Chapter 87

Qin Feng and the others instantly felt countless suction forces all around, like countless giant mouths tearing at their bodies. Wind blades surged, yet when they struck their bodies there was no sensation of being cut, as if it were truly an invisible force.

"Young master, the consumption of true qi is too fast. If this continues, we'll soon be exhausted and at the mercy of others." Martial master leader Yang Hu's face was pure panic as he desperately resisted.

The others, however, turned pale, their whole bodies trembling, unable even to speak.

Qin Feng wore a bitter expression, utterly unable to comprehend what was happening, let alone how to escape.

Zhu Ge Qing Ming and the others felt utterly shocked. The opponent's methods were not weak, possessing a fourth-tier formation disk in hand and with so many great martial masters forming a formation, yet they were so easily trapped by Lu Fan—this was simply too bizarre.

However, they had long witnessed Lu Fan's methods, so this was not something they could not accept.

Ge Hui wore a sighing expression, looking toward Qin Feng's direction, and with a hint of envy said, "Ah! You really got lucky—when will such good fortune fall to me?"

Qian Sheng Rong gave Ge Hui a disdainful glance and snorted coldly, "Good thing? Stop your sarcastic remarks. I see that Young Master Lu's formation, even if not an absolute formation, would likely make you shed a layer of skin upon exiting. If you want to go in, you can ask Young Master Lu for permission—I won't stop you."

Upon hearing this, Ge Hui curled his lip, giving a look of you're an idiot, and said, "Young Master Lu's formation has just taken shape; it needs a rune master to enter and test it. Such an opportunity is rare—if it weren't for these people not knowing how to appreciate favors, I would have already requested to enter the formation; why waste your breath?"

His presence here was precisely due to that day's shamelessness in seeking the opportunity to test the rune-refining ore cart. If he could serve as the tester for this formation, that would truly be a stroke of fortune.

After the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the formation around Qin Feng had collapsed, and dozens of martial masters all fell to the ground unable to rise. Qin Feng himself was drenched in sweat, utterly exhausted, his ice hammer planted before him as he struggled to stay upright.

"Hmm! About right!" Lu Fan gave a slight nod, then swept his hand wide; the rune vortex rose straight up, drilling into the arcane refining crystal furnace.

In an instant, the rune vortex completely entered the crystal furnace. Lu Fan's hand movements did not stop; instead, they intensified.

Hand seals swept, and the arcane refining crystal furnace correspondingly expanded and contracted. It seemed the devoured rune vortex was too powerful to be contained.

"Young Master Lu, why is this arcane device so unstable? Won't something go wrong?"

Zhu Ge Qing Ming perceived something; the state of the arcane refining crystal furnace clearly indicated it was at a critical point. In his view, this was truly unfavorable—one misstep and the furnace would be destroyed, causing death.

Qian Sheng Rong and Ge Hui also sensed something amiss, their faces slightly grim. Within the Arcane Refining Guild, when such a situation arises, the first priority is to fully open the seals and evacuate relevant personnel.

Lu Fan gave a faint smile and said, "Mr. Zhu Ge, there's no need to worry; I have everything under control. The show is about to begin. How much you three can learn depends on your abilities."

His previous remark was directed at Zhu Ge Qing Ming, but he then also included Qian Sheng Rong and Ge Hui in his advice.

The three were slightly startled, then involuntarily steadied themselves. After all, the opponent was Lu Fan, who had just effortlessly taken down a "fourth-tier arcane formation"—how could he make such a mistake?

Unnecessary worry! It must be unnecessary worry!

With that thought, the three instantly widened their eyes, focusing intently, afraid to miss even the slightest detail.

Only then did Lu Fan's hand movements abruptly pause; his entire person gathered his essence inward, he suddenly exerted force with his feet and leapt up. In an instant, he stood before the arcane refining crystal furnace.

Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his hand in a heavy strike; with a booming "Bang!", the arcane refining crystal furnace was smashed down by him, falling toward the war chariot.

"What is this?"

Zhu Ge Qing Ming felt puzzled and doubtful, using a fourth-tier arcane device to bombard the rune war chariot—wasn't that like using an egg against a stone? Although the rune war chariot's seal had already dissipated, there was still no reason to do such a thing.

Just as that thought arose, before it could fall, the arcane refining crystal furnace slammed onto the war chariot. Yet there was not the slightest sound, not a whisper of movement, not even a tremor.

This scene was strange to the extreme; it could be said to be bizarre beyond comprehension. Not mentioning the power of the fourth-tier arcane device, just the rune vortex that had just been absorbed was already a force not to be trifled with. Moreover, this rune war chariot was extraordinary—when two forces collide, how could there be no sound at all?

"Open!"

Lu Fan seemed not to notice, pointing with a single hand into the air. Instantly, a shocking aura rippled from the arcane refining crystal furnace, and the rune vortex shot out again.

Without the slightest collision or resistance, the rune vortex drilled itself into the war chariot.

Hand seals drifted and turned into streams of light, instantly spreading to every corner of the war chariot. At the same time, a special energy arose on the war chariot, as if it had been a lifeless object and now came alive.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Seeing this scene, Qin Feng's mind trembled; he desperately shook his head, appearing mad: "I have studied this for so long and gained nothing—how could you possibly, for no reason, just refine this rune war chariot?"

He summoned all his strength to rise, one hand bracing the ice hammer, the other wiping his eyes. It seemed as if what lay before him was merely an illusion he wished to erase.

"Heh heh! With your meager abilities, how could you compare to Young Master Lu? It's just a rune war chariot! If Young Master Lu wishes, he could take it down in a minute—what's so strange about that?"

Han Zhen gave a heh heh smile, casting a disdainful glance at Qin Feng. In his mind, Lu Fan's methods were heavenly; a mere Qin family brat spouting grandiose words was simply shameless.

Lu Fan pointed with a single hand into the air, and the rune war chariot immediately hovered gently, its radiant glow lustrous—already under his control.

He then pinched two hand seals, recalling the arcane refining crystal furnace. Turning around, he chuckled and said, "You all seemed to misunderstand my earlier actions; let me explain."

Upon hearing this, everyone shuddered; even Han Zhu Fu Long, who knew nothing of rune arts, leaned in and listened intently.

"This rune war chariot is actually just a component of a formation, abandoned here for who knows how many years, but the formation-source rune formation has always been in a state ready to be triggered, which is why it just gave rise to that seal."

Lu Fan paused, glanced lightly at Qin Feng—who was also listening intently—but he didn't care and continued.

"Just now I unintentionally triggered a hand seal, drawing out this war chariot's seal, which struck Qin Feng in one blow. Then I struck with a palm, completely shattering the energy gathered in the formation-source rune formation, dispersing the war chariot's seal. Afterwards, relying on the might of Qin Feng's formation, I re-condensed the formation-source rune formation, restoring it to perfect condition!"

As his words fell, he lightly beckoned to his side, and the rune war chariot gently drifted over, hovering silently beside him.

"Ah, I see now—old man, I finally understand!" Zhu Ge Qing Ming sighed in admiration, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Ge Hui and Qian Sheng Rong still had doubts, after all—a rune war chariot of this sort is far beyond their reach, and they know nothing of rune arts.

However, Qin Feng seemed to have understood, feeling both helpless and resentful. He had expended great effort in vain, like trying to fetch water with a bamboo basket—no benefit came his way, instead it cheapened Lu Fan, and he even took a great tumble at the other's hands, not knowing how to make amends afterward.

Lu Fan turned his gaze, saw Qin Feng's thoughts, and chuckled, "Your Qin family also counts as one of my Divine Wind Four Great Families; we are roughly peers, so today I won't make things difficult for you!"

His expression was gentle, seeming easy to talk to. But upon hearing this, Qin Feng's face changed, becoming uncertain. He forced himself upright, pulled the ice hammer from the ground, and pointed it obliquely at Lu Fan.

"What do you mean by that? I, Qin Feng, have fallen into your hands—do with me as you wish, whether to kill or cut!"

He wore a stern expression, adopting an unruly, defiant posture with a resolute, proud bearing.

"Hmph!" Lu Fan gave a cold snort, furrowed his brows, and said in a cold voice, "There should be something inside this war chariot in your voice, "There should be something inside this war chariot in your possession—hand it over!"

"Thud thud thud!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng's face went blank; he could not fathom how Lu Fan knew. His mind trembled, and his steps retreated repeatedly.

Han Zhen and the others also came to understand: Qin Feng had been here for days, even having captured many miners. It was likely he had already tampered with the rune war chariot; if there truly were any treasure, it would be normal for him to have taken it.

"I won't give you the Heaven Star Command—just give up hope!"

As Qin Feng's words fell, he swung his ice hammer with a boom, tracing a blade of cold light, a chilling aura sweeping about. He then turned and dove into a side mine tunnel, indeed forming the intention to flee.

"You think you can just leave? How naïve!" Lu Fan shook his head, waved a single hand, but pointed lightly at the war chariot beside him.

"Boom!"

The seal's radiant glow surged forth once more, forming a massive light blade that instantly blocked Qin Feng's path.

Qin Feng's heart jolted; he leapt up, his body shooting off the ground, about to dive into the mine shaft.

At that moment, the light blade trembled, instantly turning into a giant hand that seized Qin Feng and yanked him with a boom.

"Bang!"

Qin Feng, face covered in dust, collapsed to the ground, his whole body feeling as if it were broken.

"Smack!" Lu Fan stepped on Qin Feng's face with a foot, chuckling, "You refused a toast, so you get a penalty drink—I originally just wanted you to hand over what's here and be done, but it looks like I have to teach you a lesson!"

Qin Feng grimaced in pain, humiliation reaching its peak, his eyes locked on Lu Fan, filled with vicious anger and a hint of regret.

Lu Fan had no mind to consider the other's feelings; with a sweep of his hand he snatched the opponent's Qiankun bag from his waist, flung it open, and without even glancing at it, he flicked a seal sigil inside.

"Appear!"

He gave a clear shout, and from within the Qiankun bag shot a silver radiance that condensed into a star-shaped token inscribed with the words "Tianxing".

"Is this the Tianxing Order?" Lu Fan felt a slight surprise; he had previously sensed the fluctuations emanating from Qin Feng's body, which had a faint connection to the rune war chariot. Hearing the other's tense words, he only then learned of the existence of the star-shaped token.