Soul Emperor Awakening

Lan Qinghua was burning his Essence Blood. Given his age and condition, this was an act of desperation. Burning Essence Blood caused immense self-harm, potentially stunting one’s Cultivation and even shortening one’s lifespan.

Yet he still chose this path. The primary reason was the immense pressure he was under from the Tu Family. Compounded by his unavenged son’s death, his inner fury finally erupted. By burning his Essence Blood, his strength would soar. As long as he could kill Lin Xuan, he would obtain the Five-Colored Lotus and the Coiling Dragon Ginseng.

With those treasures, he could not only recover his lost Essence Blood but even advance his Cultivation. If he didn’t stop Lin Xuan now, he would lose his chance forever once Lin Xuan returned to Divine Martial Island. His only other option would be to launch an all-out assault on Divine Martial Island. While a tempting idea, it would be a tragic waste if they conquered it only to find nothing.

That was why, even if it meant burning his Essence Blood, he had to stop Lin Xuan right now!

"Get over here!" Lan Qinghua roared, swiping his hand toward Lin Xuan. A phantom claw shot out from his body, hurtling viciously toward its target.

"In your dreams!"

Tuo Zhanhong snorted coldly and lashed out with a palm strike of his own. His Martial Intent surged forth, and the two attacks collided.

BOOM!

Tuo Zhanhong grunted, knocked back several steps. He had lost the exchange. After burning his Essence Blood, Lan Qinghua was not to be trifled with. Tuo Zhanhong was already weaker than Patriarch Lan to begin with; now, he stood no chance of stopping him.

"No one can stop me!" With his eyes bloodshot with rage, Lan Qinghua roared and shot toward Lin Xuan like a sharp sword. Bathed in a faint blue light, he looked as if he was about to run Lin Xuan through.

Tuo Shengfeng panicked. He wanted to rush to the rescue but found himself completely pinned down. His men could have easily handled the experts from a single family, but against two, they were barely holding on. It was impossible for him to spare a moment to help.

"Get back here and hand over the treasures!" Lan Qinghua’s eyes were crimson. He could already see the treasures beckoning to him, imagining the sweet release of finally sating the hatred in his heart.

"Transformation!"

Lin Xuan suddenly tossed a Wood Carving forward. In the blink of an eye, a massive Phoenix materialized before them. It unleashed the power of its Peak of Spirit Pill Stage Cultivation as a heatwave billowed outward. Red light radiated from its body, causing the ambient temperature to skyrocket.

A Phoenix with Spirit Pill Stage Cultivation wasn’t much larger than one at the Essence Pill Stage, but its presence was on a completely different level—the difference was night and day. Lin Xuan leaped onto the Phoenix’s back. Before he could even steady himself, its Phoenix Feather Wings gave a mighty flap, and it shot forward as a streak of red light.

Just as Lan Qinghua’s hand was about to close around him, he saw a streak of red light flash past. The speed was so astonishing that before he could react, it had vanished deep into the passage and shot up the stairs.

That was true speed, leaving them in the dust without a shred of effort. This was the true king of speed. They couldn’t even use Elemental Power Wings in this place, yet the Phoenix could fly, its speed far surpassing what their own Wing Transformation could ever achieve.

"Th-that Phoenix is so fast!?" Lan Qinghua was stunned. Utterly and completely stunned.

He had been a hair’s breadth away from catching Lin Xuan. Who would have thought he’d vanish in the blink of an eye? The prize he’d thought was in his grasp had well and truly flown away, disappearing without a trace before they could even react.

Tuo Zhanhong, who had been about to intercept Lan Qinghua again, couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight. "Attaboy! No wonder you said you’d handle it. I didn’t know you had a trick like that up your sleeve. That’s a speed even we can’t match!"

With Lin Xuan’s escape, the fighting quickly died down. There was no point in continuing. Unless all of them were willing to burn their Essence Blood and fight to the death, they had no hope of stopping Tuo Shengfeng and his people. And even then, success was not guaranteed.

What they truly feared was a Pyrrhic victory. If both sides suffered grievous losses, they would become vulnerable to an invasion from the other family, or worse, one of the other mid-tier families.

Many of their experts had already died here, leaving their families shorthanded. The death of a Patriarch, in particular, would cause morale to plummet. That’s why they didn’t dare risk an all-out battle.

"What’s the matter? Done fighting?" Tuo Shengfeng sneered. "I was just getting warmed up. If you’re done with me, I’ll even let you give chase. Go on, try and catch him if you think you can!"

He laughed heartily, feeling an incredible sense of satisfaction. He never expected Lin Xuan to have a trick like that. He had known about the Phoenix, but he had never imagined it could be so fast.

Then, he swaggered out with his men, completely unafraid of another attack. If the other side dared to start something, the Tu Family was more than ready to oblige.

’They won’t dare,’ Tuo Shengfeng thought. ’Unless they were absolutely certain of victory, they wouldn’t risk an all-out fight. A battle that could only end in mutual destruction isn’t worth it unless it’s a true life-or-death struggle.’

The fire from his burning Essence Blood quickly subsided, but his heart grew cold as ice. He had desperately burned his own life force and still failed to kill Lin Xuan, forced to watch the treasures slip through his fingers. The fury he felt was boundless.

"Patriarch Tuo, I advise you to hand over the Coiling Dragon Ginseng. Otherwise, I swear I will one day raze your Divine Martial Island to the ground!" Lan Qinghua was practically hysterical, pointing at Tuo Shengfeng as he declared war.

"I’ll be waiting!" Tuo Shengfeng called back without turning his head, leading his people away. The bad blood between the two families was nothing new. If not for the balance of power between them, one would have annihilated the other long ago.

Lan Qinghua was about to explode with rage. Zeng Yinghua drifted over, his own heart filled with bitter resentment. "Patriarch Lan, I can’t believe you failed to stop him even after all that. I must say, I’m disappointed... This entire collaboration has been a grave disappointment!"

Zeng Yinghua spoke bluntly. He truly was disappointed. The Coiling Dragon Ginseng had vanished right before their eyes. It was a devastating blow.

That was their hope for the future! And now, that hope had literally flown away. Who could possibly catch Lin Xuan now? Who could match the speed of that Phoenix?

The Lan and Zeng Families had a temporary cooperative relationship—an alliance, of a sort. But the power Lan Qinghua had just displayed was deeply disappointing. He had let their prize slip right through his fingers. It was a pathetic outcome.

"I hate this! I hate you all!" Lan Qinghua roared, slamming a palm into the ground. A muffled BOOM echoed, but the floor remained unscathed. He was merely venting his impotent rage. ’Rest assured,’ he seethed internally, ’that day will come soon. I will make every single one of you kneel and beg for mercy!’

A sinister light flickered in his eyes. He then led his men away. The area had already been picked clean; there was nothing left to stay for.