After Liang Tian Chi finished his boast to Xu Fang, a tremor ran through his magical artifact, and a mist of merit power billowed forth.
"Resisting stubbornly, courting death!"
Daoist Randeng glanced at it and shook his head, thinking this was merely Xu Fang's last desperate struggle to avoid death.
However, little did he know that at this very moment, Liang Tian Chi was already conversing with his own magical artifact, the Ling Jiu Lamp.
"Oh my, Sister Ling Jiu Lamp, you are indeed majestic and mighty! Even I, a treasure of merit, am filled with admiration!"
Liang Tian Chi began with a compliment. Whether friend or foe, a good word first is always beneficial.
"Hmph, do not think a few sweet words will make me spare you."
The Ling Jiu Lamp snorted coldly and then spoke in a stern tone.
"I know your power is not limited to this. Hurry up and fight. If we delay any longer, once this Underworld passage is formed, evil spirits will pour in endlessly, making it incredibly difficult to deal with!"
Hearing this, Xu Fang felt a glimmer of hope. After all, if it were truly a life-and-death confrontation, why would the Ling Jiu Lamp speak like this?
With such an aggressive attitude, followed by a discourse on the dire consequences, wasn't it a clear signal to Liang Tian Chi to exert his strength and disrupt Daoist Randeng?
Liang Tian Chi, of course, understood. Suppressing the joy in his heart, he feigned panic and hastened to explain.
"Alas, Ling Jiu Lamp, you misunderstand me!"
"Misunderstand? Stop talking so much. If you don't act now, you'll lose your chance!"
"I told you it's a misunderstanding, yet you still don't believe. See, isn't this proof?"
Liang Tian Chi rejoiced inwardly. The fish had taken the bait!
"I observe Daoist Randeng's demeanor, which, like his cultivation, is far superior to mine as his master."
"Where else will you find such a fine master? Hurry, exert your strength, let the Underworld passage manifest, and let all the evil spirits surge forth. Once the dust settles, we'll all be a loving family!"
The Ling Jiu Lamp, clearly caught off guard by Liang Tian Chi's intentions, was utterly astonished.
"What is happening? Have you given up resisting?"
The Ling Jiu Lamp panicked. This treasure of merit was a formidable opponent. If it fell into Daoist Randeng's hands, the lamp might not be able to maintain its dominance.
At that point, it would lose its position as Randeng's foremost treasure!
This was an unbearable thought for the Ling Jiu Lamp. It was Randeng's most powerful treasure, born alongside him.
Past, present, and future, it believed itself to be unique in Randeng's heart!
"Not only have I given up resisting, but I will cheer with both hands and feet, if I had them!"
Liang Tian Chi continued his assault, his verbal attacks relentless.
"No!"
The Ling Jiu Lamp cried out sharply, trembling violently. The Underworld Ghost Fire it controlled also flickered erratically, leaving Daoist Randeng quite perplexed.
"What is happening?"
Daoist Randeng examined the Ling Jiu Lamp, unsure of what was transpiring.
"It seems prolonged use of the Ling Jiu Lamp has caused some damage? But that's fine. Once I acquire that treasure of merit, we can switch and use it instead."
Daoist Randeng, unable to comprehend the situation, made this assumption.
This remark further exacerbated the Ling Jiu Lamp's already precarious state, causing it to tremble uncontrollably, as if on the verge of exploding.
"You good-for-nothing Randeng! I've toiled for you tirelessly all these years, and now that you have a new flame, you're going to discard me?"
"Do you think I'll let you have your way? Just you wait. You want to obtain a new treasure, don't you? Dream on!"
"Besides me, you cannot possess any other treasure. I am the one and only!"
The Ling Jiu Lamp stopped engaging with Liang Tian Chi. Provoked by Daoist Randeng, its smoldering resentment finally erupted.
Xu Fang and Liang Tian Chi watched in silence as the Ling Jiu Lamp raged like a shrew in the market, neither saying a word.
It had to be said that whether mortal or artifact, when consumed by obsession, they were capable of astonishingly unreasonable acts.
The Ling Jiu Lamp was Daoist Randeng's companion treasure, which Randeng cherished dearly. Yet, from the Ling Jiu Lamp's perspective, Daoist Randeng was *its* treasure.
At this moment, the Ling Jiu Lamp cursed Daoist Randeng incessantly, its entire form shaking, causing the Underworld Ghost Fire to flicker precariously, as if on the verge of dissipating.
"What is going on?"
Daoist Randeng was astonished, wondering what had befallen his treasure at such a crucial juncture.
The Underworld passage was almost established, success was imminent. He could not allow all his efforts to be in vain!
Without a second thought, Daoist Randeng began channeling more spiritual power, attempting to stabilize the Ling Jiu Lamp.
This action was akin to pouring oil on a fire, further enraging the Ling Jiu Lamp.
"Hurry, hurry, Randeng, when will you stop? Are you that eager for your new love?"
"Fine, fine! Since you are so heartless, do not blame me for being unrighteous!"
"You want treasures, do you? I will absolutely deny you!"
How could Daoist Randeng appease the Ling Jiu Lamp in its furious state? It only led to a greater backlash.
"What on earth is wrong!"
Daoist Randeng was utterly bewildered. Why had such a perfectly fine treasure become like this?
He looked up at Xu Fang. At this moment, the young man was simply standing there, motionless, not having made a move. What was going on?
Xu Fang was indeed stunned. He had never imagined the Ling Jiu Lamp harbored such deep resentment. It felt as bizarre as Daoist Randeng abandoning his original wife for a mistress!
And Daoist Randeng, unknowingly, had become the unfaithful lover!
"Alright, stop dawdling. I'll add some fuel to the fire!"
Liang Tian Chi's telepathic message reached Xu Fang, and then he spoke to the Ling Jiu Lamp.
"No, no, no, absolutely not!"
"Ling Jiu Lamp, just focus on communicating with the Underworld. Once this is done, we can be together forever and ever, accompanying our Daoist Randeng!"
Liang Tian Chi's words, upon hearing them, only intensified the Ling Jiu Lamp's fury.
"How dare you! It's bad enough that Randeng bullies me, but you, you fickle, promiscuous, lowly artifact, dare to humiliate me like this?"
"You two want to be together? I forbid it! Goodbye!"
As the Ling Jiu Lamp spoke, its artifact trembled even more violently. A brilliant burst of light erupted, instantly dissipating the nearby Underworld Ghost Fire.
The so-called Underworld passage naturally vanished along with the ghost fire, and the area was once again bathed in daylight.
"This!"
All living beings present, except for Xu Fang, were utterly astonished, not understanding what had happened.
"What is going on?"
Daoist Randeng was shocked. How could his artifact's power just dissipate on its own? Wasn't this a complete failure?
He quickly reached out, preparing to pick up the Ling Jiu Lamp and examine it to find out where the problem lay.
"Don't touch me, you disgust me!"
The Ling Jiu Lamp roared, and with a sudden surge, it flew away into the distance.
Xu Fang gasped. Within the Ling Jiu Lamp's furious cry, there was a trace of a sob, which was truly chilling!