Chapter 119: Critical Injury

Lu Fan's gaze tightened, and he instantly realized that this spirit bead resembled the Earth Mystic Treasure he had just employed; its attribute was that of water, precisely countering his talisman fire's might.

Not good!

His spirit tightened, he halted midair, about to disperse, but it was already too late.

The spirit bead spewed a stream of water, which, wrapped by a vortex, turned into a towering wave that crashed down. The talisman fire that had just unfurled in the alchemy furnace instantly scattered, utterly unable to resist.

Wind fuels the fire, but water can subdue fire; a raging wind commanding water is far beyond what a mere mystic flame can withstand.

Swish swish! The rush of water poured down, and Lu Fan couldn't dodge, instantly becoming entangled.

This torrent was the manifestation of the Water Mystic Treasure's might, further reinforced by a wind vortex; supple and strong, it turned into a series of shackles that bound Lu Fan layer by layer.

Indeed, in terms of employing Mystic Treasures, Wang Wu lagged behind Lu Fan by a hundred and eighty thousand li, evident from the sheer force.

However, Wang Wu's tactics weren't limited to that; the wind vortex was a product of the Formless Seal combined with the Wind Wave Technique. Previously, Lu Fan had guided Wang Wu hand‑by‑hand in refining it, so in a sense his own energy also infused those shackles.

Lu Fan felt as if he had slapped himself; he exerted force, trying to pry the shackles apart, but it was impossible.

What a chance! Now let's see what moves you still have!

Nie Xing, while delivering Dragon Elephant Divine Fist, stepped on the massive elephant illusion formed by his fist power, charging forward.

His eyes burned, fixed on Lu Fan, murderous intent evident.

Bang bang!

Two massive elephant phantoms slammed into Lu Fan; he felt as if struck by a huge hammer, his blood boiling, even his true Qi circulation becoming chaotic.

A qi‑shadow light sword surged toward his throat, its radiant aura coiled, power steaming, dazzlingly fierce.

At that moment, another flowing light sphere surged forward, like the nine‑heavenly blazing sun, fire and scorching steel scattering into the void, hissing.

Lu Fan's spirit was horrified, instinctively sensing a thread of life‑or‑death danger. With these opponents' strength, he had no leverage and was bound here; if he truly endured this round of assault, his life would be in jeopardy.

He could no longer worry about anything else; with a fierce shout like ancient thunder, he exploded outward. The chaotic true Qi flow smoothed in an instant, while purple light radiated around him, a terrifying surge.

Snap—

A crisp cracking sound rang out as the water‑turned shackles snapped apart simultaneously, without order.

Dragon Origin Purple Qi!

Wang Wu let out a startled cry, her face full of disbelief. Lu Fan was actually using Dragon Origin Purple Qi—how could that be possible!

Lu Fan shook the shackles apart; his surrounding aura roared, his whole body crackled, and he rose three inches instantly. His muscles bulged, filled with an indescribable, terrifying might.

He inhaled lightly, then scanned his surroundings, his large hands opening and closing, striking outward.

Clap clap!

The phantom elephant forms exploded with a roar, light swords and flowing light couldn't even reach Lu Fan's vicinity; their momentum abruptly shifted, became chaotic, and shattered.

What kind of power is this? My divine technique's radiance can't withstand the pressure!

Li Qingshan opened his mouth wide, unable to find a way through.

Wang Yicai and Nie Xing, however, discerned a hint of subtlety, their faces showing wary awe, with boundless yearning.

Damn! He can wield Dragon Origin Power right here; before the Dragon Tower, who could have matched him?

Both of them shouted in shock, the long‑planned scheme feeling farther away, yet they were far from giving up; fist shadows and sword light poured forth endlessly.

Wang Wu's spirit jolted, and she shouted at Lu Fan: "Lu Fan, if you surrender now and abandon the Dragon Tower Secret Treasure, I can let you go!"

Her expression turned grim, resolute. The Dragon Tower Secret Treasure was something she must obtain, for it was her chance to escape fate, and she could not let it slip.

Lu Fan gave a casual smile and said nonchalantly: "You're my junior sister; if you truly want the Dragon Tower Secret Treasure, I can obtain it for you. But as for speaking of surrendering and submitting, sorry, I, Lu Fan, can't do that!"

He is a figure of such caliber, a peak‑climbing supreme strongman. Not even Wang Wu and her little companions, let alone the old rogue Yuwen Pokun appearing before him now, would make him frown a single eyebrow.

Those words completely enraged Wang Wu; without a second thought, that water spirit bead Mystic Treasure was summoned outright, unleashing torrents across the sky. In an instant, the void turned into a boundless sea.

Wind rolled the waves, an endless might bearing down on Lu Fan. Wang Yicai and the other two, sensing the rare chance, rode the waves and leapt forward to strike.

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, about to swing his palm upward. Suddenly, the purple light around him dimmed, his aura dropping instantly. That cluster of Dragon Origin Power had been nearly exhausted, unable to sustain any longer.

Not good! This is messed up!

Though startled, he remained composed, swung his large hand, grasped the void, and the Dragon Origin Power that seemed about to disperse gathered, condensing into a light sphere the size of his fingertip.

Heaven and Earth boundless, True Dragon, True Shadow, open for me!

He let out a fierce shout, snapped his finger, and pointed at the violet light sphere. The mysterious light shifted, the violet sphere rapidly expanded, instantly solidifying into a roaming dragon about ten feet long.

Roar!

The roaming dragon bared fangs and claws, roared skyward, then surged forward. With that single move, the wind and waves receded, and the endless primeval forest reappeared.

Lu Fan rejoiced beyond expectation, leapt to dash out. At that moment, Wang Yicai and the other two vaulted toward him.

Lu Fan, go to your death!

The three simultaneously swung their palms, their massive true Qi condensing into a single force, forming a seemingly solid giant palm that slammed onto Ye Fei's back in an instant.

Wang Wu saw this scene and felt her heart jump. Seeing Lu Fan's form tumble out, flying toward the primeval forest beyond the wind and waves, she couldn't help but press a sealing point, blocking that exit.

"Eradicate evil completely, Wang Wu, what do you mean?" Nie Xing's face turned cold, staring at Wang Wu with hostility. Had they not been within the opponent's formation of mystic light at that moment, he would surely have launched an attack.

Wang Yicai and Li Qingshan also wore grim faces, a hint of anxiety in their eyes; Lu Fan was out there, having taken that giant palm, likely badly injured. Missing this chance would make it hard to find another such opportunity.

Yet the two also sensed the subtlety of the situation. Since Wang Wu and Lu Fan were senior‑junior siblings, they couldn't be judged by ordinary logic. They could only let Wang Wu decide herself, lest any words cause the matter to backfire.

"Hmph! What does that mean? You can't even see it? The Dragon Elephant Nie family really isn't on the right track!" Wang Ruolan snorted coldly, walking over, ignoring everyone else and pointing the blame at Wang Wu.

"She's tangled up with that kid, it's obvious what the game is. If you want to take down the Lu family, you must first restrain her, otherwise everything is empty talk!"

Nie Xing and the others were all taken aback, while Wang Wu's eyes flashed coldly. Her reasons for confronting Lu Fan earlier were, first, resentment over his past actions, second, indignation at his flippancy toward her, and also a desire to test herself.

Now, having subconsciously sealed the void, she unintentionally gave him a chance to escape, yet she felt no regret.

"Lu Fan is mine; I will deal with him myself,"

Wang Wu snorted coldly, her gaze icy, scanning the scene.

With those words, Nie Xing and the others could no longer hold back, once again launching a coordinated assault—sword qi, fist shadows, blazing sunlight, all erupting together, swirling toward Wang Wu.

Wang Ruolan rejoiced beyond expectation; Lu Fan meant nothing to her—she had always intended to confront Wang Wu. She let out a sharp cry and swung her sword upward.

Just a moment ago they were cooperating, now the spear point has turned; Wang Wu watches, shows no panic, instead gives a light smile and says coolly:

"You and the like are nothing but country chickens and stray dogs. I'll make it easy for you, let you try his methods!"

Wind and waves swirl, talisman seals circulate, the array's might suddenly erupts. Under the empowerment of the Formless Seal, Wang Wu casually fires, and streams of fierce wind force and surging tides burst forth.

A massive elephant bellows and charges at Wang Wu, but midway its direction shifts; under the rotating array it transforms into an attack of the Wind‑Wave Technique, which Wang Wu wields, charging toward the phantom light sword.

The scorching sun's glare refracts in the tide; the raging wind also changes direction, scattering everywhere, with scorching flames rolling and fire spears criss‑crossing.

Within the entire array space chaos reigns, Wang Wu faces four opponents alone, handling it with ease. She is neither hurried nor restless, honing the Formless Seal, recalling Lu Fan's earlier use of momentum to control momentum, replaying each scene.

Beyond the array's mystic glow, Lu Fan leans against the trunk of a towering tree, panting heavily. His complexion is ghastly pale, and his tattered martial robe is specked with fresh blood.

Yet even so, his other hand performs a sealing technique, slowly pressing the major acupoints around his body, his eyes blazing, coldly staring at the wind‑wave array before him.

"It seems those few won't chase after us; with Wang Wu handling them, they'll get their comeuppance!"

The momentum of the hand spell in his palm gradually ceases, he casts a deep glance, then instantly turns and walks away, leaping high as he moves through the canopy of the primeval jungle.

At this moment Lu Fan's aura is unusually strange; although he is gravely wounded, his vigor has not diminished much, as if untouched. Yet if anyone were to probe his meridian points, his complexion would likely change drastically.

Streams of true Qi swirl chaotically, without order, carelessly coursing. They cannot form the celestial circuit; placed in any cultivator's body, they would assault the blood and spirit— even if not fatal, the cultivation would be ruined, turning one into a wreck.

"No! If this continues, even Gui Yuan One Qi cannot suppress it; we must find a safe place to heal!"

After fleeing hundreds of li, even if Wang Yicai and his companions break out of that array, they will not be able to locate him for a while.

Lu Fan thinks briefly, forces his spirit power, unfurling it, emitting a subtle vibration that spreads outward.

Ten zhang, a hundred zhang, a thousand zhang…

A third‑rank talisman master's cultivation, his spirit power surprisingly reaches several thousand zhang, enough to rival some Kaiyuan‑realm Talisman Kings.

In a moment, Lu Fan discovers a cave; without a second thought he instantly slips away into concealment.

Inside the cave, with a "Wha" sound, Lu Fan spits out a mouthful of fresh blood; in the dim light his face looks as pale as a corpse.

The wound he had been suppressing finally erupts; the chaotic true Qi inside runs wild. He only feels his blood and Qi surging, his body swelling painfully.

Earlier, Nie Xing and two others combined a palm strike, driving massive force into his body. He, using a subtle method, forcibly suppressed it, even borrowing that force for his own use.

But since it is not his own strength, the control is clumsy; moreover, being inside his own body, no matter how many techniques he has, he cannot wield it.

Blue veins bulge on his forehead, matching his pallid complexion, looking ferocious and terrifying. On his exposed skin, vein‑like threads resemble earthworms, true Qi roiling, appearing as if they are wandering.

"No, if this continues, I'll have to explode and die; I must risk a trial!"

Lu Fan barks a cold shout, flicks both hands, forcibly suppresses the true Qi in his chest, channeling it into his dantian, then roars, "Gui Yuan One Qi!"

In an instant, the true Qi in his dantian rapidly diminishes in a subtle state. At the same time, his entire spirit power swells.

At such a moment, he does not refine or expel the abnormal true Qi within his body; instead he forges a new path, using the transformation method of "Gui Yuan One Qi" to forcibly convert the chaotic true Qi into his own spirit source power.