Luo Yue met Chu Xingchen's gaze but didn't notice anything unusual. At least, Chu Xingchen seemed very confident, far better than the somewhat odd-faced Xie Lingyu next to him.
It took a deep breath, and its initially chaotic divine consciousness also cleared slightly.
Being lost for too long had made its memories blurry, remembering only the most important things, making it seem rather foolish.
Thinking carefully... it wasn't impossible for all eighteen main spiritual veins to be occupied.
They hadn't been occupied in thousands of years, simply because no one dared to defy the world.
But once someone made a start... there was nothing to dare or not dare.
People love to take small risks for big gains. Even knowing the path ahead was slim with hope, as long as the benefit was great enough, they would stop at nothing to achieve it.
Besides, wasn't it the same for itself?
Back then, for the Xuanqing Tianzong's plan, hadn't it also seemed hopeless? But it was for that slim chance that it ended up in this state.
However, Xuanqing Tianzong succeeded and broke its promises.
People... can't be trusted. It had just been bewitched by that unreachable dream, losing its judgment.
It seems that since ancient times, if you want something, you must take it yourself, rather than relying on others.
Chu Xingchen watched as Luo Yue seemed lost in thought and quickly made a decision, squeezing Xie Lingyu's hand to remind her to prepare to act.
How could someone who participated in the Xuanqing Tianzong's war of rebellion truly be an easy opponent?
And it was clear that Luo Yue's conditions were related to the eighteen spiritual veins of Zhongzhou.
Such conditions were far beyond what Chu Xingchen could accomplish now.
After all, balance is important in everything. Using small gains for big returns is either a matter of life and death or a scam.
Everything has a price, everything requires payment.
What isn't noticed now will have to be repaid in full later.
A deal is no longer possible, and its own purpose cannot be abandoned.
If negotiations fail, the possibility of a fight is also very high.
Luo Yue's gaze refocused, a gentle smile appearing on its face.
"Since things have come to this... why don't you two tell me your purpose for coming here?"
"If I say I'm here for archaeological research..." Chu Xingchen said, changing his words directly as he looked at Luo Yue's half-smiling expression. "You probably wouldn't believe that. Let me be direct. I saw a secret realm, was curious, and wanted to see if I could gain something. Since I've disturbed you, I'll just leave?"
The situation wasn't in its favor. Fighting with Xie Lingyu wasn't a sure thing. Although the other party's aura fluctuations were extremely unstable and faint, it wasn't certain it would lose. It was like dealing with a Great Vehicle realm cultivator who had just risen from the dead. It was better to respect them and go back to ask Senior Bai to talk to it.
Luo Yue nodded readily. "Of course, I can send you out. However, you can still report the situation here to your sect. The things here are of no use to me, and the trade conditions can be discussed..."
As it spoke, it reached out and pointed at Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu.
Pure white spiritual energy flowed toward them.
Complex formations appeared beneath their feet.
Luo Yue's expression was sincere, as if it still hoped for the trade to happen.
A smile also appeared on Chu Xingchen's face, as if he was very interested in Luo Yue's proposal.
A gentle smile also appeared on Luo Yue's face, as if it had chosen to forgive them directly for their grave-robbing behavior.
But the very next moment.
Everything transformed into a sewing needle that pierced through, heading straight for the seemingly defenseless Luo Yue.
Ding!
Luo Yue extended its palm to block the incoming transformed blade. Pure white spiritual energy firmly held back the assault.
Two powerful spiritual energies intertwined and clashed, the terrifying aftermath quickly leveling the small room into flat ground.
Luo Yue's brows furrowed as it asked in anger, "What is the meaning of this? I kindly offered to let you go, yet you don't appreciate it?"
"Let me go?" Chu Xingchen sneered. "Are you trying to fool a fool? The formation under my feet... is it for teleportation or soul bewitching? Illusions all around rolling and rolling, you think I don't know illusions? Can't sense a thing?"
Luo Yue's angry expression instantly retreated upon hearing this, its face becoming calm and waveless.
Humans really were hard to fool.
But then again, a race skilled in deception would spend even greater effort learning how not to be deceived.
Luo Yue stepped forward, changing its palm to a fist, spiritual energy rolling throughout its body.
With a single punch, terrifying pressure nearly materialized, directly sending the transformed needle flying.
Its cultivation now was indeed less than one percent remaining. Perhaps saying one in a thousand wouldn't be an exaggeration either.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't exactly in a living state either.
But that didn't mean that it, a former Great Vehicle realm cultivator, needed to fear a mere Transformation God realm cultivator.
It just required some means.
Now... it needed a body. It still had things to do.
Luo Yue narrowed its eyes, pressing forward.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand to summon his blade. The sewing needle transformed into a long saber. In the next moment, blood energy spread from him, rapidly devouring everything around.
Soon, even the green leaves of distant trees began to wither.
For someone who had practiced some illusions, the techniques and methods Li Xingtian cultivated had an additional suppressive effect.
The blood energy was like Li Xingtian, not confused by external objects.
Li Xingtian didn't indulge in women.
The blood energy didn't indulge in seductive spiritual energy either.
Chu Xingchen could keenly sense his surroundings through the blood energy.
However, this Luo Yue didn't seem to only be immersed in illusions. At least this punch was quite powerful.
The blood energy climbed up the long saber, like an evil beast devouring all bloodshed.
Chu Xingchen raised his blade.
Majestic blood energy rose from the saber's edge, as if to blot out the sky and sun.
The surrounding blood energy also surged wildly, as if to turn this world into a pure purgatory. Pure killing intent rose up, intending to dye heaven and earth dark red.
Blood energy wrapped around Chu Xingchen like armor. His pupils turned crimson. His usual gentle smile, under the enhancement of blood energy, somewhat became the smile of a bloodthirsty killer who held life in contempt.
Heavenly Demon Art - Boundless Sea of Blood!
If Li Xingtian were present and knew that after reaching Transformation God realm, he had become even more bloody... he wondered if he would be stunned on the spot.
"Evil cultivator?!" Luo Yue narrowed its eyes, feeling this extremely pure blood energy.
Such a pure evil cultivator!
Was this kid spouting nonsense to fool it... or had the righteous sects now started widely accepting evil cultivators?
What exactly was the situation outside?
If even humans couldn't survive properly, how were they supposed to live?
Blood energy rolled up, transforming into a crimson sea of blood. Carrying endless will of destruction, like a vast ocean, it attacked toward Luo Yue who was like a drop in the sea.
"Fist Open!"
Luo Yue let out a cold shout. Facing the sky-filling blood energy, it punched down.
Fist winds surged, spiritual energy compressed and condensed.
One punch landed. Pure white spiritual energy churned up, fearlessly clashing against the sea of blood.
Chu Xingchen felt the pressure coming from pure technique, his face becoming extremely serious.
Under these circumstances, he probably couldn't hold Xie Lingyu's hand anymore.
[
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