Chapter 148: The Artifact Returns to Its Owner

Qi surged, ribbons of violet afterglow rolled across the crystal stele, and amid the swirling mist, rows of strange characters solidified upon it.

The characters were both pictorial and textual; at the top was a conspicuous seal, part fish, part snake. Lu Fan instantly recognized it as the mark of the Kun Python.

Below the Kun Python was a gaping blood‑red maw; although violet light shimmered around it, its interior was pitch black, and anyone who glanced in felt their spirit restrained, involuntarily drawn inside.

It is a Wild Beast!

Below that was the Dragon Ape behind Lu Fan; though only a monkey‑shaped seal, its aura was extraordinary, shaking the soul.

As for the back, a series of names flickered: Wan Li, Zhan Xiao, Zhang Heng, Wang Wu… the front ones were mostly Lu Fan's acquaintances, but their rankings were unclear, constantly wavering and swapping places.

"Rising Dragon List!" the Dragon Ape's voice rang clear with uncontainable joy. Yet after scanning a few times, it sensed something odd and shouted, "Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

That shout snapped the others back to attention. On the Earth Spirit Stele, within the Rising Dragon List, Lu Fan's name was absent. It was one thing that the first three lines lacked his name; beneath, among the flickering names, there was no trace of Lu Fan at all.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I saw him refine Dragon‑origin violet Qi, far surpassing the amount ordinary people obtain by slaying demons. Why is there no sign of him on the Earth Spirit Stele?"

Nalan Quesha immediately shook her head, barely believing the scene, thinking it was just a mirage!

She wasn't alone; Wang Wu, Zhan Xiao, Nie Xing and the others present all felt the scene was unreal.

Lu's surname is synonymous with cunning and deceit, his methods unfathomable. Even if he weren't the head of the Earth Spirit Stele, the top three would surely hold a seat. At least for now, that must be so—how could this be the current scene!

"Lu Fan, you're truly full of oddities! When you first entered the secret realm, you bore no Dragon‑origin violet Qi, which puzzled me. Now, seeing your absence on the Earth Spirit Stele, I can understand!"

At that moment, Zhang Heng stepped slowly from a corner. His complexion was slightly pale, his eyes drooping, clearly exhausted. It seemed ever since emerging from the tomb pit he hadn't rested.

"Oh? Is that so? Then explain yourself!"

Lu Fan turned slowly, smiling. His words hinted curiosity, yet his face showed no hint of doubt.

Those words startled the others even more. Dragon‑origin violet Qi, once one enters this secret realm, inevitably carries a trace. Yet Lu Fan had none when he first entered—a strange fact indeed!

Nalan Quesha's almond eyes widened slightly, sensing that Lu Fan's ability to freely refine Dragon‑origin violet Qi was closely linked to these two oddities.

"The rankings on the Earth Spirit Stele are determined by the concentration of each one's Dragon‑origin violet Qi, which also dictates the order of entry into the Dragon Tower and roughly reflects the final yield. You can condense void‑borne Dragon‑origin violet Qi, even refine and devour it yourself, taking full advantage, yet the Dragon Tower doesn't acknowledge you—how amusing!"

She seemed to have an epiphany, growing more certain. The others stared at Lu Fan as if at a monster, realizing he had no chance to enter the Dragon Tower for treasure—both lamenting and regretting, yet also feeling a bit relieved.

If Lu Fan were to enter the Dragon Tower, he would inevitably contend for its spoils. Having witnessed his techniques several times, no one present could dare match him.

"Is that so?"

The words came from Nalan Quesha, yet Lu Fan turned to Zhang Heng, speaking as if seeking instruction.

Zhang Heng's gaze flickered slightly; honestly, he was pleased that Lu Fan couldn't enter the Dragon Tower. After all, Lu Fan was too formidable— even a coalition might not defeat him, and it would only breed grudges, not his style.

In this situation he should have felt elated, yet something unsettled him; he sensed a lingering aura from Lu Fan that pressed down, making it hard to breathe.

"Lu Fan! We have no real interests at stake; let's erase the past misunderstanding. Consider me, Zhang Heng, indebted to you—later…"

He seemed unsure of his thoughts, adopting a conciliatory air, but as soon as he finished speaking his expression shifted. A leather pouch at his waist quivered, a flash of red light burst, and it exploded open, revealing a crimson cauldron that leapt to break through the air!

Moments ago he looked like a frail scholar; now his brows knit, a trace of malice flashing. Without hesitation he snatched the cauldron, gripping it tightly.

A short distance away, Li Qingshan frowned; that cauldron was unmistakably Lu Fan's Refining Crystal Furnace. He had once obsessed over it, enduring endless hardship. He could not imagine how Lu Fan had lost such a treasure.

"Hmm!" Lu Fan lightly nodded, chuckling, "What about later? Why stop speaking?" His expression was warm, seeming easygoing.

Zhang Heng's face changed; he clenched his teeth, casting a wary glance at Lu Fan. He then silently tried to slip the Refining Crystal Furnace into his sleeve, but at that moment realized something, his face turning fearful as he stared at the furnace in his hand.

He stood face‑to‑face with Lu Fan, far apart yet unobstructed. Oddly, the furnace hovered to his left‑front; from the direction of the burst it was not aimed at Lu Fan at all.

The one summoning the furnace was not Lu Fan, but that bizarre, unparalleled creature whose true form was sealed within the crystal furnace.

"Damn it!"

He finally came to his senses, without thought, flicked his sleeve, seized the bamboo fan Xuan Treasure, and flung it hard.

A dark, ominous whirlwind spiraled out, instantly enveloping him.

"Gagaga, kid, you're quick. But can a mere gale stop me!"

As the words fell, a "Bang" resounded, earth and stone shattered, and a massive red hand shot out, slamming down.

"Bang!"

Zhang Heng rode the whirlwind formed by the Xuan Treasure, scattering it. Yet he was startled; he never expected to block the red hand's force, and before the hand could strike the vortex, he leapt backward.

Everyone's expression changed; none had sensed the red giant hand's arrival.

The thing was about a yard long, yet exceedingly strange, a single entity. It didn't seem like an illusion; its very body appeared that way. A seal ringed its middle finger, while its palm bore a faint, gaping blood‑red maw—utterly bizarre.

A swath of crimson, faintly tinged with violet.

"Again this thing, why does it never go away?"

Several present shouted in unison, clearly wary after suffering at the hands of this red‑purple giant hand.

"Gagaga, I am here; you human brats should surrender. Otherwise I'll crush you to bone dust—don't blame my cruelty!"

The fearful gazes around pleased the red‑purple giant hand, as if recalling long‑ago exhilarating memories.

"Few days apart, you've been thriving!"

The Wild Beast's display left Lu Fan speechless, and he burst into a hearty laugh. He had no other intent, but the beast, hearing this, roared with fury. Its focus, previously on Zhang Heng, now shifted largely onto Lu Fan.

"You stinky brat, you're courting death. How dare you mock me—this time I'll devour you whole!"

Hearing that, Zhang Heng flinched, silently stepping back a few paces. He wasn't after the Refining Crystal Furnace; rather, he sensed the object was a tool to clamp the demon hand and seize the Dragon Seal.

The others gave a grim smile, hoping Lu Fan would be hunted.

Before entering the secret realm, this fellow had trampled many and basked in glory. We're all youths, hot‑blooded and competitive—how can Lu Fan hog all the advantage while we must swallow our grievances?

Even the Dragon Ape sensed something, a slight grin at the corner of its mouth, looking quite pleased.

"Hehe, you're rather audacious. Tricking these kids is one thing, but how much of you is real? Would I not know?"

Lu Fan lightly shook his head, appearing completely indifferent, and said calmly:

"The power of the Wild Seal can draw Heaven and Earth's primal Qi, but only fleetingly. Relying on a single divine thought to break from the source won't last long! If you're gravely wounded again, your spirit will shatter, and whatever is sealed in my furnace will have nothing to do with you!"

As he finished speaking, the red hand's palm split with a thin crack, baring teeth and panting heavily. Clearly Ye Fei's words stirred its mood, displeasing it.

Streams of blood‑Qi wafted out, faintly tinged with violet light. It seemed merely a silhouette, yet its aura was fierce; everyone held their breath, fearing to anger the creature.

Zhang Heng could no longer sit still; Lu Fan's words clearly meant the demon hand should strike him first. Given the monster's recent ferocity, it wouldn't last many rounds. Silently, a hand slipped into his robe, caressing the Refining Crystal Furnace, his eyes darting.

I can do without this fourth‑level mysterious artifact, but the sealed origin of the Demon Hand inside it is the only thing I can use to counter the Demon Hand. If this thing is gone, the Dragon Seal could never fall into my hands; this Secret Realm expedition would be a fruitless return. I'm afraid that returning to the sect will also bring punishment from the sect leader and elders, which would be disastrous!

He grew increasingly anxious, sweat beading on his forehead. Junzi Hall, as one of the four great Dragon Elephant sects, has never been a kind place. In the words of former enemies, it is a gathering of hypocritical gentlemen. Though the same sect appears harmonious, in reality there are open and covert struggles, more intense than any sect.

The Dragon Seal is crucial; if I can't retrieve it, the sect will reproach me and peers will criticize me. As for Zhang Heng, his standing in the sect will drop dramatically, and those few rivals will suppress him, making his martial cultivation a hundred times more difficult.

No! Absolutely not!

He thought this, clenched his teeth hard, and said in a fierce, low voice. Though his gaze was on the Demon Hand's direction, his whole mind had already expanded to everyone present.

Only by seizing the momentum can we resolve this crisis and not betray the Secret Realm expedition.

Lu Fan, this Refining Crystal Furnace is originally yours. That day inside the tomb, you left in haste; I, Zhang, kept it for you. Now that you're here, return it to its rightful owner!

Zhang Heng chuckled, his expression flickering, then cleared. As soon as his words fell, he flicked his sleeve, and the Refining Crystal Furnace swung out horizontally.

A "chi‑chi" sound sliced the void; the Refining Crystal Furnace arced a wide curve, steering far away from the wild beast Demon Hand's direction, and surged toward Lu Fan.

Hmph! You don't know life or death, daring to scheme against me, courting death!

The Demon Hand suddenly swiped the air, a purple qi light shot toward Zhang Heng. Instantly its five fingers trembled in unison, like five long legs, and it chased after the Refining Crystal Furnace.

Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, not seizing the Refining Crystal Furnace immediately, but looking at Zhang Heng. He saw that the purple qi light had not yet reached him; it already swirled, spawning a field of talismanic seals. The connections between them formed an interlaced pattern; it didn't look like a formation, yet its subtlety was such that even he couldn't discern it at once.