"Bastard!"
Seeing his painstakingly refined Soul-Binding Rope not only fail, but get taken by the opponent, the black-robed youth couldn’t help but roar in rage. Next, a war halberd appeared in his hand.
"Die!"
With overwhelming momentum, the war halberd flashed with deep black light, striking straight at Ian Song.
"Go!"
Ian Song reached out and wrapped his arm around Princess Lana’s waist. In a blur, they landed a kilometer away.
"Boom!"
The ground trembled as the war halberd slashed heavily across where Ian Song had been standing. Smoke billowed, and when it cleared, a bottomless fissure had appeared on the valley floor.
"Princess Lana, step aside for now. Once I deal with this guy, I’ll take you out of here!" Ian Song released Princess Lana and spoke with clear eyes.
"Okay!"
Princess Lana nodded lightly and quickly retreated to the side, her expression tinged with shyness—after all, Ian Song had just held her waist. In all these years, it was her first time being so close to a man, so she felt especially embarrassed. Still, she knew Ian Song did it to save her, so she didn’t blame him in her heart.
"Die!"
The black-robed youth swung his war halberd again, black light surging from his body as if dyeing the sky itself.
"Come!"
This time, Ian Song didn’t dodge. He stepped forward and collided head-on with the black-robed youth.
"Boom! Boom!"
The two clashed repeatedly, shaking the entire valley. Wild energies blasted in all directions, plowing through the cliffs and ground, smashing every flower, tree, and blade of grass in the valley to pieces.
In truth, the black-robed youth’s strength wasn’t that high—just mid Fusion stage.
Ian Song could easily finish him in a single move, but he deliberately hid his true power, pretending to struggle for effect.
"Boom boom boom!"
The clash between the two grew fiercer, their movements faster and stronger, shifting the battlefield from the ground to the sky. Even with Princess Lana’s sharp eyesight, all she could see was a blur of white and black shadows entangled midair—she couldn’t tell who had the upper hand!
For a moment, worry flashed in her eyes: "You have to win!"
"Thud!"
Just then, a dull, drum-like sound echoed. A black shadow was sent flying a kilometer, crashing into the mountainside with a thunderous boom as chunks of rock tumbled down.
"Nice hit!"
Seeing this, Princess Lana couldn’t help but cheer, clapping in excitement. Then she noticed Ian Song standing midair, hands behind his back, white robe fluttering in the wind.
For a moment, she couldn’t help but think, "This immortal is so handsome!"
Just then—
A strange sound suddenly came from beneath the collapsed mountainside.
"Gu! Gu!"
The weird sound had a bizarre rhythm, making her ears ache and even tightening her heart.
"Gu! Gu!"
The strange noise grew louder and soon filled the entire valley. Princess Lana felt increasingly uncomfortable, stumbling backward.
Seeing this, Ian Song raised a finger, and a light shield appeared around Princess Lana, instantly blocking out the strange sound.
"Thank you, immortal!" Princess Lana said gratefully, feeling a sudden warmth inside—so this is what it feels like to be cared for?
Ian Song gave her a gentle smile.
But just then—
"Boom!"
Rocks flew everywhere as a massive object suddenly shot out from the collapsed mountainside, hurtling toward Ian Song at incredible speed.
"Watch out!" Princess Lana cried out in alarm!
"Bang!"
Ian Song seemed caught off guard. Only when the massive object was right in front of him did he hurriedly punch out.
His body was struck as if by a speeding train, sent flying and crashing into the opposite mountainside.
"Immortal!"
Princess Lana cried out again, her face full of worry.
"Don’t worry, Princess Lana, I’m fine!"
Just then, Ian Song flew out from the collapsed mountainside, a faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He curiously studied the enormous creature before him.
It was a huge black toad covered in ugly warty flesh, with an extra eye on its forehead. After transforming, its strength had surged to late Fusion stage—a level rarely seen even in the Heavenly Court.
"Three-Eyed Black Toad, huh?" Ian Song thought to himself.
"Gu gu!"
The Three-Eyed Black Toad let out a strange cry, then spat a blood-red beam of light at Ian Song like lightning.
"Hmph!"
Ian Song snorted, formed a seal, and punched out.
A surge of cyan light shook as the blood-red beam was knocked aside. Ian Song strode forward through the air.
"Thud thud thud thud!"
Each step he took made the void tremble, and with every stride, his aura surged higher. After dozens of steps, his momentum became truly terrifying.
"Die!"
He pressed his thumb to the second joint of his index finger, forming a peculiar hand seal, then converted it into a fist imprint and hurled it forward.
"Boom!"
The void shook violently, lightning flashed, and his figure turned into a streak of white light.
"Bang bang bang bang bang!"
Fists rained down on the Three-Eyed Black Toad, nearly blasting its enormous body apart.
"Boom!"
The Three-Eyed Black Toad was slammed into the mountainside once again.
But Ian Song didn’t let up. His right fist transformed into a Heaven-Turning Seal, pressing down hard.
"Gua!"
A shrill sound echoed through the sky as the Three-Eyed Black Toad’s massive body flew up to meet the Heaven-Turning Seal.
"Bang!"
With a thunderous crash, Ian Song’s fist imprint smashed the Three-Eyed Black Toad into the ground, leaving a giant crater. The toad lay on its back, its body riddled with cracks, blood oozing out.
The next moment—
A flash of light, and the Three-Eyed Black Toad reverted to human form, flew out of the pit, and knelt before Ian Song: "Immortal, this little demon surrenders—please don’t kill me!"
Ian Song didn’t answer, but turned to Princess Lana: "Princess Lana, how do you think he should be punished—should he live or die?"
The Three-Eyed Black Toad quickly turned to Princess Lana, kowtowing: "Princess Lana, this little demon knows its mistake—please spare me, I’ll never offend you again!"
"You still want a next time?" Ian Song glared, making the Three-Eyed Black Toad tremble in fear.
Seeing this, Princess Lana couldn’t help but soften. In the end, she said, "Immortal, why not spare him?"
"Since Princess Lana has spoken, I’ll let him go." Ian Song nodded.
"Thank you, immortal! Thank you, Princess Lana!"
The Three-Eyed Black Toad kowtowed in thanks.
"Open the formation and let us out!" Ian Song said again.
"Yes, yes!"
The Three-Eyed Black Toad stood up, performed a few incantations, and a passage leading out of the valley appeared…