Xieli hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose not to betray Ling Xiao.
Compared to him, this Mutu was far more repulsive.
Her scorpion people were not the sort to cower in fear of death or kneel before the strong!
Moreover, the tribe had already received word that the nearby lizard clan had colluded with the Black Crow Empire’s little prince Jiumo Zhiyan to launch an attack on them.
To her, Ling Xiao was merely a trespassing plaything, but Mutu was a real enemy.
“Kill me or torture me as you wish. I have not seen him, and that is that. Temur Mutu, do not use such a lame excuse to provoke our scorpion-people tribe!”
Xieli declared righteously.
These words actually earned a few points of admiration from Ling Xiao, who was hiding in the shadows.
Truth be told, he had deliberately released Jiumo Zhiyan’s aura earlier. His plan was to lure Mutu here, then slip away while Temur Mutu and the scorpion-people tribe tore each other apart. In his eyes, neither side was any good.
But now, he felt a twinge of sympathy. Though Xieli was detestable, she was still more admirable than Temur Mutu.
“Grand Preceptor, allow me to capture her. There is no reasoning with such a stubborn creature. The scorpion-people tribe’s terrain is complex. Only by seizing this woman can we reduce the difficulty. Moreover, that thing is inside their tribe. With it, finding the little prince will be much easier.”
The half-step Yin-Yang realm warrior cupped his hands and spoke.
Temur Mutu nodded. “Remember, do not kill her. Keeping her alive still has its uses!”
“Rest assured, Grand Preceptor. No matter how cunning the scorpion people are, today I, Feng Zhan, will take her down.”
Feng Zhan had failed to protect Jiumo Zhiyan and was already frustrated. He needed an outlet for his anger, and today Xieli had given him the perfect opportunity. If he did not vent properly, he would suffocate.
With those words, he shot towards Xieli like a streak of light.
As he moved, he turned into a black line. His figure blurred, the air crackled with explosions, and two deep furrows were carved into the sand like ravines.
Xieli knew full well she was no match for Feng Zhan, so she had no intention of prolonging the fight.
The moment an opening appeared, she would flee and report Temur Mutu’s intrusion to their King.
Otherwise, with the strength of Temur Mutu and Feng Zhan, no one but the Scorpion King could stop them. The tribe would truly face a catastrophe.
Thinking this, Xieli did not idle her hands. She unleashed the same technique she had used on Ling Xiao.
Only this time, the poisonous scorpions condensed from sand were not only larger, but two appeared at once, far more powerful than before.
Feng Zhan merely watched her movements coldly. He raised his long spear, energy surging. The chaotic sandstorm could not approach him at all.
Boom!
With one thrust, he pierced and exploded one of the giant poisonous scorpions. There was no suspense.
Feng Zhan was truly powerful, terrifyingly so.
Hiding in the dark, Ling Xiao clicked his tongue in amazement. He had actually survived against someone like this. It was unbelievable.
After exploding one scorpion, Feng Zhan did not stop. He shook his spear, and spear light burst forth, even more powerful than before.
Sand waves rolled endlessly, yet they could not obscure his iron-cast body.
Boom!
The second poisonous scorpion was also pierced and exploded by the spear.
Facing Feng Zhan’s fearsome battle intent, Xieli suddenly bit her own hand hard. Blood dripped onto the sand.
Then another giant poisonous scorpion condensed.
But this time, it was completely different.
Though formed from sand, it looked alive. Its massive tail swayed behind it, and the glowing blue stinger was two or three metres long.
“This poisonous scorpion actually has life. What kind of secret art is this?”
Ling Xiao was stunned. To turn an inanimate object into a living one, had she awakened souls within the sand grains?
No matter how he thought about it, he could not figure it out. But one thing was certain: it resembled the soul absorption of the Immortal Pot.
The Immortal Pot could absorb the souls of any object.
Xieli’s secret art, however, granted souls to inanimate objects. Though opposite, the principle should be the same.
Boom!
Feng Zhan’s spear struck the scorpion again.
This time, he failed to pierce it. Instead, the scorpion’s giant pincers blocked him, then its tail whipped round, stabbing towards him.
“What a strange secret art!”
Feng Zhan hurriedly retreated, his face darkening. By his estimation, this newly condensed giant scorpion actually possessed strength equivalent to early Cave Heaven realm.
And its defence was absurdly strong.
From the shadows, Ling Xiao watched with wide eyes and gaping mouth.
He suddenly felt that the divine tomb in his Soul Judgment might share some similarities with this scorpion.
“Hmph, so your scorpion-people tribe really has mastered this secret art. I wonder how many beast souls you have extracted.”
Mutu suddenly snorted coldly.
“What secret art?”
Feng Zhan asked, puzzled.
“The scorpion-people tribe can transfer the souls of living creatures into inanimate objects, creating this special technique. But it does not matter. The inanimate objects they control cannot exceed their own cultivation, and to condense stronger ones requires greater soul force. Her strength is decent, but her soul force should only be at first Cave Heaven level.”
Mutu said indifferently, “Feng Zhan, if you cannot handle it, step aside and let me.”
His words carried sarcasm and threat.
Feng Zhan shuddered and quickly replied, “Grand Preceptor, rest assured. Now that I know the principle, I will definitely subdue it.”
“Then hurry up!”
Temur Mutu was growing impatient. “If you cannot end this in ten moves, I will take care of it myself.”
He actually did not want to act here, because once he did, the Scorpion King would likely sense his aura. That was why he had let Feng Zhan attack Xieli.
But Feng Zhan’s performance disappointed him.
Feng Zhan regrouped and thrust his spear once more, clashing with Xieli.
Though Mutu seemed unconcerned and dissatisfied with the fight, Ling Xiao, watching from hiding, was utterly shocked.
A battle between Cave Heaven realm experts was simply terrifying. Even the stray energy waves reaching him made him suffer greatly. Had he not chosen such a concealed spot, where the energy could barely reach, the consequences would be unthinkable.
If struck, he would either die or be gravely injured. This was no joke.
