Chapter 109: Self-Detonation of a Quasi-Saint

With a piercing cry, the upper torso of the Old Ancestor of the Ice River was sent flying, along with a hemispherical spiritual treasure, roughly the size of a human head, that resembled a frosty dome.

Seeing the dome-shaped treasure hurtling toward the Old Ancestor at high speed, Taoist Yuantu shifted his focus. Beneath his feet, the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus of Fire erupted, transforming into a streak of crimson fire as it gave chase. The lotus petals bloomed like an explosion of flame, instantly engulfing the treasure and drawing it within.

Almost simultaneously, the mist in the void above descended, and a sharp, frigid white beam shot out, reaching Taoist Yuantu’s back in the blink of an eye. Just as it was about to pierce him, Yuantu twisted his body in a narrow, perilous maneuver, letting the icy ray graze him and fly toward the Old Ancestor instead.

Immediately, the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus pivoted, its petals opening once more to swallow the icy beam before snapping shut again.

Taoist Yuantu turned slowly, sneering at a figure emerging from the mist—an elder with white hair and beard, surrounded by cold vapor. "Old Ancestor of the Ice River, did you think I wouldn't be prepared for your Three Corpses avatar, knowing you were a Quasi-Saint?"

"I indeed underestimated your abilities, but killing me will not be so easy," the white-haired elder declared. He lunged forward, throwing a punch that filled the air with freezing fog, the sheer power of the strike threatening to shatter the surrounding void.

*Whoosh.* Taoist Yuantu slashed out with a single stroke of his divine sword. The blade, imbued with destructive energy, collided with the elder’s icy fist. The fist shuddered and disintegrated into a shower of ice shards. Simultaneously, the entire body of the white-haired elder was wracked by a tremor before shattering into countless frozen fragments.

Taoist Yuantu snorted, preparing to pursue the main body of the Old Ancestor, who had already fled. Yet, sensing something amiss, he turned back just in time to see the ice shards converging to reform the Three Corpses avatar.

"An immortal body?" Taoist Yuantu frowned, watching the elder, who wore a composed smile.

"Indeed," the elder replied with supreme confidence. "Old Ancestor Minghe, you cannot kill me."

"Is that so?" Yuantu sneered. With a wave, the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus transformed into a ball of flame and descended upon the elder.

As the scorching heat engulfed him, the elder’s composure finally shattered. He scrambled to retreat, but how could he outrun the lotus? Caught within its reach, the elder’s form was subjected to the surging crimson hellfire. White steam hissed from his body as his aura rapidly withered, until he was reduced to a single, transparent block of ice the size of a human head.

***

Taoist Yuantu recalled the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus. Without pausing to inspect the frozen remains it had collected, he transformed into a streak of light, pursuing the direction in which the Old Ancestor of the Ice River had fled.

The Old Ancestor, having already gained some distance, felt a sharp jolt as his avatar was frozen. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Old Ancestor Minghe! I shall not rest until you are destroyed!"

Consumed by madness and hatred, the wounded Old Ancestor fled even faster. He knew Yuantu would be upon him soon, and in his current state, he was no match for him. If he fell behind, he would be forced into a desperate, losing battle.

However, the Old Ancestor had overestimated his avatar’s utility and underestimated Yuantu’s speed. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air. The Old Ancestor looked back to see Taoist Yuantu closing in rapidly.

"Old Ancestor Minghe!" The Ice River Old Ancestor cried out in shock and fury. Seeing a dark red sword light ripping through space toward him, he knew he could not evade it. Gritting his teeth, he thrust his ice spikes forward in a final, frantic defense.

*Boom!* Amidst a thunderous roar, the Old Ancestor was engulfed by the explosive energy of the sword strike, sent flying in a miserable state, blood spraying from his lips.

"Die!" Taoist Yuantu shouted, delivering another ruthless slash.

Driven to despair and grief, the Old Ancestor let out a crazed roar. Instead of retreating, he charged directly at Yuantu, his aura beginning to boil with volatile, destructive energy.

*Rumble...* A cataclysmic explosion rocked the heavens. Though Yuantu had instinctively activated the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus for defense and retreated, the sheer force of the self-detonation caught him within its radius. Protected by the lotus, he was blasted backward, only finding his footing far from the epicenter.

"That lunatic!" The petals of the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus opened, revealing a frowning Yuantu who muttered a curse. Fortunately, his true cultivation was deeper than he had revealed; otherwise, even with the lotus, he would have been severely wounded by the self-destruction of a Quasi-Saint.

He intentionally suppressed his aura, making it appear weak and chaotic to feign grave injury.

Once the tremors that shook the Primordial World subsided, Yuantu rode the lotus over to collect the ice spikes and silk web treasure left behind. While the explosion was powerful, it was not enough to destroy the high-grade innate spiritual treasures, merely causing them minor damage.

***

No sooner had he collected the items than he felt a terrifying, overwhelming pressure descend from the sky. He looked up to see a chaotic-colored bell crashing down toward him, the very space in its path crumbling into dust.

"The Chaos Bell? Di Jun, you have finally made your move!" Yuantu’s eyes turned icy. He willed the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus to unleash its full power, the petals closing to shield him. He knew better than to attempt to dodge; locked on by the Chaos Bell, evasion was impossible. Only a direct confrontation remained.

*Hum...* Under the bell’s terrible weight, the surrounding space collapsed, and the lotus was driven into a chaotic spatial turbulence. The petals shuddered violently, their crimson fire dimming rapidly.

Yuantu steered the lotus through the turbulence, emerging back into the stable void. Without hesitation, he flew toward the heavens, charging directly at Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, who stood side-by-side in the high sky.

"That Old Ancestor Minghe, instead of fleeing for his life, dares to attack? He truly does not know the meaning of death," Eastern Emperor Tai Yi scoffed.

Di Jun, however, narrowed his eyes as he watched Yuantu approach like lightning. He shook his head slightly. "On the contrary, he is being very clever."

"Di Jun! Die!" Yuantu roared, charging with the ferocity of a madman, his divine sword descending in a vicious arc.

*Clang.* Di Jun flipped his hand to reveal the radiant Sun Essence Wheel, parrying the strike. He prepared to retreat, intending for the Chaos Bell to fly back and finish the job.

Ignoring the bell, Yuantu focused solely on Di Jun. He shuddered, took a brief step back, and surged forward again. As long as he kept Di Jun entangled in close-quarters combat, even a supreme treasure like the Chaos Bell would be difficult to employ. Di Jun could hardly risk striking his own ally, and the bell, while immense in power, was cumbersome; once an enemy was within reach, it lost its tactical advantage.