Chapter 26: Boca's Interception

The heavy rain finally ceased after pouring for two days. During that time, Han Tianyue and his companions had taken refuge in a dilapidated temple. On the third day, as soon as the rain stopped, they set out again, only to be confronted by a giant python suddenly appearing before them.

“Where do you think you’re going?” came a seductive voice, and a flock of crows swept across the sky.

“Who are you?” Han Tianyue asked, bracing himself for a fight.

“Have you really forgotten your old friends?” As the crows dispersed, a black figure swooped toward them.

“An!” Mao Xuanzi exclaimed in astonishment.

“And me!” With each step, the rotund Jin Qian made the earth tremble.

“I suppose you youngsters have no idea who I am,” the alluring voice continued, as a voluptuous woman sauntered up to them. “Allow me to introduce myself—I am Demon Serpent.”

“An, Jin Qian, Demon Serpent,” Han Tianyue sneered. “Is there anyone else?”

“The three of us are more than enough,” Demon Serpent replied, flicking her tongue with a seductive smile.

Feng Shang stepped forward without hesitation and unleashed a whirling “Vortex Storm.” Before their foes could react, An, Jin Qian, and Demon Serpent were swept away.

“Who wants to waste time fighting you?” Feng Shang snorted, turning to the others with a cocky grin. “All settled!”

Just as Feng Shang was basking in his triumph, Han Tianyue had already formed a blade of ice, Fang Zhe took out his zither, and Mao Xuanzi’s fiery hair began to dance.

A chilling laugh rang out.

Feng Shang turned to see Boka, masked and proud, standing before them.

“You again?” Feng Shang shook his head in exasperation.

“Era of Orange and Yellow!” Boka cried out haughtily. In an instant, the entire sky was shrouded in a glow of orange and yellow.

As Mao Xuanzi gazed at the golden light before him, he thought, “Now this is the real era of orange and yellow. It seems Boka has advanced even further!”

“Icy Domain!” Han Tianyue faced Boka head-on. With the mutation of the Ice Heart within him, the chill radiating from his body now had the power to turn the world to snow and ice.

“I never imagined you would become so powerful,” Boka said coldly. All this time, he had considered Mao Xuanzi his rival, never expecting to be challenged today by Han Tianyue, whom he had always overlooked. With a cold glare, he declared, “Let me show you my Era of Orange and Yellow!”

The orange-yellow light seeped into every crevice.

With a sweep of his hand, Han Tianyue enveloped them all in a world of snow and ice, the orange light scattering before the flying shards of frost.

“How is this possible?” Boka was stunned, but his pride quickly buried his shock. His expression changed as he withdrew the light of the orange-yellow era. “Crimson Brand!” he shouted, sending a streak of red piercing through the ice toward Han Tianyue.

“Ice Blade!” Han Tianyue leapt up, intercepting the Crimson Brand. Both the ice blade and the crimson light vanished upon contact.

Han Tianyue alone was already formidable enough. If Mao Xuanzi joined the fray, Boka knew he would stand no chance. With An, Jin Qian, and Demon Serpent still missing—blown away by the storm and unlikely to return in time—Boka withdrew his attack and soared away.

“Is it over just like that?” Feng Shang asked as he watched Boka depart.

Mao Xuanzi remained silent.

Han Tianyue replied, “This is only the beginning. He’ll be back.”

Fang Zhe, staring at Boka’s retreating figure, urged, “Let’s move on quickly.”

The group nodded and continued eastward.

Throughout the journey, Mao Xuanzi did not utter a single word. His heart was in turmoil. “Boka has already reached the era of orange and yellow, yet I’m still at a standstill!” With this thought, Mao Xuanzi clenched his fists tightly.