37: The Mad Lion Gang and the Palace Key

Within the encirclement of the Mad Lion Gang, Xiao Yan was covered in blood, his body swaying, but his clear eyes burned with an unyielding flame. He desperately protected the incomplete jade token in his arms, and facing Kuang Shi's axe, he could only barely dodge with his strange footwork, narrowly escaping death.

"Little bastard! Your footwork is quite good! What a pity, in the face of absolute strength, it's all futile!" Kuang Shi sneered, sweeping his great axe, bringing forth a violent Dou Qi gale that blocked all of Xiao Yan's escape routes!

Xiao Yan was about to be struck by the great axe!

"Stop!"

A cold shout exploded like thunder! Immediately after, a sharp, ice-blue Dou Qi streaked through the air, accurately striking Kuang Shi's great axe!

"Clang!"

The clang of metal was deafening! Kuang Shi only felt a huge force, his great axe was knocked to the side, and he himself staggered back two steps!

"Who is it?!" Kuang Shi was both startled and angry, looking up.

He saw Hai Bodong, Xiao Chen, Ya Fei, and Mo Chen, appearing at the edge of the battlefield like divine soldiers descending from the heavens! The one who had just attacked was Hai Bodong!

"Hai Bodong?! It's you!" Kuang Shi's expression changed, recognizing the Ice Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire, "You want to interfere in the affairs of my Mad Lion Gang?"

Hai Bodong stood with his hands behind his back, cold air swirling around him. The powerful pressure of a Three-Star Dou Ling was unreservedly released, and he said coldly, "Kuang Shi, bullying a junior, what kind of skill is that? This person, we're protecting him!"

Xiao Yan saw Xiao Chen, a hint of surprise and gratitude flashed in his eyes, but then it turned into anxiety, as if he wanted to say something.

Kuang Shi heard this and was furious: "Hai Bodong! Don't think I'm afraid of you! This kid stole a treasure from my Mad Lion Gang, he must hand it over! Otherwise, even you won't be able to leave easily!"

"Treasure?" Hai Bodong raised an eyebrow, looking at the jade token in Xiao Yan's arms. With his eyesight, he naturally saw that the jade token was extraordinary; the ancient soul fluctuations emanating from it made even him feel a tremor.

Xiao Chen's soul perception more clearly captured that the jade token shared the same origin of aura as the core area of the Illusory Spirit Realm, and it was very likely the key to opening the Illusory Spirit Palace!

"Mad Lion Gang Leader, you say this jade token is your treasure, what proof do you have?" Xiao Chen took a step forward and asked in a clear voice. He secretly circulated his soul power, and an invisible Spirit Realm Soul pressure quietly permeated the area. Although it was not as overbearing as Dou Qi pressure, it carried a sense of oppression that directly struck the soul!

Kuang Shi and his gang members felt this strange pressure, and their hearts all tightened, as if they were being targeted by something terrifying, their movements slowing down a bit.

"Spirit Realm Soul?!" Kuang Shi's pupils contracted, looking at Xiao Chen in disbelief! This young man, who seemed to have no Dou Qi, actually possessed the soul power of a Dou Wang (King) level? How was this possible?!

His expression changed erratically, and he forced himself to calm down, saying, "This jade token was discovered by my Mad Lion Gang first! Naturally, it belongs to me! Kid, who are you? How dare you meddle in my business!"

Xiao Chen smiled indifferently: "Who I am isn't important. What's important is that this jade token seems to be related to the Illusory Spirit Palace, and it's an ownerless item, so whoever sees it has a share. Mad Lion Gang Leader, trying to monopolize it probably won't be that easy."

His words both highlighted the value of the jade token and publicly escalated the conflict, drawing other forces into the fray. Sure enough, some spies from other forces, who were secretly observing, heard the words "Illusory Spirit Palace key" and their eyes became fervent.

Kuang Shi's face was so gloomy it could drip water. He hadn't expected Xiao Chen to be so troublesome, putting him on the spot with just a few words. If it were only Hai Bodong, he might still be able to fight, but with the addition of a mysterious Spirit Realm Soul youth, as well as Mo Chen and Ya Fei, his Mad Lion Gang would definitely not fare well!

"Good! Good! Hai Bodong, and you kid! I, Kuang Shi, will remember this!" Kuang Shi gritted his teeth, knowing that today's matter was impossible and continuing to entangle would only benefit others. He glared fiercely at Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan, leaving a harsh warning: "In the Illusory Spirit Palace, we'll settle the score! Let's go!"

With that, he led his subordinates and left in dismay. Other forces that were secretly observing also temporarily held back and did not make a move when they saw the Mad Lion Gang retreat.

The crisis was temporarily resolved.

"Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Xiao Chen quickly walked to Xiao Yan's side and asked with concern.

Xiao Yan shook his head, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and handed the jade token in his arms to Xiao Chen, whispering, "Big Brother Xiao, this jade token... is one of the keys to the Illusory Spirit Palace. I... I obtained it by chance." His eyes flickered a bit, clearly not telling the whole truth.

Xiao Chen didn't expose him and took the jade token. The jade token felt warm in his hand, its material neither metal nor jade, with some profound runes carved on it, emitting faint soul fluctuations.

Scan: Illusory Spirit Palace Key (Fragment 1/3)

Grade: Earth-tier Low-level (Special Item)

Effect: Collect three fragments to synthesize a complete key and unlock the core inheritance of the Illusory Spirit Palace.

Can be copied: No (Insufficient energy, insufficient authority, special rules)

Recyclable energy: 2000 units (Warning! Forcibly recycling will destroy the key!)

System evaluation: Critical quest item! Host must collect all three key fragments!

It really was a key fragment! Two more were needed!

Xiao Chen understood in his heart, returned the jade token to Xiao Yan, and said solemnly, "This key is very important, keep it safe. Let's move together from now on, it'll be safer."

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, looked at Hai Bodong and the others, and nodded: "Okay, thank you, Big Brother Xiao."

Hai Bodong walked over and sized up Xiao Yan, a strange look flashing in his eyes. He could also sense that an unusual power seemed to be hidden within the young man's body.

"Since we're together, let's go." Hai Bodong didn't ask further; now was not the time to dig for answers. "The Illusory Spirit Palace shouldn't be far now, we must get there as quickly as possible to prevent the news of the key from leaking and attracting more trouble."

Everyone nodded, and after a simple treatment of their injuries, they immediately set off.

With Xiao Yan joining, the team became five. Xiao Yan seemed even more familiar with the Illusory Spirit Realm than what was recorded on the map. Under his guidance, the group avoided some dangerous areas, and their forward speed (advancing speed) increased significantly.

Along the way, Xiao Chen secretly asked Xiao Yan about the whereabouts of the other two key fragments.

Xiao Yan whispered, "The other two... one might be in the hands of someone from the Black Emperor Sect, and the other... I heard it was obtained by a lone expert, but I don't know who exactly."

Black Emperor Sect? Xiao Chen remembered the Old Man Hei Ku who was severely injured by the seven-colored soul marrow. If the key was in his hands, it would be easy to deal with, perhaps it had already fallen into someone else's hands. As for that lone expert... he would be hard to find.

"It seems that entering the Illusory Spirit Palace will inevitably lead to a fierce struggle," Xiao Chen thought to himself.

The closer they got to the core area, the more concentrated the surrounding soul energy became, and even some physical illusory beasts, formed by pure soul energy, began to appear! These illusory beasts had no intelligence and would only attack all intruders. Their strength ranged from Fighting Master to Great Dou Master, making them very difficult to deal with.

Fortunately, the team's strength was formidable. Hai Bodong's Dou Ling strength was overwhelming, Xiao Chen's Spirit Realm Soul provided restraint, coupled with assistance from Mo Chen and Ya Fei, and Xiao Yan's strange footwork, they encountered dangers but always emerged unscathed.

Finally, on the evening of the second day, after the five people passed through a misty area filled with seven-colored light, their vision suddenly cleared!

A magnificent palace, indescribable in words, stood between heaven and earth!

The entire palace was built from a translucent, seven-colored crystal, towering into the clouds and emitting a soft and sacred light! Around the palace, nine gigantic stone pillars were encircled, carved with various profound runes and patterns! A vast, ancient, and majestic soul pressure emanated from the palace, making everyone feel a tremor and a sense of insignificance!

The Illusory Spirit Palace! They had finally arrived!

However, in front of the Illusory Spirit Palace' tightly shut, hundred-zhang-tall seven-colored giant gate, a dense crowd had already gathered!

The Black Emperor Sect, the Mad Lion Gang, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, the Yunlan Sect... almost all the forces that had entered the Illusory Spirit Realm were present! They were divided into several factions, confronting each other, the atmosphere extremely tense! Everyone's gaze was fixed on the giant gate, and on the three distinct grooves on the giant gate—that was precisely where the keys were to be placed!

The arrival of Xiao Chen's group of five immediately attracted everyone's attention.

When they saw Xiao Yan, Kuang Shi's eyes immediately erupted with intense killing intent and greed! And the eyes of people from other forces also collectively fell on Xiao Yan... and the key fragment in his hand!

"Kid! You really came!" Kuang Shi roared, "Hand over the key!"

From the Black Emperor Sect's camp, it was not the Old Man Hei Ku who walked out, but an Old Woman of the Black Emperor Sect with an even colder aura and a withered face. She stared at Xiao Yan and said hoarsely, "Little brat, is the key of my Black Emperor Sect in your hand?" It seemed the Old Man Hei Ku had met with misfortune, and the key might have fallen into the Old Woman of the Black Emperor Sect's hands.

Ge Ye of the Yunlan Sect (whose injuries seemed to have recovered somewhat) also said coldly, "The Illusory Spirit Palace is ownerless land, the key should be shared!"

Xie Biyan of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was even more direct: "Enough nonsense! Whoever has the key, take it out together! Let's open the great hall first! Otherwise, no one will get in!"

The scene instantly spiraled out of control! All forces aimed their spearheads at the newly arrived Xiao Chen's group of five! To be precise, they aimed at Xiao Yan, who possessed the key fragment!

Hai Bodong's expression was solemn. He took a step forward, shielding everyone behind him, fully releasing the pressure of a Three-Star Dou Ling, and shouted coldly, "Everyone! Do you want to fight?"

Xiao Chen also quietly circulated his soul power, and the Spirit Realm Soul pressure permeated the area, complementing Hai Bodong's Dou Qi pressure, forming a powerful aura!

Feeling this combined pressure, the expressions of the leaders of the various forces changed. A Three-Star Dou Ling plus a Spirit Realm Soul—this power was enough to change the balance on the scene!

"Hai Bodong, and this young friend." Ge Ye of the Yunlan Sect spoke, "We don't intend to fight. It's just that this Illusory Spirit Palace requires three keys to open. Now that the keys are scattered, if we don't trust each other and remain deadlocked here, it won't benefit anyone. How about we set rules, jointly open the great hall, and after entering, each rely on our own abilities?"

These words sounded righteous, but everyone understood that once the great hall was opened, a chaotic battle would surely erupt!

Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Chen, asking for his opinion with his eyes.

Xiao Chen quickly weighed his options in his heart. Fighting head-on now would definitely be a disadvantage. It would be better to feign cooperation first, open the great hall, and then see. As for what happened after entering... He glanced at Xiao Yan, then felt the power of his Spirit Realm Soul, and made a decision in his heart.

"Alright." Xiao Chen nodded and said in a clear voice, "We agree to cooperate in opening the great hall. But let me say this upfront, whoever dares to play tricks during the opening process, don't blame us for being impolite!"

He mainly said this for Kuang Shi and the Old Woman of the Black Emperor Sect to hear.

Kuang Shi snorted coldly, not refuting. The Old Woman of the Black Emperor Sect also nodded.

"Since that's the case, then please, the three parties with the keys, step forward and open the hall door!" Ge Ye said.

Everyone's gaze focused. The known key holders were Xiao Yan (representing Xiao Chen's side) and the Old Woman of the Black Emperor Sect. One party was still missing.

Just then, a lazy voice sounded from behind the crowd:

"Oh, my, so lively? It seems this old man has arrived at just the right time."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a Sloppy Old Man, shabbily dressed and with messy hair, carrying a wine gourd, swaying as he walked over. The old man seemed ordinary, but as he approached, a chillingly obscure aura made all the Dou Ling (Spirit) powerhouses present change their expressions!

Another Dou Ling! And he was... a Five-Star Dou Ling!

The Sloppy Old Man walked to the giant gate, let out a burp, and pulled out a jade token fragment from his embrace that was identical to the one in Xiao Yan's hand. He grinned and said, "This thing, is it a key? Coincidentally, I have one here too."

The third key had appeared!

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly. A Five-Star Dou Ling! This old man's strength far surpassed everyone present! Was he a friend or a foe?

The struggle for the Illusory Spirit Palace became even more convoluted due to the appearance of this mysterious old man!