Chapter 401: Chapter 224 Chaos, Vajra Demon Suppression Bell Acquired_2 At the same time, chaos had erupted within the ruins of the Demon Suppression Sect. Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao simultaneously launched an attack on Zhu Hong, prompting those from various minor clans to develop their own ambitions and surge toward the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell. Although the individuals from the minor clans could not rival the disciples from these major sects and factions in terms of individual strength, their sheer numbers were overwhelming! With over three times the number of people charging forward, their momentum was formidable. For the moment, the members of the Governor Mansion, Thousand Poison Sect, Haoyang Sect, and Giant Sword Sect could only temporarily unite to fend off the onslaught. After all, the Governor Mansion and the two sects and three sects were the dominant rulers within the Red Cloud Prefecture. A supreme treasure like the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell could absolutely not be allowed to fall into the hands of other forces. Without the suppression of Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao, the people from the minor clans grew emboldened, launching fierce attacks against the Governor Mansion and the allied sects and clans. Due to the sheer number of fighters, the commotion caused by their battle even overshadowed Lu Shu, Lin Tianhao, and Zhu Hong’s ongoing fight. Having succumbed to mental deviation, Zhu Hong’s strength had become terrifyingly powerful. Even with Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao joining forces, they had yet to take him down. Of course, a large part of the reason was that neither of them wanted to expend too much effort, fearing they might lose out in the fight for the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell later. After forcing the two to retreat with a single slash, Zhu Hong’s face twisted into a malicious smile. He dragged his blade across his own body, causing blood to stream out in rivulets. Smearing the blood onto his blade, he bellowed, "Burn, burn my life! Power, I want more power!" His voice had completely transformed, becoming both deep and ethereal, like the wails of a spectral ghost from the depths of hell. As soon as he finished speaking, his blood spontaneously ignited with a sudden burst, and his aura surged yet again. "Not good! This lunatic is actually burning his essence blood and lifespan! If we keep holding back, none of us will walk away unscathed!" Lin Tianhao’s expression turned grave as he noticed Zhu Hong’s abnormal changes. He immediately retrieved a shimmering silver spear from his spatial bag. The spear stood as tall as he did, its crystalline tip gleaming like ice and radiating a biting chill. Lu Shu nodded in agreement and wasted no time either. Drawing a solid blue longsword from her waist, she immediately unleashed its power. As the longsword was unsheathed, sword energy surged. A relentless force akin to a mire enveloped Zhu Hong—this was Lu Shu’s sword domain! Under Lu Shu’s sword domain, Zhu Hong’s flames visibly weakened. Zhu Hong raised his head to glare at Lu Shu, emitting a terrifying howl. Gripping his blade with both hands, he once again unleashed his Blood-Drinking Frenzy Blade technique. This time, the ferocity was even more overwhelming. His blade energy surged with astonishing force, reaching a level equal to Lu Shu’s sword domain. Lu Shu frowned deeply, her expression hardening as she slashed her longsword forward, releasing a sweeping green sword energy. Lin Tianhao and Lu Shu had been rivals for years. This move, known as Wave-breaking, was a top-grade Yellow Level martial art. Though not Lu Shu’s ultimate technique, it was undoubtedly one of her most powerful hidden skills. Seeing her go all out, Lin Tianhao naturally abandoned any reservations as well. With a flick of his spear, chilling energy flowed forth from its tip. The gentlemanly warmth in Lin Tianhao’s gaze now vanished, replaced by a sharp and imposing aura. In an instant, a frosty glint appeared, and then his spear pierced forward like a dragon! "Thousand Spear Assault!" Lin Tianhao roared as his spear thrust rapidly, forming countless spear shadows within the span of a few breaths. "No wonder he can single-handedly defeat a second-layer Refining Marrow cultivator despite being in the Golden Bone Realm—his strength is truly terrifying." Gu Sheng, observing quietly from the shadows, was inwardly rattled by their abilities. Both Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao’s martial arts made Gu Sheng’s skin tingle—a clear warning from his body about the threat their techniques posed. He began calculating his chances of survival should he have to confront either of them one-on-one. The chaos within the Demon Suppression Sect’s secret realm had grown so intense that no one noticed a figure cloaked entirely in black robes entering, not even Gu Sheng. It was Zhao Honglie, who had been waiting outside for this moment. "Hmm? Such a volatile soul—excellent, excellent! A soul and body like this is the perfect nourishment for me. I must seize it!" Upon entering, Zhao Honglie immediately locked onto Zhu Hong’s distinct aura. Despite Zhu Hong being relentlessly pushed back under Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao’s joint offense, there wasn’t a shred of fear on his face. Instead, his expression grew increasingly manic, his energy surging ever more chaotically, like a ticking time bomb. Seeing this, Zhao Honglie arched his brow and sneered coldly. "Hmph! How dare you self-destruct when I’ve already set my sights on your soul and flesh?" With a subtle flick of his finger, an imperceptible black light shot into Zhu Hong’s body at an astonishing speed. Once the black light entered his body, Zhu Hong’s chaotic aura stalled. His impending explosion and instability were abruptly subdued. By now, Lin Tianhao and Lu Shu’s attacks were already upon him. Under Zhao Honglie’s interference, Zhu Hong, who had barely been holding his ground, was immediately struck by their martial arts. The moment their techniques hit, streaks of eerie black light flickered across Zhu Hong’s body, and the crimson hue in his eyes abruptly transformed into black. Shielded by the black light, Zhu Hong’s body did not disintegrate under their combined martial arts. "Hmm? Why has he suddenly become so frail?" This question simultaneously surfaced in Lin Tianhao and Lu Shu’s minds. They both clearly understood the power of their respective techniques. Given Zhu Hong’s prior display of strength, he should not have been instantly overwhelmed like this. Both of them approached Zhu Hong’s motionless figure. By now, Zhu Hong had lost all signs of life. They stared at his perfectly intact corpse, their confusion deepening. Watching this unfold, Gu Sheng no longer dared to linger in contemplation. Using the Shadow Concealment Skill, he swiftly moved toward the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell. The bell had significantly shrunk in size, now standing about half as tall as Gu Sheng. In his current state of strength, he could not directly conceal it, so he pulled out his spatial bag and stowed it away entirely. "The Vajra Demon Suppression Bell is gone!" Suddenly, a voice called out amidst the chaotic crowd, prompting everyone engaged in battle to turn toward the bell’s previous location. By this time, Gu Sheng had already hidden himself and was advancing toward the exit with the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell secured. Lin Tianhao and Lu Shu frowned deeply, grinding their teeth in anger as they shouted, "Gu Sheng!" Knowing their perception might struggle to locate Gu Sheng, Lin Tianhao immediately retrieved two golden spheres from his spatial bag and hurled them into the air. The spheres collided mid-air, exploding into a shower of golden powder. The powder settled, revealing Gu Sheng’s outline despite his Shadow Concealment Skill rendering him invisible to the naked eye. "What the hell? There’s a technique like this?" Gu Sheng had not anticipated that his Shadow Concealment Skill could be unraveled this way. Without hesitation, he turned and fled at full speed. Lu Shu and Lin Tianhao immediately gave chase, but their pace fell slightly short of catching Gu Sheng, who had activated his Wind Walker Boots. Lin Tianhao, however, appeared unperturbed, as his golden spheres were a sect-secret technique specialized in tracking. The powder clinging to Gu Sheng was incredibly difficult to remove, allowing Lin Tianhao to locate him using the technique. He deliberately slowed his pursuit, letting Gu Sheng gain distance. In Lin Tianhao’s view, competing against Gu Sheng was far less challenging than matching wits and strength against Lu Shu. Lu Shu naturally noticed this deliberate tactic. Acting decisively, she retrieved a crimson arrow from her spatial bag, attaching it to a Spirit Stone. Immediately, the arrow emitted an unusual glow. Lu Shu aimed the arrow at Gu Sheng and hurled it forward. Having suffered earlier, Gu Sheng was quick to react and slashed at the approaching arrow, wary of its effects. Strangely, as the arrow neared, it scattered into a red mist that engulfed Gu Sheng. Gu Sheng felt an unnatural energy invading his body. Glancing at his skin, he saw red markings beginning to emerge.