Chapter 2598

From its appearance, the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion seemed no different from an ordinary demonic insect. However, upon closer inspection, a chilling aura emanated from its body, as if it were a giant block of ice. Even a seventh-tier demonic beast with ice attributes wouldn't evoke such a feeling in Wang Changsheng.

As soon as the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion appeared, it emitted an incredibly grating screech. The Golden Thunder Falcon trembled upon hearing the sound, indicating a divine sense attack. Wang Changsheng remained unaffected, though Wang Ruyan seemed slightly disturbed. However, Wang Changsheng keenly observed that True Monarch Bloodblade displayed no reaction.

This was strange. Could it be that True Monarch Bloodblade possessed a treasure similar to the Golden Roc Pendant? This possibility could not be ruled out. If so, Wang Changsheng would need to employ other methods to deal with True Monarch Bloodblade. A single trick wouldn't suffice for all situations, which was not surprising.

Wang Changsheng had sent people to investigate True Monarch Bloodblade's background. Based on the timing of his Void Refinement Grand Ceremony, True Monarch Bloodblade had already survived two major heavenly tribulations. However, it was unknown whether he had refined the essence of a true spirit.

The Heavenly Underworld Scorpion spewed a black mist that enveloped the Golden Thunder Falcon. The falcon's body rapidly shrank and was drawn towards the scorpion. A sharp, piercing cry echoed as countless golden electric arcs erupted from the Golden Thunder Falcon's body, tearing the black mist apart. However, in an instant, the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion swept its tail stinger. With a whooshing sound, a large black shadow swept out and struck the Golden Thunder Falcon. The falcon stopped struggling and was then enveloped by the black mist, disappearing into the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion's mouth.

Just then, a powerful gravitational force emanated from the ground, simultaneously accompanied by countless yellow mists that enveloped an area of fifty miles. The ground transformed from soil to sand, and a colossal yellow desert materialized out of nowhere, with swirling sand and fierce winds. A spiritual glow illuminated the void, and Lady Thunder Falcon materialized, her face slightly pale. Her Golden Thunder Falcon, which she had cultivated for many years, had been sacrificed to lure the seventh-tier Heavenly Underworld Scorpion. She had barely escaped thanks to a secret art. For her, if it meant achieving the Integration stage, the sacrifice would be worth it.

Wang Changsheng, Lady Thunder Falcon, Grand Master Hundred Insects, and True Monarch Bloodblade each held a shimmering yellow seven-cornered formation disc. As they channeled incantations into their discs, the ground began to shake violently. The vast yellow sand surged towards the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion. In response, the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion immediately manifested its Dharma Idol: a colossal black scorpion shadow appearing above its head. The black scorpion shadow exhaled a hazy grey hurricane, scattering the incoming yellow sand.

Seizing this opportunity, Wang Ruyan transformed into a streak of light and swiftly flew towards the underground cave. Wang Changsheng and the other three controlled the formation, trapping the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion. Fortunately, as it was a seventh-tier formation, the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion could not easily break it, though their spiritual power was draining rapidly.

In less than ten breaths, Wang Ruyan returned. However, given the urgency, moving the Heavenly Erosion Fruit Tree would have taken too long, so instead of transplanting it, she simply cut it down, intending to use it for artifact refining.

"We got the item, let's go."

After speaking, Wang Ruyan transformed into a streak of light and sped away. Wang Changsheng and the other three simultaneously channeled spiritual power into their formation discs while making their escape. Less than a quarter of an hour later, the formation was broken, and the Heavenly Underworld Scorpion broke free. It let out an enraged roar and pursued them for tens of thousands of miles, but failing to find the five cultivators, it vented its fury before finally giving up. To obtain the Heavenly Erosion Fruit, they had lost a sixth-tier Golden Thunder Falcon and rendered a seventh-tier formation useless—a considerable loss. For Void Refinement cultivators, however, these losses were insignificant if they could achieve advancement to the Integration stage.

Thousands of miles away, in a dense black forest. The five cultivators, including Wang Changsheng, gathered in a dense black forest. Wang Ruyan flicked her wrist, and two exquisite golden jade boxes flew out, which she handed to Grand Master Hundred Insects and True Monarch Bloodblade. The two opened the box lids and nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, we have the Heavenly Erosion Fruit. Let's part ways here; perhaps we'll meet again."

After Wang Changsheng spoke, he and Wang Ruyan transformed into two streaks of light and sped away. They hadn't flown far when Grand Master Hundred Insects and True Monarch Bloodblade exchanged a look and nodded to each other. Grand Master Hundred Insects raised his right hand, and a black light shot forth, transforming into a black arc that flew straight towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. A buzzing sound arose as hundreds of thousands of Vajra Insects swarmed out from his spirit beast bracelet, forming a colossal golden insect cloud that surged towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Lady Thunder Falcon released a golden crow with three heads. With a flap of its wings, the golden crow transformed into a ball of golden flame and vanished.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were already prepared. Wang Changsheng waved his right hand, and countless blue seawater surged forth, forming a colossal blue water barrier that enveloped them. The black arc cleaved the blue water barrier in two. A golden flame erupted, revealing the three-headed golden crow, which then spewed golden, green, and blue flames from its heads, striking the water barrier. Following a thunderous roar, the blue water barrier dispersed, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan also vanished.

Their figures reappeared dozens of miles away. A vast expanse of azure seawater now protected Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. The water churned violently, spreading out, and a boundless azure sea surged towards their attackers. Above Wang Ruyan's head, a colossal female phantom materialized, holding a green jade flute. A cheerful flute melody filled the air, and streaks of green sound waves swept forth, heading straight for the golden insect cloud. As the golden insect cloud encountered the green sound waves, large numbers of Vajra Insects plummeted from the sky.

"Why aren't you acting?" Grand Master Hundred Insects frowned as he looked at True Monarch Bloodblade.

"When did I agree to help you deal with these two fellow Daoists? Do as you wish." True Monarch Bloodblade's expression remained indifferent as he flew to a distance, observing the spectacle. He would assist the victor; with his cultivation at the Great Completion of the Void Refinement stage, he feared no one. If both sides, Wang Changsheng and his wife, and the other two, ended up severely wounded, then there would be nothing left to discuss.

Grand Master Hundred Insects was both shocked and angry; he had been tricked. "Fellow Daoist, you've misunderstood; we were tricked by him," Grand Master Hundred Insects explained, as he had no desire for a mutually destructive battle that would allow True Monarch Bloodblade to reap the benefits.

Wang Changsheng did not reply. With a flick of his sleeve, the seawater beneath them churned violently, forming a colossal blue water barrier that enveloped him and Wang Ruyan. The flute melody grew more rapid. Grand Master Hundred Insects and Lady Thunder Falcon felt their blood churn and their breathing quicken. How could this be? Sound cultivators typically required time to cast such powerful spells. Unless, their opponent had concealed her cultivation, revealing herself to be at the Great Completion of Void Refinement instead of merely mid-stage.

True Monarch Bloodblade flicked his wrist, and a blood-red centipede shot out, its eyes glowing with a dazzling crimson light. A wisp of his divine sense attached to the centipede as he peered towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's location. He saw only a blurry outline. Clearly, Wang Changsheng had deployed a unique treasure, preventing True Monarch Bloodblade from probing and discerning what secret art the couple had used.

"This is bad, let's go!" Grand Master Hundred Insects and Lady Thunder Falcon realized the gravity of the situation and immediately prepared to flee.

The flute's tempo grew frantic, and waves of green sound swept towards them. Grand Master Hundred Insects quickly chanted an incantation, and his black short blade glowed intensely, cleaving through the incoming green sound waves. Dense blue seawater surged from all directions, forming colossal blue fists that hammered down on them. Lady Thunder Falcon summoned a shimmering green gourd, which spewed a hazy green gale, deflecting the incoming blue fists.

With Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan confronting them directly, and True Monarch Bloodblade watching like a tiger from the sidelines, Grand Master Hundred Insects and Lady Thunder Falcon dared not prolong the battle. The flute's melody grew even more frantic, and their gazes became vacant, their expressions dazed. They alternated between bursts of laughter and tears. The surging seawater rushed forward, engulfing their bodies, which then tore apart.

A flash of green light revealed Lady Thunder Falcon, her left arm severed and her face deathly pale. Her eyes wide with terror, the golden crow merged with her, and she shot towards the sky. She hadn't flown far when a blood-red arc shot forth, striking the golden crow. Following a series of mournful shrieks, the golden crow dissolved into a cloud of blood mist. A miniature nascent soul flew from its remains, but a thick crimson lightning bolt shot forth, striking the nascent soul. With a scream, the miniature nascent soul vanished into ashes.

With a flash of crimson light, the blood-red arc transformed into True Monarch Bloodblade himself. A blood-glowing saber floated before him, radiating terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations—it was clearly a mid-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure.

"To think of ambushing a partner, truly despicable." True Monarch Bloodblade cursed, then picked up a green storage ring from the ground and pocketed it.