowly took a step forward.
With every step, spiderweb cracks spread across the ground. Shattered rocks weighing several tons floated up under an invisible devouring force, then flew one after another into its gaping, blood-red maw.
Its enormous vertical pupils fixed on the big black pot, a ghostly light of maddened greed burning deep within them.
High on the right, the radiant Golden Divine Bird flew over with its wings spread.
Golden light poured down like the noonday sun, illuminating half the sky.
Every feather on its wings seemed cast from pure gold, and each wingbeat scattered golden streams of fire across the heavens.
The four pureblood Supremes, each normally reigning over their own territory, now closed in from four directions with astonishing coordination.
They had only one target.
The big black pot that was still bubbling away.
Four terrifying auras intertwined and collided. Four invisible walls crashed down, sealing the clearing so tightly that not even water could escape.
The human prodigies around them retreated dozens of paces. A few whose legs had gone weak collapsed straight onto the ground.
"We're finished! Four purebloods have joined forces!"
"No matter how strong they are, they can't fight four primordial remnants at once!"
The Pixiu was even more direct.
It opened its blood-red maw, and a destructive sphere of rune light gathered furiously deep in its throat.
The surrounding rubble floated into the air and flew into its enormous mouth in succession.
Killing intent filled the clearing.
Shi Hou swallowed.
*Good grief.