Yan Yue Qi’s defiant words echoed through the blazing air, her presence unyielding before two Sixth-Order Late-Stage patriarchs — Hou Yan and Lang Wang.

  The Fire Monkey Patriarch, Hou Yan, radiated molten fury, his crimson eyes blazing with indignation. Beside him, the Earth Wolf Patriarch, Lang Wang, exuded primal savagery, his claws glinting with menace. Yet Yan Yue Qi’s icy gaze, laced with flickers of lightning, dismissed their authority like dust in the wind.

  Lan An, tossed aside like a ragdoll, steadied himself, his heart pounding. The clash before him was a spectacle of raw, destructive power — far beyond his Nascent Soul realm. Sun Crow Void Flame still scorched the air, its golden radiance turning the battlefield into a furnace. The charred remains of Lang Cang smoldered nearby, a testament to Yan Yue Qi’s cruelty, while Elder Third Hou’s annihilation left not even ashes behind.

  “Insolent woman!” Hou Yan roared, his molten armor glowing hotter by the second. “U Yuan is our domain. You slaughter our elders and think you can leave unscathed?”

  Lang Wang’s snarl followed. “Your Yan Clan may be mighty, but here, you’re an outsider. Hand over the human brat, and we might spare you!”

  Yan Yue Qi’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

  “Spare me? Two overgrown beasts dare speak such nonsense? Kneel, and I might consider leaving your corpses intact.”

  Her audacity made them snap. Hou Yan’s fur ignited, Beast Fire flaring around him as he summoned a colossal Fire Monkey phantom.

  “Fire Monkey Heaven-Rending Claw!” he bellowed — a High Heaven-Grade technique. The flaming claws tore through space itself, aiming to shred Yan Yue Qi.

  Lang Wang howled, transforming into a twenty-zhang Earth Wolf. The ground quaked under his paws.

  “Earth Devouring Storm!” His Mid Heaven-Grade technique unleashed a vortex of sand and stone, merging with Hou Yan’s assault — a dual storm of fire and earth.

  Lan An’s White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye activated, analyzing every detail of the onslaught. The combined might of two Sixth-Order Late-Stage beasts rivaled an Early Tribulation Stage cultivator.

  Yet Yan Yue Qi stood unfazed. Her Sun Crow Void Flame surged, brighter than the sun.

  “Sun Crow Divine Wrath!”

  A golden Divine Sun Crow materialized behind her, its wings spanning the heavens. With a deafening screech, it unleashed a torrent of golden flames, forming a blazing barrier that incinerated the incoming attacks.

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  The Fire Monkey phantom crumbled. The Earth Devouring Storm evaporated. Only scorched earth remained.

  BOOM.

  The backlash sent both patriarchs staggering, their defenses burned black. Yan Yue Qi’s eyes glinted with disdain.

  “Is that all?”

  Lan An, watching from afar, marveled at her dominance. Her Sun Crow Void Flame, nearing maturity, combined with her Late Void Refining cultivation, utterly outclassed the two patriarchs. His own Purple Heart Burning Void Flame trembled in submission.

  “Stay back and observe,” Jin Ni’s voice echoed in his mind. “Her strength is your goal. Learn from this.”

  Lan An nodded, using Thousand-Mile Vision to track every move, his Big Dipper Bow ready but untouched. Interfering now would be suicide. He instead consumed a Beauty Nurturing Pill, its warmth healing his wounds from the Heavenly Emperor Transformation. His Spirit Energy stabilized, though his White Horse Battle Robe hung in tatters.

  Hou Yan roared again, veins bulging. “Don’t underestimate us!”

  He conjured a molten spear — a Low Heaven-Grade weapon — and hurled it with Fire Monkey Heaven-Piercing Strike. Lang Wang’s claws glowed, shaping the earth into a massive boulder launched with Earth Shattering Claw.

  Yan Yue Qi flicked her hand.

  The Sun Crow Void Flame twisted into twin Heavenly Fire Hands, which crushed the spear and boulder alike, space itself warping under the heat. She advanced, her crimson robe billowing, every step radiating killing intent.

  “You dare challenge me?” she sneered, her Divine Sun Crow diving from the sky. The flames engulfed both patriarchs.

  Hou Yan’s molten armor melted into his flesh, his screams echoing across U Yuan. Lang Wang’s fur caught fire, his earth barriers collapsing under divine flame.

  Lan An’s heart raced. Yan Yue Qi’s power was terrifying — yet it fueled his resolve. To avenge the Luo Clan and face Luo Po Lei, he needed strength like this.

  He glanced at the Spirit Realm Pearl, ensuring Ji Ya and Little Lion remained safe, while readying Shadow Cloak for a possible escape.

  As the patriarchs faltered, the air split open — a spatial rift forming above the battlefield.

  From within stepped a seductive figure with three swaying tails and defiant golden eyes.

  “Enough!” she declared. “Yan Yue Qi, cease this slaughter! U Yuan’s balance cannot be broken!”

  It was Hu Yu Yan, the Fox Clan enchantress.

  Yan Yue Qi turned her gaze, unimpressed. “Fox Clan meddling now? Stand aside, or join them in ashes.”

  Hu Yu Yan’s charm flickered under the crushing aura. “The Heavenly Beast Academy won’t tolerate this. Withdraw, and we’ll negotiate.”

  “Negotiate?” Yan Yue Qi’s laughter rang cold. “Tell your elders to come themselves. You’re not qualified.”

  Lan An sensed an opportunity. Hu Yu Yan’s intervention might buy time. He subtly signaled through the White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye, hoping she’d prolong the standoff.

  Hu Yu Yan caught the glance, nodding faintly. Her tails shimmered, weaving a Charm Technique to stall.

  Battered and burned, Hou Yan and Lang Wang seized the chance to retreat, retreating into the scorched forest to regroup.

  Yan Yue Qi’s flames paused, her attention locked on the Fox enchantress.

  Lan An used Phantom Charm Wander Step, slipping toward a safer vantage point, preparing Ten Thousand Forest Formation — just in case the patriarchs dared to return.