Chapter 173: Breakthrough Before Battle!

The newcomer had clearly released his powerful aura deliberately, with the aim of intimidating them.

The Black Crow Elder was strong and didn't care who was inside. As long as he found them, their fate was death.

This was a profound confidence in his own strength!

“Which little thief dares to ruin my good deed? Leave at once, and I'll spare your life! Otherwise, I'll extract your soul and refine your bones!”

The Black Crow Elder's roar was piercing, instantly spreading throughout the entire underground cave.

From his voice, one could tell just how furious he was.

The reason for his fury was that the fluctuations of the treasure were growing weaker, clearly about to be claimed by someone else.

Though he had pushed his speed to the limit, he still couldn't arrive in time, so he tried to intimidate the other party with words.

The underground cave was winding and twisting; no matter how fast the Black Crow was, he couldn't reach the deepest part immediately.

However, his roar had no effect, because Ye Yuan simply wouldn't buy it.

Ye Yuan turned a deaf ear to the Black Crow's warning, as if he couldn't feel the aura of a Huahai realm expert, and continued to refine the Nether Sandal Fire Lotus methodically.

The state of a mind like still water was no joke. Even the aura of a Hunhai realm expert, let alone Huahai, couldn't disturb him.

“This kid has incredible composure. That must be the Black Crow Elder—his aura is so strong that even I can barely withstand it, yet he's completely unaffected!” Fang Yaojiang was secretly astonished.

He realized that apart from his low cultivation level, Ye Yuan was flawless in almost every other aspect.

What kind of reclusive family could produce such an astonishing young man?

At least within the territory of the Nether Cloud Sect, Fang Yaojiang had never heard of such a powerful family. Even the core disciples of the Nether Cloud Sect might not match up to this young man.

Just then, Ye Yuan, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, revealing sharp glints.

Fang Yaojiang was startled—the Nether Sandal Fire Lotus had been completely refined by him!

Ye Yuan's refining speed was several times faster than his own!

This kid was truly full of mysteries!

The Black Crow Elder, who was hurrying along, halted his steps, grinding his teeth in anger. The aura of the fire-attributed treasure had completely vanished!

“There's a road to heaven, but you refuse to walk it; there's no gate to hell, yet you insist on barging in! It seems I've been out of the world for too long, and many have forgotten how terrifying I, the Black Crow, can be! Whoever you are, I'll make you know the price of opposing me!” the Black Crow Elder said through gritted teeth.

With a flicker, the Black Crow dashed deeper underground, but after a few steps, he stopped again.

“Hmm? What's this? A yuan force storm? Is that little thief breaking through here? Heh, he doesn't know how to spell 'death'! He steals my treasure, doesn't think of fleeing, and dares to stay and break through. Let's see if, after breaking through, he can match my strength!” the Black Crow Elder sneered.

…

Underground, Fang Yaojiang's eyes once again showed shock. After refining the Nether Sandal Fire Lotus, Ye Yuan hadn't fled immediately but had chosen to break through on the spot!

Was this kid planning to confront the Black Crow Elder head-on?

But Ye Yuan was only at the first layer of Liquid Realm! Even if he broke through, he'd only be at the second layer, nowhere near the Black Crow Elder's level!

What was this kid thinking?

Though severely injured, Fang Yaojiang was utterly bewildered by Ye Yuan's actions.

He had originally thought Ye Yuan would flee in panic after refining the Nether Sandal Fire Lotus, or hide somewhere, so he could see the despair on Ye Yuan's face as he struggled.

But who would have thought the kid would act so unexpectedly, choosing to break through right there and wait for the Black Crow Elder to arrive!

At that moment, Ye Yuan's expression was calm, as if he didn't sense the approaching danger, as he frantically and greedily absorbed yuan force.

The Nether Sandal Fire Lotus was a fourth-grade heavenly treasure, containing a vast amount of yuan force. After refining it, Ye Yuan had become one with it.

With the immense yuan force of the Nether Sandal Fire Lotus, it was no surprise that Ye Yuan broke through smoothly, but the timing and location were baffling.

In truth, it wasn't that Ye Yuan didn't want to flee, but he knew he couldn't escape.

In the state of a mind like still water, Ye Yuan had a clear grasp of the situation.

From the Black Crow Elder's fluctuations, he had already passed the hidden entrance; even if Ye Yuan wanted to escape, there was nowhere to go.

Since there was nowhere to flee, he had to face the battle head-on.

At this moment, even a little more strength was good. Ye Yuan was about to face a Huahai realm expert!

So he unhesitatingly chose to break through.

Perhaps for others, a Huahai realm expert was an insurmountable existence, and any resistance was futile.

But Ye Yuan didn't think so. He had a clear understanding of the strength of a Huahai realm expert, as well as his own trump cards.

Ye Yuan felt he had a chance to fight!

Another nine drops of liquid essence were taking shape in Ye Yuan's dantian; he was about to break through to the second layer of Liquid Realm!

Just then, an old and cold voice rang out: “I thought it was some lofty expert who dared to steal my Black Crow's treasure, but it's just a little brat at the first layer of Liquid Realm! Truly, the young are formidable! And you even dare to break through before battle—such admirable courage! But this is where it ends!”

With that, the Black Crow casually shot out a ball of light, flying at great speed toward the breaking-through Ye Yuan.

Though it was just a casual strike, even Fang Yaojiang felt a chill in his heart. Even if he weren't severely injured, he wouldn't dare to take it head-on!

“Boom!”

Contrary to the Black Crow's expectation, the ball of light didn't shatter Ye Yuan into pieces.

In that instant, Ye Yuan suddenly split into nine figures, and the ball of light passed through the middle one, hitting a rock behind.

Then, the nine figures merged into one, revealing Ye Yuan's form.

At this moment, Ye Yuan had already successfully broken through!

The Black Crow Elder's expression shifted slightly, and he said, “Hmm, you do have some tricks. No wonder you'd do something so suicidal. Kid, hand over the treasure, and I'll not only spare your life but also take you as my disciple. How about it?”

Ye Yuan looked at the Black Crow Elder indifferently and said, “To be my master, you're not qualified. Everything you can teach, I already know; but what I know, you may not.”

“Hahaha… What an arrogant brat! In that case, I'll kill you and take the treasure myself! Let's see what you know that even I, a Huahai realm expert, can't teach you!”

To the Black Crow, Ye Yuan's words were nothing but arrogant ignorance. Only Fang Yaojiang, lying on the ground, knew that Ye Yuan might not be lying!

Ye Yuan's expression was calm as he said lightly, “Yuan Fei, come out!”

As soon as Ye Yuan spoke, the Black Crow's expression changed. With his Huahai realm divine sense, he hadn't detected anyone else here!

Could it be…