Chapter 135: A Single Arrow Shatters the Emperor's Might

In a single exchange, the number of the remaining Evil Owls was slashed from three to two.

The surviving swordsman, his face ashen, pushed off the ground with all his might and retreated in a desperate scramble. Having witnessed Xu Wen’s terrifying strength, the swordsman knew he stood no chance. At this critical juncture, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Boss! Save me!"

He pushed his battle energy to an unprecedented peak, gripping his sword with both hands. The brilliant radiance of his energy cascaded like flowing mercury, dancing before him in a defense so dense not even a drop of water could pass through.

A six-star swordsman employing a defensive combat technique is focused entirely on survival and stalling for time; killing him in such a short window would be nearly impossible. Yet, at this very moment, Xu Wen felt a powerful pressure rapidly approaching from behind—a sensation like countless needle tips frantically pricking his back.

"Old Evil" had caught up.

The young city lord and his guards were in close pursuit behind him.

"You can barely protect yourself, yet you want to save others?"

Old Evil did not know that this was exactly what Xu Wen had been waiting for. Once everyone had left the area affected by the "Elemental Turbulence Pill," the time would come for them to pay the price.

Immediately abandoning the swordsman, who was busy hunkering down in his defensive stance, Xu Wen turned the Black Wind Eagle around. As it flew down, it let out a sharp cry and vanished into thin air.

"It’s you!"

Old Evil, charging forward with a menacing aura, stared at Xu Wen in disbelief. He could not fathom that the mysterious beast tamer—who had killed five of his brothers in quick succession and possessed strength seemingly nearing the seven-star level—was the same youth he had once encountered in the Foggy Forest, a boy who had left a deep impression on him.

Shock and profound awe filled Old Evil’s eyes.

Landing on the solid ground, Xu Wen relaxed slightly. Staring at Old Evil, he curled the corners of his lips upward.

"I didn't expect us to meet again so soon. We really are fated."

Despite his words, his movements were cautious. Three black fire pythons flickered their tongues as they circled him, their forms rapidly solidifying where the black flames had been thin. As long as the "Coiled Serpent Formation" was at his side, Xu Wen was fully confident he could hold off Old Evil’s attacks for at least three minutes with this six-star Earth-Emperor level magic.

"Ridiculous... I underestimated you back in the Foggy Forest!"

Old Evil stopped a hundred meters away, eyeing Xu Wen with hesitation and a complex gaze. He could no longer be certain if Xu Wen’s cultivation level was genuine—three months ago, the boy had only been a four-star high-rank practitioner; for him to leap over a dozen grades in such a short time was inconceivable.

Moreover, Xu Wen’s appearance didn't suggest he was even sixteen yet... A six-star fire mage of such youth, who was also a beast tamer, was truly baffling and unsettling.

Even more astonishing was that, despite facing an eight-star dark mage who had undergone demonic transformation, the youth before him showed no fear, putting away his summoned beast as if prepared to fight to the death.

Old Evil’s eyes sharpened, and his tone shifted subtly.

"Did you come here specifically because of what happened last time?"

"Last time? Hmph, you overvalue your own charm. My time is precious; why would I waste it on the likes of you over such a trivial matter?"

Xu Wen’s seemingly arrogant remark did not enrage Old Evil; instead, it made the youth appear even more mysterious and unfathomable.

"If you didn't come specifically to cause us trouble, then why are you in Red Prosperity Town, and why did you kill my fifth brother?" Though he had already vaguely guessed that his fifth brother had likely provoked someone beyond his depth due to his own poor judgment.

"Whether I come here or not is none of your business. As for this 'fifth brother' you speak of, I don't know who he is, but I suspect it was that blind thief who dared to raise a hand against me..."

Xu Wen looked at Old Evil with indifference, glancing toward the young city lord and his guards, who were already closing in from a distance.

Old Evil’s pupils shifted, then returned to Xu Wen as his dark energy suddenly surged! He did not even look back at the thirty-plus people behind him. If he were still a seven-star practitioner, he might have been wary, but now! With a physical constitution in no way inferior to a seven-star warrior and a mental cultivation raised to the eight-star primary level, how could he possibly care about such people?

Facing the eight-star pressure from Old Evil, Xu Wen’s expression grew slightly more solemn. The three flame pythons surged with energy, their tongues flickering back and forth, their presence not a whit weaker than their opponent.

"That six-star thief dared to show his face before me and even claimed he would take me back; what is that if not seeking death? As for what follows, you should understand. The mental energy you planted on them was a nuisance to me... Rather than being haunted by you all in the future, it is better to pay you all a visit personally... to nip the problem in the bud." He emphasized the last four words, and the sheer, natural confidence in his voice made Old Evil’s expression change.

Having roamed the world for so many years, he had seen many arrogant people, but this was the first time he had encountered such a young madman. The one who had invited this catastrophe was indeed the first to die—his fifth brother. Cursing "That idiot!" in his heart, Old Evil did not let his face betray his inner turmoil. He looked at Xu Wen, his gaze turning suddenly sharp.

"Nip the problem in the bud? I highly doubt you have the ability to do so." The situation had reached a point of no return; five men were already dead, and the other... likely wouldn't survive either. Furthermore, forced into this demonic transformation, his own days were numbered.

"You will find out."

Xu Wen raised his Lava Staff.

*ROAR!!*

With a sudden tiger’s roar, the majestic Three-Eyed Flame Tiger appeared. Its four paws trod upon raging flames, and with a flick of its tail, it nimbly and expertly pulled Xu Wen onto its back.

Xu Wen sat astride the tiger, the flame pythons still guarding his body. The appearance of the Three-Eyed Flame Tiger meant Xu Wen was now confronting Old Evil from a position of height. Although he still could not suppress the eight-star demonic powerhouse in terms of pure aura, the raging flames erupting from the tiger made the fire pythons appear even more imposing, faintly balancing the scales against Old Evil.

One man, one tiger!

Opposite them stood Old Evil, his face shadowed by dark energy, looking hesitant.

As time passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly volatile.

The thirty-plus people who had reached Old Evil’s position began chanting, preparing their own offensive magic and combat techniques—they could clearly see that the magical pressure radiating from Xu Wen was in no way inferior to Old Evil’s!

Caught between two forces, Old Evil gradually began to lose his momentum, finding himself in a precarious, isolated position.

Especially when another powerful surge of magical energy erupted from Xu Wen, and a giant bow, constructed entirely of golden flames, appeared above his head... The arrow pointed at Old Evil, and as it was drawn back, a destructive force locked firmly onto his body.

The five-star Profound Heaven magic, "Emperor-Shattering Golden Flame Arrow," had been unleashed!

The air within a hundred-meter radius seemed to be vacuumed away. All eyes were fixed on that giant bow, pulled to its limit, as if ready to fire a destructive golden arrow at any moment. Old Evil’s aura was completely suppressed.

Only Xu Wen’s voice echoed across the battlefield:

"Five-star Profound Heaven magic, Emperor-Shattering Golden Flame Arrow. I wonder if you have heard of it..."

The young city lord and his men looked on in confusion; it was clear they had never heard of such a spell. Only Old Evil’s face twitched upon hearing the name.

Xu Wen saw it and smiled slightly.

"It seems you do know this magic. As expected of a seven-star veteran mage, your knowledge is indeed vast... This is a Profound Heaven magic created by the Great Archmage Harman of the Azure Cloud Empire, known as 'A Single Arrow Released, Ten Thousand Shatter the Emperor.' It can fire ten thousand arrows within a single breath, turning a fifty-meter radius into scorched earth! Its power is comparable to a seven-star high-rank spell! Oh, and it has an added, miraculous effect against dark and undead defensive magic."

The dark energy on Old Evil’s body had completely receded, and he had placed thick dark shields and barriers between himself and Xu Wen. Upon hearing the last sentence, his body shuddered as if struck by lightning.

"Hmph! It is merely the power of a seven-star spell. Do you think I would fear you just because it has a purifying effect? As a six-star mage, how long can you sustain a spell of this level?"

Old Evil was unwilling to let his morale collapse at such a moment. However, he knew that in a battle against a fire mage of the same rank, a dark mage had no advantage whatsoever. His only reliance was his eight-star primary mental cultivation.

"Of course you wouldn't fear me."

Seeing that Old Evil still had no intention of attacking, Xu Wen smiled.

"Unfortunately, I may lack other things, but I have pills to spare..."

As he spoke, under Old Evil’s furious gaze, he pulled out a handful of "Devil’s Eyes" and laughed:

"I can guarantee that in a duel between the two of us, you are the one who will die. And even if you try to run, there is nowhere to go. With your current demonic body, you will be like a rat crossing the street, hated by everyone wherever you go."

"..."

Seeing the desperate, suicidal rage in Old Evil’s eyes growing, Xu Wen knew the fire had been stoked enough. He shifted his tone: "However, it is not easy to reach the seven-star level. How about this? I will give you a chance to live."

"Boy, take that kind of talk and use it to fool a three-year-old. You killed five of my brothers; do you think I will just let it go?"

While Old Evil was tempted, he remained highly vigilant, failing to notice that he had already conceded the advantage in momentum. This realization left the group behind him trembling.

A seven-star dark mage after demonic transformation, actually bowing his head to a six-star fire mage?

To them, no matter what promises Xu Wen made, it was impossible to stop this battle. Old Evil was a plunderer; having used the irreversible demonic transformation technique, he was neither man nor ghost. Xu Wen, as the instigator, could not be so naive as to think Old Evil wouldn't seek revenge later—nor could Old Evil ever let Xu Wen go!

At this moment, Xu Wen snorted:

"If you were truly willing to risk your life for those people, why would you be wasting your breath with me until now? You would have attacked long ago to cover his escape. The facts prove that you still want to live; you are just debating whether to run now or later."

Old Evil’s expression stiffened.

Xu Wen had no intention of wasting more time or unnecessary magic. He finally stated the ultimate goal of his long-winded speech:

"The dark-type demonic transformation is indeed irreversible, but I know of a medicine that can temporarily lift the state... If you want to live, I will give you the medicine, on the condition that you offer up your soul fire and sign a master-servant contract with me, serving me for three years! After three years, I will give you enough medicine and grant you your freedom... If you want to die, I will fulfill your wish right now and send you all seven Evil Owls to be reunited underground!"

As he spoke, the Golden Flame Bow burned fiercely, its aura surging! The ground cracked, and the temperature soared!

The young city lord and his men in the distance began to feel parched and drenched in sweat.

This was no choice given to Old Evil; it was forcing a seven-star dark mage to become his slave.

(To be continued)