Chapter 156: The Crumbling Dragon Tower, Part Three

Originally weighing over ten thousand jun, it now, under his seal technique's control, flipped and swung toward the void above his head.

A vague phantom opened on the True Dragon Seal, resembling a nine‑heaven divine dragon, seemingly capable of subduing heaven and earth and taming all things.

Tortoise hurls, whale swallows; tide roars, lightning darts.

Kakaka!

Cracking sounds of space shattering rang out, as if the firmament were breaking and the heavens were falling. The remaining Dragon Yuan Barriers could not hold at all, crumbling like paper.

The True Dragon Spirit Treasure, unimpeded, appeared before Lu Fan's eyes.

Dense, solid strands of purple Dragon Yuan Qi drifted out, floating aimlessly. Without the Dragon Yuan Barrier to block them, the rich purple Qi fell like morning mist.

The people below did not need to actively absorb; their pores and acupoints naturally opened, and the rhythm of their breathing quietly drew the Qi into their bodies. Unlike the resentful dragon spirit's purple Qi surrounding them, this had no impurity, as if a cultivator were refining the primordial Qi of heaven and earth.

In the void, Lu Fan stood steadily, showing no urgency at the scene before him. His face, which should have been fiery and excited, remained as calm as water.

The True Dragon Treasure hung high in the void; originally the Dragon Yuan Barrier blocked it, and it was thought to be a lustrous jade sphere, but now it looks more like an eyeball—the eye of the True Dragon.

"This must be the core object of the Dragon Tower! How can it be so easy; it doesn't look like the mysterious mechanism a secret realm should have."

Lu Fan's gaze drifted, and he muttered under his breath. Based on his experience from his previous life, this Dragon Tower secret realm, though unremarkable, still held some subtle intricacy. As the core of the entire realm, it may not be infinitely divine, but it shouldn't be so easily broken.

The nine Dragon Yuan Barriers had clearly been shattered by him; before him lay emptiness, with the True Dragon Treasure only a stone's throw away, yet he hesitated.

"Eh! What is that?"

A gasp rose from the crowd below, startling everyone, who instinctively began searching. The void was empty except for the soaring Kun Python that carried Lu Fan, and the True Dragon Treasure and True Dragon Seal suspended high in the thousand‑foot void.

The True Dragon Treasure's aura was astonishing and unfathomably mysterious; few dared to glimpse it. Only the True Dragon Seal possessed a hint of oddity.

This item wielded a force of ten thousand jun, blasting through five Dragon Yuan Barriers, far beyond everyone's imagination. Now it seemed to have exhausted its energy, emitting a faint glow while hovering aloft, stirring fantasies.

At this moment, around the Seal, a few black threads had appeared at an unknown time; without deliberate searching, one could not discern them.

These black threads emerged from the void, drifting aimlessly, yet subtly they swirled toward the True Dragon Seal, silently binding and isolating it.

"Miss Jiang, this is your senior brother's trick, right? At a moment like this he still refuses to appear?"

Zhang Heng snapped back to his senses and said to the nearby Xiu Lan in a conspiratorial tone. He was clearly acting deliberately, his voice booming, his presence filling the arena.

Xiu Lan's expression changed, giving Zhang Heng a fierce glare. Yet her gaze flicked toward Lu Fan in the high sky, fearing he might hear Zhang Heng's words and react.

"Lu Fan, be careful; Wan Li is trying to seize the treasure seal!"

At that moment, a gasp rang out, followed by a flash of light in the void, like nine‑heaven star radiance exploding, revealing a graceful young woman.

A light veil covered her face, a supple willow swaying in the wind—could it be anyone other than Na Lan Qiusha?

Yet the instant those words sounded, the black threads quivered, suddenly expanding into a ghostly black pouch that enveloped the True Dragon Seal.

The ghost‑faced man materialized out of nowhere, snatched the black pouch mid‑air, tightened it, and immediately hung it at his waist, smiling smugly:

"Arriving early is no use; arriving cleverly is! Thanks, Brother Lu, for stepping in; otherwise I, Wan, wouldn't have known how to handle that demonic hand!"

Lu Fan's gaze remained calm as he watched the events unfold, not a single brow furrowed, as if everything before him was under his control.

He can sustain his Qi; the others cannot.

Na Lan Qiusha wore a face of anger and a hint of regret. She had arrived earlier, hidden from view, intending to intervene at the final moment after a few strong foes fought to the death.

She hadn't expected the situation to shift so drastically; Lu Fan not only suppressed the demonic hand with three swift strikes but also shattered the nine‑layer Dragon Tower seal with ease, giving Wan Li a chance to reap a huge advantage.

Below, Zhang Heng could no longer sit still; he leapt upward, opening and closing his bamboo fan, turning it into a vortex that lifted his body

and hurled it upward, shouting angrily:

"Wan Li, you are at least a top youth; stealing others' treasures—do you still have any sense of shame?"

He actually scolded Wan Li, appearing to stand on a moral high ground, but anyone with a bit of sense knows he's being unreasonable.

"Hehe! Brother Zhang does speak well; this ghost seal is ownerless—whoever obtains it owns it. If you can't snatch it yourself, do you deny me, Wan, the chance to claim it?"

Wan Li wouldn't fall for that at all; he was unapologetically blunt, exposing the other's true colors.

Zhang Heng was left speechless; although he prides himself on being quick‑witted, in this situation he had nothing to say. However, the Dragon Seal was his target this time, and he would not allow it to fall into anyone else's hands. Without even thinking, he leapt upward and actually entertained the thought of snatching it.

Zhang Heng was left speechless; though he prided himself on his quick wit, in this situation he had nothing to say. Yet the seal was his target this time, and he would not allow it to fall into anyone else's hands. Without hesitation, he leapt upward, already contemplating snatching it.

"Hmph, you think you can take what belongs to me, Wan? You're courting death!"

The ghost‑faced man's expression darkened; he let out a cold snort, his face disdainful, and casually delivered a strike without employing any spiritual treasure. Yet his power was astonishing, instantly turning into a dense, eerie ghostly mist.

Ghostly wails and wolf‑like howls, the ominous wind roared.

Zhang Heng's face turned pale with terror; he felt a fierce, dangerous aura bearing down, something beyond his capability to handle.

He acted decisively, caring little for dignity; his bamboo fan, a treasure, opened and closed swiftly, unleashing a startling force that surged upward.

It only held back the ghost mist for half a breath before collapsing. Seizing the chance, he plunged down, disappearing straight into the crowd.

"Hmph! Spineless rat! I'll give you some credit for sharp eyes!"

Wan Li let out a cold sneer, clearly disdainful. Yet the opponent's move was quick‑witted; no matter how powerful his ghost mist was, it could not be used against the crowd below.

He slightly shifted the void, and the ghost mist floated back, enveloping his side. Then, with a grim, half‑smile, he looked toward Lu Fan.

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, nodded slightly, and praised, "We haven't met for days, and you seem to have grown considerably. In such a short time, you can refine the Dragon Yuan purple Qi by heart; that's truly a confident boast!"

Wan Li's face darkened, and he said nothing. Meanwhile, Xiu Lan stepped forward from the crowd, speaking sarcastically, "Yo! Your tone is quite bold, daring to speak to my senior brother like that—it's overly presumptuous!"

Clearly the ghost‑faced man's appearance gave her the confidence to challenge Lu Fan. Yet his words sounded odd, subtly sowing discord.

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, unconcerned, turned his head toward Na Lan Qiusha and said in a firm voice, "Miss Na Lan, Wan Li is right here. How about I step in to help you take this guy down?"

His words floated lightly, without exertion. It seemed that the "guy" he mentioned was just a minor opponent, one that could be seized with a flick of the hand.

Na Lan Qiusha's face changed, she glared at Lu Fan fiercely. He had dragged her into the fray silently, which was infuriating.

However, compared to Lu Fan, the ghost‑faced Wan Li was her number‑one enemy. Ignoring Lu Fan's aura, she fixed a cold glare on Wan Li, her aura flaring, ready to strike.

"Sister Na Lan, my senior brother is sincere to you; don't listen to the meddling words of petty people and betray my brother's feelings!"

Xiu Lan let out a coquettish laugh, sounding like an attempt at persuasion, but her tone was odd and left a sour impression.

Wan Li's expression changed; he gave Xiu Lan a cold glance, then let out a muffled snort, about to explain to Na Lan Qiusha, but it was already too late.

"Wan Li, you dog thief, since you have a thief's heart, let me see if you have such dogged courage!"

【61】 Na Lan Qiusha, clearly enraged, flicked her sleeve, and a brilliant starlight burst forth. Like a comet, it reached the ghost‑faced man in an instant.

【62】 The drifting ghost‑mist aura instantly gathered, solidifying into a barrier.

Puff!

Starlight shattered, erupting outward, yet it did not disperse; amid the flickering shadows, it strangely coalesced, forming a spherical object. On it, a faint wheel track was visible, and a strand of starlight still circulated on the track.

Heavenly Phenomena Dome! This exotic treasure truly resides on you!

Wan Li, upon seeing this scene, was startled, then an uncontrollable exhilaration followed.

Hmph! It's on me, perfect for you to refine it and restore this mysterious treasure's radiance!

Nalan Qiusha let out a light hum, opened her mouth, "Star Spell Technique, Flame Fang!"

With that sound, the wheel tracks on the Heavenly Phenomena Dome instantly flipped at an incomprehensible speed, the tracks turning into a phantom, almost indistinguishable. The specks of starlight on it flowed unrestrained, like the celestial stars, and with an unfathomable mystery, burst forth.

Boom—

The starlight on the Heavenly Phenomena Dome erupted, piercing the ghostly mist barrier and enveloping the ghost‑faced man. In the void, streaks of starfire flashed forth. There was no scorching heat, yet it ignored the protective true Qi and directly corroded Wan Li's body, slowly igniting his ghost aura.

Lines of phosphorescent fire emanated from Wan Li's side, matching his ghostly visage, and it didn't seem odd at all; a clueless onlooker might truly think it was Wan Li's own technique!

Senior brother, be careful—Starfire Flame Fang especially suppresses soul bodies and ghost spirits; Nalan Qiusha intends to scorch you alive.

Xiulan let out a gasp, having seen the power of the Heavenly Phenomena Dome. Though deep down she harbored no particular fondness for Wan Li, at a moment like this, if the other side got into trouble, no one could deal with Lu Fan, so how could she utter such malice?

Junior sister, rest assured, your elder brother is fine!

At this moment, Wan Li actually displayed a nonchalant demeanor, chuckling as he said a line, then casually brushed something away. Purple aura surged around him, solidifying into a dragon core gauze robe.

Phosphorescent fire and starlight were instantly isolated. Like rootless wildfire, they vanished in the blink of an eye.

Impossible? My Starfire Flame Fang is the nemesis of ghost spirits; how could you possibly resist?

Nalan Qiusha turned pale with shock; she had intended to use the Heavenly Phenomena Dome to employ the Star Spell secret technique and catch the opponent off guard. But now it seemed utterly useless.

Hehe, Miss Nalan, stay calm. As for the reason, you can ask Senior Lu; I'm sure he'll give you a reasonable explanation.

Wan Li gave a mysterious smile, puffed at Lu Fan, and chuckled.

Nalan Qiusha was slightly stunned, then looked at Lu Fan with a puzzled expression, furrowing her brows in confusion. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't grasp why the Star Spell Flame Fang had no effect on Wan Li.

Lu Fan's eyes gleamed; originally he had a spectator's posture, but unexpectedly Wan Li's few words pulled him in. He smiled faintly and said offhand:

Miss Nalan, you should know how Wan Li resisted your Star Spell Flame Fang. Let me remind you, not long ago I was also marked by the Star Wish Spell, but thereafter…