Chapter 1731: Chi Yan’s Doom

Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, Northern Domain!

Here, towering trees and sprawling vines abound, nestled in a massive mountain range. Today, this ordinarily tranquil mountain range is in utter chaos, as if a large stone has been thrown into a lake.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

From a bird’s eye view, figures are seen dashing through the dense forest, each exuding majestic aura, seemingly the elites of this Nine-layered Dragon Cloud North Domain.

However, ahead of these humanoid figures, a fiery-red silhouette shoots forward at an astonishing speed, appearing to be pursued by those human cultivators.

"Everyone, push harder, the young Fire Cloud Rat is right ahead, capturing it to refine as a Meridian Spirit would surely boost your strength tremendously!"

Among the pursuing shadows, an elder emitting a scorching aura suddenly calls out, his old eyes occasionally flashing with a greedy and fervent gleam.

Upon hearing the elder’s shout, many speed up noticeably, and in no time, they draw closer to the fiery-red small silhouette ahead.

It’s worth noting that these human cultivators with overwhelming auras are all masters of the Fire Attribute, their aggressive aura clearly provoked by the attributes of that small silhouette ahead.

The elder who spoke earlier appears strongest, having reached the Heavenly Realm Late Stage, while this group, though hailing from various sects, seems led by him.

Whoosh!

The fiery-red small silhouette ahead flashes forward tens of feet, then seemingly hesitates as it reveals itself, revealing it to be a palm-sized fiery red mouse.

If Yun Xiao were here, he might recognize this palm-sized fiery red mouse, his life-and-death partner from the Hidden Dragon Continent: Chi Yan!

Because Chi Yan was teleported into this Nine-layered Dragon Cloud via the Chongxiao Stairs, its emergence was in the Human Territory, and the unique teleportation positions vary for everyone, be they humans or demons.

Further north in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud North Domain lies the domain of the Vein Demons, with whom humans dare not incite without caution, even for Emperor Canglong Palace.

However, Chi Yan’s appearance in this unusual place saw its search for Fire Attribute Heavenly Treasures lead to being discovered and arousing covetous intentions.

If the Fire Cloud Rat were to reach the Holy Demon level, it would evolve into a Fiery Holy Rat, able to transform into a human form and defy humans of the same rank.

Unfortunately, though Chi Yan found some powerful Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, elevating its Demon Meridian Qi to Low Level Holy Grade Sky Demon, it couldn’t withstand the numbers and ultimately suffered from a serious ambush-induced injury.

The leader of the human cultivators is a formidable elder at the Heavenly Realm Late Stage, and though Chi Yan wasn’t afraid of individual combat, its internal injuries made it cautious not to jeopardize its life.

Despite Chi Yan’s tremendous speed, among these fire attribute human cultivators are several expert trackers, no matter how it conceals its aura, evasion is fruitless as they inevitably catch up.

These human cultivators with fire attributes aim to refine this yet-to-mature Fiery Holy Rat into their Meridian Spirit, boosting their power significantly.

Thud!

As Chi Yan darted past a large tree, a strong wind-breaking sound abruptly reached its ears, causing it to tense up without thinking, instinctively dodging sideways.

A beam of light suddenly streaked across Chi Yan’s previous position; hidden was an insidious enemy almost making it suffer an unexpected defeat.

Though Chi Yan’s physical strength surpasses same-level human cultivators, it hasn’t reached an invulnerability to sword or knife; it senses the weapon’s aura likely reaches a Heavenly Rank Intermediate level.

Though Chi Yan dodged this sudden ambush, its delay allowed for an unpleasant surprise in its eyes.

As Chi Yan dodged to the side, another attack followed, this time from the Heavenly Realm Late Stage elderly human, whose sudden acceleration closed the gap behind him.

This new attack lacks the stealth of the ambush but its aura alone is formidable, given it’s from a human expert at the Heavenly Realm Late Stage.

Chi Yan, as a Low Level Holy Grade Sky Demon, holds an advantage over Heavenly Realm Early Stage human cultivators, and can contend with Middle Stage experts.

Encountering Heavenly Realm Late Stage human experts, Chi Yan struggles without using Transformation Technique to barely escape alive.

These human cultivators aim to seize riches, encircling Chi Yan, leaving its situation precarious.

Bang!

After dozens of fierce rounds, a palm from that Heavenly Realm Late Stage expert finally slammed into Chi Yan’s mouse body, sending him flying backward. In the process, his large form shrank rapidly, his aura weakened.

"Damn it!"

Feeling the chaotic demon meridian qi within him, hatred flickered in Chi Yan’s eyes. He suddenly realized that without Yun Xiao, navigating the Human Territory of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud was indeed impossible.

Previously, although Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan was quite powerful, his penchant for seeking Fire Attribute Heavenly Treasures often landed him in trouble.

Some troubles were beyond Chi Yan’s ability to handle, and yun Xiao would always step in to resolve them, allowing him to evade consequences no matter the severity of his actions.

Until this very moment, as Chi Yan faced countless human experts in battle and sustained grievous injuries, an image involuntarily surfaced in his mind—a figure clad in rough clothes, his kin from the Hidden Dragon Continent.

"Big brother, Chi Yan is dying, where are you?"

No matter how much Chi Yan longed for Yun Xiao, it couldn’t change his situation. The fire-attributed human cultivators were determined to refine him into a meridian spirit, showing no hesitation.

If this were the territory of the Vein Demons, the human cultivators might hesitate, given the fierce reputation of the Fire Holy Rat Clan; offending them would be dire.

But this was the Human Territory, and the Fire Cloud Rat had not yet become a Fire Holy Rat, reducing any hesitation among the humans to the extreme.

In this Continent, enhancing one’s own strength is ultimately paramount. Refining this Low Level Holy Grade Sky Demon Fire Cloud Rat would grant a formidable meridian spirit and possibly elevate their fire attribute.

"Haha, Fire Cloud Rat, you’re mine!"

As Chi Yan rolled and flew backward, a voice full of excitement suddenly erupted from behind him, sinking his heart into despair.

"Vile humans, if you wish to refine me, you’ll pay the price!"

At this point, Chi Yan knew that wishing for Yun Xiao’s sudden rescue was futile, so hostility surged in his mouse eyes.

The person who laughed when Chi Yan was knocked back was the one who sneak-attacked him earlier, supposedly skilled at taking advantage of surprises, clearly the result of careful calculation.

Seeing the figure behind the Fire Cloud Rat, the old man who injured Chi Yan looked visibly displeased, realizing he had been used.

However, in the next moment, the eyes of the Heavenly Realm Late Stage old man slightly dimmed, and the subsequent events made his anger vanish instantly, replaced by intense fear.

Shhh!

A soft sound suddenly emerged as a tiny flame spewed from Chi Yan’s mouth. Though small, its blazing aura made everyone change color.

"Burning Flame!"

Clearly, Chi Yan unleashed his strongest trump card, vomiting the extremely concentrated fire-attributed Burning Flame, catching the opportunist off guard.

This Burning Flame, which even Chi Yan rarely unleashes, unexpectedly touched the palm of the human cultivator, causing immediate tormenting pain.

The expert known for sneak attacks was also a Heavenly Realm Late Stage expert, rivalling the old man in power. Unfortunately, his greed led to misery.

"Ah!"

Agonizing pain in the palm and a shrill cry marked just the beginning for the human cultivator.

The Burning Flame of the Fiery Holy Rat is incredibly fierce; although Chi Yan hasn’t reached the Holy Demon Level, his angered Burning Flame is unbearable for a Heavenly Realm Late Stage human cultivator.

A shrill cry echoed through the dense forest, chillingly eerie, halting the steps of some newly entered Heavenly Realm cultivators.

"Hmph, it’s just a Fire Cloud Rat that hasn’t reached the Holy Demon Level yet. Let’s see how many more times you can spew!"

At this moment, the Heavenly Realm Late Stage human old man was the first to react, recalling some information about Fire Cloud Rats, coldly sneering, and initiating movement.

Observing his actions, Chi Yan, sensing weakness within, couldn’t help but fall into despair.