"Rather bold talk for someone so young," the fifth-ranked youth commented, though he couldn't shake the feeling that despite her youth, the girl's power was already approaching their own level. While he could only discern that she was a Grandmaster, there was an inexplicable aura of danger about her.

It was hard to imagine such an aura emanating from a mere eight-year-old girl; it was truly rare. Yet, they seemed to have noticed something significant. The sixth-ranked youth said to him, "Fifth Brother, this little girl seems..."

"I know what you're going to say, but the current situation doesn't allow for further contemplation. Attack!" The fifth-ranked youth’s words dissolved as his figure moved forward.

"Leave that trash bird who’s about to break through to the Azure Grandmaster level to me. You three handle those Yellow Grandmaster trash birds. Any problem?"

The sudden voice halted the charging Chinese youth, who froze mid-attack, scanning his surroundings with heightened alertness, as if detecting an even more dangerous presence.

"Oh, yes, Brother Yi!" Murong Lianxue giggled sweetly upon hearing the voice.

And indeed, this Yang Yi gave one the impulse to bang his head against a wall; his opening lines were almost identical to Murong Lianxue's—calling the three Grandmaster-level youths "trash birds"? His figure slowly materialized, wearing a look of calm yet sinister charm, radiating an unsettling, chilling aura that made him appear utterly composed.

"What a dangerous feeling," the fifth-ranked youth muttered internally.

They were of the same realm but different tiers. The fifth-ranked youth was already at a level close to breaking through to the Azure Grandmaster realm. Yang Yi, however, had only just stepped into the second stage of the Yellow Grandmaster realm, his true tier yet to be fully manifested. Although their power levels seemed equivalent, there was a distinct gap in their tiers, yet this Chinese youth unexpectedly found Yang Yi profoundly dangerous.

It was no wonder; after all, that fellow Yang Yi had been touched by the 'lucky woman' in a near-death encounter, forcibly imbued with sixty years of internal energy. His true strength was incalculable. If one judged him merely by his Yellow Grandmaster level and overlooked his offensive capability, one was certainly destined to suffer.

"Sigh—I truly don't understand. You are noble Chinese people; are you really willing to sell your lives for the people of R-Country? Letting your bodies or thoughts be controlled by others—but what about your souls? The souls belonging to you, the Chinese people? If one's very soul willingly submits to control, then it is destined that you have betrayed your motherland, betrayed your soul, betrayed the spirit of being descendants of Yan and Huang!" Yang Yi uttered this strange declaration out of the blue.

Murong Lianxue and the others present had no idea what he meant, but a fierce, flame-like aura flashed in the eyes of the three Chinese youths. They trembled violently, but after a brief shudder, they seemed to regain control, staring back at Yang Yi with icy expressions.

"Alas, there is still hope; it's just drugs, consider it me helping you," Yang Yi’s lips curved into a playful smirk. Swish-swish! His figure blurred instantly.

"Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, be careful..." the fifth-ranked youth grunted coldly, then moved to meet Yang Yi head-on.

Bang! Bang! Yang Yi unleashed a torrent of punches, sending waves of intense heat forth. The fifth-ranked youth was not careless; against a dangerous opponent, he always fought with his full strength.

He evaded Yang Yi's punches and countered with a sweeping leg attack. Yang Yi was fully engaged, concentrating every fiber of his being on the exchange. He leaped to dodge the sweep, bending his body rapidly; what was initially a punch transformed in that instant into a Tiger Claw.

The Chinese youth’s heart chilled upon seeing this. He quickly dodged and cried out in alarm, "You know Bone-Separating and Tendon-Wringing Hand?"

"A trifle," Yang Yi responded lightly, then pressed his attack with both hands formed into claws against the Chinese youth.

"Then see my Great Strength Vajra Finger!" The Chinese youth didn't seem to be bluffing. He extended two fingers from his fist, driving a current of internal energy along them, exuding an imposing aura. Though perhaps small, it was enough to make Yang Yi frown slightly.

Boom—! Murong Lianxue and the others engaged the two other Grandmaster-level individuals. Long Yi and Gongben Yingzi were clearly struggling, being only at the initial stage of the Grandmaster realm. Although Murong Lianxue found the fight manageable, having to manage two fronts left her slightly distracted, unable to exert her full strength.

While the fighting raged intensely on this side, in a black vehicle parked several hundred meters away, Kudo Taichi suddenly seemed to perceive something. He stared intently, so focused that he didn't even hear the suited man calling him.

"Lord Leader, Lord Leader..." the suited man called out anxiously to Kudo Taichi.

"Uh!!!" Kudo Taichi snapped back to attention, his brow furrowed. He asked, "What? Is there a situation?"

"Yes, our three advance teams have already sustained roughly half casualties. And the forces that went in behind us seem to have been interfered with by some unknown power, resulting in heavy losses," the suited man reported, his face grim.

"What?" Kudo Taichi gasped in shock and immediately pressed the suited man, "The forces behind us were interfered with by an unknown power, leading to heavy losses?"

"Yes!"

"What in the world is going on?" Kudo Taichi sounded disbelieving.

"This subordinate does not know. The interference came out of nowhere. And according to reports received, the opposing side only has eight people," the suited man stammered, startled by Kudo Taichi’s iron-hard expression.

"Eight people?" Kudo Taichi felt a wave of profound loss wash over him. He immediately asked, "How many of our men are left now?"

"Sir, the forces that went in behind us are now less than a few hundred."

"Less than a few hundred? What kind of nonsense is this?" Kudo Taichi quickly got out of the car, took the binoculars from the suited man, looked out, and then... in that instant, he froze completely. He began to tremble slightly, murmuring, "What in the world is this?"

Bang! Bang!...

Hiss!

"Fifth Brother!" The seventh-ranked youth, who was preparing to bombard Long Yi, cried out in horror.

"Gah!" The Chinese youth spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes locked onto Yang Yi, ignoring his younger brother’s distress.

A bloody light flickered in Yang Yi's eyes, his expression utterly cold. An innate arrogance radiated from him, an inherent pride that thrilled him to his core. Waves of excitement surged from the abyss of his heart, coursing through his entire body, his meridians, flowing constantly with his true internal energy.

"You actually possess the Aura of Arrogance!" The Chinese youth seemed genuinely astonished. He appeared to have some knowledge of this 'Aura of Arrogance'; it was inherent, present in perhaps one in a hundred, and those who could manifest it directly from their person were exceedingly rare in this world. While the Aura of Arrogance could theoretically be refined, that required reaching the Great Grandmaster realm—a legend, truly a legend...

"Hmph!" Yang Yi showed no mercy. All he desired now was to crush the enemy, having completely forgotten his initial objective. With a swift stride, he darted forward.

"So what if you possess the Aura of Arrogance!" The Chinese youth staggered to his feet, shouting fiercely, "Grandmaster Domain..."

Boom! A burst of flame tore through the air, instantly enveloping him and Yang Yi. At that moment, Yang Yi halted his movement, becoming suddenly wary. There was a vast difference between a materialized domain and a virtualized one, and he was no psychic powerhouse. Furthermore, this Chinese youth's Grandmaster Domain was actually Level Two. It seemed he was on the verge of breaking through to the Azure Grandmaster realm. Thinking of this, a cold gleam flashed in Yang Yi's eyes.

Whoosh! His eerie figure suddenly began circling the Chinese youth, leaving behind trails of afterimages.

The two other Chinese youths stopped their attacks, as did Murong Lianxue and the others. All eyes were fixed on Yang Yi and the Chinese youth engaged in combat. Although only the caster and those targeted within the Grandmaster Domain could clearly see or feel it, the sheer intensity of their clash, and the aura and heated energy flowing from the Domain, visibly shook the onlookers, causing them to involuntarily cease their actions and stare with slack jaws.

"Hmph, do you think you can do anything inside my Domain?" the Chinese youth scoffed, watching the series of afterimages with a sudden flicker of apprehension. "Did he see through the Domain's flaw? No, absolutely impossible. Even an old powerhouse at the Azure Grandmaster level might not see through it here."

"Hahaha!" "Hahaha!"............

A burst of maniacal laughter suddenly erupted. Yang Yi's movements grew faster, and the thermal energy within the Domain became increasingly heated. "In all of martial arts, speed is unbreakable. The Grandmaster Domain is merely a materialized refinement of mental attack. While it differs slightly from that of a psychic, don't forget that mental power is secondary. I have seen those who can utilize this Domain with greater proficiency than you. Do you really think I'm joking now?"

Bang! Hiss! The Chinese youth felt a punch land squarely on his chest, followed immediately by another on his back. He supported himself on one hand on the ground, glaring at the lingering afterimages with a deeply horrified expression.

"Today, I'll let you taste how I once shattered a Domain equivalent to yours, yet possessing far greater power," Yang Yi declared coldly. He hadn't expected to encounter a battle of Grandmaster caliber today.