Through the Soul Gathering Orb, Shi Yan sensed an extraordinarily familiar life fluctuation emanating from the bottom of the mine!

Based on his understanding of life force intensity, he was certain that the powerful fluctuation belonged to a Black Scale Demon, at least at the third heaven of the Nirvana Nest realm.

A Black Scale Demon at the second heaven of the Nirvana Nest realm was an utterly terrifying existence on Black Stone Island.

Although Lin Nan also possessed cultivation at the Nirvana Nest realm, from battling the demons, Shi Yan could confirm that at the same cultivation level, the Black Scale Demons were significantly more formidable than human martial artists!

This meant Lin Nan was definitely no match for that demon.

The higher the realm of the demon, the greater the danger it endured passing through that unstable spatial node. This demon might have been injured previously when descending into the Endless Sea, and perhaps only now had it fully recovered.

It must have been the grievous injury inflicted by Gu Ya that enraged this creature, and in its fury, its life fluctuation became so intense that Shi Yan detected it via the Soul Gathering Orb.

Currently, the demon was rapidly ascending from the depths of the mine, charging toward Shi Yan’s location.

It wouldn't be long before the demon appeared here, and by then, even if Lin Nan arrived, he would likely not be able to contend with the demon.

Shi Yan had a clear grasp of his own capabilities. Even activating the Double Heaven Rampage, which would instantly double his power, would only allow him to deal with martial artists at the Earthly Realm. Yet, that demon was in the second heaven of the Nirvana Nest realm, and its physical body was exceptionally tough. If he truly confronted it, he would have zero chance of survival.

Therefore, his first thought was to leave immediately.

“What’s wrong, Shi Yan?”

He Qingman cried out in alarm, not knowing what had happened, but sensing from Shi Yan’s expression that something truly dreadful was unfolding.

“Let’s get out of here first…”

Shi Yan’s face was grim as he turned back the way they came, moving like a bolt of lightning, rushing toward the exit of the mine tunnel.

On his way in, Shi Yan had memorized every fork in the road. In his mind, the map of these labyrinthine passages was vividly imprinted, crystal clear.

Shi Yan only offered that curt reply before rapidly departing, which only intensified He Qingman’s astonishment.

“Miss He, what should we do?”

The martial artists from Tianxie Cave looked to He Qingman, somewhat lost.

Her delicate face shifted between shades of apprehension, her eyebrows tightly furrowed. After a moment of hesitation, she made a decisive call: “Retreat! You all saw how strange he was acting. He understands the situation better than anyone. If he insists on leaving, there must be substantial reasons…”

Barty and the others nodded in agreement.

He Qingman took the lead, her graceful form flickering once before transforming into a streak of green light, surging straight toward Shi Yan’s direction.

Shi Yan darted rapidly through the passage, vital essence churning violently within his body and surging toward his legs. With every landing, the solid black stone floor registered a sharp explosion, causing several stones to shatter.

It seemed necessary to find a movement technique that could enhance his speed.

While moving swiftly, Shi Yan pondered this internally.

As far as he knew, many martial techniques focused entirely on movement and speed. Once successfully cultivated, they could significantly boost one’s velocity and allow movements to become unpredictable during combat, leaving opponents unable to grasp one’s true intent.

Back when he was still with the Shi family in Tianmo City, he had found several such movement techniques in the Shi family’s Martial Spirit Hall, but those techniques were of too low a rank for him to bother practicing at the time.

In subsequent battles, there had never been a specific scenario demanding the use of such techniques.

However, today, upon sensing the Nirvana Nest Second Heaven demon rapidly approaching from the depths of the mine via the Soul Gathering Orb, the sheer speed—like lightning—made him realize, for the first time, that his own speed was too slow.

In certain critical moments, speed could save one’s life. “Chii-chii!”

Up ahead in the flat tunnel, the sound of swift movement through the air suddenly echoed.

Shi Yan’s charging body froze abruptly. He looked up toward the front.

A voluptuous figure trailed a long phantom, flashing out of the tunnel ahead like a ghost. Because of the excessive speed, the figure’s shadow was stretched long, appearing exceedingly bizarre.

“Hoo!”

Lin Nan suddenly stopped, staring at Shi Yan with surprise, and frowned, “What happened? Where are Qingman and the others?”

Seeing that the person approaching was Lin Nan, Shi Yan felt a slight easing of tension. “They are right behind me; they’ll be here shortly. Let’s get out of here quickly…”

“Get out of here?” Lin Nan looked somewhat bewildered. “We haven’t even seen a demon yet. Our objective is to eliminate the demons here. How can we leave so easily before the mission is complete?”

“If you want to complete the mission, do as you wish. I won’t keep you company.” Shi Yan was too pressed for time to argue. He swept past Lin Nan and hurried to charge out.

He had already sensed that the approaching speed of the Nirvana Nest Second Heaven demon was gradually increasing; it wouldn't be long before it reached this area.

Time was tight. To preserve his life, Shi Yan did not wish to waste any extra moments.

One more explanation meant one more moment wasted. At this juncture, every second was precious; perhaps speaking a few more sentences could lead to his demise.

“Just what is going on?” Lin Nan exclaimed, “I received a message from Qingman saying you encountered a demon over there.”

“Ask He Qingman yourself; she’ll be here shortly,” Shi Yan replied flatly, his back to Lin Nan as he continued to charge forward without stopping.

When Lin Nan tried to ask more, he found Shi Yan had already vanished.

“What a strange fellow. I wonder what he came to Black Stone Island for. He explicitly said he wanted to temper himself and see the power of the demons, yet he wants to leave so soon…”

Lin Nan frowned, murmuring to himself, full of confusion.

“Huuu, huuuu!”

Figures began to emerge from the tunnel. In a slightly narrower cavern, Shen Yidan, Peng Pei, and Shi Yubai, along with dozens of followers, were about to enter the passage.

Shi Yan suddenly materialized there.

“Huh!”

Shen Yijing let out a surprised cry, looking curiously at Shi Yan and asking, “Why are you back?”

“Yeah, didn’t you say you ran into a demon? What are you running away for now?” Peng Pei sneered, mocking him, “Did the demon scare the courage right out of you, leaving you completely unnerved? Haha, then why did you come to Black Stone Island? Didn’t you say you wanted to temper yourself?”

Shi Yan ignored them, letting out a cold snort, intending to pass the three and leave.

“Wait a moment!”

Shi Yubai blocked Shi Yan’s path, his handsome face etched with suspicion. “What exactly did you encounter? Where is Qingman? Even if you must retreat, you need to explain what happened!”

“That’s right, there’s no need to be afraid. We’re all here now…” Shen Yidan smiled faintly, her beautiful eyes filled with disdain. “Besides, Sister Nan already went ahead. Sister Nan is in the Nirvana Nest realm. With her there, those demons can’t hurt you. I really don’t know what you’re scared of.”

These three clearly regarded Shi Yan as a gutless coward, believing that upon witnessing the demon’s might, he had been terrified out of his wits.

Shi Yan sneered internally and said to Shi Yubai, who was blocking the passage leading out of the mine, “Move aside. I don’t care if you want to play the hero, but don't block my way out of here…”

“You’re not leaving until you explain things clearly!” Shi Yubai’s eyes turned cold. “Do you really think you’re named Yang? Even if you were named Yang, I wouldn’t treat you any differently! Hmph. You’re only at the Hundred Tribulations realm. Even if you truly were from the Yang family, you certainly wouldn’t be an important figure. On Black Stone Island, it’s not up to you to come and go as you please.”

Shi Yan’s face instantly darkened.

Without offering further explanation, maintaining his current state achieved through the First Heaven Rampage, his body suddenly shot out like a cannonball, charging directly toward Shi Yubai.

“Ah! He dares to attack!”

Shen Yidan couldn't help but shriek, shaking her head in disdain. “A mere Hundred Tribulations realm cultivator dares to confront a martial artist at the Earthly Second Heaven realm. I truly don’t know if he is incredibly brave or simply brainless.”

“He must have been scared witless by the demon and lost track of who he is,” the surrounding Tianxie Cave martial artists sneered, mocking Shi Yan.

Shi Yubai snorted coldly, planting his feet firmly to block the passage, unmoving. He swept his hands in a semi-circle, rapidly condensing dark yellow light, forming a barrier imbued with a strong earthen aura.

Shi Yubai’s Martial Spirit allowed him to control the power of the earth. This ‘Earthen Wall’ condensed from earthen energy was sufficient to withstand the charge of an ordinary Earthly Realm martial artist.

After condensing the ‘Earthen Wall,’ Shi Yubai coldly took two steps back, his body retreating into the tunnel as he coldly watched Shi Yan’s impact approach.

“Crap…”

A dull explosion suddenly erupted from the dark yellow light wall.

Under Shi Yan’s impact, the light wall momentarily warped and distorted, and then it suddenly shattered!

Shen Yidan, Peng Pei, and the others’ faces changed drastically.

Shi Yan, like a rainbow, crashed violently into the completely unprepared Shi Yubai, sending him flying backward. Before Shi Yubai could even land, Shi Yan had already passed him and disappeared into the gloomy passage.

“Ah…”

Shen Yidan covered her mouth, her pretty face filled with shock, staring at the direction Shi Yan had vanished in disbelief.

“How is that possible?”

Peng Pei cried out, stunned. “Even I couldn’t break through Senior Brother Shi’s light wall! How could that kid, how could he break it?”

“Who knows!”

Shen Yidan shook her head with a wry smile, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. “I think we all underestimated him. Perhaps, perhaps this guy really is a direct descendant of the Yang family. Otherwise, he couldn’t possess such terrifying explosive power. We… might have truly misjudged him.”

“Impossible. I’ve heard of those few monsters from the Yang family. But I have definitely never heard the name Shi Yan. Besides, he said his surname was Shi, how could he be from the Yang family?” Peng Pei shouted.

At this moment, Shi Yubai slowly stood up, his handsome face looking incredibly sullen as he walked over to the spot, his eyes filled with resentment.

“Let’s find Qingman first. When we get out, I will settle this with him slowly…”

Shen Yidan and Peng Pei exchanged glances, both wearing strange expressions, but they didn’t say much more, following Shi Yubai as they rushed in the direction Shi Yan had come from.