The outside world.
"It's changing!"
"It's about to emerge!"
A chorus of startled cries rang across Yixian City and Xiaoyang City.
Crack, crack, crack!
The sound of an eggshell splitting rang through heaven and earth.
Everyone watched intently. Cracks were appearing across the enormous blood-red cocoon.
Even more vivid crimson light burst from the fissures.
An increasingly dangerous aura emanated from within the blood cocoon.
Xia Hanzhou clenched his fists, waves surging through his heart.
Blood Brand, the world's fifth Divine Artifact, was about to belong to Li Zhiyi.
All the Great Xia experts watched, their faces alight with excitement.
"With the Divine Artifact in Great Xia's hands, we'll have another powerful asset!"
Someone laughed aloud.
Chen Qi glanced at the others, then looked back at Xia Hanzhou.
"Are you happy?"
Xia Hanzhou ignored Chen Qi.
"Hahaha!" Chen Qi suddenly burst into laughter.
The laughter came far too abruptly.
"What are you laughing at?" Chen Qi shook his head slightly. "I'm laughing at how you, Xia Hanzhou, one of Great Xia's pillars, haven't even considered that something might be wrong.
"Or is there something here that's made you lose your usual caution and reason?"
Xia Hanzhou frowned, his eyes suddenly turning dark.
Chen Qi glanced toward Chi Lord's position, then looked back at Xia Hanzhou.
"If you make a move, not only will Chi Lord come, but the Lord of Chen Prefecture will come too. The Five Clans aren't afraid to fight Great Xia to the bitter end—"
A terrifying spear soul erupted from Xia Hanzhou.
Xia Hanzhou fixed Chen Qi with the piercing gaze of a hawk and wolf and spoke one word at a time.
"What exactly are you trying to say?!"
Chen Qi sneered.
But just then—
A thunderous boom shook the heavens!
Chen Qi's eyes narrowed