Chapter 251: The Oriole’s Gain

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: The Oriole’s Gain

Han Yuan had just obtained the Celestial Fire Illusion Body and hadn’t even had a chance to celebrate before the person in the black robe and cloak snatched it away, sending him into a furious rage.

"You?!"

The next moment, Han Yuan’s gaze fixed on Yi Xiaoyao. He was momentarily stunned when he saw the familiar black robe and cloak, then his eyes narrowed as he spoke in a sinister tone.

"Excellent. I was just looking to kill you, and you delivered yourself right to my doorstep. It seems my luck is quite good today. I’ve gotten everything I want, and now the man I want to kill has come to offer up his life."

While Han Yuan spoke, Yi Xiaoyao opened the Jade Slip in his hand. He glanced over it, and after confirming that it did indeed contain the Celestial Fire Illusion Body, he smiled in satisfaction.

"Young Master Han, thank you for the Celestial Tier Spiritual Skill. But next, I’ll be taking the Secret Treasure Map and the Nirvana Holy Fruit you’re carrying. And your life."

Yi Xiaoyao spoke casually as he tucked the Celestial Fire Illusion Body into his Storage Pouch.

Han Yuan’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he watched Yi Xiaoyao’s actions, his pale face turning grim. When he then heard Yi Xiaoyao mention the Nirvana Holy Fruit, he instantly understood everything.

"So, you’ve been following me. For the Secret Treasure Map, I presume."

Han Yuan’s eyes glinted as he sneered. "For you to place so much importance on it, it must be quite the treasure. In that case, I’ll have to study it carefully myself. Who knows, I might actually find a Secret Collection."

"You won’t get the chance," Yi Xiaoyao sneered, his Spiritual Power erupting as he drew his sword.

Sensing the aura of Yi Xiaoyao’s Cultivation, Han Yuan burst into derisive laughter.

"Fifth Realm of the Nascent Soul? With such a paltry Cultivation, you dare try to steal from me? You have the audacity to make such a wild claim about taking my life!"

The moment he finished speaking, Han Yuan unleashed the power of his Ninth Realm Nascent Soul Cultivation. An incomparably sinister, cold, and bloody aura seeped out, spreading a viscous mist of blood as a crimson whip shot forth like a living creature.

At the same time, a brilliant light flashed from Yi Xiaoyao’s sword as he too made his move.

His silver longsword was coated in a layer of Dark Spiritual Power. As it tore through the air, it unleashed a wave of sharp, black Sword Qi that slashed viciously down toward Han Yuan.

The longsword and the Blood Whip clashed heavily. Sparks flew, and after a series of metallic clangs, the crimson whip, far from being shattered by the Sword Qi, coiled tightly around the blade, wrapping it again and again.

Even when the Sword Qi managed to sever the Blood Whip, it would instantly heal in the next moment.

The two stood dozens of yards apart, the Blood Whip tugging relentlessly at Yi Xiaoyao’s sword from a distance, locking them in a stalemate.

’This guy... what a bizarre power.’

Yi Xiaoyao gripped his longsword, resisting the immense force pulling from the Blood Whip. He could feel an incomparably sinister and cold power being transmitted through his blade.

As Han Yuan yanked hard on the Blood Whip, he grinned. "Brat, I’m sure you just saw how Lin Yanyu of the Feiyan Alliance died, didn’t you? Next, you’re going to die the exact same way."

The next moment, the Blood Whip once again transformed into a Blood Snake and began to slither rapidly along Yi Xiaoyao’s sword toward his arm.

Yi Xiaoyao’s brow furrowed. He had indeed arrived just in time to witness the moment Han Yuan killed Lin Yanyu.

He glanced at Lin Yanyu’s body on the ground, already drained of all blood, then looked at the Blood Snake about to crawl onto his arm. A cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Disgusting creature!"

With a shout, a flicker of Flame ignited in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes. In an instant, raging fire erupted from his arm, engulfing his entire body and his sword.

WHOOSH!

The moment the terrifying Flame appeared, the Blood Snake coiled around the sword began to shrivel and shrink violently.

"What?!"

Han Yuan’s expression changed, and he scrambled to retract the Blood Whip.

But in the next instant, the Flame on Yi Xiaoyao’s body seemed to possess a will of its own, surging directly up the Blood Whip. Immediately after, a Flaming Sword Aura, like molten rock, slashed out.

SWISH!

The Blood Whip, which had been unfazed by the Destructive Sword Qi, was sliced clean in two by this Flaming Sword Aura.

"What is this Flame? It actually severed my Undying Blood Whip!?"

A panicked cry escaped Han Yuan’s lips. He stared in disbelief at the flame-shrouded Yi Xiaoyao. As he felt the Flame Power radiating from him, the deep-seated dread he had felt since the auction house became terrifyingly clear.

The Cold Blood Yin Bone Technique that Han Yuan practiced followed a path of extreme yin and cold. It was naturally suppressed by certain ultimate Flame Powers. This was precisely why he had felt such a visceral revulsion toward Yi Xiaoyao at the auction house.

And those so-called "ultimate" Flame Powers were nothing compared to Yi Xiaoyao’s Heaven and Earth Fire Essence.

Now, Han Yuan’s Cold Blood Yin Bone Technique, faced with Yi Xiaoyao and his Heaven and Earth Fire Essence, was like a mouse before a cat—completely and utterly suppressed.

"You don’t need to know what this Flame is. All you need to know is that you are about to die by my hand."

Yi Xiaoyao grinned. Then, like a burning meteor, he shot toward Han Yuan, wreathed in an astonishing Sword Aura.

A venomous look twisted Han Yuan’s face as he sneered, "So what if you have a powerful Flame? Your Cultivation is still only at the Fifth Realm of the Nascent Soul. Killing you will be as easy as turning over my hand!"

Yi Xiaoyao just sneered, ignoring the remark.

’Everyone who underestimated my Cultivation is already dead,’ he thought. ’This guy will be no exception.’

The two figures clashed in a blur, their exchange punctuated by thunderous booms. On one side was scorching Flame; on the other, an arctic blood mist.

Wherever the Flame passed, the sinister blood mist dissipated without a shred of resistance.

With his normal strength, Yi Xiaoyao was more than capable of fighting an expert at the Ninth Realm of the Nascent Soul. However, against an opponent like Han Yuan with his bizarre Cultivation Technique, he might have been in for a difficult fight.

But now, with the extreme advantage granted by his Attribute, he crushed his opponent in just a few moves.

’His Cultivation is clearly lower than mine,’ Han Yuan thought, his face paling. ’How can he be so powerful?’

In the heat of battle, Han Yuan finally felt the true extent of Yi Xiaoyao’s power, and his face turned deathly pale.

"I can give you the Nirvana Holy Fruit and that fragmented map! How about we call it even? If you kill me, my Cold Blood Alliance will never let you go!"

"Hmph! Even if you die, how would the Cold Blood Alliance ever know I was the one who killed you?"

Yi Xiaoyao snorted, his assault not slowing in the slightest. Every strike was a killing blow.

Han Yuan’s expression changed. How familiar those words sounded. They were the exact same words he had spoken to Lin Yanyu before killing her, now thrown right back in his face by Yi Xiaoyao.

The next moment, a Sword Aura flashed. The gleaming blade pierced straight through Han Yuan’s throat, and the two flickering figures came to an abrupt halt.

"Besides, if I kill you, everything you have becomes mine. Why on earth would I call it even?"

Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly as he gazed into Han Yuan’s terrified and despairing eyes.

With that said, he yanked his sword free. A mist of blood sprayed from Han Yuan’s neck as his body collapsed limply to the ground.

Yi Xiaoyao raised a hand, and the man’s Storage Pouch flew into his grasp. After a quick inspection of its contents, he departed in satisfaction.

On the ravaged ground, all that remained was the desiccated corpse of Lin Yanyu and the body of Han Yuan, his eyes wide in death.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

The two corpses were the mantis and the cicada, while the oriole that ultimately profited had already flown off with its bountiful prize, its destination unknown.

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