"This man may be concealing his strength, but his abilities are unlikely to surpass the Foundation Establishment realm. If he were stronger, he would have already destroyed us!" A ruthless glint flashed in Xuan Zhen's eyes. He had burned all his bridges for this mission—failure was not an option. If he couldn't kill the little demoness and fulfill his agreement, he would lose his benefactor's protection and face certain death under the relentless pursuit of the Wanmo Sect.
"As a righteous cultivator, I cannot stand by while you consort with a demoness. Since you've chosen to fall, I'll send you both to your graves!" Xuan Zhen snarled, his expression twisted with malice. A surge of overwhelming spiritual energy exploded from his body, saturating the air with its pressure.
"Wang Ziyang! Let's work together to take him down quickly!" he roared.
With a swift motion, Xuan Zhen summoned his silver ring. This time, wary of Xiao Chen's potential, he channeled an immense amount of spiritual energy into the artifact without hesitation. The ring hummed violently, glowing brighter as it expanded to several meters in diameter.
"Go!"
The ring slashed through the air with crushing force, hurtling toward Xiao Chen.
Simultaneously, the other Foundation Establishment cultivator flung his own artifact toward Xiao Chen, while Wang Ziyang's golden axe followed closely, slicing downward with deadly precision.
Xiao Chen stood calm but solemn, his eyes sharp as he gauged the incoming attacks.
Xuan Zhen's spiritual pressure was suffocating, a testament to the terrifying might of a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator. It was a stark reminder of the gap between them.
Summoning his Black Wind Sword, Xiao Chen infused it with nearly a third of his spiritual energy, the blade's dark surface shimmering ominously as its size expanded dramatically.
"Go."
The massive black sword, now over two meters long, streaked forward with a sharp whistle, splitting the air as it collided with the silver ring.
Boom!
The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward. Xiao Chen's ears rang, his vision blurred momentarily, and his chest tightened as the collision jarred his internal organs. Despite his superior spiritual sense, his spiritual energy was no match for Xuan Zhen's.
Before he could recover, the second Foundation Establishment cultivator's artifact descended toward him like a falling star.
Xiao Chen clenched his teeth and roared, "Devouring Heaven Finger!"
Using another four-tenths of his remaining spiritual energy, he conjured a radiant, crystalline finger of energy. The enormous projection hummed as it began to draw in ambient spiritual energy, growing larger with each passing moment.
Wang Ziyang's eyes widened in alarm. "Such a strange technique! If I let it grow any further, I'm doomed!"
Summoning his courage, he commanded his golden axe to strike the spectral finger.
Crash!
The resulting explosion sent Xiao Chen staggering backward. Blood trickled from his lips as the strain of combat mounted. Already wounded from his clash with Xuan Zhen, the hastily executed Devouring Heaven Finger only exacerbated his injuries. His complexion turned ashen, his breathing labored.
Wang Ziyang grinned viciously. "You're finished, brat!" With a triumphant cry, he charged forward, weapon poised to deliver a killing blow.
Xiao Chen's lips curled into a faint smile, his bloodshot eyes flashing with determination. "Now!"
In a blur of movement, he unleashed the Soul-Piercing Needle, an attack aimed directly at Wang Ziyang's spiritual sea.
Wang Ziyang froze mid-strike, a strangled scream escaping his throat as the invisible needle pierced his mind. Blood erupted from his nose and mouth, his body spasming uncontrollably before plummeting to the ground.
"Ziyang!" Xuan Zhen shouted in dismay, diving to catch him. But before he could intervene, Xiao Chen had already moved.
With calculated precision, Xiao Chen pulled a High-Grade Explosive Talisman from his storage pouch. Channeling his remaining energy, he flung it toward the fallen Wang Ziyang.
"No!" Xuan Zhen roared, but it was too late.
The talisman detonated with a fiery burst, engulfing Wang Ziyang in flames. His spiritual shield shattered instantly, and the fire consumed his body, leaving nothing but a charred crater. His storage pouch and a single damaged artifact fell to the ground.
Xiao Chen wasted no time. Ignoring his injuries, he scooped up the unconscious Li Xiaoyi and launched himself into the air, his flight spell propelling him away from the battlefield.
Xuan Zhen trembled with fury, his face a mask of unbridled rage. "You little bastard! I'll tear you apart limb by limb!"
He turned to the surviving disciples, his voice cold and commanding. "Collect Ziyang's remains and wait at the base. I'll deal with these two and return shortly."
With a burst of light, Xuan Zhen shot after Xiao Chen, his speed eclipsing that of his target.
Xiao Chen gritted his teeth as he flew, his mind racing. He swallowed several restorative pills, feeling some strength return to his battered body. But his spiritual sense remained drained, leaving him lightheaded and weak.
"At this rate, he'll catch up in minutes. I have no choice but to land and lose him in the terrain," he muttered to himself.
Spotting a small valley below, Xiao Chen descended rapidly.
The valley was modest, with low cliffs covered in lush vines and clusters of green fruits the size of a child's fist. A narrow stream meandered through the area, pooling into a clear, tranquil pond where a few small fish swam lazily.
But Xiao Chen had no time for the scenery. Gritting his teeth, he darted forward into the cover of the foliage, preparing for the inevitable confrontation.