They also suspected their ears had misheard.
Had they just heard that immensely powerful and ferocious demonic horse respectfully address that young man as "Boss"?
At that moment.
The powerhouses from True Fire Cave, Heavenly Cripple Sect, Crimson Flame Mansion, Ancient Serpent Sect, and others, their minds turned to mush, utterly bewildered.
"Clear out these eyesores."
Just then.
Ling Fan said calmly.
"Hah, what arrogance! What does he take us for, mere pawns to be dismissed at will?"
"This kid truly doesn't know when to give up."
"Is he dreaming? His tone, as if that demon lord is his subordinate, is he playing with us?"
The powerhouses sneered.
They hadn't realized the gravity of the situation.
"Got it!"
The demonic horse grinned menacingly. It was respectful before Ling Fan, but that didn't mean it was the same with others!
Now.
It had reverted to its original ferocious and wild true form.
The demonic horse suddenly soared into the air, its body rapidly expanding. In the blink of an eye, it grew tens of feet large, its scales flaring open like countless arranged blades. A roar, like a resonant dragon's cry, echoed through the heavens and earth.
As the sound faded, an endless ferocity blazed in the demonic horse's eyes. Its four hooves spread with divine speed, charging towards the group of powerhouses.
At that moment.
All the powerhouses from True Fire Cave, Heavenly Cripple Sect, Crimson Flame Mansion, Ancient Serpent Sect, and other major forces of the Eastern Lin Domain were struck with terror, their eyes widening in inexplicable fear, their bodies frozen with fright.
"What on earth is going on! This demonic horse actually obeys that kid's command..."
"Run!"
"Could it be that the battle on Guansheng Cliff earlier was this kid subduing this demonic horse?!"
In their panic, someone uttered these words.
Instantly, a flash of realization struck many minds, and they finally understood.
They suddenly recalled that the demonic horse had addressed Ling Fan as "Boss" earlier.
It wasn't that their hearing was faulty.
It was real.
An absurd realization washed over everyone.
But they had no time to ponder; the demonic horse was as fast as a shooting star, carrying immense demonic might. Its powerful body, agile as a celestial dragon, crushed the heavens and earth. Their meager cultivation levels were utterly defenseless before the demonic horse.
"Help!"
"Escape!"
"Spare us!"
The powerhouses who had been aggressively seeking to settle scores with Ling Fan moments ago, now crumbled like a collapsing dam, scattering like birds and beasts in flight.
The demonic horse's eyes flickered with disdain.
Where its iron hooves passed, it was like a breached flood, overwhelming everything, sweeping across all directions. No one could withstand it for even a fraction of a second.
It had previously found satisfaction in tormenting these powerhouses and was quite proud of it.
Now, after hearing Ling Fan's words, it felt utterly bored, devoid of any challenge. Only challenging Quasi-Saints, or even true Saints, could excite and thrill it.
The demonic horse was in its element. With a bang, the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Cripple Sect was struck by its hoof. Despite the glow of protective spiritual artifacts erupting around him, they were no match for the demonic horse's immense power, shattering one by one. The young sect master was trampled by the demonic horse, his bones crushed, like a cat or dog run over by a vehicle. He died without even a scream.
"Heh, good riddance to this bird-brain."
The toad stood upright behind Ling Fan, its claws crossed over its chest, looking extremely smug.
"Old Horse's strength is still decent. Keep it up, don't slack off. Over there, go and flatten those idiots from Crimson Flame Mansion. Well done! And over there, that Vice Cave Master from True Fire Cave, who foolishly dreamt of enslaving our Boss Ling earlier, don't let him escape!"
The toad pointed and gestured, appearing as thrilled as if it were itself showcasing its might, not the demonic horse.
Boom!
The Vice Cave Master of True Fire Cave desperately unleashed his power. His peak Golden Core cultivation was unleashed without reservation, his near-perfect Golden Core laws erupting, intending to fight the demonic horse to the death. However, he was mistaken. The demonic horse's combat power had long surpassed the peak Golden Core realm, far beyond his ability to resist.
Bang!
The Golden Core laws, thick as celestial pillars, were directly shattered by the demonic horse's iron hoof. Following that, the demonic horse ferociously stomped on the Vice Cave Master of True Fire Cave's face, a close encounter.
"Take this move: [Horse Tramples Your Face]!"
The demonic horse relished stomping on faces. With this stomp, the Vice Cave Master of True Fire Cave's face contorted, as if he had been hit head-on by a charging ancient mammoth.
The demonic horse disdainfully placed the Vice Cave Master of True Fire Cave under its hoof and brutally trampled him, grinding him into dust.
"Beautiful! And the people from Ancient Serpent Sect, I remember every word they threatened Boss Ling and me with, Mo Ye remembers it all."
"Toad, shut up! If you dare to point fingers again, I'll trample you to death too!"
The demonic horse, in its fury, became indiscriminate. Annoyed by the toad's words, it let out a killing intent.
The toad flinched, its head retracting, and it quickly clamped its loose mouth shut.
The demonic horse then snorted coldly and continued its pursuit of the others.
The toad whispered to Ling Fan, "Boss, did you see that! Old Horse wants to kill me! You have to uphold justice for me. I think this guy needs a good lesson!"
Ling Fan chuckled, "It's fierce towards enemies, what's wrong with that? It's inherently ferocious, a species that dares to eat dragons. Who's to blame if you provoke it? As long as you become stronger than it, you can discipline it whenever you wish, and it will be respectful towards you."
The toad: "..."
"I think I'll just go to bed," the toad said.
On the other side.
The demonic horse was in its killing spree, trampling anyone in its path.
Blood flowed like a river under its iron hooves. Seeing that it had killed most of the attackers, it then set its sights on the rogue cultivators who had previously followed Ling Fan, such as Han Hai, Yang Shili, Lu Binian, and Wei Bin, Xuan Na.
Seeing the demonic horse charging towards them, they were instantly filled with dread, their eyes showing despair.
"Stop."
At this moment.
Ling Fan's voice calmly echoed in the ears of everyone, including the demonic horse.
However, the demonic horse was in a blood frenzy. One iron hoof descended, intending to crush everyone into a pulp.
A colossal palm descended from the sky, grabbing the demonic horse. No matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free, and was then slammed into the dust.
Boom!
The entire Guansheng City trembled violently from the impact.
The demonic horse shook its head, and only then did it regain some clarity.
Han Hai, Yang Shili, Lu Binian, Wei Bin, Xuan Na, and the others remained pale with lingering fear.
If Ling Fan hadn't stopped it just now, they would have met a tragic end.
Ling Fan sternly reprimanded, "These are my friends. Do not act rashly."
"Who told them to stand so close? I don't know them. I got carried away and killed them casually. Since they are your friends, Boss, then I won't kill them. Next time, remember to stay further away when watching the show. I won't be responsible if I kill the wrong person," the demonic horse said nonchalantly.