Witch, please have some self-respect!

The goddess Cangyan put away the water mirror and raised her hand to make a sweeping motion in the air.

A light blue halo coalesced into a portal in front of her, and she stepped into it.

The Aoki Domain and the Dairi Domain are separated by four domains.

The four shackles—Undying, Crimson Sky, Profound Yellow, and Great Sun—suppressed eighty percent of his strength.

Fortunately, she didn't need to fight; she only needed to retrieve the Jade Seal that the Flame Demon King had guarded.

The light screen of the Azure Wood Domain closed behind them, and the figure of the Goddess Cangyan disappeared into the azure light.

........

The Great Sun Golden Crow Domain, volcanic crater.

Magma surged thousands of feet underground, and crimson flames spewed from the cracks from time to time, making the entire crater look like a hellish inferno.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, and the scorching heat distorted the view, making the distant mountains appear to float on water.

At the edge of the crater, a dark figure stood with his hands behind his back, two shackles wrapped around his body, coiled from his shoulders to his waist, runes flowing and flickering.

He waited there for 15 minutes.

Two quarters of an hour, neither too long nor too short, was enough for many people in the Great Sun Domain to notice the emergence of a seal technique and gather around to seek an opportunity.

Shen Yun knew all of this, but he didn't leave.

As long as it's not the Thunder Sparrow Little God King who comes, we are basically fearless.

As dusk deepened, a dark golden sun slowly sank in the crimson sky, bathing the entire earth in a blood-red glow.

Finally, a circle of azure ripples spread across the horizon.

The ripples surged from the void, like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, spreading outwards in concentric circles.

In the center of the ripples, a deep blue figure emerged from the void.

She wore a deep blue dress, her black hair cascaded down her back, and her face was stunningly beautiful, enveloped in a light blue halo.

Four shackles bound her body; the Goddess of the Azure Face arrived late.

Shen Yun turned to look at her, his face calm and his eyes clear as water.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his dark black armor gleaming with a dark red luster under the reflection of the lava, and the golden crow on his shoulder armor had blood-red eyes that shone brightly.

"You're late again this time."

His voice was low and hoarse, his tone flat, as if he were stating an insignificant fact.

But the Goddess Cangyan heard something beneath that calm exterior.

It wasn't a blame or complaint, but rather a subtle, teasing remark.

Previously in Tianfeng Domain, she waited for him for a moment and said, "You're late."

Now, he is returning the favor in kind.

"And a bit petty."

The thought flashed through the mind of the goddess Cangyan, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

She discovered that the Flame Demon King, despite his seemingly arrogant and cold demeanor, possessed a childlike earnestness deep down.

You owe him nothing, and he owes you nothing; you treat him well, and he remembers it; you tease him, and he teases you back.

She's that kind of person too; she's actually very easy to get along with.

Because you know where his bottom line is, you know he won't stab you in the back, and you know that every word he says is sincere.

"Something came up, sorry. I'll take care of the next Lingxi Horn."

The goddess Cangyan smiled, her voice clear and melodious like pearls falling onto a plate, carrying a hint of sincere apology.

She didn't explain what had caused the delay, and Shen Yun didn't ask.

Shen Yun nodded and didn't say anything more.

Around the crater, many cultivators from the Great Sun Golden Crow Domain were already secretly observing.

Some were hidden in the shadows of volcanic rocks, while others hovered in mid-air, their robes fluttering in the strong wind.

Some sat cross-legged on distant mountain peaks, their gazes as sharp as eagles.

They saw that the Flame Demon King had only two shackles, while the Goddess Cangyan had four shackles.

Two powerful figures were seen standing on the edge of the crater, seemingly conversing.

But no one dared to approach.

Even with their power suppressed to forty percent, the Flame Demon King's reputation is still not something they can afford to provoke.

With him protecting her, the Goddess Cangyan could only regretfully miss this opportunity to learn the secret technique.

The Goddess Cangyan wasted no time.

She walked to the center of the crater and held the golden crow-shaped jade pendant that was floating above the lava pool in her hand.

The jade pendant was burning hot to the touch. The golden crow phantom struggled in her palm for a moment before being suppressed by the azure halo, transforming into a stream of crimson-gold light that disappeared into her brow.

She closed her eyes, feeling the hot yet warm power flowing through her body. After a moment, she opened her eyes and nodded to Shen Yun.

The seal of merit is in hand.

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

From the time Shen Yun entered the Great Sun Domain until now, only half a day has passed.

From seizing the seal skill to waiting for Cang Yan, and from Cang Yan to the seal skill entering the body, everything went more smoothly than expected.

The biggest goal has been achieved.

Shen Yun turned to look at the Goddess Cangyan, and the Goddess Cangyan also looked at him.

The two looked at each other and saw the same meaning in each other's eyes: "Go."

However, just as they were about to leave...

In the distance, several streaks of light appeared simultaneously on the horizon.

Not one, not two, but five, six, or seven.

They rise from different directions: some from the foot of the volcano, some from the distant mountain peaks, some from the depths of the dense forest, and some from above the clouds.

Each streak of light represented at least one Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator who had comprehended the true meaning. Some had an aura as steady as a mountain, some as sharp as a knife, and some as mysterious as mist.

They converged from all directions, surrounding the crater.

Especially the one that gets closest the fastest.

It was hidden in the lightning, and deep purple arcs of electricity exploded in the sky, producing a deafening roar.

The speed of that streaking light was astonishing; one moment it was a hundred miles away, and the next it had already closed in considerably.

Amidst the lightning, a figure appeared and disappeared.

He wore a dark purple robe, had a cold and stern face, and a huge phantom of a thunder phoenix soared above his head, its wings spreading out to blot out the sky.

Each feather was formed from condensed lightning, crackling and exploding into countless tiny sparks.

Thunder Sparrow Little God King.

Shen Yun and the Goddess Cangyan's expressions changed simultaneously.

They realized something was wrong.

This aggressive demeanor doesn't seem like a coincidence, but rather premeditated.

The timing of those streaks of light was too perfect; they appeared just as the group was about to leave.

The direction the cultivators used to surround them was so precise that it completely blocked all escape routes.

It was as if they had been waiting for this moment all along.

Thinking back to what they had heard about Shi Shenzi and Zhou Du being ambushed, they realized they had also stepped into someone else's circle.

"Walk!"

Shen Yun disregarded the rules of propriety between men and women, reached out and grabbed the wrist of the Goddess Cangyan, his expression solemn, and pulled her away.

He was very strong; his five fingers were like iron clamps, gripping her slender wrists tightly, making it impossible for her to break free.

Cangyan Goddess did not struggle, letting him pull her along as her figure swept towards the outside of the volcano with his force.

The two figures transformed into a streak of crimson and azure light, soaring into the sky.

However, they only managed to traverse less than a hundred feet.

Ahead, a golden lotus blooms in the void.

That golden lotus was not an ordinary lotus flower, but a phantom of a nine-tiered lotus platform formed from pure golden light.

The lotus petals unfold layer by layer, from bud to full bloom in the blink of an eye.

The moment the golden lotus bloomed, a vast yet gentle power surged from the lotus platform, forming an invisible wall that blocked the crimson and blue rainbow light.

"Haha, what a coincidence today. I never expected to encounter the famous Flame Demon King in the Golden Crow Domain."

A charming laugh rang out from within the golden lotus, a sound as clear and melodious as a silver bell, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

A figure gracefully emerged from the golden lotus.

She wore a pale gold dress with delicate golden lotus patterns embroidered on the hem, which swayed gently with her steps, like golden lotuses blooming at her feet.

Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist, adorned with a few small golden flowers that shimmered faintly in the twilight.

Her face was stunningly beautiful, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, and a faint smile played on her lips, as if she were not hunting, but attending an elegant gathering.

Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden.

She was bound by two shackles, one purple and one gold.

The two beams of light intertwined, illuminating her as if she were a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.

"We both bear two shackles; how about we test our strength?"

She looked at Shen Yun, her gaze clear as water, yet carrying an unwavering determination. It wasn't a discussion; it was an announcement.

Shen Yun frowned deeply.

He held the hand of the Goddess Cangyan, hovering in mid-air. The crimson and blue rainbow light receded, revealing the two of them.

His gaze swept over the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden, then over the demon cultivators who were closing in from all directions, and finally landed on the rapidly approaching bolt of lightning.

Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden, Thunder Sparrow Little God King, a dozen or so Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators from the demon race, plus those forces lurking in the shadows who have not yet revealed themselves.

"Is this a trap set for him?"

Shen Yun's mind raced.

But he had never had any interaction or conflict with these two people.

The Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden's origins are mysterious. He only saw her once from afar when he was collecting seal techniques across realms, and they never even exchanged a word.

The Thunder Sparrow Little God King and the Thunder Sparrow Little God King had a brief standoff in the Vajra Domain, but the Thunder Sparrow Little God King took the initiative to retreat and did not actually fight.

The only place where he might clash with the Thunder Sparrow Little God King is the Xuanhuang Domain.

In the next Xuanhuang Zhenyue Seal Scripture competition, both of them will be from neighboring regions, and there is a possibility of them competing for it in the future.

However, when the Little God King Lei Que competes for the seal next time, he will definitely choose the Purple Thunder Emperor Seal.

That seal technique best suited his Thunder Phoenix True Meaning and had nothing to do with the Xuanhuang Domain.

He quickly ruled out that their answers were directed at him.

If it wasn't directed at him, then it was: "Directed at the Goddess Cangyan."

A thought popped into Shen Yun's mind.

His gaze fell on the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden, then on the approaching lightning bolt in the distance, and finally on the Cangyan Goddess beside him.

She and the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden will compete for the Taiyin Mysterious Water Seal in the coming days.

Printing scriptures in the Taiyin Domain was a shared goal for both of them.

If the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden can injure, weaken, or even eliminate the Azure Face Goddess before the Scripture Printing Arena begins, she will have one less strongest competitor in the competition for the Taiyin Scripture Print.

As for the Little God King Lei Que, although he did not have a direct conflict with the Goddess Cang Yan, did he cooperate with the Golden Lotus Goddess?

Nobody knows. The relationships between foreign powers are inherently complex.

"Since the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden wishes to spar with me..."

Shen Yun spoke, his voice low and hoarse, unhurried, yet every word clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

His gaze was fixed on the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden, whose angular face was expressionless, as if she were wearing an iron mask.

"Then how about letting Goddess Cangyan leave first?"

The Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden tilted her head slightly, looking at Shen Yun.

A hint of surprise flashed in his golden pupils, which then turned into a smile.

She stepped aside and made way for her.

The pale gold dress fluttered in the air, the golden lotus patterns on the hem flowing around as if they were alive.

The nine-petaled golden lotus behind her slowly rotated, scattering endless golden rain, illuminating the entire sky in a golden hue.

"sure."

Her voice was still sweet and charming, but it carried an undeniable certainty.

"I don't like unequal duels; I only want to test my skills against you, the infamous Flame Demon King."

As she stepped aside, the demon cultivators who had gathered from all directions also made way for her at the signal of the Little God King Lei Que.

It didn't clear all the way, but rather created a narrow passage.

The passageway was lined with countless demon cultivators, some wielding weapons, some casting spells, and some surrounded by demonic energy.

They stared intently at the figure in light blue, their eyes sharp as knives.

First, let Cang Yan go, then concentrate your forces to hold off the Flame Demon King.

Separating the two makes it easier to divide and conquer them, and thus easier to capture them.

After some probing, Shen Yun saw through their intentions.

"Can't."

The goddess Cangyan spoke, her voice clear yet firm.

She broke free from Shen Yun's grasp.

She stood beside him, her azure aura intertwined with crimson demonic flames, like a rainbow of red and blue.

"You risked your life to obtain the seal of merit for me, how can I abandon you?"

She turned to look at Shen Yun, his figure reflected in her azure pupils, as well as the surging phantom of the Flame Demon behind him and the crimson sky in the twilight.

"Let's work together and fight our way out."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.

At the same time, her divine sense transmission rang in Shen Yun's mind, carrying a hint of solemnity and self-reproach.

"Their attitude today doesn't seem like they just want to spar with you; it's more like they want you to stay here."

"I still have some runes on me, so I'm not without a fighting chance."

Shen Yun was somewhat touched when she heard her say that, but she had guessed in the wrong direction.

"They might be targeting me, but it's quite possible they're targeting you."

Shen Yun replied to her telepathically, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of certainty.

He sparsed a wisp of his divine sense and swept it over the cultivators who had gathered around.

Most of their gazes were fixed on the Goddess Cangyan, not on him.

Although the lightning of the Little God King Lei Que flew towards him, his divine sense remained locked on the Goddess Cang Yan.

Although the Golden Lotus Celestial Maiden's golden lotus blocked his way, her gaze kept glancing at the Cangyan Goddess.

They don't want him, they want her.

"You need to be careful."

Shen Yun continued to transmit his voice, his tone becoming even more serious.

"Remember not to separate from me, otherwise, if we are separated by the waves, I will not be able to protect you."

At this moment, he had only one extremely calm judgment.

He had two shackles, suppressing 40% of his strength, leaving 60% remaining; the Goddess Cangyan had four shackles, suppressing 80% of her strength, leaving 20% ​​remaining.

Both of them have been weakened, but together they still have the strength to fight.