Chapter 306: Seizing the Jade Hook

Legend tells that the Xuan Star Saint attained enlightenment while riding the Cangling Blood Wing Bird, creating the Void Great Palm technique which remained imprinted on the bird’s wings.

After entering the ancient ruin, Cheng Lingyu had glimpsed the light wings bearing the Void Great Palm’s inscription. Though many had chased and fought over them at the time, none succeeded. Now this supreme technique unexpectedly resurfaced.

Was this fate’s design or mere chance?

The Black Desire Monkey intensified its attacks, seeking quick victory before complications arose. Yet the void’s giant palmprints accelerated their manifestation, forcefully blocking the primate. Their clash nearly shattered the island itself.

The injured man in splendid attire gazed upward at mid-air’s glowing palmprints with hopeful eyes.

Shui Yingyue, Ye Anlan, and Yunxiu rushed to his side, watching the aerial battle with growing anxiety.

As the Black Desire Monkey’s furious roars echoed, the palmprints flickered faster until blood-red light coalesced into a giant bird that charged the primate.

“Is that…the Cangling Blood Wing Bird?”

The crimson-winged creature tore through sky and earth with each movement, divine palmprints erupting from its feathers with world-shaking power.

The enraged monkey whirled its iron rod, ripping through space and shaking mountains. Undaunted, the bird countered with wing-blades slicing air and iron claws fracturing land, forcing the primate back.

Devastating shockwaves drove spectators into repeated retreats, faces pale with terror.

Qiu Yu stood firm behind her special defense, shielding herself from the divine beasts’ colliding energies. Yang Yan’s protective flames swirled like miniature suns around Hua Yuehong and Bai Ruomei. Other experts either retreated or erected defenses, expressions grim.

At the blood lake’s heart, the island’s unfolding drama took shocking turns.

Both combatants proved equally matched – the monkey’s relentless fury against the bird’s aerial supremacy. After prolonged stalemate, they disengaged.

“Must you interfere?” the Black Desire Monkey snarled.

“This concerns the Xuan Star Saint’s Supreme Bone legacy he carries,” the bird declared. “I won’t let you kill him.”

Their exchange captivated onlookers – ancient beings revealing forgotten secrets.

“What if I persist?”

“Only through my corpse!”

The monkey barked bitter laughter. “Your saint betrayed me! He ambushed and sealed me in Blood Moon Wasteland for millennia before sneaking here to steal the blood lake’s secret – and failed!”

Murmurs spread. What secret could tempt a saint?

“The saint had his reasons,” the bird countered. “Why should outsiders care?”

“Easy for you to say!” The primate’s voice shook with rage. “I’ll eradicate his legacy or never know peace!”

“Not while I breathe.”

Renewed combat erupted, the bird strategically luring its foe from cave to sky until both vanished beyond the heavens.

Without the Black Desire Monkey and Cangling Blood Wing Bird present, the cave’s atmosphere grew tense. All eyes fixed greedily on the hovering dragon-shaped jade hook.

The situation demanded urgency – if either divine beast returned from their celestial battle, seizing the treasure would become impossible. This brief window required swift action.

Among the Three Saints and Four Peerless seven major forces, the strongest were the man in splendid attire, Yang Yan, and Qiu Yu. The Daoist of the Three Suns, Thunder Rider Spirit Master, Silver Feather Spirit Master, and Charming Pen Spirit Master (female) all reached Third Stage of Spirit Martial, making them formidable contenders.

Yang Yan lunged first, only to be blocked by the splendidly-dressed man – though Hua Yuehong and Bai Ruomei immediately disrupted this interference.

Though still wounded from earlier battles, Shui Yingyue, Ye Anlan, and Yunxiu rallied with their Holy Artifacts’ restorative power, joining forces with the splendidly-dressed man. Qiu Yu maintained watchful silence while four other factions waited, content to let Yang Yan and his rival test the waters.

The translucent dragon-shaped jade hook floated serenely, divine light swirling within its crystalline form. Shifting runes danced beneath its surface, emitting waves of profound cosmic energy.

Yang Yan’s triumphant grasp on the hook’s handle lasted mere seconds before he yelped in pain, flinging it away. His rival fared no better – Wu Xuanbo’s identical attempt left him shaking scorched fingers.

“Who are you?” Yang Yan demanded during the uneasy lull.

The splendidly-dressed man smiled with arrogant charm. “Wu Xuanbo.”

Even Shui Yingyue’s group blinked in recognition – the name meant nothing to them.

“How did you steal Xuan Star Saint’s Supreme Bone?” Yang Yan pressed.

Wu Xuanbo sneered, “Why would I reveal that?”

“Afraid we’ll laugh at how long you’ve been sealed here?”

“Better sealed than weak,” Wu Xuanbo shot back, his decades of solitude remaining unexplained.

Yang Yan scoffed, “Years trapped here, still clueless about claiming the hook? Pathetic.”

The provoking tactic worked. “Clueless?” Wu Xuanbo barked. “Watch this!”

He directed Shui Yingyue’s trio to activate their Holy Artifacts. Binding beams lassoed the jade hook, dragging it toward them.

“Think that’s enough?” Yang Yan challenged.

Wu Xuanbo smirked as the treasure drifted closer. But Yang Yan counteracted by having Hua Yuehong activate the beautiful jade coffin, its brilliance entangling the hook in a luminous tug-of-war.

Chang Yun observed, “It needs Holy Artifact guidance to move – like rousing a sleeper.”

Murmurs spread through the cave. Holy Artifacts were rare treasures, even for major factions. Shui Yingyue’s group only possessed theirs through chance inheritance from three female saints.

Hua Yuehong’s Holy Artifact originated from the Orchid Saintess, something that could be encountered but not sought.

Now, another Holy Artifact existed here—the scroll hovering above Cheng Lingyu’s head, also emitting radiant light.

Thunder Rider Spirit Master stared at the dragon-shaped jade hook with blazing eyes. He dashed forward as flowing light, reaching to seize it, clearly intending to test his luck.

Yang Yan and Wu Xuanbo merely sneered, making no effort to interfere.

Thunder Rider Spirit Master easily grabbed the dragon-shaped jade hook. Thunder rumbled and lightning crackled around his palm as he unleashed divine might, attempting to counter the artifact’s mysterious power with pure lightning energy.

The strategy seemed sound initially, showing brief effectiveness. But Thunder Rider Spirit Master couldn’t sustain it. Moments later, he gasped in shock and hurled the jade hook away, refusing further contact.

“Let me try.”

Charming Pen Spirit Master, unwilling to concede, seized this opportunity since Yang Yan and Wu Xuanbo weren’t intervening.

She employed a different tactic, summoning a jade brush to avoid direct contact through an adhesive technique. Yet the brush trembled violently, its spiritual patterns beginning to fray.

With a roar, Charming Pen Spirit Master strained to move the jade hook. A sharp crack echoed as the brush snapped.

Retreating with bitter resignation, her eyes clouded with disappointment.

Daoist of the Three Suns and Silver Feather Spirit Master observed cautiously without attempting.

Bai Ruomei approached Silver Feather Spirit Master, whispering persuasions for Heavenly Fire Sect’s full support of Yang Yan.

Noticing this, Wu Xuanbo ordered Ye Anlan to abandon capturing the jade hook temporarily and engage Daoist of the Three Suns.

Shui Yingyue and Yunxiu kept channeling their Holy Artifacts against Hua Yuehong. Though both sides possessed sacred tools, two artifacts combined naturally overpowered one.

Hu Yuer prodded Cheng Lingyu. “Not trying?”

“Wouldn’t claiming that make me everyone’s target?”

“You’ve never feared anything. Why the sudden caution?”

“I’m considering if this can be taken outside. Acquiring it would pit us against Divine Martial Sect and break relations with Heavenly Palace…”

Hu Yuer frowned. “True. We acted impulsively before, but consequences loom serious.”

Qiu Yu remarked, “We’re already here. Testing won’t hurt.”

Wan Fang urged, “Don’t overthink. We’ve killed already—commit fully now.”

After hesitating, Cheng Lingyu nodded and approached the artifact.

“You too?” Yang Yan eyed him with scornful wariness.

Wu Xuanbo stared strangely at the scroll above Cheng Lingyu.

“That scroll isn’t yours. Leave it.”

Cheng Lingyu calmly countered, “I’ve always wondered—what connection existed between this scroll’s original owner and Xuan Star Saint?”