Chapter 96: Divine Artifact, the Kunlun Mirror

“Damn it! Who in the world is this old bastard? He has actually mastered a technique like external avatars! No, if this goes on, I may truly die here!”

Watching the attacks formed by Wu Qing’s several external avatars, Meng Chao knew he could no longer sit and wait for death. He had not come seeking vengeance only to lose his life for it.

Just as Meng Chao was still wrestling with himself, Wu Qing’s offensive had already fully taken shape. Several world-shattering powers instantly transformed into ferocious dragons, plunging straight toward Meng Chao.

At the instant he felt the breath of death, Meng Chao finally came to his senses. With a grave expression, he looked up at the sky, then clenched his teeth and made up his mind. He abandoned the long sword in his hand, and at once drew a palm-sized mirror from within his robes.

Holding the mirror in his left hand, Meng Chao continued to weave hand seals with his right while murmuring an incantation under his breath. When he had finished, he suddenly hurled the mirror high into the air. A blinding golden light burst forth, and the mirror that had once been no larger than his palm now transformed into a colossal reflective surface spanning heaven and earth, enveloping Meng Chao within it.

“Hmm? It seems the Meng family is no simple matter after all. They even possess a divine artifact like the Kunlun Mirror.”

Leaning against a tree trunk, Kong Wuming could not help showing a trace of astonishment as he witnessed this scene.

The Kunlun Mirror was a weapon of profoundly mysterious origin. Legend said it had once been a divine treasure within the Kunlun Celestial Palace, only to vanish from that heavenly realm for reasons unknown. No one had expected it would appear in the hands of the Meng family. If the cultivation world learned of this, the Meng family would likely have long since been wiped from Kunlun Mountain.

A divine artifact, and one that existed only in legend at that—such a thing was enough to drive every cultivator mad with desire. Even the four mighty figures of the Enforcement Hall would probably not hesitate for a moment to annihilate the Meng family upon hearing this news.

Within the void, dragon roars rang out one after another. In the blink of an eye, the six golden dragons smashed into the Kunlun Mirror. What was strange was that such terrifying force produced not the slightest sound after impact. An eerie silence settled over the void.

Wu Qing, high in the sky, flashed into motion and merged at once with his six external avatars. When he saw the Kunlun Mirror, a flicker of shock appeared on his face, though he quickly understood.

No wonder his overwhelmingly forceful strike had failed to injure Meng Chao. So the mirror had absorbed all of his power.

Wu Qing also realized that killing Meng Chao today would not be easy. He had once read in ancient records that the Kunlun Mirror was not only a divine artifact of astonishing defensive power, but also possessed the ability to traverse space.

If Meng Chao were determined to leave, then even if the two of them joined forces, they likely could do nothing to him.

Having sensed that Wu Qing’s power had been completely exhausted, the enormous Kunlun Mirror rapidly shrank back down and fell into Meng Chao’s hands below.

Meng Chao also understood the saying that great treasures invite great danger, and hurriedly put the Kunlun Mirror away. Then he fixed a cold stare on Wu Qing above.

At that moment, Kong Wudao’s figure slowly appeared beside Wu Qing.

“Heh heh, Family Head Meng. Tell me, if the Enforcement Hall learns that you actually possess the divine artifact Kunlun Mirror, what do you think will happen to the Meng family next?”

Kong Wudao said with a smile.

Meng Chao chose to ignore him. No one understood the severity of this matter better than he did. He had only brought out the Kunlun Mirror today because he had truly been driven into a corner.

“Don’t look at me like that. We have no interest in the affairs of your cultivation world. Although the Kunlun Mirror only flashed into view for an instant just now, I’m sure plenty of people in the cultivation world have already sensed it. Rather than glaring at us like this, you’d do better to think about how to deal with what comes next.”

Kong Wudao did not care about Meng Chao’s expression and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

Meng Chao gritted his teeth, his face turning livid with rage. At that very moment, several powerful auras suddenly appeared in his perception. Naturally, Wu Qing and Kong Wudao above also sensed them.

Meng Chao knew he could no longer remain here. With a single flash, he fled into the distance.

As for the two above, they made no attempt to stop him. They both knew that so long as the Kunlun Mirror remained in Meng Chao’s possession, even if they intercepted him, it would be meaningless.

After all, the Kunlun Mirror possessed another function as well: instantaneous relocation.

“We miscalculated. Truly, we miscalculated. I never expected Meng Chao to slip away so brazenly right under our noses. If word of this gets out, the two of us will become a laughingstock.”

Watching Meng Chao vanish into the distance, Kong Wudao could not help shaking his head with a wry smile.

“With a divine artifact in hand, we can do nothing. Though our strength far surpasses his, we have not yet reached the level where we can suppress a divine artifact.”

Wu Qing sheathed the spear in his hand and spoke calmly.

“Let’s go. Those auras are getting closer and closer. It would be best if we did not show ourselves.”

Kong Wudao said quietly as he sensed the approaching presences.

Then he suddenly stretched out both hands into the void, seized it as though grasping fabric, and tore it apart. A crack instantly opened in space, and the two of them stepped into it together, disappearing from where they stood.

Not long after they left, several figures flying on sword light arrived at the scene. None of their robes were the same, which made it clear that they came from different factions within the cultivation world.

“It should be here. I can sense the aura of a divine artifact.”

A stern middle-aged man in white robes, with long hair draped over his shoulders, spoke slowly.

“It looks like we were still a step too late. The owner of the artifact must have sensed our auras as well and fled ahead of us.”

A burly man with a face full of stubble said carelessly.

“Of course. Whoever carries a divine artifact is not going to wait around for us to come seize it,” said a young man in a blood-red robe with a sneer, glancing at the stubbled man in disdain.

“Blood Robe, you’re asking for death!”

Humiliated by the youth’s contempt, the stubbled man immediately flew into a rage. Just as he was about to strike, he was pulled back by the white-robed man beside him.

“Don’t be rash. The people from the Enforcement Hall are here too.”

The white-robed man looked into the distance and said faintly.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look. Far away, an old man with white hair and a long white beard was slowly walking toward them. With every step he took, ripples spread through the surrounding space.

Once the crowd clearly saw his face, expressions of respect immediately appeared on all of them.

“Greetings, Guardian Nan Ke!”