Shen Luo's expression changed. He leaped toward Ao Hong, trying to stop Ao Qin, but he was far too late.
Ao Qin wore a savage grin as the violet-gold sphere in his palm closed in on Ao Hong's brow.
Just then, a sudden change occurred!
A dark red glimmer flashed beside Shen Luo's Exquisite Ring. The Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl appeared out of thin air, transforming into a crimson streak that shot forth. At a speed beyond ordinary comprehension, it instantly appeared before Ao Hong's forehead and burst forth with dazzling blood-red radiance.
The instant Ao Qin's dragon claw approached, arcs of electricity erupted from the violet-gold sphere and struck the Blood-Seeking Nine-Chi Pearl dead on.
"Crackle..."
Violet-gold lightning immediately flared brightly, yet a curtain of light rose within the blood-red glow, shielding Ao Hong beneath it.
Just as Shen Luo and the others believed the violet-gold sphere was about to explode, a vortex suddenly emerged on the crimson light curtain and swallowed the lightning-wreathed violet-gold sphere.
All the lightning vanished without a sound.
Before Ao Qin could react, his palm was seized by an immense pulling force and dragged toward the blood-red vortex.
"What is this..." Ao Qin cried out in alarm.
Then something even more horrifying happened. The flesh and blood on his hand began to break apart, turning into indescribable wisps that drifted toward the blood-red vortex.
Correspondingly, Ao Hong's wounds on the other side of the light curtain began healing at a visible rate.
Ao Qin was utterly shocked. He struggled with all his might, but it was useless.
His entire palm turned to bare bone in an instant, and the blood-red vortex spread up his arm. At last, panic overtook him.
Ao Qin acted decisively. He raised his left hand and chopped down, severing his right