Chapter 91: Qu Hongyan

A brilliant blue radiance burst from the palm imprint, yet within that light lurked a terrifying force.

Before the eyes of all present, the palm imprint struck toward Qu Hongyan and even seemed to overturn the void itself. Its momentum was overwhelming, as if it meant to crush everything in its path, clearly a most formidable art.

Yet under such an attack, Qu Hongyan showed no fear at all. A flash of severity crossed her eyes, and she gave a faint smile. "Just you think you can contend with me? How laughably overconfident. Scarlet Jade Glass, shield me on all sides."

At once she formed a seal with her jade hands, and before her a vortex of blood-red light took shape, like a barrier that directly blocked the palm imprint.

The strike fell upon it as though sinking into the depths of the sea, and was instantly dissolved.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei was somewhat startled. Fang Tianxiang's attack was one he would not have dared claim he could take with ease, yet this Qu Hongyan met it with such composure. Clearly, her strength was extraordinary.

Then Jiang Xiaofei noticed the string of beads on Qu Hongyan's wrist. They were the color of jade-blood, radiating a power that made the heart tremble. It was plainly this string that had lent her strength just now; otherwise, she could not have so easily received Fang Tianxiang's attack. It was obviously an immensely powerful magical instrument.

At the thought of this, Jiang Xiaofei felt a flicker of doubt. What manner of magical artifact could possess such power?

At that moment, Lin Ying seemed to read the question in his face. "This is an ancient artifact, the Scarlet Jade Glass Beads. In the old days, when heaven and earth underwent great upheaval, the ten supreme artifacts were scattered across the world. I never expected this woman would be the one to obtain it."

"What?" Jiang Xiaofei was genuinely shocked. He had long heard of the ten ancient supreme artifacts; each one was a treasure. If wielded by a strong cultivator, it could greatly elevate their power. Just like back then, Mao Mountain's Ye Yijian had forced his way through several exchanges with the Ghost King, whose cultivation was at the Heaven-Transformation level, relying entirely on the power of the Dragon Abyss Sword. Otherwise, he would have been defeated long ago. After all, before absolute power, there is not even the chance to resist.

At this moment, seeing his attack dissolved, Fang Tianxiang was somewhat incredulous. This strike of his was not his strongest art, but it was enough to keep a Heaven-Transformation expert occupied. Yet Qu Hongyan remained so calm and composed; clearly, she had not even used her full strength. This made him solemn. Qu Hongyan was far stronger than he had imagined.

His eyes sank. "If you think this is all I am capable of, then you are far too naive."

"Thousand Leaves Soaring Flight."

As his words fell, Fang Tianxiang's gaze sharpened, and he joined his hands in a seal. In an instant, his whole bearing rose like a rainbow.

That aura spread out, stirring sand and stones into the air, forcing the crowd to shield their eyes with their hands.

Whoosh!

Endless green leaves erupted from Fang Tianxiang's body, billowing forth like a cyan cyclone, straight toward Qu Hongyan. Each leaf whistled like a blade, as though it could slice even steel apart.

Yet faced with such an assault, Qu Hongyan still showed no fear. She formed another seal with her jade hands, and at once a blood-red rainbow shot forth, meeting Fang Tianxiang's attack like a whirlwind.

Rumble.

Space trembled. Under the impact of the blood-red rainbow, the green rainbow was instantly shattered, and the blood-red light pressed on to strike Fang Tianxiang.

Bang!

Even space seemed to shake. Fang Tianxiang was hit by the blood-red rainbow and sent crashing to the ground.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei's eyes narrowed. He flashed forward and appeared directly before Fang Tianxiang. With a sweep of his hand, vast phoenix true fire surged out and burned away the blood-red rainbow.

Taking the chance, Jiang Xiaofei helped Fang Tianxiang to his feet. "Are you all right?"

Fang Tianxiang shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'm fine. This woman is too powerful. I underestimated her."

"Good that you're all right. Leave this woman to me," Jiang Xiaofei said, then turned his icy gaze toward Qu Hongyan.

Seeing Jiang Xiaofei look over, Qu Hongyan sneered. "You do have some ability, but don't think that because you broke my attack you can defeat me. Big talk comes at a price. I'll let you see the consequences of provoking me."

"Scarlet Jade Seal." Qu Hongyan gave a cold shout and suddenly struck out with her palm. A blood-colored imprint flowed within her hand, releasing a terrifying fluctuation as it hurled itself toward Jiang Xiaofei.

Faced with this attack, Jiang Xiaofei showed no fear at all. There was only killing intent in his eyes. He struck out with his own palm, and a fire seal appeared as well, slamming toward Qu Hongyan.

Whoosh!

The fire seal met the blood-colored imprint, instantly unleashing terrifying phoenix true fire that burned through it before surging straight at Qu Hongyan.

Wherever it passed, even space warped, as though unable to withstand that horrifying heat.

The sight left Lin Ying and the others aghast. The power of that flame was too terrifying, giving them the sensation that anything touched by it would be incinerated at once. It was truly unimaginable that Jiang Xiaofei could command such a strange fire. It was far stronger than ordinary strange flames. Perhaps there was no stronger strange fire in this world.

Blue Lotus Frost, in particular, wore an expression of utter disbelief. That flame was far too familiar; it reminded her of the phoenix true fire of Demon Star.

"Could it be that Demon Star has already been subdued by him?" The thought seemed impossible to her. After all, Demon Star had reached the peak of the Dao Extreme Realm. Even after she unsealed herself, she would still have been unable to defeat it. How could Jiang Xiaofei possibly have done so?

At that moment, as Qu Hongyan watched the fire seal close in, fear flashed in her eyes. Then her gaze sharpened, and she immediately urged the Scarlet Jade Glass Beads in her hand. A beam of blood light rose up at once, forming a defense before her that blocked the fire seal.

Bang!

The fire seal struck the barrier and exploded instantly. Under the terrifying burning of phoenix true fire, the barrier began to collapse.

Whoosh!

The phoenix true fire swept in and engulfed Qu Hongyan, leaving her nowhere to evade.

Qu Hongyan's expression grew grave at once. This fire was too overbearing, capable of burning away all things, and could even incinerate the power of blood itself. For a moment, she was utterly at a loss.

Then her eyes darkened and she shot up into the sky. Though she had broken free, her garments had been reduced to ash under the phoenix true fire, revealing the snow-white grace of her body.

At such a sight, Jiang Xiaofei's face immediately reddened. His movements hesitated, and he found himself reluctant to strike for the kill.

Noticing Jiang Xiaofei's blush, Qu Hongyan instantly realized what had happened. Hastily wrapping her body in a veil of blood energy, she cried in羞 rage, "You bastard, how dare you destroy my clothes! I want you dead!"

Jiang Xiaofei frowned. "I do not wish to kill you, but if you insist on courting death, then I will fulfill you."

"You..." Qu Hongyan was furious beyond measure. She knew full well that she was no match for Jiang Xiaofei, but how could she possibly endure such humiliation?

At this, Lin Ying laughed. "Brother Xiaofei, if you mean to spare the beauty, then leave her to me."

Jiang Xiaofei said nothing.

Seeing this, Lin Ying immediately turned to Qu Hongyan with a cold smile. "Beauty, I, Lin, have never killed a woman. If you surrender now, I may still spare your life. Otherwise, you die."

"Dream on."

Seeing Lin Ying look her way, fear filled Qu Hongyan's eyes. She let out a cold cry, then shouted down at the four demon kings below, "What are you waiting for? Attack! Do you want to see me die?"

Hearing this, the four demon kings were all shaken to the core. Their faces darkened, and each unleashed a powerful demon art, hurling it toward Lin Ying.

"Seeking death."

Lin Ying moved his hand, and boundless magic power surged forth, directly dissolving the four powerful attacks. Then, with a sweep of his arm, a terrifying river of magical force rolled out and sent the four demon kings flying.

Seeing this, fear filled Qu Hongyan's eyes. She instantly flashed into motion and transformed into a streak of red light, fleeing into the void.