The fifty-zhang distance was nothing more than a moment's work for Lin Yue, who had broken through to high-level Chaos.
As he appeared near the treasured light, the faint purple glow seemed to sense something and trembled slightly. The slender outline at its core grew clearer. Lin Yue could even feel the Sharpness Law within it resonating subtly with the Chaos Energy in his body, as if inviting him closer.
"Now!" Delighted, Lin Yue didn't hesitate. He immediately urged the Chaos Energy within him into action. Pale golden energy flowed from his palm like a gentle hand, carefully reaching toward the treasured light. He didn't grab at it directly. Instead, following the records Spirit Wood Daoist had left behind, he tried to establish a connection between his energy and the treasured light. Innate Spirit Treasures had a spirit of their own; trying to seize one by force would only provoke its resistance and might even cause it to destroy itself.
Just as the tendril of energy was about to touch the treasured light, Lin Yue seemed to hear a clear sword chime. The slender object at its core trembled faintly, as if responding.
"There's hope!" The thought had barely crossed Lin Yue's mind when a wave of searing heat suddenly struck from the side, carrying a violent aura of Destruction. It instantly severed his connection to the treasured light.
"Whoosh—"
Flames! Roaring scarlet flames erupted like lava surging from the depths of hell, setting the Chaos Airflow around the treasured light ablaze in an instant. They formed a scorching wall of fire that cut Lin Yue off from it. The flames contained a dense Fire Attribute Law, and their temperature was astonishing. Even from several zhang away, Lin Yue felt a burning pain on his skin.
"Who?!" Lin Yue swiftly turned aside to dodge the flames' direct impact. Startled, he looked toward the sound.
A scarlet figure darted out of the Chaos Airflow like a phantom and landed steadily on the other side of the treasured light. The newcomer was a woman dressed in a vivid red robe, its hem embroidered with lifelike flames that seemed ready to catch fire at any moment. Her beauty was striking, with brows like distant mountains veiled in green and eyes like rippling autumn waters. But her gaze was razor-sharp, like a drawn sword, and openly hostile.
"I found this treasured light first. Who do you think you are, trying to take it?" she said. Her voice rang like jade striking jade, yet carried a bone-chilling coldness. She looked at Lin Yue as if he were an ignorant intruder who didn't know his place. Flames gathered at her fingertips again, even hotter than before. She was clearly ready to attack at any moment.
Lin Yue frowned. He could sense that the woman was also at high-level Chaos, and her energy seemed even more refined than his had been right after his breakthrough. Her mastery of the Flame Law was particularly impressive: amid its wild ferocity, she displayed near-perfect control. She had clearly practiced it for a long time.
"When a treasured light appears, it belongs to whoever is destined to claim it. What does it matter who saw it first?" Lin Yue didn't back down. Chaos Energy stirred quietly within him, ready to meet any attack. "I've already resonated with it. You were the one who recklessly attacked and broke the rules, weren't you?"
"Rules?" The Red-clothed Woman gave a scornful laugh, her eyes turning colder. "In Chaos, strength is the only rule! If you know what's good for you, get out of here. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Before her words had even faded, the flames at her fingertips surged and turned into a scarlet fire dragon, which lunged at Lin Yue with claws and fangs bared. As it passed, the Chaos Airflow hissed beneath its scorching heat, and even the air seemed to catch fire.
Lin Yue's pupils contracted. He didn't dare meet it head-on. His figure blurred, and a faint stream of Chaos Airflow appeared beneath his feet. He slid several zhang to the side as if gliding over water, narrowly avoiding the fire dragon's charge. It crashed into the rock wall behind him and exploded, scarlet flames spreading to engulf the entire area in blistering heat.
"Stubborn fool!" Seeing her attack miss, the Red-clothed Woman's eyes flashed with impatience. She rapidly formed hand seals. The surrounding flames grew even more violent, and countless tiny fire blades took shape within them, shooting toward Lin Yue like a downpour.
Lin Yue drew a deep breath and stopped holding back. The pale golden vortex in his dantian spun at high speed, sending a steady stream of Chaos Energy into both arms. Rather than try to withstand the attack head-on, he focused the energy at his fingertips and traced a series of arcane curves, following the pattern Pangu had shown him.
"Chaos: Divergence!"
An invisible Energy Barrier unfurled before him. It looked fragile, yet held the unique inclusiveness of the Law of Chaos. The fire blades struck the barrier and vanished as if swallowed by the sea. Their attack was instantly divided and dispersed, dissolving into sparks.
"Hmm? That's... a use of the Chaos Origin?" A hint of surprise crossed the Red-clothed Woman's eyes. She clearly hadn't expected Lin Yue to deflect her attack so easily. "Are you a Chaos Native Being?"
In her view, only beings born in harmony with the Law of Chaos could wield Chaos Energy with such finesse. Yet although Lin Yue's aura blended with Chaos, it lacked the innate wildness of a native being. Instead, it carried the clarity of someone who had cultivated after birth.
Lin Yue didn't answer. While she was distracted, he moved again. Instead of attacking her directly, he skirted around the wall of fire and dashed toward the treasured light. Their struggle had made the faint purple glow restless. The slender outline at its core flickered unsteadily, seemingly resisting the energy striking around it.
"Trying to take it? Not so fast!" The Red-clothed Woman reacted at once. Her figure blurred, and she appeared in front of the treasured light as if by teleportation. She clapped her hands, and the flames before her instantly condensed into an enormous shield, fully protecting the treasured light. "This treasure contains the Sharpness Law, which complements my Flame Law perfectly. It was always meant to be mine!"
"Whether it's yours or not, we'll see!" Determination flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. He knew he couldn't afford to drag things out, or he would only attract more powerful opponents. At his thought, the Chaos Imprint in his dantian grew warm, and an even purer energy surged into his meridians.
This time, he no longer concealed his strength. Golden flecks shimmered faintly within the pale golden Chaos Energy—the power of the laws contained in the Dao Rhyme Fragments. The energy gathered in his palm, taking the rough shape of a longsword. Though it had no physical form, it radiated a sharpness that rivaled the treasured light.
"Chaos: Break Delusion!"
Lin Yue shouted and swung the energy sword at the fire shield. The blade cut through the air with a piercing whistle. Golden flecks flowed across it, as if it would tear through every obstacle before it.
The Red-clothed Woman's expression shifted. She could sense the terrifying power in that strike. Not daring to be careless, she poured the full force of her Flame Law into the shield.
"Clang!"
The energy sword and fire shield collided with a deafening boom. Golden sword light and scarlet flames intertwined and annihilated each other in a frenzy. The shock wave burst outward, tearing the surrounding Chaos Airflow to shreds.
Lin Yue's arm went numb, and he involuntarily staggered half a step backward. The Red-clothed Woman was also forced back, and for the first time, a grave expression appeared on her face.
"You... have actually mastered two laws?" She stared intently at the golden flecks on Lin Yue's blade, her eyes full of disbelief. "The Law of Chaos and an innate law... Who are you?"
Lin Yue didn't answer. While she was retreating, he looked again at the faint purple treasured light. To his delight, the collision seemed to have drawn it toward the sharp aura of the energy sword. It drifted slightly in his direction, and the slender outline at its core trembled faintly, as if answering him.
"Looks like it likes you better," a teasing voice suddenly called from afar.
Lin Yue and the Red-clothed Woman both tensed and turned toward the sound. Several figures were approaching from different directions, clearly drawn by their fight. One had an aura as steady as a mountain, another moved as fast as lightning, and even the weakest among them was at high-level Chaos.
The Red-clothed Woman's face darkened. "Damn it. Those bastards have their eyes on it now!"
Lin Yue frowned as well. He knew the real trouble had arrived.
Before you continue