"Keep on being arrogant! If your Daoist Lord doesn't beat the shit out of you today, count yourself lucky you emptied your bowels first!"

Yu Chao'an cowed the river-deer demon, then shot up into the air beside Tong Xinchuan.

Looking at the Gold-Eyed Lion within the formation, he grinned savagely, rolled up his Daoist robe, and slammed his palms together.

"..."

Tong Xinchuan glanced at this idiot, helpless.

He swiftly gathered his focus and began laying out a second killing formation.

Just then—

his pupils abruptly constricted.

For the Gold-Eyed Lion Emperor had briefly surveyed its surroundings, its expression placid, without the slightest ripple.

Then it took a single, casual step forward.

Its seemingly random footwork grew steadily faster, and every step landed squarely on Tong Xinchuan's heart, twisting his face savagely in an instant.

In the span of a few breaths—

Shen Yi walked unhurriedly out of that curtain of light.

The several phoenix-birds seemed unable to see him at all, still wheeling about and scattering their motes of light.

Whoosh—

With the sound of air being torn open—

Yu Chao'an found himself looking at an enormous golden eye, and the incantation he was halfway through cut off abruptly.

He gave an awkward twitch of his lips. "Lion Emperor, I was joking."

Tong Xinchuan's breath trembled, his eyes filled with furious disbelief as he stared at the great lion before him, and the movements of his hands quietly froze.

The killing formation, laid only halfway, slipped from his grasp.

The clouds and mist across the sky abruptly parted, revealing two great dragon-and-tiger guillotines descending at a speed the naked eye could barely catch.

Then they came down savagely on the lion's rippling back.

Crack!

The dragon-tiger guillotines inexplicably shattered to pieces.

The lion's gaze didn't so much as flicker. Then it swung a claw, its sharp talons tearing through the wind, and struck both men with crushing force.

Yu Chao'an's body, so painstakingly recovered, was batted flying once more.

Only this time there was another figure alongside him.

Tong Xinchuan's eyes were dazed as he was sent hurtling backward,…