In Wangzhe Continent, the tension in the forest outside Chaos City was palpable. Zeng Yaoyao's lodious laugh rang out again, her charming voice laced with seduction. "Lan Yu, Young Master of the Blood Puppet Sect, you truly are a man of your word. To have you here so quickly fills my heart with joy!"
A Show of Seduction
As Zeng Yaoyao spoke, her words dripped with honey, leaving the gathered crowd unnerved. Her allure was undeniable her every glance and motion exuded a sultry charm that seed to draw attention whether one wanted it or not.
However, Xiao Tianming's expression darkened instantly at the sight of her.
Zeng Yaoyao wasn't just any woman to him she had once been his. Despite his decision to discard her, seeing her now, practically draped over Lan Yu, ignited a fla of anger in his chest.
Lan Yu's Entrance
Lan Yu, the Blood Puppet Sect's Young Master, wrapped his arm around Zeng Yaoyao's slender waist without hesitation. With a hearty laugh, he leaned in and boldly kissed her lips.
"Yaoyao, you're as enchanting as ever! Even after all these years, seeing you again stirs sothing uncontrollable in !" Lan Yu's voice was loud and unashad, his actions filled with arrogance.
Zeng Yaoyao's reaction was perfectly rehearsed. She giggled and playfully pushed him away, her voice tinged with a mock scolding. "Oh, Young Master Lan, you're so naughty! How can you treat like this in front of so many people?"
"Because I can!" Lan Yu replied with a grin, his hand traveling unabashedly to give her a squeeze on her curves. The surrounding crowd watched, so envious, others disgusted, but none dared to voice their thoughts.
It was clear from Lan Yu's unrestrained behavior that the Blood Puppet Sect was a force not to be trifled with.
Turning the Tables
Zeng Yaoyao continued her flirtations, her voice dripping with seduction. "Young Master Lan, I'm so fortunate to have your favor. Once we're done with this matter, how about I spend so quality ti with you to properly express my gratitude?"
Lan Yu laughed loudly, giving her a dismissive yet playful slap on the backside. "Alright, alright. Let take care of this for you first!"
Lan Yu's attention shifted from Zeng Yaoyao to the man standing defiantly in front of him Xiao Tianming.
Lan Yu's eyes scanned Tianming, quickly assessing him. Although Tianming's physique was formidable stronger even than his own he noticed the complete absence of spirit energy within him. To Lan Yu, that made Tianming no threat at all.
"You must be Xiao Tianming?" Lan Yu sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.
Xiao Tianming's Defiance
"Hmph! You're just a puny fourth grade Sovereign at the early stage, and you dare act so arrogantly in front of ?" Tianming's words were sharp and unrelenting as he glared at Lan Yu with open contempt.
Lan Yu's face darkened. His entire life had been one of indulgence and power. As the sole heir of the Blood Puppet Sect, his every whim was granted. Never before had anyone dared to insult him like this.
"Arrogant fool!" Lan Yu spat, his Sovereign aura erupting outward in a wave of pressure.
But to his shock, Tianming remained unaffected.
Tianming sneered, his grip tightening on the spirit array jade talisman in his hand. "The Blood Puppet Sect? A bunch of nobodies in my eyes. Your strength, your reputation none of it matters to . I've already taken down two sixth grade Sovereigns with one array talisman. You want to end up like them?"
As Tianming spoke, his gaze swept across the gathered crowd, filled with disdain. His words didn't just insult Lan Yu they mocked everyone present.
Chaos Erupts
The crowd seethed with fury at Tianming's blatant disrespect.
"Impudent brat!"
"How dare you!"
"You'll pay for your arrogance!"
The air thickened with hostility as many began to contemplate taking action, though the lingering fear of the talisman in Tianming's hand held them back.
Lan Yu, however, was beyond livid. His crimson aura flared wildly, the surrounding space trembling under his pressure. He looked ready to rip Tianming apart with his bare hands.
A Mont of Caution
But just as Lan Yu prepared to act, Zeng Yaoyao placed a hand on his arm. "Young Master Lan, be careful. Look at him he seems far too confident. He may be hiding sothing."
Her voice carried a hint of warning, her sharp eyes fixed on Tianming.
SLAP!
To everyone's shock, Lan Yu turned and slapped Zeng Yaoyao across the face. The force of the blow sent her flying backward, her body crashing to the ground.
A Ruthless Betrayal
Zeng Yaoyao lay stunned, her hand covering the red mark blooming on her cheek. "Young Master Lan, why…?"
Lan Yu sneered. "You dare interfere in my affairs? You think you're special?"
Zeng Yaoyao's face turned pale as she stamred, "But I thought… you ca for …"
"For you?" Lan Yu laughed coldly. "Don't flatter yourself. I ca for the treasure he holds, not for so cheap plaything like you."
Zeng Yaoyao froze, her mind reeling. She had manipulated countless n, yet here she was discarded and humiliated.
Lan Yu's voice cut through her despair like a blade. "You're nothing more than a toy, Zeng Yaoyao. You should feel honored I even entertained you for this long."
The Battle Begins
Tianming watched the scene unfold with an amused smirk. He had expected Zeng Yaoyao's betrayal, but her couppance was an unexpected bonus.
"You're ruthless," Tianming said, his tone mocking as he clapped sarcastically. "But I have to admit, watching her get put in her place was satisfying."
Lan Yu turned back to Tianming, his expression twisted with rage. "You'll regret that, Xiao Tianming!"
Tianming's grip on the jade talisman tightened. "No, Lan Yu. The only one who will regret anything today is you."
"Hahaha! I, Lan Yu, the esteed Young Master of the Blood Puppet Sect, can have any woman on the entire Wangzhe Continent. Do you think I'd waste my affection on soone like you?"
Lan Yu's mocking declaration left everyone stunned. Even Xiao Tianming, who had already pegged Lan Yu as an arrogant fool, was taken aback by the sheer brazenness of his words. Lan Yu's deanor shifted so quickly that it caught everyone off guard.
Noticing Xiao Tianming's shocked gaze, Lan Yu's lips curled into a cruel smile as he spoke with venom.
Lan Yu's Threat
"Xiao Tianming, this is my final offer," Lan Yu said coldly. "Hand over the item these people so desperately want, and I may let you live. I'll even pretend your earlier insults were nothing more than nonsense.
"Otherwise…" Lan Yu gestured to the nacing blood red constructs behind him. "Do you see these Blood Spirit Puppets? If you refuse, you'll beco one of them. Your soul will be locked inside, condemned to eternal tornt under the agony of blood corrosion. Trust , no one survives such suffering with their sanity intact."
His words sent a chill through the air, and everyone understood why Lan Yu was here it wasn't for Zeng Yaoyao, but for the spirit array jade talismans that had caused a frenzy in Chaos City.
However, Lan Yu's ignorance was apparent. While he lusted after the talismans, Zeng Yaoyao had clearly not explained their true nature.
Xiao Tianming's Call for Help
But Xiao Tianming was no longer the panicked man from before. Instead, he let out a booming laugh. "Lan Yu, you want to turn into one of your puppets? Fine! But tell what will you do when my elder brother arrives?"
His voice echoed across the forest.
Lan Yu's smirk faltered for a mont, and the other gathered experts tensed, scanning their surroundings. Was Xiao Tianming's backup already here?
But as monts passed and nothing happened, the tension gave way to confusion. Only the rustling of leaves in the wind filled the silence.
Xiao Tianming's Growing Panic
Xiao Tianming's confidence began to waver. He glanced at the glowing positioning jade talisman in his hand and muttered, "No way… Did Brother Tiance just leave hanging?"
His words only served to provoke derisive laughter from Lan Yu.
"Hahaha! So, it was all a bluff?" Lan Yu sneered, his eyes brimming with disdain. "Since no one's coming to save you, I'll make you regret your arrogance!"
With a wave of Lan Yu's hand, the Blood Spirit Puppets sprang to life.
The Attack Begins
A dozen crimson constructs let out guttural roars, their soulless eyes glowing with bloodlust. They moved with terrifying speed, charging at Xiao Tianming like wild beasts.
"Damn it, Brother Tiance, you've killed !" Xiao Tianming cursed, clutching the jade talisman tightly. At the last second, he crushed it with his bare hands.
The Spirit Array Activates
As the jade shattered, a protective spirit array erupted around Xiao Tianming, forming a shimring barrier of energy.
Bang!
The first Blood Spirit Puppet collided with the barrier and was sent flying backward.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
More of the puppets attacked, their claws slashing at the glowing wall, but the array held firm.
Lan Yu's expression shifted from smugness to intrigue. "What a remarkable treasure," he muttered to himself.
These puppets weren't ordinary they were mid grade constructs, each equivalent to a Sovereign level expert. Yet, their combined assault barely left a dent in the barrier.
Lan Yu's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Yes, this trip was worth it after all. Such a treasure… It must be mine!"
He sent more puppets to hamr at the barrier, their relentless strikes reverberating across the clearing.
Xiao Tianming's Desperation
Inside the barrier, Xiao Tianming wiped the sweat from his brow. "That was too close. If I didn't have this talisman, I'd already be dead."
But his relief was short lived. Xiao Tianming knew the truth: the talisman's protective energy wouldn't last long.
He rummaged through his storage ring, pulling out more jade talismans ten in total.
"Damn it, these defensive arrays only last five minutes each. Even if I use every one, I won't last half an hour!" Xiao Tianming muttered anxiously.
"Brother Tiance, didn't you say that when the talisman lights up, it ans you're close? Where the hell are you?!"
Lan Yu's Cunning
Outside the array, Lan Yu carefully observed Xiao Tianming. He noticed the cracks beginning to form in the glowing barrier and ordered his puppets to intensify their attacks.
At the sa ti, he stayed back, out of range of any potential counterattacks. "If he has another offensive talisman like the one that killed those two sixth grade Sovereigns, I can't take any chances," Lan Yu thought to himself.
He wasn't the only one with this mindset. The other experts from Chaos City, who had chased Xiao Tianming for days, also held back, unwilling to beco collateral damage.
But as the barrier cracked further, their caution began to wane.
A Glimr of Hope
Xiao Tianming knew he couldn't afford to waste any more ti. Crushing another talisman, he activated a second barrier just as the first one shattered.
Bang!
Once again, the Blood Spirit Puppets were thrown back.
Lan Yu chuckled darkly. "It's just a matter of ti. Keep attacking!"
Whispered Sches
In the shadows, several Sovereign level experts exchanged furtive glances. One of them spoke in a hushed tone.
"Xiao Tianming's defensive talismans have a ti limit. Once the barrier fails, he's ours."
Another nodded. "But Lan Yu and his puppets are the real problem. If we don't deal with him first, we won't get a share of the spoils."
The group quickly ca to an agreent: Lan Yu had to be eliminated if they were to claim the treasure for themselves.
The Waiting Ga
For now, everyone waited. Xiao Tianming clutched another talisman, his heart pounding as the seconds ticked away.
"Brother Tiance," he whispered, "if you don't show up soon, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of my life however short that may be."
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