"Haha, Yun Xiao, didn't expect this, did you? Even if you defeated that Eighth Rank Advanced Vein Demon, so what? Aren't you still going to die at the hands of my Sky Thunder Valley?"

Amidst the clamor of the crowd, a slightly breathless laugh rang out from a certain spot beneath the stone platform. Although somewhat lacking in vigor, it carried an extraordinary sense of smugness. When everyone followed the sound, they discovered it was none other than Xu Changgui, the Heavenly Thunder Child of Sky Thunder Valley.

As for Lu Zhang, the Earth Mine, he was currently slumped limply beside Xu Changgui. His injuries were more severe, nearly resulting in his meeting with King Yan directly. At this moment, even if he wanted to mock, he probably couldn't manage it.

However, although Lu Zhang didn't even have the strength to speak, his eyes held a trace of excitement. To be honest, his hatred for Yun Xiao even surpassed that of the Earth Vein Mad Bear who had severely injured him. That so-called Hidden Thunder Poison had made him suffer enough.

Moreover, Yun Xiao had just put the Earth Vein Mad Bear in a miserable state, causing a trace of unspeakable jealousy to rise in the hearts of these two Thunder Children of Sky Thunder Valley.

It would have been bearable to lose to the likes of Li Gongnian, but being inferior to Yun Xiao was something they, as prides of the heavens, found hard to accept.

Especially seeing Yun Xiao in the spotlight so significantly, and then suddenly falling into such dire straits, Xu Changgui and his companion felt an odd pleasure, finally able to vent some long-held grievances.

"Are you saying that just relying on this half-step Earth Realm guy can take my Yun Xiao's life?"

Upon hearing Xu Changgui's arrogant laughter from the platform below, Yun Xiao's expression didn't change much. Then, under the watchful eyes of all, he pointed to Yao Tiansha, the protector of Sky Thunder Valley not far beside him, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised disdain.

"Half-step Earth Realm?"

Only after Yun Xiao's words fell did the observing cultivators below finally understand that Yao Tiansha was not at the peak of the Seeking Origin Realm but was genuinely a half-step Earth Realm expert.

The Earth Rank is divided into three major realms: Qi Seeking, Seeking Origin, and Earth Concealing. An Earth Concealing expert on this Tenglong Continent could practically become a domain master.

At least from the Southern Domain of this Tenglong Continent, the strongest Yun Xiao had encountered was merely at the peak of the Seeking Origin Realm. Those peak experts mostly came from major factions and were not local cultivators from the cities themselves.

The reason why the Earth Concealing Realm is called "Earth Concealing" is that the cultivator at this stage has taken a step further on the foundation of controlling the Earth Element, capable of making the Earth Power submit beneath their feet.

At this level, whether wielding Earth Power or Earth Element, it only requires a thought. For a strong initial Earth Concealing expert to kill a peak Seeking Origin cultivator is as effortless as blowing away dust, easily done.

Yao Tiansha, in front of him, although not a true Earth Concealing expert, is nevertheless much stronger than ordinary peak Seeking Origin cultivators as a half-step Earth Realm contender, representing a transition from Seeking Origin toward Earth Concealing.

In fact, although Yun Xiao spoke those words, he didn't really believe that he possessed the power to contend against an Earth Concealing expert. Against such a formidable opponent, even if he exhausted all his methods, he would undoubtedly still not be a match.

His previous victory over the Earth Vein Mad Bear was due not only to Yun Xiao's tactics but also to another reason: the Earth Vein Mad Bear overly relied on Earth Vein Power. Once Yun Xiao's Ancestral Vein Fire covered the stone platform, it undoubtedly reduced the bear's combat strength by several levels.

Ultimately, he had to rely on the Heavenly Phoenix Fire from Red Feather to earn a victory in the battle, so Yun Xiao's victory, which seemed effortless, in reality, involved some clever maneuvering.

If it had been a direct head-to-head confrontation, trying to defeat the Eighth Rank Advanced Earth Vein Mad Bear would likely have exhausted him completely.

"Yun Xiao, you killed three of our Thunder Children from Sky Thunder Valley. It's time to settle the account today, isn't it?"

For some reason, even though the Five Thunder Child, Li Qingran, clearly died at the hands of that Strange Spirit from Thunder King Valley, everyone attributed this account to Yun Xiao, and Yao Tiansha was no exception.

"Yun Xiao? So he is Yun Xiao, no wonder he possesses such power!"

Only when Yao Tiansha revealed this piece of news did some people who felt Yun Xiao's name was somewhat familiar finally react, not refraining from exclaiming.

Like those hindering on the mountainside, many people were aware of the commotion Yun Xiao had stirred in the Southern Domain. Quite a number of Meridian Refining Masters came from the Southern Domain, so they quickly realized who Yun Xiao truly was.

Reportedly, Yun Xiao had annihilated the Yuyang City branch of the Spirit Fighting Commerce and killed Xia Yong, the Special Envoy from the Spirit Fighting Commerce headquarters. Besides the Spirit Fighting Commerce, this guy also managed to offend the Killing Heart Sect, Sky Thunder Valley, the Xiao Family, and the Chu Family, practically a trouble magnet.

Despite provoking so many first-class and even super forces, this young lad surviving till today is indeed a peculiar affair, a constant topic of awe, envy, and admiration among people whenever mentioned.

After all, who in this world wouldn't want to be the focus of all eyes? While Yun Xiao indeed offended way too many, at least in the current Southern Domain of the Tenglong Continent, the name Yun Xiao is probably known by all.

On the Dragon Continent, those who dare to offend first-class forces like the Killing Heart Sect, Sky Thunder Valley, Xiao Family, Chu Family are extremely few, not to mention offending the colossus that is the Spirit Fighting Commerce; that's simply asking for death.

Therefore, some people view Yun Xiao's audacity to defy so many powerful forces as utterly foolish, while others with fiery blood see it as invigorating, thinking that a true man should shine brightly in the world.

However, at this moment, when they see Yao Tiansha standing opposite Yun Xiao, everyone feels a strange sensation; in front of this Half-step Earth Realm guardian of Sky Thunder Valley, can the coarse-clad youth manage to escape?

Yun Xiao indeed has rumors of killing the Special Envoy Xia Yong from Spirit Fighting Commerce and the Seven Killings Guardian from the Killing Heart Sect, but before seeing it firsthand, everyone merely treats it as hearsay.

Besides, even taking a step back, even if Yun Xiao had truly killed Xia Yong and Zheng Qiming, the guardian Yao Tiansha standing before them is a Half-step Earth Realm expert, far stronger than the other two.

"Yao Tiansha, right? I advise you, if you wish to keep those two alive, better not make a move!"

Yun Xiao was not intimidated at all by Yao Tiansha's threatening words, and after he uttered this sentence, his figure suddenly became somewhat abnormal, as if even his breathing vanished.

"Such big words!"

Yao Tiansha, within arm's reach, clearly didn't notice Yun Xiao's anomaly, hearing him shout angrily, then reaching out with his right hand as a silver lightning bolt suddenly shot out, aimed at the coarse-clad youth not far ahead.

Swoosh!

The guardian of Sky Thunder Valley had extraordinary skills, but when the crowd saw the silver lightning bolt pass directly over Yun Xiao's head without spilling a drop of blood, they couldn't help but ponder.

"An afterimage?!"

Some experienced Meridian Refining Masters instantly recognized that it absolutely couldn't be Yun Xiao's true body; after all, with Yun Xiao's technique against the Eighth Rank Advanced Earth Vein Mad Bear just now, even though Yao Tiansha was a Half-step Earth Realm expert, he shouldn't be unable to avoid even one strike, right?

"Not good, this kid is so cunning!"

As the person involved, Yao Tiansha realized something was amiss the moment the lightning touched Yun Xiao. He was a bona fide Earth Rank Middle Level Meridian Refining Master, with his Power of Soul also at the Earth Rank Middle Level, so with a brief sensing, he instantly identified Yun Xiao's true body's location.

But this sensing wasn't reassuring, as Yao Tiansha suddenly discovered that this youth named Yun Xiao hadn't broken through to the cave in search of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures; instead, taking this opportunity to leap off the arena, sensing the direction of his assault, and Yao Tiansha's face turned extremely grim.

"Two Thunder Child, be careful, Yun Xiao is rushing towards you!"

Combining Yun Xiao's earlier words with the direction of the youth's assault, Yao Tiansha stood up and chased, loudly warning, causing everyone's hearts to tremble.

Honestly, it wasn't that no one thought Yun Xiao might target Xu Changgui and Lu Zhang before, but they were also certain that in the hands of the Half-step Earth Realm expert Yao Tiansha, Yun Xiao likely wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

Who would've thought this youth merely used one bizarre movement technique, leading Yao Tiansha to strike empty air, taking this opportunity to leap off the stone platform? Could Yao Tiansha catch up to Yun Xiao before he reached Xu Changgui and Lu Zhang's side?

Everyone knew well that Xu Changgui and Lu Zhang were both seriously injured in the Earth Vein Mad Bear's attack just now, especially Lu Zhang, who could hardly stand.

With Yun Xiao's strength, it would likely take just a moment of opportunity for him to swiftly kill these two; then the five Thunder Childs of Sky Thunder Valley might all die by his hand.

Whoosh!

Nothing to say about the Half-step Earth Realm expert Yao Tiansha; his speed was indeed extraordinarily fast, and even though he was slower to act, within several breaths he caught up to Yun Xiao's back, unleashing a palm strike aimed precisely at the point where one must defend.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao was still several zhang away from Xu Changgui and Lu Zhang. If he ignored the attack coming at his back and insisted on killing the two Thunder Child, he might succeed, but afterward, he would likely have no fighting strength left before Yao Tiansha.

Yao Tiansha also predicted that under such circumstances, Yun Xiao couldn't possibly disregard his own life; his tactic of "Wei Wei Jiu Zhao" was highly appropriate.

In his heart, even if Yun Xiao dodged this move, next time he would still die by Yao Tiansha's hand, but this way, he undoubtedly saved the two Thunder Childs of Sky Thunder Valley.