Chapter 184: Quickly Cover the Sect Master's Retreat
The cultivators of the Verdant Vine Sect were all wide-eyed with astonishment.
They were, of course, familiar with the Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique.
Not only the Verdant Vine Sect cultivators, but many other cultivators also sought to obtain this defensive martial skill.
This technique didn't require any active activation. It would simply remain dormant in the body once condensed, and when under attack, it would automatically trigger.
Based on this automatic activation alone, the Body Protection Evergreen Tree was ranked among the top three defensive martial skills in Xuanjing Prefecture.
One must understand that in most battles between cultivators, life and death could be determined in an instant.
The fact that this defensive technique activated on its own without needing to be summoned was incredibly valuable!
Just a brief moment gained could allow a cultivator to activate other defensive techniques or spiritual artifacts to fend off an enemy's strike.
This slight delay could very well determine the outcome of a battle, or even life and death!
Liu Menghu exclaimed in shock, "Young Sect Master, I heard that the later parts of our Verdant Vine Sect's Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique were lost, and we can only condense one tree. How is Shen Mo able to condense two?"
Mo Yuheng murmured, "I don't know either... Could it be that he managed to comprehend the Verdant Vine Eight Treasures Manual in just a few days, mastered the Body Protection Evergreen Tree technique, and even cultivated it to the second level?"
"Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible..."
Although she verbally denied it, deep down she had already accepted this possibility.
After all, what other explanation could there be?
"Two Body Protection Evergreen Trees?!"
Luo Chaotian's expression was filled with shock.
He had never expected Shen Mo to possess such a powerful defensive martial skill.
"Even two Body Protection Evergreen Trees can't stop this strike of mine!"
Luo Chaotian let out a low roar and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which merged with his sword energy.
In an instant, the sword energy turned blood-red, becoming even more vicious and terrifying.
It seemed as though it would annihilate all life in its path!
"This technique is called the Blood Sword."
"Each strike costs three years of lifespan."
Liu Menghu muttered.
It wasn't just him; even the onlooking rogue cultivators recognized this sword strike.
They were all filled with horror.
Especially the elders of the Divine Sword Sect, who knew that Luo Chaotian had never used this move in battle before.
Luo Chaotian highly valued his lifespan!
In the next moment, the blood-colored sword energy slashed at the surface of the Evergreen Tree.
The first Evergreen Tree began to shake violently, leaves falling and branches breaking.
Even the trunk started to crack.
Within just ten breaths, the first Evergreen Tree couldn't withstand the power and exploded into pieces.
Immediately after, the second Evergreen Tree faced the blood-colored sword energy.
Shen Mo's expression remained calm as he continued to concentrate on forming the Four Directional Profound Gates.
Thanks to the time bought by the Body Protection Evergreen Trees, a large amount of golden spiritual energy had already gathered from all directions.
Within ten breaths, four large bronze gates had formed.
One Evergreen Tree and four bronze gates now protected Shen Mo flawlessly.
Boom, boom, boom!
The blood-colored sword energy erupted again, shattering another Evergreen Tree.
However, after breaking through two Evergreen Trees, the power of the blood-colored sword energy had diminished by more than sixty percent.
Its color, speed, and strength had all significantly weakened.
When it struck the Four Directional Profound Gates, it couldn't even break through the first gate.
"Slash again!"
"Slash! Slash! Slash!"
Luo Chaotian spat out another mouthful of essence blood.
In an instant, he slashed four more times!
Four streams of blood-colored sword energy followed one after another, aiming directly at the Four Directional Profound Gates!
Boom, boom, boom!
Golden light burst out, and blood sprayed in all directions.
The crowd could only hear the continuous sound of explosions.
Shen Mo seemed to be completely engulfed in the golden light and the blood-colored energy, his figure obscured.
How was he?
Could he withstand it?
The cultivators all stared at the sky where Shen Mo was, the same question filling their minds.
"Whew..."
Luo Chaotian let out a breath of relief, though his body remained tense.
However, the exhaustion on his face was undeniable.
The five consecutive slashes had cost him fifteen years of lifespan.
"Under such power, he surely can't hold out," Luo Chaotian thought to himself. "If I kill Shen Mo here, I can finally rest easy."
Yet, in the next moment, an overwhelming sense of danger surged through him.
It was the premonition of death!
It felt as though a demonic hand from the depths of hell had seized his heart!
Without a second thought, Luo Chaotian gritted his teeth, burning his lotus seat and spitting out his Golden Core.
The threat of death forced him to use his final trump card.
For a Core Formation cultivator, burning the lotus seat and launching a Golden Core strike was the ultimate last resort!
Boom!
The next moment, a pillar of fierce flames erupted from where Shen Mo stood.
The blazing column of fire almost stretched across the entire sky, momentarily outshining the sun itself.
In the eyes of all the cultivators, there was only the blinding fire.
And all they felt was the searing heat!
Boom!
The pillar of flames collided with the Golden Core.
"Ah!"
Luo Chaotian let out a pained scream.
He could clearly feel that even after burning his lotus seat to strengthen his Golden Core, it couldn't withstand the terrifying flames.
In just five breaths, the surface of the Golden Core was scorched and peeled away!
Luo Chaotian's cultivation level also plummeted rapidly.
In the span of a few breaths, he fell from the peak of the Core Formation stage to the Core Formation great accomplishment stage!
Whoosh!
A fierce wind blew away the golden light and blood-red mist that had shrouded Shen Mo.
Only then did everyone see the shocking scene.
Shen Mo's body was now covered in a blazing chest armor!
This armor exuded an ancient, savage aura, as if it came from a distant primordial era.
At the center of the chest piece, there was a ferocious tiger's head, roaring at the stars!
The pillar of flames had been continuously spewing from the tiger's mouth!
The flames persisted for a full ten breaths before they finally began to weaken and fade, eventually vanishing altogether.
The chest armor also gradually withdrew, transforming into a dark purple-black demonic armor.
"Demonic armor?! Since when did Shen Mo acquire that chest armor?!"
The cultivators finally realized what had happened.
That purple-black metallic chest armor was clearly part of a set with the arm armor on Shen Mo's right hand.
The demonic arm armor was already formidable.
But the chest armor was even more terrifying!
No wonder Shen Mo had shown no fear in facing Luo Chaotian.
Who would have thought he had such a trump card up his sleeve?
Shen Mo remained floating in midair.
He had long discovered another cave mansion belonging to the Immortal Hell Flame using the Flame Prison Token, where he found this chest armor.
The power of this chest armor was centered around unleashing energy pillars from the chest.
If he used Ice Dragon blood, it would spew ice pillars.
If he used the golden blood in the beast claw, it would release a pillar of flames.
At this moment, Luo Chaotian's body was plummeting from the sky toward the ground.
Ouyang Cang quickly rushed over and caught him, preventing him from crashing into the earth.
Luo Chaotian was now barely alive.
Most of his robes had been burned away, and at least seventy percent of his skin was charred black.
In his right hand, he weakly clutched his Golden Core, which had shrunk by an entire circle.
The entire assembly of cultivators was in utter shock.
They couldn't believe their eyes.
Luo Chaotian!
The leader of the Five Great Sect Masters of Xuanjing Prefecture, with over a century of rich battle experience!
Had actually been defeated by a rising star!
Defeated by a young man barely in his twenties!
Luo Chaotian looked at Ouyang Cang, barely managing to speak, squeezing out a few words, "Quick... retreat..."
Ouyang Cang wasted no time and immediately shouted, "Divine Sword Sect, hear me! Cover the Sect Master's retreat!"
The Divine Sword Sect, worthy of being the foremost sect in Xuanjing Prefecture, did not descend into chaos despite the severe injury to Luo Chaotian.
Instead, they followed Ouyang Cang's orders without hesitation and quickly gathered around Luo Chaotian.
In an instant, they formed a defensive formation.
Shen Mo drew his long sword and pointed it directly at the Divine Sword Sect's formation.
"Kill!"
This command immediately sounded the horn for a counterattack.
The cultivators of the Azure Profound Sect and Verdant Vine Sect let out long howls toward the sky, their voices filled with unspeakable joy and excitement!
It was as if they had been invigorated with boundless energy, charging into battle with renewed ferocity!
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