Chapter 783 - 305: Framing

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Four figures shot out from different directions like phantoms, their target the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus that glowed with a radiant light!

These four had clearly been lying in wait for a long time, just waiting for this exact moment when the snipe and the clam were fighting!

For these desperate outlaws who operated in Black Water Giant City or for other powers, the allure of the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus, which could advance one’s Cultivation and break through bottlenecks, was far greater than capturing the Witch or subduing the Exotic Beast.

Chen Qing’s gaze swept over the four in an instant.

Three of them had fierce auras and were all experts of the Second or Third Time of Tempering of True Essence. The last one, the fastest of them all, had the most profound aura. It was none other than Chu Nan of Black Water Giant City!

The True Essence circulating around his body was smooth and complete; he had impressively reached the Realm of Four Times of Tempering. Moreover, his movements were unpredictable and his footwork profound, clearly indicating he possessed a superior Body Technique Secret Art!

Just as Chu Nan’s fingertips were about to touch the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus, Sun Jingyi shouted coldly, "Insolence! Who dares lay a finger on something that belongs to my Cloud Water Sect!"

Suppressing her roiling Inner Breath, she suddenly flipped her palms. The True Essence of the Cyan Mirror Secret Scroll surged, transforming into several blasts of pearly white Palm Force that shot toward the four like a storm parting clouds and waves!

This strike was not without purpose. The Palm Force was deceptively soft, hiding a ferocious power. Two main streams of it coiled like living flood dragons toward Chu Nan and another Third-Time Tempered expert who was nearing the lotus, forcing them to defend.

The other blasts of Palm Force swept out to the sides, halting the charge of the remaining two.

Chu Nan reacted with extreme speed. Sensing the fierce force striking from behind, which carried a trace of corrosive Wood Attribute Power capable of eroding True Essence, he had no choice but to turn and counter with a palm strike of his own.

BANG!

As their Qi Forces clashed, his body swayed slightly. Though he wasn’t injured, the fleeting opportunity to seize the Golden Lotus was lost.

The other three were also hindered by the sudden blasts of Palm Force. Whether they dodged or blocked, their advances were thrown into chaos.

Sun Jingyi seized this momentary opening. Her figure moved like light smoke skimming across water, and in an instant, she had entered the innermost circle of the battle, a mere thirty feet from the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus.

Her gaze swept across the crowd as she declared, "This treasure grew within the territory of my Cloud Water Upper Sect. It rightfully belongs to the Cloud Water Sect!"

Before her voice had even faded, she held her left hand up defensively while channeling cyan energy with her right, making an empty grasping motion toward the radiant golden lotus!

"Since ancient times, Heavenly and Earthly Treasures have belonged to the virtuous!"Copied!

A cold glint flashed in Chu Nan’s eyes. How could he let her get her way?

With a forceful swing of his sleeve, countless Bone-Piercing Needles—as fine as ox hair and glinting with a sinister blue light—shot out like a sudden, violent storm!

SHH-SHH-SHH—!

The sound of them tearing through the air was sharp and piercing. The needles were so dense they blurred into a single afterimage, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow. Moreover, they were imbued with a sinister, cold True Essence designed specifically to break through Protective True Essence and target Sun Jingyi’s major acupoints, eyes, and throat!

At the same time, Chen Qing also made his move!

He knew he absolutely could not let the Golden Lotus fall into anyone’s hands, especially not the Cloud Water Upper Sect’s. If they got it, he’d have no chance at all.

Primordial Qi exploded into motion around him. Earth Essence Qi and True Essence gathered frantically as he formed a seal with one hand and pressed it forward—

Mountain and River Seal! Town!

A simple, ancient seal, ten feet square and seemingly solid, materialized from thin air. On its surface, illusory mountains looked heavy and river patterns flowed, carrying the weight and will of an entire landscape. Like a true mountain toppling over, it covered an area of several dozen feet, enveloping not only Sun Jingyi but also Chu Nan and the other two who were trying to get closer!

Attacked from both the front and back, Sun Jingyi’s expression changed instantly.

Setting Chen Qing aside for a moment, Chu Nan was an expert at the Four Times of Tempering, just like her.

She let out a sharp cry as Cloud-Water True Essence surged madly from her body, forming a rippling Cloud-Water Protective Barrier in front of her. At the same time, her body shot backward like a willow catkin, attempting to escape the core suppression of the Mountain and River Seal.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The dense barrage of Bone-Piercing Needles slammed into the Cloud Water Barrier, creating a sound like rain hitting banana leaves. Although most were blocked, some still penetrated her defense, drawing thin trails of blood.

And above her, the Mountain and River Seal came crashing down!

BOOM—!

Sun Jingyi used all her strength, thrusting her palms upward to meet the edge of the great seal head-on.

The immense force slammed her legs deep into the ground. A sweet taste filled her throat, and she finally couldn’t suppress a spray of crimson blood. She tumbled away in a wretched state, having already suffered significant internal injuries.

’A perfect chance!’

Chen Qing was now the closest to the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus. He shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

’This is bad!’

Zhao Songtao caught the scene from the corner of his eye and his heart sank. He was trapped in a deadly struggle with Gong Nansong, completely unable to break away and intervene.

The other few experts also rushed toward the Golden Lotus like frenzied sharks that had smelled blood.

In a flash of lightning, Chu Nan’s figure blurred. His footwork was profound and unpredictable as a faint shimmering light enveloped his body. Though he had started later, he arrived first, catching up to Chen Qing’s side like a phantom!

’A Divine Secret Technique!?’

Chen Qing’s heart tightened. He hadn’t expected Chu Nan to possess such a high-level body technique-type Divine Technique. His speed had surged, allowing him to arrive within three feet of the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus at almost the same time as him!

In that critical, split-second moment, a thought flashed through Chen Qing’s mind like lightning.

His free left hand appeared to be moving to block Chu Nan, but in reality, his fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. Deep within him, a tiny crack opened into the Sumeru Space of the "All Heaven Myriad Phenomena Map."

An incorporeal, formless suction, as gentle as a spring breeze skimming across water, instantly enveloped the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus and the small patch of Spiritual Soil its roots were attached to.

SHWIIIP!

There was no earth-shattering sound, nor any brilliant burst of light.

The radiant Seven-leaf Golden Lotus, as if gently erased by an invisible hand, vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a shallow pit in the ground and the rich Spiritual Qi that had not yet fully dispersed into the air.

Chu Nan, who was reaching for the Golden Lotus with all his might, suddenly grabbed at empty air!

His grasp, which he was certain would succeed, only caught a handful of air still thick with residual Spiritual Qi.

He froze, his eyes instantly widening in utter shock and disbelief, as if he had just witnessed the most impossible thing in the world.

’Did someone beat me to it?’

’Or did the Treasure Medicine escape on its own?’

’But how is that possible?!’

"How dare you! To snatch a treasure right from under my nose! Hand over the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus!"

In the instant Chu Nan was stunned, Chen Qing, feigning a ’burning rage,’ roared.

His Profound Dragon Spear shot out like a venomous dragon leaving its cave, whistling sharply through the air as it aimed straight for his throat!

The spear thrust was so fast and vicious that Chu Nan was forced to snap out of his daze. The shimmering light at his feet flashed again as he dodged the spear tip sideways.

At that moment, Zhao Songtao, who had just freed himself, and Sun Jingyi, who was suppressing her injuries, also arrived nearby.

They hadn’t seen the exact moment the Golden Lotus disappeared. They only saw Chu Nan reaching out, followed by Chen Qing shouting furiously and attacking him. And on top of that, the Golden Lotus was indeed gone—

The two of them instantly came to a conclusion!

"You bastard! You dare to take something that belongs to the Cloud Water Upper Sect?"

Zhao Songtao’s hair and beard stood on end as he roared, turning his immense Palm Force toward Chu Nan.

Sun Jingyi’s face was also frosted with rage. Her sharp Sword Qi locked onto Chu Nan as she snapped, "Black Water Giant City? Do you truly have no regard for our Cloud Water Upper Sect?"

The auras of the two instantly locked firmly onto Chu Nan, their killing intent palpable.

In an instant, all suspicion was directed at the "treasure-winner," Chu Nan.

In their eyes, it had to be Chu Nan who had acted a step faster and taken the Seven-leaf Golden Lotus!

And Chen Qing’s attack was his attempt to stop him!

Chu Nan was now in a position where he couldn’t explain himself. Facing the wrathful glares and killing intent of the two Cloud Water Upper Sect Elders, as well as the watchful, predatory gaze of Chen Qing nearby, he was so frustrated he could have coughed up blood.

"It wasn’t me!" he cried out, his expression ugly.

"Still trying to deny it!?"

Zhao Songtao didn’t believe him at all. His enraged palm strike was already on its way, gathering immense Water Element energy that crashed forward like a monstrous wave.

Sun Jingyi also forced her True Essence to surge, her sword-light becoming like a cold, turquoise tide, cutting off Chu Nan’s escape routes.

.....