CHAPTER 693: 693 THE PERIL OF CHI YAN

Yun Xiao, who raced ahead, naturally hadn’t heard the conversation of the Lin family members. He was only sensitive to a particular fire attribute energy, never anticipating that his actions would evoke suspicion from certain individuals.

Even if Yun Xiao had heard those words, he wouldn’t have cared in the slightest. He had long noticed that Lin Xuanting and Qiao Guinong were not fond of him. At this moment, what mattered most was finding Chi Yan.

With the absence of the poison array set by the Tao family, both Yun Xiao and the Lin family party were able to move faster. Before long, they had arrived at a valley.

"Squeak, squeak!"

Yun Xiao, the first to arrive, heard several familiar sounds coming from the valley. His expression changed, and without any hesitation, he charged straight into the valley.

"Alas, that’s too reckless. We should’ve set a ’sparrow behind’ trap!"

Watching Yun Xiao dash into the valley without a second thought, the following Qiao Guinong couldn’t help but let out a sigh. As soon as he spoke, Lin Xuanting and Lin Zhenjiang beside him strongly agreed.

It was clear that after the earlier Pine Needle Poison Array, the Tao family and others had gotten the upper hand, encircling and attempting to kill the fire attribute Vein Demon inside the valley.

Since they had arrived late, there was still a potential advantage to be had—observing the overall strength of the Tao family in secret and assessing the fire attribute Vein Demon’s capabilities. This way, they could gain an upper hand, whether they chose to steal or fight.

However, Yun Xiao’s rash charge into the valley meant that the Lin family could no longer employ their ’sparrow behind’ tactic. Having lost nearly half of their guards to the lethal pine needles, the Lin family had no assurance of victory should a battle ensue.

Little did any of those affiliated with the Lin family know, the one who might face a deadly threat inside the valley was none other than Yun Xiao’s former life-and-death companion on the Hidden Dragon Continent.

Now that he knew Chi Yan was within the valley, how could Yun Xiao possibly remain calm? If, through careless action, Chi Yan was injured or worse, killed, he would regret it too late.

......

This was a small valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides. It was a compact space where one could see the end at a glance, yet within this very valley, a distinctive battle was unfolding.

Hiss!

A fire-red shadow flashed by, followed immediately by a guard of the Spirit Vein Realm from the Tao family lifting his hands with a look of terror on his face, clutching at his throat.

No matter how hard the guard tried, even to the point of nearly strangling himself, the blood seeping through his fingers could not be stopped. It was apparent that his throat had been brutally torn open.

Boom!

Seeing that guard from the Tao family collapse powerless, the face of Family Head Tao Chengju undeniably turned exceedingly grim. The fire attribute Vein Demon he had thought they could easily handle was surprisingly slippery, resulting in the loss of several Tao family guards.

Tao Chengju sensed clearly that the fire-red, mouse-shaped Vein Demon indeed possessed only Seventh Rank Low Level strength, equivalent at most to a human Cultivator in the Qi Seeking Realm Early Stage or Middle Stage.

But such a Seventh Rank Low Level Vein Demon displayed combat power and speed that went far beyond what a normal Seventh Rank Low Level Vein Demon could achieve, let alone these guards of the Tao family at the Spirit Vein Realm.

However grim Tao Chengju’s face appeared, his mood improved slightly in the next moment. If this mouse-shaped Vein Demon could unleash such exceptional combat power, it certainly wasn’t ordinary. If he could refine it into a Meridian Spirit, it would greatly enhance his future combat capabilities.

"Family Head, have you noticed? That fire-red mouse looks somewhat like the legendary ancient species, the Fire Cloud Rat," remarked a somewhat impassioned voice. It belonged to the Tao family’s chief Meridian Refining Master, Lu Yuanpei.

This individual was a famous Earth Rank Low Level Poison Vein Master in Yujiang City, one who instilled fear in countless cultivators there. The Pine Needle Poison Array that the Lin family had encountered was personally set up by him.

It’s worth mentioning that before Lu Yuanpei joined the Tao family, he had traveled across much of the Tenglong Continent, and thus had his own insights into the rare Vein Demons and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of the Continent.

Although the Fire Cloud Rat was considered powerful even within the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, it was extremely rare on the Tenglong Continent. Lu Yuanpei had also previously encountered a description of the Fire Cloud Rat in an ancient tome, leading to his speculation.

"Fire Cloud Rat?"

The Tao Family Head, who hadn’t considered this direction previously, had his interest piqued by Lu Yuanpei’s words. After all, there were ancient legends about the Fire Cloud Rat on the Tenglong Continent.

Legend had it that this mythical Vein Demon harbored special fire attribute energy, was incredibly fast, and that adult Fire Cloud Rats had their own spatial abilities within their bodies. If one could refine it into a Meridian Spirit, they could potentially acquire these uniquely gifted special abilities.

Tao Chengju, who originally just wanted to refine a special Fire Attribute Meridian Spirit, couldn’t repress his greed any longer after discovering it might be the legendary Fire Cloud Rat.

"Liqian, be careful!"

However, just as Tao Chengju was making his calculations, he suddenly saw a flash of red light, and a fiery red shadow unmistakably pounced towards his beloved son, shocking him immensely.

Tao Liqian is the Tao Family’s Princely Heir and the son Tao Chengju values most. He is also the one Tao Chengju has groomed to succeed him as the next Family Head, treating him with extreme importance.

Nonetheless, due to his age, although Tao Liqian has almost stepped into the Earth Rank Third Realm, he is ultimately at the peak of the Spirit Vein Realm in cultivation.

Seeing the Rat-shaped Vein Demon’s previous display of strength—killing a cultivator at the early middle stage of the Killing Spirit Vein Realm as easily as slaughtering a chicken—Tao Chengju genuinely feared that his son would not be able to match it. If something bad happened, he would truly be distraught.

"Beast, cease your violence!"

As the Fire Cloud Rat seemed to have no intention of holding back, Tao Chengju warned his son to watch out and dodge while he shouted loudly. Then, thick Meridian Qi began to emerge from his body.

Tao Chengju is a Seeking Origin Realm powerhouse, one of the top figures in Yujiang City. In Yujiang City, apart from Lin Family’s Family Head Lin Zhenjiang, there are almost no rivals to his strength.

The Seeking Origin Realm is equivalent to the level of an Eighth Rank Vein Demon. Tao Chengju believed that as long as his son could avoid the first strike, he would definitely be able to act in time to deal with the Fire Cloud Rat.

That Rat-shaped Vein Demon was indeed the Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan. After passing the trial of the Boundary Tower, he was directly transported to the Nanyu Mountain range, only to be found by the Lin and Tao families after a few battles with other Vein Demons. Coveting his Fire Attribute Energy, they eventually cornered him here.

Although Chi Yan couldn’t speak, his Spiritual Wisdom was quite high. Moreover, having spent many years by Yun Xiao’s side, he was skilled in reading expressions and intentions.

He attacked and swiftly killed several guards of the Tao Family to strike fear into their hearts and let them know he wasn’t to be trifled with.

During this time, Chi Yan had already determined that the young man with the prideful face held a significant status among the group. By killing him, perhaps the others would lose the will to chase after him.

Naturally, the individual Chi Yan chose was the Tao Family Princely Heir, Tao Liqian. He wouldn’t easily provoke the two human powerhouses exuding immense auras, but the Tao Family’s Princely Heir at the peak of the Spirit Vein Realm became his target.

Due to certain items in the Boundary Tower, Chi Yan had already broken through to the Seventh Rank Low Level, equivalent to the human Qi Seeking Realm Early Stage in cultivation. Moreover, with his special skills, he didn’t need to exert much effort when facing Low Rank human cultivators.

Clang!

Chi Yan’s claw ferociously struck Tao Liqian’s chest. Though he fully intended to crush the man’s chest with this blow, his attack failed to accomplish his goal the next moment.

It must be said that Chi Yan’s speed was extremely fast, disappointing Tao Chengju who had thought his son Tao Liqian would be able to dodge the strike, as his hopes were dashed.

However, upon hearing the clang, Tao Chengju’s spirits lifted. He thought privately that although his son was usually arrogant, his actions this time were quite cautious, having worn the treasure armor he was given.

That was also the reason why Chi Yan’s claw failed to make an impact. Underneath Tao Liqian’s clothes was a defensive soft armor. Though Chi Yan’s claw was powerful, it was impossible to break through low-level Earth Rank treasure armor in a single strike.

Boom!

Just as Chi Yan was about to follow up with another strike, an overwhelming force came from an angle, causing even him to flash a look of horror in his eyes, as this power was far beyond his capacity to contend with.

The one who intervened was naturally the Tao Family Head Tao Chengju. He would not give Chi Yan another chance—if that claw had hit Tao Liqian’s head or a vital spot like the throat, his son would have been done for.

The blow from a Seeking Origin Realm powerhouse was entirely different. In just a moment, Chi Yan felt as though his entire body was trapped in a quagmire. He knew it was a unique Earth Power.

Although Chi Yan, having reached the Seventh Rank, possessed the power to draw upon Earth Power, there was a fundamental difference in the Earth Power that could be harnessed between the Qi Seeking Realm and the Seeking Origin Realm.

The Qi Seeking Realm could only find that trace of Earth Power and use it, while the Seeking Origin Realm could already invoke the True Yuan of Earth Power, which is completely different from the ordinary Earth Power.

For example, the Earth Power demonstrated by Tao Family Head Tao Chengju had the sensation of being an extension of his body, far more adept than the clumsy invocation by a cultivator in the Qi Seeking Realm.

This was why a Seeking Origin Realm powerhouse could easily subdue a Qi Seeking Realm cultivator. With different levels, the methods they wielded were vastly different.

So under Tao Chengju’s intervention, despite Chi Yan having formidable physical strength, he found it extremely difficult to even move a paw under the restraint of Earth Power, let alone turn defeat into victory.

In the face of life and death, there is no time to delay!