Chapter 0687 Waiting for the Counterattack

Chapter 0687: Biding Time for a Counterattack

Han Yilai saw the expression of agony on Qin Yun’s face and gave a smug grin before slowly advancing toward him.

The spectators couldn’t sense Qin Yun’s current predicament, so they watched in confusion.

Usually, once a match began, Qin Yun would immediately launch an attack.

But now, he stood motionless, his face contorted in pain.

What was even more bizarre was Han Yilai’s slow, deliberate advance, his demeanor dripping with confidence and arrogance.

Qin Yun could move, but his movements would be sluggish. He didn’t understand why he was suffering from such searing pain.

"Xiao Yun, the power this guy is releasing is on a whole other level compared to yours—Even the energy of the Mingyang Dao Core can’t withstand it!" Ling Yuner said. "Just throw in the towel. I’m powerless to help right now!"

"What about unleashing super gravity? Or devouring him?" Qin Yun felt the pressure mount as Han Yilai drew closer.

"No! This guy has cultivated Immortal Blood. With his strength, he can easily neutralize super gravity."

"And trying to devour him could backfire spectacularly. His cultivation is far superior to yours—if you attempt it recklessly, you might end up hurting yourself unless he becomes weakened," Ling Yuner explained.

Qin Yun seethed with frustration. The fight hadn’t even properly begun yet.

"You should realize just how strong I am by now," Han Yilai said indifferently as he approached.

"You are indeed strong! But there’s nothing to be proud of—you’re over a thousand years old, while I’m only in my twenties!" Qin Yun quickly adjusted his footing.

A faint golden light cloaked the arena.

As Qin Yun moved, he sensed the strange force hidden within that golden glow. The faster he moved, the stronger the force became, intensifying his pain.

If he remained still, the agony might not be so unbearable.

After taking just a few steps, Qin Yun stopped again. The soul-crushing agony filled him with dread.

"This is my Divine Art—Pain Divine Art!" Han Yilai crowed, grinning.

At this moment, the half-immortal from the Medicine Immortal Valley chuckled. "Han Yilai has cultivated Immortal Blood, and his Dao Core is exceptionally powerful. He can unleash a Divine Art domain—anyone within it will suffer excruciating torment."

Hearing this, the half-immortals from various sects murmured in awe.

Bao Changshou, in particular, wore a grave expression and barked urgently, "Qin Yun, get off the stage now!"

"Ancestor, what does cultivating Immortal Blood mean?" Jian Ruyan asked Jian Shitian in confusion.

"That’s the second stage of the Immortal Body. Normally, only those at the Emperor Wu or half-immortal realm, after attaining an Immortal Body, begin striving for this phase—continuously refining their blood with energy until it generates immortal power," Jian Shitian explained.

The half-immortal from the Medicine Immortal Valley chuckled. "When Han Yilai first decided to pursue this path, we elders strongly opposed it. But now, it’s clear his choice has paid off big time."

Jian Nanhu clenched his fists, frowning. "This guy is a total wild card! I’d heard of the Thousand-Year Immortal Disciple, but I never expected him to be this terrifying! Even Qin Yun is outmatched against him!"

"Han Yilai possesses a blue Pain Martial Soul—a Divine Martial Soul—which allows him to wield the Pain Divine Art. Such a Martial Soul is one in a million!" Jian Shitian said. "Nanhu, even you might lose to him."

Han Yilai stood before Qin Yun, relaxed and oozing contempt. He sneered, "Where’s that big talk from yesterday? What happened to your bravado?"

With that, he punched Qin Yun in the face, slamming him into the barrier.

Wracked with pain, Qin Yun found that even when he tried to summon his strength, the strange agony sapped his focus, making it nearly impossible to counterattack.

Han Yilai shook his fist and frowned, “Didn’t expect you to be so sturdy. You don’t have immortal energy, yet your body is this strong—it’s definitely not an Immortal Body. Could it be the rare Celestial Beast Profound Body?”

The Celestial Beast Profound Body—also extremely powerful.

“Could it be that you’ve cultivated the Sky Lion Mystic Body?”

After walking over, Han Yilai stomped on Qin Yun’s back, making him scream in agony.

“You’ve got nerve! Knowing you can’t defeat me, yet refusing to surrender!” Han Yilai’s expression suddenly turned sinister. “Since that’s the case, I’ll take my sweet time breaking you.”

“You’re our Medicine Immortal Valley’s archenemy. The debt you owe us will be repaid in full—this is just the down payment!”

As he spoke, Han Yilai went wild, kicking and punching Qin Yun.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Qin Yun was flung from one side to the other under Han Yilai’s overwhelming force, each blow landing with thunderous impact, drowning out Qin Yun’s screams.

The sight drew cheers from hostile factions like the Totem Pavilion, the Strange Rune Temple, and the Medicine Immortal Valley, their mocking jeers relentless.

Every time Qin Yun was brutally struck, these factions erupted in jubilation.

In mere moments, Qin Yun was beaten bloody, lying on the ground wheezing, his torn clothes stuck to his mangled skin.

Qin Yun finally understood what “there’s always a bigger fish” truly meant.

He had to admit Han Yilai was freakishly strong. Even a Martial Lord of the Black Tortoise Realm would likely end up the same way.

Ling Yuner sighed softly, “Xiao Yun, there’s nothing I can do. This guy’s strength far surpasses yours. In a bare-handed fight, you’re no match for him!”

“Cat got your tongue, Qin Yun? Why haven’t you called for surrender?” laughed the half-immortal from Medicine Immortal Valley. “A Lai, don’t let up! Let’s see how much pride this guy has left!”

The hostile factions continued their mocking cheers.

Jian Ruyan and Long Qiaofeng watched, heartsick, glancing repeatedly at Xiao Yuelan nearby, hoping she would call Qin Yun down.

Xiao Yuelan remained icy, her gaze fixed on Qin Yun on the arena.

She knew Qin Yun was getting demolished, but she believed he would find a way to strike back.

“Yuelan, quickly make Qin Yun come down!” Hu Jingxian suddenly approached Xiao Yuelan and sent her a mental message.

At the same time, Jian Ruyan and Long Qiaofeng also sent urgent pleas to Xiao Yuelan, urging her to make Qin Yun surrender.

But Xiao Yuelan just stood there, silently watching.

Bao Changshou, Yue Bufeng, and Jian Nanhu shouted from below, yelling at Qin Yun to quit before he was completely ruined.

“Why is Qin Yun so stubborn? Back at the Immortal Weapon Palace gate, he refused to fight me, didn’t care if people called him weak. But now, for pride’s sake, he’s enduring this torment!” Jian Ruyan muttered angrily.

Bao Changshou sighed, “Han Yilai was born with an Immortal Body and trained for a thousand years. No shame in losing to him. Why keep going?”

Everyone agreed that Qin Yun’s stubbornness was pointless—only making it worse for himself.

Long Qiaofeng and Jian Ruyan couldn’t figure out what Xiao Yuelan was thinking, standing by without acting.

But as women, they could see the pain beneath Xiao Yuelan’s cold stare—along with hope and faith.

Hu Jingxian, who didn’t know Qin Yun well, thought he was just being stubborn for pride’s sake.

But Xiao Yuelan didn’t think so. She knew Qin Yun well and was certain he would never take such a beating without fighting back.

If Qin Yun took such a pounding without striking back, he would never let it go.

Thus, she guessed Qin Yun was waiting for an opportunity!

On the arena, Qin Yun’s body emitted sharp cracking noises—the sound of bones breaking.

His bones had already cultivated bone spirits and even fused with the Sky Lion Beast Spirit, yet they were being shattered piece by piece. This showed just how powerful Han Yilai was!

Many Immortal Disciples present were also shocked by Han Yilai’s strength, inspiring them to train for a thousand years to attain such power.

At the same time, the crowd was astonished by Qin Yun’s endurance!

How was he still standing?

Han Yilai seemed to be wearing down too. If he didn’t exert his full strength, he couldn’t make every strike make Qin Yun scream.

"Qin Yun, do you think stubbornly enduring like this will save your reputation even if you lose?" Han Yilai sneered. "Do you think this is just about getting beaten up? You’re wrong! Your persistence will only cost you more than it's worth!"

With a sinister laugh, Han Yilai suddenly crouched down, his hands crackling with dark energy as he reached toward Qin Yun’s abdomen.

"Ahh—!" Qin Yun suddenly howled in agony.

The crowd watched in horror as Han Yilai ripped open a gory wound in Qin Yun’s abdomen, revealing a black Dao Pill inside.

"A black Dao Pill, a black Martial Soul—excellent, excellent!" Han Yilai crowed triumphantly. "Qin Yun, if you want this Dao Pill back, you know what to do!"

"Exchange it for the Star Monarch Rune Soul, right?" Qin Yun gritted his teeth. Covered in blood, his eyes were bloodshot and wild, a terrifying sight.

Han Yilai grinned at the black Dao Pill in Qin Yun’s abdomen. "Good, you understand! Don’t blame me—this is all your own doing. If you hadn’t been so stubborn, you wouldn’t have given me this chance!"

Bao Changshou bellowed angrily, "Extracting someone’s Dao Pill breaks sacred law!"

Tu Tiandi from the Totem Pavilion sneered, "Qin Yun once used someone else’s Dao Pill to kill people in Wuhuang. This is just retribution!"

As Han Yilai’s hand reached closer, Qin Yun snarled, "Han Yilai, you’ll regret this!"

"Hahaha, I won’t regret it at all!" Han Yilai’s fingers finally touched Qin Yun’s Dao Pill, and his triumph grew.

The half-immortal from the Medicine Immortal Valley could barely contain their excitement, for this meant they would soon obtain the Star Monarch Rune Soul.

But suddenly, the moment Han Yilai touched Qin Yun’s Dao Pill, he felt a sharp pain in his fingers. He snatched his hand away and saw two black dots on his skin—

As if bitten by a snake.