Chapter 423 - 270: Finishing Them Off Securely, Core Formation Spiritual Materials
Chapter 423: Chapter 270: Finishing Them Off Securely, Core Formation Spiritual Materials
However, Xu Maoling was already injured. Facing the combined assault of three Cultivators, the drain on his Magical Power was immense.
The Silver-White Masked Cultivator had a high Cultivation. He quickly adapted to Xu Maoling’s rhythm, his Bone Sword’s attacks growing increasingly ruthless and cunning, constantly shrinking his space to maneuver.
SHLICK!
A chilling Sword Aura swept past. Xu Maoling’s dodge was a fraction too slow, and a gash was instantly torn open on his left arm, so deep the bone was visible and dripping with blood.
"Hmph!" He grunted, his movements faltering for a split second.
"Now! Jia Er, bind him!"
A cold glint flashed in the Silver-White Masked Cultivator’s eyes as he barked the order.
Upon hearing the command, Jia Er immediately jammed his Ghost Head Shield into the ground. His hands flew into a Sealing gesture, and streaks of black gas erupted from the shield, twisting like chains as they shot toward Xu Maoling’s feet!
Xu Maoling’s heart went cold. He knew full well that if he were caught by those strange chains, his movements would be crippled, and he would be doomed beyond recovery!
"Break!"
He roared, ignoring the churning Qi and Blood within him, and forcibly surged his Magical Power. The scythe in his hand swung in a condensed arc of light, slashing toward the black gas chains.
"CLANG!"
The sound of clashing metal rang out. The scythe collided with the black gas chains, kicking up a shower of blinding sparks. Though the chains seemed exceptionally tough, they were instantly severed, the black gas dissipating as they shattered.
And in that fleeting moment, as he swung the scythe and his body momentarily paused—
"You’ve left yourself wide open!"
The Silver-White Masked Cultivator’s icy voice clung to him like a maggot on a bone.
The strike he had been preparing for so long was finally upon him!
The Sword Aura from the ghastly white Bone Sword was as condensed as a physical object, its speed pushed to the absolute limit. It aimed straight for the opening at Xu Maoling’s right ribs, left exposed by his block. If this strike landed true, it would be enough to instantly inflict a grievous wound, perhaps even crippling the meridians in half his body!
The hair on Xu Maoling’s neck stood on end. The intense threat of death caused a burst of his latent potential. He somehow managed an impossible, violent twist of his torso while simultaneously forming a knife-hand with his left and striking himself hard on the chest.
"Pfft!"
He immediately spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood, which sprayed across the scythe. The weapon instantly let out a piercing hum, erupting with a ferocious Evil Qi that far surpassed its normal state!
"Earth-Splitting Slash!"
Using the instantaneous burst of power from his Essence Blood, he ignored the opening at his right ribs and swung the scythe back around at an even greater speed. A massive, crescent-shaped blade of light—a mixture of earthy yellow Spiritual Light and blood-red Evil Qi—flew out, aimed not at the Silver-White Masked Cultivator’s incoming Sword Aura, but at the Cultivator’s body itself.
He was resorting to a desperate tactic: trading injury for injury, life for life!
The Silver-White Masked Cultivator hadn’t expected this old farmer to be so ferocious; he had no desire to trade injuries with his opponent.
He immediately pulled a Tier Two Middle Grade Masterpiece Talisman from his Storage Bag, crushed it to activate it, and formed a thick Water Curtain before him. He then sent out another three Sword Auras to block the attack.
At the same time, he shot backward, avoiding the brunt of the attack.
However, while Xu Maoling had temporarily forced back his strongest opponent, he could no longer pay attention to his feet!
FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!
At some point during the exchange, several more black gas chains had seized the opportunity, shooting up like venomous snakes to bind his ankles in a deathly tight grip!
A bizarre, bone-chilling power capable of freezing Spiritual Power instantly traveled up the chains. His legs went numb, and he staggered, nearly toppling over.
"Haha! We’ve got him bound!" Jia Er exclaimed, overjoyed.
"The perfect opportunity!"
Killing intent flared once more in the eyes of the Silver-White Masked Cultivator. After steadying himself, he raised his Bone Sword again, its Sword Aura locking onto the immobilized Xu Maoling’s throat!
Jia Yi was now free as well. He produced a Poisoned Short Spike and, in coordination with his leader, lunged for the vital spot on Xu Maoling’s back!
Xu Maoling’s feet were bound and his movements restricted. Having just spat out Essence Blood, his Magical Power was in turmoil. Facing this pincer attack from both front and back, he was truly at the end of his rope. A flicker of indescribable despair flashed in his eyes.
"WHOOSH!"
A blade light, so condensed it was nearly pitch-black, emerged like a sigh from the Nine Netherworld. Without the slightest fluctuation of Spiritual Power or the faintest leak of killing intent, it emerged soundlessly from the Void behind Jia Er!
[Hidden Void Blade]!
"SQUELCH!"
The sound of the blade sinking into flesh was soft, yet fatal.
The ecstatic joy on Jia Er’s face froze instantly. He felt a sudden chill in his chest and looked down to see the blood-stained tip of a transparent blade protruding from it. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only a gurgle of blood came out.
Meanwhile—
"BOOM!"
A Black Seal Platform, the size of a millstone and entirely jet-black, appeared. Its surface seemed to be engraved with the illusory images of mountains and rivers. Like a mountain peak falling from the highest heavens, it materialized without warning above Jia Yi’s head, carrying a terrifying, suppressive might as it crashed down!
A shadow instantly enveloped him!
"What?!" Jia Yi’s attention was focused entirely on Xu Maoling; he only realized his peril when the terrifying pressure was already bearing down on him. He looked up in horror, only managing to hastily summon an umbrella-shaped Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact to block whatever was coming from above.
"CLANG—!!!"
Amidst the deafening crash, the umbrella-shaped Spiritual Artifact let out a mournful cry before it could even fully deploy. Jia Yi was struck as if by a physical blow, sent plummeting downward so hard his legs sank deep into the ground. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open, gushing blood, and the Qi and Blood inside him roiled like a stormy sea!
Shocked and enraged, he looked toward the source of the attack. There, standing silently atop a large boulder not far away, was Lin Changheng. His robes fluttered, his expression calm, but his eyes were as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice.
With his enemy’s attention diverted, the follow-up attack lost its momentum. Xu Maoling unleashed a burst of Magical Power to parry it aside, finally escaping from the jaws of death.
Instantly realizing it was Lin Changheng who had acted at the critical moment, Xu Maoling was so moved he could barely speak. "Mr.... Mr. Lin!"