A piercing howl rang out behind Yi Chen. A huge figure suddenly pounced onto the black-clad man's back, opened its jaws, and bit into his shoulder, tearing at it madly.
Humiliated and furious, the black-clad man darted around beside the monster and drove a fist into its abdomen. With a muffled grunt, the monster went flying, while the black-clad man remained completely unharmed.
He howled in fury, black energy coiling around his body, and charged at Yi Chen.
A drop of golden-red blood hovered between Yi Chen's fingers and slowly seeped into the longsword in his hand. A dazzling golden-red sword radiance burst forth and instantly slashed into the black-clad man.
With a clear chime, the black-clad man's body collapsed, countless wisps of black smoke rising from it. His soul, however, had already hidden among the nearby trees.
Yi Chen shouted in a low voice, "You can't escape... stay right here."
Yi Chen flicked a finger. A streak of sword light swept in the direction the black-clad man had fled, shearing the black trees in half, but the man's figure was still nowhere to be seen.
Yi Chen sighed. "What a peculiar power. This affair really isn't as simple as it seems."
The black trees gave faint whimpers in the night, as though they were weeping-or cursing some terrifying thing that had gone away.
Yi Chen turned to look at the ambusher kneeling on the ground, trembling all over. With a broad grin, he asked, "Is he one of your people too?"
The ambusher shuddered and said quietly, "I'm only a slave under his command. You..."
Yi Chen said lightly, "I don't care who you are... tell me why you came here, hmm?"
The ambusher stared blankly at Yi Chen and murmured, "We came to look for someone!"
Yi Chen gave the ambusher a languid glance. Suddenly, a golden flame surged between his fingers and struck the ambusher squarely.
With a wretched scream, the ambusher turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished completely. Yi Chen chuckled coldly. "You, in black-did you think you could get away?"
He beckoned, and the Black Sword on the ground soared into the air, flying toward the black-clad man with a gleam of cold light. The man caught it in his hand.
Amid roiling black mist, a man wearing a black cloak stepped out of the shadows. His whole body was as black as ink, his features impossible to make out. He stared fixedly at Yi Chen and asked hoarsely, "What did you do? What did you do? Who are you?"
Yi Chen smiled. "What do you intend to do? Are you from the Demon Dragon Fortress?"
The black-robed man turned his hand over. A silver-white spear, its surface engraved with exquisite lines and intricate patterns, appeared out of thin air and pressed firmly against Yi Chen's forehead.
Yi Chen casually raised his right hand. A sharp crack rang out, and the silver spear snapped. The black-robed man staggered several steps, nearly falling flat on his backside.
He cried out in shock, "Who exactly are you? Your strength has definitely reached the true Peak Douluo realm. Damn it, who are you?"
Smiling, Yi Chen gave his body a shake. A sinister wind immediately swept through the entire valley. All the surrounding vegetation withered, and a thick layer of ash blanketed the soil.
The black-robed man roared hoarsely, "We are Fallen Ones from the Demon Dragon Fortress, Fallen Ones sent by the Lord of the Fallen Ones to destroy your homeland... damned human, you will pay for your stupidity..."
Before he could finish, Yi Chen's left fist slammed into his cheek. His body twisted violently as Yi Chen smashed him three feet into the ground. Then thin strands of black energy seeped out of him.
Yi Chen slowly reined in the aura spilling from his body. He straightened, casually dusted off his trouser legs, and said with a cheerful laugh, "The Demon Dragon Fortress, the Fallen Ones... this world really does hold plenty of secrets!"
Black mist roiled, and the black-robed man silently erased every trace of himself. He said coldly, "You will never be able to uncover any information about me."
Yi Chen gently stroked the ring on his hand. After a few soft chuckles, he said, "I don't need to uncover any information, because..."
Yi Chen stepped forward. The ground shattered with a boom, and countless tiny stones rose into the air amid billowing dust. He had already turned into a streak of black light and charged straight into the black mist.
The black mist churned violently several times before the black-robed man leaped out in a sorry state. Horrified beyond measure, he shouted, "Impossible! How did you find me? How could you possibly find me? Who on earth are you?"
An eerie smile spread across Yi Chen's face. In a low, icy voice, he said, "Fallen One, you're fast, but your power is just a little too weak. If you were strong enough, perhaps you could make me somewhat wary. But you are far too weak."
The black-robed man roared in fury, "Insolent fool! Damned human, do you know what you're doing? I'm an expert among the Fallen Ones! I can kill you... you will pay for this..."
Yi Chen laughed, his smile growing ever brighter. Suddenly, his fingers pressed against the black-robed man's head.
With a pop, the black-robed man's head simply exploded. His soul slipped joyfully out of its shell and sped into the distance.
Yi Chen muttered under his breath, "The souls of Fallen Ones are our finest nourishment."
Then a soft wash of moonlight enveloped his body. Yi Chen lightly stamped his foot and rose into the air, floating unsupported as he pursued the black-robed man step by step in the direction he had vanished.
"You're far too weak. It takes hardly any effort for me to know where you are. As for you... hmm, you don't think I can't find the Demon Dragon Fortress, do you?"
A golden pillar of light shot skyward from the ring, straight toward the heavens, while a black ripple rapidly spread through the area illuminated by its glow.
A vast, overwhelming pressure descended from the sky. A deep yet mighty dragon's roar rang out overhead, followed by endless dark clouds gathering together. Black thunderbolts wheeled and danced among the clouds, and a murderous air spread everywhere.
The black-robed man howled madly. A dense black vortex condensed into a long saber and slashed toward Yi Chen.
Smiling, Yi Chen casually waved his left hand. A streak of black flame shot from his wrist, transformed into a black rune, and struck the black vortex. When the two powerful energies collided, the black vortex collapsed, while the black flame plunged unhindered into the space between the black-robed man's brows.
Yi Chen said gently, "Do you know? Your body has already rotted away, so I can absorb your remaining power to replenish what I've spent. You can die in peace."
The black-robed man let out hysterical screams. His muscles swelled, and his bones creaked. He struggled madly, like a toad pinned down with nails, his body bloating more and more. At last, his body suddenly exploded, turning into ash that drifted away on the wind.
Yi Chen closed his eyes, sensing that his power had increased a little-only by a tiny thread, but that was enough.