Beneath a vast, azure sky, three powerful surges of energy streaked by, their sheer force sending shockwaves through Yancheng. Numerous individuals at the level of Battle Seers and above instantly froze, lifting their heads in stunned awe, gazing at the figures racing across the sky like meteors. Their feet trembled with each passing moment. The combined presence of three Battle Emperors—rarely witnessed in the Gamma Empire—was typically reserved for those who had reached a certain threshold of achievement. Under the weight of these three titanic presences, chaos swiftly spread throughout the city. Amidst the commotion, many stronger individuals, after a brief moment of stillness, surged with fervor and excitement, leaping onto rooftops from all directions. They then darted about like energetic fleas, moving swiftly across the city’s rooftops, following the three resounding waves of power from afar. Many people hold deep reverence for such super-strong beings. Battles waged by high-tier warriors are particularly captivating for those at the Battle Master and Grand Battle Master levels. In the vast city, hundreds of black silhouettes surged forward simultaneously, creating a formidable and awe-inspiring spectacle. Above, Xiao Yan's expression was grim as he locked onto the figure ahead in jade-green robes. His wings behind him fluttered rapidly, whipping strong winds that sliced across his body like blades, causing a slight discomfort. Nearneath Xiao Yan, Haibo Dong closely trailed behind. At this moment, icy white qi spiraled around his body, and sharp, gleaming ice spines shimmered on the withered palms, curling slightly at the tips to emit a steady flow of cold energy. Raising his head, he furrowed his brows, gazing at the swift-moving woman in green robes. After a brief pause, he rapidly formed hand seals, causing his inner cold qi to surge swiftly through his body and then radiate outward, remotely directing the icy energy diffused in the air over a hundred meters away. Fighters cultivate their essence first, refining their fundamental bodies until they reach the pinnacle. Only then can the internal qi within them resonate with the corresponding energies of the natural world, eventually achieving mastery over them. Nearly every fighter holds deep reverence and strong desire for this stage. Before attaining this level, even a single fighter might withstand ten, a hundred, or even a thousand opponents—yet human strength inevitably wanes. Only when one masters the ability to command the energies of heaven and earth can they truly stand against thousands, no longer remaining mere illusions like reflections in water or images on a mirror. It is said that when a fighter reaches the level of Dou Zhong or Dou Sheng, even a simple gesture can cause mountains to crumble and seas to split—this is no mere fiction. At that level, with a mere shift of intent, thunder and lightning, as well as earth and fire, surge forth, reducing entire armies to ashes. Of course, there's no absolute rule—some exceptional beings have chosen to forgo the opportunity to resonate with the energies of heaven and earth. Instead, they continuously refine and strengthen their physical bodies, eventually cultivating them to an unparalleled state. With a single punch, the ground cracks and space shatters, demonstrating a destructive power no less than, and in some cases even surpassing, that of those who manipulate the energies of heaven and earth. Yet, the endeavor of solely fortifying the physical form proves even more arduous than the former, and the intense pain generated during this process is particularly difficult for those with less resilient minds to endure. ... "Crystalline spikes pierce the wall!" A low murmur rose in the air, and then, at a distance of several tens of meters in front of the qing-robe woman, the space suddenly warped, white mist surged rapidly, and then coalesced in a flash into a thick, solid layer of ice stretching seven to eight zhang wide. Dense, sharp ice spines, each several meters long, dotted the surface of the ice, making it clear that a direct collision would not be a pleasant experience. The sudden emergence of this massive ice layer stirred awe among the crowd below, who had been rushing toward it, their faces growing even more enthusiastic—each warrior's reverence and desire for power vividly evident. With her left arm cradling the unconscious Qinglin, the woman in blue robes suddenly thrust her right hand fiercely against the empty space before her. Instantly, a surge of emerald light erupted into the sky, and green vine tendrils—unearthly in their emergence—spread out like a wave, covering the heavens. As the vines appeared, they began to intertwine. Within just a matter of ten seconds, countless vines had woven together into a massive, fist-like formation, stretching nearly five to four zhang in width. This enormous green fist, enveloped in radiant energy and glowing with a rushing wind sound, struck the thick ice layer with tremendous force. Along its path, sharp ice spines shattered under the impact. "Boom!" high above, a thunderous explosion rang out as the massive ice layer was violently punched through, forming a vast, gaping hollow. As the thunderous explosions echoed from above and the icy shards cascaded down, the people below all trembled, briefly assessing the situation in their minds—only to be struck with fear upon realizing that the immense force of the massive fist could easily shatter the city gates of Yancheng with a single blow. "Such incredible power..." both the crowd below and the figures in the sky—Xiao Yan, Hai Bo Dong—exhaled in silent awe, gazing at the shattered ice. The silver-white flame pillar collided heavily with the energy fist, and as the energy fist moved nearly ten meters, a swift layer of ice rapidly spread, encasing it within. The figure streaked past, charging forward, and with a light tap of his foot on the now-icy fist, a subtle internal force surged down from his toes, causing the energy fist to explode violently. Amidst the shower of icy shards, Xiao Yan surged through the ice opening and instantly halted, gazing calmly at the woman in the green robe who had suddenly ceased her flight. After Xiao Yan stopped, Hai Bo Dong swiftly arrived as well, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him, observing the woman across the field, his palms exhaling and inhaling cold energy. Turning to Xiao Yan, Hai Bo Dong glanced at him and murmured, "Why hasn't she run?" "I don't know." Xiao Yan shook his head, his gaze never leaving the woman in blue robes. After a moment of silence, he spoke: "Your strength is indeed impressive. Even any one of us might struggle to hold you. Unfortunately, we have two..." "Hand over Qing Lin, and we won't wish to clash with you," Xiao Yan said firmly. "That won't do. For decades, I've been searching for the Bi She San Hua Jing. Now that I've finally found you, even if you were ten more at this level, I would never release her." The woman in blue robes smiled and shook her head, her tone utterly unyielding. "Let's fight!" With a stern expression fixed upon the woman, Xiao Yan's patience was gradually wearing thin. Without further delay, he issued a low command, and the two prepared once again to unleash their powerful attacks. "If I'm worried that staying here too long will attract the powerful warriors of the Jima Empire, then even with you two, I'm not sure we could defeat me in a direct battle." The woman in green robes spoke with a touch of pride. "Unfortunately, we are indeed within the Jima Empire now," Xiao Yan replied coldly, his palm blazing with an increasingly fierce, pale flame, his body leaning forward, already preparing for an attack. "Yes, we are in the Jima Empire now... so I no longer feel confident in trying to hold my own against both of you." With a sigh of regret, the woman in green dipped her slender fingers into her green silk and tucked them into her mouth. Instantly, a slightly sharp, melodic whistle carried a unique sonic wave, spreading out across the sky. "Boom..." Not long after the whistle sounded, a deep rumbling echoed through the distant forest, followed by a massive creature—nearly ten zhang in height—rising suddenly into the air and swiftly soaring toward the sky, its vast shadow now casting over a wide stretch of land. The colossal beast was exceptionally long and slender, resembling a serpentine monster. Its flight speed was so swift that it left observers in awe—watching as its massive tail twisted and swayed, it seemed to instantaneously teleport. With just a few swift movements, it arrived near the young woman in green robes. As the beast drew closer, its full form came into clear view for Xiao Yan and the others, who all involuntarily exhaled in mild astonishment. A colossal creature—though perhaps more accurately described as a giant serpent—was extraordinarily vast in size, its entire body dark, with vibrant, colorful patterns woven throughout, appearing quite unusual. On either side of its body, eight wings of deep black tinged with purple grew, and atop its head rose a dark, spiraling, crown-like spike, faintly glowing with a subtle purple luminescence, clearly harboring a potent venom. The delicate, variegated patterns on its head blurred into a shape resembling a crown. Its triangular pupils, rather than reflecting the instinctual nature of a beast, radiated a sharp, human-like intelligence and cunning. "The Eight-Winged Black Serpent King, a rare and gifted creature, the evolved form of the Three-Stage Dragon-Winged Black Serpent. Starting from the Three-Stage, each subsequent stage brings an additional pair of wings. When it reaches Eight Wings, it becomes one of the most formidable and renowned beings on the Qi Continent—the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King!" "Six-Stage beast?! I didn't expect her to have a companion of this caliber!" Facing the massive black serpent, Xiao Yan's expression darkened. He hadn't initially considered this Eight-Winged Black Serpent King to be the woman's mount. At this stage, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King already possessed intelligence comparable to that of a human. With his regal pride, he certainly wouldn't have bowed to a human of the same rank. "This is a serious problem..." sensing these two overwhelming presences, Xiao Yan and Hai Bo Dong's faces suddenly grew extremely grim.