Chapter 188: Collecting Fragments, Abnormal State

The stern man lay in the pit, his face contorted in agony, countless bones in his body broken. He looked at Zhou Chen with eyes full of fear.

Their High Grade Imperial Rank combined Formation, which they prided themselves on, was as fragile as an ant before Zhou Chen, unable to withstand a single blow.

“Hmph…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the man completely lost his breath.

A true man never looks back at an explosion. Zhou Chen had already turned around, not even sparing them a glance.

Undisturbed, Zhou Chen grasped the Chaos Bell core fragment in his hand.

“Ding! Successfully intercepted Ji Wubing’s Opportunity: Chaos Bell Core Fragment * 1! Triggering a ten thousand-fold return!”

“Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: A Corner of the Chaos Bell Core (1/10).”

Before long, all the fragments completely merged into one, and a profound piece of information flooded his mind.

Zhou Chen instantly understood that this corner of the core was even more crucial than all the pieces he had previously obtained combined. With it, he had initially grasped a trace of the Chaos Bell’s authority.

It could unleash a defensive barrier to block an attack at a critical moment, but it could only withstand one attack not exceeding the Emperor Realm First Layer. It required further energy to be used again, with each use needing several months of charging.

Although the number of uses was limited, it was a decent trump card for Zhou Chen. As long as the attack didn't reach the Emperor Realm level, he wasn't afraid, and it could at least buy him a chance to escape.

If he continued to collect fragments, he could wield even more authority.

“Ji Wubing, thank you for your grand gift.”

Zhou Chen was in a good mood and immediately opened the System to check his next target.

“Name: Ji Wutang”

“Recent Opportunity: Ten days later, at the God of War Hall, obtain the Low Grade Imperial Rank battle halberd ‘Heaven-Slaying Halberd’.”

He set off again, following the Opportunity panel’s guidance to find the location of the God of War Hall.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Chen stood before a majestic palace and effortlessly took the Heaven-Slaying Halberd, which was plunged into the center of the main hall and exuded a terrifying Evil Qi.

“Ding! Successfully intercepted Saint Realm Tenth Layer Ji Wutang’s Opportunity: Low Grade Imperial Rank Heaven-Slaying Halberd! Triggering a hundred-fold return!”

“Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Medium Grade Imperial Rank Heavenly Martial Saint Sword!”

A long sword, flowing with Holy Light, appeared in the System space. Upon its blade, countless Dao of the Sword runes seemed to flow, its edge concealed, yet its aura was several notches stronger than that of the Heaven-Slaying Halberd.

Zhou Chen continued to check the Opportunity panel to see if it had refreshed.

“Name: Ji Wuming”

“Recent Opportunity: Three days later, in the Tai Xu Secret Realm’s Hundred Herbs Garden, discover a High Grade Low Grade ‘Dragon Blood Saint Fruit’ that is about to mature. Consuming it can help him consolidate his Saint Realm Tenth Layer.”

“How can I accept this?”

Zhou Chen said, but his actions were swift as he immediately headed to the Hundred Herbs Garden.

He plucked the fruit, which was entirely crimson and exuded Dragon prestige.

“Ding! Successfully intercepted Ji Wuming’s Opportunity: High Grade Low Grade Dragon Blood Saint Fruit! Triggering a thousand-fold return!”

“Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: High Grade Supreme Grade Nine Revolutions Golden Core!”

A golden Medicinal Pill, the size of a Dragon’s eye and imbued with flowing Medicinal Pill essence, appeared in his hand.

Zhou Chen swallowed it without hesitation.

Boom!

A majestic medicinal power exploded within his body, frantically scouring his limbs and bones.

The next moment, the Bottleneck of the Saint Realm Eighth Layer was instantly broken through.

Saint Realm Ninth Layer!

An aura several times more powerful than before spread from within his body.

Zhou Chen felt the surging power within him, nodded in satisfaction, and sighed with emotion.

“Alas, my life has been like walking on thin ice. This Cultivation base of mine was hard-earned, cultivated step by step! This Dragon Blood Saint Fruit didn’t provide much of an improvement, so I’ll leave it for Ji Wuming to gain favor.”

…Meanwhile, in another part of the Tai Xu Secret Realm.

In a valley enveloped in radiant light, an ancient Formation was faintly discernible, and at its center, treasure light seemed to flow.

Dozens of Loose Cultivator Prodigies’ eyes gleamed as they excitedly rushed forward.

“Look quickly! It’s an ancient teleportation Formation! There must be a great treasure inside!”

“Hahaha, my Opportunity has arrived!”

Among the crowd, Ye Xuan, dressed in Sword Clan attire with a delicate face, stopped in his tracks, staring intently at the Formation, his expression growing increasingly grim.

“Stop! Don’t go over there!” he shouted loudly, “That’s not a teleportation Formation, it’s a blood sacrifice Formation! It’s a trap!”

The few people at the very front heard him, turned back, and looked at him disdainfully.

“Kid, are you crazy from wanting to hog it all?”

“Exactly, do you think we’re three-year-olds? Can’t you see such obvious treasure light?”

“Get lost, don’t get in the way here!”

Everyone sneered, not a single person listened to him. Instead, they sped up, afraid of being beaten to it by others.

Seeing this, Ye Xuan’s face turned pale. He said no more and turned to run wildly into the distance.

The moment everyone stepped into the Formation.

In the valley, a blood-colored figure appeared out of thin air. It was Xue Wuhen.

He wore an evil smile on his face, his eyes violent and ancient.

“Hehehe… a group of delicious sacrifices.”

Before his words finished, the “teleportation Formation” surged with black Qi, and countless blood-colored tentacles shot out from the Formation, instantly piercing through the bodies of dozens of Prodigies.

“Ah—!”

Screams rose and fell, but quickly ceased.

Everyone’s vital essence was sucked dry, turning them into mummified corpses, which were then crushed by the Formation, transforming into the purest energy, injected into the Formation’s core.

Ye Xuan, who had already fled several hundred meters away, felt a chill rise from his back.

He didn’t even have time to look back before a streak of blood-light flashed across his neck.

Ye Xuan’s head flew into the sky, his face still etched with terror and regret.

His headless corpse, due to inertia, ran for another dozen steps before falling heavily to the ground.

Xue Wuhen didn’t even glance at the corpse on the ground. He merely licked his lips, his gaze directed towards another direction.

Seeing the treasure light from the distant Formation instantly erupt into blood-Qi, the figure speeding towards it immediately stopped.

Ji Wutang looked at “Xue Wuhen,” who was wearing a bronze mask, with a face full of horror.

“Who are you? You… how could you…”

“Hehehe, what a delicious aura.”

Xue Wuhen said hoarsely.

He took a step, and his figure instantly vanished.

Ji Wutang was terrified out of his wits. Without thinking, he turned and fled, instantly crushing the Sword Clan’s Void Realm teleportation talisman. However, just as he crushed the talisman and entered the space, a hand enveloped in black Qi reached out from within and fiercely grabbed his arm.

“Ah!”

Ji Wutang screamed, but he decisively severed his own arm and fled miserably into the spatial rift… Zhou Chen was walking in a mountain stream when he suddenly smelled a strong scent of blood in the air.

He frowned slightly, a hint of unease rising in his heart.

The scent of blood was too strong, unlike an ordinary battle, and Zhou Chen felt that this aura was very familiar.

He subconsciously thought of Xue Wuhen.

“System, check Xue Wuhen’s Opportunity panel.”

“Name: Xue Wuhen”

“Status: Abnormal (Evil Spirit possessed), unable to view Opportunity temporarily.”

Evil Spirit possessed!

Zhou Chen’s expression changed. Something had indeed happened.