Chapter 454: The Stasis Divine Talisman is Acquired
Though the fiery lotus was merely the size of a palm, to Yuwen Zhong, it exuded a terrifying sense of doom! The Demon Wrath Lotus, a fusion of the Vermilion Phoenix Flame and Chaos Demon Flame, was so powerful that even a Lesser Death Profound Realm master like him likely wouldn't withstand it!
Across the field, Lin Langtian smirked, snapping his fingers toward the floating fiery lotus, which began to drift ominously forward.
The instant it left his hand, the Demon Wrath Lotus started expanding. In the blink of an eye, it grew from a small ember to a half-meter-wide blaze. The black-red flames surged violently, forming a dark lotus throne—a symbol of impending destruction.
As the Demon Wrath Lotus enlarged, the space around it started trembling. Tiny, dark cracks appeared in the air, testifying to its immense power to even tear the very fabric of space!
Yuwen Zhong's eyes narrowed sharply as he observed the black flames warping the space around them. If it hit him directly, even his robust Death Profound Realm defenses would likely shatter instantly.
"Damn it!"
Gritting his teeth in determination, Yuwen Zhong's expression twisted with rage. Trapped by the silver-black chains, he still managed to channel an intense gray energy that rapidly condensed into a massive, hundred-foot shield in front of him. Deadly energy surged around it, a force resembling crashing waves smashing against rocks, creating a tense, foreboding pressure.
As a Death Profound master, Yuwen Zhong was clearly making a last stand.
"Go."
Lin Langtian's gaze locked on the deathly gray shield. With a flick of his fingers, the enormous Demon Wrath Lotus trembled, shooting forward as a streak of black-red light, carrying a scorching gust of energy. The lethal lotus plummeted toward the gray shield with unstoppable force.
Boom!
At the instant of impact, an eerie silence fell over the land before a violent surge of power erupted. The surrounding mountains shuddered as toxic miasma was scattered like fleeing spirits, creating a visible vacuum in the blast's wake.
At a distance, Yuwen Tuo and the others watched in paralyzed horror, their faces reflecting the blistering energy waves that expanded from the center of the impact.
The fierce energy wave created a fiery storm that blazed across the sky, its oppressive heat turning the air around it into an arid void. The massive wave of flame spread like a fiery curtain across the sky, distorting and obscuring the very heavens.
Yuwen Tuo's mouth dropped open as he beheld the inferno. Even from afar, his legs trembled uncontrollably. If they had been any closer, they would've been incinerated instantly.
"Y-Young master, is Manager Zhong okay?" A guard beside Yuwen Tuo nervously wiped the sweat from his brow. With an explosion this powerful, even a Death Profound master like Yuwen Zhong…
Yuwen Tuo's face drained of color. As the last heir of the Yuwen clan, Yuwen Zhong was their strongest asset. If Yuwen Zhong fell, they would lose their only chance of survival.
Pushing past his fear, Yuwen Tuo peered toward the center of the explosion.
In the hazy sky, a whistling sound suddenly sliced through the silence. A shadow emerged, flying down from the heart of the storm.
All eyes locked on the figure. Despite its rapid descent, the Yuwen clan guards could tell from his silhouette that it was Yuwen Zhong. A chorus of relieved cries broke out.
"It's Manager Zhong! He's alive!"
Hearing this, Yuwen Tuo's tense face relaxed, and a smug smile crept across his lips. With Yuwen Zhong still standing, it meant the Tribunal Army officer must have fallen.
The cursed Tribunal Army had nearly ruined him.
But as relief swept over the group, a second whistle echoed through the air, sending a shiver down their spines. The fiery storm roared to life once more, and from its swirling depths, a dark shadow emerged. A lithe, ghostly figure with a fearsome mask sped out, standing tall against the storm.
"It's the Tribunal officer! He's still alive!"
Seeing Lin Langtian's figure, the joy on the Yuwen survivors' faces vanished, their expressions frozen in absurd disbelief.
With a cold smile, Lin Langtian became a streak of fiery light, hurtling toward the plummeting figure of Yuwen Zhong. In mere seconds, Lin Langtian caught up and positioned himself directly above his enemy, his fist cloaked in vicious black flames.
"You despicable remnant of the Yuwen clan… Die!"
Lin Langtian's voice thundered across the sky, his arm swinging down in a crushing blow.
Boom!
A sickening thud resounded through the air as Lin Langtian's fist connected with Yuwen Zhong's chest, the sound echoing in the hearts of the Yuwen survivors below, who stood frozen with terror.
Spurt!
Yuwen Zhong coughed up a torrent of blood, his body crumpling as he fell, a helpless bird with broken wings, finally crashing into the earth below. Engulfed by the raging flames, Yuwen Zhong's once-mighty life force was extinguished, snuffed out in the blaze.
The Death Profound master… had fallen.
"Th-this…"
Seeing Yuwen Zhong's brutal death, Yuwen Tuo and the remaining Yuwen survivors were frozen in shock and terror. Yuwen Zhong had once been one of the Yuwen Clan's strongest members, even before their fall. His strength in the Lesser Death Profound Realm and his steadfast loyalty were why the clan leader Yuwen Hao had trusted him to safeguard Yuwen Tuo.
But Yuwen Hao could never have foreseen that the Yuwen clan's last hope, sent out with such sacrifice, would have their most powerful protector cut down in less than a day. Now, Yuwen Tuo and his few remaining companions were left dangerously vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Lin Langtian exhaled in relief. Although Yuwen Zhong was formidable, he had managed to overcome the Lesser Death Profound master without resorting to desperate measures. With Yuwen Zhong gone, the remaining Yuwen stragglers posed no threat.
Smiling slightly, Lin Langtian fixed his gaze on Yuwen Tuo, striding over. Looking down at the terrified group, he sneered, "Hand over the Stasis Talisman, and I'll let you die quickly."
"Please, sir, spare me! I'll hand over the Stasis Talisman if you let me live," Yuwen Tuo stammered, pale-faced as he dropped to his knees, his voice quivering with fear.
Lin Langtian scoffed, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Hand it over first, and I'll consider it."
"Yes… yes, sir…" Yuwen Tuo's head bobbed frantically, his hand reaching into his robes. A moment later, a small, black, intricately carved wooden talisman appeared, exuding a mysterious aura.
Lin Langtian's eyes glinted with recognition. The talisman was indeed the Stasis Talisman. His keen spiritual perception sensed an unusual, faint pulse from the ancient wood, sending a momentary chill down his spine.
"So it is the Stasis Talisman!" Lin Langtian thought excitedly. Ranked thirteenth on the Ancient Divine Relics List, it was one of the most powerful artifacts on the continent. Had he wielded it earlier, taking down Yuwen Zhong would have been effortless, trapping him and then eliminating him with a single Demon Wrath Lotus.
"Bring it here," he ordered, his patience wearing thin.
"Yes…" Yuwen Tuo nodded as he stepped forward with the talisman in both hands. But as he got closer, his eyes, once fearful, flashed with a fierce and hateful gleam from under his lowered head.
"The Dark Hall destroyed my family—and now they want the talisman too? Dream on! Die!" he spat, voice filled with venom.
In a flash, he raised the talisman, unleashing a strange, pulsing energy that instantly spread through the air. Within seconds, Lin Langtian found both his body and the space around him completely immobilized.
A half-meter sphere of absolute stillness surrounded him, trapping everything—time, space, and Lin Langtian himself.
"Haha! You fell for it! Did you really think it would be so easy to take the Yuwen family's talisman?" Yuwen Tuo sneered, taking a deep breath to recover from the mental strain of using the talisman's power.
He had never intended to beg for mercy. After everything he'd suffered—watching his clan destroyed—he had only waited for the perfect moment to strike. Now, he finally had it.
"What are you standing there for? Kill him!" Yuwen Tuo barked at the other Yuwen guards. "I can't hold him for long!"
"Yes, young master!" The guards quickly snapped out of their shock, releasing powerful surges of energy that formed blades, spears, and other deadly attacks, all aimed straight at the immobilized Lin Langtian. The coordinated strikes, powered by the guards' combined Profound Vitality, would surely obliterate him.
Boom!
But just as the powerful attacks were about to strike, Lin Langtian's body flared with a sudden silver light. Encased in this energy, his form flickered—and then disappeared in an instant.
The devastating attacks slammed into the ground where he'd been, causing the entire area to crumble into dust.
"Is… is he dead?" Yuwen Tuo sighed in relief as he watched the smoke and dust rise. Even Lin Langtian couldn't have survived that.
"Don't worry, young master," one of the guards assured him, "We can't sense any trace of his energy. He's dead for sure."
"Hehe, the Stasis Talisman truly is miraculous…" Yuwen Tuo chuckled, staring at the ancient relic in his hands with greedy eyes. Now, he finally understood why his father had risked everything to hide the talisman from the Dark Hall. Such an incredible artifact was worth it.
"Yes, quite an impressive effect. It nearly got me."
At that moment, a soft, mocking voice echoed from the shadows.
Yuwen Tuo froze in shock. Before he could react, the talisman in his hands vanished. He looked up, only to see Lin Langtian, shrouded in black robes and wearing his ghostly mask, standing directly before him, holding the talisman.
"You… you're alive!" Yuwen Tuo's knees went weak, his face pale with terror.
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