BTTH: DISCIPLE CASHBACK SYSTEM

Chapter 289: The Fight Intensifies!

The immense crescent of red light unleashed by Xiao Yan astonished the thirty-odd mercenaries of the Eldest Brother's Mercenary Group, their eyes wide with shock at the sheer power of the attack, which surpassed their imaginations.

Cassida and the two maids brought by Liu Ling, standing in front of the mercenaries, showed deep concern. They had seen Liu Ling in action multiple times and had a general understanding of his strength, but they had never encountered such a formidable attack before.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, standing not far behind Xiao Yan, shared similar feelings. They had already retreated a dozen steps before Xiao Yan had even begun his attack, yet the intense heat of the energy still reached them.

"Did little brother go too far? This level of attack could...," Xiao Ding muttered, watching the terrifying red glow. Although they had some conflicts with Liu Ling, the origin of their dispute was their own plotting against him, making them technically at fault.

In such a ruthless mercenary world, moral arguments often gave way to the rule of the strongest fist.

Knowing this, even though Xiao Ding realized Liu Ling might be gravely injured or worse from Xiao Yan's strike, he didn't call out to stop it.

As everyone's focus was on the powerful crescent of red light, Liu Ling seemed unfazed and pushed his palm forward in a seemingly slow and ordinary motion. This action drew nearly ninety percent of the Dou Qi from his body in an instant.

The crimson seal he unleashed then suddenly expanded, engulfing several meters in an instant, vaporizing the thick stone slabs on the ground as it passed. A faint red phoenix phantom quickly emerged at the center of the seal, exuding a destructive aura.

"Danger!"

Just as Liu Ling fully released the seal, a panicked shout from Yao Lao echoed suddenly in Xiao Yan's mind.

Instantly, Xiao Yan's aura surged again, incredibly reaching the level of a Dou King in mere moments, startling everyone once more.

The next moment, the giant crescent of red light collided with the phoenix seal, triggering a massive explosion of energy that rippled outward.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan's powerful red crescent was completely annihilated, while the phoenix phantom within the seal remained undissipated, its vivid wings flapping as it charged towards Xiao Yan at an unimaginable speed.

With no time to react after just releasing his ground-level Dou Technique, Xiao Yan could only brace himself by placing the giant black ruler in front of him.

"Boom!"

A muffled sound followed as Xiao Yan and his black ruler were sent flying backward for over ten meters before coming to a stop, his feet nearly buried in the ground.

"Little brother, are you alright?"

"Master Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and the alluring woman, Xue Lan, who had just appeared at the entrance, hurried forward to check on Xiao Yan.

"Spurt!"

Stabilizing himself, Xiao Yan suddenly spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.

"Little brother!"

Seeing Xiao Yan spit blood, Xiao Ding and the others grew even more anxious.

Flashing a grin at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Yan wiped the blood from his mouth and said in a somewhat weak voice, "Haha, big brother, second brother, your little brother is tough; I'm not dying just yet!"

After making this remark, Xiao Yan's gaze slowly shifted back towards Liu Ling.

As Liu Ling sat exhausted on the ground after unleashing the powerful Earth-tier Vermillion Bird Seal, his Dou Qi nearly depleted, the intensity of the battle became apparent. His two delicate maids were beside him, anxiously wiping sweat from his body, while Cassida and the other mercenaries stood guard with weapons drawn, vigilant and protective.

"Such a terrifying Dou Technique!" Xiao Yan uttered with a wary look as he observed Liu Ling, who was seated and trying to recover his strength.

Xiao Yan was acutely aware that had Yao Lao not enhanced his cultivation to the level of a Dou King just in time, he might well have been dead by now.

"That move he used was likely an Earth-tier advanced Dou Technique. For someone with his peak Dou Grandmaster's strength to unleash such a powerful technique is truly monstrous," Yao Lao's voice, filled with surprise and admiration, suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind as he watched Liu Ling.

"So, even the teacher agrees he's a monster!" Xiao Yan sighed inwardly upon hearing Yao Lao's words.

"You really know how to find trouble, kid. This young man is formidable, possessing an Earth-tier Dou Technique, a beast flame, and he's a third-grade alchemist. It's likely he has a powerful mentor backing him!" Yao Lao's perspective was always broader than Xiao Yan's, and he quickly pointed out the serious implications.

"A powerful mentor!"

Hearing Yao Lao's analysis, Xiao Yan gave a wry smile. "I didn't want to provoke him either, but I couldn't just watch as my brothers' years of effort went to waste."

"Alright, now that he's likely drained of Dou Qi from using that Earth-tier technique, it's a good time to negotiate. He's unlikely to refuse," Yao Lao stated gravely.

"Right."

Nodding at Yao Lao's advice, Xiao Yan then exerted some effort to free his feet from the ground where they were embedded and began to slowly walk towards Liu Ling.

Noticing Xiao Yan's movements, Cassida and the mercenaries behind him were visibly intimidated yet none backed down.

As Xiao Yan approached, their hearts raced faster with each step he took.

"Brothers, do not let this man near the leader!" Suddenly, Cassida roared, raising his weapon and preparing to charge at Xiao Yan.

"Cassida, fall back!"

Before he could move far, a chilling voice called out from behind, halting Cassida and the others in their tracks.

Then, a figure swiftly leaped over their heads and landed firmly in front of them.

Recognizing the silhouette, Cassida and the others found it all too familiar.

"Leader!"

(End of the chapter)

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