Chapter 37: Everyone Who Stops Me Can Go Die

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Everyone Who Stops Me Can Go Die

Flames!

Flames were everywhere!

The power of these flames was far beyond comparison to ordinary fire. Every time a Flaming Dragon exploded, it would dissolve into a sky-spanning rain of fire, a magnificent spectacle.

Unfortunately, under the pressing sense of danger, no one had the leisure to appreciate such a magnificent sight.

"Hahaha! I never thought that old dog from the Cloud Transformation Sect would send so many of his pups after me!"

Flame Medicine Hidden stood amidst the raging inferno, like a Fire God descended to the mortal realm. He laughed heartily at the seven white-robed men who had him surrounded.

The seven white-robed men had taken positions all around Flame Medicine Hidden, as if forming a profound Array with him at its center.

Judging by their auras alone, any one of the seven men was far stronger than Flame Medicine Hidden. Yet, all seven wore grim expressions.

In the battle just now, Flame Medicine Hidden had single-handedly held his own against all seven of them, not falling behind in the slightest!

Flame Medicine Hidden’s aged face appeared frail, yet it was flushed with a healthy, vibrant glow.

Seeing the seven men surround him without attacking, he knew they were trying to stall for reinforcements. He deliberately taunted them to provoke a reaction:

"To find me so quickly, I’ll admit you pups have sharp noses. But if you can’t even handle an old man like me, what’s the difference between you and a pack of useless mongrels?"

Anger finally surfaced on the men’s faces. In the outside world, they were all powerful, high-ranking figures. Yet this old man kept calling them "pups," and now he was even calling them "useless mongrels." How could they not be furious?

Furthermore, their inability to subdue an old man with a lower Cultivation had already left them feeling frustrated and disgraced. If they actually had to wait for reinforcements, they would surely become a laughingstock.

The seven white-robed men exchanged a glance and pointed at Flame Medicine Hidden in unison.

"Flame Medicine Hidden! Eight years ago, you stole our Sect Leader’s Heaven and Earth Fire Essence. Now you’ve actually fused with it! If you don’t surrender this instant, don’t blame us for being ruthless!"

"Ridiculous! I was the one who found the Heaven and Earth Fire Essence in the Ancient Ruins! That old dog failed to steal it from me, so he slandered me instead! Even in death, I would never hand the Heaven and Earth Fire Essence over to that treacherous cur!"

In his fury, Flame Medicine Hidden’s flames erupted like his own wrath, and a massive Flaming Dragon coiled forth.

One of the white-robed men shouted, "This old bastard’s flames are terrifying! Normal Techniques are useless against him! Form the Seven Luminaries Star Slaying Array!!"

The next moment, the seven men began to Step Gang, their fingers pointed toward the sky. Starlight rained down, forming a massive silver Grand Array that descended to envelop him.

The Flaming Dragon charged and crashed about within the cage-like Array, but it seemed to be trapped.

"Hmph! Let’s see you act so arrogant now!"

One of the white-robed men manipulated the Array, causing it to rapidly constrict, and sneered at Flame Medicine Hidden.

Just then, the expression of one of the men changed abruptly, and he whipped his head around to look behind him.

A youth wreathed in black Spiritual Power, wielding a Red Blood Sword, was hurtling toward him with murder in his eyes!

"Where did this little stray come from? Get lost!"

The white-robed man’s shout was infused with terrifying Spiritual Power. From hundreds of feet away, the force of his voice alone slammed into the youth, sending him flying backward while coughing up blood.

"AHHH!!!"

Yi Xiaoyao roared in utter frustration. He couldn’t even get close to his enemy!

The difference in their strength was immense, like that between an ant and a giant elephant.

Flame Medicine Hidden, who was still manipulating his flames against the Grand Array, saw Yi Xiaoyao’s return, and his expression changed dramatically.

’I already gave him such obvious hints! Why did he come back? Is the boy I chose really so foolish that he couldn’t understand them?’

"GET LOST!!!"

Flame Medicine Hidden also let out a thunderous roar. It seemed to be aimed at the white-robed men, but it was really a final command for Yi Xiaoyao.

Of course, Yi Xiaoyao understood Elder Yan’s meaning. He slammed his fists into the ground in a rage, hating his own weakness.

Although the roar seemed normal to the other men, one of them noticed something was off.

"Grab that kid!"

Following the command, a powerful suction force yanked Yi Xiaoyao toward them.

"Stop!"

Flame Medicine Hidden’s face fell. The Flaming Dragon before him slammed into the Grand Array, causing it to tremble and threaten to collapse.

"Hehe, Flame Medicine Hidden, I heard you left with a young boy in tow. And that boy supposedly killed our Sect Leader’s Closed-door Disciple. I take it this is him?"

The white-robed man holding Yi Xiaoyao captive looked him over and sneered.

Yi Xiaoyao glared back at the man, utterly fearless. He grinned. "That’s right, it was your grandpa, me, who killed your master’s dog of a disciple! What? You rabid mutt want to bite me for your master?"

"Hahaha! Well said!" Flame Medicine Hidden roared with laughter. "You pups can’t handle me, so you resort to attacking a child in the Qi Condensation Realm?"

The white-robed man’s expression turned grim. He snorted. "Old bastard, it seems you’re quite close to this boy, aren’t you? Since you put it that way, I’ll just kill him on the Sect Leader’s behalf!"

Immediately, a terrifying aura enveloped Yi Xiaoyao.

"You dare!!"

As Flame Medicine Hidden roared, countless Flaming Dragons surged forth, a terrifying sight to behold.

’Yi Xiaoyao is the genius I value above all others. He is my chosen successor, my hope!’

Flame Medicine Hidden would rather die himself than see Yi Xiaoyao perish.

"You pups! If you release the boy, I’ll give you an arm! Otherwise, even if I can’t defeat you, I’ll make damn sure you die with me!"

Flame Medicine Hidden had shouted this to stop the white-robed man, who was just about to strike Yi Xiaoyao.

"Oh?" The white-robed man paused, the hand he had been lowering toward Yi Xiaoyao retracting.

Sensing the dangerous aura now erupting from Flame Medicine Hidden, they knew he wasn’t bluffing. Even if they managed to capture the old man in the end, they would suffer disastrous casualties.

But if Flame Medicine Hidden gave them an arm, things would be much simpler.

"Fine! It’s a deal!"

Upon hearing this, Yi Xiaoyao screamed, "Elder Yan, don’t!!"

As if he hadn’t heard a thing, Flame Medicine Hidden acted without a moment’s hesitation. He grabbed his right arm with his left hand and, with a sudden, violent pull, tore it clean off at the shoulder. Blood sprayed from the wound.

A low growl escaped his throat. He then turned to the white-robed men. "Let him go!"

One of the men said to Yi Xiaoyao, "Kid, here’s your chance to run for your life. Once we’re done with the old man, we’ll come for you!"

With that, he slapped Yi Xiaoyao, sending him flying.

Yi Xiaoyao tumbled to the ground, his eyes now crimson and shot through with blood.

’Elder Yan tore off his own arm to save me, and all I can do is run away! I can’t do anything!’

Yi Xiaoyao was so furious he could have shattered his own teeth. He finally understood: without power, he was nothing more than an ant to be toyed with and crushed!

’I refuse to be an ant!’

’I will control my own destiny! I will protect those I care about!’

His very soul was roaring.

Yi Xiaoyao could only watch as Elder Yan, once divinely powerful, was now greatly weakened by the loss of his arm. He watched as the seven white-robed men injured him again and again, forcing him to spit up blood repeatedly.

He was the man he wanted to protect, yet he could not. Something was holding him back.

In his boundless rage, a glint of golden light suddenly flashed within Yi Xiaoyao’s blazing pupils.

Within his soul, something terrifying seemed to awaken for an instant.

An earth-shattering roar burst forth from Yi Xiaoyao’s soul and erupted from his blood-flecked mouth.

"Anyone who gets in my way... can all... just DIE!!!"

In that instant, it was as if space had frozen and time had stood still.

The flames around Flame Medicine Hidden, which had nearly been extinguished, stopped flickering. The attacks of the seven white-robed men froze mid-motion.

The next moment, all seven white-robed men collapsed, their eyes vacant. Every trace of their Vitality was gone, yet their bodies showed no signs of a struggle before death.

Before he fainted, Yi Xiaoyao saw Elder Yan staring at him with a look of utter horror. He finally closed his eyes, relieved, a smile gracing his lips.

’I finally... protected the one I wanted to protect.’