Duan Deming and Yang Zhen refined the Companion Heavenly Fire in different ways.
Yang Zhen refined the three Companion Heavenly Fire into his natal Spirit Treasure, while Duan Deming's refinement seemed more like that into a demon spirit.
This direction of refining demonic spirits was something Yang Zhen hadn't considered.
No, it shouldn't be said that I didn't expect it, but rather that refining such a demonic spirit is simply too cruel.
Yang Zhen could almost imagine the immense pain the Nine-Tailed Fox endured when Duan Deming refined Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox. The refining process was almost like having its soul torn out; one could only imagine how cruel and painful it was.
"No wonder the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox is so bloodthirsty and violent. Damn it, your method of refining is practically no different from that of Evil Cultivator."
Yang Zhen clicked his tongue in amazement, his face full of disdain.
Duan Deming laughed heartily, and in a flash, he arrived on the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox. With a casual wave of his hand, a sinister wave of fire attached itself to the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox's vortex cannonballs.
"Boy, what right do you have to talk about Evil Cultivator Devil Cultivator in front of me? I've merely refined a beast, yet you kill at the drop of a hat. To me, you..."
"Fart!"
Yang Zhen suddenly shouted angrily, startling everyone around him.
"All things in heaven and earth are equal. You keep calling the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox a beast, but little do you know that in the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes, humans are nothing more than beasts."
Upon hearing Yang Zhen's words, everyone present was stunned, and then their faces revealed expressions of fury.
"This is utterly absurd and outrageous!"
"What utter nonsense is that? Isn't he calling himself a beast?"
"Heretical! Utterly heretical! Which sect could possibly produce such a heretical disciple?"
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, their faces filled with anger. However, before they could say anything else, the vortex of energy unleashed by the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox had already reached Yang Zhen's side.
A sinister look appeared on Duan Deming's face. He leaped backward, roared, and unleashed a Heavenly Fire that engulfed Yang Zhen.
Rumble!
A terrifying shockwave erupted, shattering the surrounding space and causing chaotic void currents to surge about. The sky and earth changed color, as if they had been set ablaze.
The scene was completely silent. Everyone stared in disbelief at the violent shockwave that erupted from the scene, their faces filled with absurdity.
"He's dead?"
"I thought Yang Zhen was capable of doing something earth-shattering, but it turns out he's just all show and no substance."
"What do you mean that in the eyes of the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox, human cultivators are nothing but beasts? Such a statement is utterly heretical. Such a cultivator is better off dead; living is just a disgrace to human cultivators."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and turned their gazes to Han Yan'er was suspended in mid-air.
A terrifying shockwave erupted, and the surrounding space had not yet recovered. However, even if Yang Zhen was not directly killed by the explosion, he would be blasted into the void turbulence and trapped inside with no chance of getting out.
At this moment, everyone's attention had shifted from the erupting flames to Han Yan'er.
To everyone's surprise, Yang Zhen's death did not seem to attract Han Yan'er's attention, or rather, Han Yan'er did not care whether Yang Zhen was dead or not. She simply scattered some array plates in the air above the ice coffin.
At the Qianyang Palace, Gan Bu stared blankly at Han Yan'er on the ice coffin, then sighed with a strange expression, saying, "I thought the two were deeply in love, but it seems Yang Zhen is rather pitiful. He died just like that, and his dao companion didn't even react?"
The crowd sighed in dismay, but most were gloating.
Que Ling stood to the side, looking stunned, somewhat unable to believe what was happening before her eyes.
Yang Zhen really died just like that?
Even if they don't die, being trapped in the void turbulence will eventually lead to their demise.
What Que Ling found even more unacceptable was that Han Yan'er remained completely indifferent, even expressionless. She only glanced at everyone occasionally, seemingly true to everyone's assumption that she didn't care about Yang Zhen's life or death.
This... seems a bit beyond my expectations.
As she pondered, a look of horror appeared on Que Ling's face, and she suddenly turned her gaze to the still raging Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox.
When everyone attacked Yang Zhen, Han Yan'er rushed forward almost without hesitation. She remained fearless in the face of so many powerful figures. Now that Yang Zhen is dead, how could she possibly have no reaction at all?
There is only one possibility: Yang Zhen is not dead.
But... how is that possible?
Just as Que Ling was filled with doubt and uncertainty, Yang Zhen's lazy voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire space.
"Old man, our battle isn't over yet, and you're already staring at Sage of Saunter woman? Isn't that a bit too much?"
"What?"
Duan Deming's expression changed, and he looked up at the sky in horror.
The others were also taken aback, staring in disbelief at Yang Zhen slowly emerging from the flames.
Playing with fire?
Yang Zhen grinned. His most refined skill now was playing with fire. Duan Deming's attempt to play with fire in front of him was like showing off his axe skills in front of Guan Yu, and the worst part was that he did it in a rather clumsy and awkward way.
Seeing Yang Zhen emerge unscathed from the Heavenly Fire flames and chaotic void, with three small flames of different colors flickering around him, Duan Deming exclaimed in surprise, "Impossible! How could you be unharmed?"
Yes, how could they possibly be unharmed?
Everyone present stared at Yang Zhen with utter bewilderment.
In this situation, let alone everyone present, even if everyone present went in together, there would be absolutely no chance of survival.
But Yang Zhen walked out alive and well.
Not only did he come out, but the smile on his face became even more sinister.
Seeing the absurd expression on Duan Deming's face, Yang Zhen laughed loudly and said, "I've already told you, your refining methods are too cruel, and your intentions are wicked and against the natural order. How could the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox be willing to be refined alive like this?"
Upon hearing this, the group of people around looked at each other in bewilderment, completely clueless about what Yang Zhen was talking about.
Duan Deming sneered, staring intently at Yang Zhen, and said, "Nonsense, utter nonsense! I refined the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox, and its soul has long since lost all intelligence. How could it possibly be unwilling?"
"What's with that 'Sage of Saunter' book?" Yang Zhen grinned, and before Duan Deming could speak, he waved his hand, and a ball of flame suddenly burst forth from his palm.
Upon seeing the flame, Duan Deming's expression changed drastically. He roared angrily, his face turning red, but he could no longer conjure the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox.
Of course, he couldn't conjure up the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox, because the Azure Flame Nine-Tailed Fox was currently in Yang Zhen's hands.
Seeing Duan Deming's red-faced and visibly angry expression, Yang Zhen grinned and said, "Watch closely now, this is the correct way to play with fire!"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the three flames beside Yang Zhen suddenly converged together.
" Companion Heavenly Fire?" Duan Deming's face showed a look of horror, and he shouted, "Damn it, what do you think you're doing? How can three Companion Heavenly Fire be fused together? Do you want to destroy the Savage Wilderness Ancient Land?"