Chapter 33: The Escape When Qin Chuan was first sucked into the Treasure Lotus Lantern, he was shocked.But then he discovered something unexpected — the True Solar Fire within him could counterbalance the Seven Treasures Wondrous Flame inside the lantern. Just as he was preparing to transform into his Xuanming True Form and break out, he realized something else even more astonishing: Inside the lantern, his internal Golden Core was being refined at a phenomenal speed. Could the Treasure Lotus Lantern also have the effect of unlocking one’s potential? Upon realizing this, Qin Chuan was overjoyed and deliberately stayed inside the lantern a while longer. After the complete refinement of the Golden Core, not only did Qin Chuan’s cultivation surge to the peak of Grand Golden Immortal (Taiyi Jinxian), he even achieved the Indestructible Diamond Body, just like the Monkey King. At this point, his physical strength could go toe-to-toe with that of the ancient Great Witches of the same realm from the Primordial Era. “Xuanming Ancestral Witch?” Countless powerful beings watching the battle at Flower-Fruit Mountain turned their eyes toward him. These two powers — one of water and one of fire, typically incompatible — now existed within a single person. On the Moon, an incomparably beautiful woman lounged lazily on a cloud bed. Her jade lips parted slightly as her expression turned to astonishment. In the Netherworld, atop the Bridge of Helplessness, an old crone holding a bowl of hot soup let a trace of surprise flash in her eyes before smiling calmly. Back at the Heavenly Palace’s Jade Lake, silence fell. The Jade Emperor was speechless, his face curious. The Queen Mother merely glanced once and looked away. The Xuanming True Form spread its wings. The north wind howled, freezing all in its path. A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals were turned into ice sculptures. Qin Chuan charged directly towards the Monkey King, who was bound behind Yang Jian. The Monkey King had iron nails through his shoulder blades, sealing his ability to transform. When he saw Qin Chuan rushing towards him, he tried to rise, but even the Four Heavenly Kings couldn’t hold him down. Only with the Mei Mountain Brothers joining in did they barely manage to restrain him. Yang Jian shouted, “All troops, beware! He’s trying to rescue the demon monkey!” As he spoke, his spiritual power surged. The Heavenly Eye on his forehead opened, and his Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Blade flew out, splitting the air. The Xuanming form let out a low roar and struck at the blade with its claws. Yang Jian’s forehead bulged with veins, and after a moment of struggle, he was thrown backward in defeat. The Mei Mountain Brothers paled in shock. Despite their fear of the terrifying Xuanming form, they stood firmly in front of Yang Jian, refusing to retreat. The remaining Five Planetary Star Lords (Jiuyao Stars) took over for the Mei Mountain Brothers and the Four Heavenly Kings to pin down the Monkey King. Yang Chan flew to Yang Jian’s side, and the Treasure Lotus Lantern in her hand burst into blinding light. The Seven Treasures Wondrous Flame surged like a tidal wave, rushing toward Qin Chuan. Qin Chuan’s eyes suddenly turned golden — the True Solar Fire, pure and unyielding, clashed with the Seven Treasures Wondrous Flame. His Xuanming form charged directly into the lantern’s light, meeting an invisible barrier of light head-on. A terrifying shockwave erupted. The frozen heavenly soldiers were shattered into dust, their souls returning to the Investiture of the Gods list. The Xuanming True Form and the Treasure Lotus Lantern collided in a clash of immense power, as if the heavens and earth had flipped. The form let out an earth-shaking roar, its wings beating violently. A fierce cold wind swept out, seeking to freeze all things. The lantern, in response, shone with multicolored divine light, illuminating the skies as if trying to devour the universe. The two opposing forces twisted around one another like dragons and tigers in mortal combat, neither able to overpower the other. The surrounding space warped. Air currents roared, forming an invisible storm that swept everything nearby into chaos. Qin Chuan’s gaze fell on the Treasure Lotus Lantern, and despite himself, he felt a deep desire stir within. Having fully refined all the Golden Cores from Doushuai Palace, his magical power had soared, and the Xuanming form now possessed true Da Luo-level combat strength. And yet — Yang Chan, with just this divine lantern, could still stand against him. One could only imagine — if this sacred lamp ever unleashed its full power, what a terrifying existence it would become. Yang Chan’s face turned pale as her spiritual energy rapidly drained. She shouted urgently, “I must fully activate the Treasure Lotus Lantern—immortals, lend me your strength!” At her call, Yang Jian instantly flashed to her side. Dressed in broken armor and looking quite battered, Erlang Shen reached out his right hand, placing it on Yang Chan’s shoulder, and poured all his spiritual power into her without hesitation. The Mei Mountain Brothers followed right behind. Soon, Nezha, Li Jing, the Twenty-Eight Star Lords, the Four Duty Officers, and the Nine Celestial Luminaries all gathered and channeled their power into Yang Chan. A petal slowly detached from the Treasure Lotus Lantern, radiating multicolored light as it transformed into an invisible force. Qin Chuan felt a sudden weight pressing down on him, and his Xuanming True Form began to show signs of collapsing. He roared in fury. From the void, ice rain fell, mingled with blazing True Solar Fire. The immortals behind Yang Chan, including Yang Jian, were all blasted back and sent flying. At that moment, Yang Chan, holding the Treasure Lotus Lantern, saw her energy climb rapidly. She soon broke through the Great Luo threshold, and her momentum even seemed to surpass the Xuanming True Form. Qin Chuan’s eyes flashed with helplessness — “A top-grade innate spiritual treasure… really is broken beyond belief.” It was clear he wouldn’t be able to rescue the Monkey King today. If he stayed any longer and the Xuanming form was destroyed, he might be trapped as well. He glanced at the Monkey King, still bound in the distance. The monkey was baring his teeth, seemingly mouthing something at him. Qin Chuan’s thoughts raced. At this point in the Havoc in Heaven, aside from the Monkey King, no one had contributed more than him. Even though he now possessed Great Luo-level combat power, when he thought about the heavyweights who would appear at the end of this legendary battle… He could only bet everything on one last move! Mind made up, the Xuanming True Form let out a sky-shaking howl. Small cracks began to appear across its body, but its aura only grew more powerful, like an unshakable mountain. Yang Chan gritted her teeth and poured her full power into the Lantern. Suddenly— A figure separated from the Xuanming form — it was Qin Chuan’s true body, whose cultivation aura had dropped back to the Golden Immortal (Taiyi Jinxian) level. While the Xuanming form held off the Treasure Lotus Lantern, Qin Chuan used a technique akin to shedding a golden cicada shell, and his true form slipped forward, arriving before Yang Chan. She was fully focused on channeling the lantern and couldn’t move. “Don’t hurt my third sister, you—!” Yang Jian shouted from afar, raising his spear to charge. But before he could finish, his pupils contracted, and he froze like a statue. The Mei Mountain Brothers behind him were equally stunned. Yang Chan’s eyes widened, her heart pounding wildly. She stared at the face suddenly so close to hers. As she felt moisture on her lips, her mind exploded like spring thunder. She lost focus—and her control over the Treasure Lotus Lantern faltered. At that moment, the Xuanming form dispersed into a rain of light. “Thank you for your mercy, Third Holy Mother,” Qin Chuan whispered in her ear, then turned into a streak of rainbow light and flashed over to the Monkey King’s side. With a sweep of his Ice-Dragon Spear, he instantly sent the Four Heavenly Kings flying. Just as he reached out to touch the Binding Immortal Rope on the Monkey King, Yang Jian’s three-pointed spear whistled past his face — so close it nearly grazed his skin. His eyes were burning with fury, looking like he’d devour someone alive. “Damn sister-con,” Qin Chuan cursed inwardly. From the other side, Nezha appeared with three heads and six arms, while other immortal generals closed in. Without hesitation, Qin Chuan used his Golden Crow Rainbow-Escape technique to flee into the distance. Without the Lotus Lantern to block his way, no one could stop him. “Looks like your good brother abandoned you,” sneered Li Jing, walking over with a grim face and deliberately taunting the Monkey King. The Monkey King stood frozen, staring in the direction where Qin Chuan had escaped. He ignored the scolding and curses from the surviving immortals. Qin Chuan… did he just…Slip him the Heart Leaf given by Master?