Chapter 73: The Meteorite's Transformation

Shi Yan strolled leisurely through the Divine Stone Plaza. Wherever there was a corpse, he would appear, and every time he stood beside one, within a few dozen seconds, the body would gradually shrivel, all its vital essence dissipating.

Due to the fierce clashes between several powerful fighters, many martial artists who had merely come to watch the duel became unfortunate casualties. Those whose cultivation was only at the Postnatal or Innate stages suffered the most tragic fates, utterly unable to withstand the aftershocks of a Nirvana-level battle—mere contact with the residual force spelled doom for them.

In just a few minutes, Shi Yan had wandered around Divine Stone Plaza, absorbing the vital essence from the bodies of seven Postnatal and four Innate martial artists—a considerable harvest.

Martial artists at the Human Position realm had reached a new level; even if they were struck by the aftershocks of Nirvana-level clashes, they would not die on the spot. Thus, there were no corpses of Human Position martial artists in the plaza, which left Shi Yan somewhat disappointed.

Because of the strange condition of his acupoints, which allowed him to absorb the vital essence of the dead, Shi Yan hoped for greater chaos; the more deaths, the better. It was this desire that drove him to urge Shi Jian to attack the Mo family, hoping that more casualties would accelerate his own progress toward the Human Position realm.

Han Feng, like a ghostly shadow, hovered ten meters from his side at all times. No matter where Shi Yan appeared, Han Feng would always be nearby, watching closely, wary that Shi Yan might cause some sort of trouble.

Ten meters away, Han Feng observed Shi Yan with a look full of confusion. While the battles on the martial stage raged, Shi Yan’s actions seemed inexplicable. Han Feng had no idea what was on his mind, nor did he ask, simply sticking to his duty of guarding Shi Yan, afraid that some mishap might befall him.

As Shi Yan moved through Divine Stone Plaza, he would pause near each corpse. Although the changes in those bodies were strange, Han Feng paid them no mind, merely assuming they had been poisoned and that the effects were only now manifesting.

He never once suspected that all those bizarre changes were entirely due to Shi Yan.

A sudden cry of pain rang out from behind a meteorite not far away.

Shi Yan’s heart stirred, a delighted smile curling his lips as he hurried over.

Behind the meteorite, an Innate martial artist, his body charred black, was writhing weakly, his breath fading. Clearly, he had been struck by Mo Tuo’s lightning, but some protective martial technique had allowed him to make it this far before finally succumbing to death.

Shi Yan, expression calm, stood ten meters away from the corpse, yet could clearly sense wisps of vital essence drifting toward him.

Before long, the martial artist’s body shriveled as well, and Shi Yan gathered yet another portion of vital essence.

Han Feng, spectral as ever, quietly appeared at another corner of the meteorite ten meters away, watching Shi Yan with a puzzled look.

“How strange. Is someone poisoning people in secret? Why are so many dying in such an odd manner?” Shi Yan shook his head and glanced up at Han Feng. “Uncle Han, it seems there are still some with sinister intentions lurking in the martial arena.”

Han Feng paused, nodded noncommittally, and also found it odd.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm shot through the air like a dragon, striking the meteorite with a crack.

Electric arcs danced across the meteorite’s surface, and for a moment, a hazy, silvery-white moonlight radiated from the boulder. The moonlight was bright and cool, but in a flash, it faded, and everything returned to normal.

Shi Yan and Han Feng stood beside the meteorite, witnessing the anomaly clearly.

“Hmm?” Shi Yan murmured, frowning as he stepped up to the meteorite and placed his hand upon it. Under the blazing sun, the stone felt icy, as if it had absorbed a millennium’s worth of moonlight, carrying a trace of lunar chill.

The meteorite was massive, but otherwise seemed no different from ordinary blue iron stone.

Shi Yan closed his eyes and tried to sense anything unusual, but found nothing. Releasing his grip, he frowned and asked Han Feng, “Uncle Han, did you see that flash of light from the meteorite just now?”

Han Feng nodded lightly, also stepping forward to touch the legendary stone from beyond the skies. “Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was caused by Mo Tuo’s lightning.”

“Perhaps it is related to Mo Tuo’s lightning martial spirit,” Shi Yan agreed, unable to discern anything special, though a faint suspicion lingered in his heart. He felt something was off about the meteorite, but couldn’t put his finger on it, so he let it go.

“Mo family sons! Scatter and return home!” Suddenly, a furious roar from Mo Tuo echoed from the direction of the martial arena.

Shi Yan looked over. Mo Tuo, beset by several opponents, looked utterly disheveled, his back soaked in blood and clearly gravely wounded.

After his shout, Mo Tuo dared not linger, forcibly withstanding a blow from Shi Tie before fleeing toward the distant marketplace.

Mu Xun, Shi Tie, and Shi Jian gave chase without hesitation.

The two giant men, built like towers, hesitated for a moment in the center of the arena, perhaps unwilling to pursue their foes to the bitter end.

At Mo Tuo’s shout, the Mo family scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions.

Behind the meteorite, Shi Yan watched calmly, noticing the disheveled elder from Poison Dragon Valley and Li Han guarding Mo Qi as they rushed toward a row of houses on the southern edge of the plaza.

“Mo Qi can’t be allowed to escape.” Shi Yan took a deep breath and said to Han Feng, “If the roots aren’t pulled, the weeds will spring back with the wind. I’ll go cut down this root.”

If the roots aren’t pulled, the weeds will spring back with the wind.

Han Feng frowned, silently repeating the phrase until he grasped its meaning. His eyes lit up, and he murmured, “Young Master Yan is truly made for great things.”

Without another word, Shi Yan moved out from behind the meteorite, heading straight after the fleeing Mo Qi.

Soon, Shi Yan left the Divine Stone Plaza and was about to enter a narrow street among the houses when he noticed Shi Dang and several Shi family retainers in pursuit.

“Uncle, leave Mo Qi to me. Go after the others,” Shi Yan called from afar.

Shi Dang started, saw it was Shi Yan, and scolded, “Where were you just now? Didn’t you see the chaos in the arena? If anything happens to you, your grandfather will have my hide.”

“It’s fine,” Han Feng suddenly appeared behind Shi Yan and said softly.

Seeing Han Feng with Shi Yan, Shi Dang relaxed, smiled, and said, “Alright, you chase Mo Qi. I’ll go after Mo Chaotian.”

He nodded to Han Feng and hurried away by another route.

A quarter of an hour later—

In a small alley in the southern district, Mo Qi, brimming with murderous intent, pressed forward with his head down.

Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead.

At a bend in the alley, Shi Yan leaned against a stone wall, a mocking smile on his lips. “Mo Qi, you must be tired from running. Why not rest here?”

Mo Qi halted abruptly, his face twisted in rage. “Shi Yan! You killed my brother—now you’ll pay with your life!”

“Pay with my life?” Shi Yan grinned and shook his head. “Mo Zhan hasn’t gone far. If you hurry, you might catch up to him. I’m here to send you both on your way.”

“Young Master Qi!” Li Han appeared behind Mo Qi, and beside him stood the Blood Hand from Poison Dragon Valley of the Divine Grace Empire.

“Kill him!” Mo Qi pointed at Shi Yan, shouting, “He must die!”

“This is a matter for the younger generation. You’d best stay out of it,” Han Feng suddenly appeared atop a nearby house, coldly eyeing Blood Hand and Li Han.

“Blood Hand from Poison Dragon Valley?” Shi Yan stared at the elder. “You must be the one who concocted the Blood Essence Pill? No wonder—apothecaries from Poison Dragon Valley are all scum, only making shady pills unfit for the world.”

“You insolent whelp!” Blood Hand’s face darkened, his eyes growing cold. “I didn’t wish to meddle in your Shi and Mo family affairs, but since you insult me, I’ll show you what Poison Dragon Valley is capable of.”

“Young Master Yan, you deal with Mo Qi. Leave Blood Hand and Li Han to me,” Han Feng said softly, drifting down from the rooftop to stand between Blood Hand and Li Han.

“Heh, do you really think Poison Dragon Valley is to be trifled with?” Blood Hand sneered, suddenly swallowing a pill the size of a longan, blood-red and eerily resembling a human heart.

Once he took the pill, Blood Hand’s eyes turned crimson, his wild hair stood on end, and a dense stench of blood radiated from his body.

Han Feng’s expression changed abruptly. “Young Master Yan, return to the Shi household at once!”

“Li Han, Mo Qi, kill that insolent brat—leave the old man to me,” Blood Hand snarled, licking his lips with a savage grin.

“Be careful, Uncle Han,” Shi Yan’s heart tightened as he watched Blood Hand’s transformation, realizing something was amiss. He shot a cold glance at Han Feng and Mo Qi, then dashed toward the distant Blue Moon Lake.

Han Feng was about to move when Blood Hand pounced, enveloping him in a thick, bloody aura, preventing any escape.

Li Han and Mo Qi exchanged a glance and immediately charged after Shi Yan.

Five minutes later—

At the entrance of another alley, Li Han and Mo Qi halted abruptly. Mo Qi’s face twisted in fury. “He didn’t run? He must have a death wish!”

“I said I would wipe out the Mo family’s future—I will not go back on my word,” Shi Yan stood at the alley’s mouth, his expression icy.

White mist coiled around his body, dark energies streaming from within him, his murderous aura soaring skyward like a bloodthirsty god of slaughter emerging from an asura sea.

With Han Feng absent, he could finally unleash his true power without restraint.

...

PS: Recommending a new book by a friend in the same city, “The New Age of Magicians,” book number: 1904489. There’s a direct link below. It’s an enjoyable, light-hearted read. If you like this style, do check it out.