The searing heat crept into Qian Jin’s body from the sand, and for a moment, his injured form was infused with new strength, spreading out and conquering the new territories it found. Qian Jin carefully reined in his Battle Qi, conceding more ground to the incoming heat, a subtle attraction forming within the retreat, pulling more thermal energy into his core.

The Nine Yang True Flame Iron buried beneath the sand seemed to respond to the subtle pull emanating from Qian Jin; even more heat rapidly radiated from its core, surging toward him.

But then… Qian Jin suddenly felt the heat rush in uncontrollably, and a shock went through him—how could this be? The thermal energy was spiraling out of control?

The scorching torrent instantly threatened to melt his riddled Battle Meridians. It sped along these meridians, traveling from the thicker channels into the finer ones, seizing dominion over his entire body.

In an instant! Qian Jin felt as if he’d been thrown into boiling water like a dead pig, as if his body had been instantly roasted through.

Boom! Qian Jin’s body convulsed violently. The Hidden Thunder, which had remained completely elusive until now, finally launched its instinctive counterattack amidst the frantic territorial acquisition by the heat.

So that’s it… Qian Jin frowned slightly in the sand. These energies possessed a special ability to camouflage themselves, clinging directly to the walls of the Battle Meridians, slowly eroding them at an almost imperceptible speed while simultaneously generating impacts. That was why the damage to his body was far exceeding what he could have imagined.

The fire-like, blazing power and the lightning-fast, violent Battle Qi instantly turned Qian Jin’s body into a battlefield, erupting in the most ferocious confrontation, creating a storm seemingly capable of tearing the heavens and earth apart; neither force would yield an inch.

The full might unleashed by the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill far surpassed Qian Jin’s expectations. In mere moments, the heat drawn from the desert lost a full tenth of its occupied territory.

Impossible? Qian Jin gasped, his eyes snapping open, instantly jolting him out of his near-comatose state. He knew Qian Chenyu’s Battle Qi capabilities intimately; even at his peak, the power shouldn’t be this formidable! Unless…

Shattering the Battle Qi Sequence! Qian Jin’s heart hammered. A peak Spirit King Bloodline Warrior from the Nine Wars Against Demons, shattering a Battle Qi Sequence! And this was clearly a complete sequence he had practiced for a long time, reaching its full ten-tenths state. If his body hadn't been exceptionally resilient, even a Demon Slaying Warrior might have had their Battle Meridians completely shattered and died on the spot.

With the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill no longer concealed, its full-force assault instantly stripped away territory in waves, aggressively pushing back the thermal energy in the sand in the blink of an eye.

As if exhausted by countless non-fatal bursts, the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill seemed to lose patience. This latest explosion directly bombarded every single Battle Meridian and every organ in his body without respite.

In just a few short seconds, the majority of his Battle Meridians were seized by the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill. This force grew ever larger, constantly hammering away, like the most ravenous creature intent on usurping everything; it wasn't just attacking the one hundred and eight Living Battle Apertures, but was now even impacting the dormant Dead Battle Apertures.

Rumble! A tremor shook Qian Jin’s interior again. In that instant, it felt as if not only his meridians were on the verge of shattering, but his very bones wished to disintegrate. The one hundred and eight Dead Battle Apertures, which had remained dormant as if in winter slumber, were awakened the instant the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill struck, like startled fierce tigers and dragons.

The intense, newborn heat energy instantly acted like a high-speed motor, frantically absorbing the thermal energy that had been defeated and scattered throughout his body, coalescing it into new power that roared like a battle hymn, surging toward the Hidden Thunder Battle Skill.

The Hidden Thunder Battle Skill, which moments before had been majestic and unstoppable like a historical flood, suddenly ground to a halt, as if slamming into the most unyielding, colossal block of iron.

The Nine Yang True Flame Iron buried in the sand seemed to respond to the summons of the Battle Forging Breathing Technique within Qian Jin, and the searing power poured out as if limitless, rushing into Qian Jin’s body…

“So hot?” Duan Fengbuer repeatedly lifted his feet. Even his Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline War Body could feel the intense heat of the sand. Had Qian Jin truly been cooked alive? What was happening in the sand that it could generate such intense heat?

“Hot? Indeed, it is very hot.”

A low voice laced with killing intent slowly emerged from the swirling sand. Duan Fengbuer’s brow twitched as he watched the figure step out—a Spirit King Bloodline Warrior! Someone from the Qian family! It was another member of the Nine Wars Against Demons!

“Chasing and killing again?” Duan Fengbuer’s voice suddenly rose. “Do you Qian family have any shame left? Attacking sneakily on the battlefield… Now attacking and hunting us down!”

“And why shouldn’t the older generation fight the younger generation?”

The Spirit King Bloodline Warrior emerging from the sand wore a look of disdain. “On the battlefield, the demons won’t spare you just because you’re younger. Bullying the weak? That’s how the battlefield is! Only fools challenge the powerful with inferior strength! If you think otherwise, why don’t you go challenge the Great Demon King? I’m sure he’ll grant you a one-on-one fight.”

Duan Fengbuer froze, unsure how to retort. On the battlefield, no one willingly picks up a sword to strike an enemy stronger than themselves—that’s just offering up military merit.

“The stars will not cease to embrace you just because you spared a weaker enemy,” the Spirit King Bloodline Warrior slowly drew the longsword at his waist. “Young man, remember this: My name is Qian Chenguang! If the God of Stars asks you who sent you back into its embrace, you may speak my name.”

“And you two demons!” Qian Chenguang pointed his sword through the air. “Your appearance was too perfect! If I kill you, I can claim Qian Jin conspired with demons, even dragging Pan Hongji into it. I imagine the Clan Head will be quite pleased.”

The Ancient Barren Sand Sea. A Spirit King Bloodline Warrior from the Nine Wars Against Demons, Qian Jin severely wounded, the Serpent Emperor absent! The four warriors’ faces were grim as dark clouds. They all possessed some ability to fight above their power level, but taking on a member of the Nine Wars Against Demons…

“We’re still missing Qian Jin,” Qian Chenguang’s slender eyes swept everywhere, his golden eyebrows—turned that color by his Spirit King War Body—twitching as he searched. “I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to strike, but unexpectedly the Serpent Emperor left midway. When luck turns, even walls can’t stop it.”

Qian Jin? Duan Fengbuer subconsciously rotated his ankles, his body slowly backing away. He couldn’t let them all die here today. Since Qian Chenguang was set on killing them, he likely wouldn't spare Duan Fengbuer, the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline, even for Pan Hongji’s sake.

“Qian Chenguang, dare you drop your weapon and fight me bare-handed?” Duan Fengbuer narrowed his eyes, a provocative grin on his face. “What? Are the Qian family only capable of producing gutless wastes? A member of the Nine Wars Against Demons, yet you don't dare fight me empty-handed?”

Qian Chenguang’s pupils flickered with a cold, unexpected smile. Had this Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Warrior been frightened into stupidity to make such a request? That spear was clearly a top-grade Battle Soldier, perhaps even better than the longsword in his hand. To discard such an advantage? Did he have some hidden weapon?

“No matter what hidden weapon you have, it doesn’t matter,” Qian Chenguang lightly tossed his longsword onto the ground; the sharp blade easily sank into the sand. “Though I don't know why you’re using provocation tactics, I do intend to capture you alive, as I still need to interrogate you for Qian Jin’s whereabouts. As for…”

Qian Chenguang’s gaze fell upon Lucifer Liushui, and a vile grin spread across his face as he repeatedly swallowed. This little demoness, though of the Demon Race, was a rare beauty. To mount a demonic woman in her Fallen Angel transformation state—that would certainly be a unique thrill!

How many powerful warriors might kill a Fallen Angel Martial Knight in their lifetime! But… Qian Chenguang’s gaze seemed to tear at Lucifer Liushui’s clothes. He had never heard of any great warrior riding a beautiful, sexy Fallen Angel demoness!

“Female Martial Knights of the Lucifer Clan who have awakened their bloodline power are rare! And ones as stunning as her are even rarer! Later, I’ll show you that Qian family men aren't just invincible on the battlefield; we can also conquer you in bed!”

Lucifer Liushui’s individual pupils flashed with murderous intent; she wished she could gouge out Qian Chenguang’s eyes. Among the Demon Race, anyone who dared speak to her this way or look at her with such eyes would have long since had their eyeballs removed!

“As for you…” Qian Chenguang’s tone suddenly shifted as he looked at Chekeflute. “A male demon more beautiful than a woman! You actually stir my interest! Although I’ve never played with men, I’ll make an exception for you today. Boy, tell me Qian Jin’s location, and I promise to be gentle.”

Qian Jin’s location? If he told him, Qian Chenguang wouldn't let any of them leave safely.

Fight! Duan Fengbuer frowned slightly, planting his feet as if moving like a sand snake. A chain of yellow sand formed a sand dragon behind him, and he instantly lunged toward Qian Chenguang. His five dagger-like claws shot out like spears, aiming for Qian Chenguang’s throat.

“Hahahaha…”

Amidst Qian Chenguang’s booming laughter, he spread his five fingers and enveloped the attack. The Heaven-Stealing Hand instantly blackened Duan Fengbuer’s vision as he felt the massive, sky-obscuring palm strike. His breath hitched, and his wrist was about to be seized by those five fingers in an instant.

Snap, snap, snap…

The five knuckles of the Heaven-Stealing Hand exploded under the effect of the Battle Qi Sequence. Once clenched, the grip could crush thick iron rods, let alone the arm bones of a warrior—they would certainly be pulverized.

In a flash, Duan Fengbuer shrugged his shoulder; his arm didn't retreat but advanced further. He let his fragile wrist pass the grasp, allowing the Forearm to be seized by the Heaven-Stealing Hand.

The Battle Skills collided, and the dull sound of churning Battle Qi immediately erupted. Duan Fengbuer instantly felt cracks forming in his arm bones as the overwhelming force rapidly contracted.

“Boy, think you can run…”

Qian Chenguang’s words hadn't even finished before his eyes brightened. Duan Fengbuer, caught in the hold, didn't struggle to break free but instead pressed forward again into the direct confrontation. The moment his other striking arm was also seized, the ground… he actually—actually—

PS: Went out to eat, forgot my phone… forgot to update… completely forgot…”