Chapter 180: The Arrival of All Sides
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Chen Fei’s pupils contracted rapidly. With the support of the jade pendant, Chen Fei could only catch a glimpse of a black streak in the scene that had just unfolded. Over ten martial artists in the Visceral Tempering realm met tragic deaths.
These were over ten Visceral Tempering realm individuals. With such power, they could have had a high chance of success in pushing the Zhuhong fruit tree. However, they were now all taken down by a single strike from a rat demon. They hadn’t even managed to put up any significant resistance.
Moments ago, the rat demon’s movement range had clearly been restricted, yet in the blink of an eye, it had effortlessly dispatched more than a dozen people.
Chen Fei found it hard to conceive of any possibility where the Visceral Tempering realm could withstand such power. The number of people no longer seemed relevant, as the rat demon’s figure became impossible to capture due to its extraordinary speed.
When speed reaches a certain level, it signifies extreme power. The rat demon’s body, coupled with its remarkable speed, made it virtually invulnerable.
“Quite impressive, isn’t it?”
Bacca’s voice trembled slightly. Even his own defenses might not stand a chance against an attack like that.
“It seems we’re outmatched,” Chen Fei whispered.
Considering the combat strength displayed by the rat demon, it was safe to say that any martial artist in the Body Tempering realm who ventured here would likely meet their end without exception.
Of course, there was the presence of a spiritual weapon. If they managed to confine the rat demon somehow, there might be a chance.
“The rat demon can’t sustain that state indefinitely,” Bacca shook his head. Chen Fei also noticed that after the rat demon eliminated the martial artists, its body had returned to its palm-sized form and was resting momentarily.
Chen Fei’s expression shifted slightly. It appeared that the state it had just been in was also a form of desperation for the rat demon, making it seem more reasonable.
Otherwise, if the rat demon could utilize that state limitlessly, it would likely have become a Tier 2 demonic beast long ago.
The situation was soon discovered by other martial artists around the pool, as over ten Visceral Tempering realm individuals had been defeated in an instant. Any Body Tempering realm martial artist witnessing such power would be filled with trepidation.
Ma Xuefei hurriedly retreated to a distance. As an archer, she had been positioned far away, thereby avoiding the wave of attacks.
Now that there were no restraining factors, Ma Xuefei had no intention of staying put. She fled to a safer distance.
“Senior Sister Xiao, something’s amiss over there!”
Someone urgently shouted at Xiao Liling by the pool.
Xiao Liling, who had been meditating cross-legged, abruptly opened her eyes. A blue glint flickered in her pupils, and the Night-Luminescent Pearl above the Dreamlike Lotus trembled slightly.
“Remain calm. If that rat demon dares to approach, I’ll trap it in the Exquisite Pearl! Continue attacking the Dreamlike Lotus and finish it off!” Xiao Liling glanced at the distant rat demon and spoke in a cold tone.
Her words managed to restore some calm among those present.
The primary reliance of everyone here was Xiao Liling and the spirit tool she wielded, the Exquisite Pearl.
Spiritual tools were typically exclusive to cultivators of the Aperture Tempering realm. Yet, Xiao Liling had found a way to control the Exquisite Pearl using an unknown method, evoking envy from others.
The Exquisite Pearl had enabled Xiao Liling to gather numerous martial artists by her side. Within this perilous mystical realm, she could safely hunt for mystical ingredients and seize the resources she desired.
This marked the fifth mystical ingredient they had encountered. The previous four encounters had been successful. Despite the threats posed by the mystical ingredients, they had failed to breach the defenses of the Exquisite Pearl.
With the Exquisite Pearl at their disposal, the martial artists could operate with ease. Xiao Liling claimed she could attain half of the Aperture Tempering realm’s power effortlessly, making her significantly stronger than Feng Xiupu.
“Ji!”
The rat demon surveyed the area around the pool. The warriors present did not flee in panic. Instead, they intensified their assault on the Dreamlike Lotus. This served to further infuriate the rat demon.
Swiftly transforming into a black shadow, the rat demon dashed across the pool, charging at the warriors.
“Seal!”
Observing the rat demon’s actions, Xiao Liling’s expression became serious. With a low shout, the protective shield emitted by the Exquisite Pearl split into two. One shield continued suppressing the Dreamlike Lotus, while the other enshrouded the rat demon.
Although the rat demon had initially intended to dodge, the light barrier formed by the Exquisite Pearl defied conventional logic. No matter how the rat demon evaded, it was ultimately ensnared within the light barrier.
Chen Fei, situated at a distance, watched the events unfold by the pool. This was the first time he had witnessed the miraculous capabilities of a spiritual tool so clearly.
Given the rat demon’s speed, only a small area could effectively confine it. This was a challenge even for a martial artist in the Body Tempering realm, unless numerous individuals cornered it in a confined space.
However, the Exquisite Pearl appeared to have no constraints. It upheld its seal with steadfast resolve, operating independently of conventional logic.
Was it the power of core soul energy? Or something else?
As Chen Fei mulled over these notions, several martial artists around the pool took advantage of the situation and attempted to attack the rat demon.
Yet, the rat demon’s speed was astonishing. Even within the confines of the light barrier, its maneuverability had limitations. It managed to dodge the attacks of the few assailants with ease.
Even if the rat demon didn’t evade, its body would likely only register a dull thud upon impact. The attacks would hardly pose a threat.
The few martial artists exchanged incredulous glances. Now, they grasped the same sense of powerlessness that the warriors outside the pool had experienced in confronting the rat demon.
“Don’t concern yourselves with the rat demon. Prioritize eliminating the Dreamlike Lotus!”
Xiao Liling’s order echoed. While the rat demon remained at bay, the warriors renewed their assault on the Dreamlike Lotus.
“Understood!”
Everyone nodded in agreement, redirecting their attention toward the Dreamlike Lotus. The roots had already been depleted, and most of the leaves were in ruins. It wouldn’t take long to bring this mystical ingredient to an end.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
No one attacked the rat demon, yet it began relentlessly ramming the light barrier. The entire barrier shook violently as if it might shatter at any moment.
Xiao Liling’s expression grew solemn as the rat demon’s assault exceeded her expectations by far.
Outsiders only saw Xiao Liling casually manipulating the Exquisite Pearl, but for someone at the Body Tempering realm, wielding a spiritual tool was anything but simple.
Spiritual tools were not meant for martial artists in the Body Tempering realm. Besides their rarity, these martial artists lacked the capability to wield them. Driving such a tool was challenging, even if it cost them some lifespan; it was an arduous endeavor.
However, Xiao Liling didn’t exhaust her lifespan, and her manipulation of the Exquisite Pearl appeared seamless. She achieved this by employing her own bloodline.
The Exquisite Pearl was originally a spiritual tool exclusive to Xiao Liling’s immediate family. It was refined with the addition of a rare blood crystal and underwent specialized crafting.
A single blood crystal could sometimes be worth as much as a spiritual weapon.
It’s good to be wealthy!
By establishing a connection between the Xiao family bloodline and this specially crafted Exquisite Pearl, and then having the elders of the Xiao family infuse essence force into it, Xiao Liling could command the Exquisite Pearl.
Even when the elemental energy within the Exquisite Pearl was depleted, it could automatically absorb the elemental energy from the surrounding environment to replenish itself, ensuring sustained usage.
However, all of this came with a condition: not exhausting all the Vital Energy within the Exquisite Pearl. Otherwise, the Exquisite Pearl would go dormant, requiring Xiao Liling to sacrifice her own lifespan to activate it.
With the power of the Exquisite Pearl’s confinement now divided in two, the essence force depletion was accelerating. Moreover, the rat demon’s attacking power exceeded Xiao Liling’s expectations, magnifying the rate of essence force consumption.
To kill the Dreamlike Lotus, more than half the elemental energy within the pearl had been expended. If she delayed further, the pearl’s effectiveness would fade before she could defeat the rat demon.
When confronted with the rat demon once more, the situation might not be as it is now.
Fortunately, the Dreamlike Lotus was on the brink of being eliminated. With so many martial artists converging, it shouldn’t take much time to take down a single rat demon.
Chen Fei stood at a distance, observing the events by the pool. His brow furrowed. This spiritual tool was almost too effective. Even Chen Fei couldn’t help but envy it.
“Prepare yourselves.” Bacca’s voice suddenly rang out, infused with a hint of excitement.
Chen Fei was momentarily puzzled, but he didn’t inquire further. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the pool. Suddenly, an intense wave of energy surged from the Dreamlike Lotus.
A sudden explosion rocked the scene. The Dreamlike Lotus ruptured, releasing a ripple that propagated outward. The ripples reached the light shield but were not dissipated. Instead, they rebounded, intensifying the energy within the shield.
Xiao Liling’s expression shifted dramatically. The essence force within the Exquisite Pearl plummeted at an alarming rate. Without hesitation, she opened a fissure atop the light shield, allowing the accumulating energy to escape.
The minds of the surrounding warriors became suspended in a void as their consciousnesses seemed to stall. Seizing the opportunity, a streak of light shot forth from the light barrier, vanishing into the distance.
A soft crack sounded as a fissure materialized within the light barrier containing the rat demon.
The rift rapidly expanded, threatening to shatter the barrier.
Xiao Liling’s face contorted in alarm. The rapid depletion of essence force within the Exquisite Pearl led to its declining power. At this rate, if she didn’t act promptly, the barrier would crumble before the rat demon could be captured again.
In response, Xiao Liling reinforced the seal on the rat demon and then gestured with a flick of her hand. The light barrier began to whirl, and the rat demon was flung into the distance.
Xiao Liling refrained from maintaining the rat demon’s confinement for fear of exhausting the Exquisite Pearl’s essence force. Instead, she chose to leverage the remaining energy to propel the rat demon away.
While Xiao Liling managed the rat demon, Chen Fei and Bacca pursued the remnants of the Dreamlike Lotus. Despite its explosion, the essence within its body lingered. It was crucial to prevent it from escaping.
However, several arrows suddenly soared toward Chen Fei. Swiftly evading each arrow, he leveraged Ling Jiahua’s attack to propel himself forward even faster. Ling Jiahua was left bewildered by the outcome. Just as he was about to give chase, he realized that Chen Fei was swiftly distancing himself.
Ma Xuefei and a group of Visceral Tempering Realm martial artists were also hot on the pursuit, their aim being the Dreamlike Lotus.
“Sir, I strongly advise you to cease this pursuit!” Ling Jiahua shouted at Chen Fei, his anger palpable, before resuming his chase.
Ignoring Ling Jiahua, Chen Fei maintained his focus on the distance. It wasn’t just Ma Xuefei and her companions in pursuit. Others who had previously lurked in the shadows had seized this opportunity to join the chase.
Employing the Soul Chasing Step technique, Chen Fei nimbly overtook Ma Xuefei and her companions.
“I told you to stop!” Frustration marked Ling Jiahua’s expression as he swung his blade at Chen Fei.
The shield and sword formation unfurled, with Chen Fei exploiting Ling Jiahua’s force to enhance his own speed. Ling Jiahua was taken aback, and as he moved to continue pursuit, Chen Fei’s figure grew increasingly distant..