Zhou Yan roared, his entire body's power circulating madly. He clenched his fists, and with a rumble, a black ball of light the size of a fist appeared.
"Boom!"
The black ball of light collided with the black-clothed man's attack, emitting a piercing roar.
Both men staggered, sent flying backward, retreating several yards!
Zhou Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with ferocity as he looked at the black-clothed man: "I am not reconciled! I am not reconciled to dying like this!"
Zhou Yan charged forward.
"Seeking death!"
The black-clothed man snorted, stomped his feet, and his body shot out like an arrow, moving at extreme speed, like a cannonball, towards Zhou Yan, his fist smashing towards his head.
This punch contained the power of a formidable gale. If it landed, Zhou Yan's brain would surely splatter!
"Bang bang bang!"
Zhou Yan threw three consecutive punches, clashing head-on with his opponent.
"Bang bang bang!"
Zhou Yan was no match, his body retreating repeatedly. With every punch that landed, blood spurted out.
"Pfft..."
Finally, Zhou Yan couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, his face turning extremely pale.
Although his physical body was strong, he was only at the ninth level of body refinement. He was far from the peak of the ninth level and was no match for a martial artist at the eighth level of body refinement.
"No, if this continues, I will surely perish here."
Zhou Yan sighed inwardly, his eyes flickering, wanting to seize the opportunity to escape. Unfortunately, as soon as his body showed the slightest movement, he was grabbed by the black-clothed man again and smashed down once more.
"Bang!"
Zhou Yan was hit again.
Zhou Yan felt as if his head had been struck hundreds of times, stars exploding before his eyes, his entire face contorted.
"You are no match for me!"
The black-clothed man looked at Zhou Yan with smugness and a mocking gaze.
Zhou Yan endured the intense pain, gritting his teeth and saying, "No matter what, I will not compromise!"
"Hahaha! You are too stubborn, boy."
The black-clothed man sneered, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes. "Since you refuse to submit, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless strange runes surged from the black-clothed man's body, and a black mist spread from the runes, quickly enveloping Zhou Yan, and then drilling into his limbs and bones.
"Not good!"
Zhou Yan's pupils contracted violently, his whole body trembling.
These black runes were a unique secret technique of the Demonic Sect!
"Zhou Yan, this is a secret technique specifically designed for the body refinement realm. No matter how strong your physical body is, it will be corroded and destroyed in an instant, leaving only a shriveled corpse!"
The black-clothed man sneered sinisterly, "It's too late to regret now!"
"You!"
Zhou Yan was furious to the extreme, but he dared not move rashly.
This secret technique was extremely vicious; even a master of the body refinement realm could not resist it.
Black patterns gradually spread across Zhou Yan's body.
"No, I can't just die like this."
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, desperately trying to break free from the strange binding force.
Unfortunately, the more he struggled, the more the black patterns spread.
"Hahaha! Let's see where else you can run!"
The black-clothed man sneered repeatedly, his eyes filled with intense excitement.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now that he finally had the chance to deal with Zhou Yan, how could he let him go easily?
"No, I must break free from this damned ghost thing first."
Zhou Yan's face was extremely grim.
These black patterns seemed to be specifically designed to restrain those in the body refinement realm.
Once broken, there would be a backlash!
A hint of despair rose in Zhou Yan's heart.
He knew he was beyond saving. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't change the outcome.
Images flashed through Zhou Yan's mind. He thought of Lin Xiyue, of the vow he had made to her!
His heart was bleeding!
He was not reconciled, truly not reconciled!
To die like this?
How could he be reconciled!
"You are not reconciled?"
The black-clothed man sneered coldly, his gaze towards Zhou Yan filled with mockery.
"Do you think you can escape my sight? Don't dream! With your body refinement realm cultivation, you can't escape my palm!"
"No matter how much you resist, you can't change the outcome!"
Zhou Yan's eyes were filled with despair.
He had thought of death, of failure, but he had never imagined that the final outcome would be so bleak.
Zhou Yan closed his eyes, unable to bear witnessing this tragic scene.
"You should obediently become my slave. Stop struggling in vain!"
The black-clothed man sneered repeatedly.
"Zhou Yan, your strength is not bad, but today is destined to be your death anniversary!"
As the words fell, the black-clothed man's eyes turned sinister, and with a flick of his right arm, a black iron plate flew towards Zhou Yan, bringing with it a black light, instantly piercing through Zhou Yan's forehead!
"Plop!"
Zhou Yan's body slowly fell to the ground.
He opened his eyes and looked at the sky, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
He couldn't escape after all. He could only accept his fate!
"Did you all see? This person is Lin Xuan!"
Lin Xuan's voice suddenly echoed, causing everyone's expression to change drastically.
Zhou Yan was also stunned. He looked at the familiar young man in the sky and his eyes widened in disbelief.
That person... was it really Lin Xuan?
Lin Xuan's face was pale and he was panting, appearing heavily injured. However, his face was filled with joy.
Because he discovered that within this secret realm, he was actually able to use the Shennong Jue recorded in the second volume of the Shennong Emperor's Codex!
"Brother Lin, you..."
Seeing this, Zhou Yan was shocked beyond measure, his face filled with horror.
He knew that Lin Xuan must have had a great fortuitous encounter here to have undergone such a transformation!
But he never expected that Lin Xuan's change would be so immense!
The "Shennong Ding" from the second volume of the Shennong Jue was a cultivation technique inherited from Shennong Shi. Lin Xuan was the first martial artist to enter it.
Lin Xuan's talent was terrifying, far exceeding his expectations.
He had not yet comprehended the second volume, but he believed that one day, he too would reach this height, just like Lin Xuan!
"Haha!"
"Young Master Lin, congratulations on becoming a top master in the body refinement realm!"
Li Qingsong and Zhao Wuji laughed heartily.
They knew that their master had finally succeeded, and Lin Xuan had not let them down, becoming a martial artist in the body refinement realm.
"Haha!"
Lin Xuan laughed heartily, then looked at the black-clothed man, his eyes filled with icy killing intent, "Old dog, just you wait, I won't let you go!"
The black-clothed man's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
"Brat, you're seeking death!"
Killing intent flashed in his eyes. He suddenly swung his right arm, creating a whistling sound, and struck Lin Xuan fiercely.
"Ah!"
With a scream, Lin Xuan's body exploded.
Zhou Yan's eyes flashed with icy coldness as he stared at the black-robed man in the distance, a torrent of hatred surging in his eyes.
"You all wait! I, Zhou Yan, swear that one day, I will make you pay the price!"