Chapter 921: Thin Layer

Within the cave, Xu Qing's figure transformed into a long rainbow, heading straight for the golden rat. Forty million soul threads formed a vast world around him, creating an astonishing display of power.

The young man surnamed Feng took a deep breath. Five great worlds, two solid and three ethereal, emerged from his body, each emitting different colored lights as they surged towards the golden rat.

Lan Yao also moved similarly. Petals around her formed a storm, transforming into an eight-colored peacock. It inhaled the surrounding power of heaven and earth, then grew a hundred zhang in size, letting out a screech as it pounced on the golden rat.

Simultaneously, the zombie puppet charged forward, fearless of death.

Forces from all four sides converged on the golden rat at this instant, attacking from different directions.

In an instant, their momentum was like a rainbow, and their destructive power was astonishing!

A deafening roar erupted, shaking the surrounding mud walls until they showed signs of collapse. The ruins below crumbled, and countless withered roots turned to dust.

Yet, this golden rat was truly formidable. Both its physical body and the divinity within it had reached the peak of divine beings, just a hair's breadth away from igniting its divine flame.

As a result, although the attacks from Xu Qing and the others contained destructive power, the golden rat's entire body suddenly burst with golden light at that moment, instantly dyeing the entire cave world in gold.

A destructive force, accompanying the brilliant golden light, swept across all directions.

Wherever the golden light passed, Xu Qing's forty million soul-thread world immediately collapsed. The golden light transformed into an overwhelming force, striking Xu Qing, causing him to spit blood and retreat.

The young man surnamed Feng experienced the same under the golden light; all his great worlds also shattered, and his body was swept backward by this unstoppable force.

Lan Yao was no different; her eight-colored peacock was torn apart by the golden light. Her face paled, and her expression was extremely solemn as she retreated while defending herself.

As for the skeletal puppet, it trembled as the golden light passed.

In the next instant, the golden rat's figure appeared directly in front of it, opening its mouth wide to reveal dark teeth, and bit down fiercely!

*Crunch!*

Half of the skeletal puppet's body was swallowed by the golden rat. The remaining half was torn to pieces with a flick of the golden rat's head, crashing against the mud wall and utterly destroyed!

Witnessing this, Xu Qing and the other two were utterly shaken.

However, after killing the puppet, the golden rat did not continue to rush towards Xu Qing and the others. Instead, it returned to the side of the passage, glaring fiercely.

"If these are your only means, I, Yan, will abandon this endeavor," Xu Qing said with a grim expression, continuing to retreat. The terror of this golden creature was something he could no longer fight. Continuing would mean instant life or death! After all, a mere flash of golden light had shattered their great worlds. As for the golden rat's subsequent attack that destroyed the puppet, Xu Qing admitted to himself that even if he could block it, the cost would be immense.

"Fellow Daoist Yan Xuanzi, wait a moment. There's something off about this golden rat. It seems to be merely blocking the way, not allowing us to enter. Could it be that there's something important to this golden rat at the Liáo Xuán Pond that my ancestor set up?"

"Or perhaps, its goal is also the Liáo Xuán Liquid."

The young man surnamed Feng looked grimly at the golden rat guarding the passage entrance, speaking in a low voice.

Hearing this, Xu Qing paused.

Lan Yao, at this moment, was breathing rapidly. Suddenly, eight-colored light erupted from her eyes as she looked at the golden rat, then spoke quickly!

"There's another thing that's off. This beast's divinity is at its peak, on the verge of igniting its divine flame, almost comparable to a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Incubation God Realm!"

"However, its displayed combat strength, while strong, is far from as terrifying as a peak Incubation God. I understand now. This beast was once a deity, and its divine flame was extinguished. It has extremely severe internal injuries that shake its foundation, likely left from the battle where its divine flame was put out."

"It hasn't recovered to this day, and this beast also seems to have just given birth, making it incredibly weak!"

The eight-colored light in Lan Yao's eyes clearly possessed terrifying penetrating power, allowing her to discern many crucial details!

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing looked thoughtful. This information aligned with his own judgment... especially since, through Little Shadow, he had seen two eggs in this passage.

"Even so, this beast is not something we can contend with... However, I possess a secret treasure that might be able to trap it for a short while!" Lan Yao spoke quickly, while remaining wary of the golden rat.

"However, deploying this treasure will take some time, so during that period, Fellow Daoist Feng and Fellow Daoist Yan Xuanzi, I'll need you to protect me."

The young man surnamed Feng nodded immediately. Then, he coldly glared at Xu Qing, slightly tightening his grip on Er Niu's neck, producing a *crackling* sound. The threat was fully conveyed without a word.

Xu Qing's expression was grim. After a few seconds of silence, he took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice!

"I will only protect for the duration of one incense stick. If this beast cannot be trapped after that time, I will immediately abandon this matter and no longer participate. At the same time, Fellow Daoist Feng must release my Senior Brother when I leave!"

The young man surnamed Feng nodded decisively. As long as Xu Qing wasn't demanding his release immediately, he could accept it!

Seeing that both Xu Qing and the young man surnamed Feng agreed to her method, Lan Yao no longer hesitated. She retreated a short distance, sat cross-legged, and took out a mirror, placing it in front of her.

Then, she formed hand seals and channeled them into the mirror. Immediately, the mirror shone brightly, and nine closed eyes surprisingly appeared on its surface.

These nine eyes contained a sense of strangeness, and their aura grew with them!

"The Nine-Eyed Profound Devil Mirror."

After a glance, the young man surnamed Feng was somewhat moved, and his belief in Lan Yao's words deepened.

A strange glint also flashed and disappeared in Xu Qing's eyes.

"This mirror bears some resemblance to a Seven Blood Eyes magic treasure..."

At the same time, the moment the mirror's aura spread, the golden rat guarding the passage entrance abruptly looked towards Lan Yao, its eyes blazing with fierce light. As golden light shimmered, its figure blurred once more!

In the next instant, with a whistling sound, the golden rat's figure shot straight towards Lan Yao!

The young man surnamed Feng did not hesitate, blocking with all his might. Xu Qing also gritted his teeth and cooperated!

A deafening roar erupted!

Xu Qing trembled all over, feeling only golden light engulfing his vision and a terrifying force assailing him.

In the next instant, his body was sent flying backward, blood spewing from his mouth, and countless cracks appeared on his Great Profound Sky Armor!

The Nine Li Witch Armor was also affected; his divine body was shaken, and his internal organs churned violently.

The young man surnamed Feng was no better off, spitting blood. But at this crucial moment, he reluctantly pulled out a purple ring, which he released outwards to form a protective barrier.

This barrier was astonishing; although it showed cracks, it ultimately blocked the golden rat.

"Yan Xuanzi, infuse your cultivation into this ring," the young man surnamed Feng said quickly, his face pale. At the same time, he circulated all his cultivation, pouring it into the purple ring, causing its protective barrier to rapidly repair itself! This purple ring was a trump card he had prepared for this trip, originally intended for later use, but now he had no choice but to bring it out early!

Xu Qing remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the purple ring, recognizing its extraordinary nature. Hearing the words, he hesitated slightly, but in an instant, he decisively released his cultivation, merging it into the purple ring's barrier!

In a flash, as the purple ring's barrier greatly strengthened, the golden rat outside charged again. Its golden light burst forth, combining with its charge to form a terrifying immense force!

With a boom, the purple ring's barrier rapidly flickered, showing cracks. Inside, Xu Qing and the young man surnamed Feng each spat blood, yet they managed to block it once more.

However, the golden rat seemed somewhat agitated. Suddenly, its body paused mid-air, all its golden fur bristling before simultaneously breaking off, forming countless golden needles that shot straight towards Xu Qing and the young man surnamed Feng! Their speed was astonishing, their momentum like a rainbow, forming a golden expanse.

Amidst the roaring storm, the purple ring's barrier held for only a breath before collapsing. The purple ring itself also shattered into pieces.

Xu Qing and the young man surnamed Feng's expressions changed. It was unclear if they truly had no remaining strength, but they both rapidly retreated!

At this moment, judging by the situation, it seemed difficult for them to continue protecting her. So, all the golden needles descended upon Lan Yao. As they drew near, Lan Yao's closed eyes suddenly snapped open. After a flicker of annoyance, she abruptly raised her hand, and instantly, the nine eyes on the mirror before her all opened! Her ability to suddenly act at such a critical moment made it debatable whether her earlier claim of needing time was true or false.

Now, as the nine eyes on the mirror opened and closed, nine gazes materialized from ethereal to solid, forming nine dark ink-colored light pillars. A vast power erupted within them, and wherever they passed, the golden needles actually paused mid-air!

The golden rat, stared at by these nine materialized gazes, also trembled and actually became motionless in mid-air. However, its aura surged, as if it was struggling!

"I can only trap it for the duration of one incense stick. Any contact during this period will cause it to break free instantly!" Lan Yao spat a mouthful of blood onto the mirror, making the nine eyes within it even more eerie. Then, her body swayed, and ignoring the floating mirror, she rushed straight towards the passage!

The young man surnamed Feng did the same, moving extremely fast!

Xu Qing blinked, and followed suit.

In an instant, the three figures vanished from outside, transforming into three long rainbows that successively rushed into the passage.

With no golden rat obstructing them and time being critical, neither the young man surnamed Feng nor Lan Yao had any hidden intentions left. Thus, their journey through the passage was quite smooth!

Soon, the three of them reached the end of the passage!

This was also a cave, but its scope was not large, only about a hundred zhang across. The traces were rough, clearly indicating it was excavated in a hurry back then!

In the very center was a pond about half a zhang in size. From the mud wall above, a tender green branch hung down. The moment the three arrived, a drop of crystalline liquid was falling from this branch!

*Plop!* It landed on the surface of the pond water!

As it created ripples, it also drew the attention of Xu Qing and the other two.

Inside the pond water was an egg, and a rich fragrance also rose from the water, spreading throughout the area!

Xu Qing took a sniff and felt his mind become exceptionally clear. Even the faint divine powers on the ruins within his body flickered slightly, and countless rules of divine power flowed through his heart.

This effect deeply moved Xu Qing!

"Liáo Xuán Sacred Liquid."

The young man surnamed Feng and Lan Yao were also breathing rapidly!

However, after discerning the amount of liquid in the pond, the three of them each had shifting expressions, for the Liáo Xuán Sacred Liquid in the pond was indeed quite sparse!

There was only a thin layer!