Chapter 193: The Truth Comes Out After All

Apart from being very dim and having an oppressive atmosphere, the room did not hold anything particularly unusual.

Yet, this oppressive atmosphere alone was almost enough to stop the two of us in our tracks. I am convinced that this was being emanated by something specific. This object was likely the root cause of the violent and aggressive spiritual energy permeating the entire Seven-Color Sect.

I took a deep breath and prepared to step inside to investigate. To prevent any accidents, I deliberately summoned my Golden Light Wave Body, though I had no idea whether it would be of any use.

Right in the center of the room sat a strangely shaped small structure, resembling a sharp claw and cast entirely in a deep blue. At its very center rested a dark blue pearl. The pearl looked extraordinarily noble, and the mysterious, violent aura was radiating directly from it.

"Is this the Ling-Shui Pearl? It doesn't look all that special."

I felt the same way. If this truly was the Ling-Shui Pearl, it was somewhat too ordinary—capable of emitting a powerful, violent aura, yet seemingly serving no other purpose at all.

Never mind, I couldn't worry about that for now. Taking the pearl first was the priority.

However, my intuition told me that touching this thing with bare hands would carry certain risks. Just then, Chen Chen pulled a box out of his spatial ring.

This was the exact box that had previously held the Ghost King's token, which Chen Chen had kept all this time. When we went to Qu-Long Town, this single box alone had been worth a small fortune. It was certainly no ordinary item and might actually be able to suppress this pearl.

I channeled spiritual energy into both hands and carefully removed the pearl. In an instant, I felt the violent aura surge, growing even stronger as if it intended to pierce right through my protective spiritual barrier.

I hurriedly took the box from Chen Chen's hands and carefully placed the pearl inside.

To my surprise, the box was truly capable of isolating that violent aura. In a flash, the oppressive energy surrounding me vanished completely, and even the air felt significantly fresher.

I slowly withdrew my protective spiritual energy. Sure enough, that fatal feeling was gone now, and even the aggression within the spiritual energy had dissipated.

This was fantastic! It seemed this truly was the protective treasure of the Seven-Color Sect—the Ling-Shui Pearl.

Suddenly, however, I sensed several strands of spiritual energy approaching from outside. None of them were weak; they all felt like they belonged to the first tier of the Spirit Lotus realm.

By now, I had figured it out. The Ling-Shui Pearl must have just sent out a signal to the outside world, as if announcing that intruders had broken in.

It seemed we had been discovered after all. We had no choice but to fight our way out.

I handed the box to Chen Chen and said in a low voice, "Brother, I'll help you break out in a moment. Jian-Zi is outside; get out of here quickly. I'll figure out a way back on my own."

Chen Chen knew my stubborn nature and knew that once I made up my mind, no amount of persuasion would work. So, he nodded heavily and then stowed the box away in his ring.

***

I checked the Miao saber inside my ring and instantly drew it out. Chen Chen also produced his long-neglected silver spear.

By this time, the spiritual energy outside was drawing steadily closer. I chose to strike first, lying in ambush around a corner, and launched a swift assault the moment they were nearly upon us.

Because the corridor was very narrow, the three opponents were walking in a single file line, meaning I only had to face one person at a time.

"Who are you people? What are you doing in this forbidden area? Come with us right now to face your punishment!"

I seemed to recognize these three; they were the very same individuals who had asked me for a cigarette the other day. As I recognized them, they recognized me as well.

"It's you?"

"Indeed!"

I raised the Miao saber high, pushed off the ground with both feet, and charged forward in an instant. Yet, the faces of those three opponents broke into mocking smiles.

"Just you?"

The waist saber of the man in the very front was drawn from its scabbard in a flash. However, the fourth tier of the Spirit Lotus realm was incomparable to the first tier.

"I advise you to come back with us. Given your good talent, why would you break in here?" the man asked again.

I was no fool. I didn't know the specifics of the Seven-Color Sect's disciplinary system, but it certainly wouldn't be pleasant. Rather than going back with them, it was better to force my way out—after all, we were here to steal things.

Without wasting any breath, I brought my blade down squarely onto his sword. The man, who had been arrogant just a second ago, had his expression twist violently the next moment.

"You... are you really in the Spirit Leaf realm?!" he asked, sweating profusely after barely blocking my strike.

I had no desire to dawdle any longer. Without pausing, I continued slashing with the Miao saber. Wielding a blade in such a narrow corridor was hardly ideal, but fighting these three was like catching a turtle in a bucket—an absolute certainty.

After a few strikes, I knocked the weapon out of the leading man's hand. Before he could even cry out, I ended him with a single slash.

The two men behind him stared in wide-eyed horror at the sight, then turned and bolted, shouting at the top of their lungs as they ran, "Help! Intruder!"

I leaped forward with a single stride, and in just two more strikes, two more heads rolled to the ground.

"Get out of here quickly!" I whispered to Chen Chen, and he nodded solemnly in response.

***

If we were trapped and surrounded in here, the two of us would only find a dead end. But if we risked everything to charge out, there was still a sliver of survival.

I mobilized all the spiritual energy in my body and dashed forward at top speed, with Chen Chen close on my heels. What should have been a walk of several minutes was covered by me in barely over ten seconds.

Seeing that we were about to reach the Seven-Color Hall, I pushed off the ground with all my strength and burst right out of the passageway. Moving at lightning speed, I managed to land firmly inside the Seven-Color Hall.

Once I steadied myself, I saw that the outside of the Seven-Color Hall was surrounded three layers deep by people, with Elder Cao standing right at the very front.

"You brat, you still dare to cause trouble in the middle of a storm, and even stole our Seven-Color Hall's protective treasure! If you hand it over yourself, this old man will grant you an intact corpse."

I smiled faintly, fully prepared to fight to the death.

"Since you are so stubborn, don't blame this old man for being ruthless!"

With that, before Elder Cao could even charge at me himself, the other elders rushed forward at breakneck speed.

They had all been utterly exhausted over the past few days, and Elder Cao in particular had grievances he couldn't voice. He certainly wanted to use this opportunity to vent his frustrations on me.

After letting out a long howl toward the sky, I unleashed my true strength. The disciples in the back exclaimed one after another:

"Oh my god, that newcomer actually has this kind of strength? I can't even see through his cultivation!"

"Of course, he might have already reached the Spirit Lotus realm."

"No way, look at the spiritual energy around him—it's far superior to the first tier of the Spirit Lotus realm. Truly formidable!"

Facing the five elders of varying strengths charging toward me, I didn't launch an active attack. Instead, I dodged out of the way entirely.

My current objective was to cover Chen Chen's escape; I couldn't afford to get bogged down in a protracted brawl right now, as that would waste far too much stamina.

First, I evaded the coordinated attack, then grabbed Chen Chen's arm and sprinted forward with all my might for a stretch of distance.

Moving at an extreme speed, we burst straight out of the Seven-Color Hall and crashed directly into the crowd.

"Disciples, hear my order! Capture this petty thief and bring him to justice!"