Chapter 263: Siblings Fall

"This is somewhat interesting."

Shen Yi watched silently, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Even a Slain Hunyuan Sect Shen Zongshi was so weak before such a defense, without even a shred of room to resist.

If only he could possess one, he would have a place to hide when encountering danger.

I wonder if I can take this river of fire away?

As he pondered, a phoenix cry exploded beside his ear. Intense true fire gathered into a fierce bird with wings spanning over ten zhang, diving down from high above to attack!

"Die for me!"

Xiang Tianyan's voice was sharp as she held a long sword radiating brilliant light.

A scorching heatwave swept out, forcing many Embracing Elixir Realm cultivators to dodge. Even with their qi raised to resist, black burn marks appeared on their skin.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced casually over, facing the fierce fire bird and the blinding sword light contained within it.

He raised his hand slightly.

His sleeve fluttered up, his palm clenched into a fist, and then he brutally smashed it out.

Beneath that fist, the long sword shattered inch by inch. The magnificent fire wings wrapping Xiang Tianyan were swept away like by a gale, turning into a sky full of firelight before quickly extinguishing.

"..."

Xiang Tianyan gripped the sword hilt, staring blankly at the young man right before her.

Deep fear suddenly surged in her heart.

Immediately, she watched that hand grab her hair and yank her down violently.

Boom!

Shen Yi stepped on her shoulder with one foot, pinning her firmly to the ground, and smoothly took her storage bag.

"Don't waste time. I throw you over, or you go over yourself. Choose one."

A calm voice sounded from behind.

There was not even a shred of room for negotiation left.

Xiang Tianyan struggled desperately on the ground, but beneath the casually stepping boot, her shoulder had long since shattered, exposing her blazing Nascent Soul.

Until this moment, she still hadn't figured out what technique the young man cultivated.

"Little friend... Senior... let me go first..."

Hearing these nearly pleading words, the others, ignoring their own burns, all looked over in terror.

Looking at this young Shen Zongshi's skilled technique.

The so-called domineering conduct of the Xiang siblings could truly only be considered a dwarf next to a giant.

Where was this some inexperienced prodigy? He was clearly a ruthless old hand.

"..."

The scholar watched with trembling heart. Just moments ago he had dared to advise Xiang Tianxiong, but now looking at Shen Yi's expressionless, handsome face.

He was even careful with his breathing, afraid of disturbing the other party.

Father was right; cultivators outside are indeed none to be trifled with.

"Senior!"

Feeling the boot on her body move away, Xiang Tianyan climbed up from the ground, still shaken.

Under the other's gaze, she felt her whole body go cold and silently looked toward the shore.

The Xiang family had spent a huge price to buy information about this place from elsewhere.

Inside, there was likely a spiritual root compatible with her hidden.

Originally she thought she could use this opportunity to advance her realm further, but she never expected it to become her brother's burial ground.

Now the only chance was to cross the fire waves.

Pluck the spiritual root, rush to break through, and only then would there be a sliver of chance to survive... This young man's psychological pressure on her was truly too great. Even after breaking through, she had no confidence to defeat him; her mind was only thinking of escaping.

"Senior, could you return my..."

Xiang Tianyan pointed at the storage bag in the other's hand.

"Hmm?" Shen Yi glanced at her.

"No! Could you lend your treasure to me for use..." Xiang Tianyan wished in her heart to devour his flesh and blood, but on the surface she could only hold her nose and submit.

She honestly explained the use of every single item.

The two siblings had not originally pinned all their hopes on others, so they had also prepared some things to cross the river.

Shen Yi cast a glance at that scholar.

"Uh, no problem."

The little scholar shivered all over and hurriedly nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Involving the treasures of the cave dwelling, Shen Yi would not be stingy; he took those items out one by one and lent them all to Xiang Tianyan.

"Then I'm going."

Xiang Tianyan, having gathered a pile of treasures, walked cautiously to the shore.

The tall, thin man silently looked at her once, then decisively and cleanly retreated several steps backward.

The rule set by the two siblings was that a bigger fist is the reason; now the fist was not bigger than others...

The situation reversed; the bitter fruit must be swallowed alone.

"Hoo."

Xiang Tianyan draped a layer of pale blue thin gauze over herself, put two jade rings on her wrists, and stepped onto a flying shuttle.

Immediately, red light blazed on her body as she poured her qi as hard as she could into the flying shuttle.

His entire form shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, not toward the opposite bank, but straight up into the sky!

The tall, thin man's eyes widened.

The other party's earlier reaction had been too convincing; even he had believed the woman would cross the river obediently. He never expected her plan from start to finish was simply to flee!

Swish.

As Xiang Tianyan had just soared into the sky, a suspended ink blade pressed against her neck.

Her whole body went rigid, her eyelashes trembled, and she lowered her gaze to look at the young man below.

Shen Yi still stood in place, not even looking at her, busying himself with adjusting his cuffs.

But that ink blade suddenly tore through Xiang Tianyan's flesh. She immediately cried out in alarm, "Senior, spare my life!"

What kind of magical treasure was this blade? It seemed to possess a spirit, as if its heart was connected to the young man's.

Xiang Tianyan was, after all, a Shen Zongshi of the Jinghunyuan Sect in the Middle Realm; she certainly could not be killed by it.

But since others had already offered a way out, was there any need to force this person to fly up and smash her down again?

They might not give a second chance.

She obediently controlled the flying shuttle to descend. Watching the ink blade return to the young man's waist scabbard, Xiang Tianyan withdrew her gaze, gritted her teeth, and darted toward the opposite bank!

"I'll risk it!"

The flying shuttle swept through the half-sky, and the previous scene occurred once more.

It was seen instantly losing control and plummeting downward.

Xiang Tianyan was prepared; she stomped hard on the shuttle with her toes. Without summoning her Dao Infant, she leaped toward the opposite bank relying solely on her physical body!

At the same time, the fire waves beneath her feet suddenly surged upward, grabbing at her like tentacles.

She could not use her aura to protect her body.

The two jade rings on Xiang Tianyan's wrists erupted with Bai Mang!

This formation would imprison the aura, but these jade rings had been acquired from a small kingdom and contained the power of incense and vows.

She did not quite understand what the power of incense and vows was, only knowing that this thing could protect her.

Indeed, the Bai Mang collided head-on with the flames... and was burned away completely in just one breath.

The two jade rings shattered outright.

The next moment, Xiang Tianyan, whose half-foot had already touched the ground, was wrapped by surging chains of fire.

The blue gauze on her body resisted for a mere instant before being completely evaporated.

"Save me!"

She had time to leave only this final cry.

Her entire body was dragged into the sea of fire. This time, as if she had angered the formation, she could not even force her Dao Infant out.

From start to finish, it took no more than one double-hour, and three people had perished here.

The silent sea of fire appeared calm, yet it made everyone's hearts tremble.

The cave dwellings left behind by cultivators took lives in the formless void.

(End of this chapter)