144: Chapter 144 Fragments

Not long ago, his subordinates had sent word that Hu Nan was still in the Misty Forest.

But who would have thought that in the next instant, Hu Nan would appear here?

In his shock and fury, Li Hu didn't hesitate for a moment. His right hand suddenly flipped, and a sharp black longsword instantly appeared in his hand.

His figure flickered as he held his sword horizontally in front of him, forcefully blocking Hu Nan's rapid path: "Hu Nan, why are you here!"

Hu Nan's expression was cold. Without a word, he drew his longsword and stabbed directly toward Li Hu's blade.

The two longswords collided, letting out a crisp "clang" as ripples of spiritual power scattered in all directions.

Although Hu Nan's Magical Artifact was inferior to Li Hu's, he showed no intention of backing down. His moves were ruthless, binding Li Hu tightly and preventing him from taking a single step forward.

Li Hu took a deep breath, preparing to settle things with Hu Nan once and for all right here.

But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed an even faster figure once again!

Taking advantage of the gap while Hu Nan pinned Li Hu down, that figure moved like a ghost, bypassing the two combatants. Spiritual light surged beneath his feet, his Speed reaching the extreme as he dashed toward the strange Bronze Mirror floating in the center of the hall.

"Not good! Stop him! Quickly, stop him!" A strong sense of crisis welled up in Li Hu's heart.

He roared sternly, his voice tinged with panic and urgency, as he barked orders to the Blood Demon Sect Disciples behind him.

He never expected there to be two people lying in ambush, and that the other person's Speed and strength would be so formidable.

He was even slightly faster than Hu Nan.

Upon hearing this, the Blood Demon Sect Disciples snapped back to their senses. Their expressions changed drastically, and without a moment's delay, they all rushed toward Qin Changsheng, attempting to block him from seizing the Bronze Mirror.

But Qin Changsheng's Speed was simply too fast, far exceeding those Blood Demon Sect Disciples. Even though they pursued him with all their might, they could only watch helplessly as Qin Changsheng's figure drew closer and closer, unable to catch up at all.

In just a few breaths' time, Qin Changsheng had already reached the Bronze Mirror.

Without the slightest pause, he waved his hand, condensing a wisp of pure spiritual power in his palm to gently envelop the strange Bronze Mirror.

The golden spiritual light around the Bronze Mirror trembled slightly as if resisting, but it ultimately could not withstand the wrapping of Qin Changsheng's spiritual power and slowly fell into his palm.

Qin Changsheng placed the Bronze Mirror directly into his Storage Space, his movements crisp and efficient, without any hesitation.

[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a heavenly dao fragment. You have gained one opportunity to enhance a trait!]

The moment Qin Changsheng put the Bronze Mirror into his Storage Space, a notification arrived.

Hearing this notification, a hint of joy flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes.

However, Qin Changsheng did not stay. They were still within Qingyun Lake, and Li Hu, the Blood Demon Sect's Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Green-Striped Toad were all here.

He had to leave first before he could check the relevant information.

"No—!" Li Hu watched helplessly as Qin Changsheng took the Bronze Mirror, the fire of anger and indignation in his eyes nearly erupting.

After days of endurance and planning, sacrificing many Blood Demon Sect Disciples and expending so much effort, the Secret Treasure that was about to be in his hands had been snatched away. How could he possibly accept this!

No longer caring about Hu Nan in front of him, he let out a sudden roar. Spiritual power surged around him as he tried to break free from Hu Nan's entanglement, turning to rush toward Qin Changsheng in an attempt to reclaim the Bronze Mirror.

But Hu Nan had already anticipated his thoughts. His offensive grew even more fierce, pressing closer with every move, binding Li Hu's figure tightly and giving him no chance to escape.

Qin Changsheng stood in the center of the hall, coldly watching the Blood Demon Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were still rushing toward him.

Although the Blood Demon Sect Disciples couldn't match Qin Changsheng's Speed in seizing the mirror, they still refused to give up. Holding their Magical Artifacts, they pounced forward with roars.

They knew that if they couldn't reclaim the Secret Treasure, Li Hu would certainly not go easy on them. Their only chance at survival was to risk everything.

Qin Changsheng glanced at Li Hu and Hu Nan fighting nearby, then at the approaching Blood Demon Sect Cultivators. He suddenly waved his hand and let out a low shout: "Fire Snake Technique!"

As the words fell, a wisp of scorching red spiritual light instantly condensed in his palm, interspersed with brilliant golden patterns.

These golden patterns were the enhancement of the Golden Trait on the Fire Snake Technique.

The red spiritual light expanded rapidly, transforming into a fire snake several dozen feet long. The snake's entire body blazed with raging flames, its scales clearly visible, spitting scorching sparks from its mouth. It emitted a high temperature capable of incinerating everything, and a powerful Pressure instantly swept through the entire hall.

"Boom—!" With the sound of breaking air, the fire snake charged directly at the Blood Demon Sect Cultivators in the lead, its Speed like lightning and its momentum unstoppable.

The Blood Demon Sect Cultivators' expressions changed drastically. They wanted to dodge, but it was already too late, so they could only hastily raise their Magical Artifacts to defend.

But the Fire Snake Technique enhanced by the Golden Trait had a power far exceeding what an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator could perform. The scorching flames instantly swallowed the black Qi of the Blood Demon Sect Cultivators. The moment the Magical Artifacts collided with the flames, they were incinerated into a wisp of ash.

Screams rang out one after another. The six or seven Blood Demon Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the lead didn't even have time to let out a full wail before being swallowed by the fire snake. Their bodies were instantly reduced to ashes, leaving not even a trace of spiritual power behind as they completely perished.

Seeing this, the remaining Blood Demon Sect Cultivators were Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. Their faces turned pale as paper, the black Qi around them instantly retracted, and they stumbled backward, not daring to take another step forward.

They watched the fire snake still circling and spitting sparks in the hall, their eyes filled with fear and dread.

A single Fire Snake Technique had slain six or seven Cultivators of the same rank. Such power was far beyond their comprehension; stepping forward again would undoubtedly be seeking death.

Seeing that powerful Fire Snake Technique, Li Hu immediately remembered the night before the Grand Competition several years ago.

That night, Hu Nan had also pinned him down while another person ambushed him with a Fireball Technique.

It was also after being heavily injured by that person that Li Hu had taken the blood demon pill, missing out on the championship of the Grand Competition.

Seeing the retreating Blood Demon Sect Disciples, Qin Changsheng also seized this perfect opening. Spiritual light surged beneath his feet, and his figure moved like a ghost, dashing straight toward the hall's entrance. His Speed reached the extreme, and in an instant, he reached the doorway.

Just as Qin Changsheng was about to rush out of the hall, the waters at the bottom of Qingyun Lake suddenly vibrated violently. Waves surged, and a powerful, suffocating Pressure came from not far outside the hall, instantly enveloping the entire surrounding waters.

Qin Changsheng's figure paused. He slowly turned around, looking in the direction the Pressure was coming from, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

In the nearby waters, a massive greenish-black toad slowly emerged!

Qin Changsheng also understood that the Green-Striped Toad must have sensed the loss of the treasure and abandoned Lin Zhentian to come here.

Inside the hall, Li Hu, who was still fighting Hu Nan, sensed this familiar Pressure. Hearing the Green-Striped Toad's roar, a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

He knew that with this Golden Core Yao Beast present, it was absolutely impossible for Qin Changsheng to take the Secret Treasure away.

However, this smugness lasted only for a moment before completely freezing on Li Hu's face.

Qin Changsheng's expression was calm, seemingly undeterred by the Green-Striped Toad's powerful Pressure.

Qin Changsheng slowly raised his right hand, his palm turning slightly. A round pearl, lustrous throughout and emitting a faint spiritual light, quietly appeared in his palm.

This was the treasure Qin Changsheng had obtained during the Grand Competition, the spirit suppressing pearl, capable of suppressing a Golden Core Yao Beast's cultivation down to Foundation Establishment.

Qin Changsheng slowly began to chant an incantation. As the chant sounded, the spiritual light around the spirit suppressing pearl suddenly surged. A brilliant white light erupted from the pearl, like a bolt of lightning, heading straight to envelop the Green-Striped Toad nearby.

The white light was extremely fast, instantly wrapping the Green-Striped Toad's massive body within it.

Sensing danger, the Green-Striped Toad let out a deafening roar. Its Golden Core spiritual power surged frantically in an attempt to break free from the white light's binding. But the suppressing force within that white light was more powerful than it could have imagined, like an invisible giant hand holding it tight.

Everyone could clearly see that under the suppression of the white light, the Green-Striped Toad's massive body actually began to slowly shrink. Its Golden Core spiritual power dissipated rapidly as if being drained, and its violent Aura weakened accordingly.

Its eyes, originally the size of lanterns, gradually dimmed. The greenish-black bumps on its body lost their luster. In just a few breaths, this powerful Golden Core Yao Beast was forcibly suppressed into a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Yao Beast. Its Pressure weakened significantly, and it no longer possessed its previous suffocatingly powerful Aura.

"spirit suppressing pearl!" Seeing this, Li Hu roared out, his face turning deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief and despair.

He never expected that the spirit suppressing pearl would actually be in Qin Changsheng's hands.

With the help of the spirit suppressing pearl, it was impossible for this Golden Core Yao Beast to stop Qin Changsheng.

Without a moment's pause, Qin Changsheng seized the perfect moment while the Green-Striped Toad was suppressed. Spiritual light surged beneath his feet, and his body was like an arrow leaving a bow, dashing straight toward the surface of Qingyun Lake.

His Speed reached the extreme as he bypassed the white-light-trapped Green-Striped Toad and the shocked Li Hu. In an instant, he disappeared into the waters outside the hall, leaving only a faint trail of spiritual light, clearly intending to take the opportunity to escape from the bottom of Qingyun Lake.