Chapter 147 The 8th Order Arrives

Soon, he discovered the corpse of the Golden Scaled Green Eyed Python in a crevice of the rocks at the bottom of the lake.

"The strength of this corpse while alive was close to the 7th Rank Peak, yet it was actually slain by someone?" A trace of wariness flashed in the old man's eyes.

"To be able to achieve this, that person's strength has likely reached the 8th Rank Initial Stage, or perhaps multiple people acted together."

But thinking of the preciousness of the innate green lotus, the wariness in his eyes was replaced by greed: "No matter who you are, the innate green lotus is mine, and no one can take it away!"

Following the residual aura of vitality, he quickly found that underwater karst cave.

Looking at the hollowed-out lotus pedestal, the old man trembled with rage.

"It really was taken by someone! No one has ever left the Northern Wasteland Mountain Range alive after taking my things!"

His figure flickered, rushing out of the lake's surface like an arrow leaving a bowstring and landing on Black Wind Cliff.

He took out a simple and ancient wooden box from his bosom, which emitted a faint scent of blood.

Opening the wooden box, a pitch-black insect lay quietly inside, shaped like an ancient cicada, its wings covered with fine red patterns.

It was precisely the tracking exotic species, the Blood Cicada, which he had spent half his life's cultivation to nurture.

"Help me find the person who took the green lotus."

The old man's voice was hoarse as he whispered to the Blood Cicada.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood Cicada suddenly flapped its wings and flew up, landing on his arm.

Its sharp mouthparts pierced the old man's skin, crazily devouring his essence blood.

As blood surged into its body, the Blood Cicada's body gradually turned red. A moment later, it transformed into a streak of red light, galloping in the direction Chu Han had left.

"Pfft!"

The essence blood consumed by the Blood Cicada made him unable to stop himself from spitting out a mouthful of black blood. His complexion grew even paler, and his already gloomy face gained a few more hints of Death Qi.

He raised his hand to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth, but a crazy light burned in his eyes: "I can't wait anymore. I must get the innate lotus seed as soon as possible and complete my Rebirth before my body completely collapses!"

His body had long since developed hidden issues due to cultivating evil arts; if he could not use the vitality of the innate lotus seed to reshape his Physical Body, his Meridians would all snap and he would die within three months.

This was also why he was so desperate to track the innate green lotus.

The Old Devil no longer lingered, his figure turning into a black afterimage as he followed the direction of the Blood Cicada.

His speed was extremely fast. The exotic beasts along the way felt the terrifying aura on him and went into hiding one after another, not even daring to let out a roar.

Meanwhile, Chu Han was currently speeding on the way to the bodhi treasure tree.

He had no idea that a terrifyingly powerful old man was following his trail from behind.

After a while, Chu Han killed a Sixth-Tier Exotic Beast.

Just after finishing collecting the exotic beast Materials, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a strong sense of crisis surged within him.

He immediately spread out his Mental Energy and discovered a majestic yet gloomy aura approaching at a terrifying speed.

"This aura belongs to an 8th-Rank Grandmaster!" Chu Han was startled.

The gap between the 8th Rank and the 7th-Rank Limit might seem like only a step away, but it was actually as different as heaven and earth.

After reaching the 8th Rank, a Martial Artist's body undergoes a new transformation. The Dantian and Meridians are significantly strengthened, and the total amount of Yuan Power and physical capabilities far exceed the 7th-Rank Limit.

But soon, Chu Han noticed a clear sense of instability in this aura. It was obvious that the opponent had serious old injuries, and his strength was not at its Peak state.

Even so, Chu Han did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent.

There was no retreat in his eyes; instead, a raging Battle Intent ignited.

He had never fought a true 8th-Rank powerhouse before, and he wanted to take this opportunity to test exactly where his current limit lay.

Chu Han stopped his pace, and the Flame God Body instantly activated. Red flame scales covered his entire body, and crimson-gold Dragon Fire Yuan Power swirled around his surface. He held the flame demon battle saber across his front, fully prepared.

In just a few seconds, a black figure appeared at the end of his vision, instantly crossing a distance of several thousand meters to arrive before Chu Han.

The newcomer was dressed in a black robe, surrounded by black Qi that was like tangible Death Qi, constantly diffusing outward.

A black cicada floated in front of him, its pair of bloodthirsty eyes staring fixedly at Chu Han, emitting a dangerous aura no weaker than a 7th-Rank Exotic Beast.

When the old man saw Chu Han's age clearly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "I didn't expect it to be just a young brat! To have such strength at such a young age, you are indeed a rare Genius."

He sized Chu Han up and said in a sinister tone, "Hand over the innate lotus seed, and I can give you a quick death, sparing you the pain of ten thousand insects devouring your heart."

Chu Han's heart stirred; as expected, he was here for the innate lotus seed.

On the surface, he feigned confusion: "What innate lotus seed? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop acting!"

The old man sneered, "The residual vitality aura of the innate green lotus is still on you; the Blood Cicada I nurtured could never be wrong. How could a brat like you possess such a heavenly treasure? Hand it over quickly, or I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Chu Han frowned slightly. He hadn't expected the other party to be able to capture even the residual aura of the green lotus; he had forgotten about that.

He asked, "Who exactly are you? Why are you so obsessed with the innate lotus seed?"

"A dead man doesn't need to know so much." Killing intent was clear in the old man's eyes.

Before his voice had even faded, the old man raised his hand and waved. Black Qi surged out like a tide, instantly blotting out the sun and covering everything within a thousand-meter radius.

Wherever the black Qi passed, the vegetation on the ground quickly withered and turned black. Low-Rank Exotic Beasts fleeing in the distance screamed as their bodies began to rot and dissolve.

Chu Han couldn't help but frown; the black Qi ahead contained extremely strong corrosiveness and toxicity.

Chu Han circulated his Mental Energy to investigate carefully and soon discovered countless tiny venomous insects hidden within the black Qi that were difficult to see with the naked eye. These insects were the culprits behind the rotting vegetation and the deaths of the exotic beasts.

"This old fellow's methods are quite sinister," he thought to himself, not daring to be the least bit careless.

The flames on Chu Han's body instantly surged, and crimson flames swept out like a volcanic eruption, burning toward the surrounding black Qi.

The Flame Gods Fire could incinerate all things. When the black Qi encountered the flames, it was instantly ignited, emitting a "sizzle" sound and dissipating into wisps of black smoke.

"What?!" Seeing this, the Old Devil's expression changed abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"What kind of fire is this? The Essence-Devouring Insects I nurtured are impervious to water and fire; how could they be burned so easily?"

The Essence-Devouring Insects he had spent so much effort to nurture could devour Yuan Power and corrode the Physical Body. Even 7th-rank flames could not harm them in the slightest, yet he hadn't expected them to be so vulnerable before Chu Han's fire.

"It seems your talent is quite formidable, but unfortunately, I love killing geniuses the most!" A flash of madness appeared in the Old Devil's eyes, and he shook his black robe vigorously, causing even more venomous insects to surge out from the black Qi.

These venomous insects were larger than the previous Essence-Devouring Insects, with shells of an eerie dark green color. They were densely packed, surging toward Chu Han like a tide.

These venomous insects rushed to the edge of the flames and suddenly exploded, spraying out clumps of dark green viscous liquid.

"Sizzle..."

This liquid immediately caught fire upon landing on the flames, but at the same time, it slowed down the combustion, causing the flames around Chu Han to begin to shrink.