Chapter 152 Demons Will Appear

At this moment, the illusion above the lake's surface felt more like a barrier.

Those with insufficient Mental Energy might not even be able to cross the lake.

Meanwhile, those with powerful Mental Energy had the chance to step onto the island at the lake's center and reach the bodhi tree.

Chu Han sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, allowing the pure Mental Energy emitted by the bodhi treasure tree to pour into his Sea of Consciousness, continuously tempering his Mental Energy in coordination with his Visualization Method.

He was not completely immersed in his Cultivation; he kept a sliver of Mental Energy active, vigilantly scanning the lakeshore.

As night fell, more and more Martial Artists gathered by the lake, densely crowding the entire hillside until the air itself was thick with tension.

It was at this time that the truly major powers made their entrance.

The first to arrive was the group from the Yan Huang Battle Team. Leading them was a red-robed old man with a ruddy complexion and eyes like torches. He was surrounded by a surge of fire attribute energy, clearly an 8th Rank Initial Stage Great Grandmaster.

He was followed by over a dozen Martial Artists, including two 7th Rank experts. Each had a steady aura, marking them as a major power with deep foundations.

Immediately after, the people from the Xiao Family of An City arrived.

Their leader was a cold-faced old woman in green. She radiated unfathomable water attribute energy and was also at the 8th Rank Initial Stage.

Most of the Xiao Family's Martial Artists excelled in water attribute Martial Skills and mental defense; they were determined to obtain the bodhi treasure tree.

The arrival of these two major powers instantly relegated Zhao Snake, King Kong, and the others to second-rate status. They all withdrew their auras, no longer daring to be so arrogant.

But what truly caused the atmosphere to freeze was the final team to appear.

Every member of this team wore black tight-fitting clothes and simple white masks, making it impossible to see their faces.

A faint, cold, and bloody aura lingered around them, making it difficult to gauge their depth.

Leading them was a tall man in black. A blood-dripping pattern was carved into his mask, and his aura was powerful and eerie, far surpassing the previous Ghost-Faced Old Demon. He, too, was an 8th Rank Initial Stage Great Grandmaster.

He was followed by two 7th Rank Peak experts with powerful auras, six other 7th Rank experts, and dozens of Martial Artists at the 6th Rank or above. The lineup was terrifying.

At the same time, Chu Han felt the same aura from these people as he had from the Black-Robed Elder.

“These people are from the Mosheng Society!”

Chu Han's heart tightened; the power of the Mosheng Society was indeed not to be underestimated.

These three major powers each occupied a side, forming a three-way standoff. Their auras clashed, causing the surrounding air to stagnate. Martial Artists from smaller factions didn't even dare to breathe loudly, retreating to the outer perimeter.

“Old Ghost Chi Yang of the Yan Huang Battle Team, Xiao Xuanjun of the Xiao Family... I didn't expect you to come as well.”

The leader of the Mosheng Society spoke in a raspy, sinister voice that was very unpleasant to hear.

“Which organization do you belong to? Why hide your faces?”

Old Ghost Chi Yang snorted coldly.

The leader of the Mosheng Society said, “We are claiming these bodhi fruits. I advise you not to get involved.”

“The bodhi fruit is a treasure of heaven and earth, to be obtained by those destined for it. Why should it belong to you?” Old Ghost Chi Yang said angrily.

He had a very bad temper and was ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Xiao Xuanjun also spoke calmly, “If you intend to monopolize them, our Xiao Family will certainly have to intervene.”

The three major powers were at each other's throats, the atmosphere on the verge of exploding, but no one dared to make the first move.

Everyone knew that once a battle started, it would inevitably result in mutual losses, allowing others to benefit.

They could only remain in a temporary stalemate, their eyes locked onto the bodhi treasure tree in the center of the lake, waiting for the moment the bodhi fruits ripened.

Chu Han mingled on the outskirts of the crowd, like an inconspicuous bystander.

He could feel the 8th-Rank Grandmasters of the three major powers secretly accumulating power, their Mental Energy highly concentrated, clearly searching for a way to break the illusion.

But Chu Han knew in his heart that this illusion was tied to the ripeness of the bodhi fruits. Unless the fruits fell to the ground, even an 8th-Rank Grandmaster would find it difficult to forcibly break it.

Time ticked by as the night grew deeper.

Suddenly, a subtle ripple came from the island. The Mental Energy emitted by the bodhi treasure tree abruptly became violent, and a profound, holy aura spread out, causing the Sea of Consciousness of every Martial Artist present to tremble.

“They're ripe!” someone cried out in shock.

The dozens of golden bodhi fruits on the bodhi treasure tree suddenly burst with a dazzling light, illuminating the entire lake surface as if it were day.

Immediately after, a bodhi fruit trembled slightly, detached from its branch, and began to fall toward the ground.

“Not good!” Old Ghost Chi Yang's expression changed.

Everyone watched as that bodhi fruit hit the grassy ground of the island, instantly turning into a golden light and vanishing without a trace, leaving only a wisp of pure Mental Energy floating in the air.

This Mental Energy was extremely unstable and looked like it wouldn't last long.

“The bodhi fruit dissolves the moment it hits the ground! It must be picked before it falls!” Xiao Xuanjun shouted from within the Xiao Family team.

These words were like lighting a powder keg; all the Martial Artists instantly went mad.

With such a treasure right before them, no one cared about the illusion on the lake or the deterrent of the three major powers. They roared and charged into the water, rushing toward the island like a tide.

“Kill! Die, anyone who blocks me!”

To seize the initiative, a 6th rank late stage Martial Artist swung his blade and killed two 6th Rank Initial Stage Martial Artists in front of him.

“The bodhi fruit is mine!”

Countless Martial Artists attacked each other, blades and swords clashing. Screams and roars rose one after another, and the lake surface instantly turned into a chaotic battlefield.

Grandmaster-level experts like Qin Tian, King Kong, and Zhao Snake were not to be outdone, charging through the crowd and speeding toward the island.

At this moment, the illusion on the island had weakened significantly. The Mental Energy emitted by the bodhi tree had turned into invisible barriers, layer upon layer.

The Martial Artists who charged faster slowed down considerably upon entering the barriers, but they no longer fell into illusions as before.

Grandmaster-level experts with strong Mental Energy moved much faster through the barriers.

Next, the experts from the three major powers also made their move.

At the Mosheng Society leader's command, their Martial Artists instantly formed a battle array. black primordial energy surged out like a tide, sweeping toward the surrounding Martial Artists. Those caught in the black primordial energy were either killed or injured.

The leading elder transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot toward the bodhi tree, his speed more than ten times faster than those who had entered the lake first.

Old Ghost Chi Yang formed hand seals, and the flames around him condensed into a massive fire dragon. It roared and charged across the lake, incinerating both the lake water and the Martial Artists in its path to carve out a passage.

Xiao Xuanjun channeled her water attribute primordial energy. The water of the entire lake transformed into countless water blades under her control, shooting into the chaotic crowd and instantly killing many Martial Artists.

At the same time, her figure flickered, and she rushed toward the island like a ghost at an astonishing speed.

As the three 8th-Rank Grandmasters struck simultaneously, terrifying shockwaves of primordial energy spread out, and countless weaker Martial Artists were instantly shaken to death.

Even so, it could not stop the madness of the crowd. A continuous stream of Martial Artists still charged toward the island, wanting to fight for the steadily decreasing number of bodhi fruits.

“It really is intense.”

Chu Han also moved. Taking advantage of the chaos, he used his movement technique to weave through the crowd and the fighting like a ghost, dodging the sky-filling attacks at high speed.

He soon overtook the ordinary Martial Artists and reached the side of the Grandmaster-level Martial Artists.

Only Grandmaster-level Martial Artists could quickly break through the Mental Energy barriers and approach the island.

Just then, a blade glow slashed toward him at an angle.

Chu Han frowned slightly and dodged the attack.

He discovered that the person attacking him was Qin Tian of the Heaven Blade Battle Team.

“Hmm? A 6th Rank Martial Artist actually dodged my blade?”

Qin Tian said with a look of confusion. He had merely taken Chu Han for a low-rank Martial Artist who had gotten lucky and rushed to the front.

He thought he could kill him at will, but he didn't expect Chu Han to dodge so easily.

“I intended to let you live a few more days, but I didn't expect you to deliver yourself to my door.”

Chu Han looked at Qin Tian, the killing intent in his eyes no longer hidden.