Chương 205: Chapter 94: Shura Protects Its Master, The Greed of Human Nature

A brilliant streak of escape light erupted from Reyn's body as he pushed his Demon Flash Escape to its absolute, desperate limit. Enveloped in a blazing shroud of azure light, his figure blurred, retreating backward at a terrifying speed. Simultaneously, his hand struck his storage bag with violent force, summoning the Azure Lotus Leaf.

The defensive artifact materialized instantly, hovering before him as he channeled every drop of his internal mana into it, causing the leaf to expand and glow with a dense green radiance. All of this transpired in less than half a breath. In that same fleeting instant, the Golden-Armored commander let out a final, agonizing howl of despair, and its massive body abruptly ruptured.

A cataclysmic shockwave of destructive energy, capable of reducing everything in its path to ash, swept outward in a devastating, expanding sphere of annihilation! Reyn's pupils contracted to the size of needlepoints. Sensing the impending doom, he frantically layered barrier after barrier of protective mana in front of himself, weaving a dense wall of spiritual energy.

He had executed the most flawless defensive response possible under the circumstances, yet as he stared down the blinding, expanding shockwave of the self-destruction, he possessed not a shred of confidence that he would survive. In this terrifying instant, suspended on the razor-thin precipice between life and death, his life flashed before his eyes.

He thought of his clan and family far away in the North Yue State, and then his mind drifted to the quiet pavilion beside the small lake in the medicinal garden, where a graceful, ethereal silhouette—like a fairy stepped straight out of a painting—lingered in his memories.

"I, Reyn, have hacked my way through countless thorns and overcome insurmountable obstacles to reach where I am today! How can I fall in a place like this? I cannot die here! I absolutely will not!" A ferocious roar echoed through the depths of his soul. In that moment of existential crisis, a wild, unyielding madness flared deep within Reyn's dark eyes, igniting a fierce will to survive. Yet, right at this critical juncture, a brilliant streak of orange light flashed before his eyes.

The towering, six-zhang-tall skeletal frame of the Shura Secret Bone suddenly materialized, interposing itself directly between Reyn and the impending blast. With its back turned to the self-detonating Golden-Armored commander, the massive skeleton dropped into a half-crouch, spreading its colossal bony arms wide to completely shield Reyn within its protective embrace.

Through their mental connection, Reyn could feel a wave of sheer terror radiating from the creature's consciousness—a fear no less intense than his own. Although its skeletal frame was as durable as a Mid-grade Magic Treasure, the sheer destructive force of a Golden-Armored commander's self-destruction was more than capable of obliterating it entirely. Yet, despite its instinctual dread, the Shura Secret Bone did not hesitate for a single fraction of a second.

It stood resolutely before Reyn, harboring not the slightest intention of retreating. Boom! The terrifying, apocalyptic shockwave slammed violently into the back of the Shura Secret Bone. The orange luminescence coating its bones flared to a blinding intensity as it fought to withstand the onslaught. However, this resistance lasted only a fleeting moment before spiderweb-like cracks rapidly spidered across its entire skeletal structure.

A wave of agonizing pain flooded through its consciousness, yet the creature remained steadfast, refusing to budge even an inch to save itself. Crack! Crack! Crack! The sickening sound of shattering bone echoed continuously through the air. Starting from its spine, the massive frame of the Shura Secret Bone began to rapidly disintegrate and dissolve into dust. The destruction spread outward at a visible rate, quickly enveloping its entire skeletal structure in a network of fatal fractures. Crack!

A deep, jagged fissure suddenly split the skull of the Shura Secret Bone. The orange fire burning within its hollow eye sockets flared one last time with brilliant intensity before slowly fading into darkness. Simultaneously, a faint wave of reluctance and loyalty rippled from its Primordial Soul before its consciousness plunged into absolute silence. As the remaining orange skull tumbled to the ground, its size rapidly shrank, reverting to a normal human skull in the blink of an eye.

However, thanks to the Shura Secret Bone's fearless, suicidal defense, the destructive power of the self-destruction had been depleted by more than half. The remaining force tore through the Azure Lotus Leaf and shredded Reyn's countless layers of mana barriers, reducing its potency by another half. Yet, even though only a quarter of the original blast remained, the impact that slammed into Reyn was still devastating.

He instantly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his body thrown backward through the air like a broken kite. His azure robes were torn to shreds in multiple places, his face was deathly pale, and a trail of crimson blood ran down the corner of his mouth. The aura within his body had instantly withered, plummeting to an all-time low. Yet, the very moment his feet touched the ground, Reyn forced himself to stand.

His pitch-black eyes remained as calm and deep as an ancient well, completely devoid of any emotion, yet radiating an icy, bone-chilling coldness that could make anyone's heart tremble with fear! In the next breath, his gaze locked onto Wei Qubing. At this moment, the latter's face was a mask of sheer disbelief and terror, utterly shocked that even such a devastating blast had failed to claim Reyn's life! Reyn took a step forward.

His stride was slow but incredibly steady, each footfall heavy with silent menace as he walked toward his foe, step by step. A flicker of panic and dread flashed deep within Wei Qubing's eyes. Although he possessed the means to flee, he knew that if he ran now, he would become the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world of the Zhao Kingdom. Worse, he would be completely abandoned by the Three Thousand Dao Sect, stripped of his status, and doomed to never rise again!

"Fellow Daoists! Reyn has already been severely wounded by me! Look at him—he is at his limit! This man possesses countless magic treasures and formidable divine abilities, meaning he must have obtained an unimaginably grand fortuitous opportunity! If you join forces to slay him now, you will surely reap a harvest beyond your wildest dreams!"

"I, Wei Qubing, swear that I will only take the Heaven-Turning Seal from his hands! Every other treasure, pill, and secret technique he possesses will belong entirely to you all!"

"What are you all waiting for? If you do not strike now, when will you ever get another chance like this?!" As his voice echoed across the area, the eyes of the distant onlookers—who had retreated to safety earlier—instantly flared with burning greed. Reyn was merely a cultivator from the North Yue State, a barren, backwater region of the cultivation world, yet his combat prowess was so terrifyingly dominant. He had to have acquired some heaven-defying inheritance or treasure!

If they could kill him here while he was weakened, they would secure boundless benefits and change their destinies forever! Once the seed of greed is sown in the human heart, it grows into an uncontrollable wildfire. A few breaths later, three cultivators from other sects let out furious roars, unable to resist the temptation any longer. They took the lead, waving their hands to unleash their magic treasures, sending them hurtling toward Reyn with murderous intent.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Facing the incoming attacks of these cultivators, who had reached the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage, Reyn's expression remained completely cold and indifferent. He swept his gaze over the three of them, raised his hand, and curled two of his fingers while leaving three extended, pointing toward the heavens like a divine spear.

In an instant, a boundless, suffocating slaughter Qi erupted from his body, blotting out the very sky! Earth-Shaking Wheel Strike! Outside the towering, ancient walls of Tianli City, Reyn had once unleashed this peerless divine ability, obliterating a formidable Golden Core cultivator in a single, devastating blow that shook the heavens! Now, three translucent, crystal-like fingers materialized in the void, shooting forth from his fingertips with blinding speed and leaving trails of shattered space in their wake!

The very instant these three Earth-Shaking Fingers manifested, the spiritual energy of the entire world fell into a state of violent, chaotic frenzy. It surged and roared like the torrential waters of the Yangtze River, desperately converging and pouring into the crystalline fingers. As the boundless spiritual energy continuously fused into them, the three fingers grew increasingly solid and distinct, until even the intricate patterns of human fingerprints began to etch themselves upon their surface!

The terrifying fluctuations of mana radiating from the attack caused the faces of everyone present to pale instantly. The sheer, unadulterated power of this divine ability was actually comparable to a full-strength strike from a Golden Core cultivator! The three cultivators from rival sects who had been charging forward felt their pupils contract to the size of needlepoints. Infinite horror flooded their eyes as they let out sharp, terrified shrieks.

With frantic waves of their hands, they summoned their defensive treasures to shield themselves, while simultaneously spinning on their heels to flee at their absolute maximum speed. At the same time, they hastily retrieved their Trial Stones from their robes, channeling a burst of mana to crush them. The phantom image of a teleportation array instantly unfurled around them; they only needed a single breath of time to be safely whisked away from this deadly realm.

But at this critical juncture, it was already too late! The three crystal-clear fingers descended like the wrath of heaven, striking directly in front of the three fleeing cultivators. Their defensive treasures could not even withstand the pressure for half a breath before shattering into countless glittering fragments. Deprived of their protection, the Earth-Shaking Fingers slammed directly into the chests of the three men. Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Massive, bloody holes were instantly blasted through the chests of the three cultivators, leaving them completely hollowed out. A look of utter disbelief frozen in their eyes, their pupils dilated rapidly as their lifeless bodies collapsed heavily onto the ground, every shred of their vitality instantly extinguished. Right at that exact moment, the teleportation arrays fully activated, and their corpses vanished from the spot in a flash of light.

A single divine ability had instantaneously slaughtered three cultivators of the same realm! Reyn's face grew even paler, drained of color, yet his footsteps did not falter for even a fraction of a second. He continued to march forward, step by step, with unyielding determination.

"This man is heavily injured! A divine ability of that caliber definitely cannot be used repeatedly! We must not let ourselves be intimidated by his empty bravado!"

"Charge! Kill him and we shall divide his treasures equally among ourselves!"

"Strike now!" Seeing the subtle shift in Reyn's expression, another four cultivators could no longer suppress the murderous intent festering in their hearts and boldly made their move. They slapped their storage bags in unison, each summoning a defensive magic treasure to hover protectively before them. Only then did they let out furious roars, their escape lights erupting in brilliant flashes as they charged ruthlessly toward Reyn.

"Courting death," Reyn murmured coldly. His expression remained completely impassive as the Soul-Piercing Awl instantly erupted from his forehead. The invisible mental assault, powered by his Mid-Golden Core Stage Divine Sense, slammed into the minds of the four attackers. They instantly spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, their figures tumbling miserably from the sky like birds with clipped wings!

After unleashing this mental strike, Reyn's aura weakened even further, making him look as though he might collapse onto the ground at any moment. However, within his pitch-black eyes, a terrifyingly bright light flickered, locking onto Wei Qubing with a gaze so cold and murderous it could freeze the entire world!

"Fellow Daoists! Though this man's cultivation is formidable, he is already at the end of his rope! If we join forces and strike together, we can undoubtedly slay him in a single blow! When the deed is done, I only want a single divine ability or secret technique from his body. All his other treasures shall be divided equally among you!" At that moment, Yin Wuyu, who had been standing silently in the distance, suddenly spoke up. As he did, a powerful and oppressive aura erupted from his body!

As the Young Sect Master of the Supreme Demon Sect, obtaining various sacred healing pills was an easy task for him. Consequently, the severe Primordial Soul injury that would have been extremely troublesome for ordinary cultivators had actually been temporarily suppressed by him in this short span of time!

"Fellow Daoist Wei, if we fail to slay this man today, our reputations will be utterly ruined! The prestige and influence we have painstakingly built over the years will be completely destroyed, and it will be nigh impossible for us to rise again in the future! Therefore, I ask that you cast aside all past grievances today. Let us join forces with our fellow cultivators and obliterate this man once and for all!" Hearing this, Wei Qubing nodded with deep resentment, his voice low and grim.

"Indeed! We absolutely cannot allow him to leave the Trial Realm alive!" He and Reyn had fought to this point, and their feud had already become an irreconcilable, life-and-death struggle. Naturally, he wished for nothing more than to see Reyn dead immediately!

"With the two Young Sect Masters leading the charge, count me in as well! However, that spear-like magic treasure in his hand must belong to me!"

"I am also willing to strike alongside you, fellow Daoists, and I only ask for the Azure Lotus Leaf in his possession!"

"Count me in as well!" With Yin Wuyu and Wei Qubing at the forefront, another seven cultivators stepped forward to stand in a line with them. Their eyes were filled with intense murderous intent as they glared at Reyn, yet they could not conceal the burning, insatiable greed in their hearts! Reyn stared at them with a flat, indifferent gaze, but inwardly, he sneered.

If it had been Wei Qubing or Yin Wuyu who lay defeated and vulnerable today, these cultivators—no matter how greedy—would never have dared to take their lives due to their powerful backgrounds. Yet, because it was him, they acted with absolute, shameless impunity! All of this was simply because he lacked an influential background or status.

Even though his cultivation surpassed theirs, and they might have shown him ample respect and reverence during his peak, the moment he fell into this vulnerable state, they discarded their disguises. They bared their hidden fangs, preparing to tear him apart without a shred of hesitation! But today, he would make these fools realize that there were some existences they should never provoke. The price of doing so was nothing less than death!

Reyn's expression remained calm as he slowly raised his gaze, looking up at the sky where the earthen-yellow divine light was fiercely devouring and suppressing its opponent with unstoppable momentum! While everyone's attention had been entirely focused on the clash between Reyn and Wei Qubing, none of them had noticed that the item spirit of the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda had already been utterly suppressed. At this very moment, it was being voraciously devoured by the Heaven-Turning Seal!

Screeech! A despairing, blood-curdling shriek echoed through the air as the aura of the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda's item spirit completely vanished. Simultaneously, the dense black-red flames dancing upon the Heaven-Turning Seal seemed to lose all their energy, instantly enveloped, assimilated, and forcibly swallowed by layers of earthen-yellow energy! Hummm! A deep, resonant hum vibrated through the air.

Immediately after, an incredibly heavy, mountain-like, and utterly irresistible grand momentum erupted from the Heaven-Turning Seal! Within this entire pocket of space, the faces of all the surrounding cultivators turned deathly pale in an instant. It felt as though a massive hammer had slammed into their chests, and their eyes filled with sudden, overwhelming horror!

In the next instant, the Heaven-Turning Seal rapidly shrank in size, transforming back into a brick-sized slab before landing gently into Reyn's outstretched, open palm.