Chapter 0193

Chapter 193: Equivalent Exchange; A Ninth-Grade Talisman for the Saintess’s Undergarment

The Transforming Dragon Pool roared with a boundless vortex.

Everyone was shocked to see the dense energy flooding toward the center at great speed, then sinking to the very bottom.

Shang Guan Wu Gou spoke with bright joy: “It’s Big Brother. He is transforming!”

The chief of the Blood God Sect called out at once and led by example, leaping out of the water as he said: “Everyone, leave the pool now. Do not disturb Young Master Zhou’s breakthrough.”

Ever since Zhou Tong had saved them, the Blood God Sect had admired him and felt deep gratitude. Seeing their chief take the lead, the others followed one after another. Though they were reluctant, they had already gained great benefits and felt satisfied.

But the moment they reached the shore, a crushing pressure pressed down on them. Their faces changed.

A gentle woman’s voice drifted over, but it only brought dread as it asked: “Is everyone out?”

The experts jerked their heads around. They saw a figure in fiery red.

Her long hair fell to her hips, moving like living flames and sending out a shocking energy.

She was a beautiful woman, her aura blazing hot, yet her manner was cold to the extreme.

She introduced herself without hiding anything, and a chill spread through the crowd as she said: “I am Fire Xin’er, Saintess of the Fire Charm Clan.”

Cries rose at once: “A Saint!”

“How is that possible? How can she ignore the world’s repulsion?”

She answered with bored honesty as if revealing a small trick: “It’s simple. I am carrying a Heaven-Deceiving array pattern.”

Her gaze swept over the group, and her expression turned serious as she said: “What is this? Not even one qualified person. Where is your inheritor?”

As soon as she spoke, her eyes fell on the vortex in the center of the pool, and she smiled: “Found you.”

She took a step forward and moved to rush into the water.

An old voice roared as a figure blocked her path and shouted: “Stop!”

Fire Xin’er’s eyes narrowed as she said: “Old man, I do not want to start a killing. You had better move aside.”

The elder of the Blood God Sect shook his head as he answered hard as iron: “I refuse.”

He flared with anger. His Life and Death realm was like an ant before a Saint, but he stood like a mountain and would not retreat.

He declared for all to hear: “The Blood God Sect will never betray our benefactor.”

A second voice rang out without hesitation: “Our Upper Clarity Sect will not fall behind either!”

Both sides stepped forward. It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, but not one person took a step back.

Fire Xin’er snorted with open scorn as she said: “Overestimating yourselves.”

A spark flashed in her hand. She tossed the flame into the crowd.

…

At the bottom of the Transforming Dragon Pool, Zhou Tong kept crazily drawing in energy. One small world after another opened inside his body.

One… ten… a hundred…

In not much time he had opened a full thousand small worlds. His realm jumped in one breath from the Life and Death Third Layer up to the Fifth Layer.

At the same time, the strength of his flesh soared at a frightening speed.

Without exaggeration, he could now punch a Reincarnation realm expert into paste. If he added his manifestation power and struck with all his might, even a Half Saint would be stunned.

And that was not the scariest part. The strengthening of his body unlocked his spirit. His spirit power grew even more stable. Even by releasing it plain, he could affect experts at the Half Saint level. If he added the art of Talismans…

A blast cut off his thoughts.

Zhou Tong stopped absorbing. He felt the violent shock from above and said in a low voice: “Someone invaded.”

Senior Sister’s face tightened as she said: “It should be people from the Fire Charm Clan.”

She quickly explained with worry: “Fire charms are of fire. Mountain Ghosts are of wood. Wood feeds fire. The Mountain Ghosts’ origin blood is a huge boon to the Fire Charm Clan.”

She added grimly: “The one who holds a treasure invites trouble. What is more, Mountain Ghost blood is a key to finding an Emperor Weapon.”

Zhang Chu Qiao urged softly: “Junior Brother, we should head out. Put the Transforming Dragon Pool away.”

Zhou Tong nodded and ran his heavenly art as he said: “Joyous Union Heavenly Art, second layer: Red Dust Sea.”

A vast sea formed from all living red dust opened within him. He moved the dragon tree into it, and merged the entire Transforming Dragon Pool into the Red Dust Sea. It became his own energy source.

Fire Xin’er looked down at the now-dry pool and smiled with delight as she said: “Heh… finally out.”

Right then, Zhou Tong and Senior Sister stepped into view.

From the sky, Chu Ran fell, his whole body charred black. He fainted as he croaked: “Young Master Zhou… run…”

Zhou Tong’s eyes turned blood-red as he stared at Fire Xin’er and said in a hard voice: “You did all this?”

All the people of the Upper Clarity Sect and Blood God Sect lay on the ground, their auras weak and their bodies badly injured. Fire Xin’er held Shang Guan Wu Gou in one hand. The girl struggled with all her might but could not break free. Duan Li clutched an iron spear. His whole body trembled, yet he still aimed it at her without a trace of retreat.

Zhou Tong patted Duan Li’s shoulder and said with quiet warmth: “You worked hard. Leave the rest to me.”

He stepped forward to face Fire Xin’er as an equal.

Fire Xin’er smiled lazily and said: “At last the main act arrived. I did not expect you to dare face me. Your courage is admirable. Come with me.”

Zhou Tong ignored her words. He raised a hand and called out: “Balance of Life and Death.”

A seal of light flew out. The life of the world gathered, and in an instant it healed everyone’s wounds.

Fire Xin’er’s eyes lit with surprise as she said: “I did not expect that. You interest me more and more. I will study you carefully in a moment.”

Then she let her aura spread. Saint pressure flooded the sky and earth. Even Senior Sister’s face changed.

Zhang Chu Qiao whispered in her heart: “Miss Mountain Ghost, this is trouble. Can you help my Junior Brother?”

The unseen voice answered with bright certainty: “No need, Princess Consort, Your Highness. The King can handle this himself.”

Senior Sister could hardly believe it as she thought: “How is that possible? She is a Saint. Unless Master comes in person, who can stand against her?”

The voice laughed softly: “Just watch.”

Before the echo faded, Zhou Tong took a step forward and pointed straight at Shang Guan Wu Gou as he said: “Return the child.”

Fire Xin’er’s lips curved in mockery as she said: “Did I hear you right? You are ordering me? Then I will say no on purpose.”

Zhou Tong’s patience snapped. His spirit power surged and formed a Talisman as he said coldly: “Since you won’t take the polite way, you will take the hard way.”

Fire Xin’er’s pupils shrank when she sensed it, then she chuckled as she said: “A ninth-grade Talisman? Too bad it cannot hurt me.”

But Zhou Tong did not throw the Talisman. Instead, he traced a formation in the air. In a blink it was complete.

Fire Xin’er stared for a moment and then laughed louder as she said: “Is that the Celestial Masters Clan’s Equal Value Transfer? You want to trade a Talisman for this little girl? You think I will let you succeed?”

She wrapped Shang Guan Wu Gou in Saint power, trying to block the Celestial Masters Clan’s secret art.

But at that instant, the Talisman in Zhou Tong’s hand vanished. The exchange had gone through.

Fire Xin’er’s face changed as she snapped: “Impossible. What did you exchange for?”

Her expression shifted again as Zhou Tong raised his hand. A pink, close-fitting undergarment lay on his palm, and she felt a sudden chill across her chest. It was a free, unbound feeling.

Her calm shattered as she yelled with burning cheeks: “You filthy pervert, give that back!”

Zhou Tong lifted a finger toward her and called out: “Talisman Ninety-One, Thousand Hands Bright Sky Purge Cannon!”