Chapter 613 - 173: Counter-kill in the Desolate Land, the Possessing Old Ancestor’s Soul is Shattered by the Ten Thousand Souls Banner

The Flame Fire Forbidden Land. Every inch of air felt as if it had been steeped in magma, searing hot to the touch. Streams of coalesced Evil Qi twisted and rose like steam, scorching the surrounding desolate mountains until they were charred black. Even the rubble shimmered with faint waves of heat. In this Desolate Land where deathly silence and scorching heat intertwined, a long-planned ambush had finally erupted. "You’re courting death!" A sharp roar, like the tearing of silk, ripped through the suffocatingly heavy air. Unexpectedly, upon hearing Chu Fan’s taunts, Zhang Ling’Er—her mind long twisted by hatred and having fallen to the Demon Dao—did not let her rage cloud her judgment. Perched atop a protruding, charred boulder, she looked down on Chu Fan and sneered, "I was planning to settle the score with you later..." "But I never expected you to be so reckless as to deliver yourself to my doorstep." "Chu Fan, this is your doom!" With that, she leaped from the boulder, her figure swooping down like an owl. With a flick of her wrist, the Frost Sword—its chilling light sharp and intimidating—was already steady in her grasp. Compared to the last time Chu Fan had seen her, the sword was now completely different— The blade, which once seemed forged from ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing and radiated a bone-chilling Cold Qi, was now completely suppressed by a dark red Earth Vein Flame Fiend Qi, leaving not a hint of coldness. No trace of its former chill could be felt from the blade. In its place was a scorching, rampaging Earth Vein Flame Fiend Qi, as turbulent as magma deep underground, faintly exuding an aura of destruction! On the other side, the ever-silent Tang Yu, a Shadow Guard who had been lying in wait like a phantom, slowly drew the longsword from her waist. Its edge pulsed with a faint, cold light. She and Zhang Ling’Er formed a pincer, one on the left and one on the right, slowly closing in on Chu Fan. Chu Fan’s expression was as calm as still water, as if he were completely oblivious to the deadly trap laid before him. He casually reached his right hand behind his back and gave a slight wave. Following this subtle gesture, Mo Yunzi, who stood behind him, retreated several steps as silently as a melting shadow before vanishing from sight. Tang Yu, tasked with the kill, glanced at the spot where Mo Yunzi disappeared from the corner of her eye, her expression remaining utterly unchanged. In her eyes, a mere servant in the early Acupoint Realm posed no threat and was not even worth mentioning in a battle between experts like this. ... ’Something’s strange...’ Chu Fan mused to himself. As the Spirit Array Map of the Demon Dragon Celestial Spirit Scripture slowly activated within him, his powerful Divine Sense instantly spread out, locking firmly onto both Zhang Ling’Er and Tang Yu. But the results of his probe made him frown involuntarily. Zhang Ling’Er had clearly disregarded all consequences and frantically devoured the Earth Vein Flame Fiend Qi of this land... From the looks of it, this had been going on for some time, and her strength had skyrocketed compared to before. But no matter how much stronger she had become, she was still spinning her wheels within the confines of the Acupoint Realm, not having broken through its barrier. However, under Chu Fan’s now incredibly sharp Divine Sense, he could feel a bizarre power hidden within Zhang Ling’Er’s seemingly petite body—a power that made even his heart palpitate with unease! That power was utterly evil, sinister, and malevolent. It was like a great beast slumbering in the abyss; once awakened, there was no telling what kind of chaos it would unleash! Chu Fan’s eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Tang Yu as she slowly approached from the flank. He didn’t know Tang Yu, but he could clearly feel a cold, viper-like threat from her that sent a chill down his spine. The fourth Realm, the Bright Heart Realm... Although he couldn’t tell which Heaven of the Bright Heart Realm her Cultivation was at, her eyes were as cold as ice, and her movements were fluid and flawless. She was clearly an expert who had honed the art of assassination through years of dancing on the edge of life and death. SWOOSH! Just as this thought crossed Chu Fan’s mind, the Flame Fire Evil Qi around Zhang Ling’Er suddenly erupted skyward. The Frost Sword in her hand transformed into a dazzling red glint, her move simple and vicious, devoid of any flourish, as she brought it straight down on Chu Fan’s head! The wind from the sword howled, carrying with it an unbearably scorching wave of energy that seemed to want to slice space itself apart! Chu Fan pushed off with his feet, activating the Ghost Shadow Illusionary Body Step. His figure floated sideways, intending to dodge the fatal strike. But at that moment, something unexpected happened! The void trembled slightly, and a dull roar echoed from underground as five pitch-black chains, covered in strange Runes, shot out of the ground from thin air! The five chains were silent yet lightning-fast, instantly binding his wrists, ankles, and neck, rendering him immobile! ’The power of an Array again...’ Chu Fan’s expression darkened. The power of an Array was far more troublesome than Zhang Ling’Er. He quickly glanced at Tang Yu on the other side and saw her holding the fingers of her left hand together like a sword, Primordial Qi slowly circulating at her fingertips as she softly chanted an incantation. Clearly, this dragon-binding Array was her handiwork. Chu Fan snorted, and a golden light suddenly erupted from his body as the Shenxiao Imperial Golden Shield instantly activated. A brilliant golden light enveloped him, making him look like an Arhat cast from pure Gold! Meanwhile, Zhang Ling’Er’s strike, coalesced with turbulent and raging Flame Fire Evil Qi, had already arrived with world-ending momentum! BOOM! The terrifying sword strike landed directly on the Golden Shield. The Shenxiao Imperial Golden Shield, which had undergone one Breaking Limit and possessed the powerful "Ganghua Vajra" Trait, was instantly shattered by the blow, dissolving into a sky full of golden light and vanishing without a trace! The momentum of Zhang Ling’Er’s strike did not diminish. With the absolute determination to kill, it continued on its path, slashing down at Chu Fan’s head!