Chapter 402 - Backs Against the Wall (1/2)

The Cauldron of Draconic Force slid open, and invisible threads of energy stretched out to attach themselves to the backs of Ruan Ling, Longshao Wenqin, and Nanlan Qianxue.

It felt like they had consumed a peerless medicinal pill, and a gush of invigorating energy filled their inner worlds in an instant.

Not only was their exhaustion from earlier completely dispelled, they felt even stronger than before, almost as though their cultivation levels had advanced a full boundary!

”What is this? You actually had such a treasure and didn't use it earlier?” Ruan Ling said with a grin as she felt power coursing their her meridians. ”I guess you are more useful than you look!”

”So this is what it feels like...” Nanlan Qianxue muttered under her breath in realisation.

This was not the first time that she had seen the Cauldron of Draconic Force, and she already knew what it was capable of. However, this was still the first time she had personally experienced the true effect of the half-step Overlord rank treasure.

She had to admit that it was indeed a fearsome ability. No wonder it brought the Scarlet Moon Army so much trouble back then!

”Don't celebrate just yet. It is still not enough to get us out of this situation,” Longshao Wenqin said bitterly. ”If you girls have any hidden trump cards, this is the time to use it. Otherwise, we might not have the chance to do so anymore.”

Back then during the war, the Cauldron of Draconic Force was especially effective because both sides were originally rather even in strength. Just a slight boost in power on one side would be able to tilt the balance in their favour.

However, they now had their backs against the wall while facing opponents with both greater numbers and higher cultivation levels. No matter how wondrous the Cauldron of Draconic Force was, just it alone was definitely not enough to turn the tide!

”Here,” Nanlan Qianxue stretched out her hand which was holding three pills. ”Take one each.”

”Oh? Sister Qianxue has a cheat item as well?” Ruan Ling took one and consumed it without hesitation.

Longshao Wenqin did the same, and Nanlan Qianxue took the last pill.

But even after taking the pill, none of them felt any changes in their body.

”Sister Qianxue, it is not that I want to complain at this juncture, but where is this pill of yours from?” Ruan Ling felt the corner of her lips twitch. ”Could you have been cheated by a quack?”

”They are coming!” Nanlan Qianxue did not answer her question, but shouted in warning instead.

After cornering the trio, the dark figures had held back for a few moments because they had been surprised by the appearance of the Cauldron of Draconic Force. But after taking the necessary precautions, they were finally ready to end this mission and seize the cauldron for themselves!

In response to the approach of the dark figures, the trio immediately summoned their Origin Totems.

They already had their backs against the wall, so there was no reason to hold back any longer!

Illusory strings shimmered into existence behind Longshao Wenqin, weaving together to form something that resembled a spider web. Countless invisible energy threads from the Cauldron of Draconic Force wrapped around his right arm, forming something that resembled a cocoon of energy.

With this cocoon of energy on his arm, Longshao Wenqin punched forward with all his might, aiming for an opponent at the Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm.

”Hmph!” the dark figure snorted in disdain, summoning his own Origin Totem before slashing out with his dagger.

Bang-!

The heavy collision sent both of them staggering back a few steps.

Despite the gap of two full boundaries, Longshao Wenqin was actually an even match for his opponent in terms of absolute strength!

But right at this moment, another dark figure appeared behind Longshao Wenqin and kicked him from the back. Yet to fully recover from the earlier exchange, there was simply no way for Longshao Wenqin to defend. All he could do was to concentrate his Origin Force at his back in an attempt to mitigate as much damage as possible.

”Argh!” Longshao Wenqin groaned in pain as he was sent tumbling to the ground. Even so, he gritted his teeth and quickly got up to face his opponents once more.

He knew that they were outnumbered, and he simply did not have the luxury of time to stay down.

The longer he stayed out of the fight, the worse it would be for his companions!

On the other side, Ruan Ling's expression turned serious.

She possessed a cultivation level at the Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm, the highest among the trio. Because of that, she also felt the heaviest responsibility right now.

Ruan Ling held a treasure mace in her hand as a pair of illusory metallic wings shimmered into existence behind her. At this moment, she looked like a domineering war goddess, completely devoid of the gentleness that she had always been showing in front of Young Master Xuan Hao.

Despite her lower cultivation level, she stood fearlessly before four martial artists at the Sixth Cycle Origin Core realm, staring them down with determination in her eyes.

”Come!” Ruan Ling roared as her aura exploded.

She charged forward gallantly, the inscription symbol on her mace glowing with an intense light. It was obvious that Ruan Ling was activating the inscription on her treasure mace.

Her four opponents exchanged glances and smirked. With that, they executed their movement technique and turned into four different streaks of shadow that circled around Ruan Ling at great speed.

Not only were their movements swift, but they were also completely in sync with one another, forming into a shadow prison around Ruan Ling.

Faced with such a situation, Ruan Ling was forced to stop her mighty advance. No matter how much strength was put behind her mace, it did not matter if she could not keep up with the opponents' movements!

She stood there in the circle, holding her mace at the ready as she tried to see through the opponents' movements.

Slash-!

Blood spurted out from Ruan Ling's arm as one of the shadows cut her with a dagger. Fortunately, Ruan Ling was able to react at the last moment and prevent her entire arm from being cut off.

She immediately swung her mace in response, but the opponent easily avoided it and joined back into the shadow prison.

Damn it!

Ruan Ling cursed in her heart.

If it was just one of them, she would certainly be able to win, especially now that she had the help of the Cauldron of Draconic Force. But the fact that she had to be wary of the other three made it nigh impossible for her to attack any one of them!

She knew that any wrong move would result in the others tearing her apart in an instant!

Behind Ruan Ling and Longshao Wenqin, Nanlan Qianxue took a step back towards the petrified Bo'er and placed a palm on her head.

”Don't resist,” Nanlan Qianxue said, and Bo'er could only nod hesitantly. At this point, what else could she do but to agree?