Just recently, his subordinates had reported that Hu Nan was still in the Misty Forest.
But unexpectedly, Hu Nan appeared here in the next instant?
Thunder and anger surged within him. Without hesitation, Li Hu's right hand flicked, and a sharp black longsword instantly appeared in his hand.
He flashed forward, holding the sword horizontally in front of him, forcefully blocking Hu Nan's path: "Hu Nan, how did you get here!"
Hu Nan's expression was icy. Without a word, he drew his longsword and thrust it directly at Li Hu's.
The two longswords clashed, producing a crisp "clang," and ripples of spiritual energy spread outwards.
Although Hu Nan's magical weapon was inferior to Li Hu's, he showed no sign of backing down. His attacks were ruthless, relentlessly entangled Li Hu, preventing him from advancing an inch.
Li Hu took a deep breath, preparing to settle things with Hu Nan here and now.
But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an even faster figure!
Taking advantage of the moment Hu Nan was distracted by Li Hu, the figure moved like a ghost, directly overtaking the two locked in combat. A surge of spiritual light erupted beneath his feet, propelling him to incredible speed as he hurtled towards the strange bronze mirror floating in the center of the hall.
"Not good! Stop him! Stop him quickly!" A strong sense of crisis surged within Li Hu.
He roared sharply, his voice filled with panic and urgency, issuing a deep order to the Blood Demon Sect disciples behind him.
He never expected that there were two people lying in ambush, and that the third person's speed and strength were so formidable.
Even faster than Hu Nan.
Upon hearing this, the Blood Demon Sect disciples snapped back to reality, their expressions changing drastically. Without daring to delay, they rushed towards Qin Changsheng, attempting to stop him from seizing the bronze mirror.
Qin Changsheng's speed was simply too fast, far surpassing that of the Blood Demon Sect disciples. Even with their best efforts, they could only watch helplessly as Qin Changsheng's figure drew closer, unable to catch up.
In just a few breaths, Qin Changsheng had already reached the bronze mirror.
Without pausing, he raised his hand, condensing a wisp of pure spiritual energy in his palm, gently enveloping the peculiar bronze mirror.
The golden spiritual light surrounding the bronze mirror trembled slightly, as if resisting, but ultimately could not withstand the envelopment of Qin Changsheng's spiritual energy, slowly falling into his palm.
Qin Changsheng directly stored the bronze mirror into his storage space, his movements swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
[Ding, congratulations on obtaining a Heavenly Dao Fragment! You have gained one opportunity to enhance an attribute!]
At the very moment Qin Changsheng stored the bronze mirror into his storage space, a notification appeared.
Hearing this notification, a hint of joy flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes.
However, Qin Changsheng didn't linger, as he was still within Qingyun Lake, where Li Hu, the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Blood Demon Sect, and the Azure-Striped Toad were all present.
He needed to leave first to access the relevant information.
"No—!" Li Hu watched helplessly as Qin Changsheng took the bronze mirror, his eyes burning with rage and resentment.
Days of forbearance and scheming, the sacrifice of numerous Blood Demon Sect disciples, and the immense effort he had expended—the treasure he was so close to obtaining had been snatched away by someone else! How could he accept this!
He could no longer care about Hu Nan in front of him. With a roar, his spiritual energy surged, attempting to break free from Hu Nan's grasp. He turned and charged towards Qin Changsheng, trying to snatch back the bronze mirror.
But Hu Nan had anticipated his move. His attacks grew even fiercer, each strike relentlessly pressing forward, tightly binding Li Hu's figure and giving him no chance to escape.
Qin Changsheng stood in the center of the hall, coldly watching the Blood Demon Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators still rushing towards him.
Although the Blood Demon Sect disciples couldn't keep up with Qin Changsheng's speed in seizing the mirror, they remained undeterred, brandishing their magical weapons and roaring as they charged forward.
They knew that if they couldn't retrieve the treasure, Li Hu would not let them off easily. Only by fighting to the death could they have a sliver of hope.
Qin Changsheng glanced at Li Hu and Hu Nan, who were locked in combat beside him, then at the approaching Blood Demon Sect cultivators. He suddenly raised his hand and uttered a low shout: "Fire Serpent Technique!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a wisp of blazing red spiritual light instantly condensed in his palm, interspersed with dazzling golden patterns.
These golden patterns were the golden inscription enhancing the Fire Serpent Technique.
The red spiritual light rapidly expanded, transforming into a fire serpent several meters long. The serpent was engulfed in raging flames, its scales clearly visible, spewing scorching sparks from its mouth. Its surroundings radiated an intensely high temperature capable of incinerating everything, and its powerful pressure instantly swept through the entire hall.
"Boom—!" The fire serpent, accompanied by a whooshing sound, charged straight towards the Blood Demon Sect cultivators at the forefront, its speed as fast as lightning, unstoppable.
The Blood Demon Sect cultivators' expressions changed drastically. They tried to dodge, but it was already too late. They could only hastily raise their magical weapons to defend themselves.
However, the Fire Serpent Technique, enhanced by the golden inscription, far surpassed the power of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. The blazing flames instantly engulfed the black aura of the Blood Demon Sect cultivators. The magical artifacts, upon colliding with the flames, were incinerated, reduced to ashes.
Screams rang out in succession. The six or seven Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Blood Demon Sect at the forefront, before they could even utter a complete wail, were devoured by the fire serpent, their bodies instantly incinerated to ashes, leaving not a trace of spiritual energy behind—completely perished.
The remaining Blood Demon Sect cultivators, witnessing this, were terrified. Their faces turned ashen, the black aura around them instantly receded, and they staggered backward, daring not to take another step.
They stared at the fire serpent still coiling and spewing sparks in the hall, their eyes filled with fear and dread.
A single Fire Serpent Technique had slain six or seven cultivators of the same level. Such power far exceeded their comprehension; to advance further would be tantamount to suicide.
Looking at the powerful Fire Serpent Technique, Li Hu immediately recalled the night before the grand competition a few years prior.
That night, Hu Nan had also entangled him, while another attacked him with a Fireball Technique.
It was after being severely injured by that person that Li Hu consumed the Blood Demon Pill, missing out on the grand competition championship.
Seeing the retreating Blood Demon Sect disciples, Qin Changsheng seized this excellent opening. His feet blazed with spiritual light, and his figure moved like a ghost, rushing straight towards the main hall's entrance at incredible speed, reaching the hall's gate in an instant.
Just as Qin Changsheng was about to burst out of the main hall, the waters at the bottom of Qingyun Lake suddenly trembled violently, waves surging, and an overwhelming, suffocating pressure emanated from not far outside the hall, instantly enveloping the entire surrounding waters.
Qin Changsheng paused, slowly turning around, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the pressure emanated, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.
There, in the water not far away, a gigantic, bluish-black toad slowly emerged!
Qin Changsheng understood; the Azure-Striped Toad must have sensed the loss of the treasure and abandoned Lin Zhentian to come here.
Inside the main hall, Li Hu, who was locked in combat with Hu Nan, sensed the familiar pressure and heard the Azure-Striped Toad's roar, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.
He knew that with this Golden Core demon beast present, Qin Changsheng would absolutely not be able to steal the treasure.
However, this smugness lasted only a moment before freezing completely on Li Hu's face.
Qin Changsheng remained calm, seemingly unfazed by the powerful pressure of the Azure-Striped Toad.
He slowly raised his right hand, his palm slightly swirling. A smooth, translucent bead, radiating a faint spiritual light, quietly appeared in his palm.
This was the Spirit-Suppressing Bead, a treasure Qin Changsheng had obtained during the competition, capable of suppressing the cultivation of a Golden Core demon beast to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Qin Changsheng slowly chanted an incantation. As the incantation sounded, the spiritual light surrounding the Spirit-Suppressing Bead suddenly surged, and a dazzling white light burst forth from the bead like a thunderclap, directly enveloping the Azure-Striped Toad not far away.
The white light moved with incredible speed, instantly enveloping the Azure-Striped Toad's massive body.
Sensing danger, the Azure-Striped Toad let out a deafening roar. Its golden core spiritual power surged wildly, attempting to break free from the white light's restraint. However, the suppressive force contained within the white light far exceeded its expectations, like an invisible giant hand, firmly trapping it.
Everyone clearly saw that under the suppression of the white light, the Azure-Striped Toad's massive body began to slowly shrink. Its golden core spiritual power dissipated rapidly as if being drained, and its violent aura weakened accordingly.
Its once lantern-sized eyes gradually dimmed, and the bluish-black bumps on its body lost their luster. In just a few breaths, this powerful golden core demon beast had been forcibly suppressed into a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast. Its oppressive aura had significantly diminished, and its previous suffocating power was gone.
"The Spirit-Suppressing Pearl!" Li Hu roared in disbelief, his face turning deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief and despair.
He never expected that the Spirit-Suppressing Pearl would appear in Qin Changsheng's hands.
With the Spirit-Suppressing Pearl's assistance, this Golden Core demon beast had no chance against Qin Changsheng.
Without pausing, Qin Changsheng seized the perfect moment when the Azure-Striped Toad was suppressed. His feet surged with spiritual light, and his figure shot off like an arrow, heading straight towards the surface of Azure Cloud Lake.
His speed was extreme. He swept past the Azure-Striped Toad trapped by the white light, past the shocked Li Hu, and vanished into the waters outside the main hall in an instant, leaving only a faint trail of spiritual light. Clearly, he was taking the opportunity to escape from the bottom of Azure Cloud Lake.