Chapter 580 - 575: Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure

The Power of Stars fell into Ning Jiang's hand, and the once-violent energy instantly became incredibly docile.

"How is that possible?"

Chu Xinghun was dumbfounded, staring at Ning Jiang's palm in disbelief. He saw Ning Jiang clutching a ball of starlight, which shimmered and flickered like water.

This scene made him feel like he was dreaming.

"You can control the Power of Stars, too?"

Chu Xinghun stared intently at Ning Jiang. A moment ago, he had dismissed Ning Jiang's words, but now things were different. The ease with which Ning Jiang had nullified his attack was a clear sign that he, too, could control the Power of Stars—and that his mastery over it far surpassed his own.

"Your application of the Power of Stars is pathetically shallow. I'll show you how it's truly meant to be used."

Ning Jiang's expression was indifferent. He gripped the starlight in his hand and tossed it upward.

SWISH SWISH SWISH...

Tiny motes of light scattered from the starlight, multiplying into the hundreds and thousands.

"This is..."

Beside them, Gu Huaying's beautiful eyes widened in shock.

The scattered starlight spread throughout the corridor in a myriad of tiny specks. At a glance, it looked just like a Star Map—a beauty that was impossible to describe with words.

At that moment, the three of them felt as if they were standing in the vast, starry cosmos, surrounded on all sides by beautiful, brilliant stars.

And there stood Ning Jiang, his temperament extraordinary and transcendent, like the Master of Myriad Stars who commanded all the stars in the heavens.

"You... you... you..."

Chu Xinghun stammered, "You... you... you..." unable to form a complete sentence. This display of power was enough to turn his world upside down.

Moreover, he could feel that with the appearance of the Star Map, the Power of Stars within his own body was growing even more unruly, on the verge of tearing itself out of him.

At this point, all his will to fight had vanished!

"Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't have been defeated so quickly. Your mistake was activating the Power of Stars in front of me!" Ning Jiang's gaze hardened. "Star Map, suppress!"

As his voice fell, every star in the corridor flared brightly. The entire Star Map began to rotate, and an immense power manifested, pressing down on Chu Xinghun.

"You want to suppress me? Dream on."

Chu Xinghun let out a long cry. The Spiritual Qi in his body erupted madly, like a flood bursting through a dam, as he tried to resist the Star Map's power.

Under normal circumstances, his strength would have been enough to resist the Star Map's suppression. But now, the Power of Stars within him was completely out of his control; it had turned riotous, greatly diminishing his capabilities.

Chu Xinghun spat out a mouthful of blood. A trace of terror finally appeared in his eyes. If this continued, he would definitely be suppressed by Ning Jiang.

"Ning Jiang, let me go, and we'll stay out of each other's way!"

His previous domineering attitude had completely vanished. Right now, Chu Xinghun only wanted to escape.

"It's too late to beg for mercy now." Ning Jiang's face was impassive. The Star Map continued its relentless suppression, and though Chu Xinghun roared again and again, he was powerless to resist.

"Heh, one should be merciful where mercy is due. Chu Xinghun has already begged for mercy. For you to be so relentless is a bit much, don't you think?"

Just then, a voice rang out.

DONG!

A bell chimed, echoing through the corridor. A golden soundwave swept out like a tidal wave, dissipating the suppression of Ning Jiang's Star Map.

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Xinghun shot backward, moving to stand beside the newcomer.

"Hm?"

Ning Jiang looked over and saw a young man of about twenty. He wore a white Daoist robe, exuding a clean and refreshing air. His face was like fine jade and his eyes like gems; he looked like a flawless sculpture.

But his eyes held an unparalleled arrogance, and he radiated an aura that suggested no one in the world was his match.

"It's you, Gu Weidao!"

Gu Huaying recognized him instantly and hurriedly explained to Ning Jiang, "Like Chu Xinghun, this man is one of the two titans of the Hidden Dragon List. He's incredibly strong!"

"You intend to stop me?"

Ning Jiang looked at Gu Weidao, his gaze as sharp and piercing as a sword.

"Chu Xinghun and I have a bit of a history. Of course I can't just stand by and watch him die," Gu Weidao said faintly, seemingly oblivious to Ning Jiang's fury.

"Those who block me die!"

Ning Jiang coldly spat out those four words, his chilling killing intent laid bare within them.

"I'd advise you not to be so bloodthirsty. Wouldn't it be better if we all took a step back and turned hostility into harmony?" Gu Weidao's expression remained unchanged, betraying none of his thoughts.

Hearing this, Ning Jiang wasted no more words.

'Since Gu Weidao jumped out to help Chu Xinghun, he's an enemy. And with enemies, there's no need for talk!'

SHIIING.

Ning Jiang drew his sword. The Thunder Dragon Sword slashed out, its sharp Sword Aura crossing dozens of yards in an instant to appear before the two men.

DONG.

A bell rang out.

Gu Weidao held a Golden Bell in his hand. With a gentle shake, a golden light flared and formed a Golden Bell Shield, enveloping both him and Chu Xinghun.

Ning Jiang's sword strike landed on the shield, causing only a few ripples to spread across the Golden Bell Shield's surface.

"Ning Jiang, that bell's origin is extraordinary. I've heard it's a Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure," Gu Huaying reminded him.

Hearing this, a glint flashed in Ning Jiang's eyes.

A Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure was also a Treasure born from heaven and earth, but it was flawed compared to a true Innate Spiritual Treasure. The birth of an Innate Spiritual Treasure was incredibly difficult. Out of a hundred Treasures nurtured by the world, perhaps only one could become a true Innate Spiritual Treasure. The rest were either failures or were left with flaws.

It was like an Artifact Refiner forging a Spiritual Artifact; sometimes they would succeed, and other times they would fail.

But even a Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure was astonishingly powerful, far surpassing Magical Treasures of the same rank.

"I advise you to stop. I've sworn to protect Chu Xinghun, and you can't touch him!"

Gu Weidao stood with his hands behind his back, his arrogance boundless.

The Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure in his hand possessed an incomparably tyrannical defense. Even a Heaven-Reaching Realm expert would have to spend a considerable amount of time to break it.

It could be said that after activating this item, he was virtually invincible.

"An Innate Spiritual Treasure? You think you're the only one who has one?"

Ning Jiang snorted coldly. With a beckoning gesture of his palm, a cyan gourd appeared in his hand.

"Is that... an Innate Spiritual Treasure?" Gu Weidao's eyelid twitched in disbelief. "No, this item is damaged. It can't compare to an undamaged Innate Spiritual Treasure."

"Even damaged, it's more than enough to deal with you. You dare to block my path? Then I'll be taking that bell of yours!"

'Gu Weidao's Quasi-Innate Spiritual Treasure is made of some fine material. I can use it to repair the Sword-Hiding Gourd.'

"Go."

SWISH SWISH SWISH...

Streams of cyan sword light flew out from the Sword-Hiding Gourd—thirty-six in total. Under Ning Jiang's control, they fiercely hacked at the Golden Bell Shield.