Chapter 206: Escaping Tai Xu, Stingy Rewards

With a final roar of indignation, the Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit completely dissipated.

Zhou Chen did not linger; with a flash of his body, he went directly to the dilapidated palace nearby.

Sure enough, judging by the deathly baleful Qi exposed atop it, this was the true node of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation.

"Break for me!"

The Azure Lotus Primal Beginning Slash struck out once more, and the dilapidated palace collapsed with a thunderous bang.

The core of the Blood Sacrifice Formation hidden within was exposed and completely destroyed by the Sword Qi.

Rumble—

The entire Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation nested within the Tai Xu Secret Realm began to collapse. Dozens of blood-colored beams of light soared into the sky within the Secret Realm, then dissipated like fireworks.

Countless Evil Spirits that had sought to break their seals using the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation were suppressed once again.

At the same time, the Starry Sky emperor seal in Zhou Chen's hand underwent a startling change; the original purple-gold light began to withdraw, gradually transforming into a pure purple.

This purple was as deep as the starry sky, as if it contained endless mysteries.

"Brother Zhou Chen, this is… the emperor seal has advanced! This color is so beautiful, I've never seen it before!"

Bei Nianyu exclaimed in wonder.

A pure purple emperor seal meant that Zhou Chen had obtained a massive amount of Imperial Road Luck.

In the entire history of the Starry Sky Imperial Road, those who could elevate their emperor seal to this level were few and far between.

"Blood Wuhen…"

Zhou Chen looked at the spot where the Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit had dissipated, feeling somewhat moved in his heart.

He had naturally seen the abnormality of the Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit at the critical moment and sensed the instant Blood Wuhen's Divine Soul self-detonated.

Although Blood Wuhen was once an enemy, unlike Ye Chen, he hadn't caused him any direct harm from beginning to end; instead, he had contributed quite a few Opportunities to him.

If not for Zhou Chen's interceptions, perhaps Blood Wuhen could have gone further. In his final moments, he chose self-sacrifice, which could be considered a display of unyielding character. Zhou Chen decided he would burn more spirit money for Blood Wuhen.

His thoughts settling, Zhou Chen used his sword as a brush, writing with flowing strokes in the Void Realm to scribe the "Heavenly Profound Rebirth Incantation." Every stroke drawn consumed a strand of Chaos Spiritual Energy within his body.

Before long, the incantation was complete, and a spiritual rain began to fall in the Secret Realm, as if the Heavenly Dao was weeping for the fallen Child of Destiny.

"Brother Zhou is truly a man of sentiment."

Seeing this scene, Lei Ming could not help but remark with emotion.

Han Li did not speak, but nodded in complete agreement.

"Blood Wuhen was quite a character," Ji Wuming added seriously.

But then again, Cultivators inherently act against the heavens, and Zhou Chen was no saint. If it happened again, he would still intercept the Opportunities. After all, it's better for a Fellow Daoist to perish than oneself.

"Ding! Detected that the Child of Destiny Blood Wuhen has completely died. Although it was not a direct kill, the Host intercepted key Opportunities multiple times, invisibly dealing a heavy blow to his Luck and causing his early exit. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward—the number of distance-free bindings has increased to 20."

The System's prompt sounded simultaneously.

This level of stinginess reminded Zhou Chen of the legend from his past life where a certain big-name MOBA game developer gave players 5 diamonds as an apology.

It's so damn stingy!

Zhou Chen complained helplessly.

Just then, the entire Tai Xu Secret Realm began to vibrate.

Beams of golden light wrapped around everyone, and their figures gradually became illusory.

The golden light grew stronger, and everyone's figures completely disappeared from the Tai Xu Secret Realm.

When they reappeared, they had returned to the Starry Sky Imperial Road.

At this moment, the Starry Sky emperor seal on everyone's person began to glow. According to the rules previously announced by the Lord of the City of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, this meant their six-month assessment period had ended.

"Time is up, we have to go out."

Ji Wuming looked at the teleportation talisman seal in his hand and cupped his fists toward Zhou Chen, saying, "Brother Zhou, until we meet again!"

Lei Ming also clasped his hands to Zhou Chen: "I hope to fight Brother Zhou again in the Quasi-Emperor Realm!"

"Young Master Zhou, thank you for saving my life."

Bai Yuting gave a deep bow and said, "If there is an Opportunity, Yuting will surely repay you."

"We are all friends, no need to be polite."

Zhou Chen responded with a smile.

These people were his connections within the Imperial Clans; they might be of great help in the future.

Han Li directly pulled out a ring and handed it to Zhou Chen: "Brother Zhou, these Medicinal Pills were refined by me in the Secret Realm. Keep them for a rainy day!"

"Since Brother Han is being so generous, then I won't be polite."

Zhou Chen joked. After all, he was deeply shocked by Han Li's art of explosion. He had to pluck more wool from the sheep that was Han Li; otherwise, when Han Li became even richer, he would fall into the trouble of having money but nowhere to spend it. Zhou Chen was helping him alleviate that trouble.

Bei Nianyu also held Zhou Chen's hand tightly, unwilling to let go: "Brother Zhou Chen, I don't need to participate in the evaluation. I'll wait for you in the City of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations in a while."

Everyone bid their farewells and then crushed their teleportation talisman seals without hesitation.

Zhou Chen was also prepared to teleport, but just then, he suddenly felt a strange summoning.

The source of that summoning came from deep within the Starry Sky Imperial Road, as if something was attracting him.

In the next moment, his eyes began to glaze over, and his feet involuntarily walked slowly toward the direction that was summoning him.

Crack!

At the critical moment, the Nine Firmament Spirit Refining Art operated automatically. Golden Divine Soul power instantly filled his Sea of Consciousness, and a wisp of invisible black gas was sizzled out from the back of Zhou Chen's head.

Zhou Chen woke up with a start, cold sweat pouring down.

That feeling just now was too eerie, as if some existence wanted to control his consciousness and he was completely unable to resist. The sense of crisis in Zhou Chen's heart instantly exploded.

"There's something dirty here, I must leave immediately!"

He crushed the teleportation talisman seal without hesitation, and his figure vanished instantly.

A second after Zhou Chen disappeared, a transparent black shadow appeared on the spot.

This was a figure completely shrouded in black mist, radiating a terrifying aura.

If Zhou Chen hadn't left, he would have discovered that the aura on its body was shockingly… Emperor Realm.

A true Emperor Realm being.

"What a pity…"

The humanoid black shadow murmured to itself: "I was just a step away from obtaining this perfect body."

It slowly looked up toward the depths of the void: "But no rush, there will always be an Opportunity. This little fellow will be mine sooner or later, jie jie jie."

After speaking, the black shadow slowly vanished as if it had never appeared.

…

Central Plaza, City of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations.

Lights flashed as the Prodigies who participated in the Starry Sky Imperial Road Secret Realm appeared one after another.

"Zhou Chen!"

Lin Xueer was the first to spot Zhou Chen and immediately rushed over, hugging him and saying, "Are you okay? I heard them say a Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit appeared in the Secret Realm!"

"I'm fine."

Zhou Chen said with a smile.

Miao Dandan also walked over at this moment, nodding slightly in greeting, a trace of tears shimmering in her eyes.

Just then, Lei Ming's voice rang out: "Brother Zhou!"

Following that, Ji Wuming and Bai Yuting also walked over. "Young Master Zhou."

"Brother Zhou!"

The three Imperial Clan Prodigies greeted Zhou Chen at the same time, a scene that instantly attracted everyone's attention.

"Is that… Lei Ming of the Lei Clan?"

"And Ji Wuming of the Ji Family from the Sword Clan!"