Chapter 794 - 133: First Battle Against the True Monarch

True Monarch Yanze’s expression turned solemn the moment he saw the battlefield.

The Saintess of Cangyuan lay dead and naked on the icefield; Murong Yan was being attacked by six puppets, gravely injured; and beside them stood Li Ji’an, the one he’d been longing for.

He had come here initially for the Tier Three Spirit Flame on Li Ji’an, confident that as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, subduing a late-stage Golden Core cultivator would be easy, yet he hadn’t expected to witness such a brutal scene.

Both the Saintess of Cangyuan and Murong Yan were merely late-stage Golden Core cultivators, but their esteemed roots from Cangyuan Holy Land and the Murong clan placed them higher in status than him, a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Blackze Pond.

Now with the Saintess of Cangyuan dead and Murong Yan in peril, it took him by surprise.

However, sensing the intense reaction from the Tier Four Spirit Flame within Li Ji’an, he slightly quelled the unease in his heart.

What delighted him more was Li Ji’an holding the Cyan Wood Magic Sword, rich in spiritual qi—clearly, a high-grade magical treasure, exceeding even his own second-grade lifebound magical treasure.

"True Monarch Yanze, save me!" Murong Yan saw True Monarch Yanze like a drowning person seeing a life-saving straw, shouting frantically.

True Monarch Yanze nodded, thinking that saving the Young Master of the Murong clan might offer paths in the future.

Besides, he was not about to let Li Ji’an leave here either.

"Young friend, hand over your spirit flame and magic treasure, and this True Monarch may spare your life," True Monarch Yanze did not hesitate further, releasing the imposing aura of his Nascent Soul, crushing towards Li Ji’an.

This pressure felt like a mountain crushing down, suffocating Li Ji’an, even his Tier Three late-stage physique trembled slightly.

Li Ji’an’s face slightly changed, the power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch was indeed formidable.

Yet, having sensed the Cyan Wood Magic Sword’s mighty power, he wasn’t too intimidated.

The most crucial thing was, given the current situation, he couldn’t choose to leave unless absolutely necessary.

Facing True Monarch Yanze’s intimidation, Li Ji’an’s Floating Light Fan spread open again, ready for any situation.

"Hmph, refusing wine and drinking punishment wine instead!" Seeing Li Ji’an dare to remain cautious, a flash of anger crossed True Monarch Yanze’s eyes, and he casually waved his right hand.

With an indifferent expression, he flicked his fingers casually.

The black spiritual light entwining his fingertips suddenly surged, transforming into a several-zhang-long black finger shadow, accompanied by a piercing screech tearing through space, bearing down on Li Ji’an.

His movements lacked any hint of exertion, as if casually swatting a mosquito; as the black finger shadow swept by, space rippled in waves, the power horrifying to behold.

A sneer curled his lips, his gaze icy cold, as he looked at Li Ji’an like assessing a reckless ant.

Li Ji’an’s pupils shrank slightly, instantly sensing the terror of the strike, not daring to underestimate it as the black finger shadow was about to touch him, he moved abruptly.

Without confronting the finger shadow head-on, he moved his heart, as nine golden chains suddenly flew out from his sleeve, like nine lively golden snakes, bypassing the finger shadow, directly headed towards Murong Yan besieged by the puppets.

"Nine Dragon Lock, bind!"

Murong Yan, already severely injured, was nearly out of strength to fend off the puppets; facing the sudden Nine Dragon Lock, he had no time to react before being tightly bound by the chains, unable to move.

Gugu, who had been coordinating with the puppets to attack Murong Yan, immediately restrained its aura upon seeing this, standing guard to prevent any escape.

Murong Yan’s eyes widened in despair, struggling frantically, his body trembling wildly in fear.

With Murong Yan dealt with, Li Ji’an’s Floating Light Fan spread open again, its surface flashing light and shadows, as he waved his hand towards the six puppets and whispered: "Return to the array!"

The six puppets that were attacking Murong Yan’s remains instantly shifted direction, the blood-red chains weaving into an array, blocking in front of Li Ji’an, their blade light cold, forming a solid defense barrier.

"Boom!" The black finger shadow heavily struck the blood-red chains of the puppet array, emitting a deafening sound.

The blood-red chains shook violently, flickering with red light, several puppets were even jolted back, slight cracks appearing on their surfaces.

But the power of this strike was ultimately entirely blocked by the puppet array.

True Monarch Yanze’s brows furrowed slightly, the contempt in his eyes faded a bit, showing some surprise: "There’s some measure to this, Tier Three puppets could actually withstand my strike."

The surprise was fleeting, True Monarch Yanze’s gaze remained disdainful, his fingers subtly twisting, evidently not taking this puppet array and Li Ji’an seriously.

Li Ji’an seized the gap when the puppets blocked the attack, lowering his gaze slightly, his fingers subtly forming seals, magical power secretly circulating around him, eyes fixed on True Monarch Yanze, waiting for an opening.

"Ultimately just Tier Three puppets, attempting to block me?" True Monarch Yanze snorted coldly, raising his right hand again, this time his fingertips manifested thick black flames—precisely the companion shadow flame of the Tier Four gilded spirit flame nurtured in his Dantian.

If you won’t yield, then I’ll break your puppets first!

As his words fell, True Monarch Yanze flicked his finger, black shadow flames transforming into dozens of fire blades, shooting towards the puppet array like a torrential storm.

The fire blades, though thin, carried a chilling aura, causing Li Ji’an’s eyes to suddenly focus—this shadow flame could burn Divine Souls, once contaminated, the puppets’ spiritual cores would be destroyed.

Li Ji’an’s eyes sharpened, gently waving the Floating Light Fan in his hand.

As light and shadows flowed across the fan’s surface, an invisible spatial ripple spread out, those black fire blades shooting towards the puppet array suddenly veered off course, as though guided by an invisible hand, directly flying toward Murong Yan bound by the Nine Dragon Lock.

"No!" True Monarch Yanze’s face suddenly changed.

His expression changed drastically, eyes flashing with a hint of surprise, subconsciously trying to retract the fire blades, but it was already a step too late.