281: Chapter 281: Clash of Titans

"Xiao Ran?"

Old City Lord Li Cang spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Did you open the Restriction hub?"

Xiao Ran cupped his hands, his expression calm.

"Replying to Old City Lord, it was indeed this Junior. I was lucky enough to break the Heavenly Secret Array and find the hub."

Old City Lord Li Cang nodded, his gray eyes lingering on him for a moment, as if judging whether what he said was true or false.

A moment later, he averted his gaze, his face full of smiles.

"Well done. You will be heavily rewarded when we return."

"But for now, you should step back. The battlefield that follows is not something a mere Void Refining Early Stage Cultivator like you can participate in."

Xiao Ran was delighted inwardly, but his face remained impassive.

This was the sentence he had been waiting for.

He cupped his hands again: "Many thanks, Old City Lord."

He then turned around, retreated to the edge of the stone chamber, and stood with his back against the wall.

He did not go far.

He wanted to watch the show.

He wanted to see how these Body Integration Stage big shots would fight against the remnant soul in the shadows.

Old City Lord Li Cang stopped looking at him, his gaze falling into the depths of the stone chamber.

There, a ball of light had appeared at some unknown time.

The ball of light, the size of a fist, hovered in mid-air, emitting a soft golden glow.

Within the light, one could faintly see mountains, rivers, palaces, pavilions, and countless Cultivators Cultivating, fighting, and undergoing Ascension within it.

That was the Mahayana Stage Opportunity.

At least, it looked like it.

Xiao Ran looked at the ball of light and sneered inwardly.

He noticed that although the golden light on the surface of the ball was soft, beneath the light, there were faint dark red patterns circulating.

This was the aura of that thing from just before.

The Body Integration Stage big shots seemed not to have noticed those dark red patterns at all.

Or perhaps they had noticed them, but were not giving up.

The temptation of the Mahayana Stage was too great, great enough to make them ignore all risks.

"Is that the Mahayana Stage Opportunity?"

Lion Cangqiong's vertical pupils were filled with greed, his golden mane bristled, and his Demonic Qi leaked out uncontrollably.

"Indeed. This old man can feel that the ball of light contains a Law that transcends Body Integration."

Old City Lord Li Cang's voice was hoarse, but carried a hint of irrepressible excitement.

Supreme Elder Jian Cangqiong stared at the ball of light, sword light circulating in his black eyes.

His Sword Intent was warning him frantically, telling him that the ball of light was problematic.

But he did not speak.

Because he could not be sure whether it was danger or the trial that should accompany a Mahayana Stage Opportunity.

"What are we still waiting for? First come, first served!"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang was the first to rush forward, his gray spiritual energy transforming into a large hand that grabbed towards the ball of light.

"Presumptuous!"

Lion Cangqiong swiped a claw, and a golden claw shadow blocked Family Head Zhao Tiangang's path.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang had no choice but to withdraw his hand and dissolve the claw shadow.

"Family Head Zhao Tiangang, you are a Body Integration Late Stage Cultivator, do you deserve to take it first?"

Lion Cangqiong sneered.

"Aren't you also in the Body Integration Late Stage? What are you putting on airs for?"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang retorted.

The two glared at each other, sparks flying in the air.

Old City Lord Li Cang raised his hand to stop them.

"Enough. The Mahayana Stage Opportunity goes to those with affinity, not first come first served, nor to whoever has the biggest fist."

"Then how do we divide it?"

Snake Emperor's nine heads spoke simultaneously, their voices hoarse and grating.

"Naturally, it depends on one's own ability."

Old City Lord Li Cang said indifferently.

"There is only one Opportunity, but we all want it, so it will just depend on who has the fate to claim it."

Supreme Elder Jian Cangqiong spoke, his voice calm.

"I agree, but I will say the ugly words first."

"Before the Opportunity fully manifests, if anyone dares to make a move first, don't blame me for being impolite."

Snake Emperor hissed: "Agreed."

Feng Tian, Lei Tian, Chi Tian, and Sparrow Emperor also nodded one after another.

The nine big shots formed a circle, surrounding the ball of light in the center.

No one moved first, and no one retreated.

They were all waiting, waiting for an Opportunity.

The moment when the ball of light was most stable, or when someone could no longer hold back.

Xiao Ran leaned against the stone wall, his gaze sweeping across the faces of each big shot.

Old City Lord Li Cang appeared calm on the surface, but his fingers were trembling slightly.

After a thousand years of seclusion, this was the day he had been waiting for.

Lion Cangqiong's mane was burning, and his vertical pupils were filled with Battle Intent.

He was prepared to strike at any moment.

Supreme Elder Jian Cangqiong's Sword Intent circulated around his body like an invisible shield.

His eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing, but no one dared to underestimate him.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang's expression was uncertain; his spiritual energy was circulating frantically within his body, ready to erupt at any moment.

Snake Emperor's seven heads were raised high, his vertical pupils filled with vigilance.

His poisonous mist permeated around him, ready to be spewed out at any time.

Feng Tian's Nirvana Fire burned on his feathers, the temperature rising higher and higher, causing the surrounding air to distort from the heat.

Lei Tian's lightning crackled, and the ground beneath his feet was scorched black.

Chi Tian's cold air grew denser, and a layer of thin ice condensed on the surrounding stone walls.

Sparrow Emperor's Heaven-Swallowing Vortex rotated within his giant beak, emitting a buzzing sound.

Nine big shots, nine terrifying auras, intertwined and collided in the stone chamber.

The air was so thick it felt like it could drip water.

Xiao Ran felt that even his own breathing was becoming difficult.

He quietly activated his Guixu Body, swallowing and converting the surrounding aura, only then managing to stabilize himself.

"Everyone, how long do you intend to stand here?"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang finally couldn't help it and was the first to speak.

"The Opportunity is right before our eyes. If we don't take it, are we just going to wait for it to fly away on its own?"

"What are you rushing for?"

Lion Cangqiong glanced at him.

"We've waited for ten thousand years, is this short moment really going to make a difference?"

"I'm afraid someone will make a move first," Family Head Zhao Tiangang said coldly.

"Whoever makes a move first is a sinner."

Supreme Elder Jian Cangqiong said indifferently.

"What are you afraid of? Afraid you won't be able to hold yourself back?"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang snorted and didn't speak.

Snake Emperor hissed: "I propose we all make a move together."

"Whoever gets the Opportunity is the one with affinity."

"Move together? How? You punch, I kick—what if the Opportunity gets destroyed?"

Lion Cangqiong retorted.

"Then it depends on one's own ability," Feng Tian said indifferently.

"Just because you say no, it's a no?"

"There is only one portion of the Opportunity, and everyone wants it. Just because you say not to snatch it, we won't? Who do you think you are?"

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

The words of the nine big shots became more aggressive, and the smell of gunpowder grew stronger.

Xiao Ran leaned against the stone wall, watching with great interest.

He scored each big shot in his heart.

Old City Lord Li Cang was the most composed, Supreme Elder Jian Cangqiong the calmest, Lion Cangqiong the most irritable, Family Head Zhao Tiangang the greediest, Snake Emperor the most insidious, Feng Tian the most indifferent, Lei Tian the most impulsive, Chi Tian the most silent, and Sparrow Emperor the most mysterious.

"Just keep confronting each other like this," Xiao Ran thought with secret delight.

Just at this moment, the ball of light suddenly changed.

The golden light suddenly flared up, and then dimmed again.

Cracks appeared on the surface of the ball of light, as if something was about to crawl out from inside.

The nine big shots simultaneously took a step back, staring at the ball of light vigilantly.

"The Opportunity is about to emerge!"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang's voice was full of excitement.