Contending for the Treasure Light, Only to Encounter the Red-clothed Woman

Fifty zhang was but a blink of an eye for Lin Yue, who had broken through to High-level Chaos.

As his figure appeared near the treasure's radiance, the faint purple light seemed to sense something, trembling slightly. The slender outline at its core became clearer. Lin Yue could even feel the Sharpness Law contained within resonating subtly with the Chaos Energy in his body, as if inviting him closer.

"Now!" Lin Yue rejoiced internally. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately activated the Chaos Energy within him. The faint golden energy surged from his palm, like a gentle giant hand, cautiously reaching towards the treasure's radiance. He didn't grab it directly. Instead, following the records left by the Spirit Wood Daoist, he attempted to establish a connection between his own energy and the treasure's radiance. Innate Spirit Treasures had spirits; forcefully seizing them would only provoke resistance, and might even cause the treasure to self-destruct.

The instant the energy tendril was about to touch the treasure's radiance, Lin Yue seemed to hear a crisp sword chime. The slender object at the core of the treasure's radiance trembled slightly, as if responding.

"There's hope!" Just as this thought arose in Lin Yue's mind, a scorching aura suddenly attacked from the side, carrying a ferocious intent of destruction, instantly severing his connection with the treasure's radiance.

"Chh--"

Flames! Blazing crimson flames erupted like lava spewing from hell, instantly igniting the Chaos Qi around the treasure's radiance, forming a scorching wall of fire that separated Lin Yue from the treasure. The flames contained a dense Flame Law, and the temperature was astonishingly high. Even from several zhang away, Lin Yue could feel a burning sensation on his skin.

"Who?!" Lin Yue abruptly dodged to the side, avoiding the direct impact of the flames. Startled, he looked in the direction of the sound.

A crimson figure shot out from the Chaos Qi like a phantom, landing steadily on the other side of the treasure's radiance. The newcomer was a woman, dressed in a vibrant red robe embroidered with lifelike flame patterns that seemed ready to ignite at any moment. Her beauty was exceptional, with eyebrows like distant, painted mountains and eyes like autumn water rippling, but her gaze was exceptionally sharp, like a drawn sword, filled with undisguised hostility.

"I found this treasure first. Do you think you're worthy of snatching it?" the woman spoke, her voice as clear as jade striking jade, yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness. Her gaze fell upon Lin Yue, as if looking at an ignorant intruder. Flames gathered at her fingertips again, even hotter than before, clearly ready to attack at any moment.

Lin Yue frowned. He could feel that this woman's cultivation was also High-level Chaos, her energy fluctuations even more refined than his own after his recent breakthrough. Especially the Flame Law she controlled; it was ferocious yet possessed an almost perfect mastery, indicating she had long immersed herself in this path.

"When a treasure appears, it goes to the fated. What do you mean by 'first come, first served'?" Lin Yue did not back down. The Chaos Energy within him circulated quietly, ready to deal with any potential attack. "The treasure and I have already resonated. It is you, Miss, who rashly attacked and broke the rules."

"Rules?" The Red-clothed Woman scoffed, her eyes growing colder. "In this Chaos, strength is the rule! If you know what's good for you, scram quickly, or don't blame me for being merciless!"

Before she finished speaking, the flames at her fingertips suddenly surged, transforming into a crimson fire dragon that lunged at Lin Yue with bared fangs and claws. Where the fire dragon passed, the Chaos Qi sizzled as it was scorched, and the air itself seemed to ignite.

Lin Yue's pupils contracted; he dared not meet the attack head-on. His body flickered, and faint Chaos Qi appeared beneath his feet. He slid several zhang to the side as if stepping on water, narrowly dodging the fire dragon's pounce. The fire dragon crashed into the rock wall behind him, exploding instantly. Crimson flames spread, engulfing the entire area in high temperatures.

"Stubborn fool!" Seeing her attack miss, a trace of impatience flashed in the Red-clothed Woman's eyes. She rapidly formed hand seals. As she moved, the surrounding flames became even more ferocious, and countless tiny flame blades condensed from the flames, shooting towards Lin Yue like a torrential downpour.

Lin Yue took a deep breath and no longer held back. The faint golden vortex in his dantian spun rapidly, and Chaos Energy poured endlessly into his arms. He chose not to resist head-on, instead condensing his energy at his fingertips and drawing profound arcs according to the trajectory Pangu had pointed out.

"Chaos: Divergence!"

An invisible energy barrier unfolded before him. It appeared fragile, yet it possessed the inherent inclusiveness of the Chaos Law. The flame blades struck the barrier like a clay ox entering the sea, their attack instantly diffused, dissolved, and dissipated into sparks.

"Hmm? This is... the application of Chaos Origin?" A flicker of surprise flashed in the Red-clothed Woman's eyes, clearly not expecting Lin Yue to neutralize her attack so easily. "Are you a Chaos Native Being?"

In her opinion, only native beings who were innately attuned to the Chaos Law could wield Chaos Energy so exquisitely. However, although Lin Yue's aura blended with Chaos, it lacked the innate wildness of a native being, instead possessing a clarity of acquired cultivation.

Lin Yue did not answer. Seizing the moment of her distraction, he moved again. He did not attack directly but bypassed the wall of fire and charged towards the treasure's radiance. At this moment, the faint purple treasure's radiance had become somewhat agitated due to their struggle. The slender outline at its core flickered erratically, seemingly resisting the surrounding energy impact.

"Trying to snatch it? Not so easy!" The Red-clothed Woman reacted instantly, her figure flashing. She moved as if teleporting, blocking in front of the treasure's radiance. She clapped her hands, and the flames before her instantly condensed into a massive shield of fire, completely protecting the treasure's radiance. "This treasure contains the Sharpness Law, which complements my Flame Law perfectly. It is destined to be mine!"

"Whether it's yours or not, we'll find out after a try!" A resolute glint flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. He knew he couldn't delay any longer, or more powerful individuals would be drawn here. With a thought, the Chaos Imprint in his dantian warmed slightly, and a purer energy flowed into his meridians.

This time, he no longer hid his strength. Within the faint golden Chaos Energy, faint golden specks flickered—the power of laws contained within Dao Rhyme Fragments. The energy condensed in his palm into the nascent form of a long sword. Though intangible, it exuded a sharpness comparable to the treasure's radiance.

"Chaos: Break Delusion!"

Lin Yue let out a low cry. Holding the energy sword, he slashed towards the shield of fire. The blade cut through the air, creating a sharp whistling sound. Golden specks flowed along the blade, as if tearing through all obstacles before them.

The Red-clothed Woman's expression changed slightly. She could feel the terrifying power contained within this sword strike and dared not be careless, fully activating her Flame Law and pouring it into the shield of fire.

"Clang!"

The instant the energy sword collided with the shield of fire, a deafening roar erupted. Golden sword light and crimson flames intertwined and annihilated each other wildly. Shockwaves spread outwards, shattering the surrounding Chaos Qi into pieces.

Lin Yue felt a tingling sensation in his arm and was involuntarily forced back half a step. The Red-clothed Woman was also pushed back by the impact, her face showing a rare look of solemnity.

"You... actually mastered two laws?" She stared intently at the golden specks on Lin Yue's sword blade, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Chaos Law plus Innate Law... Who exactly are you?"

Lin Yue did not answer. Taking advantage of her momentary retreat, he cast his gaze back towards the faint purple treasure's radiance. To his surprise, after the previous collision, the treasure's radiance seemed attracted by the sharpness of the energy sword and actually drifted a little towards him. The slender outline at its core trembled slightly, as if responding.

"It seems it prefers you." A mocking voice suddenly came from afar.

Lin Yue and the Red-clothed Woman's hearts tightened simultaneously. They looked in the direction of the sound and saw several figures approaching from different directions, clearly drawn by the fight. One of them had a presence as steady as a mountain, another moved as fast as lightning, and the weakest among them was also High-level Chaos.

The Red-clothed Woman's face instantly turned grim: "Damn it, these guys are onto us!"

Lin Yue's brow furrowed as well. He knew the real trouble had arrived.