Although the child in front of him was adorably chubby with a tiger-like head, making one want to hug him close, Xie Xuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his body seemingly frozen.
He was able to stand here and speak not because of his own strength, but simply because Hu Li the Immortal wanted to talk to him, granting him the chance to speak while alive.
Thus, Xie Xuan obediently walked into the pavilion, his eyes fixed on the youthful face of the child, as he pondered his chance to escape.
Being targeted by a tenth-tier entity, does he still have a chance to survive?
Xie Xuan thought for a moment, arriving at an answer in his heart: 'Yes!'
He thought of Zhang Chen, who had even drawn away an eleventh-tier True Dragon Soul; perhaps Hu Li the Immortal was also within Zhang Chen's domain to handle?
What he was unsure of now was whether he had a chance to escape from Hu Li the Immortal and live to meet Zhang Chen.
Simultaneously, Xie Xuan harbored resentment in his heart; if not for Prince Pingbian's chaos and collusion with the Demon Race inside and out, how could Hu Li the Immortal dare to swagger into the Human Race's territory?
"It's been some years since we last met, haven't it?" Hu Li the Immortal, holding a toothpick made from True Dragon Skeleton, ascended the pavilion at a leisurely pace, his voice amiable.
"The last time we met was three years ago, a fleeting glimpse atop the White Bone Great Wall." Xie Xuan gripped the club in his hand.
"Indeed, three years have flown by in an instant, time passes silently, and the years swiftly age us." Hu Li the Immortal sighed, the toothpick bouncing up and down on his lips with his words.
Xie Xuan did not speak, pondering ways to escape, though he knew hopes were dim; he had to try, could not sit here awaiting death, could he?
"How did you kill Zhang Shicheng, what method did you use?" Zhao Lie scrutinized Xie Xuan, his eyes showing a hint of caution.
Zhang Shicheng was an eleventh-tier entity, and even after completing his transformation, Xie Xuan boldly struck him down, effectively slaying an eleventh-tier True Dragon, thus Zhao Lie hesitated to seize Xie Xuan immediately, having some apprehension, wishing first to uncover Xie Xuan's true depths.
Understanding Zhao Lie's words, Xie Xuan surmised the situation instantly, his mind recovering quickly: "There seems to be an opportunity! Has that old fox misunderstood something?"
Xie Xuan did not respond to Zhao Lie's question, instead retorting calmly: "Ancestors should not enter the territory of the Human Race."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lie's pupils contracted, a hint of caution in his eyes: "Does the Human Race deserve my fear? You may have killed Zhang Shicheng with unknown methods, but your realm is undeniable, you're merely a Ninth Rank Yang God."
"I can kill eleventh-tier experts, so naturally, I can kill tenth-tier ones." Xie Xuan replied leisurely: "Want to give it a try, old ancestor?"
Zhao Lie did not reply to Xie Xuan, instead diverting the topic: "I greatly admire you, you are a prodigy; why not join my Demon Race? Prince Pingbian has already laid down a Heaven and Earth Net in the Northern Land, alive you won't be leaving the Northern Land. Even if you have the power to battle beyond your rank, it will come at a tremendous cost, I don't believe you can employ such methods without limits. If you join my Demon Race, I can guarantee your life and make you a Human King within the Demon Race, governing all Human Demons."
Xie Xuan shook his head: "I cannot betray the Human Race! However, if you, old ancestor, were to join my Human Race, I could petition the Emperor to bestow the title of Alien King upon you, supporting you in dividing the Demon Race autonomy, becoming a ruler in your own right."
Listening to Xie Xuan's proposal, Zhao Lie could not help but shake his head and sigh: "So there's no room for negotiation?"
"Unless the old ancestor joins the Human Race." Xie Xuan said.
"I'll see for myself how you killed Zhang Shicheng. Show me, let me witness your prowess!" Zhao Lie's body began to summon a strong wind, scattering the torrential rain outside the pavilion.
Xie Xuan looked at Zhao Lie, determination in his voice, his imposing manner starting to gather: "As you wish!"
Xie Xuan surrounded by divine light, Zhao Lie became cautious upon seeing this, invoked Divine Techniques to carefully watch, not rashly making a move, wanting to discern Xie Xuan's capabilities before acting.
But just as Xie Xuan's Qi Mechanism reached its peak, he vanished from the pavilion.
Watching Xie Xuan disappear, Zhao Lie's expression turned peculiar, his mouth slowly curling into a grin: "Escaped? I've already seen through you; where can you possibly run?"
"Boy, you can't escape!" Zhao Lie became a sound wave, disappearing into the forest, pursuing Xie Xuan's direction.
He had seen through Xie Xuan's bluff, understood the opponent's depths, and would not hold back further.
Zhang Chen and Xie Lingyun were steering their tiny boat drifting in the flood, when Zhang Chen's pupils contracted, noticing an additional figure on his ice ship.
"Father, why are you here?" Xie Lingyun exclaimed, surprised to see Xie Xuan appear at the ship's bow.
Xie Xuan ignored Xie Lingyun, instead directing his eyes at Zhang Chen: "Young friend, I've encountered a big trouble again, this time I must rely on your protection."
Upon hearing Xie Xuan's plea for help, Zhang Chen's face went green. How could a mere second-tier Qi Refining ant like me handle a situation even a Yang God True Man couldn't? You're really overestimating me, aren't you? Thinking I'm omnipotent?
However, since Xie Xuan had already asked for help and the enemy was at the door, it wouldn't be easy to just brush off Xie Xuan, so it seemed necessary to first understand the situation. Perhaps he could rely on his Water Control Technique for a fight.
Moreover, he didn't want to reveal his secrets in front of Xie Xuan, as he carried too many secrets. Once exposed, Xie Xuan might develop unwelcome ideas.
"Whom did you offend?" Zhang Chen asked.
"The Great Demon King Zhao Lie of the Demon Race wants to kill me!" Xie Xuan's voice was filled with bitterness.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's face turned green as well. He had of course heard of the Great Demon King's reputation; someone at the Twelfth Tier was definitely not someone he could deal with!
Zhang Chen was ready to use the Water Escape Technique to flee, but before he could act, a distortion occurred in the void in front, and then a figure appeared behind the ice ship.
A child carved from jade, with an insouciant attitude, holding a toothpick in his mouth.
The child stood barefoot on the water's surface, evidently not someone to be trifled with. Particularly with a faint oppressive aura that, although extremely restrained, still cast a shadow over one's heart.
Zhang Chen saw Hu Li the Immortal, and Hu Li the Immortal saw Zhang Chen.
Upon seeing Hu Li, Zhang Chen instantly felt the imprint he had left behind. However, the imprint had been on a small tiger - how was it now in this youth's body?
Then Zhang Chen gazed at the boy's furry little ears, a flash of uncertain suspicion in his eyes: "What's going on? How could my imprint be within him?"
As for the little tiger's transformation, he dared not even think about it; a demon beast transforming requires reaching the Tenth Tier, undergoing a rebirth.
Zhao Lie also saw Zhang Chen, his eyes instantly reddened, past shameful memories surged to mind, and his anger began to burn.
"Young brother, it's up to you now!" Xie Xuan looked at Zhao Lie, retreating behind Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen glanced at Xie Xuan with uncertainty: "Is it really him chasing you? Are you telling me he's the Great Demon King Zhao Lie of the Demon Race?"
"It's him!" Xie Xuan nodded and then lowered his voice: "Can you handle it?"
Zhang Chen gave Xie Xuan an odd look, then glanced at the Demon King Zhao Lie across from him. Although he didn't know why his imprint appeared in the other's body, since the imprint was there, the outcome would be no different.
"Remove the word 'can'!" Zhang Chen patted Xie Xuan's arm: "Old Xie, your reputation exceeds reality. You can't even handle a small tiger; what kind of Inspection and Supervision Department leader are you?"
On the other side, upon hearing Zhang Chen say 'small tiger,' Zhao Lie's rage flared up, and he began to laugh crazily, causing the river to churn: "Good, good, good! Today is indeed a good day; who knew that new and old grudges would come together, giving me the chance to avenge great wrongs."
Ignoring Zhang Chen, in Zhao Lie's eyes, Zhang Chen was nothing but an ant, not worthy of attention; he then looked at Xie Xuan: "Little creature, why aren't you running away? Have you given up resisting? If you surrender and join my ranks, my promise still stands."
Xie Xuan laughed: "If the Old Ancestor wants me to submit, you must first pass the test of my young friend; if you can do that, I'll go to the Demon Race with you, why not?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lie shifted his gaze to Zhang Chen standing at the bow: "Kid, do you recognize me?"
His voice was filled with coldness and hatred.
"I don't know you, but I have a question to ask; did you see my sidekick?" Zhang Chen asked.
He refers to his little tiger as a sidekick.
Beside him, Xie Xuan and Xie Lingyun froze upon hearing the term 'sidekick,' their eyes full of bewilderment, not understanding why Zhang Chen would mention a sidekick.
However, upon hearing 'sidekick,' Demon King Zhao Lie's eyes turned red. That was his shameful past! Everyone who knew about this shameful history must be killed!
It was unbearable for him, Great Demon King Zhao Lie, to have been someone's pet and called a sidekick; it wasn't a path he took willingly, it was his shameful history.
"I will skin you alive, hang your entrails on the lamp, and torture you for a hundred years, making you unable to live or die!" Demon King Zhao Lie's facial muscles twitched, his voice filled with resentment.
Upon hearing Zhao Lie, Xie Xuan whispered to Zhang Chen's ear: "Do you have a grudge with Zhao Lie?"
"Of course not! But for some reason, I previously raised a pet, left an imprint on it, and somehow the imprint went to that guy across." Zhang Chen said.