He didn't force a desperate fight with Qingyunzi, instead practicing restraint and delay, always ensuring there was leeway to flee for his life if necessary, clearly guarding against Qingyunzi's magic.
Under such circumstances, where the enemy was fully on guard, even though Qingyunzi's avatar was a Jianxiu adept in combat, with Talisman Sword Technique solidified within.
But the Talisman Sword Technique, an entry-level spell, though powerful, couldn't instantly slay an Inborn Grandmaster if it failed to hit a vital point on the first strike.
With Shangguan Ming well-prepared, it was quite difficult for Qingyunzi to conjure a spell to cleanly kill the man.
If the enemy dodged a sneak attack, it was not that he couldn't be forcefully killed, but it would require more than a mere spell—possibly two or three, or even four or five.