Chapter 2053: The Price of Showing Off

"Kill them!"

Knowing that both were pseudo-god realm experts, despite their severe injuries, once they reacted, they could still unleash devastating power. Without any hesitation, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and opened the beast pet pouch.

Whoosh!

Pseudo-god level iron chains enveloped the middle-aged man, and in the next moment, Xuanbei Turtle and Sansha broke through the air and arrived.

Curl ing its body, the hundred-meter-long Xuanbei Turtle descended from the sky like an inverted bowl, while Sansha spat out several sword qi and scales that crushed down.

Although they were both pseudo-god realm ocean beasts, they were still terrifying when exerting full force. In an instant, over a dozen huge bloody holes appeared on the middle-aged man's body, and his arms were shattered by the turtle shell.

Unexpectedly encountering such a turn of events, the middle-aged man was so enraged his eyes nearly split. He grabbed with his hand, and the halberd trembled violently, about to fly over and kill the encircling Xuanbei Turtle and Sansha.

Puchi!

It had only flown a short distance before stopping, blocked by a corpse at the Immortal Lord realm.

Clenching his fist, the middle-aged man was about to summon the halberd to pierce the corpse when he felt a sudden surge of power.

Boom!

The corpse exploded. The halberd, shaken by the blast wave, wobbled uncontrollably in the air.

Although a pseudo-god weapon was powerful, the self-destruction of a peak Immortal Lord expert still stunned the spirit within, disorienting it as if it had lost consciousness.

After barely stabilizing itself, it tried to rush over to help, but another corpse appeared and exploded again.

After three consecutive corpses, the halberd could no longer withstand it and fell from the sky, seemingly unable to move for a short time.

Although the explosions did not damage the weapon itself, the spirit within was nearly exhausted, rendering it useless.

With the halberd damaged, the middle-aged man spat blood again. Already injured, how could he withstand the attacks of three same-level experts? Xuanbei Turtle slammed down heavily, and his head sank into his shoulders, his corpse crashing heavily to the ground.

From the start of the fight to his death, it took less than three breaths.

It seemed fast, but in reality, it cost three peak Immortal Lord corpses, one pseudo-god weapon, and two pseudo-god spirit beasts.

Probably only Zhang Xuan on the entire continent could afford such extravagance.

While he was fighting the middle-aged man, Dashu and Ersha, along with the clone, charged at Fuchenzi.

Regardless of whether the other party was from the Tongshen Hall or the Divine Temple, since he had revealed his true colors and attacked Palace Lord Du, there was no room for mercy or holding back.

Whoosh!

The clone arrived, embraced the middle-aged man, and locked his joints tightly.

Dashu and Ersha rained down various attacks like a storm. At the same time, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist, and seven peak Immortal Lord longswords descended like a silver net.

Zizi zizi!

Sword qi wailed like a flute. Before Fuchenzi could react, his body shattered like glass, turning into pieces of flesh that fell to the ground, blood spilling everywhere.

Having observed the other's combat, Zhang Xuan had long known the flaws in his techniques. Using the clone's undying ability combined with Dashu and Ersha's methods, he secured victory from the start.

"Did this guy betray the Tongshen Hall?"

Seeing both enemies smoothly killed without much damage to his side, Zhang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his brow furrowed.

Earlier, at the Zhuxing Palace, he had observed with the Library and confirmed that Fuchenzi was a genuine elder of the Tongshen Hall. If so... why was he helping the middle-aged man?

Could there be some deal between them, or was he a mole planted by the Divine Temple in the Tongshen Hall?

To be honest, he had wanted to take them alive, but pseudo-god experts were too terrifying. If they couldn't be killed, unexpected trouble might arise. If they escaped and news leaked, the identity of Liu Yang would likely be compromised.

Zhang Xuan's and Zheng Yang's identities had been recognized and hunted by the Divine Temple. If this identity was exposed too, he couldn't very well cross-dress and pretend to be Zhao Ya!

Pushing these thoughts aside, he looked down and saw that the middle-aged man and Fuchenzi had been killed by his ambush. Zhang Xuan cupped his fists and addressed the severely injured Palace Lord Du.

"Palace Lord Du, I am Liu Yang, the new sect master of the Seven Stars Tower! Don't worry, I'll treat you..."

The other had been ambushed by Fuchenzi and was critically injured. Without prompt treatment, he might die directly.

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist and a jade bottle appeared. Just as he was about to hand it over, he saw Palace Lord Du thrust a longsword at him.

"Huh?" Zhang Xuan was startled and dodged. Just as he was about to ask, he saw the Palace Lord Du before him turn into a mist and vanish instantly, as if teleporting.

"Palace Lord Du?"

Knowing the other had used some special escape technique, Zhang Xuan quickly called out.

But the other was too fast and had already disappeared, nowhere to be found.

"Probably scared by being set up..."

Shaking his head helplessly, Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

This Palace Lord Du must have been frightened by Fuchenzi's betrayal, afraid that he too was disguised by the Divine Temple.

After all, the Seven Stars Tower and the Zhuxing Palace didn't have a good relationship, yet he risked so much to save her, even producing a pseudo-god weapon and four pseudo-god spirit beasts...

It was only natural to be suspicious.

After all, being able to produce so many pseudo-god items at once was something only the Tongshen Hall and Divine Temple could do; none of the six major sects could.

But...

The altar was still here...

Earlier, she was willing to risk her life for this thing, so why did she abandon it now?

Helplessly, Zhang Xuan turned and walked toward the slain middle-aged man, took the ring from his finger, refined it directly, and with a thought, the flaming altar appeared before him.

The flames still burned, as if communicating with a deity, and a soul-shivering aura continuously emanated from above.

Zhang Xuan frowned.

If this thing burned outside, emitting such power, it would feel like a god was about to descend at any moment. But inside a storage ring... it felt like placing a burning candle in a sealed glass cup—not only did it not go out, but it burned even more fiercely.

"Extinguish!"

He flicked his finger, and the flames went out. With his Eye of Insight shining, Zhang Xuan carefully examined the altar that could communicate with gods and made the Divine Temple covet it.

Similar to the altar used by Emperor Chenyong of the Alien Spirit Tribe, it gave a sense of ancient stillness. The whole body was cold. When his finger touched it, he paused and couldn't help but laugh.

"I didn't expect to be fooled by this guy..."

He shook his head.

He had wanted to see what was so precious about this altar, but it turned out to be fake...

Fuchenzi and the middle-aged man had colluded to seriously injure Palace Lord Du, but it turned out she was also putting on an act, guarding a fake altar with her life...

However, this altar was indeed made realistically; even the Eye of Insight couldn't see through it. Without the Library, even a pseudo-god expert might not detect the flaw.

"Master... the surface should be divine blood."

Dashu approached.

Zhang Xuan looked at the altar and indeed saw faint patterns on the surface, tinged with red, and the soul-shivering sound emanated from them.

He took out the pendant, approached the patterns, and again felt a scorching heat.

"It is divine blood..."

Zhang Xuan exhaled.

No wonder even he couldn't see through this fake altar, and the two pseudo-gods fought desperately for it, even exposing themselves. It was because divine blood was used to carve the patterns, making it indistinguishable from the real thing!

"This is fake, so... where is the real one?"

He frowned.

This Palace Lord Du guarded the fake with her life to attract the attention of the Divine Temple. Where did she hide the real one?

"Never mind that. First, find Palace Lord Du. Only she knows the true news about Luo Ruoxin..."

He flicked his wrist, stored the altar and the two pseudo-god corpses, and with the four spirit beasts and the clone, quickly flew in the direction the light had vanished.

"This Palace Lord Du is severely injured and shouldn't have gone far. Help me search!"

He gave orders, and the four spirit beasts and the clone split into five directions.

The place was full of ruins and hiding spots. Searching alone would take forever. With many hands, they could find her quickly and leave.

"Master..."

In less than three minutes, Xuanbei Turtle came to him and pointed in a direction.

Following behind, Zhang Xuan arrived at a spot and, under the Eye of Insight, indeed noticed something unusual.

Although no traces were left, the spiritual energy here was denser than elsewhere and felt completely refined.

"She should be nearby. Because of her severe injuries, she can't control her power, so it leaks out..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Palace Lord Du had been ambushed at a vital point; her cultivation was barely under control. Although she hid well and suppressed it, she was about to lose control of her true qi and die from dissipation.

So, the priority was to find her and save her first.

Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.

Having found the traces, the clone and the spirit beasts flew over.

The decay here was even stronger than before, indicating that once injured, the corrosion would be more severe and harder to heal.

"Searching like this will take forever. Tracking the movement of decay energy should make it easier..."

After looking around and finding nothing, Zhang Xuan called out.

"Clone, come here!"

Frowning, the clone approached.

"Don't move..."

Zhang Xuan took out the Tongshang Sword and stabbed suddenly.

Puchi!

A huge hole appeared in the clone's chest.

"Circle around. Wherever the corrosion is faster, the decay energy is denser..."

Zhang Xuan said.

"???" The clone was exasperated.

You want to find the flow of decay energy, so stab yourself! Or stab one of these spirit beasts... Why stab me?

"If I get injured, I can't recover on my own. You can..."

Zhang Xuan said seriously: "Also, I definitely don't hold grudges, rest assured!"

"..."

The clone's mouth twitched.

Not holding grudges... Could you be any more direct?

Wasn't it just showing off... Was it worth it?