Chapter 157

Lu Fan had just spoken when Nalan Qiu Sha suddenly realized, her face shocked: 'It's Dragon Origin Purple Qi! Could it be that my Star Incantation Technique, under Dragon Origin Purple Qi, has no power at all?'

The Star Incantation Technique is formidable, words become law, able to draw upon the power of heaven and earth's stars, converting it for personal use, profound and extraordinary. Yet I never expected it to be restrained by Dragon Origin Purple Qi—this truly exceeded her expectations.

Hehe! Miss Nalan, don't worry—only by thoroughly refining Dragon Origin Purple Qi and wielding it freely can one resist a bit. Moreover, the Dragon Origin Purple Qi refined within the body, under the might of the Star Incantation Technique, will also be irreversibly weakened, making it hard for others to target Miss Nalan in this way!

Wan Li gave a hehe laugh, seeming to soothe, also somewhat pleased. In his view, only he and Lu Fan could thoroughly refine Dragon Origin Purple Qi in this place; no one else.

Nalan Qiu Sha's face darkened, she frowned and remained silent. The person speaking before her had always schemed against her, a great enemy. Now that he had thoroughly refined Dragon Origin Purple Qi, if he later sought trouble for her, how could she defend herself?

"Oh? Brother Wan seems quite pleased! Do you really believe what you just said?"

At that moment, Lu Fan gave a light laugh, stepped into the void, and walked out slowly. Step by step, he came to Nalan Qiu Sha's side, stood shoulder to shoulder, and stared directly at the ghost-faced person.

"What do you mean by that?"

Wan Li's expression changed, he felt inexplicably irritable. The proud, self-satisfied look from just moments ago vanished; he coldly stared at Lu Fan, his gaze unfriendly.

"Nothing! It's just that Lu's spoken words, like spilled water, cannot be taken back by Wan. Since I said I would help Miss Nalan take you down, I will not go back on my word—prepare to die!"

Lu Fan let out a great shout, his figure leapt up abruptly, his strength like ten thousand jun, his momentum magnificent. His form resembled wind driving clouds, pulling up the earth and leaning against the heavens.

"Hmph! You're bold—I'd like to see how you'll fare today if you go back on your word!"

Wan Li gave a cold snort, quite annoyed. In terms of cultivation, even his mere soul incarnation would be enough to crush Lu Fan. But when it comes to actual abilities and divine powers, he lacks confidence.

But he is no ordinary figure—the renowned Young Master Wan Li of the Myriad Spirit Hall. Not to mention this small country, even across the entire Dragon Elephant realm, few among the younger generation would regard him highly.

With Lu Fan so arrogant and overbearing, how could he tolerate it?

"Myriad Spirit Great Method!"

He let out an angry shout and thrust out a palm. The ghostly mist before him swirled, and strange-shaped ghost creatures surged forth, wailing eerily as they rushed toward Lu Fan.

That sound was mighty and clear.

That sound was very imposing and very clear.

Wan Li's face turned pale with shock; in an instant he realized that Lu Fan clearly intended to use this Celestial Canopy Instrument against him. He could rely on his Dragon Origin Purple Qi to suppress and dispel Nalan Qiusha's Star Curse Flame Vigil, but if such a treasure fell into Lu Fan's hands, who knows what mighty power it would unleash— relying solely on the Dragon Origin Purple Qi refined these past few days, how could he possibly cope?

Almost without thinking, he let out a fierce roar; the ghostly entities that had just condensed and leapt out all paused, then immediately turned back.

"Lu Fan, don't even think about using that Celestial Canopy Instrument—I won't let you succeed!"

Wan Li let out a cold shout, then swiftly rolled his palms, smashing the returning ghostly entities one by one with his palms, then condensing them into strands of black silk, just as when collecting the True Dragon Seal, intending to suppress this Celestial Canopy Instrument.

He was clearly exerting his full effort, focusing all his mind on suppressing the Celestial Canopy Instrument. As long as he managed to suppress this mystical treasure, even with Lu Fan's methods he would be unable to do anything about it for a while. He could be certain of that.

Seeing this scene, Nalan Qiusha couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety. She instinctively tried to activate the Celestial Canopy Instrument, but unexpectedly it produced a repulsive force on its own, utterly refusing her command.

No wonder—this item is merely a counterfeit of a holy artifact; even with only one‑ten‑thousandth of its power, she cannot operate it freely. She had been barely managing to drive it before, but now, caught off guard, Wan Li seized the initiative, and she could not take it back.

"Lu Fan, hurry up and use whatever means you have! In just a few breaths, this Celestial Canopy Instrument will likely change hands!"

Her voice already carried a hint of panic, and faintly, a trace of fear.

At this moment, Lu Fan turned his head, gave her a light smile, appearing calm and carefree, and soothed: "Don't rush; even I cannot use this mystical treasure without a special ritual. To deal with Wan Li, you take the lead, I'll assist."

Upon hearing this, Nalan Qiusha stared in astonishment, utterly bewildered. If it weren't for this urgent crisis, she would surely have thought that Lu Fan was teasing her.

But the next moment, Lu Fan gave a clear shout, flung out his seal sigil, and she instantly came to her senses.

"Brother Wan, most people here have already handed over their Dragon Origin Purple Qi; the time is about up—it's your turn!"

Lu Fan let out a strange laugh, and a seal sigil shot forth. This time he did not summon the Kun Python for aid; it was merely a seal sigil, drifting lightly, and in the blink of an eye it penetrated Wan Li's vicinity.

At this moment, Wan Li had most of his mind and spirit focused on suppressing the Celestial Canopy Instrument; he hadn't even regained his senses, watching blankly as the seal sigil approached him and finally imprinted itself onto the black pouch at his waist that held the True Dragon Seal.

"Pop!"

With a crisp sound, the seal sigil burst open, turning into a radiant light that enveloped that black pouch.

"What does this mean?"

Wan Li's body stiffened, and he looked at his waist with a bewildered expression, utterly perplexed.

However, at that very moment, the light flickered, and a mysterious mechanism instantly formed, stirring the void. The True Dragon Seal sealed inside the black pouch suddenly swelled enormously, instantly expanding to the size of a winnowing basket.

"Boom—"

The black pouch could no longer contain it; it burst open instantly, and strands of ghostly energy surged outward in all directions under that force.

"Damn it!"

Wan Li's face changed drastically, his ghostly visage as hideous as could be. The action of suppressing the Celestial Canopy Instrument came to an abrupt halt, and strands of black silk shot forth under his control.

Although the Celestial Canopy Instrument made him wary, if he couldn't beat it he could still flee. But if he lost this True Dragon Seal from his hand, he would surely regret it later.

Almost instinctively, he violently shook his sleeve, lunging forward with a mighty grasp. His body drifted with ghostly energy, and the faint traces of refined Dragon Origin Purple Qi at his disposal surged toward the Dragon Bone Seal.

"Ah!"

Just as he touched it, before he could get a firm grip, he let out a startled cry, feeling his entire strength surge outward like a flood, rushing into the Dragon Bone Seal.

Instinctively he tried to pull his hand back, but the True Dragon Seal clung to his palm as if rooted, and it was extraordinarily heavy; even with his strength he could not support it.

If it weren't hovering in midair right now, he would surely have been bent over from exhaustion!

The True Dragon Seal resembled an awakened ancient ferocious beast, hungry and greedy, gaping a bloody maw, incessantly devouring Wan Li's ghostly energy and Dragon Origin.

"Miss Nalan, what are you waiting for? Wan Li has already been trapped by me—it's your turn to act!"

Lu Fan let out a light laugh, and Nalan Qiusha finally came to her senses. With Wan Li no longer suppressing the Celestial Canopy Instrument, she once again activated it.

"Star Curse Technique, Flame Vigil!"

She clearly understood that Lu Fan, unknown what means he was using, was driving the True Dragon Bone Seal to break the seal, and at this moment it was drawing in the Dragon Origin Purple Qi that Wan Li relied upon for protection.

【5555555】 Opportunity must not be lost; once lost, it will not come again.

Opportunity must not be missed; once lost, it never comes again.

On the Celestial Canopy Instrument, the wheels turned, and streams of starlight poured down. Like the power of the nine heavenly stars, vast and mighty, it instantly transformed into stellar radiant light, trapping Wan Li.

"Ah—"

A shrill wail rose, and Wan Li was no longer at ease as before; phosphorescent flames burst from his body, burning slowly, neither hurried nor lax.

This scene fell before everyone's eyes, leaving them dumbfounded. Who would have thought that the arrogant Young Master Wan Li, just moments ago so self‑satisfied, would be outwitted in the blink of an eye? Thinking back on his earlier conduct, it was simply laughable to the extreme.

"Yo! Miss Jiang, your senior brother looks like this—if you don't go up and lend a hand, you'll likely be refined into ashes; can you really bear to do that?"

Zhang Heng spoke sarcastically. He had just been frightened by Wan Li, losing face. Now that the other party is in trouble, although it wasn't him who acted, he still feels quite pleased.

"Hmph! You don't know life from death; my senior brother is an outstanding person. Even if he suffers losses today, it's only a ghostly trace of him. When I return to the sect, I'll inform him of your true form's performance today, and later I'll go to your Junzi Hall to seek instruction."

Xiulan let out a cold snort, her aura showing no weakness whatsoever. It seemed the ghost-faced person, who appeared so easily manipulated, was truly insignificant, not worth her concern.

The people around blinked slightly, sighing that this woman was ruthless and vicious. Only Wang Wu noticed the anomaly, frowned, focused, and stared intently at Xiulan; seeing her gradually retreat, he finally realized, his expression changing dramatically.

"Oh no, he's going to use the Myriad Spirit Disintegration Grand Technique—stop him!"

However, that warning came too late.

Wan Li gritted his teeth fiercely, his face resolute, enduring the pain throughout his body, and with one hand his fingers together like a blade, he chopped down violently.

The arm being absorbed by the True Dragon Seal was actually severed by him outright.

Pfft!

The severed arm exploded with a boom, turning into a mass of purple-black vapor, which the seal sucked in.

"Hmph! Lu Fan, you're impressive. Since you want me dead, let's perish together!"

Wan Li let out a fierce roar, his rancid qi surging upward. Then he glanced at the True Dragon Seal, swept his sleeve, launched himself into the air, and charged toward the True Dragon Spirit Treasure.

"You dare!"

Lu Fan's expression darkened; he hadn't expected the opponent to be so resolute, actually severing his own arm. What surprised him even more was that the opponent clearly had a death wish, appearing ready to perish together, fish dead and net broken.

He stomped his foot, his form flickered, and he pursued through the air—but at this moment, it was already too late.

"Myriad Spirit Grand Method—corporeal liberation and ascension!"

A hiss rang out; Wan Li had already reached the True Dragon Spirit Treasure, his entire form swelling violently, expanding several times.

A chill ghostly aura poured out, but the Stellar Flame Gale constantly entwined him, directly scorching these ghostly energies—phosphorescent flames filled the sky, blazing fiercely.

"Hahaha! You surnamed Lu, do you really think your little skill can handle me? Let me show you the power of my Myriad Spirit Dao Method!"

He waved his expanded mist-shadow palm, and at the motion a clever force erupted, flinging the True Dragon Seal that was wrapped around him outward.

A booming shock shook the void; the mist-shadow was hazy, and on the True Dragon Seal seemed to emerge a phantom true dragon, its dragon's cry rising long, directly rushing to collide with the True Dragon Spirit Treasure.

The crowd below saw this scene, their faces filled with dread, each feeling anxious and sensing danger. Although most people had never seen the True Dragon Seal before, the spectacle of Lu Fan, Wan Li, and even the Demon Hand Dragon Ape fighting over it left nothing concealed.

Furthermore, considering the momentum Lu Fan had just summoned, it's obvious this is an Astonishing Heaven Mystic Treasure; as for the True Dragon Spirit Treasure hovering in the void above, it is even more extraordinary.

If these two treasures were to strike the same spot, the explosive force would likely blast open the void of this Dragon Pagoda, and who knows what great changes might ensue.

Wang Wu's side, her expression grew even uglier. She in one sentence exposed Wan Li's method, clearly understanding what he intended. Even before self-detonation, he still had to drive these two treasures—not just to let Lu Fan see his means, but to make everyone present perish together with him!

In the void, Lu Fan stood firm; seeing this scene, his expression eased, and he gave a mocking smile.

"Is this your plan? That's a bit too fanciful and delusional!"