Chapter 160: The Collapsing Dragon Tower, Part Seven

He finished speaking, then flicked his hand; a crystal‑smooth jade sphere suddenly emitted a clear light, swirling and transforming into six humanoid phantoms, forming a special formation that faintly interacted with the surrounding space.

"This is…" Wang Wu was slightly stunned, seeing among them a triangular‑eyed shadow, then realized, "The six Martial Patriarchs of the factions that caused trouble at the Propagation Assembly—how did they get here?"

"They're not here; they're just outside the secret realm, triggering this formation! Though the Dragon Spirit Talisman has spatial power and can pierce the void, it cannot protect the user's safety. These six are the final safeguard for everyone's safety!"

Lu Fan swore solemnly; his words had never been confirmed before, yet he spoke with absolute certainty.

"Are you sure?"

Wang Wu was half‑believing, half‑doubting; after all, life and death hung in the balance, she could not be careless. Based on what she knew of Lu Fan, she guessed he knew little about the Dragon Tower secret realm. How could he have learned such a hidden matter?

"Of course!"

Lu Fan gave a faint smile, nodded confidently. Yet before his words fell, the surroundings suddenly shivered.

"Bang!"

The spatial storm went completely out of control, tides roared like lightning, the scorching momentum surged. Just a moment ago it was swirling everywhere; now it reversed, charging toward the True Dragon Spirit Treasure in Lu Fan's hand.

"Sizzle!"

The surrounding azure shield shattered, powerful forces coiled around Lu Fan's body. His clothes ripped, torn to shreds!

"It's ruined, this secret realm is too small, it can't contain the spatial storm; it's collapsing!"

Lu Fan's expression changed; without hesitation, he flipped the True Dragon Spirit Treasure and hurled it straight at the alchemy crystal furnace.

"When—"

A crisp clashing sound rang out; violet light burst from the crystal furnace, condensing into violet ropes that immediately bound the True Dragon Spirit Treasure.

At the same time, Lu Fan lunged like a flash, leaping toward Wang Wu!

In the haste, Wang Wu thought Ye Lu Fan was about to strike her, and instinctively turned her stored true Qi into a palm strike, hammering her chest.

"Bang!"

Lu Fan felt his chest as if a lattice had shattered, burning hot, internal currents raging, lungs and heart all trembling.

Yet he could not mind that; his arms turned into a shackling chain, instantly binding Wang Wu, then he vaulted upward and leapt down.

"Roar—"

The Kun Python let out a deafening roar, its massive gaping maw opened wide, swallowing Lu Fan and Wang Wu whole.

……

Tianyuan Academy, before the Back Mountain Dragon Tower Teleportation Array.

Figures materialized out of thin air, each with a panicked expression, lingering fear. Even more tense were the hundreds of strong companions gathered for the trial, their gazes deep, looking left and right.

"Thank heavens, the young master finally emerged; now going back we shouldn't be punished by the old master!"

"Excellent! Finally living up to the sect's trust; this kid's momentum is soaring. In six months at the sect's Grand Competition, he'll surely make a splash!"

"Ah! I'm so anxious, why hasn't Kun come out yet? No accident, I hope!"

……

The strong ones debated loudly; seeing the trial participant they had protected emerge, they were overjoyed regardless of the gains. Yet not seeing any of their own outstanding disciples emerge made them frantic, wishing they could dive in themselves.

"Nalan, you finally came out, you scared me to death!"

Huang Haiming saw Nalan Qiusha materialize, trembling, and walked over, his face excited, unable to contain himself.

"Huh! Why so calm?" Nalan Qiusha was startled, then recalled something and shouted, "Master, something big happened. The Dragon Tower's space has shattered; the teleportation array may no longer hold, we're all in danger!"

The power of a spatial collapse is immense; unless one has reached the seventh‑tier Emperor level, it's virtually unstoppable. Here, only a teleportation array separates us, and the spatial storm is almost equivalent to an explosion on the spot—terrifying!

"What? The Dragon Tower's space shattered, how can that be!"

Before Huang Haiming could react, Liu Changsheng's face turned pale with horror, shouting, "Even if the Dragon Tower secret realm still exists, it has nothing to do with Tianyuan Academy now!"

"Could someone have obtained the true treasure of the Dragon Tower? Who?"

Temple Master Song Renjie cared not for the safety of the Dragon Tower's space, only who possessed the real treasure.

"Lu Fan! It's Lu Fan!"

Nie Xing and three others materialized, all roaring together. Their voices shook the whole venue, resentment soaring.

"Oh? So it's this kid, then we can't let him live!" Song Renjie was not startled but delighted; as soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand, a Martial Patriarch of the Refining Qi Realm unleashed his aura, striking the teleportation array directly.

"The Dragon Tower is about to collapse; the spatial storm will arrive soon! Destroy this teleportation array quickly, or everyone here faces near‑certain death!"

"Bang—"

Before anyone could react, Song Renjie's palm slammed the teleportation array. Light and shadow flickered, and it disintegrated instantly.

"Puff puff puff…"

Coughing up blood sounds echoed; six figures staggered out of the void, the six Martial Patriarchs with triangular eyes. Their faces turned pale as they suffered severe injuries.

"Song Renjie, what are you doing!"

Liu Changsheng's old face instantly aged ten years, turning ashen, as if mourning his parents!

"Doing what? Didn't you see? Protecting the trial's outstanding talents and everyone present!"

Song Renjie gave a grim smile, extremely pleased. Lu Fan was still a youngster, but a talent like him obtaining the Dragon Tower's true treasure would be extraordinary; he must eliminate the future threat for the Temple.

"You—" Liu Changsheng trembled with anger, roared, "I don't care whether Lu Fan lives or dies, but Wang Wu is still inside; you must repay the blood debt!"

In an instant, fierce winds swirled, sand and stones flew, thunder roared. He leapt up from the ground, charging at Song Renjie.

"Hmph! Liu Changsheng, you're utterly unreasonable; I, Song Renjie, fear you not!"

The two exchanged no more words; palm shadows struck, true Qi surged. In just a few breaths, a hundred‑zhang radius became a wave of force.

The surrounding crowd's faces turned pale, fleeing without waiting for anyone else.

The Dragon Tower trial involves life and death. Since the teleportation array has collapsed, no one will emerge from inside. Though many felt bitter and angry, there was nothing they could do.

Yet amid the earth‑shaking clash between Liu Changsheng and the other, a strong figure slipped out silently, a fully scaled dragon‑ape.

"Hehe! Hiding in the void was wise; otherwise these human strongmen would besiege me, and the day I leave the tower would be the day I meet my end!"

It let out a smug grin, then forged another Dragon Spirit Talisman, turning it into a spatial ripple that vanished.

The lucky escapees only now came to their senses, their faces turning pale one after another, overwhelmed with regret.

"Damn, this Ancient Dragon Ape is so cunning. The first one vanished in the Dragon Tower, and it turns out it never left!"

"Indeed! The situation was too urgent just now, we were only focused on escaping, completely forgot about that creature!"

"Ancient Dragon Ape! Look at its aura; it must have the cultivation of a Fifth‑rank Beast King! Pursue it—if we can capture that Demon Ape, it would be a great achievement, enough to make up for this loss!"

In the blink of an eye, figures scattered, each unleashing secret techniques and giving chase.

In an inconspicuous corner, a Rune War Chariot hovered in the void; Zhu Ge Qing Ming's gaze was deep, as if pondering something.

Han Zhen on one side could no longer keep calm and asked anxiously, "Sir, is what you said true? Fan Shao really wasn't harmed?"

One month later, three thousand li north of Jade Sun City, at the border between the Bright Moon Empire and the Black Water Empire, in front of the Bluefield Town government office by Thunderfall River.

Dong dong dong

A muffled gong and drum sounded, and a middle‑aged woman in a patchwork robe frantically swung a wooden mallet, striking the grievance drum with all her strength.

"Who is crying out injustice here? Come forward quickly!"

Accompanied by that mighty shout, the middle‑aged woman took small, stumbling steps into the government hall.

"Plop," the woman immediately fell to her knees, wailing loudly.

"Lord Mayor, I have a grievance! Three days ago, the jade‑stone mine outside the Thirty‑Mile Shore was attacked by a demon beast; about thirty men and women inside the Jade Field are trapped. For three days I have begged the out‑lying garrison for rescue dozens of times, yet not a single soldier has been sent…"

A choking wail echoed in the hall, and Mayor Sun Busi's expression darkened, his face looking rather grim.

Bluefield Town is a key frontier town of the Bright Moon Empire, spanning several hundred li, with countless jade‑stone mines. In addition to the standard county‑town government setup, an elite Thousand Cavalry Camp alone guards it.

These arrangements are not to guard against the Black Water Empire, but to protect the myriad jade‑stone mines in the area. In the past, when demon beasts attacked the jade mines of Jade Field, the out‑lying Thousand Cavalry Camp always rescued them without exception.

However, a few days ago, the commander of the Thousand Cavalry Camp inexplicably tightened defenses. He sent troops to guard all exits of Bluefield Town, even requisitioning the relay station, all in secret.

Thinking of this, Sun Busi came to his senses and, patiently, asked, "What kind of demon beast is it? Please describe in detail!"

"It's a strange fish!" the woman gasped, then quickly corrected, "No, it's a giant serpent, dozens of zhang long, entirely purple‑red, its body as thick as a house!"

As soon as she finished, the surrounding officials burst into laughter, assuming she was terrified and babbling nonsense.

"Thunderfall River is full of monsters! Yet since the establishment of the Bluefield Town office, such a creature has never been seen. From your description, this demon beast must be at least a Fifth‑rank Beast King, perhaps higher; in the past hundred years of Bluefield Town, that is exceedingly rare!"

Sun Busi's gaze grew deep; although he doubted her words, the abnormal actions of the out‑lying Thousand Cavalry Camp made him feel something was off.

"I have evidence; let me show it to you!"

The woman, as soon as she finished speaking, quickly reached into her clothes and produced a purple‑red scale about the size of a bowl.

The scale was over three inches thick, crimson inside, its surface shimmering purple. It was irregular around the edges, apparently cut by some external force, clearly just a fragment.

"This is…"

Sun Busi's face froze in disbelief; with one hand he seized the scale from the air, glanced at it, and his expression changed dramatically as he sprang to his feet.

"Men, summon all officials, and head to the Thirty‑Mile Shore immediately for investigation!"

Upon hearing this, the woman's face lit up with joy; she "Dong dong" kowtowed, muttering, "My old Lao Hei is saved, saved…"

Thunderfall River is the natural border between the Divine Wind and Black Water nations, stretching over a thousand li, its width astonishing— even at its narrowest it spans several dozen li. In the stretch by Bluefield Town, however, it becomes a sheer cliff‑like waterfall.

The water pours down and thunder roars, thus it is called Thunderfall River!

Thunderfall River teems with monsters. Not only are there raging demon beasts, but this cliff‑like waterfall often triggers floods, turning both banks into a swampy realm.

For three days the flood has swept the Thirty‑Mile Shore, turning the original sand‑stone shoal into an isolated island. Gale winds whirl, lightning flashes, torrential rain pours down— ordinary people cannot enter.

Sun Busi gazed at the scene, slightly shocked. As the magistrate of Bluefield Town, overseeing several hundred li, he patrols one side each year. The current view bore no resemblance to the Thirty‑Mile Shore he remembered.

"How did the Thirty‑Mile Shore become like this? Have you seen any members of the Thousand Cavalry Camp in recent days?"