Otherworldly Affairs Office

Chapter 896 896: Breaking Free

Pei Yan, who hadn't activated full battle mode, was hit in the abdomen by the opponent's impact, swift like a meteor. Due to the opponent's advantage of attacking from above, Pei Yan was caught off guard and suffered a setback. After a backhanded slash at the attacker, his body shot straight towards the ground like a cannonball."Pei Yan, your opponent is me!" The person who attacked Pei Yan sneered as he watched the courtyard fill with rising smoke after the rumble, having created a large pit. At the same time, with his assistance, the tentacles in the crack surged out again, wrapping around Thanatos as he was pulled back into the plane space.

Waving his hand to disperse the dust around him, Pei Yan stood up from the ground, rubbing his abdomen with one hand. The strength of the attack was fierce, but it couldn't cause much harm to him currently. Letting his body heal naturally, Pei Yan looked up into the sky with a frown. This was the third time he had encountered this opponent.

The opponent was the blood-curdling contestant who had seriously injured Saraf in the group match and had refused to reveal his name. From the previous attack, Pei Yan could feel that the opponent hadn't been idle during this period, and his momentum was more than three times stronger than when they first met.

Seeing a suitable opponent appear immediately ignited Pei Yan's fighting spirit. He twirled his blade with one hand, looking at the opponent with predator-like eyes. Only then did he realize that the opponent's gaze was also filled with a thirst for battle, just like his own.

Unfortunately, Candle Dragon wouldn't let his prized subordinate engage in a duel with Pei Yan amidst lurking wolves. Seeing that Thanatos' soul was successfully dragged into the space crack, his mission was complete. Breaking through layers of defenses of the Holy Hall and battling in the Demon God's terrain had already consumed much of his essence and had cost him a considerable loss. Delaying further would only worsen the situation, so Candle Dragon sneered and said, "I'll be taking the person! Demon God, you can come find me if you have any objections. If you dare to come, I wouldn't mind apologizing to you in person, also..."

As Candle Dragon's gaze moved within the spatial crack, Pei Yan felt an invisible pressure descend from the sky, enveloping him, trying to suppress him. However, Pei Yan was no longer the young man who met Li Songtao, easily overwhelmed by mental pressure, falling to his knees and crying.

Now, even if faced with the essence and main body of a Lord of the Plane, no one could make him submit merely through momentum. Withstanding the oppression of this aura without flinching, Pei Yan raised his head defiantly to meet Candle Dragon's gaze. A powerful aura unconsciously emanated from within him, countering the opponent's oppression. Although restrained by Candle Dragon's powerful aura and unable to spread beyond Pei Yan's surroundings, it stood like a lighthouse in the dark, unwavering against the roaring waves, flickering faintly and resisting the darkness.

Only then did Old Samikina, standing beside Pei Yan, once again sense Pei Yan's strength. The life-and-death battles and the inhuman training over the past four months had molded Pei Yan into one of the pinnacle combat powers of the plane. The lingering hostility and killing intent from battles had fused with his unique charisma to create a distinctive aura. Compared to the facade of murderous intent he put up when he first arrived in the Demon Realm to establish his presence, Pei Yan now exuded the real pressure of a higher-up, which couldn't be faked, honed through deadly battles and time.

Old Samikina could see this, and as the Lord of the Plane, Candle Dragon could certainly perceive it too. Looking at Pei Yan, who still stood firm under his oppressive aura, Candle Dragon laughed.

"And you, this little fellow has grown a lot! Don't be too anxious. You'll have the opportunity to fight my subordinate. I've placed a big gamble with your esteemed sister on your behalf. She seems to have great confidence in you. Ah, I, too, am eager to see your performance, Pei Yan; don't lose too quickly and disappoint me!"

"Ah! I won't! I also hope your subordinate isn't too incompetent, or at least can live till the time to fight me. After all, wanting your lives isn't just my business alone." Pei Yan lifted his head, maintaining composure as he spoke.

"Hahaha!"

The crack in the sky slowly closed amidst Candle Dragon's boisterous laughter. Before the space sealed completely, Pei Yan's opponent shrugged with a helpless smile and then provocatively beckoned to Pei Yan, indicating he looked forward to their next meeting.

"Isn't craning your neck to look at the sky tiring?" After the spatial crack in the sky closed completely, the Demon God walked to Pei Yan's side, looking at Pei Yan's posture, teasing with rare humor.

"It is quite tiring! But what can I do? You high-ranking folks always enjoy looking down on and talking to others!" Pei Yan lowered his gaze, rubbing his neck with a bitter smile.

"Stop saying 'you guys'. You are Prince Silver Wing. Even without that title, your strength alone places you among the top in all major planes. You're already one of us in higher positions! Didn't you enjoy such treatment that day in the Holy Hall?"

Pei Yan didn't respond to the Demon God's irony, which was an implicit acknowledgment. He turned to the opponent, puzzled: "You just let him take the person away? Is that okay?"

Hearing this, a flash of indiscernible triumph appeared in the Demon God's eyes. Before Pei Yan could notice, he sighed and changed the topic: "Let him be. Without the Divine Artifact, Thanatos is just a wandering soul. Only Candle Dragon treats him as treasure, unable to stir much trouble. But are you alright from the earlier battle?"

"I'm fine!" Pei Yan said deceitfully, stroking the completely healed wound on his abdomen. Although claiming to be fine, Pei Yan felt something strange. He had sensed this peculiarity when Thanatos entered and left his body. However, busy reclaiming his body and immediately plunged into consecutive battles, he hadn't had the time to address it.

When Thanatos' soul was forced out of his body, Pei Yan felt that something indescribable within him left with Thanatos. After Suzi scanned him, all his indicators came back normal, and despite several checks revealing nothing amiss, he could only choose to put the matter aside.

Seeing that Pei Yan was unharmed, the Demon God didn't probe further. Watching the wreckage around them, he waved for his subordinates to clean the Holy Hall. He then turned his gaze to the broken blade in Pei Yan's hand, or precisely, to the pendant wrapped around it. After a long silence, he sighed and beckoned to Pei Yan, saying sorrowfully, "Come with me!"