Chapter 123

A cold, stern utterance drifted out, basically lacking any might, not even worth mentioning in strength. But on Lu Fan's bare skin, those silver inscriptions flared as the aura swept over them, their might greatly increasing.

Lu Fan finally came to his senses, his gaze slightly solemn as he glanced at Nalan Qiu Sha, then he swept his hand and struck his own chest with a palm.

Force surged horizontally, spreading throughout his body. Each acupoint and meridian trembled in unison. At the same time, a suction burst from his dantian, reaching the five viscera and six bowels, limbs and bones, finally flooding his whole body.

"Return to the primordial qi, suck it for me!"

He let out a sharp shout, his aura swelling wildly; his fourth-rank Great Martial Master cultivation vanished into thin air, but his mental power surged enormously, in the blink of an eye reaching the peak of Symbol Master.

At the same time, those silver inscriptions began to wander, torn by that suction and sinking into his body.

"Seal!"

He flicked a single hand, striking a dozen major acupoints across his body in succession, thereby trapping this star-wish curse power within the acupoints.

Nalan Qiu Sha witnessed this scene, her face filled with disbelief. Her proud star-curse technique was so easily broken by him, which was truly unbelievable.

"Huff…"

Lu Fan heaved two deep breaths, then gave Nalan Qiu Sha a deep look, turned, leapt up, his form like lightning, already drilling into the secret passage and escaping.

"What…?" Nalan Qiu Sha blinked slightly; he had just broken her method, so how could this be?

"Damn it! He tricked me!"

Only now did she realize, her face flushing with regret, but trying to find Lu Fan's trace now was utterly impossible.

Within the cave, the aura was gone, leaving only a cluster of star fire burning brightly. Without Lu Fan's star-fire power, its might was halved, and a glimmer gradually appeared on the Celestial Phenomenon Canopy.

Seeing this, Nalan Qiu Sha spared no other thought, flicked her hand, expending energy and essence without hesitation, repeatedly drawing upon the treasure.

After who knows how long, the star fire had faded to inaudibility, and the Celestial Phenomenon Canopy was once again under her control.

"Huh! What's going on? Why are there so many seal sigils on it now?"

Nalan Qiu Sha stared at the Celestial Phenomenon Canopy in her hand, shocked; on the wheel's track, each recess faintly displayed strange seal sigils condensed within.

"Could it be…?" Her expression shifted, then she exclaimed in delight, murmuring: "Grandfather once said this Celestial Phenomenon Canopy is an imitation of the sect's supreme holy artifact, the Celestial Phenomenon Canopy Wheel, imperfectly refined. But thanks to this flame's opportunity, it has been refined somewhat, and its may be even greater!"

She could not contain her joy, feeling that misfortune had brought blessing. Yet her hatred for Lu Fan was not lessened in the slightest; it deepened further.

"Hmph! Well done, Lu Fan—my curse seal isn't that easy to refine. When you fall into my hands, I'll make you unable to live or die."

The moon hung high, its radiance spreading. Shrill beast howls echoed through the primeval forest, sending chills down the spine. In the Dragon Pagoda Secret Realm, the first month night revealed its ferocity.

In a small valley, four youths stood upright, their faces solemn, true qi surging around them. At the valley's edge, a small band of long-armed strange apes gathered, baring their teeth and crying incessantly.

"Brother Li, these strange apes are merely second- or third-rank demonic beasts—are they really that frightening?"

Wang Yicái scanned his surroundings, vigilant. Though he harbored doubts, he showed no slack.

Li Qingshan held aloft the Sun Jade Disc with both hands, radiating brilliant light that swept continuously around. Faintly, white beams coalesced around, like a high-hanging sun sending shafts of sunlight through the forest gaps.

He glanced at Wang Yicái, then spoke solemnly: "According to the Hall's records, these seemingly low-rank demonic apes possess a special bloodline; once their ferocity is aroused, their strength surges instantly, enough to jump a rank."

Before his words finished, Wang Ruolan at the side gaped, incredulous: "What? There's such a thing?"

She shifted her gaze, warily glancing at the dozen or so strongest third-rank strange apes, and exclaimed in shock: "That means we're essentially besieged by a dozen or so fourth-rank demonic beasts."

Although demonic beasts have low intelligence, at the same rank they are far stronger than human martial artists. Their bodies are robust, their vitality immense. For a human martial artist, injuries that would be fatal or incapacitating are merely minor wounds on a demonic beast—trivial, and may even provoke its ferocity, making it stronger.

"Everyone, since we've gathered together, we share a great affinity. We must help each other and must not act rashly!"

Nie Xinglang shouted a reminder, seemingly, but his glance flicked toward Wang Yicái.

"Hmph! What do you mean?" Wang Yicái's eyes turned cold, his face annoyed. Nie Xing's words were clearly aimed at him, and given his temperament, he would not tolerate such talk.

"What do you mean? Don't you understand it yourself?" Nie Xing was no pushover; having offered a friendly reminder, he would not suffer the other's insolence in silence.

"During the day, when we four dealt with Wang Wu, if it weren't for your leniency at the crucial moment, she would never have escaped so easily. Now you still have the nerve to question me?"

He wore a sneer; originally scanning the surroundings, he now diverted some attention, his energy erupting and locking onto Wang Yicái.

"Hmph! The matter of Wang Wu is my own concern; if you're capable, go find her trouble yourself. Don't think I don't know your thoughts—you merely want to use her to counterbalance Lu Fan, foolishly hoping he'll hesitate to strike."

Wang Yicái flicked his sleeve, yielding not an inch. In his heart, Lu Fan was naturally heinous, already regarded as his arch-enemy.

Yet to deal with him, he had no need for such shameless schemes; he wanted to defeat Lu Fan openly and honorably, so Wang Wu could see just how worthless Lu Fan was, and that only he, Wang Yicái, was worthy of the Wang family's golden miss.

Upon hearing this, Nie Xing exploded in rage; the energy he had been building was about to burst forth, rushing toward Liu Yicái.

"Ah—"

Li Qingshan could bear it no longer; his arms, which had been waving the jade disc around, suddenly stopped, and he hurriedly urged:

"Gentlemen, why bother? The daytime affair is past; Wang Wu is insignificant. As long as we four unite, none can rival us before the Dragon Pagoda. That Lu brat won't escape our grasp!"

Speaking of hatred, none here hate Lu Fan more than he does. From the initial technique-refining furnace, to the public defeat at the palace banquet, all the way to now—his daily cultivation drive and support have been wholly placed on Lu Fan. Without killing this man, he swears he will not be a person.

But matters have priorities; the present plan is to consider how to deal with these strange apes before us.

Wang Ruolan was also somewhat displeased with her brother for deliberately letting Wang Wu go that day, but since events had come to this, she could not quibble, and instead went along with Li Qingshan's words, saying:

"Excellent! Today we four join forces; though we previously fell behind, we each now have a solution. If we henceforth cooperate wholeheartedly, the Dragon Pagoda's true transmission will have no rival among us."

Although she did not like Lu Fan, compared to Wang Wu he was utterly insignificant. Yet in saying this, she not once mentioned Wang Wu, deliberately sidestepping the conflict—quite scheming.

Wang Yicái gave a cold snort, seeming to feel somewhat in the wrong about the daytime incident. The words of Wang Ruolan and Li Qingshan were also reasonable, so he had no choice but to accept them.

Nie Xing was naturally no fool; since Wang Wu had fled, saying anything would be pointless. He was quite satisfied with the strength of our four-person team, and saw no need to quarrel further.

Just as things were about to calm, a sharp cry rang out; the largest of the strange apes seemed to issue an order, and the whole band howled, converging on this spot.

"Oh no! Everyone, help me guard the dharma; my formation isn't fully set up yet, I fear it won't hold against these beasts' charge!"

Li Qingshan's face changed dramatically; his true qi surged, holding back none of his strength, all rushing into the Sun Jade Disc in his hand.

"Siss—"

A strange ape struck the white light beam; a line of blood shot out, but then, under the beam's scorching, it turned to charred smoke and ash.

"Howl—howl!"

That strange ape let out a miserable cry, its ferocity bursting forth; its eyes turned blood-red, its hair stood on end, and it leapt upward.

"Damn beast, seeking death!"

Li Qingshan gave a cold snort; turning the Sun Jade Disc in his hand, a thick pillar of light shot out instantly. In the blink of an eye it reached the ape's chest and pierced straight through.

A bowl-sized blood hole appeared on the monster ape's chest; the monster ape didn't even have time to whimper before its body plummeted, plunging into the dense light formation below that resembled a fishing net.

"Boom!"

The monster ape fell to the ground, emitting a dull thud, and then, with a 'swish-swish' sound, it split into countless chunks of meat. Steam rose from the pieces, followed by the smell of scorched meat.

This scene fell before the eyes of Nie Xing and his two companions, who all involuntarily shuddered. Staring at Li Qingshan with horrified expressions, their initial contempt largely dissipated.

However, Li Qingshan frowned, looking toward where the monster ape had fallen; the originally dense Hao Ri light rays gradually dissipated. That impact had already consumed more than half of the power of that light formation.

"Wuu..."

At that moment, the monster apes that followed closely behind all let out wailing cries, baring their teeth and howling continuously. Like the dead monster ape, their eyes turned blood-red, their fur stood on end, and their aura surged as they leapt forward.

"Oh no! Attack together, my True Light Formation can't hold!"

Li Qingshan let out a loud shout, flinging the Hao Ri Jade Disk he held aloft; it blazed like a scorching sun in the ninth heaven, suspended high in the void.