Chapter 41: Then Let’s Fight

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Then Let’s Fight

Yun Qian and the others froze. Recalling the enmity between Yi Xiaoyao and Cultivator Duan, they didn’t dare get caught in the crossfire and had no choice but to leave apologetically.

At that moment, Qi Yue mouthed a single word to Yi Xiaoyao: "Die!" He then retracted his venomous gaze and began chatting with the few people beside him.

Lin Jie had specifically warned Yi Xiaoyao that Qi Stone’s older brother, Qi Yue, would also be participating in the third assessment, and that his cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment First Realm.

Yi Xiaoyao frowned. ’If it were just Qi Yue alone, at the Foundation Establishment First Realm, it would be no big deal. I wouldn’t mind killing another one.’

However, upon seeing the four companions by Qi Yue’s side, Yi Xiaoyao realized how troublesome the situation had become.

Those four spoke with Qi Yue as equals, making it clear that their status and strength were likely no less than his.

Although Yi Xiaoyao could hold his own against a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment First Realm, there was no way he could take on five.

By now, all the disciples for the assessment had formed groups of three to five. They had all chosen their companions during the second assessment, leaving Yi Xiaoyao, a newcomer, looking rather isolated.

"Hey, want to join us?"

A portly figure appeared before Yi Xiaoyao, calling out to him.

Yi Xiaoyao looked over to see a chubby young man. Behind him stood another youth in a Black Robe, arms crossed over his chest, his expression impassive.

"Join you?" Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow.

"That’s right. I see you’re alone, so you might as well join us."

The chubby youth continued, "My name is Jin Sanbao, and that block of ice over there is Xuan Mo. What’s your name?"

"Yi Xiaoyao."

As soon as Yi Xiaoyao finished answering, Jin Sanbao said, "Then it’s settled. The three of us are a team now."

Yi Xiaoyao was left a bit speechless. ’When did I agree to join them?’

"I have enemies. For your own safety, I advise you to find someone else," Yi Xiaoyao said.

"No problem! Fatty here has a mount. Even those guys at the Foundation Establishment Realm can’t catch up!"

Jin Sanbao patted his chest, then said to the indifferent youth Xuan Mo behind him, "See? Xuan Mo, who said no one would want to join us? You’ve lost our bet!"

"He hasn’t agreed yet," Xuan Mo glanced coldly at Jin Sanbao.

Yi Xiaoyao thought the two of them were exceedingly strange, but he was intrigued by the mount Jin Sanbao had mentioned. If not even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could catch it, he would be able to escape Qi Yue and his group.

"I’ll join you, but you have to tell me why you said no one would want to join you."

Yi Xiaoyao asked, having noticed that while other teams had at least five or six members, Jin Sanbao’s only had two.

Hearing Yi Xiaoyao’s question, Jin Sanbao coughed dryly a few times and changed the subject. "It’s a long story. Let’s not get into it."

Just as he spoke, the start of the third assessment was announced.

With a slap to his waist, Jin Sanbao summoned a towering, steel Copper Lion that appeared before the three of them.

His portly frame leaped up with surprising agility. Seated atop the Copper Lion, Jin Sanbao waved a hand at the other two.

"Get on, we’re leaving!"

Xuan Mo vaulted up as well. Although Yi Xiaoyao was stunned that *this* was the so-called mount, he didn’t hesitate, swinging himself up to join them.

The next moment, the Copper Lion began to move, transforming into a metallic shadow. Its copper feet pounded the earth, charging out of the crowd with a great RUMBLE.

The massive commotion startled everyone, and they all turned to look.

Qi Yue saw Yi Xiaoyao on the Copper Lion, sneered, and said to the four beside him, "After them!"

At once, hundreds of people surged toward the Earth Star Forest. Yi Xiaoyao and his two companions, riding the Copper Lion, quickly took the lead.

"How about it? Fatty here’s mount is pretty amazing, right?"

The Copper Lion ran wildly against the strong headwind as Jin Sanbao grinned smugly at Yi Xiaoyao and Xuan Mo behind him.

Other people all used Demon Beasts as mounts. This was the first time Yi Xiaoyao had seen a Copper Lion mount like this, and he indeed found it quite magical.

"What is this? Why can it run on its own?"

"This is a puppet made by Fatty here. As for the rest, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you."

Seeing Yi Xiaoyao so curious, Jin Sanbao became even more pleased with himself.

At this moment, Xuan Mo, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke impassively, "Someone’s catching up."

Yi Xiaoyao whipped his head around and immediately saw five youths behind them, their Spiritual Power erupting from beneath their feet as they gave chase at an extremely high speed.

These five were none other than Qi Yue and his companions.

"Didn’t you say people at the Foundation Establishment Realm couldn’t catch this mount?" Yi Xiaoyao yelled at Jin Sanbao.

"What! Don’t tell me your enemies are *them*!"

Jin Sanbao looked back, and the fat on his face immediately trembled.

"Damn it, I was just bragging before! I can’t believe you actually pissed off those Foundation Establishment Realm guys! I regret letting you join us now!"

Despite saying that, Jin Sanbao still threw a few Crystal Blocks into the Copper Lion puppet, and its speed instantly skyrocketed.

With that, the gap between Yi Xiaoyao’s group of three and Qi Yue’s pursuing group of five gradually began to widen. ℯℯ𝑙.

"If you regret it, then let me off," Yi Xiaoyao said.

Jin Sanbao spat and said loudly, "Fatty here may be a coward who’s afraid of death, but I’m not the type to abandon a companion! That’s the kind of behavior I hate most!"

Xuan Mo remained silent, his expression still cold.

’This fatty is a good guy,’ Yi Xiaoyao thought. ’He’s worth being friends with.’

As for Xuan Mo, although he didn’t talk much, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t dislike him either.

At this speed, they soon entered the Earth Star Forest.

However, Yi Xiaoyao saw that although Qi Yue and his group couldn’t catch up, they were maintaining their distance and continuing their relentless pursuit.

"Can we go any faster? We still haven’t shaken them."

Yi Xiaoyao asked Jin Sanbao.

Jin Sanbao said with a long face, "Bro, not only can we not go faster, but if this keeps up, my Spirit Stones will be completely used up sooner or later. The puppet mount will stop then."

"This isn’t a long-term solution. Since we can’t shake them, let’s stop," Yi Xiaoyao said, his eyes narrowing.

"Huh? Bro, are you kidding me? You might be looking to die, but we want to live!" Jin Sanbao shouted.

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression was grave.

"I’m not kidding. Dealing with these five isn’t impossible, it just requires an enormous price."

The price Yi Xiaoyao spoke of was, of course, using the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique.

But even if he used the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique, he still wasn’t completely confident. After all, the technique only lasted for a mere ten or so breaths.

’Trying to kill five enemies at the Foundation Establishment First Realm in such a short amount of time... it’s incredibly difficult!’

Moreover, once the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique’s duration ended, if he couldn’t replenish his soul in time, Yi Xiaoyao would fall into an extremely weakened state. Even if he killed Qi Yue’s group of five, he couldn’t rule out the possibility of other enemies taking advantage of his weakness. At that point, he would be a lamb to the slaughter.

"The price is painful and incredibly risky."

"You guys are good people, but there’s no need to risk your lives for a stranger like me. Let’s go our separate ways."

After speaking, Yi Xiaoyao leaped directly off the puppet mount.

He turned, and seeing Qi Yue’s group of five drawing ever closer in the distance, a powerful battle intent ignited in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes.

’A fight... Since it’s unavoidable, then let’s do this!’