Chapter Forty-One: The Pursuit

A fiery red aura emanated from Fei Liuhuo’s body, the sign that he was embodying the Fire-Spitting Lizard.
“What you’ve done is beyond the realm of humanity. You deserve to die.”
Yan Dao flashed a twisted grin. “Too bad—you can’t kill me.”
“Phantom Mantis! Come forth!”
“Have you ever seen an evolved monster?”
“Let me show you what a monster’s evolution truly is!”
In the next instant, to everyone’s astonishment, a blinding white light enveloped the Phantom Mantis.
The creature, once merely the size of a man with an ordinary purple body and nothing remarkable about it, began to change.
Its form became more translucent, its forearms gleaming like purple crystal, and a layer of violet armor encased its body.
As the radiance faded, a brand-new Phantom Mantis stood revealed before the crowd.
The entire transformation took only two or three seconds—far too swift for anyone to intervene.
Fei Liuhuo’s heart sank. The conditions for a monster’s evolution were never the same, but without exception, they were all exceedingly difficult. Moreover, the gap in power before and after evolution was like night and day.
If Fei Liuhuo were to face Yan Dao alone now, he would surely perish.
But he still had a chance—he was not alone in this place.
Fei Liuhuo called out loudly, “Members of the Skyblade Gang! Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand your leader’s actions?”
“You invited me here, and now I’m here. It’s time to act!”
“If we strike together, there’s still hope. Don’t forget, it was you who revealed Yan Dao’s location to me and invited me to kill him.”
“If you don’t act now and let Yan Dao survive, he won’t let traitors like you live either.”
By these words, Fei Liuhuo dragged the entirety of the Skyblade Gang into the fray—otherwise, these people, witnessing Yan Dao’s sudden increase in power, might yet decide to switch sides again.
The faces of the Skyblade Gang members darkened; they now found themselves caught between two impossible choices.
Should they kill their own leader, or stand with him?
Yan Dao, hearing Fei Liuhuo’s words, turned around and said, “Brothers, don’t worry. I believe Fei Liuhuo is trying to sow discord among us. For now, let’s join forces and wipe out the Liuhuo Gang!”
Two of the vice leaders felt a chill run down their spines. No one knew Yan Dao’s character better than they did. His words now were utterly unconvincing.
It was obvious he simply wanted to delay them until the Liuhuo Gang was destroyed, then turn on them.
Coupled with Yan Dao’s past brutality, the two vice leaders made up their minds.
“Don’t listen to Yan Dao!” one shouted. “He’s stalling for time! Once the Liuhuo Gang is finished, so are we!”
“Attack!”
Fei Liuhuo, witnessing this, was overjoyed. “Excellent! Attack! Let’s see if an evolved monster can withstand the onslaught of hundreds!”
Battle erupted in an instant. Yan Dao, surrounded by chaos, showed not a trace of fear.

With the Phantom Mantis embodied, a layer of violet armor covered Yan Dao, and a long purple blade materialized in his hand.
Fully armed, he fended off incoming attacks with casual flicks of his blade.
Every swing unleashed a wave of violet sword energy.
At first, Yan Dao faced the combined assault with supreme confidence.
But after several rounds of attacks, his expression changed.
Fei Liuhuo keenly sensed this shift. “Attack! He’s faltering!”
Yan Dao snorted, not bothering to feign strength, and searched for a weak spot to break through.
If he wished to escape, none here could stop him.
With a single strike, a massive crescent of violet energy swept out, instantly cleaving through anyone in his path.
Those slain were Skyblade Gang members—his own underlings.
But they were traitors anyway; their deaths meant nothing to him. If anything, he wished he could slaughter them all himself.
Fei Liuhuo grew anxious. If Yan Dao escaped, he himself would be in grave danger—after all, he couldn’t stay surrounded by hundreds of allies forever.
He could hesitate no longer. Drawing a card from his pocket, he transformed it into a point of light that merged into the body of the Fire-Spitting Lizard.
[Evolution Trial Card]
Tier: Three
Effect: Temporarily grants the power of the next evolutionary stage for ten minutes. Afterwards, induces a day of weakness. Only usable for the first evolution.
Instantly, the Fire-Spitting Lizard swelled in size, the fiery patterns on its body glowing like molten lava, and an intense, scorching aura spread throughout the area.
“Embody!”
Once the Fire-Spitting Lizard’s evolution was complete, Fei Liuhuo merged with it, the giant beast dissolving into points of light that fused with his form.
A wave of heat burst from within him, and a brilliant radiance shimmered across his body. Both his eyebrows seemed to transform into flames.
With the transformation finished, Fei Liuhuo charged forward. “Yan Dao! You’re not getting away!”
Evolution happened in a flash, and Yan Dao had only just broken through the encirclement.
“Chief Fei! Catch!”
As Fei Liuhuo raced past the Skyblade Gang’s vice leader, the man tossed him a card.
[Haste]
Tier: Two
Effect: Increases speed by ten percent.
The vice leader met Fei Liuhuo’s eyes. “Kill him. I won’t rest easy while he lives.”
Fei Liuhuo grinned. “Gladly!”

Yan Dao witnessed this and nearly coughed blood. Were these truly his subordinates?
What the hell?
With the Haste card’s boost, Fei Liuhuo’s speed surged, rapidly closing the distance between the two.
After enduring several rounds of attacks, Yan Dao was already in poor shape. Now, with Fei Liuhuo enjoying the card’s enhancement, escape was impossible.
But all Yan Dao needed was to put distance between himself and the mob. So long as he faced Fei Liuhuo one-on-one, he had nothing to fear.
He knew Fei Liuhuo’s first evolution was only temporary—its fatal flaw being a strict time limit.
Once time ran out, Fei Liuhuo would be doomed.
In three minutes, they had covered over two kilometers.
Fei Liuhuo finally caught up to Yan Dao, and the two clashed in earnest.
Fei Liuhuo’s attacks burned with flames, while Yan Dao’s sword energy gleamed violet.
Their blows collided again and again, neither man taking damage, but the surrounding forest was obliterated, reduced to splinters.
Scattered flames set the woods ablaze, fire spreading unchecked, threatening to consume the entire mountain.
In the midst of the inferno, the two fought relentlessly, neither willing to yield.
Yan Dao sneered, “How much longer can you last?”
Fei Liuhuo replied with a chuckle, “Why don’t you guess?”
Yan Dao felt an ominous chill at that grin.
As longtime rivals, he could predict Fei Liuhuo’s every move—he even knew what kind of foul language the man would spit out next.
Without hesitation, Yan Dao pulled out a card and maximized his defenses.
[Defense Boost]
Tier: Three
Effect: Increases defense by twenty percent.
Under the card’s power, the violet armor on Yan Dao’s body glowed even brighter.
Fei Liuhuo, meanwhile, began his own maneuver. The burning forest became his ally, all the flames surging toward him, strengthening his power.