Showing Power

Cheng Shaofeng and Nuotao each made their intentions clear with their words. Yang Kai was taken aback, realizing how ruthless these two were, willing to resort to murder over a mere dispute.

While he remained vigilant, Hu Mei'er leaned in and whispered urgently, "Yang Kai, if you don't want to die, listen to me. Nuotao was already at the fifth level of the Open Origin Realm half a month ago. His strength far surpasses Cheng Shaofeng's, and now there are two of them. You stand no chance against them."

"Do you have a plan to deal with him?" Yang Kai asked, puzzled.

"I can't deal with him, but they definitely won't dare to kill me. As long as you meet my demands, I will ensure your safety."

Given Hu Mei'er's status, if she insisted on protecting Yang Kai, Cheng Shaofeng and Nuotao would have to give her face, at most just giving Yang Kai a beating to vent their frustrations.

"No need," Yang Kai replied, shaking his head slowly.

"You'd rather die?" Hu Mei'er looked at Yang Kai as if he were insane, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sorry, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Besides, whether I live or die will be decided by the battle," Yang Kai said calmly, his gaze fixed on the two men.

Upon hearing this, Hu Mei'er's expression changed rapidly. After a moment of cold laughter and gritting her teeth in anger, she said, "If that's the case, take care of yourself!"

With that, she stepped back several paces, adopting a passive stance.

Cheng Shaofeng laughed heartily. "Sister Mei'er, you're so considerate. I knew you wouldn't make things difficult for me."

Hu Mei'er forced a thin, unpleasant smile, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Nuotao cackled and, with a scrutinizing glance at Yang Kai, casually clasped his hands behind his back, shaking his head slowly. "You're Yang Kai, right? Don't blame me when you end up in the underworld; blame yourself for meddling. Will you end it yourself, or should I take action?"

His tone was exceedingly arrogant. Yang Kai smiled faintly and replied, "If you want my life, come and take it yourself!"

As he spoke, he subtly activated the True Sun Sutra.

However, as soon as he did, Yang Kai felt an intense, scorching heat searing through his chest, coursing through his meridians with immense yang energy. The searing pain was so acute that it felt as though his chest was emitting smoke, the flesh visibly burning.

Yang Kai was startled, but before he could react, the pain in his meridians began to subside, yet the massive yang energy continued to flow into them.

In mere moments, his meridians were filled to capacity with True Sun Yuan Qi, swelling painfully.

Drip… A drop of yang liquid formed in his dantian, its sound echoing as if from the depths of his soul.

Moments later, another faint drip echoed.

In just three breaths, two drops of yang liquid were formed, but one mysteriously vanished shortly after its creation.

Only then did the fierce yang energy subside.

The Sun Flame Stone! Yang Kai suddenly realized that the stone, which he had exchanged for a small return elixir, now showed no trace of its former energy. It had been completely absorbed in such a short time.

The result was the formation of two drops of yang liquid. Although one had vanished, and including the original drop in his dantian, there were still two remaining.

The absorption rate was alarmingly fast—nearly instantaneous, leaving him no time to react.

Cheng Shaofeng and Nuotao observed the changes in Yang Kai with keen interest. While they were perplexed by the abnormality in Yang Kai's chest, Nuotao, experienced in battle, signaled, "Shidi Cheng, come with me. Delays may cause complications."

"Understood." Cheng Shaofeng, eager for Yang Kai's swift demise, immediately complied, brandishing his long sword with a fierce expression.

The two advanced from opposite sides with the swiftness of a gale, closing in on Yang Kai in the blink of an eye.

Nuotao, being stronger, acted more quickly. His fist, charged with yuan qi, was hurled towards Yang Kai's face.

At the fifth level of the Open Origin Realm, a warrior's combat prowess was formidable.

Nuotao's punch carried a faint whistling sound, indicating the use of a martial skill.

Yang Kai did not dodge, meeting the blow with a punch of his own.

With a resounding "thud," Yang Kai's wrist crackled, his clenched fist feeling as if sliced by countless blades, causing numerous wounds to appear instantly. He staggered backward.

Nuotao, meanwhile, yelped in surprise. His fist felt as though it had struck a searing hot object, and he shouted, "Such scorching yuan qi!"

Despite his fifth level of Open Origin Realm strength, he could not withstand the intrusion of a Tempering Body Realm warrior's yuan qi, which was quite extraordinary.

The two combatants retreated after their clash.

Cheng Shaofeng, driven by a vengeful fury, lunged forward with his sword, determined to slay Yang Kai on the spot.

After receiving Nuotao's punch, Yang Kai's blood surged once more, a warm sensation spreading through his bones. This warmth felt boundless, his eyes gradually turning red, and his previously calm expression became frenzied and savage.

As Cheng Shaofeng's sword approached, Yang Kai reached out with one hand.

Cheng Shaofeng sneered, "Having suffered once before, do you think I would fall for the same trick again?"

As he spoke, the sword's trajectory changed from a thrust to a sweeping cut, aimed at severing Yang Kai's fingers. Yang Kai's reaction was swift; he adapted his grasp from a catch to a hold.

With a "swoosh," the long sword cut Yang Kai's finger. Cheng Shaofeng's face lit up with delight. Hu Mei'er, covering her mouth, appeared conflicted but, recalling Yang Kai's treatment of her, felt he deserved severe punishment.

"How is this possible?" Cheng Shaofeng exclaimed, seeing that his sword had not severed Yang Kai's finger. This was a sharp weapon, and a Tempering Body Realm warrior's flesh should not withstand such a strike. Even someone of the Open Origin Realm would have been unable to endure this blow intact.

Yang Kai grinned menacingly, exposing a row of white teeth. Cheng Shaofeng, unsettled by Yang Kai's bloodshot eyes, hastily retreated, shouting, "Senior Brother Nuotao, save me!"

Before his plea could finish, Yang Kai had already advanced, channeling a drop of yang liquid from his dantian into his fingertip.

With a single jab, he struck Cheng Shaofeng's forehead.

Cheng Shaofeng's mouth fell open, his breathing abruptly halting as he collapsed backward. On his forehead was a hole the size of a chopstick, piercing through his entire head. The hole was smooth and clean, with no blood flowing out. Cheng Shaofeng's eyes were wide open, frozen in a deathly stare.

"Ah!" Two exclamations of shock were heard simultaneously—those of Nuotao and Hu Mei'er.