"Han-ge, what should we do next? Should we go back directly?" Li Muhua asked with some concern.
Shen Han shook his head slightly, his gaze calm: "If we go back now, we'll most likely run into the Xu Family. With our current strength, a direct confrontation isn't advisable yet. More importantly, with so many Martial Artists perishing on this battlefield, the Storage Rings are a huge resource. Wouldn't it be a waste not to collect them?"
Li Muhua nodded, barely suppressing the tension in his heart: "You're right. Then we'll act after the Xu Family leaves."
Soon after, the four members of the Xu Family departed from the area.
Shen Han scanned the surroundings, then turned to Li Muhua: "I'll find you a safe place first. You stay there and don't run around. I'll go keep an eye on that Star Eclipse Council member and see what other schemes he has."
"Alright, Han-ge, be careful on your own. That person is not someone to be trifled with." Li Muhua understood that, with his current strength, this was all he could do for now.
Shen Han said no more. He used his Sniff ability to carefully scan a one-kilometer radius, and after confirming there was no threat, he released Li Muhua from the Dimensional Space. "You stay here and don't act rashly."
After giving his instructions, he unhesitatingly pursued Ye Wuchen's tracks alone.
Along the way, Shen Han's expression was calm, but his mind was rapidly calculating the current situation. The reason he left Li Muhua behind was partly because the latter's strength was insufficient, and following him would only be more dangerous; the other reason was to conceal his trump card—his Chaos Element ability.
Additionally, Shen Han was especially wary of Ye Wuchen. The Star Eclipse Council would sooner or later target him because of Ming Qianying's matter, and this time they even ordered the Xu Family to eliminate him. If he could seize the opportunity to severely injure Ye Wuchen, it would not only weaken the Star Eclipse Council's power but also indirectly sever the Xu Family's connection with the Star Eclipse Council.
Finally, Shen Han detected Ye Wuchen's tracks.
At this moment, Ye Wuchen was sitting cross-legged in a secluded mountain valley, his brows tightly furrowed, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He was fully focused on refining the spirit fire, and the fluctuations of the surrounding flames grew increasingly violent, clearly indicating a critical moment.
"It seems that after absorbing a large amount of Mental Energy from Martial Artists and evolving, Ye Wuchen needs to re-refine this spirit fire to gain absolute control. This is a good opportunity." Shen Han, concealed in the Dimensional Space nearby, watched everything with sharp, electric eyes, calmly observing. He frowned slightly, making a silent deduction.
Although Ye Wuchen had just fought a major battle with many Martial Artists and was not at his Peak Realm, he had already reached the Late Stage Martial Emperor Realm, which was two full major Realms higher than Shen Han. He had to be cautious; if he failed, escaping with his life would be very difficult.
Shen Han suppressed all his aura and, after entering the Dimensional Space, moved towards Ye Wuchen. Ye Wuchen was completely focused on the spirit fire, entirely unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.
"Ye Wuchen's Special Abilities are S-rank Fire Element and Mental, plus an A-rank Metal Element. Currently, any one of his elements has the power to kill me within three moves. I must strike to simultaneously disable these three Special Abilities."
Shen Han quickly formulated an action plan in his mind.
At this point, Shen Han was less than two hundred meters from Ye Wuchen. He quietly watched Ye Wuchen refine the spirit fire, not daring to make a sound.
Ye Wuchen's face was pale, and sweat poured down him, but his hands remained as steady as a rock, continuously outputting Mental Energy, attempting to gain complete control over the spirit fire. The spirit fire struggled violently, releasing layers of Mental impact, but Ye Wuchen countered it with subtle Mental fluctuations, gradually dismantling its resistance.
The spirit fire's struggles gradually weakened, and a cold smile appeared on Ye Wuchen's face.
"Now!"
Shen Han seized the opportune moment and immediately attacked, instantly launching his assault.
"Skill Bomb—"
Three Skill Bombs almost exhausted all of Shen Han's Mental Energy, "I hope it works!"
Ye Wuchen was at the most crucial moment of collecting the spirit fire. He had just dispelled the spirit fire's rejection of him and was about to collect it. Suddenly, he discovered three attacks shooting towards him.
"What kind of Special Ability is this? What rat dares to ambush me?" Ye Wuchen was furious but couldn't vent it. "Once I've refined this spirit fire, I'll tear you to shreds and scatter your ashes."
However, suddenly, he found that his Mental skills couldn't be used, and his Fire Element Special Ability was in the same situation.
Before he could even ponder the reason, the Mental impact that the spirit fire had been suppressing came one after another, crashing into Ye Wuchen's Sea of Consciousness.
"Ah—!"
The intense pain, like thousands of sharp needles piercing his Sea of Consciousness, made Ye Wuchen's entire body tremble.
This excruciating Mental attack was something Ye Wuchen used to inflict on others to control and torture them. Now, he was experiencing the consequences of being subjected to a Mental attack.
Wave after wave of Mental impact made his Sea of Consciousness feel like it was about to explode.
Enduring the pain in his Sea of Consciousness, Ye Wuchen decided to retreat first; if he didn't leave now, with the spirit fire's backlash and someone else lurking outside, he would truly be unable to escape.
Immediately after, several Netherworld Pierces shot towards Ye Wuchen. His Sea of Consciousness felt as if it were being pricked by thousands of needles, and Ye Wuchen's reaction speed slowed considerably.
"Golden Shield—open!"
Two Netherworld Pierces pierced Ye Wuchen's knees, and two more flew towards his eyes.
Ye Wuchen was truly panicked now, utterly terrified.
The Golden Shield didn't activate?
Mental skills couldn't be used?
The Fire Element was also gone.
Looking inward at his Sea of Consciousness, Ye Wuchen discovered with horror that his Special Abilities had now become F-rank Water, Ice, and Wood.
He knew he couldn't escape.
Another wave of Netherworld Pierces struck, and Ye Wuchen was at the end of his rope, with only a single breath left. He looked up at Shen Han, who was slowly emerging from the shadows, his face filled with despair and unwillingness.
"You...who exactly are you? Why?" Ye Wuchen's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with venom. His long-planned spirit fire advancement project had ended in utter failure.
"You truly have a short memory, honored sir. Didn't you just order the Xu Family to assassinate me?" Shen Han stepped out from the shadows, calmly looking at Ye Wuchen.
"It's you, you're the one who discovered my hiding place?" Ye Wuchen gave a tragic laugh, "I never thought I'd die here. Can you tell me what method you just used? Why are all my Special Abilities gone?"
Shen Han smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in his eyes: "Sorry, that's my secret."
No sooner had he spoken than a Flame Bomb exploded, completely engulfing Ye Wuchen's body in a sea of fire.
At this moment, the spirit fire in the mountain valley continued to release wave after wave of Mental impact, sweeping all around, as if venting the anger and wildness it had just escaped from Ye Wuchen's grasp.
Shen Han felt a faint tingling in his scalp. Although he didn't directly bear the impact, the terrifying Mental Divine Might still made him feel greatly pressured.
He frowned, his gaze fixed on the churning spirit fire in mid-air.
He had no clue how to refine this thing.