Translator: CinderTL
Luo Yu roared, "Die!"
As he spoke, his clothes exploded, his body rapidly swelling to over ten feet tall. A crimson horn sprouted from his forehead, pulsing with blood-red light, transforming him into a terrifying figure.
Zhou Longsheng remained unfazed, sneering, "Hmph, you dare flaunt a mere mid-grade Dao Body?"
Before the words had even left his mouth, Zhou Longsheng vanished. In an instant, he reappeared perched atop a tree, a pair of fleshy wings spread behind him, catching the moonlight as they flapped like those of a colossal bat.
"What kind of Dao Body is that?" Xu Sanyan muttered, frowning. He had never seen a Dao Body capable of flight before.
Xiang Tan, still holding Xu Sanyan's hand, also looked up at the treetop. "It's the Celestial Pivot Dao Foundation from the Ninefold Divine Return Scripture. Barely considered high-grade, but its speed is extraordinary, granting the ability to fly. You can exchange for it at the Hall of Affairs for 3,700 Merit Points."
Flight...
A flicker of envy flashed in Xu Sanyan's eyes. Mystical Arts that granted aerial flight were rare and invaluable, but maintaining flight consumed vast amounts of Spiritual Power. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators who mastered such techniques struggled to sustain it for long periods.
Luo Yu's eyes glinted. "Attack now!" he bellowed.
Suddenly, Chi Yu and the other two swiftly disengaged from their opponents. The trio huddled together, sitting cross-legged in a tight circle, and pulled a bundle of golden silk from their storage pouches.
With a flick of their wrists, they cast the golden threads into the air, where they coalesced into a massive golden net. The net hurtled toward Zhou Longsheng at blinding speed, leaving only a streak of golden light visible to the naked eye.
"A Dragon-Catching Net?" Zhou Longsheng exclaimed in horror, his face contorted with panic. He frantically flapped his fleshy wings, darting aside as he recognized the dreaded artifact.
Luo Yu roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Knowing you could fly, Junior Brother Xu prepared this long ago! It's a shame, though—this treasure is called the Dragon-Catching Net, but you're no true dragon. It's like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut!"
This priceless artifact was incredibly expensive and virtually impossible to escape once ensnared—Zhou Longsheng stood no chance. However, it was a single-use item, rendered useless after activation. To secure this moment, Luo Yu had spared no expense, pulling out all the stops.
"Zhang Sheng, stop them now!" Zhou Longsheng shouted desperately as he dodged the net.
Luo Yu sneered. Having finally cornered Zhou Longsheng, he had no intention of letting his prey escape. He firmly positioned himself between Zhang Sheng and the trio, shielding them.
Zhang Sheng, a burly man with a rough-hewn appearance, hesitated upon hearing Zhou Longsheng's plea. He knew he stood no chance against Luo Yu, but Zhou Longsheng's death would inevitably seal his own fate.
As Zhou Longsheng's trusted lieutenant, Zhang Sheng knew Luo Yu would never spare him. He had no choice but to gamble.
"Junior Brothers, follow me into battle!" Zhang Sheng roared, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, exerting pressure. "If Senior Brother Zhou falls, none of us will escape death!"
Luo Yu, fully aware of Zhang Sheng's intentions, countered with a roar of his own. "Junior Brothers, fear not! We are all brothers of the same sect. I won't harm you—I only seek the lives of Zhou Longsheng and Zhang Sheng!"
Luo Yu's words only deepened the crowd's hesitation.
Zhang Sheng gritted his teeth and snarled, "You fools! A Holy Son can only have five loyal supporters. If Luo Yu becomes the Holy Son, do you think he'll choose any of you for those spots? Don't forget—you're already under Senior Brother Zhou's command!"
The crowd's expressions turned grim. Zhang Sheng's words rang true: even if they swore allegiance to Luo Yu, they would likely be sent on the most dangerous missions first.
"Save Senior Brother Zhou!" someone finally shouted, hardening their resolve to take the risk. If they rescued Senior Brother Zhou now, Zhou Longsheng would undoubtedly remember their loyalty when he eventually became the Holy Son.
Others remained hesitant, wavering. If Senior Brother Zhou truly fell, those who had tried to save him would likely share his fate.
"Better to live a wretched life than die a glorious death," went the saying. "Every extra day is a blessing."
Chaos erupted in the arena. A dozen or so cultivators, led by Zhang Sheng, charged toward Chi Yu and his companions, each manifesting their grotesque Dao Forms. These monstrous figures resembled a horde of demons, their combined aura radiating formidable menace.
Luo Yu roared, "Follow me! We'll stop them!"
Xu Sanyan remained motionless, continuing his leisurely Tai Chi routine with Xiang Tan. Xiang Tan, however, grew increasingly anxious. Having betrayed Luo Yu, she knew that if he emerged victorious, her fate would be sealed.
She turned to Xu Sanyan, pleading, "Junior Brother Xu, if Senior Brother Luo wins, please put in a good word for me. I'll repay you handsomely once we escape—I'll do anything you ask."
Xu Sanyan, deliberately teasing her, feigned hesitation. "Junior Brother's words carry little weight. Senior Brother Luo might not listen."
As they continued their half-hearted sparring, they gradually drifted away from the center of the battlefield, edging toward the shadows. Soon, they abandoned all pretense. Xu Sanyan wrapped his arm around Xiang Tan's slender waist and swept her into his arms.
"If I can just survive this," Xiang Tan murmured, "I'll be yours to command forever after..."
Xu Sanyan listened to the distant clash of combat and glanced into the deepening darkness ahead.
"Alright," he said, "Junior Brother will do his best..."
"Awoo!"
Before the words had even faded, a deafening roar erupted from the depths of the darkness, followed by heavy, thunderous footsteps that shook the ground, as if some ancient, savage beast were charging toward them.
Xu Sanyan tensed, guessing that the battle had drawn the attention of a demonic beast.
Xiang Tan licked her lips, hiding behind Xu Sanyan, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and excitement. "It sounds like... a Gold-Devouring Beast! Senior Brother Zhou might be saved!"
If this demonic beast was powerful enough, it could disrupt the battle. If Chi Yu and the others lost control of the Dragon-Catching Net, Zhou Longsheng would gain a crucial moment to breathe, and the tide of the battle could turn.
Xiang Tan's beautiful eyes darted around, her mind racing.
"Let's go take a look," Xu Sanyan whispered, cautiously peeking from behind a tree to observe the scene.
Luo Yu had also heard the beast's roar. Growing increasingly anxious, he shouted at Chi Yu and the others, "Hurry up!"
Chi Yu gritted his teeth, frustrated. He wanted to speed up, but Zhou Longsheng was too agile. Every time he nearly had him ensnared, the slippery fighter managed to escape.
Zhang Sheng, however, was ecstatic. He threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Heaven is on my side! Junior Brothers, what are you waiting for? Come help me now!"
The wavering cultivators quickly made up their minds and began reinforcing their ranks, immediately increasing the pressure on Luo Yu.
Luo Yu's forces had already been smaller than Zhou Longsheng's. Chi Yu and the other two Mid Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were occupied maintaining the Dragon-Catching Net, Xu Sanyan was shirking his duties, and Xiang Tan had betrayed them.
Moreover, Xiang Tan wasn't the only traitor. Since the battle began, three more cultivators had defected, and two others had been inadvertently killed. All told, Luo Yu was left with only ten combatants.
"Where's Junior Brother Xu?" Luo Yu roared, belatedly realizing he hadn't seen Xu Sanyan in quite some time. In this desperate situation, the combat power of a single Mid Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was invaluable.
Above, Zhou Longsheng, dodging frantically, his face ashen, couldn't help but smile when he heard the beast's roar.
Truly, the heavens were on his side!
As heavy footsteps drew closer, a colossal beast emerged from the shadowy depths of the forest, its massive head peering into the clearing.
(End of the Chapter)
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