"This killing intent... it feels familiar..." the middle-aged man murmured as he rose to his feet, stepping onto the surface of a small, tranquil pond where he had been seated in meditation.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a slightly loud and clear voice, "Xiao Meilin."
In the next moment, a tall and beautiful woman with facial features similar to Xiao Hua but much more mature appeared before him like a ghost. šš§šš®šš®šš£šøššš.ššš
"Is this about the killing intent?" she asked.
He nodded, "Investigate it."
"Could it be... him?"
The man turned to look at a certain object in the distance and responded after a moment of pause, "Itās a little earlier than anticipated, but itās possible."
A broad and somewhat sadistic smile appeared on Xiao Meilinās face.
"Iāll be back," she said before vanishing like smoke.
She disappeared the next instant.
Back at the Inferno Alchemistās headquarters, once Yuanās killing intent stopped increasing, he created a sword using it.
"Do you dare to āexperienceā my killing intent?" Yuan asked in a provocative tone as he glared at Sect Leader Zu.
"Thatās...!"
Sect Leader Zu hesitated.
Meanwhile, his disciples were all shaking uncontrollably just from being in the presence of Yuanās killing intent.
"Whatās with the hesitation? Donāt tell me... youāre afraid?" Yuan laughed, his voice dripping with mockery.
"DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME!" Sect Leader Zu roared, taking Yuanās obvious bait as he flung his arms wide in a defiant, inviting gesture.
Without a word, Yuan flicked his sleeve, launching the sword of killing intent straight into Sect Leader Zuās chest.
"Sect Leader!" his disciples cried in alarm, their confidence in his strength wavering as worry clouded their eyes.
In the next instant, Sect Leader Zuās pupils blew wide, his eyes darkening until nearly black. He threw his head back and screamed in agony.
"AHHHHH!!!"
An unfathomable surge of killing intent flooded into him, dragging his mind into a torrent of unending nightmares.
"S-Sect Leader!"
"You bastard! What did you do to our Sect Leader?! Thereās no way that was just your killing intent!"
"He must have used some sort of technique!"
However, Yuan ignored them and continued watching Sect Leader Zu writhe in pain.
A minute later, blood trickled from Sect Leader Zuās eyes. Moments after, it seeped from his ears, nose, and even his poresāuntil, in the blink of an eye, his entire body was drenched in crimson.
"K-Kill him!"
One of the elders suddenly pointed at Yuan and roared.
Though fear gnawed at them, hundreds of disciples hurled themselves at Yuan, their own killing intent blazing. Yuan said nothing, and he simply awakened the True Dragon within and advanced to meet them head-on.
Without hesitation, they joined the battle against Yuan.
"By the heavens, what am I watching right now?"
The alchemists watching from afar were utterly bewildered. Yuanās overwhelming prowess, effortlessly suppressing the Chaotic Sect alone, stirred memories of the Asura Clan.
"Donāt tell me he actually has connections to the Asura Clan..."
Leader Yang swallowed nervously and couldnāt help but feel relieved that they didnāt act too hastily and killātry to kill Yuan. Not only would they have been slaughtered, but they wouldāve also offended the Asura Clan.
"Hm? This feeling..."
Leader Yangās brows shot up, and he quickly turned away from the battle before him as he sensed a familiar presence suddenly approaching their direction at the speed of light.
Before Leader Yang could even gather his thoughts, the owner of the presence appeared before the alchemists like a ghost, startling them.
However, when they saw and recognized this personās beautiful face, they became even more terrified.
"Y-Y-You are! Crimson Empress!"
"We greet the Crimson Empress!"
Leader Yang and the alchemists instinctively bowed. Yet the woman gave them no notice, as though they didnāt exist, and her gaze fixed solely on the two figures locked in battle nearbyāor more specificallyāthe handsome man wielding a greatsword.
"Ahh..." The Crimson Empress suddenly released a euphoric moan.
"At last, youāve returned..."

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