Chapter 781 - 305: Framing

Five phantoms of the Five Ghosts Unity Demon roared and danced around Qi Yu, weaving a dense defensive net to continuously block Song Shuhuai’s onslaught.

Song Shuhuai wielded his Long Sword, which gleamed with a clear light. As he executed his Sword Formulas, boundless streams of Sword Qi surged forth ceaselessly, like a celestial river flowing in reverse. Each strike was infused with unstoppable True Essence and the True Meaning of Water, suppressing the black mist around Qi Yu and forcing it to continuously contract.

Qi Yu had no intention of clashing with him head-on and steadily retreated.

Elsewhere, Lei Hong roared again and again. The Demon Sect Elder pushed his Demon Skill to its absolute limit. His muscles bulged, and his crimson True Essence blazed like a raging fire. His palm strikes carried the power to shatter mountains and sunder peaks.

However, his opponents were two Elders from the Cloud Water Upper Sect: Zhao Songtao and Sun Jingyi.

Zhao Songtao’s Palm Technique was measured and weighty; he always managed to block Lei Hong’s most ferocious attacks by a hair’s breadth. Sun Jingyi’s Swordsmanship, in contrast, was nimble and cunning. Ghost-like, her sword light, resembling emerald waves, specifically sought to penetrate the gaps in Lei Hong’s Protective True Essence. This forced him to divert his focus to defense, and though he remained undefeated for now, he was completely pinned down and unable to aid Qi Yu.

Farther in the distance, the enormous Profound Nether Black Ox lay prone on the ground. Its eyes, once as dark as gemstones, were now dull and lifeless. Its body was wreathed in an eerie, spectral-blue Erosion Fire, and it let out low, agonized bellows. Its life force had dwindled to a critical low; it was clearly on its last legs.

Beside it, the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus still shimmered with a brilliant light. Its seven golden leaves were unfurled, and its bud was poised to blossom, radiating an intoxicatingly vast vitality and Supreme Yang Primordial Qi.

"Perfect chance!"

Zhuang Wenbin instantly assessed the situation. "The three of us will capture Qi Yu! Brother Gong, Chen Zhenchuan, you two find an opportunity to seize the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus and provide support for the rest of us!"

The Seven-leaf Golden Lotus was a great treasure, but capturing Qi Yu would be a feat of even greater merit.

"Alright!" Gong Nansong and Chen Qing responded in unison.

A glint flashed in Chen Qing’s eyes as he quickly made his own calculations. ’Seizing the Golden Lotus is important, of course, but I need to be more vigilant against sneak attacks from the shadows and the ever-changing state of the battle.’

"Hmph?!" The sudden appearance of the group from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect immensely increased the pressure on the already precarious Qi Yu.

Song Shuhuai, however, furrowed his brow, and his Sword Momentum faltered for a moment.

The moment Zhuang Wenbin’s voice faded, he shot toward Qi Yu like a bolt of lightning. He thrust out a hand, and an immense, earthy-yellow True Essence coalesced into a giant palm, aiming straight for Qi Yu’s shoulder, intent on capturing her in a single move—

"SHIIING!"

A flash of sword light, as clear as autumn water and incomparably sharp, suddenly flared to life, slashing straight for the vital point on the wrist of Zhuang Wenbin’s giant palm of True Essence!

Before the sword light even arrived, its frigid Sword Intent sent a chill crawling over the skin of Zhuang Wenbin’s arm.

Zhuang Wenbin let out a muffled grunt. Caught off guard, he had no choice but to abruptly retract his Palm Power, turning his body slightly to evade the attack’s edge.

His gaze turned instantly frigid as it locked onto the one who had drawn the sword—Song Shuhuai!

Song Shuhuai stood with his sword in hand, its blade shimmering with a clear light. "Friends from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, shouldn’t we respect the principle of first come, first served? This woman killed Zhou Qianjun, a True Inheritance disciple of my Cloud Water Sect. Her crime is unpardonable. Everything here, including her, should be dealt with by my Cloud Water Upper Sect."

In the face of sufficient profit, their alliance seemed so fragile.

The Cloud Water Upper Sect was absolutely unwilling to relinquish the immense strategic value and potential benefits that would come from capturing Qi Yu.

Cheng Danqin took a step forward, cupped her fist, and said, "Song Zhenchuan, this woman is also of great importance to our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. I ask that you accommodate us."

With a flick of his wrist, Song Shuhuai aimed the tip of his sword at them and declared unequivocally, "Impossible!"

"If that’s how it is, then let’s settle this with our skills!"

Zhuang Wenbin had a blunt and unyielding personality. Seeing how things were, he wasted no more words. With a low shout, the aura around him erupted, and he lunged toward Qi Yu once more.

At almost the exact same moment, Song Shuhuai also made his move. How could he possibly let Zhuang Wenbin get to her first?

The sword light split and multiplied, like a great river crossing the sky.

Nengyan and Cheng Danqin were already prepared. Their figures flickered, and in an instant, they were blocking Song Shuhuai’s path.

Nengyan thrust out both palms, and waves of condensed True Essence Qi Force formed an invisible wall, blocking the advance of the river of swords.

Meanwhile, with a CANG LANG, the Ancient Sword on Cheng Danqin’s back left its scabbard. The blade rang out with a clear, high-pitched cry as she executed her exquisite Swordsmanship, sending specks of cold starlight stabbing toward the vital points on Song Shuhuai’s body.

Instantly, the scene devolved into chaos.

What had been the Cloud Water Sect besieging the Demon Sect had, in an instant, turned into a chaotic melee, with the Celestial Treasure and Cloud Water Sects obstructing each other in their fight for Qi Yu.

The pressure on Qi Yu decreased abruptly, and a cold sneer touched the corner of her lips.

She continued to devote a portion of her Heart and Spirit to activating the Soul-controlling Pearl and the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Technique, pressing on with the final subjugation of the near-death Profound Nether Black Ox. This battle of wills was extraordinarily dangerous and allowed for no lapse in concentration.

At the same time, she weaved through the gaps in Zhuang Wenbin’s and Song Shuhuai’s ’all-out’ attacks. Her Five Ghosts Unity Demon roared, blocking the shockwaves coming from two directions. Although she appeared to be at a disadvantage, it was far less taxing than when she had been facing Song Shuhuai alone.

"Now!"

Gong Nansong and Chen Qing exchanged a look. Moving like lightning, they skirted the heart of the main battlefield and shot toward the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus.

Their movement immediately triggered a chain reaction.

Seeing this, Zhao Songtao, who had been locked in battle with Lei Hong, roared, "Junior Sister Sun, stop them! We can’t let them get the Golden Lotus!"

"In your dreams!"

When Zhao Songtao saw the people from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect trying to seize the Treasure Medicine, he gave an enraged shout. Without a moment’s hesitation, he abandoned his fight with Lei Hong, twisted his body, and sent a palm strike flying toward Gong Nansong.

The wind from his palm howled, gathering the surrounding water vapor and forming it into a massive hand of the Water Element. The display of power was terrifying.

Gong Nansong’s expression darkened. He brought his palms together defensively and said in a low voice, "Elder Zhao, the Demon Sect threat has not yet been eliminated. If we fight amongst ourselves now, aren’t we just hurting our own and helping our enemy? Why don’t we deal with the Demon Sect first, and then discuss who the Golden Lotus belongs to!"