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As Lan An and Yan Yue Qi's gazes pierced the dissipating dust, Kun Emperor's colossal form emerged.
HURK
Before they could react, the giant whale spewed rivers of blood, rapidly shrinking, its aura wilting to near collapse. Kun Emperor was gravely wounded, no better than Yan Yue Qi, his body mangled, maw ulcerated. Yet, Lan An glimpsed a spark of exhilaration on his face.
Kun Emperor was indeed elated. Millennia of living, haunted by his defeat to the Evil Emperor, had stunted his cultivation due to a heart demon. Today, matching the Evil Emperor's heir had unshackled his spirit, promising smoother progress. How could he not rejoice?
With a grateful glance at Yan Yue Qi, too weak to speak, a spatial rift opened beside him. An elderly woman with snow-white hair stepped out, her noble aura hinting at past beauty. She gazed at Kun Emperor tenderly, whispering, "Your wish is fulfilled. Come home."
Kun Emperor nodded gently, his wife and fellow Kun Clan member. "As Kun Emperor decreed, any Fifth-Order Peak beast or above attacking them will be the Kun Clan's enemy!" she declared coldly, her voice echoing across the void. Nodding to Lan An and Yan Yue Qi, she pulled the injured Kun Emperor into the rift, vanishing instantly.
Lan An felt a flicker of respect for the Kun Clann honest and principled, worthy of their great clan's reputation. Glancing at Yan Yue Qi, limp in his arms, unable to even lift a hand, let alone tear space to escape, he acted swiftly.
Whoosh
Deactivating Peerless Under Heaven, he chained Speed Shift and unleashed Phantom Charm Wander Step, racing to flee. "Madam, I'll find a quiet place for you to recover!" he transmitted, darting away.
But fate was unkind. A troop of crimson-armored Fire Monkeys wielding blazing axes blocked his path, radiating killing intent. "Want to run? Step over our Fire Monkey Army's corpses first!" their burly leader, Hou Ling, sneered, a Fifth-Order Early-Stage cultivator and commander of the Fire Monkey Army.
The Fire Monkey Army, a thousand elite warriors ranging from Fourth-Order Early-Stage to Fifth-Order Early-Stage, was the Fire Monkey Clan's battle-hardened force. With Lan An and Yan Yue Qi causing their clan heavy losses, they seized this chance for vengeance. Bound by the Kun Clan's decree, no Fifth-Order Peak beasts joined, but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Trouble!" Lan An cursed, cradling Yan Yue Qi with one arm, turning to flee. But a thunderous cacophony erupted behind hundreds of gray wolves, robust and razor-clawed, charged through the air, eyes blood-red, intent on devouring him.
"Earth Wolf Warriors, heed the new patriarch's order! Whoever tears these humans apart earns a Sixth-Order beast pellet! Charge!" their massive leader, Lang Tong, roared, a Fifth-Order Early-Stage commander of the Earth Wolf Army, rivaling the Fire Monkey Army in might.
HOWL
The Earth Wolf Warriors, frenzied by the promise of a Sixth-Order pellet, glared at Lan An and Yan Yue Qi with ravenous greed, eager to shred them.
Trapped between two beast armies, Lan An's brows knitted. Securing Yan Yue Qi on his back, he felt her speak coldly, "If it gets dire, abandon me and escape."
She knew this was a near-death scenario. Too weak to fight even a Golden Core cultivator, she was a burden. Lan An, exhausted from prior battles, could escape alone but was hindered by her. "Madam, you're in this state because of me! I'll protect you, even if it costs my life!" Lan An vowed, his Spirit Energy surging.
Yan Yue Qi's eyes flickered, her pale arms weakly encircling his neck, long legs gripping his waist, stabilizing herself. Recognizing his resolve, her decisive nature—honed as Yan Clan matriarch—kicked in. Ambitious and craving the peak of power, she refused to die at these beasts' hands. "Fight with focus. Don't worry about me," she said calmly, knowing composure was key.
As the beast legions closed in, Lan An stomped, soaring skyward to break through. His eyes narrowed, Wood Form Fist condensing, striking forward, while Earth Bear formed behind, punching backward.
CLANG CLANG
Two figures were blasted back, vomiting blood mid-air, dying instantly two emaciated Fourth-Order Early-Stage bat beasts with black wings, ambushing from the shadows. "Bat Clan? Avenging Bat Jie?" Lan An sneered, recognizing their kind.
Silence answered, but White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye revealed hundreds of bats lurking in darkness, awaiting his lapse for a fatal strike. The Fire Monkey, Earth Wolf, and Bat Clans had unleashed their elites to kill him, their numbers vast but capped below Fifth-Order Peak per Kun Emperor's decree.
With no escape, Lan An, Yan Yue Qi on his back, roared heroically, "Come fight! I'll slaughter until your clans tremble!"
"Arrogant!" Hou Ling scoffed, waving, "Fire Monkey Army, attack in waves give him no rest!"
"Earth Wolf Warriors, full assault, perfect offense and defense!" Lang Tong bellowed. The Bat Clan remained silent, their killing intent palpable.
ROAR
SCREECH
GROWL
Earth Bear, Fire Phoenix, and Wood Turtle materialized, encircling Lan An like loyal guardians. Not enough, he hurled a coffin, from which a Blood Fiend Corpse leapt, roaring furiously a trophy from the Blood Spirit Sect, now unleashed.
"Come at me!" Lan An laughed wildly, blood boiling amidst the beast horde, his spirit soaring.
Yan Yue Qi, on his back, gazed at him with a hint of enchantment. Even the strongest woman had moments of vulnerability, especially now, protected by a man in her weakened state. "Die!" Over a dozen Fourth-Order Fire Monkeys swung glowing axes at Lan An's head.
ROAR
Earth Bear roared, its soul-enhanced fists sweeping. Crack crack crack several Fire Monkeys flew, blood spraying. But their numbers surged, nearly a hundred swarming, shattering Earth Bear's form repeatedly. Spirit Earth Cauldron hummed, restoring it endlessly, a relentless war machine.
Blood Fiend Corpse, with its Fifth-Refinement physique, was even fiercer, diving into the Fire Monkeys, fists and feet crushing foes. Many Nascent Soul Fire Monkeys were battered, weapons scattering. Only Hou Ling and a dozen elites restrained it.
The Fire Monkeys' disciplined waves pressed on, some pinning Earth Bear and Blood Fiend Corpse, others relentlessly targeting Lan An. Gritting his teeth, Lan An's Wood Form Fist and Water Hong Kick countered, each strike felling weaker Fire Monkeys, some bursting apart.
Yet, the Fire Monkeys grew fiercer, their "Sea of Monkeys" tactic aiming to exhaust him. "Die, human!" Dozens of Earth Wolf Warriors lunged, claws slashing at his back.
With Yan Yue Qi there, Lan An refused to let her be harmed. He'd considered storing her in the Spirit Realm Pearl, but Ji Ya and Little Lion's presence risked Yan Yue Qi's disapproval, jeopardling disdain and failing the Conquer the Mother-in-Law quest. Carrying her now fostered bonds, her soft chest pressed against him, legs gripping his waist, her mature rose-like scent intoxicating—worth every risk.
GROWL
Wood Turtle roared, its massive form shielding Lan An's back. He pressed against it, using it to block the Earth Wolves while facing the Fire Monkeys. Fire Phoenix soared, torching hidden Bat Clan assassins, incinerating many despite their numbers, their strength no match.
"Leave it to me! Focus on the human!" a massive bat, Bat Qiang, Fifth-Order Mid-Stage, emerged, Wind Spirit Energy entangling Fire Phoenix. As their leader, he kited, stalling time. Freed, the Bat Clan resumed their stealthy strikes on Lan An.
HURK
Two daggers pierced Lan An, but his Third-Refinement physique bled minimally, repelling them. Wood Form Fist obliterated two Fourth-Order bats. "Die!" Dozens of Fire Monkeys swung Mysterious-Grade axes at him.
"Scram!" Lan An roared, "Heavenly Emperor First Transformation – Peerless Under Heaven!"
His hair blazed golden, an oppressive aura erupting. Yan Yue Qi, closest, felt her heart pound, marveling at his domineering side. Previously, her strength dulled its impact; now, weakened, it overwhelmed her. The Fire Monkeys and Earth Wolves flinched, fear flashing in their eyes. Fourth-Order Early-Stage beasts, unable to resist, knelt mid-air, facing a supreme Heavenly Emperor.
Thud thud thud
Dozens knelt, a majestic sight. Fourth-Order Mid-Stage beasts barely stood, trembling. "Stand!" Hou Ling, Lang Tong, and Bat Qiang roared, humiliated by their armies' submission.
SWISH
A fiery arrow streaked toward Lan An's head. Snorting, he countered with a Fire Spirit Pellet, neutralizing it. Hou Jun had returned, wielding a flaming bow, relentless. "Take my trident!" Hou Xiu emerged among the Earth Wolves, striking Wood Turtle's shell.
BOOM
Wood Turtle staggered, Earth Wolves leaping past, targeting Yan Yue Qi. Lan An's face darkened, fists smashing, killing several. But their numbers overwhelmed, tearing at his chest. White Horse Battle Robe flickered, blocking blows, but the impact jarred his insides.
HURK
Blood sprayed. As more Fire Monkeys targeted Yan Yue Qi, Lan An kicked fiercely, buying time to form Harmony Palm. Facing Hou Xiu and the Earth Wolves, he sneered, unleashing it.
Hou Xiu, wary from prior encounters, fled. "No!" Lang Tong wailed. The tri-colored beam annihilated hundreds of Earth Wolf Warriors, reducing them to ash a devastating loss.
"I'll kill you!" Lang Tong howled, eyes bloodshot. "Danger!" Yan Yue Qi cried.
BOOM
Dozens of blazing axes struck Lan An's head, blood drenching his golden hair. Roaring, he launched Fire Spirit Pellets, piercing Fire Monkey hearts, White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye devouring their souls. Dodging Hou Jun's arrow with Speed Shift, three daggers emerged from the dark, aimed at his neck, and three at Yan Yue Qi.
With no time to hesitate, Lan An spun, Alien Fire cloaking his fist, Spirit Fist smashing the bats targeting Yan Yue Qi. Their screams echoed as they burned to ash. But Yan Yue Qi's furious gaze saw the other three daggers wielded by Fifth-Order Early-Stage bats pierce Lan An's Third-Refinement body.
Blood flowed, corpses piled, a scene of utter carnage.