*Siiiiii!* tearing open a rift beside Bai Wen and the others' location, Wu Xiao, Xiao Jun, Yun You, and Nuo'er arrives.
Seeing Zhou Chen and the Qilin formed of golden flames behind him, Wu Xiao remarks—
"Oh? Seems like we're right on time then."
"Hm?"
Seeing Bai Wen with his full face exposed, Nuo'er raises an eye.
...…
"…"
Being able to feel the intensity of the Qilin flames on his skin even from this distance, Long Hua remarks—
"Hmm. It does seem stronger than last time."
Narrowing his eyes, Long Hua can evidently sense the unique air of spirit Qi emanating from Zhou Chen as well.
(*-laoban, you intend to devour this attack as well?)
"Naturally. My breakthrough is riding on this."
Saying this, the powers of the metal, wood, water, earth and fire elements emanate from Long Hua's body. Of these elements, the weakest is naturally the fire element.
"…"
*Aooooouu!!!* as Zhou Chen narrows his eyes, the Qilin raises a draconic roar.
During his life as a practitioner, Zhou Chen had gone by the name of Yun Bi Xie.
Among the Everlasting Spirit Realm's older generation, he is commonly known to them as the Qilin Immortal Emperor, a Half-Monarch—who had participated in the war against the outer realm forces in the distant past.
"Surnamed Long, you are not a practitioner of the Ling Yuan family. As such, I shall give you one last chance. If you choose to aid this world's struggles-"
"Hahaha!"
Laughing aloud, Long Hua cuts Zhou Chen off, and in a mocking tone, he replies—
"Piss off, Zhou-laoye. My decision is final. This world, and the people in it—all shall serve as my stepping stone to glory. You were once a practitioner; hence, you should be able to understand how vicious the practitioners' circles are."
"…"
As the Qilin Immortal Emperor, Zhou Chen has seen many individuals of despicable character. But even among those irredeemable characters, Long Hua's methods are enough to place him within the former's top ten.
And perhaps sensing Long Hua's twisted nature—
*…!!!!!* the heat that emanates from the Qilin flames rises once more.
...…
"Ai…"
Towards Zhou Chen's words, Bai Wen heaves a sigh.
In his opinion, Zhou Chen is the least qualified person to say words of that nature, or to ask someone else to aid in this world's struggles.
The reason for this—is because Yun Bi Xie had been the one to commission the creation of the Leng Bing Realm.
...…
"…"
Drawing his trident back, Zhou Chen performs a single thrust, and with this thrust—
*Aoooooooooouuuuu!!!!!!* the Qilin charges forth—accompanied by a blazing trail of golden flames beneath its hooves!
"…"
Stabbing his weapon into the ground, Long Hua glares at the approaching Qilin with a light of greed in his glowing azure eyes.
"Devourer."
Muttering this, a colossal maw manifests in front of Long Hua, and upon the Qilin being less than a few meters away from ramming itself onto the maw—
*Boom!!!!!!!!!!* the Qilin explodes into a sea of golden flames, and pours itself onto the phantom maw!
"Tch…!"
Despite the colossal maw's size, the sea of golden flames' volume—makes it difficult for the maw to devour them quickly.
"Di Xin!"
Rotating the Tranquil Heart Incantation fiercely, Long Hua calls out the name of "Long Hua's" Relic—causing the center of his chest to emanate with a golden shine!
"Cang'e!"
*Shaaa!!! Shaaa!!! Shaaa!!!* calling out the name of the black crocodilian weapon spirit's Relic as well, raging dark waters manifest beneath Long Hua's feet!
Rather quickly, the power of the water element rises, as the dark waters pour forth to fend off the golden flames!
"…"
*Siiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!* as steam erupts from the epicenter of the two elemental forces' clash, Long Hua narrows his eyes at the detection of something's approach, and in the next instance—
*Boom!!!!!!!!!* a colossal comet tears through the steam—to descend from above at a neck-breaking speed!
"…"
Raising his weapon with both hands—
*Boom!!!!!!!!! Kakakakaka!!!!!* Long Hua receives the comet—causing the ground beneath his feet to shatter!
"Emperor, mortal realm's greatest authority…!"
*Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!!* gritting his teeth, Long Hua performs three Martial Emperor's Steps, and with the divine art's enhancement, he manages to straighten his arms, as he holds back the falling comet!
Off in the distance, beside Yang Ning, who had fired off the comet—
"…"
Xu Tian Kun raises her white staff over her head, and—
*Pah!!!!!* the Relic explodes with numerous tendrils of blue lightning, which wrap themselves around the weapon—forming a spear-shaped shell of violent energy!
"Venomous snake, eat this old lady's strike, and die!"
*Shuuuu!!!!!* similarly to a harpoon, Xu Tian Kun hurls her Relic towards Long Hua's direction!
"…"
Glancing at the incoming attack, Long Hua releases the power of the wood element, and—
*Boom!!!!!* erupting out of the ground is a human-sized wooden sculpture of Lord Tian She Zi, which ends up receiving the attack for him!
Due to the regenerative properties of the wood element, the sculpture manages to lock Xu Tian Kun's Relic within its chest.
"…"
Twitching an eye, Xu Tian Kun can't help but curse—
"How is this venomous snake this difficult to kill!?"
Raising a cold snort, Yang Ning replies—
"He's on his last leg at this point."