C9 Absolute Termination

"Move, now!"

Xie Yan acted with resolve. He positioned himself in front of Su Li, unleashing his aura with a wild surge aimed at Mo Ling.

It wasn't that Xie Yan was particularly concerned about Su Li's life or death.

What truly mattered to him was the secret method for refining the Profound Opening Pill.

At this point, it was likely that the Mo Family had allied with the Imperial Family. Even if he made it back to the Coldhammers headquarters to inform the pavilion master, it would be of little consequence.

The best course of action was to save Su Li at all costs, preserving the pill recipe. He planned to use the formula to drive a wedge between the Mo Family and the Imperial Family!

It must be said, Xie Yan's plan was rather audacious.

Setting aside his ability to withstand Mo Ling's oppressive aura, the odds of him making it out alive today were slim.

Mo Ling was a late-stage Oceanic Wheel Realm practitioner, skilled in combat.

Xie Yan, on the other hand, was only at the middle stage of the Oceanic Wheel Realm, his expertise lying in pill refining, with combat as a secondary skill.

Even if his cultivation level matched Mo Ling's, he stood no chance against him.

Puchi!

Predictably, the moment their auras clashed, Xie Yan felt a tightness in his chest and coughed up a mouthful of bright red blood, his complexion turning deathly pale.

"Damn it! Xie Yan, what in the world are you doing? Get back and inform the pavilion master immediately. We can deal with Su Li's situation later!"

Witnessing Xie Yan's actions, He Shun, who was engaged in a fierce battle nearby, couldn't help but swear.

Such a blockhead!

In He Shun's view, Xie Yan was being foolish!

At this critical juncture, why bother with Su Li?

If they lingered, they might not make it out at all!

Xie Yan's face was a mask of grim determination.

He desperately wanted to rescue Su Li, but he knew that with his current strength, it was virtually impossible.

Besides, Su Li's strength was in no way inferior to his own.

"Su Li, make your way back to Suuton City as quickly as you can and inform the Pavilion Master of everything that's transpired here. I'll hold off Mo Ling for you."

Xie Yan clenched his jaw, turned, and with a determined aura, began to stride toward Mo Ling.

Clearly, Xie Yan had made his choice to stand with Su Li.

He had been with the Coldhammers for many years, his very life saved by the Pavilion Master.

He was intent on making himself useful to the Coldhammers while he still could.

With Mo Ling present, only one of them, either he or Su Li, could manage to escape.

After careful consideration, Xie Yan concluded it was best to let Su Li go.

After all, Su Li held the secret method for crafting the Profound Opening Pill in his mind, and his talents far surpassed Xie Yan's.

On the brink of death, Xie Yan found solace in the thought that befriending a genius like Su Li was worthwhile.

"Quite intriguing," Mo Ling remarked, arms folded across his chest, watching Xie Yan with evident interest.

As the battle raged on, the trio known as the heroes of wind, lightning, and thunder slowly began to turn the tide in their favor.

Mo Ling remained patient.

With him there, neither Su Li nor Xie Yan had any chance of escaping.

Crack!

Just when Xie Yan was nearly at his limit, he suddenly felt a robust and forceful hand land on his shoulder.

A surge of strength flowed into him.

With this newfound power, Xie Yan discovered that Mo Ling's imposing aura could no longer threaten him!

"I gambled correctly!" Xie Yan inhaled deeply, his heart steadying.

Su Li was indeed extraordinary.

Taking a slight step forward, Su Li addressed Mo Ling, "Why target the Su family? There's no conflict of interest between our families."

"Hmph! Without the Trembleglades' protection, what significance does the Su family hold?" Mo Ling scoffed, his voice sharp. "I'll indulge your curiosity. Our primary target is the Coldhammers, and your family is merely incidental, weak enough for me to crush with a single hand."

"Crush with a single hand?" Su Li's brow furrowed in concern.

"Yes, with a single hand. In this world, it is the strong who dictate the rules. When the strong rage, rivers of blood will follow," Mo Ling declared with arrogance.

"You have two choices now," Su Li stated calmly as he channeled the Most High bone's regenerative power to counter Mo Ling's oppressive aura. "First, submit to me. Second, die!"

Mo Ling was momentarily taken aback, then he threw his head back and laughed maniacally. Once his laughter subsided, he snarled, "Su Li, for your insolence, I will annihilate your entire family and sever your limbs to create a human stick!"

"You're really throwing away your chance," Su Li's gaze turned icy as he slightly parted his lips and emitted a specific sound wave.

A chorus of agonized screams erupted from the Three Heroes of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning as soon as the sound wave was released.

"What's happening?" Mo Ling was visibly perplexed.

Crack!

In the midst of his confusion, the small drum in his hand shattered abruptly.

Swish!

The unexpected turn of events caused Mo Ling's face to contort with a chilling intensity. The drum was essential for him to control the Heart Devouring Gu Insects within the bodies of the Three Heroes. With the drum now in pieces, it signified that they were no longer under his command.

"Capture Mo Ling, or else..." Su Li stepped forward, his cold eyes fixed on the Three Heroes as he commanded with authority, "Die!"

"You, you, you... You can actually control the Heart Devouring Gu Insects!" Mo Ling's pupils contracted in shock.

He was well aware that there were two methods to control the insects: striking the drum or emitting a specific sound wave. Mo Ling was baffled, for he had been assured by the Stormshapers that the sound wave technique was lost to time, leaving only the drum as a means of control.

Yet here was Su Li, producing the exact sound wave. The revelation was staggering.

Despite his shock, Mo Ling was no fool. As a member of the Mo Family, he realized that if Su Li could control the Heart Devouring Gu Insects, the Three Heroes had become mere puppets to Su Li's will.

As an elder of the Mo family, Mo Ling was no fool. Since Su Li had gained control over the Heart Devouring Gu Insect, it was clear that the Three Heroes of Wind, Lightning, and Thunder had become mere puppets to him. With a mere thought, Su Li could determine whether they lived or died.

In such a situation, the Three Heroes would undoubtedly exert their full strength to strike at him! Consequently, Mo Ling planted his feet firmly on the ground and his body shot forward with sudden speed.

To catch the thief, first catch the king! Mo Ling believed that if he could capture Su Li, he could not only defuse the current crisis but also gain control over the specific sound wave that commanded the Heart Devouring Gu Insect. The Venom Lord of the Stormshapers had risen to become one of the sect's three great Grand Elders by leveraging the power of this very insect. Mo Ling could almost see a glorious path unfolding before him.

The corner of Mo Ling's mouth curled up in a malevolent smile as he chuckled darkly, "Hehe, Su Li, an innocent man becomes guilty when he possesses a treasure. You were too foolish to reveal the sound wave in my presence, giving me time to prepare. Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of your demise!"

"This is bad!" Xie Yan's heart chilled with realization. Mo Ling was correct. If Su Li had covertly manipulated the Three Heroes to encircle Mo Ling, the outcome would have been far more favorable.

"Absolute Termination!" Su Li channeled all the Genuine Qi in his body into his fist, pushing his Most High bones to their limits.

Then, with a swift transition, his right hand morphed from a fist to an open palm and thrust forward with explosive force!

Swish!

In an instant, a massive palm print burst forth, colliding with Mo Ling's own attack!