284: Chapter 284 The Treasure is Lost

Upon hearing this, the two Azure Cloud Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators dared not delay in the slightest. They immediately took a bright red firework from their Storage Pouch. Fueled by their Spiritual Qi, the firework instantly shot into the sky. With a "bang," it exploded, and a brilliant red light bloomed in mid-air, like a blood-colored star. It was exceptionally striking, clearly visible even in broad daylight.

At the same time, Wen Xuanli spoke again. His gaze swept over the Disciples beside him as he gave orders in a deep voice: "The four of you, immediately guard the carriage in the middle. No matter what happens, you must protect the Storage Pouch inside the carriage. You must not let the Pill Furnace fall into the hands of the Yao Race! The rest of you, follow me to engage the Yao Race!"

"Yes, Elder!" the Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators replied in unison. With solemn expressions, they immediately acted according to Wen Xuanli's instructions.

The four Cultivators quickly rushed to the carriage in the middle, circulating their Spiritual Qi to form a solid defensive barrier, tightly guarding the carriage.

The remaining Cultivators held their Magical Artifacts, lining up on both sides of Wen Xuanli, standing at the ready to engage the Yao Race.

On the other side, seeing the warning firework bloom in the sky, Gou Feng's expression changed slightly for an instant.

He knew better than anyone that the Azure Cloud Sect was not far from Clear Spring Valley. Once the warning firework was lit, it wouldn't be long before the Azure Cloud Sect's reinforcements arrived. By then, not only would they fail to seize the Pill Furnace, but they might also be surrounded and wiped out.

"Attack!" Gou Feng shouted violently. His figure moved like an arrow shot from a bowstring. Holding a pitch-black mace and carrying a biting wind, he rushed rapidly toward Wen Xuanli, aiming directly at this Golden Core Cultivator.

Following Gou Feng's command, the dozens of Yao Race Cultivators behind him also roared one after another. Their Demonic Qi raged around them as they held sharp weapons and rushed toward the Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators like starving wolves pouncing on prey.

For a moment, the Killing Intent on the rocky beach soared to the heavens. Shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons erupted instantly. Both sides were immediately locked in combat, Spiritual Qi and Demonic Qi intertwining and colliding, setting off waves of energy.

Seeing this, Wen Xuanli's expression darkened. He reminded the four Disciples guarding the carriage again: "You must hold your ground at all costs, and do not be distracted!"

After speaking, he leaped down from the back of his Spirit Deer. A lustrous cyan longsword appeared in his hand, its blade glowing with a faint spiritual light as he rushed toward Gou Feng.

"Clang!" The longsword and the mace collided violently, emitting a harsh metallic roar. A massive force scattered in all directions, kicking up gravel into the sky.

In that instant of exchanging blows, Wen Xuanli's expression changed slightly again, a flash of doubt appearing in his eyes.

He discovered that Gou Feng seemed to have no intention of fighting him to the death at all. Every exchange was merely a reluctant defense against his attacks. The Moves appeared fierce, yet they were restrained everywhere. There was no sign of a desperate struggle; instead, it seemed more like he was deliberately stalling for time, entangling him and preventing him from getting away.

"He wants to entangle me!" Wen Xuanli realized in an instant, a flash of shock appearing in his eyes.

He turned his head abruptly and looked toward the carriage, only to see that many Disciples had already been suppressed by the Yao Race Cultivators.

Many people had even died in battle there.

Even around the carriage, Yao Race Disciples had appeared.

At this moment, how could Wen Xuanli not understand? The Yao Race's target was the earth-grade low-rank alchemy furnace inside the carriage.

Wen Xuanli wanted to pull away to support the carriage, but Gou Feng was like a maggot on a bone, clinging to him tightly. No matter how fiercely he attacked, Gou Feng could easily receive them.

At the same time, Hu Nan's figure appeared at the edge of the mountain forest on one side of Clear Spring Valley.

Hu Nan was wearing a set of black clothes and a Profound Iron Mask on his face.

His gaze swept over the chaotic battle on the rocky beach, a flash of sharp light appearing in his eyes.

He also understood that this was the best time for him to make a Move.

Hu Nan no longer hesitated. His figure moved violently, like an arrow shot from a bowstring, darting out from the shadows of the mountain forest. His Speed was as fast as lightning, weaving through the gaps in the chaotic crowd, avoiding the aftermath of the slaughter between the two sides, and charging straight toward the carriage in the middle that carried the earth-grade low-rank alchemy furnace.

His movements were extremely fast, his figure flickering uncertainly, sweeping across the battlefield like a ghost. The surrounding Cultivators were either deeply locked in combat or focused on defending against their opponents, and surprisingly, no one discovered this black shadow quietly approaching.

In just a few breaths, Hu Nan broke through the perimeter of the battlefield and landed steadily near the carriage, only a few steps away from the four Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators guarding it.

"Who?!" A Yao Race Foundation Establishment Great Perfection expert who was besieging a Azure Cloud Sect Cultivator caught a glimpse of Hu Nan's figure out of the corner of his eye and immediately shouted harshly, a flash of vigilance and ferocity appearing in his eyes.

He had not expected that a third party was hidden within the chaotic battle. Judging by Hu Nan's posture, it was clear that he was also here for the treasure inside the carriage.

Before the words had even faded, that Yao Race expert abandoned the Azure Cloud Sect Cultivator before him. Turning his body, he held a sharp demon blade, carrying a biting Demonic Qi, and rushed violently toward Hu Nan, wanting to block his path and absolutely not let him get near the carriage.

Although he did not know Hu Nan's goal, he also knew that he absolutely could not let Hu Nan get close.

Just at this moment, Wang Cheng spoke: "Leave this person to me; you go and stop the people of the Azure Cloud Sect!"

The Yao Race expert glanced at Wang Cheng, nodded slowly, and then rushed toward the Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators on the side.

Wang Cheng also engaged in battle with Hu Nan. Although their Moves were very ruthless, they were all feints.

The numerous Yao Race Cultivators and Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators also turned their gazes elsewhere.

A few breaths later, Hu Nan and Wang Cheng arrived near the carriage.

At this moment, the four Azure Cloud Sect Cultivators guarding near the carriage were already injured and unable to attend to themselves; they simply had no extra energy to pay attention to the movement behind them.

Hu Nan's gaze was sharp. Seizing this fleeting gap, his figure moved again. As his feet stepped, his figure flickered like a ghost. Under the cover of the chaotic battle, taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on the slaughter, he instantly swept to the side of the carriage.

He did not hesitate in the slightest. Lifting his hand, he gave a gentle push, and the carriage door was pushed open without a sound.

Almost at the instant he pushed the door, Hu Nan's figure flashed, and he slipped into the carriage silently.

The space inside the carriage was not large, and the furnishings were simple. There was only a purple Storage Pouch, quietly placed on the wooden table in the center of the carriage.

That purple Storage Pouch was lustrous all over, its surface covered in dense, special runes. The runes circulated with a faint spiritual light, emitting a massive amount of spatial power and the aura of earth fire.

Clearly, this was a specially made Storage Pouch, used specifically to carry the earth-grade low-rank alchemy furnace.

Hu Nan did not delay in the slightest. Extending his arm, he firmly grasped that purple Storage Pouch. Without any hesitation, he stirred his mind, and instantly took the Storage Pouch into his own Storage Space. His movements were crisp, neat, and done in one go.

At the very moment he obtained the Storage Pouch, Hu Nan stabbed his longsword into his own body.

In the next instant, Hu Nan turned into streaks of golden light points and disappeared inside the carriage.

At the very moment Hu Nan took the Storage Pouch into his Storage Space, outside the carriage, Wen Xuanli and Gou Feng, who were originally locked in combat, almost simultaneously sensed the fluctuation of Spiritual Qi in the direction of the carriage.

The spatial power belonging to the special Storage Pouch vanished abruptly.

"Not good! The Pill Furnace!" Wen Xuanli's expression changed instantly, and his heart skipped a beat. A strong sense of unease welled up in his heart. He violently broke free from Gou Feng's entanglement, his gaze fixed dead on the carriage, and he roared harshly, "The Pill Furnace is lost!"

At the same time, Gou Feng also sensed that something was wrong. The ferocity on his face instantly faded, replaced by extreme ugliness and astonishment.

He could not imagine that after he had racked his brains to entangle Wen Xuanli and had his subordinates fiercely attack the Cultivators guarding the carriage, just as he was about to seize the alchemy furnace, someone had suddenly interfered halfway, stealing the Storage Pouch without anyone knowing!