Follow me again

One of the Abyss Star Envoys collapsed, his life force dissipating.

Shi Yan circled around him thrice, feeling the strange energy once again filling his meridians.

Wielding his dagger, Shi Yan, cloaked in a faint dark aura, weaved among the three remaining Abyss Star Envoys at high speed, leaving shallow cuts on their bodies as he passed.

All three Abyss Star Envoys were afflicted by the "Bone-Eroding Powder," their limbs gradually losing strength, their movements slowing.

Under Shi Yan's relentless assault, the three envoys formed a defensive triangle, struggling to hold their ground.

Shi Yan's expression remained indifferent as he darted among them like a phantom, his dagger flashing with cold brilliance.

"Aargh!"

One of the Abyss Star Envoys cried out in agony as Shi Yan's dagger found his back. "Kill this brat first!" he cursed, spitting blood.

The other two envoys nodded grimly, ignoring Zhao Xin, Diyar Lan, and Hu Long, focusing all their energy on launching a powerful attack. Suddenly, three beams of light shot from their palms, homing in on Shi Yan with unerring precision.

"Watch out! It's the Abyssal King's Spear from 'Dark Abyss!'" Mu Yudie warned, "Clear your mind of their images, or the spears will pursue you endlessly!"

A glint of understanding flashed in Shi Yan's eyes as he swiftly retreated, forcing himself to banish any thoughts of attacking the three Abyss Star Envoys from his mind, returning his consciousness to a state of emptiness.

Deprived of a target, the three "Abyssal King's Spears" veered off course, shooting into the distant underbrush and exploding with a series of loud blasts.

"Damn it!" cursed one of the Abyss Star Envoys, attempting to invoke another dark art.

At that moment, Zhao Xin, having inhaled the antidote, slowly began to recover from the effects of the "Bone-Eroding Powder." Seeing the envoy preparing another attack, Zhao Xin rushed forward without hesitation.

With a flick of his arms, Zhao Xin's limbs extended like serpents, twisting and turning in unnatural ways as they shot toward the envoy with a hissing sound.

"Hu Long!" Mu Yudie called softly, tossing the antidote pouch to him. Hu Long caught it, took a deep breath of the antidote, and with a grunt, charged into the fray.

With Zhao Xin and Hu Long joining the battle, Shi Yan felt the pressure ease. The two of them, having taken the antidote, would gradually regain their strength, while the three Abyss Star Envoys, weakened by the "Bone-Eroding Powder," would soon fall to Zhao Xin and Hu Long.

"Diyar Lan, don't engage in the fight. Take the antidote to Uncle Luo," Mu Yudie instructed as she saw Diyar Lan, after taking a breath of the antidote, prepare to assist Zhao Xin and Hu Long.

Diyar Lan immediately understood, nodding without a word before rushing toward Luo Hao's location.

Shi Yan, no longer involved in the battle, casually walked over to Mu Yudie's side, his expression calm as his gaze followed Diyar Lan.

Diyar Lan, with her auburn hair and sun-kissed skin, was clad in a revealing crimson armor that only covered her ample chest, lower abdomen, and shapely hips. Her toned stomach and sleek legs were fully exposed.

Though her face was only moderately attractive, her figure was strikingly voluptuous, exuding a wild allure that could easily awaken a man's primal desires.

Standing beside Mu Yudie, Shi Yan's eyes were unabashedly fixed on Diyar Lan, making no effort to hide his masculine interest.

"Is she pleasing to the eye?" Mu Yudie asked, her delicate brows furrowed in slight displeasure.

Shi Yan snapped out of his reverie, flashing her a grin. "Any man would be interested in such a fiery beauty."

Mu Yudie's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at him for a moment before chuckling softly, "You speak rather boldly for someone so young. Can you even call yourself a man at your age?"

Shi Yan was momentarily taken aback, suddenly reminded that his current body was only seventeen years old, and due to his recent emaciation, he probably looked no older than fourteen or fifteen.

It did seem rather odd for someone with such a youthful appearance to speak of matters far beyond his years.

He shook his head with a wry smile but offered no explanation. Instead, he casually drifted away from Mu Yudie, moving a few steps closer to where Zhao Xin and Hu Long were engaged.

A pained scream pierced the air as one of the Abyss Star Envoys, his heart shattered by Zhao Xin's "Heavenly Serpent Transformation," staggered for a moment before collapsing, lifeless.

Shi Yan took a few steps forward, absorbing the energy that emanated from the fallen envoy in a way only he could perceive. As the energy flowed into him, his eyes glinted with a bloodthirsty light, and a surge of violent, manic thoughts rose within him.

He knew these thoughts would continue to surface until the energy he had absorbed was purified.

Having gone through a similar experience during the incident with Karu, Shi Yan now had some understanding of the process.

After a moment of careful observation, he realized that because he had advanced to the Innate Realm, his meridians, after absorbing the energy of two opponents of the same realm, were now capable of suppressing the crazed impulses within him. He hadn't lost control.

Shi Yan vaguely understood that this was likely due to his advancement in cultivation. Previously, his madness was probably triggered by the vast disparity in power between himself, at the Acquired Realm, and Karu, who was at the Innate Realm. The unpurified negative energy had simply been too overwhelming.

"Chase them!"

As Shi Yan pondered, Zhao Xin shouted, and he and Hu Long charged after the fleeing Abyss Star Envoy.

"Don't pursue! We need to leave immediately!" Luo Hao, noticing that even the leading Abyss Moon Envoy had retreated, did not seize the opportunity to pursue the weakened foes. Instead, he barked out orders to stop Zhao Xin and Hu Long.

"Uncle Luo, why?" Zhao Xin asked, puzzled.

Luo Hao took a deep breath from the antidote pouch, his voice urgent, "Someone's coming! It must be another squad sent by 'Dark Abyss.' If the two squads join forces, we won't have time to escape. Remember, our goal isn't to kill as many from 'Dark Abyss' as possible, but to ensure Little Butterfly's safety!"

Upon hearing that reinforcements were on the way, Zhao Xin's expression changed. He quickly nodded in agreement.

Luo Hao wasted no time, his body still recovering, as he grabbed Mu Yudie and turned to Shi Yan, saying, "Brother, we're deeply grateful for your help, but this matter doesn't concern you. There's no need for you to suffer alongside us. It's best if we part ways here."

"I still owe Miss Mu a life."

Shi Yan, seemingly unaware of the danger posed by "Dark Abyss," smiled serenely, "Even a drop of kindness should be repaid a hundredfold, let alone a life-saving grace. I'm a man who remembers his debts. If someone wrongs me, I repay them tenfold. If someone treats me well, I return the favor tenfold. I'll follow you a bit further. Perhaps I can be of some help."

"A true hero!" Hu Long praised.

Diyar Lan, her fiery figure brimming with allure, laughed softly, "You little rascal, not only are you bold enough to ogle me, but you also have the courage to speak so gallantly! I was going to hold you accountable for staring at me earlier, but hearing this, I suppose I'll let it slide."

"You…" Mu Yudie was stunned, not expecting Shi Yan to be so stubborn. Her heart was moved by his determination.

"Since you insist, I won't try to dissuade you." Luo Hao nodded, not wasting any more words. He grabbed Mu Yudie and began to sprint.

Zhao Xin and the others quickly followed, and Shi Yan, after taking a deep breath, also moved to catch up.

...

Mo Chaoge led a group of Mo family warriors, moving swiftly through the forest. Suddenly, he halted, his expression grave as he noticed a few "Dark Abyss" envoys emerging from the shadows.

The Abyss Moon Envoy of "Dark Abyss" was also taken aback, his gaze wary as he studied Mo Chaoge and his group, unsure of their origins and concerned that they might be from Luo Hao's side.

"Second Uncle…" Mo Yanyu murmured, sensing the danger from the strangers and wanting to caution Mo Chaoge.

Mo Chaoge, his face tense, locked eyes with the Abyss Moon Envoy for a long moment before he finally spoke, "We're pursuing a boy carrying a backpack, extremely thin, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Our target is that boy alone; we mean no offense to you."

The Abyss Moon Envoy silently breathed a sigh of relief. The "Bone-Eroding Powder" was already taking its toll on him, reducing his strength to less than a third of its usual power. If a fight broke out with Mo Chaoge, he would be at a severe disadvantage.

After listening to Mo Chaoge's explanation, the Abyss Moon Envoy's eyes gleamed with a dark light. He replied in a cold, sinister tone, "I've seen the boy. He's traveling with our

 enemies, Luo Hao and his group. If your target is him, it seems our goals align."

"What do you propose?" Mo Chaoge's voice turned cold.

"I'll lend you a helping hand," the Abyss Moon Envoy said with a slight smile, "And after we've dealt with Luo Hao and the boy, we'll leave you to handle the rest."

Mo Chaoge's eyes lit up. "Sounds like a plan," he said with a sinister grin.

The Abyss Moon Envoy nodded slightly, then turned and led his group toward the depths of the forest.

Mo Chaoge, looking thoughtful, followed closely with Mo Yanyu and the Mo family warriors.

...

Two groups with their own agendas, yet temporarily united by a common enemy, both made their way toward Luo Hao's location, closing in from different directions.