His Yuan Qi was burning.
Xiao Pingtian had never imagined, not even for a single day, that he would fall to such a plight. He had always fancied himself as overwhelmingly powerful and had never truly taken any opponent seriously. But this time, Lin Yun's strength made him realize just how laughable his own situation was.
The moment he knew he was no match for Lin Yun, Xiao Pingtian's first instinct was to flee.
But even as fast as he was, the terrifying fluctuations of energy gathering behind him filled him with dread.
What is that?
He had never seen such a frightening attack. If he'd had even a sliver of confidence to resist before, it was completely gone now. Xiao Pingtian never thought that in a battle with Lin Yun, he would be forced into such a desperate corner.
The Chongqing Bird had been right all along.
At his core, Xiao Pingtian was just a bully who could only pick on rookies. Against opponents weaker than himself, he could naturally display corresponding strength. But when faced with someone of true ability, someone like Lin Yun with his incredibly rich combat experience, Xiao Pingtian's own skills were simply not enough.
This was why he had lost to Lin Yun so quickly. Their application of their own power was on completely different levels.
As someone who had survived the Ancient Forbidden Land, what kind of scenes had Lin Yun not witnessed? In such a cruel environment, if one was not strong enough, death was the only path. But Lin Yun had managed to survive through his sheer, unyielding will. Of course, he didn't just survive; he had made himself stronger.
This was something Xiao Pingtian could never hope to compare with.
Sensing the horrifying energy building behind him, Xiao Pingtian knew Lin Yun was charging up an ultimate attack. Right now, all he could do was run.
Soon, he burst out of Soul-Hooking Valley.
Kong Xuan and Ye Qian had only just walked a short distance. The continuous explosions from behind made Ye Qian feel a pang of pity. Lin Yun was indeed a respectable opponent, facing so many enemies alone without ever flinching. If it were her, she would have turned and fled at the first opportunity.
But what good was courage? In the face of true power, courage alone could not win a battle.
Kong Xuan would occasionally glance back. Hearing the sounds of intense fighting, Ye Qian smiled. "You can stop looking. That guy is dead for sure. After all, it's Senior Brother Xiao, and there are so many others there with him. No matter how formidable Lin Yun is, there's no way he can survive."
Ye Qian was utterly convinced of this. Lin Yun was strong? A little, perhaps. But to win against so many opponents? Absolutely impossible. And while she knew Xiao Pingtian was best at bullying weaker opponents, he was still the prized prodigy that the Flowing Cloud Sect had been promoting for years. He couldn't be a complete paper tiger, could he?
Kong Xuan nodded. "I just think it's a pity. Lin Yun doesn't seem like a bad person. If what he said was all true, then for him to be targeted and hunted by so many people without having ever offended them… it truly is a shame."
Ye Qian looked at Kong Xuan and chuckled. Still thinking about whether that guy lives or dies at a time like this? To her, none of that mattered. Her own survival was the most important thing.
As the two were talking, a shimmering azure light flashed past them. It happened so suddenly that both of them instinctively looked in its direction.
Who they saw left them completely and utterly stunned.
It was Xiao Pingtian!
They never would have imagined that the next time they saw him, it would be under such circumstances. He looked utterly wretched, crammed inside a treasure that resembled a flying shuttle, desperately trying to escape the battlefield.
Xiao Pingtian, of course, saw them too, but he had no time to spare.
"Was that… Senior Brother Xiao just now?" Kong Xuan rubbed her eyes, finding it hard to believe. The all-powerful Senior Brother Xiao, how could he possibly be fleeing?
Hearing her question, Ye Qian, for the first time ever, didn't have an answer. She had seen it clearly. It was Xiao Pingtian. She would recognize that bastard's face even if he were turned to ash. But she simply could not understand what had happened in there. Why would Xiao Pingtian choose to run? That look in his eyes just now… it was clearly the look of someone who had been grievously wounded.
But there was only Lin Yun back in Soul-Hooking Valley. Was that kid really so powerful?
Xiao Pingtian vanished in an instant.
Ye Qian forced an awkward laugh. "That's not possible, right? It feels like… a joke."
The moment the words left her mouth, they heard the sound of something tearing through the air behind them.
It was an arrow formed from condensed, scorching white energy. Its entire body burned with a terrifyingly high temperature, and its speed was incredible. Everywhere it passed, even space itself seemed to fold and wrinkle in its wake.
There was no need to guess the arrow's target.
It was Xiao Pingtian.
The arrow had caught up only moments after Xiao Pingtian had fled in his shuttle. A sharp whoosh, and in an instant, it disappeared from their sight.
If it weren't for the abrupt, several-zhang-wide vacuum trench carved through the forest where they stood, they wouldn't have believed what they had just seen was real.
Who knew what kind of technique Lin Yun had used, but the temperature of that arrow was terrifying. Everywhere it passed, even the ancient trees that had grown for thousands of years could not withstand it.
If that arrow landed on Xiao Pingtian…
Ye Qian didn't dare to think any further. No wonder he had run. That guy was fine when dealing with rookies, but against an opponent this terrifying? Ten Xiao Pingtians might not be a match for one Lin Yun.
Kong Xuan looked at Ye Qian. "Lin Yun… isn't dead?"
Ye Qian swallowed hard. "I fear he's not just alive. That guy is much stronger than we ever imagined. The people in Soul-Hooking Valley… they must all be dead."
Only now did she understand why the battle had lasted so long. Lin Yun had been facing a siege from all those people, and he had held on the entire time.
The next moment, a thunderous roar echoed from a great distance in front of them.
A brilliant pillar of light mixed with thick smoke shot up into the sky.
At that moment, the entire ground trembled.
It was like a nuclear bomb exploding.
A terrifying wave of heat directly obliterated everything at the center of the blast.
Looking down from the sky above the Spirit Realm, one could see a massive crater, hundreds of zhang in diameter, had appeared in the earth.
It was like the mouth of an abyss.