Oh no! I, the weakling, have become the villain!

Chapter 617 Fog

"I want the bead in your hand," the old man in black robes said slowly.

Upon hearing the words of the old man in black robes, Xu Yao was slightly taken aback, and then a mocking look appeared on his lips.

"Do you really think I'm stupid? If I hand that thing over to you, will you still let me live?" Xu Yao sneered.

“You can give it a try,” the old man in black robes said calmly, his gaze fixed on Xu Yao.

"Since you don't believe me, there's no need for us to waste words."

Xu Yao snorted coldly, and then he sped off into the distance.

Seeing Xu Yao flee, the old man in black robes did not chase after him but stood still.

He gently swiped his right hand towards the void, and instantly a spatial rift appeared out of thin air. He stepped into it and disappeared from the spot.

After running at high speed for several dozen seconds, Xu Yao suddenly fell from mid-air.

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face contorted in pain.

"Damn it, this old guy is too strong," Xu Yao said through gritted teeth.

Although he possessed the combat power of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he was as weak as an ant in front of a peak Great Emperor. The gap was too great.

All of his internal organs were displaced and severely injured; if he continued flying, he would likely explode and die.

"Am I going to die here?" Xu Yao muttered to himself, his face showing a struggle.

"Kid, hand over the stuff." A sinister, hoarse voice echoed in Xu Yao's mind.

Xu Yao's expression changed drastically in an instant. He quickly covered his head as a sharp pain spread throughout his body.

Xu Yao screamed in agony, his head covered in cold sweat. He felt as if his head was about to explode.

His legs trembled as he knelt on the ground, his entire body limp as if he had used up his last bit of strength.

"What do we do? What do we do?" Xu Yao roared furiously, his face contorted with rage.

"Kid, you should have known I existed by now."

"I advise you to obediently hand over the things, otherwise your fate will be worse than death!" The hoarse and piercing voice once again entered Xu Yao's mind.

Xu Yao remained motionless with his eyes closed, clearly unconscious.

A low, hoarse laugh came from the old man in the black robe.

He stretched out his palm, and a cloud of black mist emanated from it, forming a giant net that enveloped Xu Yao.

Xu Yao, who was unconscious, seemed to sense something, and his expression changed drastically.

He opened his eyes, and his face was covered in crimson blood vessels.

"I absolutely cannot die!" Xu Yao said through gritted teeth.

He suddenly circulated the spiritual energy in his dantian and took out the dragon scale at the same time.

In an instant, Xu Yao's body emitted a vast and powerful pressure that caused the heavens and earth to change color.

The old man in black robes' pupils contracted upon seeing the dragon scale, his eyes filled with shock and greed.

"This is a sacred artifact of the Dragon Clan!"

"I never expected to encounter a sacred artifact of the Dragon Clan. This is truly a match made in heaven."

The old man in black robes laughed wildly, his body radiating overwhelming demonic energy.

Xu Yao's body trembled slightly. This was a benefit he received from refining the dragon scales, but it was also a burden.

Because his physical body could not withstand the immense pressure emanating from the dragon scales, it would be torn apart if he made the slightest move.

The black-robed old man arrived in an instant, raising his hand to grab the dragon scale in Xu Yao's hand.

In an instant, the black-robed old man's body surged with demonic energy, and his face was filled with pain.

A heart-wrenching scream rang out, and the black-robed old man's body was torn apart, his soul collapsing completely.

A piercing scream escaped from the old man in black robes.

With a loud bang, the black-robed old man's body exploded instantly, turning into nothingness.

On a distant mountain peak stood a dark figure, none other than the old man in black robes from before.

Xu Yao looked at the spot where the old man in black robes had disappeared and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Luckily, I used this dragon scale in time to block that terrifying pressure, otherwise I would really be doomed here today," Xu Yao said with trepidation.

Xu Yao gazed at a distant forest, and silently slipped into it.

Just then, a thunderous roar suddenly resounded over the forest.

A dazzling white lightning bolt struck down from the sky and slammed into that spot.

With a crisp sound of bones breaking, a disheveled figure scrambled to his feet; it was Xu Yao.

Xu Yao swayed unsteadily, coughing incessantly, blood dripping from his mouth.

A look of horror flashed in his eyes; that bolt of lightning had almost killed him.

"It's actually the Nine Heavens Divine Punishment Tribulation, no wonder it's so terrifying," Xu Yao said with an embarrassed expression.

Ancient texts record that when a powerful Martial Emperor successfully transcends tribulation, he will be subject to the Nine Heavens Divine Punishment Tribulation.

The Nine Heavens Divine Punishment Tribulation is a heavenly punishment that occurs when a Martial Emperor-level expert undergoes tribulation to become a Great Emperor-level expert, and its power is extremely terrifying.

This divine punishment is several times more terrifying than the attack power of a typical Emperor-level martial art.

Unless one possesses a top-grade imperial artifact to withstand such divine punishment, death is certain.

Moreover, these heavenly tribulations can also damage the souls of Martial Emperor level experts.

If one's soul has not reached the level of a Martial Emperor, it would be impossible to withstand such divine punishment.

Even a Martial Emperor with formidable defensive capabilities cannot escape death.

The old man in black robes probably never dreamed that Xu Yao possessed a sacred artifact of the Dragon Clan.

This item is a fatal temptation for a Martial Emperor, how could he possibly miss it?

That's why he appeared, intending to seize the dragon scale, but instead was suppressed and reduced to ashes by the dragon's might contained within the scale.

At this moment, three treasures were lying in Xu Yao's storage ring.

Two of them are extremely precious items, and the other is a jade slip.

This jade slip contains a special incantation.

It is said that when this technique is mastered to its peak, it can summon a true dragon to descend, with overwhelming power capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Moreover, this technique has the effect of defying fate; as long as this secret technique is used, a person can be reborn from the ashes.

However, the price of practicing this secret technique is very high, requiring the absorption of a large amount of essence and blood to maintain its operation.

Moreover, it carries a high risk; a slight mishap could cost one's life.

No one wants to try this secret technique unless absolutely necessary.

But Xu Yao had no choice at this moment, because he could only rely on this technique to ensure his survival.

He walked to the stone platform, sat down cross-legged, and began to turn his palms.

A wisp of blue flame ignited and enveloped the entire jade box.

A deafening roar resounded, and the jade box gradually rose, hovering in the void.

Strange runes flowed across the jade box, and wisps of faint golden light emanated from it.

Golden runes swirled around the jade box.

The jade box shone with dazzling light, echoing the divine punishment in the heavens.

Terrifying waves spread out, as if the heavens and earth were about to collapse and be annihilated.

A series of earth-shattering thunderclaps resounded, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, creating an incredibly shocking scene.