"Now this is interesting."

Shen Yi watched quietly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. So even a Mixed Origin Grandmaster was this feeble before such a guardian — not the slightest room to resist. If he could get hold of one himself, then when a crisis came, he'd have a place to hide too. He wondered whether he could carry this river of fire away with him.

As he mused, a phoenix's cry burst out at his ear. Blazing true-fire gathered into a raptor with wings a dozen zhang across, plunging down to kill from on high!

"Die for me!"

Xiang Tianyan's voice was shrill, a longsword streaming brilliant radiance in her grip.

A wave of scorching air swept out, sending the many Core-Nurturing cultivators scrambling to dodge; even those who mustered their qi to resist found black, seared marks appearing across their skin.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced over idly. Facing the vicious fire-bird and the piercing sword-light contained within it, he raised his hand slightly. His sleeve flared up, his palm closed into a fist, and then he smashed it out brutally.

Beneath that fist, the longsword shattered inch by inch, and the gorgeous fire-wings wrapped around Xiang Tianyan scattered as though swept by a gale, turning into a sky full of firelight before swiftly guttering out.

"..."

Xiang Tianyan gripped the sword-hilt, staring blankly at the young man now right before her. Deep terror surged up from the bottom of her heart.

Then she watched that hand seize her by the hair and wrench her violently downward.

Boom!

Shen Yi planted a foot on her shoulder, pinning her hard to the ground, and took her storage pouch away in the same motion.

"Don't waste time. I throw you across, or you go yourself — pick one."

The calm voice sounded from behind her, leaving not the slightest room for discussion.

Xiang Tianyan sprawled on the ground struggling with all her might, but under that carelessly planted boot, her shoulder had long since crumbled, exposing the scorching path infant within. Even now, she still hadn't made out just…