The Divine Pet roared as it lunged. Its cry was calamitous, turning the land within a ten-mile radius to scorched earth that then transformed into a Molten Lava Sea.

The boiling temperature constantly replenished the Divine Pet’s energy. Ye Fan now understood that the creature was proficient in both close combat and ranged attacks. That wasn’t all; it could replenish its energy at any time. If this was truly a pet of the gods, he had no idea how the ancestors of the Human Clan had ever managed to defeat the Divine Race. Such power was enough to drive one to despair.

At this moment, Ye Fan struggled to his feet. Enduring the searing temperature, he extended his right fist. "Nine Yang Power!"

As Ye Fan fully circulated the power in his Dantian, a blazing, potent Gang Yuan shot into the sky. It skimmed over the lava, raising a wave of molten rock more than ten meters high.

The Nine Yang Gang Qi slammed into the Divine Pet, sending it flying backward. It crashed heavily to the ground, its body shattering on impact.

Did it work? Ye Fan eyed the molten lava questioningly. He didn’t know if the Divine Pet was dead, as Nangong had told him that they were notoriously difficult to kill.

At the same time, unbeknownst to him, the lava behind him began to bubble.

Just as I thought. Ye Fan immediately raised his guard and shouted, "Returning to the Sect Sword!"

A single sword strike caused the lava to explode. The blast was more terrifying than any modern heavy weaponry; in comparison, their explosions would have been a mere joke.

When everything had calmed down, a large hand suddenly burst from the lava and grabbed his legs.

"Ah!" Ye Fan cried out as an intense heat seared him. If this continued, his legs would be crippled.

"Slash!" he bellowed. A powerful Sword Qi shot from his hand, severing the large hand.

At that moment, Ye Fan felt an excruciating, burning pain. It was unbearable, and he drew a sharp, pained breath.

Just then, the Divine Pet reappeared. It bore down on Ye Fan with a domineering aura that made his face turn pale. A god’s pet really isn’t so easily defeated.

He struck with his sword again, a blow that summoned Sword Qi from all eight directions, crushing all ambient energy in its path.

BOOM! 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Ye Fan pierced straight through the Divine Pet’s body.

The Divine Pet roared and slammed its palm down. The palm struck Ye Fan squarely, crushing him with the force of the blow.

BANG!

The ground trembled as Ye Fan slammed into it.

Although it was merely a pet of the Divine Race, the Divine Pet now looked down with an intelligent, mocking gaze.

Just then, Ye Fan suddenly leaped up from the massive crater created by the palm strike. He wasn’t dead. This time, he was filled with immense rage. His anger surged to the heavens as he flew into midair, glaring furiously at the Divine Pet.

He shouted, "Do you think you can run amok in the mortal realm just because you’re a pet of the Divine Race? Today, I will show you that even a mortal can slaughter the heavens!"

His words carried an overwhelming, domineering presence.

The Divine Pet let out a scornful cry. Though it couldn’t speak, Ye Fan understood its meaning: mortals were mere ants, incapable of ever matching the gods.

Ye Fan paid it no mind. He would make every single person who had ever mocked him pay. Dignity was something to be reclaimed with strength, not begged for with pity.

To that end, he immediately drew the Yuanhong Sword, held it level before him, and declared, "This next strike will be your doom!"

Instantly, Ye Fan initiated his Demonization. Countless streams of bloodlust and Evil Qi converged, joined by a terrifying, berserk aura. This sword strike was one the heavens themselves seemed to envy, a technique that should never have been born into this world. But at this moment, Ye Fan had no choice but to fight.

"Demon Sky Slash!"

As the attack formed, a massive demonic idol manifested behind him. Although it was only a phantom, its aura was terrifyingly immense. Even the Divine Pet’s expression changed upon sensing the idol; its heart filled with fear and alarm.

Though Ye Fan was still unsure what power dwelled within him, he knew that an endless torrent of Evil Qi would surge forth every time he entered a state of Demonization. This strike was the newest move he had conceived, combining his Demonization state with the Cross and Diagonal Sword Technique.

"Slash!"

With his great roar, the very heavens and earth seemed to change color. The sun and moon dimmed, their light eclipsed by the might of his attack.

As the attack descended, the Divine Pet shrieked. Despite its fear, it summoned its most formidable power in an attempt to counter Ye Fan’s Demon Sky Slash.

BOOM!

The gigantic demonic idol descended, making direct contact with the Divine Pet. When the two attacks collided, the Divine Pet was obliterated. The force of the blow cracked the surrounding mountains and rivers, for this was not just a merciless Swordsmanship technique—it was the ultimate expression of power!

Ye Fan stood his ground, gazing toward where the Divine Pet had fallen. Unsurprisingly, a massive crater marked the spot—the result of his single sword strike.

Is it finally over?

This time, Ye Fan was absolutely confident. If even this attack couldn’t kill the Divine Pet, then nothing in this world could restrain it. At the very least, he would be powerless to do anything more.

He stood there, utterly weakened. The attack had drained all of his Inner Strength, and he wouldn’t be able to recover for at least several hours. It was a gambit that killed a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of his own. After slaying the enemy, his own power was depleted. This was, without a doubt, the riskiest move Ye Fan had ever attempted.

However, the ground was still trembling. Amidst the tremors, the shattered fragments of the Divine Pet began to reconstitute its body.

This time, Ye Fan truly despaired. He hadn’t anticipated that the Divine Pet was an immortal creature. A god’s pet really isn’t so easily defeated.

A desolate look filled Ye Fan’s eyes. In the end, he had still lost. After its body finished reforming, the Divine Pet began to roar, its cry filled with nothing but contempt for Ye Fan.

"I refuse to believe you’re immortal!" Ye Fan shouted, unwilling to accept defeat.

At this point, he couldn’t find any of the Divine Pet’s weaknesses. Even if he could, what would be the use? In his current state, trying to defeat it was nothing more than a fool’s dream.

The Divine Pet stepped toward him, its claws condensing a Flame Sword before swinging it down at Ye Fan’s head.

CLANG!

Just as Ye Fan thought his head was about to be lopped off, the unexpected happened—the Flame Sword was blocked. The newcomer was Nangong.

Nangong’s Inner Strength was no match for the Divine Pet. He was barely holding on, forced to one knee with his hands trembling violently.

"Chief!" he gasped, his voice shaking not from fear, but because his strength had reached its absolute limit.

At this moment, both Ye Fan and Nangong seemed to have plunged into the depths of despair.