259: Fishing for profit

Just as Zhongli Wu's Devilish Qi condensed to its peak, on the verge of launching a devastating strike, the Corpse Demon Sect Master, who had long been unable to restrain himself, also let out a venomous roar:

"All of you, die for this Sect Master! Heavenly Corpse, tear them apart!"

That Heavenly Corpse, its chest pierced and its Soul flame flickering weakly, actually let out a hoarse roar once more under the Corpse Demon Sect Master's desperate urging fueled by his Origin essence and blood. Struggling, it raised its only remaining intact, pitch-black claw. With its final ferocious might, and in tandem with a condensed Death Qi palm imprint blasted out by the Corpse Demon Sect Master, the attacks struck from left and right, smashing towards Xia Ya who was blocking the forefront!

Though severely wounded, the Heavenly Corpse's Early Stage Martial Emperor foundation and the power of its death throes were still terrifying! The Corpse Demon Sect Master's strike, fueled by hatred, was also without reservation!

"Mysterious Black Tortoise - Immovable as a Mountain!" Xia Ya's pupils contracted. She channeled all the vitality poured into her by Xiao Chun and her own full earth-attribute True Essence into the giant shield. The shield's surface, the black tortoise carrying mountain armor, emitted a low hum, its earthy-yellow radiance condensing into something tangible.

"Boom! Crack——!"

The Heavenly Corpse's claw and the Death Qi palm imprint struck the giant shield almost simultaneously! The combined, violent force hit Xia Ya like a thunderbolt. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her feet sinking deep into the ground, plowing two furrows backwards. That incredibly sturdy giant shield was actually smashed, a large section dented inward at its very center! The spiritual light on its surface flickered violently, and even fine cracks appeared! Xia Ya's arms felt excruciating pain as if about to snap, her tiger's mouths split open, her aura withered once more, and she could barely hold onto the shield.

And in that instant when Xia Ya had barely withstood the combined attack of the Corpse Demon Sect Master and the Heavenly Corpse, her defense momentarily breached and her stance unsteady—

Zhongli Wu's fatal attack arrived!

He didn't use any complex Move. He simply concentrated the surging Devilish Qi and his fury onto his fingertip, transforming it into a profound, ultimate black finger beam. It seemed to traverse space, shooting directly towards Xiao Chun, who was being protected behind Xia Ya and was fully focused on treating Qin Feng! He wanted to first cripple this female physician who could provide an endless stream of vitality and had repeatedly ruined his plans!

Before the finger beam even arrived, its terrifying aura that froze the Soul and annihilated vitality made Xiao Chun feel as if she had fallen into an icy cellar, her healing actions involuntarily faltering.

"Xiao Chun, be careful!" Cold Peach Blossom cried out in utter horror, wanting to block it but already too late.

Just as the black finger beam was about to pierce through the center of Xiao Chun's forehead—

At this critical moment!

On Xiao Chun's chest, the simple and unadorned mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror (already bordering on Medium Grade Heaven Rank), which she had always worn, seemed to sense its master's extreme life-and-death crisis. It suddenly erupted with unprecedented Chaos radiance!

"Hum——!!!"

A heavy hum, as if from the primordial Chaos of antiquity, rang out! The mirror surface no longer merely defended against the Divine Soul. It autonomously flipped over, placing itself before the black finger beam! Chaos light swirled within the mirror, vaguely revealing the phantom of an immense, towering Black Tortoise raising its head and roaring. It carried the majestic Concept of guarding heaven and earth, impervious to all laws!

"Clang——!!!!!"

The black finger beam viciously struck the mirror's surface! A sound like a massive bell reverberated throughout the battlefield!

The anticipated shattering of the mirror and death did not occur!

The mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror only vibrated intensely, its Chaos light flickering unsteadily, but the mirror body itself remained completely undamaged! What was even more shocking was that a large portion of the terrifying Devilish Qi and destructive force contained within Zhongli Wu's full-power finger strike, condensed with his Late Stage Martial Emperor cultivation, was actually reflected straight back by the mirror surface! Mixed with the heavy, oppressive force inherent to the mirror, it transformed into an even more chaotic, weighty counter-shock impact. Following the path of the finger beam, it fiercely blasted back towards Zhongli Wu himself!

"What?!" Zhongli Wu was caught off guard. He never expected a defensive Magic Treasure to possess such a bizarre reflecting ability! Moreover, the oppressive Concept contained within this reflected force made his Qi and blood momentarily stagnate!

"Pfft——!"

The counter-shock force squarely struck his already injured chest and arm! Zhongli Wu felt as if hit by a heavy hammer. The cracks on the demonic armor on his chest expanded further. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of blood! Staggering back several steps, he barely managed to steady himself. His face grew even uglier, his pitch-black eyes now holding not only killing intent but also thick shock, suspicion, and wariness!

"Heaven Rank... Medium Grade defensive treasure?! And it can reflect attacks?!" The Corpse Demon Sect Master also sucked in a cold breath. Looking at the ancient mirror flowing with light, greed and terror intermingled in his eyes. "This girl... who exactly is she in Medicine King Valley?! Li Changqing and Sikong Ye actually gave her a protective treasure of this level?!"

Ordinary Low Grade Heaven Rank protective gear was already precious enough. But a Medium Grade Heaven Rank Magic Treasure with special effects (like reflection) was a treasure of the 'guard the sect' level, something one could only encounter by chance, not seek! Medicine King Valley was actually willing to give such a thing to a Named Disciple? This girl's status in Medicine King Valley was likely far beyond their previous estimation!

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhongli Wu felt the churning Qi and blood within him and the intense pain from his arm. The fury in his heart almost threatened to break through the heavens. Being severely wounded repeatedly, blocked, and reflected had already completely swept away the dignity of his Late Stage Martial Emperor status! What made his heart sink even more was that Xiao Chun possessing such a heavy treasure meant Medicine King Valley's regard for her was unimaginable. If he couldn't eliminate her root and stem today, the future troubles would be endless!

He suddenly turned his head, looking towards Blue Nightmare, who had been staying out of the fray and observing from the sidelines. His voice was like ice from the Nine Nether, carrying barely suppressed rage and accusation: "Blue Nightmare! Are you still watching the show?! Do you truly intend to sit back and reap the spoils?! Don't forget your promise and the Tower Lord's instructions!"

If Blood-Filled Tower acted now, even if only to contain that troublesome mirror and Xia Ya's group, he could free his hands to completely finish off Qin Feng with thunderous means!

However, facing Zhongli Wu's furious rebuke, Blue Nightmare did not join the battle as he wished.

Instead, the sinister expression on Blue Nightmare's face suddenly turned somewhat playful, even carrying a trace of undisguised mockery. He lightly clapped his hands.

With his action, the two Blood-Filled Tower Martial King assassins who had been hiding like shadows behind him moved like ghosts!

Their target was neither Qin Feng, nor Xiao Chun, nor Zhongli Wu's enemies.

One of them, moving like lightning, flashed past the edge of the battlefield in an instant, arriving beside the severely wounded and unconscious Tao Yuanyi, who was embedded in the cliff wall. His fingers struck several points, sealing Tao Yuanyi's acupoints, then he lifted him like a piece of goods.

The other silently appeared beside the fallen, barely breathing Ji Ruxue not far away. With equally deft movements, he subdued and lifted her as well.

As for Blue Nightmare himself, he leisurely strolled to the other side, bent down, and picked up the unconscious Little Fire Qilin from the ground, which had also been kicked away by Zhongli Wu.

After doing all this, Blue Nightmare finally looked up. Meeting Zhongli Wu's gaze, which was almost spitting fire, he spread his hands. In an extremely innocent yet mocking tone, he said:

"Oh dear... Lord Zhongli, you truly wrong me."

He shook the unconscious Little Fire in his hand, then gestured towards Tao Yuanyi and Ji Ruxue, who were under his subordinates' control.

"Didn't you say... for me to 'keep a close eye on any possible Medicine King Valley reinforcements,' and 'prevent any unexpected interference with the hunt'?" The corner of Blue Nightmare's mouth lifted into a cold arc. "Look, these ones: one is the Medicine King Valley Master's personal disciple, one is a defected assassin, and this Fire Qilin cub... they are all important 'spoils of war,' and also sources that might attract 'unexpected' trouble."

"Am I not just following your instructions, helping you 'control the situation,' 'secure the spoils,' preventing them from being destroyed by the battle's aftermath, or... being rescued by someone taking advantage of the Chaos?"

He deliberately emphasized the phrases "following your instructions" and "control the situation," the mockery in his eyes unconcealed.

"As for sitting back and reaping the spoils?" Blue Nightmare shook his head, his smile turning dangerous. "Lord Zhongli, your words hurt our partnership. We are cooperating, each taking what we need. You want Qin Feng's life and his secrets. I want the Blood-Filled Tower defector and possible... extra gains."

His gaze swept over the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror on Xiao Chun's chest, then looked at the dying Qin Feng, and Zhongli Wu's disheveled state.

"Looking at it now... Lord Zhongli, you seem to be having a bit of a 'minor trouble' on your side? But with your Divine Might, dealing with these few at the end of their rope should still be easy, right?" Blue Nightmare's words seemed like flattery but actually placed Zhongli Wu on the spot. "Please, continue. Pay us no mind. We of Blood-Filled Tower will 'take good care' of these spoils. Once you achieve your great success, we can slowly 'discuss' the distribution."

With these words, his intention was abundantly clear!

Blue Nightmare had no intention of intervening in Zhongli Wu's death struggle with Qin Feng's group now! He wanted to wait for both sides to fight more miserably, preferably to a mutual defeat! Meanwhile, he had seized control of Tao Yuanyi, Ji Ruxue, and Little Fire—three extremely valuable hostages and spoils! No matter who won in the end, he now had bargaining chips to seize the maximum benefit! Especially if Qin Feng died and Zhongli Wu was severely injured, then Blue Nightmare would be the strongest, most intact party on the scene!

"You... you bastard!!!" Zhongli Wu trembled with rage all over, pointing at Blue Nightmare, his Devilish Qi uncontrollably leaking out. How could he not understand now? He had been schemed against by Blue Nightmare from the start! What cooperation, what promise? Before interests, this Blood-Filled Tower viper could turn and bite at any moment!

The Corpse Demon Sect Master's face also turned ashen, but he was severely wounded now and even more wary of Blue Nightmare, not daring to act rashly.

Xia Ya, Cold Peach Blossom, and Ye Wuyou watched their captured companions and Spirit Beast, their hearts aching as if cut by knives, yet powerless. Xiao Chun tightly gripped the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror, shielding Qin Feng in front of her. Tears welled in her eyes, her heart filled with helplessness and fury.

The battlefield situation, due to Blue Nightmare's sudden betrayal and hostage-taking, became even more bizarre, complex, and perilous.

Zhongli Wu was caught in a dilemma: continue with all his might to kill Qin Feng, and he might be the mantis stalked by the oriole (Blue Nightmare); turn to deal with Blue Nightmare, and he might give Qin Feng's group a chance to catch their breath or even escape.

As for Qin Feng's team, they faced the desperate situation of their companions being held hostage and themselves on the verge of collapse.

The air was now filled with a conspiracy and scent of blood even heavier than before.