Xiang Shaoyun did not say anything much after confirming that Wu Lai was the one who had saved him back then. Since he had only acted for the sake of Dong Ziwan, there was no need to thank him.
Xiang Shaoyun merely offered a nod before going over to Tai Kang's group of three. "You three, attack together. If you can defeat me, you are free to go."
"Kid, have you gone mad? You can't do that!" Wu Lai complained.
"Audacious!" Jin Wo glared at Wu Lai and berated, "Watch how you speak to his highness!"
Wu Lai immediately shut his mouth when he sensed the powerful demonic aura Jin Wo was releasing. Inwardly, he asked himself, How did this kid get a Demon Emperor as his mount? And this kid himself has also reached the Skysoar Realm! Did he stumbled on some fortuitous encounter or something?
He still remembered that back when he had first met him, Xiang Shaoyun was still a fresh Transformation Realm cultivator. In less than two years, he had actually reached the third-stage Skysoar Realm. That was quite an astonishing speed.
Meanwhile, the three survivors were overjoyed to hear Xiang Shaoyun's offer.
Tai Kang quickly asked, "Are you telling the truth?"
"That does not matter. This is your only choice. If you are not willing to fight, I can get my mount to eat you all up immediately. But if you fight me, perhaps you have a chance of survival," said Xiang Shaoyun with a faint smile.
He had not fought anyone since his breakthrough. These three would be just nice for him to test his current combat prowess, which was why he had Jin Wo spare them. Of the three, Tai Kang was a third-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator. As for the other two, one was a second-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator while the other was a fourth-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator. Not even a fourth-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator would wish to challenge a group like this. As a third-stage Skysoar Realm cultivator, would Xiang Shaoyun be able to face them?
"If that is the case, attack!" Tai Kang knew he had no other choice, so he could only do as told.
In any case, he had already come up with a plan. So long as he could drag things out long enough for the Emperors of his clan to arrive, all would be fine. Little did he know that Xiang Shaoyun's group had already killed the Tai Clan Emperors a short while ago.
When Tai Kang gave the command to attack, the second-stage King volunteered himself, "Young master, let me test his strength."
The second-stage King was wielding a golden baton, and as he channeled his energy into it, a golden dragon flew out of it toward Xiang Shaoyun. A King was capable of utilizing the spiritual energy of the world and could draw energy from their fate stars, gaining access to a formidable power through the combination of multiple sources of energy.
Xiang Shaoyun merely stood there, showing no reaction to the incoming attack. When the attack was about to reach him, a golden energy wall materialized around him and blocked it.
Rumble!
A series of explosions rumbled out.
When all the dust settled, Xiang Shaoyun could be seen standing there completely fine. With a look of disdain, he said, "That isn't even enough to scratch my itch."
"How about this? Heaven Ripping Dragon!" the second-stage King roared indignantly as he mustered all his strength to release a new attack. At the same time, the golden snake he was mounted on also spat out a powerful clump of golden energy. The two attacks combined, forming a golden dragon that shot toward Xiang Shaoyun.
The golden dragon bared its fangs and brandished its claws, as if it was going to rip the entire world apart. This was the second-stage King's strongest attack, and its offensive prowess was comparable to the attack of a third-stage Skysoar Realm expert.
Tai Kang and the fourth-stage King stared at Xiang Shaoyun, trying to see if he could survive. The two also prepared themselves to join the battle at any moment.
"Overlord Xiang, watch out!" Dong Ziwan cried out in alarm.
"Don't worry, young lady. He's a third-stage King, a stage higher than you," said Wu Lai.
Facing the new attack, Xiang Shaoyun still had the same sneer on his face as he said, "This attack is far too weak compared to a natural lightning bolt."
With the defensive barrier of the Six Goldplate Manual floating around him, Xiang Shaoyun charged into the incoming attack. Everyone else viewed it as suicide and started wondering if he had gone mad. Yet another explosion erupted, hiding Xiang Shaoyun from everyone's view.
"Haha, so he's just some suicidal fool?" the second-stage King roared with laughter.
"Who are you calling a fool?" Xiang Shaoyun suddenly appeared in front of the King and grabbed his neck.
The King's face instantly flushed red as fear filled his heart. With great difficulty, he spoke, "I...I..."
"Go!" Tai Kang and the fourth-stage King finally moved in, attacking from Xiang Shaoyun's back.
Tai Kang leaped off his bluescale ox, sending a series of illusionary sword energies flying toward Xiang Shaoyun with his Bluescale Sword. Only one of the sword energies was real, but it was hard to ascertain which was it.
Seven Illusionary Killing Swords!
The fourth-stage King did not hold anything back either. They had no other way out, and their only hope was to capture Xiang Shaoyun and use him as a hostage. Wielding a fiery sword, the fourth-stage King released a tongue of boundless, destructive flame toward Xiang Shaoyun.
Chaotic Meteoric Flame!
The two powerful attacks shot toward Xiang Shaoyun, not giving him any chance of escaping. At the last moment before the two attacks arrived, Xiang Shaoyun used the second-stage King as a shield and blocked the two attacks.
He had thought that using one of them as a shield would make them hold back, but he had underestimated their ruthlessness. They did not care about the second-stage King, and they continued attacking.
"Six Goldplate Manual!" Xiang Shaoyun roared and pushed his defense to the peak to take the incoming attacks head on.
Combined with his king aura, the defensive barrier protected his entire body.
Cling! Clank!
A barrage of attacks blasted Xiang Shaoyun, turning the second-stage King into a cloud of blood before they struck the barrier and produced a series of crisp sounds. His defense was good enough to withstand the bombardment of natural lightning bolts, yet it did not last long before the combined attacks of the two before him. The instant his barrier crumbled, he moved away with his Overlord's Nine Nether Steps and clawed with both his hands.
Seven Scorching Sun Claws, Gold Tearing Stance!
Two fiery energy hands raked forward, heading toward one attacker each. The raging flame energy and the sharp claws reached them instantly. Tai Kang was unable to move away in time, and four bloody scars appeared on his chest. The fourth-stage King, not doing any better, had a chunk of flesh ripped off his body.