Chapter 250: Original Lamp

Boom!Splash!

Thirty-six bolts of lightning tore through the sky, passing over Dragon Hall and Dragon Court's heads, striking the sea dozens of yards in front of them, causing the water to churn.

As the waves subsided, Lu Cangsheng's figure emerged, standing on the shoulder of a towering Thunder God's divine light projection.

He looked back.

Behind him, Tang Wanqiu, Cang Li, Zhu Yibai, Yin Jiu, Yang Qingxi, Shi Shishi, a man and a woman from Qianli Mountain, and many other figures were rapidly approaching.

"Is this the end of the road?" Dragon Hall muttered with a bitter smile, gazing at the Dragon Palace now almost within reach. His heart was filled with intense unwillingness, yet he knew there was no escape today: "Dragon Court, Lu Cangsheng is after the various tickets on me. I can hold him off and buy you a chance to escape. The future of Dragon Gate... it's up to you..."

"Brother, if we combine forces, Lu Cangsheng won't be able to stop us," Dragon Court said.

"There's no chance. If those people behind us catch up, you'll die too. Of the two of us, one must survive."

Blood mist burned around Dragon Hall, dragon roars echoed one after another within him, and alone, he charged directly towards Lu Cangsheng: "Lu Cangsheng, you want my Longevity Pill tickets, Dragon Seed tickets, and Dragon Bone tickets? Are you worthy?"

The formidable spiritual energy emanating from Dragon Hall carved a tumultuous watery path on the sea.

Lu Cangsheng's eyes were as still as a calm lake. He stretched his five fingers forward.

Countless streaks of lightning shot forth from his fingertips, colliding with Dragon Hall's Azure Dragon Battle Technique Intent.

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar resounded.

A fifteen-meter long azure dragon light projection, enveloping Dragon Hall within, leaped up from the sea.

The man struck with his palm, and the dragon extended its claw, attacking Lu Cangsheng.

Boom!

Lu Cangsheng stood motionless in mid-air. The Thunder God's battle technique projection beneath his feet swung its arm, shattering the dragon's claw, and struck Dragon Hall with thousands of lightning bolts, sending him flying and spitting blood.

Dragon Court did not flee around them. He followed closely, releasing a cloud of spiritual energy to catch Dragon Hall.

"Dragon Hall, I truly didn't want to fight you in your injured state; winning would bring no sense of accomplishment. But for the Longevity Pills, Dragon Seeds, Dragon Bones, and the crime of your Dragon Gate betraying humanity, you deserve to die."

Lu Cangsheng leaped, raising his right hand above his head, summoning electric light from the sky.

Amidst a roar, he swung his arm downwards. Dozens of lightning bolts twisted together, winding like vines, striking both Dragon Hall and Dragon Court simultaneously.

"Give me your hand!"

Dragon Hall roared, grabbing Dragon Court's left hand. From his ancestral field below the navel, immortal mist erupted, and a dragon soul flew out, merging with the Azure Dragon Battle Technique Intent and rushing into Dragon Court's body.

Dragon Hall earned the title 'Exiled Immortal' because, at his birth, immortal mist descended from the heavens, transforming into a dragon that entered his mother's womb.

"Brother..."

Dragon Court roared, thrown by Dragon Hall towards the Dragon Palace.

Dragon Hall gazed towards the Dragon Palace, his heart filled with immense pain. He never imagined that he, who had been unrivaled throughout the Eastern Realm, would have his martial path halted at the Five Seas realm.

"Oh vast heavens, why are you so cruel to me..."

Struck by lightning, Dragon Hall was powerless to resist and was flung away.

Splash!

Tang Wanqiu arrived, slashing her sword through the air, cleaving him into two. Blood and a multitude of invitations burst forth from the sword's light.

Dragon Court, airborne and flung away, had bloodshot eyes. This scene was eternally etched into his mind. His gaze fixed on Lu Cangsheng and Tang Wanqiu, rage, hatred, and murderous intent... pushing him almost to madness.

Everyone rushed to snatch the invitations.

Dragon Court fell back to the sea, his eyes frighteningly calm. With absolute rationality, he quickly fled, being the first to board the immortal turtle and head towards the Dragon Palace.

From this day forward, he would spare no effort, stop at nothing, to make Lu Cangsheng and Tang Wanqiu regret their actions today, living lives of unbearable suffering.

Li Shentong, tenth of the Southern Realm's A-grade, was the second to board the immortal turtle.

Throughout the entire Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, for various reasons, no faction had actively provoked him. He was also disinclined to participate in the hidden dragon competition; successfully obtaining a Dragon Seed and a Dragon Bone would ensure he wouldn't fall behind anyone in the Dao Seed realm.

Tang Wanqiu pursued him to the immortal turtle, watching Dragon Court enter the Dragon Palace. Her feelings were incredibly complex: longing, regret, bitterness... But there was nothing she could do; being out meant being out!

This Lantern Festival night was destined to have nothing to do with him.

She raised her sword and departed with a sense of loss.

Li Weiyi saw that the general situation was set. The Longevity Pill tickets, Dragon Seed tickets, and Dragon Bone tickets he possessed were already more than enough, and Luan Sheng Linyou seemed to have some extraordinary trump cards.

He decided to quit while he was ahead.

Fighting further was meaningless and could put himself in danger.

In the future, there would be ample opportunities to catch up to him, surpass him, and defeat him. Unlike an uphill battle where there's no choice but to confront, like meeting an enemy on a narrow path.

In a favorable situation, it was naturally better to adopt a more cautious approach to minimize danger. Thus, Li Weiyi retreated behind Ge Xiantong and Zuoqiu Hongting, preparing to command his swarm of insects to assist them.

Anyway, the Seven Minions had formidable defenses; even before reaching seven inches in size, they could endure Ge Xiantong's blow and still be lively the next day. Now, they were naturally even more impressive.

Luan Sheng Linyou gazed at the wondrous sight of "a bright moon rising from the sea, an immortal turtle carrying the Dragon Palace," and then swept his gaze over the three opponents: "It seems fate is on my side; the hour of midnight has arrived just in time. If there's a choice, there's no need to put myself in danger. A trump card is only a trump card when it's hidden. An exposed trump card will only invite the covetousness of greedy individuals."

Whoosh!

Luan Sheng Linyou spread his wings, and both wind and fire powers erupted from them as he flew towards the Dragon Palace.

Abandoning a desperate struggle, he used his speed advantage to escape.

"He can't be allowed to escape into the Dragon Palace!"

"He possesses the most tickets!"

Zuoqiu Hongting and Ge Xiantong transformed into two afterimages, pursuing him from the sea, one to the left and one to the right. They were a step slower than Luan Sheng Linyou, and the distance between them grew wider.

They were far more deeply entangled by the forces behind them than Li Weiyi, leaving them no choice but to fight to the end.

"Chase!" Li Weiyi shouted, pointing his finger forward.

Seven Phoenix-winged Moth Emperors led seven armies of fierce insects towards the Dragon Palace.

"Lend me a hand," Ge Xiantong said, looking at Zuoqiu Hongting.

"Okay!" Zuoqiu Hongting conjured a Bagua Life-Death Seal and struck Ge Xiantong, sending out successive waves of shockwaves that launched him into the air, allowing him to catch up to Luan Sheng Linyou.

Li Weiyi, who had intended to proceed cautiously, quickly sensed something was wrong.

He realized that Luan Sheng Linyou was getting closer and closer to Cang Li, Yin Jiu, and the others. The silver staff in Luan Sheng Linyou's hand transformed into a long sword radiating cold light.

The enemy was too cunning, definitely not a reckless fool, and wouldn't let hatred or the situation cloud his judgment. Luan Sheng Linyou always had the overall picture in mind, always knew how to leverage his strengths against others' weaknesses, and made the most optimal choices.

Li Weiyi sighed deeply. Having an enemy like Luan Sheng Linyou was simply too much of a headache.

If he couldn't be killed today, then after the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, he would have to recommend to the Jiuli Clan and the Zuoqiu Gate to eliminate him at all costs.

What Li Weiyi didn't know was that Luan Sheng Linyou was thinking the same thing.

He had wanted to hide... but it seemed there was no escape.

"Lend me a hand as well."

Li Weiyi affixed his last Divine Speed Talisman to his chest. Carrying only his Seven Minions, he caught up to Zuoqiu Hongting, borrowing the power of her Bagua Life-Death Seal to gain another burst of speed, appearing just above Luan Sheng Linyou's head, one step behind Ge Xiantong.

The Yellow Dragon Sword erupted with dazzling yellow light.

The sword's edge developed a dragon-scale pattern and slashed downwards.

At the same time, the Seven Minions flew out in unison, like seven brilliant flying knives.

Luan Sheng Linyou swung his sword, repelling the heavily injured Ge Xiantong, then flickered his body to the right, narrowly dodging the Yellow Dragon Sword's cleave.

Swish! Swish...

The seven Phoenix-winged Moth Emperors brushed past him, leaving bloody marks on his neck and the backs of his hands, areas not protected by battle armor.

They were incredibly fast, making them impossible to guard against.

What was strange was this:

Luan Sheng Linyou showed no anger at all for being intercepted by Ge Xiantong and Li Weiyi. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled upwards, and he gave Li Weiyi a slight smile.

Li Weiyi's heart sank to rock bottom. Although he held a clear advantage at this moment, able to hold Luan Sheng Linyou in check, and the opponent would surely die once Ge Xiantong and Zuoqiu Hongting surrounded him.

However, he trusted his judgment and his perception of danger.

He immediately retreated explosively with his Seven Minions, simultaneously pulling out the Black Iron Seal.

Ge Xiantong, charging forward, glanced at him, perplexed.

Whoosh!

A terrifying, soul-stirring aura erupted from Luan Sheng Linyou.

From his ancestral field, brilliant light burst forth.

A feather flew out from it, transforming into an immortal feather over a hundred meters long, burning with scorching, dazzling flames. The temperature was so high that the sea below began to boil.

When Ge Xiantong saw the immortal Dao scriptures on the feather, the hair on his entire body stood on end. He let out a strange cry and fled along with Li Weiyi.

"Li Weiyi, you always underestimate yourself. In my heart, you are more important than all of them combined." Luan Sheng Linyou spoke his true purpose, wielding the immortal feather left by Yujia.

This was a true immortal feather, imbued with immortal Dao scriptures and immortal power, incomparably more potent than the ancient immortal beast blood that had long lost its vitality.

Many things and people described as 'immortal' were merely given as a compliment or high praise.

This immortal feather was different; it was a treasure that even Longevity realm grandmasters would flock to.

Had Luan Sheng Linyou not valued Li Weiyi so highly, he would never have revealed it.

"You're so insidious!" Ge Xiantong cursed.

He was also enveloped by the fiery immortal feather. He immediately raised his Arrogant Dragon Whip, transforming it into a golden pillar to resist.

Li Weiyi fully injected spiritual energy into his Blood Handprint Demonic Armor and Black Iron Seal, unleashing a dozen thick purple lightning bolts. He hid completely behind the seal, ready to escape into the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish at any moment.

Since Luan Sheng Linyou dared to reveal an immortal feather, Li Weiyi had nothing left he wouldn't expose.

By this point, it was a battle where every gain came with a significant cost.

Rumble!

The immortal feather swept through everything, blowing away the Arrogant Dragon Whip and shattering the Sun-Moon Battle Technique Intent.

The lightning unleashed by the Black Iron Seal couldn't block it even slightly.

Ge Xiantong flashed, hiding behind the Black Iron Seal, which had expanded to several yards in size, and supported it alongside Li Weiyi. Their bodies, visible to the naked eye, turned scorched black in the flames.

Even the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor couldn't withstand it.

"This strike of his is enough to kill a Dao Seed realm expert," Ge Xiantong said, his eyes darkening, his pupils transforming into the sun and moon.

"It seems I must use the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish!"

Li Weiyi had just formed this thought.

Behind them.

Like a rising sun, a brilliant divine radiance erupted from Zuoqiu Hongting's glabella, helping them withstand the power of the immortal feather.

The two forces clashed head-on.

The air twisted in that instant.

Zuoqiu Hongting stepped on the water, advancing step by step. The wooden carved mask on her face had long since burned away, revealing a delicate and exquisitely beautiful face, no less stunning than Jiang Ning's. The difference was that her beauty lay in extremely refined facial features and lines, giving her an aggressive allure.

A single glance could etch her deeply into one's heart.

Jiang Ning, on the other hand, was softer in her beauty, more ethereal and graceful, yet made one unable to fully discern her, veiled and unknown, as if holding countless secrets within.

One enjoyed cultivating disguise techniques, wanting to become more indistinct. The other acted decisively, putting thoughts into action, striving to appear more real.

Zuoqiu Hongting's long hair flowed freely, her Daoist robe resembled a green cloud, and her extraordinary aura surpassed countless Dao Seed realm martial cultivators.

"Didn't you want to know my forbidden secret? I'll satisfy you!"

"Original Lamp of Creation and Destruction, Selfless Soul-Devouring Flame."

"Original Lamp!"

The space around Zuoqiu Hongting's glabella vibrated, and her glabella spirit realm opened.

Subsequently, an infinitely vast world unfolded and appeared within her glabella. A dilapidated ancient lamp, fragmented as if shattered, floated at the center of this world, grand and mighty, radiating boundless mystery.