"How is this possible? How is this possible? I clearly gave you the Nine Nether Soul Refining Pill, how can you still have the strength to resist!" Zhou Yan's eyes widened, his face turning deathly pale.
"Hmph, neither the pill nor the bloodline of a spirit beast can make me lose my mind. Zhou Yan, I advise you to surrender, or your end will be truly miserable!"
"Hahahaha, surrender? You must be dreaming!" Zhou Yan burst into laughter.
The next moment, his aura surged, his cultivation instantly tripling to the fifth level of the Immortal Monarch realm.
"Li Yang, I will show you that I, Zhou Yan, am far more powerful than you. Today, you must die!"
"Buzz!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Yan lunged at Li Yang, his fists relentlessly pounding Li Yang's chest. The force of his punches roared, tearing the void and causing constant explosions.
"Boom!"
Their palms collided once more, a wave of immense and boundless energy spreading outwards. Li Yang's body was once again sent flying backward.
A ferocious smile stretched across Zhou Yan's face.
"Li Yang, you are not good enough, you never will be!"
Zhou Yan roared ferociously, intense killing intent radiating from his eyes.
"Bang!"
Li Yang crashed heavily onto the ground, his body covered in wounds. Each gash was deep enough to expose bone, and blood flowed freely, making him appear on the verge of death.
Not only that, but Li Yang's hands were also stained red with blood.
"Zhou Yan, may you die a terrible death!"
Li Yang struggled to get up, roaring defiantly.
"Heh heh, die a terrible death?" Zhou Yan said coldly, "Li Yang, when I become an Immortal King, I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces!"
"Boom!"
With that, Zhou Yan charged at Li Yang again. The force of his punches grew stronger, churning the surrounding space.
"Zhou Yan, you won't dare to touch me!" Li Yang shouted, meeting the attack once more.
His physical body began to swell wildly, and soon he transformed into a towering man about four meters tall. His muscles were like forged steel, brimming with explosive power.
Li Yang roared to the sky, wielding his black longsword with both hands, and slashed it fiercely at Zhou Yan.
After a dull thud, Li Yang was sent flying backward again, spitting a mouthful of blood, his face growing even paler.
"Zhou Yan, you are not human, you are worse than an animal!"
Li Yang roared repeatedly.
"Li Yang, stop your death throes. This Nine Nether Soul Refining Pill not only enhances a cultivator's soul power but also induces hallucinations. Your soul power is completely lost. Today, you are doomed to die!"
Zhou Yan sneered repeatedly, an expression of immense excitement on his face. He was already an Immortal Venerable, and after consuming the Nine Nether Soul Refining Pill, his strength would absolutely soar to the Immortal Emperor realm. He was even certain that even ordinary Immortal Venerable realm powerhouses would have no ability to resist under the effect of this pill. This was the terrifying nature of the Nine Nether Soul Refining Pill; any cultivator who was poisoned would, at most, lose their mind and become utterly useless within two hours.
"Li Yang, let's see how you can contend with me, hahaha!"
Zhou Yan laughed wantonly.
"Buzz!"
At that moment, a voice echoed in Li Yang's mind, belonging to the Ice Snow Fairy.
"Li Yang, I sense a treasure here. Quickly find it, and perhaps you can escape this place!"
"Huh?" Li Yang was taken aback. His heart began to beat violently, and a peculiar sensation arose within him. This feeling was akin to the one he had when the Ice Snow Fairy had saved him in the small world. However, the situation this time was entirely different. The Ice Snow Fairy, within his sea of consciousness, had been unable to escape. But now, it was different. Li Yang's mind seemed to contain a mysterious domain that could block all divine sense probes.
"Whoosh!"
Li Yang flashed forward, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yan's brow furrowed. He hadn't expected Li Yang's speed to be so astounding. Even in his full strength, he wouldn't be able to catch up.
"This is bad, he's trying to escape, chase him quickly!"
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, a sense of unease surging in his heart. Li Yang was too fast, and he feared that Li Yang might actually get away.
"Zhou Yan, don't think you can escape. I will kill you with my own hands!" Li Yang's eyes flashed with indignant light.
"Whoosh!"
Li Yang's speed increased.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Yan cursed, accelerating his pace. However, he had only just broken through, and his strength was far inferior to Li Yang's. Even with his increased speed, he still couldn't catch up to Li Yang.
"Zhou Yan, you are bound to die today. No one can save you!" Li Yang roared wildly. At this moment, Li Yang had completely fallen into a hallucination. His eyes glinted with a mad, bloodthirsty aura, and he desired to kill Zhou Yan to avenge his fallen loved ones and friends.
"No, I have to find a way to escape. I must first recover my peak strength!" The thought flashed through Li Yang's mind. This was the only way he could think of, the only path to survival. With this thought, Li Yang's heart gave a sharp jolt, and a mouthful of vital blood slowly spat from his lips.
"Shh!"
This stream of vital blood directly pierced into Li Yang's brow. Instantly, a profound piece of information was transmitted into Li Yang's mind. Li Yang now possessed knowledge of the "Yin Yang Eight Harmony Limitless Marrow Cleansing Scripture."
"The Yin Yang Eight Harmony Limitless Marrow Cleansing Scripture..."
A strange smile flickered across Li Yang's lips.
"Li Yang, no matter how powerful you are, your cultivation is only at the Immortal Monarch realm. In the face of absolute strength, you are nothing more than an ant!"
"Today, I will send you on your way!"
"Swish!"
A murderous intent filled Zhou Yan's face.
"Zhou Yan, let me tell you, I will not die!" Li Yang snorted coldly.
"Rumble!"
"Bang!"
Before Li Yang's words could even finish, his body was engulfed in raging flames. These flames were purple-gold, emitting an intense heat that distorted the very air. Li Yang's entire arm instantly turned to ash, and surging flames erupted all over his body.
"Ssss!"
A light sound. Li Yang's clothes disintegrated, revealing his bronze-colored, robust physique. The crisscrossing scars on his body were also burned away by these purple-gold flames, revealing a multitude of old wounds.
"Hiss hiss!"