Chapter 379: Chapter 378: Demi-Saint Heart_1
Ling Chen’s gaze landed on those silhouettes, and his expression immediately became serious.
Five figures stood opposite the stone coffin: three middle-aged men and two elderly men, all powerful experts at the Grand Master level.
The three middle-aged men were at the Grandmaster Third Realm, while the two elderly men had already reached the Grandmaster Fourth Realm.
Judging by their attire, it was clear that the five did not hail from the same Sect. Among them were Experts from the Myriad Dao Sect, as well as others from smaller sects in the Martial World.
"Treasures belong to those who see them. Why should I withdraw when you haven’t even claimed it?"
Faced with the Demi-Saint Heart, a treasure beyond compare, it was impossible for Ling Chen not to be moved. To expect him to retreat meekly was absolutely out of the question.
"Because we outnumber you."
A middle-aged man in a Purple Robe, his eyes full of vigilance, said, "Do you think you can match the five of us?"
"Five?"
Ling Chen was taken aback, then said with some surprise, "It seems to me that you five do not belong to the same faction. Can this Demi-Saint Heart truly be divided equally among you?"
There was only one Demi-Saint Heart, so there was no possibility of an equal division. The fact that these five people presented such a united front truly surprised Ling Chen.
"With a kid like you around, we can naturally forget about getting this Demi-Saint Heart. There isn’t even a slim chance, is there, Ling Chen?"
The man in the Purple Robe deliberately emphasized Ling Chen’s name as he spoke.
"Ling Chen, the champion of the Martial World tournament, though only a First Realm Grandmaster, can defeat a Grandmaster at the Fourth Realm. If we underestimate you, we’ll likely suffer a huge loss."
Another old man in homespun garments gazed at Ling Chen and said with a cold laugh.
"Am I that famous now? To think I’d actually be recognized."
Hearing this, Ling Chen finally understood the situation. No wonder these five people were so united and wary of him, a mere youth—they knew his capabilities all too well.
These people had obviously watched the Martial World tournament closely.
It seems getting the Demi-Saint Heart this time won’t be so easy.
"Ling Chen, no matter how much of a genius you are, you can’t stand against the five of us. Leave quickly, or don’t blame us for attacking!"
At this, Ling Chen could only shrug. If these five joined forces, he would definitely be no match for them. He had to lay low for the time being and act according to the situation.
Ling Chen anticipated that the slightest unusual movement would probably result in the five of them launching a joint attack, leaving him with practically no chance to obtain the Demi-Saint Heart.
"Alright, just my luck. I won’t compete for it today. This Demi-Saint Heart, I’ll leave it to all of you."
Ling Chen sighed and then turned to walk out through the Bronze Gate.
Although he said this, Ling Chen had no real intention of giving up. He was merely retreating temporarily. He refused to believe that five people wouldn’t end up fighting over a single Demi-Saint Heart.
RUMBLE!
Closing the Bronze Gate, Ling Chen retreated outside the Stone Palace.
The moment Ling Chen stepped out of the Stone Palace, a cacophony of sounds erupted from within.
Peeking through the crack in the door, Ling Chen could see the five men rushing towards the stone coffin almost simultaneously, already engaged in a fierce battle.
Ling Chen watched the chaotic brawl among the five. As expected, human hearts are the greediest, he mused.
The fierce fight continued for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finally ending. Three of the five were seriously injured. Ultimately, an old man in white was a step faster than the other four and reached the stone coffin.
A blood-red glow flowed slowly around the Demi-Saint Heart. Faintly, an extremely terrifying ripple of energy emanated from it. Simultaneously, an incredibly strong oppressive force radiated from the glow.
"Haha, the Demi-Saint Heart is mine!"
His palm gripping the blood-red Demi-Saint Heart, the old man in white gave a forceful tug and wrenched it from the corpse’s body.
At this instant, Ling Chen’s expression turned extremely intense. He silently circulated his True Qi, preparing to make a move.
Seeing the old man in white seize the Demi-Saint Heart, the old man himself became exceedingly excited, his body trembling uncontrollably. If he could assimilate this Demi-Saint Heart, both his Cultivation and his Martial Arts would advance by leaps and bounds.
For a Grand Master like him, who essentially had no future prospects, consuming the Demi-Saint Heart would undoubtedly allow him to break through his limits and significantly raise his cultivation bottleneck.
Even the Sky Apex Realm would seem within reach. With this Demi-Saint Heart, any impossibility could become a possibility!
"Hahaha..."
Unable to stop himself from laughing uproariously, the white-robed elder barely managed to suppress his excitement. However, just as he was about to swallow the Demi-Saint Heart, he suddenly discovered that his entire palm holding it had, at some unknown point, become overrun with crimson threads. These dense threads extended deep into his bloodlines and bone marrow, a truly horrifying sight.
"How can this be?"
Seeing this, the smile on the white-robed elder’s face instantly froze, replaced by a look of terror. Unwittingly, his entire palm had lost all sensation; now, even his whole arm was numb. An extremely terrifying, noxious energy was seeping from the Demi-Saint Heart, and it had directly corroded his hand.
ARGH!
Letting out a bloodcurdling shriek, the white-robed elder clutched his corroded right hand and flung the Demi-Saint Heart away.
What a great chance!
Seeing the Demi-Saint Heart flung into the air, Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. His figure suddenly shot forward, appearing in the path of the rocketing Demi-Saint Heart, his hand outstretched to catch the incoming crimson gleam.
SWISH!
Just as the Demi-Saint Heart had flown two-thirds of the distance, a sudden black shadow intercepted it, snatching the Demi-Saint Heart away.
As the figure landed, Ling Chen clearly saw their face, and his expression immediately darkened. This person was none other than Xia Yunxin.
Xia Yunxin snatched the Demi-Saint Heart from Ling Chen, a smug smile appearing on her face. "Little brother Ling Chen, I’ll consider this Demi-Saint Heart a gift from you to me. I won’t be polite."
She deliberately flaunted the Demi-Saint Heart in her hand at Ling Chen. Then, Xia Yunxin gracefully lifted a corner of her thin veil, her cherry lips parting slightly. The blood-red orb of light in mid-air whizzed down and disappeared into her rosy mouth.
"You!"
When Ling Chen saw this woman swallow the Demi-Saint Heart without the slightest hesitation, his fists clenched involuntarily, and his gaze swiftly turned grim. He hadn’t anticipated this ’mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind’ scenario. This woman was simply too cunning! She seized the perfect moment to snatch the Demi-Saint Heart from right under his nose.