Chapter 260: Chapter 255: Beauty to Withered Bones, Aged in an Instant
In the depths of the well, the water shimmered an eerie blue.
The Array Flag passed through the water. A wave of light from the Earth Element Technique connected to it, like a long, thin ribbon plunging into the depths. The well water immediately parted, forming a vertical whirlpool in the center.
In an instant, the Array Flag continued its descent, reaching the bottom of the well.
The mud at the bottom of the well behaved just like the water—what was once solid and hard had, in this moment, turned soft and yielding, like loose sand.
As the Array Flag bored into it, the mud seemed to ripple like the water above, parting to all sides.
The path was now clear. The Array Flag, carrying the light wave of the Earth Element Technique, shot straight down, heading for the Exotic Treasure that emanated a cold glow deep within the earth.
This was the wondrous use of the Earth Element Technique. It could control the earth, change its properties, and make everything within the ground submit to the Caster’s will!
At that moment, both Chengxin and Zi Shan looked astonished. Zi Shan exclaimed in surprise, "Lv Yun, since when has your Earth Element Technique reached such an exquisite level of Cultivation?"
It turned out that after twenty years of arduous training in the Void Space, Song Ciwan’s mastery of the Yuan Magnetic Technique and its many supporting Dharma Gates had already surpassed Lv Yun’s!
This wasn’t actually surprising. How old was Lv Yun? She wasn’t even thirty. Even if she had trained diligently since childhood, she had only cultivated for a little over twenty years. And during those years, besides Cultivation, she had to divide her time among many other matters.
But Song Ciwan’s twenty years of Cultivation in the Void Space were twenty solid years, completely free from any and all distractions.
Furthermore, Song Ciwan’s own comprehension was countless times greater than Lv Yun’s. Even with the resources provided by the Second Young Master, numerous Cultivation advantages, and accelerated Secret Techniques that ordinary people couldn’t even dream of, none of it could compare to Song Ciwan’s twenty years.
The difference in comprehension had an immense impact on a Cultivator.
To this day, Song Ciwan had always considered her aptitude to be average, but she simply lacked a point of comparison. If she had a clear control group, she would know that her aptitude was anything but ordinary, and her comprehension was terrifyingly astounding!
Interestingly, at that moment, Song Ciwan also received a wisp of energy from Zi Shan. The Heaven and Earth Scale collected it: [Human desires. The joy, jealousy, and anger of a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator. Seventeen taels. Exchangeable.]
By the well, Chengxin used the Array Flag to guide the direction of the Earth Element Technique, which in turn acted as a propellant, clearing the numerous obstacles in the flag’s path.
Everything was going much more smoothly than they had originally anticipated.
Chengxin said joyfully, "Lv Yun, your... Earth Element Technique... has improved. I... originally... thought... this attempt... only had... a sixty percent... chance of... success. Now... it looks like... the success rate... can increase... to at least... eighty percent... or more."
The Array Flag continued to advance and soon encountered an invisible barrier.
Chengxin’s expression changed. She stood her ground, formed two Finger Techniques with her hands, and let out a low cry: "Transform!"
The tip of the Array Flag suddenly extended into a sharp, pointed cone. Chengxin changed her Finger Technique again and shouted, "Break!"
At the same time, she yelled to Song Ciwan, "Lv Yun, accelerate!"
Song Ciwan didn’t actually need Chengxin’s reminder; she had already, of her own accord, increased the output of the Earth Element Technique.
The moment Chengxin shouted the word "Break," the Array Flag below the well was like a stream of light finally igniting a spark, like thunder suddenly cracking with a flash of lightning. RUMBLE—an invisible sound wave exploded outward.
From behind, the Earth Element Technique provided a real-time boost, perfectly synchronized without the slightest error.
An indescribable, incorporeal, and terrifying shockwave—like a thundercloud bursting with rain, a mountain collapsing into a tsunami, an overwhelming force—shattered the multiple seals deep underground. With unstoppable momentum and lightning speed, it blasted open the final passage!
Deep within the earth, a twisting, floating mass of eerie light was now exposed before the Array Flag.
Just as the Array Flag was about to reach the eerie light and unfurl its banner to envelop it, at that critical moment, the light suddenly pulsed.
’This is bad. The treasure has a spirit; it’s trying to escape.’
Chengxin immediately shouted, "Star Positioning Technique!"
Zi Shan, who had been waiting nervously on the side, immediately threw a star-shaped Magical Artifact forward. A faint starlight instantly projected down from the bright, silvery star.
This starlight flowed like mercury spilling on the ground. Though faint, it possessed a subtle, all-pervasive stickiness.
In a flash, the Star Positioning Technique took effect. The indescribable mass of eerie light deep underground was instantly trapped in an immobile, viscous state.
Chengxin changed her Finger Technique again and commanded, "Envelop!"
The Array Flag unfurled. Its surface spread out like a cloud and instantly wrapped the eerie light within it.
Song Ciwan immediately used the Earth Element Technique to provide a reverse thrust. The Array Flag in the well shot upwards as if launched from a spring.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, the Array Flag was out of the well!
Everything had gone unbelievably smoothly. Chengxin joyfully reached out to catch the Array Flag. But unexpectedly, at that very moment, Zi Shan made her move.
She giggled and said, "What kind of treasure is it, Chengxin? How about you let me see it first?"
Before her words had even faded, her hand had already touched the Array Flag.
Her speed was so great, it was like a flash of lightning on morning dew.
However, the very moment Zi Shan’s hand touched the Array Flag, its surface suddenly tore with the sound of ripping silk.
RRRIIIP—
The flag’s surface split open. In that instant, a cold, eerie light shot out and struck Zi Shan.
Zi Shan let out a piercing scream, "Ah!" and stumbled back three steps.
And as she retreated, her appearance and figure began to change rapidly.
She originally had a full head of black hair, but as she took the first step back, it all turned white.
Her skin was once fair and smooth, but as she took the second step, her beautiful, youthful face instantly became a mass of wrinkles, withered and sallow.
Her figure had been graceful and elegant, but by the time she finished her third step, her back was hunched over. She had aged so much she looked like a pile of yellow sand, ready to be blown away by the wind.
And that was not the end.
At the same time, the backlash from the torn Array Flag began.
Chengxin cried out as the eerie light from the ruptured Array Flag extended to her, the flag’s wielder.
She quickly formed a Finger Technique to resist, but it was futile.
In an instant, Chengxin suffered the same fate as Zi Shan!
No, her situation was even more severe than Zi Shan’s.
Not only had her hair turned completely gray, but large clumps of it had fallen out. Her face was a web of deep wrinkles, and her body was withered and frail. She couldn’t even stand steadily. With a CLATTER, her loosely-held bones seemed to give way, and she collapsed onto the ground!
Chengxin looked up, her aged voice croaking in a horrified whisper, "This thing... it’s... the legendary... Shao Guang... Wasted!"
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