Yi Chen snapped coldly, "Do you take me for an idiot?"
He bent his legs and sprang away, dodging the old man's attack.
Bang! The old man's knee strike missed, and Yi Chen's kick nearly shattered his kneecap.
The old man glared at Yi Chen, humiliation turning to rage. "You're a monster!" he snarled.
Yi Chen gave the old man an indifferent glance and grasped at empty air with his right hand. The flames on the ground instantly leaped up, forming a gigantic fireball around his palm before rapidly shrinking until it was the size of a thumb, held in his hand.
These flames were ultimate fire, which he controlled and shaped at will.
Cultivating the fire attribute to its utmost limit made it possible to possess them!
How could someone without any weaknesses like Yi Chen possibly overlook them?
Moreover, as one of the continent's most powerful flames, ultimate fire was clearly far more refined under Yi Chen's control!
At the very least, his control far surpassed Tang Chen's!
"You!" The old man stared in horror at the fireball in Yi Chen's palm, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
He had never seen a warrior capable of turning the fiercest flames into such a tiny fireball.
Whether Hellfire or ultimate fire, these flames were overwhelmingly destructive. Even a fingernail-sized spark held tremendous power. One careless moment could leave an ordinary person burned to nothing, without so much as a bone remaining.
Yet Yi Chen had actually subdued them with ease!
"That's... impossible!" The old man's face turned deathly pale, and beads of sweat the size of beans seeped from his forehead.
"These flames are surprisingly good. They shouldn't be much weaker than Hellfire!"
Moreover, these flames were exceptionally pure, free of any contamination. They were treasures nurtured by heaven and earth, far stronger than the flames of the mundane world.
Ignoring Tang Chen's ugly expression, Yi Chen looked at Tang Hao and asked indifferently, "Any last words?"
Tang Hao spoke with venom written across his face. "You still dare spout such arrogant nonsense in front of my grandfather?!"
"Do you think our Clear Sky Sect relies on a mere flame? Grandfather, I want to take his head!"
At his grandson's words, Tang Chen's cloudy eyes suddenly gleamed, and a sinister, crafty grin spread across his face. "Heh heh... little fellow, you're quite something, protecting yourself with flames like those!"
Yi Chen's pupils contracted at those words. This is bad!
He knew this wretched old man must have another trick up his sleeve!
"Hahaha... but do you really think you've got me at your mercy? Brat, you think far too highly of yourself!" The old man laughed, looking certain of victory.
He had lived for nearly a hundred years, weathering countless battles and trials of life and death. How could a greenhorn like Yi Chen possibly stand against him?
Yi Chen grew wary. Holding nothing back, he immediately unleashed a Soul Skill to attack.
"Phantom Demon Art!"
In an instant, a sinister, oppressive atmosphere spread through their surroundings, as though they had entered hell, making it difficult to breathe.
Yi Chen immediately felt pressure bearing down on him. His soul seemed to sink into boundless darkness as endless negative energy corroded his consciousness, leaving him exhausted. Hideous, terrifying ghosts appeared in his mind, savagely tearing at his head and devouring his soul.
At first, Yi Chen had only felt a little pressure.
But when he saw the old man's gloomy expression, an idea suddenly struck him. He pretended to scream in agony, clutching his head as he crouched on the ground, his face twisted grotesquely in apparent terror.
"Heh heh... you little bastard, you fell for it! You've been struck by my Soul Curse!" Tang Chen laughed wildly, staring at Yi Chen with venom in his eyes.
He had deliberately provoked Yi Chen just now, hoping to use his anger to rob him of his reason.
Sure enough, Yi Chen had taken the bait and fallen victim to his Soul Curse!
"Grandfather, kill him! Avenge me!" Tang Hao roared through gritted teeth.
"Don't worry. I'll avenge you!" Tang Chen grinned viciously and slowly approached Yi Chen, preparing to finish him off himself.
But as he drew closer to Yi Chen, a faint sense that something was wrong rose in his heart.
Isn't this brat's reaction a little exaggerated? But he doesn't look like he's pretending. Tang Chen frowned, studying Yi Chen doubtfully, unable to shake his unease.
"No matter what, he has to die today! Otherwise, I'll be in danger," Tang Chen said icily, making no attempt to conceal his killing intent.
"You want to kill me? Hmph, the ravings of a fool!" Yi Chen crouched on the ground, his face full of "agony" as he struggled desperately!
"You've been struck by my Soul Curse. You've already lost the strength to resist me, and you still dare talk tough?" Tang Chen said disdainfully.
As he spoke, he had already reached Yi Chen. Standing before him, he raised his hand, intending to tear off this hateful brat's head!
Yet at that very moment, the howling abruptly stopped. The man who had seemed unable to withstand the Soul Curse had turned to look at him at some point, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"Really?" Yi Chen sneered. "Are you sure that was your so-called Soul Curse?"
"Huh? What are you saying?" Tang Chen froze, failing to grasp what Yi Chen meant.
Just then, a sudden wave of dizziness and weakness swept over Tang Chen.
This is bad! Tang Chen's heart jolted. He abruptly turned and fled. Though he did not know exactly what had happened, he keenly sensed that something was wrong.
"Trying to run?" Yi Chen sneered and stepped forward. A blue Soul Ring immediately erupted beneath his feet, and he caught up with Tang Chen in an instant. Reaching out, he clamped his hand around Tang Chen's neck and tightened his fingers slightly.
Crack!
The sharp sound of breaking bones reached Tang Chen's ears, sending a jolt through his heart.
Tang Chen's eyes widened in disbelief.
He could not believe that a young man of around twenty had crushed his throat with his bare hand, leaving him without even a chance to resist.
He tried to circulate his soul power, only to discover, to his dismay, that it had completely vanished.
With a thud, Tang Chen fell to the ground, his eyes wide open and his face filled with despair and pain.
Although this was not enough to kill a Peak Douluo like him, it was truly humiliating!
"That's what you were relying on? How foolish. Did you really think I'd stand there like an idiot and wait for you to attack?" Yi Chen stared coldly into Tang Chen's bloodshot eyes, his gaze brimming with killing intent.
What made Tang Chen think he could take him down?
When it came to strength, Yi Chen had long since ceased to fear a level-97 Peak Douluo!
Tang Chen's eyelids trembled. He raised his head with difficulty and stared fixedly at Yi Chen, asking hoarsely, "Who exactly are you?"
Yi Chen shook his head. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that you're going to die today!"
"You... I'm the Clear Sky Sect's supreme elder!" Tang Chen forced out, his eyes filled with terror and pleas for mercy, for he could feel Yi Chen's intent to kill him.
"I know." Yi Chen narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing within them. "Since you're from the Clear Sky Sect, I have all the more reason to kill you!"
"You..." Tang Chen stared in shock, seemingly unable to believe Yi Chen would utter such ruthless words.
Just then, seeing the situation turn dire, Tang Hao suddenly spoke. "Grandfather, that wretched woman! She's the key!"