Looking at the Blood Flame Bird that had approached him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but recall the scene of his brutal beating of it back then. Thinking about it now, he couldn't help but sigh, wishing he had gone a little easier...
The giant bird transformed into a human form, becoming a burly young man with bare arms, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a fierce look. Unlike when Xiao Yan first met him, this guy's cultivation had now reached the Late Origin Return Realm, even surpassing Xiao Yan's cultivation by a level. This was simply too exaggerated.
Zhu Can approached the two men, his gaze lingering briefly on Xiao Yan before he turned to Zhu Hao with a sheepish grin, saying respectfully:
"Hehe, Father."
"Well..."
Upon hearing this title, Xiao Yan's already somewhat wooden expression froze instantly. How could he have imagined that Zhu Can in front of him was actually the son of this powerful figure? Moreover, he himself had given Zhu Can a sound beating. In this situation, wouldn't this be considered like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
Xiao Yan remained silent, but Zhu Hao once again turned his gaze to him, glanced at Zhu Can, and said in a slightly low voice:
"Is this the kid who hit you last time?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Can nodded heavily, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, the ferocity in them unmistakable. This made Xiao Yan even more uneasy, and the Origin Qi within his body involuntarily began to circulate. If Zhu Hao really wanted to do something to him, even if his cultivation was inferior, he absolutely could not sit idly by and wait for death.
"Hey, you human brat, are you afraid I'll take revenge on you on behalf of my son?"
Noticing the unusual state of Xiao Yan's Origin Qi, Zhu Hao smiled disdainfully and said:
"Then you're underestimating my Blood Flame Bird clan too much. It's because he couldn't beat you, not me, that he suffered a humiliation at your hands. So he has to fight back himself. That's the rule of my Blood Flame Bird clan. As long as he's not crippled or dead, you can do whatever you want. I don't care. So, if you want to leave here today, either fight Zhu Can. If you win, you can go wherever you want. If you lose, get out of the Fire Maple Forest. That guy outside seems to be waiting for you."
Zhu Hao said in a low voice, and the casualness in his words made Xiao Yan both amused and exasperated. This kind of laissez-faire attitude was too much. This was, after all, his own son. How could his biological father say such a thing? It was really crazy. No wonder they all had such bad tempers.
However, this is for the best, better than the domineering father taking action himself. What surprised Xiao Yan was how Zhu Can's cultivation had increased from the Late Origin Transformation Realm to the Late Origin Return Realm in just a few months. Such an incredible growth rate was simply too terrifying!
"Hehe, Xiao Yan, you and that wild monkey really got me into trouble back then. If you hadn't coerced me, I wouldn't have suffered that humiliation. But thankfully, I'm back now, finally able to stay in that remote, impoverished place..."
"Um?"
Just as Zhu Can mentioned the Liu Clan, Zhu Hao frowned, immediately cowering. He swallowed back the words he was about to say, glanced fearfully at his father, and then continued:
"However, times have changed. With my current cultivation level, I will definitely be able to trample you under my feet!"
As he finished speaking, a confident smile appeared on Zhu Can's face. After returning to his clan, according to clan rules, he had completed his bloodline awakening, and his cultivation level had surged by a significant amount. He believed that within a few years, he would be able to reach the Origin King Great Realm, and then...
Just thinking about the powerful feeling that would come with it fills Zhu Can with anticipation, but right now...
"Bang!"
Without any fancy moves, just like Zhu Hao's earlier attack, Xiao Yan quickly stepped forward and, while Zhu Can was lost in his reverie, sent him flying with a simple punch.
"Senior just said that if I win, I can leave on my own. May I ask if that's alright now?"
With a polite smile, Xiao Yan turned his gaze back to Zhu Hao and asked respectfully.
"Well..."
However, Xiao Yan's words left the latter speechless.
According to the rules of the Blood Flame Bird clan, Xiao Yan's punch was decisive and powerful, quite beautiful, Zhu Can naturally lost. Xiao Yan could leave on his own. However, logically speaking, Xiao Yan's method could be considered a sneak attack, not a fair fight, and a cheating way to win. But the Blood Flame Bird clan values decisiveness and dominance; a win is a win, and in real battles, they never concern themselves with whether the methods are underhanded or not. Thinking about it this way, Xiao Yan did indeed seem to have won.
"Uh... isn't this too fast...?"
Zhu Hao pursed his lips and muttered something to himself. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Yan about to leave. Just as he was about to stop him, Zhu Can, who had been sent flying by Xiao Yan's punch, suddenly rushed up again with violent force, heading straight for Xiao Yan.
"Again?"
With a furrowed brow, Xiao Yan activated his Strength Elephant Art, turning around and sending the guy flying with a punch once again. He then looked at Zhu Hao, seemingly waiting for his explanation.
"Ahem, since this kid still has the strength to fight, then... I can't stop him, that's the rule... the rule."
Zhu Hao coughed twice, surprised that Xiao Yan was so domineering. With his Middle Origin Return Realm cultivation, he was able to send Zhu Can flying with a single punch. Such combat power was terrifying. Moreover, that kid was too embarrassing. He hadn't even fully recovered from the beginning before being sent flying by Xiao Yan once again.
"That piece of trash..."
Zhu Hao pursed his lips and cursed irritably. Then he saw Zhu Can being blasted away by Xiao Yan once again. He turned around awkwardly, only to hear screams coming from behind him. Even with his temperament, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhu Can.
After a while, when Zhu Can got up again, looking disheveled, Xiao Yan was already exhausted. However, this guy seemed to have inexhaustible energy. Every time Xiao Yan hit him, he would get up again. His perseverance was truly amazing. Helpless, Xiao Yan had no choice but to use the Heavenly Severing Steps to quickly leave the place.
Zhu Hao noticed Xiao Yan's departure immediately, but only after the latter disappeared from sight did he turn around, look up at the southern horizon, bow slightly, then pick up Zhu Can and fly towards a certain place in the mountains.
Meanwhile, deep within the Fire Maple Forest, on the outskirts of a valley, a noble woman dressed in a blue dress was gazing northwards. Her exquisite face was icy cold. This woman was none other than Li Bingrui, who had met Xiao Yan and his group a few times before!