Chapter 79: Everyone Sprang into Action!

Chapter 79: Everyone Sprang into Action!

In the center of the courtyard lay a pool, with green raised platforms several zhang high erected at each corner.

These platforms appeared to be designed to allow those standing atop them to have a clear view of the four exotic treasures displayed within the pool.

At this moment, seated on the platforms were Lan Xi from the Demon Sect, Lin Beiye from the Black Valley Sect, Qi Qingsong from the Sword Pavilion, and Dong Tianze, who had obtained an essence of the Celestial Phoenix.

The rest were scattered around the edge of the pool.

The pillar light was still retracting and was about to vanish into the pool.

Not only Lan Xi, Lin Beiye, and Qi Qingsong, but also the look on Dong Tianze's face that turned grave.

As greedy, fiery gazes pierced the pool's surface like needles, many people's breaths quickened.

Pang Jian grew wary. As he silently observed his surroundings, he noticed the people around him were all in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

However, there were no obvious emblems on their clothes, so they likely did not have prestigious backgrounds like Qi Qingsong and the other two did.

In the space between Dong Tianze's and Lan Xi's raised platforms, a portion of the pool water had solidified into ice, forming a translucent ice crystal that floated on the pool's surface.

This peculiar ice crystal was the Mirror Tunnel and was the hope for survival in the eyes of many.

As Pang Jian studied the situation, he spotted the girl in white approaching Qi Qingsong's platform in a move reminiscent of Pang Jian's earlier actions.

Pang Jian let out a soft gasp. "You..."

Noticing him, the girl pressed a slender finger against her lips beneath her veiled face, signaling him to keep quiet.

Pang Jian gently nudged Zhou Qingchen's shoulder, bringing the girl's movements to his attention.

"Hm," Zhou Qingchen hummed in acknowledgment. He had also been vigilantly watching the girl in white and secretly preparing himself.

A sudden upheaval occurred!

As the pillar of light completely retracted into the pool, the figures gathered around all rushed toward it.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Those lingering around the pool had been waiting for this opportunity!

Their plan was simple; rush into the pool, retrieve the desired treasures, then promptly enter the Mirror Tunnel, thus acquiring the treasure and escaping in one fell swoop.

If they were fast enough and the situation devolved into sufficient chaos, even the trio from the Demon Sect, the Sword Pavilion, and the Black Valley Sect could not stop them in time. Or rather, they could not stop everyone.

Someone among them was bound to succeed!

"Be careful!" Zhou Qingchen warned in a low growl.

He had not expected that the dozen or so people left would move with such unity and rush toward the pool the instant the pillar of light completely retracted into it.

However, he knew that the individuals on the raised platforms would never allow these people to have their way.

On one of the raised platforms, Lan Xi remained sat cross-legged. Her ordinary-looking face bore a disdainful smirk as she regarded the group below like a bunch of clowns.

She gently flicked her skirt.

Numerous colorful "Demon" characters flew out from her skirt with a rustle. Like a swarm of bloodthirsty butterflies, they gracefully flew toward anyone daring to approach the ancient chest and the robe.

These eye-catching "Demon" characters pierced through several people in the pool. Those in the water were unaware of what had struck them and floated belly-up like dead fish.

The faces of these floating corpses were filled with terror. They looked as though the horror continued to haunt their souls even in death.

The taciturn man with a hoarse voice had been watching the white jade bottle in the pool the whole time. Icy killing intent flickered in his eyes.

Standing at the edge of the raised platform, he extended his palms toward the pool and murmured incomprehensible words under his breath.

Two dark halos emerged from his palms, like bottomless ancient wells filled with life-reaping darkness.

The shattered rock debris swirling in the violent storm with Qi Qingsong disintegrated one after another under the assault of the crimson beam. The beam also hit Qi Qingsong, causing blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth.

Whoosh!

Following the crimson beam, a spear resembling a fiery meteor streaked toward the violent storm.

Qi Qingsong hastily raised his spirit sword to block and deflect the spear hurled by Pang Jian.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Pang Jian picked up the short swords and spears strewn across the floor and infused them with spiritual power before hurling them at Qi Qingsong.

Zhou Qingchen tightened his grip on the Heartguard Mirror and wildly infused his spiritual power into it, unleashing the full force of its offensive potential.

The refined spiritual power, enhanced by the arrays on the mirror's surface, converged into a ferocious beam that hit its target with unrestrained power.

Each time the crimson beam struck Qi Qingsong, he let out a stifled groan, leaving him in a state of weightlessness as blood spewed uncontrollably from his mouth.

Pang Jian alternated between picking up his Dragonwood Spear and other miscellaneous spirit artifacts found nearby and launching them into the storm at Qi Qingsong.

Before long, Qi Qingsong was covered in wounds from head to toe.

However, not a drop of his splattered blood fell to the ground. Instead, it vaporized into a bloody mist, dyeing the violent storm a deep scarlet hue.

"That girl is quite strong." Luo Hongyan stared in astonishment at the girl in white.

She was finally convinced the girl in white robes had not lied to them and truly possessed the combat prowess to match Qi Qingsong.

Her ability completely restrained Qi Qingsong. Just a few allies on her side allowed her to defeat him without any difficulty.

Due to their previous aggression toward Qi Qingsong, Pang Jian and Zhou Qingchen were naturally prime candidates for such a role.

After observing for a while, Luo Hongyan could tell that without external intervention, Qi Qingsong would soon be overwhelmed by the trio. "They might actually succeed."

Meanwhile, Qi Qingsong could not contain his frustration as he shouted hoarsely, "Lin Beiye, you bastard, how much longer are you going to watch?"

Luo Hongyan's expression changed, and she shouted, "Pang Jian, come back!"

Zhou Qingchen was greatly shaken.

Even the girl in white looked astonished at Qi Qingsong's words.

Lin Beiye had been silently focused on the white jade bottle in the pool this whole time and replied impatiently. "You’re not dead yet."

Pang Jian and Zhou Qingchen cried out in near unison.

"Young Master Zhou, quick, return to Black Orchid Lake!"

"Pang Jian, let's go!"

Pang Jian retrieved his Dragonwood Spear while Zhou Qingchen fully activated the defensive abilities of his Heartguard Mirror. They then sprinted toward the Mirror Tunnel in perfect coordination!

The treasures in the pool were the least of their concerns. All they wanted now was to escape before Lin Beiye made his move.

The pair understood that Lin Beiye from the Black Valley Sect and Qi Qingsong from the Sword Pavilion had long since formed an unspoken alliance.

No matter how reckless or impulsive Zhou Qingchen was, he knew that the joined forces of Lin Beiye and Qi Qingsong spelled certain death for them. They would not stand a chance.

Their only chance for survival was to leave through the Mirror Tunnel as quickly as possible!

Luo Hongyan stood below the raised platform of the Demon Sect's Lan Xi. Pang Jian, determined to retreat, glanced at her from afar and urged her to leave as well, "Let's go!"

Luo Hongyan's hesitant gaze fell on the white jade bottle gently bobbing in the pool.

It was so close to her.

"You two go ahead, don't worry about me. I'm just a burden no one cares about anyway," Luo Hongyan stubbornly retorted, ignoring Pang Jian's urging.