Sha Qi

Chapter 12: Sha Qi

Bi Fan didn't hesitate. He directly mounted the Evil Fire Snake Lion and sped towards the center of the Sha Qi eruption.

Lately, Bi Fan had found it difficult to find worthy opponents, so he was eager to check this out.

Along the way, Bi Fan altered his appearance to avoid being recognized by disciples of the North Xu Palace and causing unnecessary trouble.

It wasn't that Bi Fan feared the disciples of the North Xu Palace, he simply didn't want to delay investigating the cause of the Sha Qi eruption.

Bi Fan had a feeling that the center of the Sha Qi eruption was anything but simple.

"Could the Demon Realm truly be an ancient battlefield?" Bi Fan was shocked by this thought.

In ancient times, powerful figures were abundant, with countless potent Spirit Tools and even Immortal Tools.

If this were an ancient battlefield, even finding fragments of Immortal Tools would be incredible.

Currently, the great worlds had declined. Experts in the Immortal Spirit Realm were virtually extinct, and Immortal Tools had vanished with them. Only a handful of super sects still possessed Immortal Tools to suppress their destiny.

As his excitement grew, Bi Fan urged the Evil Fire Snake Lion to accelerate further.

The Evil Fire Snake Lion was also filled with curiosity about the Sha Qi and ran with exceptional effort.

Along the way, they saw many human youths and Mo Beasts, all rushing towards the area where the Sha Qi had erupted.

No one was engaging in combat; reaching the destination as quickly as possible was paramount.

Watching these hurried figures, Bi Fan felt a sense of melancholy.

Especially seeing no small number of Mo Beasts above the Valiance Realm, Bi Fan realized he hadn't encountered powerful Mo Beasts because he had been in too confined an area, or perhaps the powerful Mo Beasts were simply in hiding.

These hidden Mo Beasts had been alerted, and a fierce battle was surely imminent.

Bi Fan was extremely excited; he finally wouldn't have to painstakingly search for opponents.

Although he had encountered many human powerhouses, very few sat atop Mo Beasts like Bi Fan. Moreover, the Evil Fire Snake Lion was incredibly powerful, making Bi Fan the center of attention.

Bi Fan and the Evil Fire Snake Lion swept past like a gust of wind, always drawing the attention of human powerhouses and Mo Beasts.

The center of the Sha Qi eruption was located in the deepest part of the Demon Realm's outer rim, approaching the second layer of the Demon Realm.

With the Evil Fire Snake Lion to carry him, Bi Fan quickly reached his destination.

Upon arriving, Bi Fan was stunned by the scene before him.

The towering trees he saw were withered, and a large area of vegetation had turned a scorched yellow.

The Sha Qi here was very strong, though not as fierce as when it had erupted.

A considerable number of humans and Mo Beasts had arrived in this area, but no one dared to enter the Sha Qi's central zone first.

Even the towering trees had withered instantly, demonstrating how potent the Sha Qi was. No one wanted to risk it.

No one knew what had happened, nor how the Sha Qi had appeared or where its source lay.

Everyone was filled with doubt, but they suppressed their curiosity, waiting for someone to test the waters.

As soon as he arrived, Bi Fan felt the Two-Colored Strange Lotus within him become restless, especially the black lotus, which seemed particularly excited.

Urged on by the Two-Colored Strange Lotus, Bi Fan surprisingly jumped off the Evil Fire Snake Lion and walked towards the area enveloped by Sha Qi.

At this moment, Bi Fan was completely out of control, as if being led by the Two-Colored Strange Lotus; he couldn't control his own body.

"Gluttonous Sable, Fire Lion, wait for me outside. Do not come in," Bi Fan bit his tongue, regaining a moment of clarity, and quickly commanded.

Entering the area covered by Sha Qi, Bi Fan could clearly feel the Sha Qi eroding his body. He couldn't let the Dragon Sable and the Evil Fire Snake Lion risk coming in.

The Evil Fire Snake Lion was about to enter, but upon hearing Bi Fan's command, it quickly retreated to the side.

The Dragon Sable tried to enter several times, but it was filled with fear of the Sha Qi and dared not take a single step, causing it to dart about anxiously.

Bi Fan walked step by step, slowly towards the center of the Sha Qi.

All the Mo Beasts and human powerhouses stared at him, greatly relieved to have a pathfinder.

Seeing Bi Fan had advanced twenty meters without any abnormality, some humans and Mo Beasts finally couldn't resist and boldly entered the area shrouded by Sha Qi.

"Ah..." Screams echoed. Those who entered, both humans and Mo Beasts, were attacked by the Sha Qi in their minds, suffering immense pain, almost going mad. Terrified, they quickly retreated.

Six human powerhouses even went berserk on the spot, wildly flailing before collapsing and dying.

Those who had not yet entered gasped in relief, feeling fortunate.

The Mo Beasts were also frightened and retreated, moving further away from the Sha Qi.

The Evil Fire Snake Lion and the Dragon Sable, being extremely astute, knew that if these humans and Mo Beasts couldn't cause trouble for Bi Fan, they might target them. Thus, as soon as the screams began, they quickly moved away and hid.

"Damn it, what's going on with that guy? He's gone nearly thirty meters in and is completely fine," one human exclaimed angrily.

"Exactly! We have to think of something, or he'll get all the benefits."

Those outside grew anxious. The Mo Beasts, however, remained quiet; they were not interested in Magic treasures.

Bi Fan had entered so far without any issues and gradually relaxed.

Since the Two-Colored Strange Lotus had led him to this place, it surely wouldn't let him come to harm.

When he reached thirty meters deep, the Sha Qi was extremely dense. Bi Fan could feel the Sha Qi invading his body, and more so, his mind.

The black lotus finally showed signs of movement, with wisps of black energy emerging and absorbing all the Sha Qi.

The Sha Qi formed a vortex centered on Bi Fan, surging towards him wildly.

However, the Sha Qi was formless and invisible. The people and Mo Beasts outside couldn't see it; only Bi Fan could feel it.

The Two-Colored Strange Lotus frantically absorbed the Sha Qi and spiritual energy. The black lotus primarily absorbed Sha Qi, while the white lotus was responsible for absorbing spiritual energy, and both were very fast.

Bi Fan clearly felt the surrounding spiritual energy and Sha Qi thinning out. He quickly moved deeper, intending to leave some Sha Qi behind to block the people and Mo Beasts outside.

Without the Sha Qi to obstruct them, if the people and Mo Beasts rushed in, a fierce battle would likely be unavoidable.

This was not something Bi Fan wanted to see. Seeing how energetically the Two-Colored Strange Lotus was absorbing the Sha Qi and spiritual energy, giving them more time was naturally the best option.

Watching Bi Fan continue to venture deeper, the people outside were utterly shocked, looking at him as if he were a monster.

"He's incredible, treating the Sha Qi as if it's nothing," one person exclaimed.

"He must have some treasure that can block the Sha Qi, otherwise he would have gone mad long ago," a human expert retorted, unconvinced.

"I wonder where the center of the Sha Qi is. There must be a treasure there. We can't just wait around like this."

"Does anyone have any pills for calming the mind? I'll pay a high price!" someone shouted.

Suddenly, those who had such pills were jolted awake. They immediately took the pills and headed towards the Sha Qi area.

Perhaps the Sha Qi had thinned, or perhaps the pills had taken effect. Those who took the pills slowly ventured about ten meters deeper without any issues.

"Hey, do you guys have any more pills? I'll pay a high price for them!" Those outside who didn't have pills for calming the mind became anxious.

"I'll offer one hundred Crystal Stones per pill. Whoever has them, I'll buy them all."

"One hundred Crystal Stones is nothing! I'll bet my entire fortune for just one pill. Hurry if you have any!"

There were indeed quite a few people outside who had pills for calming the mind, but they were too timid to enter the Sha Qi area.

Now, an opportunity to strike it rich had arrived. They certainly wouldn't let it pass. Since they couldn't obtain the treasure, earning some Crystal Stones was also good.

"I have one pill for calming the mind. Those who want it, act fast. Highest bidder gets it," a human announced, taking out the pill and shouting.

Instantly, a crowd surrounded him, bidding one after another, and the pill was quickly sold.

Similar scenes were unfolding in many places, creating a lively atmosphere.

The Mo Beasts gathered on the other side, showing no movement, as if waiting for an opportune moment.

Those who obtained the pills immediately took them and then rushed into the Sha Qi area.

Bi Fan ventured deeper and deeper, disappearing from everyone's sight. He had gone at least several hundred meters deep.

The deeper he went, the more concentrated the Sha Qi and spiritual energy became. The Two-Colored Strange Lotus was working overtime, frantically absorbing the Sha Qi and spiritual energy.

Bi Fan had nothing else to do, so he looked inward. He discovered that the Two-Colored Strange Lotus was becoming more lustrous.

Furthermore, a small bulge began to appear at the center of the petals, resembling a lotus seedpod, just starting to emerge. Strangely, the lotus did not wither; instead, it became more vibrant.

Bi Fan was filled with curiosity and really wanted to see what other new changes the Two-Colored Strange Lotus would undergo.

Reaching this point, every step forward became extremely difficult, mainly due to the increasing pressure.

Bi Fan had to take a step, then stop to rest for a while, allowing the Two-Colored Strange Lotus to absorb the surrounding Sha Qi and spiritual energy until they were almost depleted before continuing.

As for the source of the Sha Qi, Bi Fan had not yet seen it and did not know how much further it was.

Quite a few people outside had entered the Sha Qi area. As they went deeper, the Sha Qi increased. Many shrewd individuals began to retreat, while others, unwilling to give up, continued to press on.

Especially those who had paid a high price for pills to calm the mind could not easily give up.

Ten meters... fifteen meters... twenty meters...

Those who hadn't gone in stared nervously, more tense than if they were inside themselves.

"May you all go mad!" Many even secretly prayed.

When a human expert reached twenty-five meters, he suddenly became violent, shouting wildly and tearing at his clothes and hair.

"Damn it, he's gone mad!" Those still in the Sha Qi area quickly stopped, feeling extremely frustrated.

Since someone had gone mad again, who would dare to act recklessly?

One person, who had spent all his savings to get a pill, was unwilling to give up and took a few more steps.

Past mistakes serve as a lesson for the future.

He also could not escape, going mad and dying.

This time, no one hesitated anymore. Those who had gone in all retreated, and those who were about to enter stopped in their tracks.

Those who had chosen to sell the pills were overjoyed, secretly chuckling.

"What was that about the person earlier? He's too abnormal, not afraid of the Sha Qi's invasion."

"Let's observe the situation first. If it's really necessary, we'll report it to our superiors immediately and see how the higher-ups handle it."

"Everyone remember his appearance. If he comes out alive, we must find a way to intercept him."

These people all wanted to see Bi Fan's situation, but unfortunately, Bi Fan had already gone too far, and they couldn't see him at all.