Chapter 266: Yuan Lie’s Miscalculation

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Yuan Lie’s Miscalculation

Hearing Yi Xiaoyao’s words, a chill passed over Leng Yan’s pale face. But before she could speak, she felt the aura of a Third Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert rapidly approaching them.

"What should we do? Should we retreat now?"

A trace of panic was in Leng Yan’s voice. If they fled, not only might they fail to escape, but all of her subordinates who couldn’t keep up would surely be lost.

She didn’t make the decision herself, instead looking to Yi Xiaoyao.

Throughout their campaign of clearing out the smaller alliances affiliated with the Cold Blood Alliance, Leng Yan had come to fully witness Yi Xiaoyao’s power.

Enemies at the First Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation were nothing before Yi Xiaoyao. The Second Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert from the Double Blade Alliance had also been killed by him. It was obvious his strength far surpassed her own.

Therefore, without realizing it, Leng Yan had begun to see Yi Xiaoyao as her pillar of support and had even developed a sense of dependence on him.

Hearing Leng Yan’s panicked question, Yi Xiaoyao just smiled faintly.

"There’s no need. A Third Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert is indeed a bit troublesome, but not enough to make us flee in disgrace."

For some reason, Yi Xiaoyao’s voice gave Leng Yan a sense of security, and the panic in her heart subsided.

But Leng Yan still asked with some doubt, "You can handle a Third Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert?"

"It shouldn’t be a problem."

Yi Xiaoyao still had a faint smile playing on his lips.

Perhaps before, facing a Third Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert would have been a major headache. But just today, Yi Xiaoyao had broken through to the Sixth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. Activating the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique would boost his cultivation to the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, making it entirely possible for him to fight an expert at the Third Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation.

A strange light once again flickered in the beautiful eyes Leng Yan fixed on Yi Xiaoyao.

Ever since she met Yi Xiaoyao, she had witnessed him accomplish many things she had previously thought impossible. Thus, hearing him speak with such confidence now, she found herself filled with a sense of unconditional trust.

Just then, a large group of experts flew through the air above the Underground Palace.

The man leading them, a burly figure with brown hair, was none other than the Alliance Leader of the Earth Return Alliance, Di Zhuang.

"Hmph! I was wondering who it was. So, it’s people from the Primordial Evil Alliance!"

Di Zhuang recognized Leng Yan at a glance. After all, the Primordial Evil Alliance was ranked eleventh among the major alliances, so its few Squad Leaders were generally well-known.

"You of the Primordial Evil Alliance, since you’ve already wiped out the Cold Blood Alliance, why must you hunt down and exterminate our Earth Return Alliance as well! But with just you lot, you think you can touch my Earth Return Alliance? You’re gravely underestimating me, Di Zhuang! Not a single one of you will leave this place alive today!"

Under normal circumstances, Di Zhuang’s thinking was correct. A single First Realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert, along with some Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, would have absolutely no chance of destroying his Earth Return Alliance.

But Di Zhuang had overlooked the most critical variable: Yi Xiaoyao, standing right beside Leng Yan.

This was understandable, though. With his Sixth-Layer Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, he was weaker than even the captains behind Leng Yan. How could he possibly attract Di Zhuang’s attention?

But just then, the overlooked Yi Xiaoyao spoke with a cold laugh, "Oh? I’d like to see just how you plan to keep us here."

Hearing this, Di Zhuang’s gaze swept over. He saw Yi Xiaoyao standing at the very front, with even Leng Yan positioned behind him, and figured he must be someone of some status.

But what good was status? In a situation like this, only strength mattered.

"A mere Sixth-Layer Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, what right do you have to speak to me? Scram!" Di Zhuang glared at Yi Xiaoyao and roared.

"Hmph! You’ll find out soon enough whether I have the right." Yi Xiaoyao gave a cold smile, then drew his sword as the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique activated.

"Because whether *you* have the right to live will be decided by me!"

With that declaration, Yi Xiaoyao shot into the air, unleashing an astonishing black Sword Aura. Two dragons of fire coiled around the aura as it roared directly toward Di Zhuang.

Seeing Yi Xiaoyao attack him, Di Zhuang just smiled contemptuously and casually flicked out a wave of Spiritual Power.

In his eyes, the attack of a mere Nascent Soul Realm cultivator could be dispersed with a casual wave, killing the man in the process.

But the next moment, when Di Zhuang felt the power contained within the sword light descending upon him, his expression changed drastically. It was already too late to mount a better defense.

The fiery dragon Sword Aura that Yi Xiaoyao had unleashed instantly crushed Di Zhuang’s wave of Spiritual Power and continued down toward his head.

"What!?" Di Zhuang cried out in alarm. In his panic, he threw his right arm up in front of him, unleashing a torrent of earthy-yellow Spiritual Power to form a massive earthen shield.

CRACK!

With a deep shattering sound, the sword light sliced through the earthen shield, leaving a Sword Mark in its wake. As the shield was cleaved in two, Di Zhuang’s right arm, which had formed it, was sent flying amidst a spray of blood.

In the next instant, the pursuing dragons of fire engulfed the now one-armed Di Zhuang in flames, blasting him away.

Because of Di Zhuang’s underestimation, Yi Xiaoyao had severed his arm and sent him flying in a single move.

The experts of the Earth Return Alliance were all aghast. A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator they hadn’t paid any mind to had actually managed to severely injure their Alliance Leader!

Yi Xiaoyao grinned, his sword flashing once more as his figure turned into an Illusion and shot toward Di Zhuang again.

"Leng Yan, help me tie him down."

Leng Yan, whose mouth was still slightly agape from the shock of the previous scene, immediately snapped back to her senses at Yi Xiaoyao’s words and acknowledged his request.

The morale of the subordinates behind Leng Yan also soared. Led by their respective captains, they charged toward the members of the Earth Return Alliance.

A series of astonishing roars erupted from within the massive Underground Palace.

Meanwhile, several figures stood in the sky high above the Earth Return Alliance’s territory.

The man in the lead was Yuan Lie. Beside him stood a gaunt old man.

"Has it already started?"

Yuan Lie watched the series of roars coming from the entrance to the Underground Palace below, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I can just imagine the look on Yi Xiaoyao’s face when he realizes he’s been tricked," Yuan Lie said with a sinister laugh.

Behind him, Black Crow chuckled darkly. "Squad Leader, that Yi Xiaoyao is as good as dead."

"I’m well aware of that." Yuan Lie’s cold laugh was filled with confidence. He then sighed softly. "I just feel a little bad for Leng Yan. She’ll have to suffer a bit and get a good scare this time."

"Women can’t be spoiled. The Young Alliance Leader spoiled that girl rotten before," the gaunt old man beside Yuan Lie said in a grating, hoarse voice.

Yuan Lie looked at the gaunt old man and said, "Right Protector, I am aware of the private grudge between you and the Left Protector. However, this time, I must ask you to set aside your personal grievances for now and be sure to step in and save Leng Yan when the time comes."

This gaunt old man was one of the two Protectors of the Primordial Evil Alliance, possessing a cultivation at the Fourth Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation. If he took action, he could certainly save Leng Yan’s life from the Earth Return Alliance.

However, this man held a significant personal grudge against Leng Yan’s father, the Left Protector, which was why Yuan Lie felt the need to give him a reminder.

"Young Alliance Leader, you need not worry. With me here, that girl will be fine," the gaunt old man promised in his hoarse voice.

Only then did Yuan Lie nod in reassurance. Just then, plumes of sand and shattered rock, hundreds of feet high, suddenly erupted from the ground below.

The Underground Palace was built deep underground, hundreds or even thousands of feet below the surface. For the battle below to cause such a commotion on the surface, it was a clear indication of the battle’s intensity.

"Looks like things are really heating up, huh? It’s about time we went down. Otherwise, I estimate Leng Yan won’t be able to hold on much longer."

With a call from Yuan Lie, the several figures shot down toward the Underground Palace in unison.

Before entering the Underground Palace, Yuan Lie instructed the Right Protector, "Next, you are only to save Leng Yan. As for that Yi Xiaoyao, I want to watch him be killed with my own eyes!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yuan Lie and the others descended into the Underground Palace.

But in the next instant, they froze.

The first thing they saw was an astonishing Blood-colored Giant Sword plunged straight into the ground at their feet, causing a violent tremor to run through the earth.

Immediately after, fresh red blood seeped from that patch of ground. It squirmed a few times as if it were alive, then spat out the corpse of a burly, brown-haired man.

This burly, brown-haired man was none other than the Alliance Leader of the Earth Return Alliance, Di Zhuang, an expert with a Third Realm Nascent Soul Transformation cultivation.

And the Blood-colored Giant Sword that had slain Di Zhuang dissipated in an instant with a wave of a hand from a figure standing in mid-air.

That figure turned his head and shot a cold glance at Yuan Lie, who had just landed in the Underground Palace. It was Yi Xiaoyao!

...