The brilliant crimson radiance and clear, melodious sword cry that erupted when the Crimson Flame Sword acknowledged its master were like a lighthouse igniting in the silent darkness. The light and ripples pierced through the dilapidated hall, even faintly transmitting beyond the canyon through the dense demonic energy barrier.
Almost at the exact moment the Crimson Flame Sword obediently hovered before Xiao Qi and was gripped by him once more, several powerful and sinister auras, like sharks scenting blood, swiftly approached from the direction of the canyon entrance!
Those auras brimmed with violence, greed, and filth, clashing starkly with the secret realm's original spiritual energy—precisely the unique fluctuations of demonic cultivators! Moreover, judging by the intensity, there were at least three individuals, all at Qi Refining eighth layer or above, with one even reaching the peak of Qi Refining ninth layer!
"Not good!" Xiao Qi's expression changed abruptly. The joy of obtaining a divine weapon was instantly replaced by a strong sense of crisis. He hadn't expected the commotion from the Heritage Hall to attract outsiders so quickly, and worse, demonic cultivators!
Right! The treasure light and purification aura emitted when the Crimson Flame Sword emerged were like a bright flame in the darkness to these demonic practitioners—both a lethal threat and an irresistible temptation! They must have detected the anomaly here and come to investigate, or even... seize it!
Without hesitation, with a single thought, the Crimson Flame Sword in his hand flashed with crimson light and was stored in his storage bag. With powerful enemies surrounding him, this was no time to savor the divine weapon's capabilities. He swiftly converged his aura to the utmost, scooped up the rabbit spirit at his feet—its fur standing on end, sensing danger—and in a flash, hid behind a massive, broken jade pillar that had collapsed in the center of the hall, holding his breath.
Almost immediately after he concealed himself, three figures, ghost-like, passed through the not-yet-dissipated purification passage and burst into the ruined hall.
All three wore identical black martial attire, with sleeves embroidered with a ferocious dark-red serpent pattern—the emblem of the Shadow Snake Pavilion! The leader was a pale-faced, sinister-looking youth, his cultivation unmistakably at the peak of Qi Refining ninth layer. Behind him were two others: one short and stocky, wielding a pair of poisoned daggers, at Qi Refining eighth layer; the other tall and slender, with several bulging leather pouches at his waist emitting a foul stench, also at Qi Refining eighth layer.
Their gazes, like hawks, instantly swept across the entire hall, immediately drawn to the jade pedestal in the center that had clearly just had something extracted from it, as well as the lingering, intensely loathed yet coveted pure aura and scorching sword intent in the air.
"The treasure light and sword cry earlier came from here!" the stocky demonic cultivator rasped, eyes gleaming with greed. "And this disgusting purification aura... yes, it closely resembles the scent on that Qingxu Temple kid we were specially ordered to watch for!"
"The treasure's been taken! And not long ago!" the tall, thin demonic cultivator sniffed, like a snake flicking its tongue. "There's still a trace of living aura in the air, and a faint... rabbit odor?"
The sinister youth said nothing. He slowly walked to the jade pedestal, extended a pale finger to touch the distinct sword-shaped groove, then sensed the residual energy fluctuations of heat and purity interwoven in the air. A flicker of shock and wild joy crossed his eyes.
"It's the one! Exactly! The heritage divine weapon recorded in ancient texts, paired with the Xu family's Purification Source—the Crimson Flame Sword!" His voice trembled with excitement. "To think it truly exists within the Cloud Mist Secret Realm! And was just taken!"
He abruptly looked up, his cold gaze piercing like venomous needles as he scanned every corner of the hall, his voice carrying a bone-chilling edge: "Search! The sword-taker definitely hasn't gone far; they might even be hiding in this very hall! Find them, seize the Crimson Flame Sword! The pavilion master will surely reward us handsomely!"
"Yes, Senior Brother Li!" the stocky and thin demonic cultivators responded in unison, immediately dispersing to meticulously search the hall.
The stocky demonic cultivator, holding his daggers, cautiously checked behind every potentially concealing broken wall and fallen beam. The thin demonic cultivator released several fist-sized, pitch-black, crimson-eyed strange insects from the pouches at his waist. The insects vibrated their thin wings, emitting a grating "buzzing," and began circling low within the hall, seemingly sniffing for life signs.
Hiding behind the broken pillar, Xiao Qi's heart rose to his throat. He tightly covered the rabbit spirit's mouth to prevent any sound, circulating his "Long Spring Art" spiritual energy to the utmost, suppressing his vitality fluctuations to the minimum. Simultaneously, one hand stealthily rested on his storage bag, ready at any moment to retrieve the wok or... the newly acknowledged Crimson Flame Sword!
A fierce battle seemed unavoidable!
One of the black strange insects circled, drawing closer and closer to the broken pillar where Xiao Qi hid. Its crimson compound eyes constantly shifted, as if detecting something.
The thin demonic cultivator immediately sensed it, his sharp gaze fixing on the pillar's direction as he barked, "Movement over there!"
Hearing this, the stocky demonic cultivator, gripping his daggers, silently closed in on the pillar like a leopard.
The sinister youth, "Senior Brother Li," also sneered, stepping forward deliberately. An aura pressure at the peak of Qi Refining ninth layer spread out like a tide, enveloping the area behind the pillar.
Xiao Qi knew he couldn't stay hidden!
Just as the stocky demonic cultivator was about to circle to the pillar's front, and the thin demonic cultivator directed the strange insects to pounce—
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Qi's eyes as he burst out from behind the pillar! He didn't choose the Crimson Flame Sword but instead immediately retrieved that pitch-black wok! Though the Crimson Flame Sword was powerful, its consumption was huge, and its commotion significant. Before familiarizing himself with it, he trusted more this wok that had accompanied him for so long, as handy as an extension of his arm!
"Whoosh!"
The wok, carrying a fierce gust, swung like a door plank directly at the nearest stocky demonic cultivator!
The stocky demonic cultivator clearly didn't expect a wok as a weapon. He paused, then grinned ferociously, swinging his poisoned daggers to block: "Seeking death!"
"Clang!"
Wok and daggers collided with a dull thud!
However, the expected scenario of daggers slicing through the iron wok didn't happen. Instead, a strange, powerful vibrating force transmitted through the daggers, instantly spreading through the stocky demonic cultivator's entire arm!
"Ah!" the stocky demonic cultivator cried out in pain, his arm aching and numb as if bones were shattered, nearly dropping his daggers! Staggering back several steps, he looked at the black wok with terror!
What kind of monstrosity was this?!
At the same time, several low-grade "Fireball Talismans" Xiao Qi had already held in his left hand instantly activated. Fist-sized fireballs shot whistling toward the strange insects in the air and the thin demonic cultivator behind!
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Several insects, unable to dodge, were hit by the fireballs, instantly turning into flaming balls that fell to the ground, crackling as they burned. The thin demonic cultivator was also forced into a flurry, dodging repeatedly.
Seizing this opportunity, Xiao Qi didn't linger in battle. He retreated rapidly while pushing the Light Body Technique to its limit, charging toward another damaged exit of the hall!
"Trying to run? Leave the Crimson Flame Sword!" "Senior Brother Li," the sinister youth, snorted coldly. Moving like lightning, he intercepted instantly, blocking Xiao Qi's path. A palm covered in pitch-black demonic energy, carrying corrosive and suction forces, struck straight for Xiao Qi's face!
A full-force strike from the peak of Qi Refining ninth layer—its power was astonishing!
Xiao Qi's pupils contracted, sensing a lethal threat! He had to halt, spiritual energy surging wildly within him. The muscles in his right arm bulged as he swung the wok in a full circle, smashing it hard against that demonic energy-shrouded palm once more!
"BOOM!!"
This collision was far more violent than before!
The wok vibrated fiercely. Xiao Qi felt a sinister, malicious force eroding up his arm along the impact. His entire right arm instantly went numb; his throat sweetened, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood! He was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against a jade pillar before barely stopping.
The peak of Qi Refining ninth layer—the disparity in strength was too great!
"Huh? You actually blocked my palm?" Senior Brother Li's eyes showed a flicker of surprise, quickly replaced by even thicker greed. "Seems you have many secrets! This wok, and the Crimson Flame Sword—they're both mine now!"
He stepped forward gradually, demonic energy surging, killing intent palpable.
Xiao Qi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, struggling to stand. His gaze icy, he stared at the approaching demonic cultivator. One hand tightly gripped the wok; the other slowly reached toward his storage bag.
It seemed he had no choice but to use this final trump card ahead of time.