"Li Ye, stop running already!"
"I sincerely want you to return to the family with me... As long as you're willing, I'll appoint you as the chief alchemist of the clan, even marry our most esteemed daughter to you. From that moment on, you and I will be one family how could I possibly harm you?!"
Li Ye said nothing as he listened to the elegant-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator behind him speak. Instead, he pushed the Windwalker Talisman's power to its limit and sprinted at full speed.
But in his heart, he was swearing up a storm.
What a load of crap!
If this guy truly meant no harm, why had he looked so delighted the moment he spotted him and then tried to capture him right away?
With such behavior, even if this guy followed through on his promises, Li Ye knew he'd be restrained with some sort of restriction seal the moment he stepped back into that family stripped of any freedom.
There was no way he was stopping.
To be honest, the whole situation left Li Ye a little baffled.
Ever since he'd learned more about the current state of the Huan Kingdom at Jinyue Market, he'd been heading toward the Yue Kingdom, planning to cross through and take refuge in the neighboring regions.
But not long after entering Yue territory, this Foundation Establishment cultivator just happened to fly overhead and caught him with a single sweep of his divine sense.
And somehow recognized him instantly!
Li Ye had been extremely cautious constantly using breath-concealing techniques and talismans, even swapping out his bamboo hat for one with a stronger concealment effect. Most people wouldn't even catch a glimpse of his face during normal travel.
But all that was no match for a Foundation Establishment cultivator's divine sense!
Who would've thought that someone as minor as a low-level alchemist like him would be recognized by a Foundation Establishment cultivator in a foreign country?
All this just to boost their family's strength… how shameless can you get?!
"This won't do! The Windwalker Talisman is strong, but the gap between us is still too large. Even with talisman support, I can't outrun him..."
Li Ye could feel the distance closing. The man's cauldron-like top-grade magic artifact couldn't match his speed, but every so often, it would erupt with a suction force that tugged him backward.
If he hadn't fled the moment the danger appeared even catching the Foundation Establishment cultivator off guard he might not have had any chance to escape at all!
Thoughts raced through his mind. On his arms, several small mushrooms sprouted. Their caps unfolded, releasing tiny spores that drifted through the air toward the cultivator behind him, subtly trying to stick to his body.
He kept this up for a while, and once the man got a little closer, Li Ye whipped out a talisman, activated it, and flung it behind him.
BOOM
A burst of blazing sunfire exploded as an orange-red fire python far stronger than a typical Fire Serpent Talisman roared out, wreathed in flames, striking toward the Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"A Fire Serpent Talisman… but it has the power of a second-rank one? What sort of technique is this?"
Sweeping it with divine sense, the elegant cultivator looked surprised. His interest in Li Ye only grew. He immediately urged his cauldron to expand rapidly to the size of a water vat, releasing a glowing aura to suppress the fire serpent.
But just then, another second-rank talisman flared into life
Gale Talisman!
In an instant, a violent wind erupted. Razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air.
The cultivator's face darkened.
Two second-rank talismans?!
Such talismans were rare even in well-stocked market shops. This kid was the most talented alchemist in Zimo Market no wonder he was so well-equipped!
BOOM!
The fire serpent, though being suppressed, exploded. A surge of scorching spiritual energy burst out, knocking the cauldron backward.
Immediately, the raging wind caught the flames. Fire and wind intertwined, forming a scorching red-blue tempest that roared toward the elegant cultivator.
"Impudent brat!"
He bellowed fury in his voice. A faint golden protective aura flared up around him, and the cauldron expanded to shield his body. Waves of high-temperature wind battered it, causing the cauldron to tremble and shake. The golden aura on his body wavered and then dissipated.
"…Why does my spiritual power feel… off somehow?"
He pushed his artifact to the limit, but the elegant Foundation Establishment cultivator began to sense a faint sluggishness in his spiritual power.
It felt eerily similar to the effects of that Zimo Powder which had once helped Zimo Forest secure a sweeping victory!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Just then, several mushrooms somehow bypassing the central force of the talisman effects suddenly closed in from the sides, guided by tiny black insects.
The cultivator swept his hand, unleashing waves of golden light formed from his spiritual power to strike them down.
But the moment they were hit, the mushrooms burst apart!
A cloud of spores and fine powder exploded outward, enveloping the area around him.
Even though he once again activated his protective spiritual shield, he couldn't fully avoid contamination. The spores clung to him, subtly interacting with the medicinal power he had unknowingly inhaled earlier triggering a mild but noticeable effect.
"High-grade Zimo Powder might only weaken a Foundation Establishment cultivator by about ten to twenty percent, but even ten percent gives me a much better chance!"
Li Ye's eyes were calm as ten second-tier talismans of various types suddenly appeared in his hands. With a flick, he hurled them all like a storm of rain.
In an instant
Howling winds, raging flames, biting frost, crashing boulders, piercing golden swords… all manner of elemental forces exploded outward, raining down upon the elegant cultivator like a sky-shattering barrage.
"Ten second-tier talismans?!"
This time, even the cultivator couldn't help but curse aloud, face contorting in shock.
He slapped a second-tier Mountain Ward Talisman onto himself for defense and without hesitation, turned to flee!
He was only at an early Foundation Establishment and had just one top-grade artifact.
Against so many second-tier talismans even if their effects clashed and slightly weakened each other he still couldn't withstand them!
Li Ye held a fresh Windwalker Talisman in one hand, and his golden brick artifact tightly in the other.
If the man managed to dodge or withstand the barrage, Li Ye would flee immediately.
But if the cultivator was seriously injured on the spot, then Li Ye wouldn't hesitate to strike the final blow and kill him outright.
Despite the cultivator's quick reactions, the overwhelming number of talismans and the subtle weakening from the Zimo Powder left him unable to escape in time.
Golden swords and wind blades struck first, piercing his defenses.
Then fire, frost, and boulders followed, swallowing him whole and smashing him off the mountainside.
Li Ye's expression remained calm as he slowly descended, keeping his distance. Upon seeing the shattered, motionless body below, he sent the golden brick flying down with a heavy smash.
Crunch!
The head burst open, red and white matter spilling out. The body didn't move.
Only then did Li Ye relax and land. After thoroughly searching and looting the remains, he destroyed all traces and quietly left.
"So he was a newly-advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Ding family of Yue Kingdom… and his disciples joined the Flying Feather Sect's coalition army. Could it be that they got hold of my information because of their involvement in the Zimo Forest incident?"
"Man, what rotten luck!"
Finding a hidden spot, Li Ye flipped through the man's belongings and finally uncovered his background.
He couldn't help grumbling in frustration.
"But… this guy was carrying quite a haul of spirit herbs. Huh?! A young Earth Dragon Ginseng? And a Mindroot Flower…"
"A Foundation Establishment Pill recipe too?!"
Li Ye's eyes lit up with joy.
That Mindroot Flower was the final key ingredient he'd been missing for his Foundation Establishment Pill and the pill recipe he'd planned to purchase later was now right in his hands.
"Is it finally my turn to catch a break?"
Li Ye's eyes welled up with emotion.
But just as he opened another heavily protected jade box, something inside made him pause.
"…What kind of seed is this?"
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