Chapter 157

Chapter 157: The Might of the Treasure

Liu Fu Chen soared through the sky, standing atop a blue flag.

He stood with hands clasped behind his back in midair, his murky eyes fixed on Zhou Luo while emitting specks of sharp light, paying no heed to the trapped Wang Tong beside them.

"I thought you were a smart man," Liu Fu Chen uttered in a slightly hoarse voice.

Zhou Luo gazed intently, gripping the Xuan Sky Sword as he retorted sharply, "Precisely because I’m a smart man, I refuse to collude with your kind."

"Hah. Our Hehuan Sect is a renowned and orthodox sect. How dare you defame us?" Liu Fu Chen stated impassively.

The ancient Hehuan Sect practiced the great path of dual cultivation, emphasizing the harmony of yin and yang—truly an orthodox tradition.

Yet many exploited the sect’s name to practice heretical methods like absorbing yin to replenish yang or collecting yang to supplement yin.

This caused the once-glorious ancient sect’s reputation to plummet drastically.

Those currently active in the cultivation world claiming to be Hehuan Sect disciples were mostly practitioners of sinister sects.

Like the Hehuan Sect that brought chaos to Huoyun Country centuries earlier.

Hearing these words, Zhou Luo couldn’t help but sneer coldly.

"If you’re truly orthodox, why not let me leave?"

"Wishful thinking. Surrender yourself obediently to refine pills for our Hehuan Sect, and perhaps I’ll spare your life," Liu Fu Chen said coldly.

Zhou Luo placed no trust in such evil sect promises.

Those branded as evil sects earned the title not only through vile deeds but also utter lack of credibility.

They offered nothing trustworthy to believe in.

Clutching the Xuan Sky Sword, Zhou Luo scanned his surroundings with mental strength.

More Hehuan Sect disciples approached, sealing off his escape routes.

Zhou Luo wished they’d all gather—he would crush them in one fell swoop.

Seeing Zhou Luo’s remaining defiance, Liu Fu Chen abandoned restraint. Spiritual energy erupted from within him, unleashing an immense pressure that swept in all directions.

At this moment, the power of ninth level Qi Refinement was displayed to utmost perfection.

Risking renewed injuries, Liu Fu Chen aimed to end the battle swiftly and capture his opponent.

Zhou Luo’s eyes sharpened as he felt his entire body pressed down by a mountain peak.

Gritting his teeth, his skin emitted specks of light while taut muscles revealed a layer of Xuan Huang stripes, straining to withstand the crushing weight.

Having cultivated the Body Refinement Technique to the Third Level, he couldn’t fully neutralize his opponent’s pressure, but at least he wouldn’t be immobilized like a wooden stake.

One breath later, he drew his sword and thrust. Thousands of golden rays whistled forth, carrying immense force.

He needed more time—he had to delay a little longer.

Facing the golden pillar, Liu Fu Chen scoffed disdainfully.

The technique itself held power, yet its wielder’s spiritual energy proved too feeble to unleash its full might.

Focusing his mind, Liu Fu Chen shot the flag beneath his foot forward. Azure radiance illuminated heaven and earth, transforming into colossal waves that instantly suppressed the golden light.

Simultaneously, Liu Fu Chen lunged forward. His right hand stretched out like a streak of light, clawing toward Zhou Luo.

Wind Moves Without a Trace!

Pushing his movement technique, Zhou Luo became shrouded entirely by a raging whirlwind, his body twisting sideways. Simultaneously, a small vial appeared in his right hand.

Just as Liu Fu Chen closed in, Zhou Luo wasted no time hurling the vial outward.

The palm-sized vial shattered violently mid-air. Grey smoke unfurled, aided by the howling wind, and spread throughout the entire area.

Liu Fu Chen felt a surge of surprise as he discovered his spiritual energy circulation was hindered the moment he touched the grey smoke.

Poison mist!

His mind snapped to alertness, and he hastily activated a protective golden aura.

Meanwhile, Zhou Luo had already retreated three miles away.

He did not further attempt escape. Instead, he flicked his sword once more. Myriad beams of razor-sharp sword light pierced towards his opponent.

Liu Fu Chen’s brow furrowed deeply, anger twisting his aged face.

He hadn’t anticipated that a mere cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement could possess so many tricks.

And it infuriated him that, despite expending such effort, he still hadn’t captured the man.

It felt like an absurd humiliation.

Shoving aside concern for his injuries, he rapidly formed several hand seals. Violent spiritual energy roared from within him.

Black and white energy intertwined, forming a terrifying beam of light. Awe-inspiring power erupted from it, blasting straight towards Zhou Luo.

In its path, trees exploded and earth flew.

Wind sprang beneath Zhou Luo’s feet as he dodged sideways.

But the beam was impossibly fast and its power utterly terrifying.

Though he narrowly avoided a direct hit, the residual energy ripples slammed him like a hammer, hurling him backwards.

BOOM!

Zhou Luo struggled to regain his footing, face slightly pale. Countless cuts, opened by compressed air blades, marred his Moon-white Robe, revealing glimpses of crystalline skin.

Had it not been for his exceptionally sturdy physique…

Even those residual ripples could have inflicted grave wounds.

Truly, the strength of someone at the ninth level of Qi Refinement is incomparable. I cannot stand against it.

He leaned against the trunk of a large tree. Around him, other Hehuan Sect disciples closed in for the kill.

Liu Fu Chen, having locked onto him with mental strength, stepped forward. Transforming into a streak of white light, he charged directly at Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo’s gaze hardened. A burst of spiritual light gleamed from the storage ring on his left hand. The Xuan Sky Sword in his right vanished, replaced instantly by a talisman.

The instant the talisman appeared, the spiritual robes stirring without wind, a staggering presence emanated from him.

Brilliant light radiated from the golden surface of the talisman, depicting a snow-white weapon etched upon it.

The moment Liu Fu Chen saw the talisman, his pupils constricted into pinpricks. Unparalleled shock flooded his face.

A treasure…!

His mind reeled wildly, pure astonishment instantly shattering his previously calm expression.

In almost an instant, he turned his body around and retreated backward.

But it was already too late.

Zhou Luo poured all his spiritual energy into the talisman, and immediately, a piercing chill spread out.

The lush green trees nearby were instantly coated in frost, the endless chill surging in all directions.

The pupils of the approaching Hehuan Sect disciples dilated, terror washing over their faces.

They frantically activated their protective golden light, but it was useless.

The chill seemed capable of piercing through anything in the world. Wherever it passed, everything froze. They just began to think of fleeing when their bodies suddenly stiffened.

In the next second, frost spread across their entire bodies, freezing them in place.

Even Liu Fu Chen felt his body grow heavy. The spiritual energy in his meridians slowed to a near halt, refusing to circulate freely. A lethal sense of crisis flooded his entire being.

He paled in shock and frantically spurred his spiritual energy, trying to break through the biting frost.

But it was already too late.

The moment this treasure was activated, everything within a radius of thirty miles had frozen, forming a domain of ice.

Apart from Zhou Luo, who held the treasure, all living beings were frozen where they stood.

Liu Fu Chen, gripped by terror inside, overflowed with despair.

In this moment, he felt it was utterly against all reason.

Why would a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement possess a treasure?

Such a thing was something even he did not have!

And this treasure was clearly even more terrifying than the one the Lin Family member had used earlier.

You possess a treasure, why didn’t you reveal it from the start?!

If you had revealed it earlier, would I have led my men and waited for you this long?

Unreasonable!

Completely unreasonable!

Boundless regret surged through Liu Fu Chen’s heart.

He wanted to beg for mercy, but within the ice domain, frozen solid, he could only widen his eyes, utterly helpless.

This was sheer terror of a magical artifact.

A smile touched Zhou Luo’s lips as he summoned every ounce of his strength, driving the power of the treasure to its absolute limit.

Boom! —

An endless wave of frosty energy erupted, sweeping outwards in every direction.