CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 293: CRYSTAL COFFIN (6)_1

The Formation within the villa activated in a timely manner, surrounding Shangguan You with unnatural thorns that closed in on her from all directions, leaving her with no place to escape.

Thorns sprouted from the earth, drastically weakening the Earth Power. A sweet taste rose in Shangguan You’s throat as she forcibly suppressed the violently churning qi and blood within her. She could feel Spiritual Energy rapidly converging towards her body, and wave after wave of wrenching pain swept over her. Shangguan You, clad in black, wore a grimace of pain, her forehead slick with sweat. She clenched her hands tightly, preventing herself from crying out in agony.

Zhuge Yang and the others looked up at Shangguan You, who was suspended in mid-air. They were impressed by her powerful aura and her fluttering white beard. They exchanged glances, seeing the gravity of the situation in each other’s eyes—she was a formidable opponent.

Green, sharp thorns surged in from all directions, violently lunging at Shangguan You’s chest. At the same time, Zhuge Yang and his two companions launched their fiercest attacks. It was hard enough for two fists to fight against four hands, let alone masters like them.

BANG! The place where Shangguan You had stood erupted in flames, the passing Spiritual Energy illuminating the area. The figure in black swiftly vanished into thin air.

The Spiritual Energy of the three men collided violently with the incoming thorns. The sounds of CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! were exceptionally jarring in the pitch-black night. Where their energies intersected, flames soared into the sky, and the thorns were battered by the Spiritual Energy, falling from mid-air straight to the ground.

THUD! They landed heavily, kicking up clouds of dust in the darkness. The Spiritual Energy in the air gradually dissipated into the night. Shen Po yelled out in astonishment, "Where’s the person?" The black-clad old man had just been standing there. Even with her great capabilities, she couldn’t have vanished so silently before their very eyes. The ground was covered in thorns, making it impossible for her to have burrowed into the earth beneath their watch.

"Stay alert! Don’t get distracted!" Zhuge Yang’s aged face furrowed. He immediately stood back-to-back with his two companions. All three of them silently monitored every movement in the air.

CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP! The calls of birds suddenly echoed, and three streams of Spiritual Energy shot towards the source of the sound.

CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP! More strange bird cries sounded, and then three birds were struck by the Spiritual Energy and fell to the ground, dead on impact, their feathers scattered everywhere. The trio looked at each other, sweat beading on their foreheads from the tension.

"Hiding is no skill! If you dare, fight this old man fair and square!" Zhuge Yang roared, sending his Spiritual Energy blasting out in all directions. The energy wreaked havoc throughout the villa.

"Master, he must be scared! That’s why he’s hiding, too afraid to come out and fight us! What a coward!" Zhuge Ao also yelled angrily. But even though his words were harsh, their vigilance did not wane. They were constantly alert to even the slightest rustle of wind, not letting anything escape their gaze.

"Master, this isn’t working. Why don’t we go down to the ground and wait?"

"No! That old man has the Earth Spirit Bead. If we land on the ground, won’t we be walking right into the tiger’s den?"

"Let’s land first and conserve our strength. I don’t believe that old fellow can get away," Zhuge Yang frowned and coldly commanded. The three figures in mid-air landed steadily on the thorns covering the ground. As soon as they touched down, the black mist that had previously dissipated enveloped the entire villa once again.

"Elder, the Crystal Coffin is mine. Please return it, or don’t blame us for being impolite."

"That’s right! The woman in the Crystal Coffin was also entrusted to me. You can’t take her away!" Shen Po raised his voice in the courtyard. He had never expected that the person he refused that day would be so capable as to place someone in the Crystal Coffin right in front of him.

"Hmph! Once something falls into my hands, do you think it’s possible for me to give it back? That’s utterly ridiculous!" Shangguan You felt the hostility from all around as she slipped into her personal dimension. The Spiritual Energy raged inside her, and the constant pressure on her meridians caused unbearable discomfort.

This is a sign of a breakthrough, but facing such formidable enemies, what am I to do? She swallowed several Jade Dew Pills, but the pain inside her body did not subside. In fact, it grew even worse. Hearing the clamoring voices from outside, Shangguan You couldn’t help but snort coldly.

She sat cross-legged on the Purple Lotus, allowing the raging Spiritual Energy to course through her meridians while she kept a watchful eye on the three men outside. Hearing their shameless remarks, she couldn’t take it anymore and shouted loudly.

"Nonsense! The Crystal Coffin, does it belong to you? If I remember correctly, this object belongs to the Shen Family. What business is it of yours? It has absolutely nothing to do with you, not even a dime’s worth! Hmph!" Shangguan You suppressed the pain in her body and retorted fiercely. Shen Po, Shen Cheng, Wanqian, all of you just wait!

"My surname is Shen; naturally, the item belongs to me. Moreover, for the woman in the Crystal Coffin, please show some mercy, Elder. Do not let her leave it; otherwise, her fate will be the same as Wanyou’s!" Shen Po hurriedly spoke up when he heard Shangguan You’s voice. He feared that if the person who had entrusted the woman to him returned and saw she was missing, it would cause immense trouble.

"Hmph! Once an item is in my hands, it’s mine. Who dares to snatch it? I’ll use it as I please, and no one can stop me!" Shangguan You glanced at the distant Crystal Coffin, a strange pang of pain constricting her heart. Now isn’t the time for me to break through, she thought. I need to wait longer.

"Hmph! Still hiding? If you have the guts, come out and let’s fight face-to-face!" Zhuge Yang listened intently for any sound from all directions, remaining constantly on guard.

"Hmph, face-to-face? Are you worthy?" Shangguan You snorted, suppressing the chaotic Spiritual Energy inside her as she slowly approached Zhuge Yang.

"Hmph! I am Elder Zhuge Yang of the Zhuge Family! May I ask for your esteemed name? I request a battle!" Zhuge Yang then leaped into mid-air, issuing the challenge in the traditional manner of the Hidden World Families.

This was a rule within the Hidden World Families: once a challenge was accepted, then only the two individuals involved could resolve their issues in a fair and open fight; no one else could interfere.