Translator: AnubisTL
"Nephew Bai Lin, Clan Uncle Hongyuan was sent by the family to escort you to Heavenly River Market. Why did you run away the moment we met?"
An aged, weathered voice echoed through the dense forest. Li Qing, who had just turned to flee, felt a chill run down his spine.
It was Liu Hongyuan, the Late Qi Refining Realm Clan Elder he had encountered at the Liu Clan estate days earlier!
Judging by the tone of his words, he seemed to be addressing Liu Bailin.
Family strife? Court intrigue?
Regardless of the reason, Li Qing wanted no part of it. He immediately pulled out his only Aura Concealment Talisman, a Low-Grade First-Tier item, and slapped it onto himself without hesitation.
While this talisman was rudimentary and easily detectable by a Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator at close range, the distance was sufficient. After activating it, Li Qing quickly recalled Fan Tong into his spirit beast pouch and slipped silently into the dense undergrowth.
This was no time for gawking. Liu Hongyuan's cultivation had reached at least the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, his mana and techniques far surpassing Li Qing's own.
The chase and battle raged through the dense forest when a woman's voice rang out:
"Clan Uncle Hongyuan, I never imagined the traitor within the Liu Clan would be you."
"No wonder the Flying Eagle Bandits have repeatedly foiled our plans. It's because you've been their mole all along."
As Li Qing retreated, he couldn't help but marvel inwardly. The Flying Eagle Bandits' affair was far more complex than he'd imagined. Could it be true that a Clan Elder, a high-ranking member of the Liu Clan, had become an informant for the bandits?
"My niece, I don't know what you're talking about," Liu Hongyuan retorted. "The journey to Heavenly River Market is fraught with danger. The clan merely tasked me with escorting you safely. Enough! Stop resisting. With me here, your safety is guaranteed on this road."
As their exchange continued, the spiritual energy fluctuations erupting within the forest grew increasingly violent. Streams of spiritual power sliced through the air, felling numerous trees in the dense foliage.
"Hmph! Since you refuse to heed my warnings and persist in resisting, don't blame me when I enforce the clan's disciplinary measures against you!"
Mid-air, Liu Hongyuan stood atop a leaf-shaped magical artifact. With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a vibrant jade seal from his storage pouch.
The moment the jade-green seal appeared, the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy became even more turbulent.
Liu Hongyuan activated the seal and hurled it skyward.
Intricate spirit patterns materialized on its surface, instantly releasing concentric ripples of emerald light.
"The Jade Magic Seal! Well, well, Clan Uncle Hongyuan, you've actually brought out this high-grade magical artifact just to deal with me!" Liu Bailin's eyes widened with fear as she watched the descending waves of light. Without hesitation, she fled even farther away.
"If I let you escape like this, I'd be a laughingstock," Liu Hongyuan's voice grew colder, as if addressing a complete stranger.
The ripples unleashed by the Jade Magic Seal spread with astonishing speed.
Liu Bailin knew all too well the power of this high-grade artifact. Being caught in its waves would strip away most of her spiritual energy.
Stripped of her spiritual energy, a sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivator like her would stand little chance against a Late Qi Refining Realm expert.
Just as the emerald ripples were about to engulf her, a voice brimming with righteous indignation suddenly rang out from another direction.
"Hmph! Who would have thought I'd stumble upon such blatant bullying here? This truly broadens my horizons!"
With those words, a slender, azure flying sword slashed horizontally through the air, aimed directly at Liu Hongyuan hovering above.
Whoosh!
This flying sword was no ordinary weapon. The tree trunks in its path crumbled like tofu, sliced apart with effortless ease.
Witnessing this, Liu Hongyuan's eyelids twitched violently. He immediately retrieved a talisman and hurled it at the approaching blade.
"Block it!"
The talisman vanished instantly, its runes erupting with intense spiritual light. A massive wall of animated wooden vines materialized out of thin air, shimmering with magical energy. Unlike the fragile trees of the forest, this enchanted vine wall proved remarkably sturdy. The flying sword sliced halfway through before becoming firmly lodged within its entangled mass.
Liu Hongyuan's face darkened with fury. He glared toward the source of spiritual energy deep within the dense thicket and snarled, "Sword cultivator? What kind of wild brat dares to interfere? Show yourself!"
"If I'm coming out, I'm coming out! Shi Nantian isn't one to hide in the shadows!"
The hero who had come to rescue the damsel in distress was none other than Shi Nantian himself!
He emerged from the edge of the dense forest, a cyan-colored longsword held casually in one hand. It appeared to be part of a matching set with the flying sword trapped in the wooden vine wall above.
Liu Hongyuan glanced at Shi Nantian, sensing the youth's formidable mana cultivation. Combined with his surname, he quickly pieced together the identity of this chivalrous young man.
"Young Master Shi of the Shi Clan," Liu Hongyuan said, "this is a private matter for the Liu Clan. It would be best if outsiders didn't interfere."
Nearby, Liu Bailin had finally succumbed to the rippling energy emanating from the Jade Magic Seal. Her spiritual energy had dwindled to a mere trickle.
Stripped of her mana, the female cultivator now appeared utterly vulnerable, especially as she faced the treacherous mountain path. She was scarcely better off than an ordinary mortal.
Hearing this, Shi Nantian's gaze swept over Liu Bailin. Seeing her delicate, tearful expression, his resolve only hardened.
"You old ghost sure know how to talk a good game," Shi Nantian retorted. "But today, I'm making it my business to interfere whether you like it or not!"
With that, Shi Nantian charged forward with unmatched ferocity, his spiritual energy erupting from his body.
Whoosh!
Blades of condensed spiritual energy materialized in the air, slashing at the wooden vine wall. In mere moments, the wall shattered into splinters under the barrage of sword qi, and the azure flying sword returned to Shi Nantian's control.
Soon, Shi Nantian stood atop one flying sword, maneuvering another, and began exchanging magical techniques with Liu Hongyuan.
"Since you're so eager to die, don't blame me for showing no mercy," Liu Hongyuan said, his gaze turning icy. He reactivated the Jade Magic Seal, sending ripples of magical energy surging toward Shi Nantian once more.
"Be careful! That seal drains a cultivator's mana!" Liu Bailin called out softly from nearby.
Shi Nantian's brow furrowed slightly. Then, with a flash of light in his hand, a stack of talismans materialized out of thin air!
Even Liu Hongyuan's eyes widened at the sight. Aren't there... too many of those?
Before long, Shi Nantian began activating the talismans one by one. A kaleidoscope of multicolored spiritual light erupted forth!
Frost Talismans, Fire Rain Talismans, Golden Blade Talismans, Ice Arrow Talismans, Wooden Spike Talismans... and more! The sky erupted in a chaotic display of magical energy.
In the blink of an eye, the Five Elements spiritual energy between heaven and earth became utterly chaotic. A barrage of talismans erupted, hurtling toward Liu Hongyuan in mid-air.
Meanwhile, Li Qing, who hadn't gone far, slowed his pace upon hearing Shi Nantian's voice, unable to resist watching the unfolding battle from a distance.
"That Shi Nantian is one hell of a pay-to-win player!" Li Qing muttered, secretly sweating for the Liu Clan Elder. Even with his higher cultivation realm, Liu Hongyuan would struggle to withstand such a tidal wave of talisman attacks.
Of course, Shi Nantian wasn't faring much better himself. Activating so many offensive talismans at once placed an immense strain on his mental power, leaving his head throbbing and dizzy.
Talismans generally fell into two categories: defensive and offensive. Defensive talismans consumed relatively little mental power, while offensive ones required significantly more to activate. Moreover, the higher the tier of a talisman, the greater the mental power expenditure required to wield it.
Though convenient, talismans weren't a path to invincibility. If simply possessing powerful talismans guaranteed dominance, every cultivator would flock to become a Talisman Master. Even if a Qi Refining Realm cultivator obtained a Third-Tier Talisman, they couldn't pose a threat to a Core Formation Realm cultivator.
A Qi Refining Realm cultivator simply couldn't sustain the mental power drain required to activate a High-Grade Talisman. Their divine soul would be instantly drained, leaving them an empty husk before the talisman could even be unleashed.
Turning his gaze back to the battlefield between Shi Nantian and Liu Hongyuan, the spiritual light erupting from the talismans illuminated the entire mountain forest in a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors.
A powerful surge of spiritual energy swept across the area. Liu Hongyuan's face twisted in a grimace as he hastily activated every defensive measure at his disposal. He deployed his Magic Artifacts, talismans, and spells in a desperate attempt to block the overwhelming assault, barely managing to withstand the majority of the onslaught.
Despite his efforts, he sustained significant injuries. His azure magical robe lay tattered and torn, shredded by the residual energy.
"Cough, cough! You damned brat! Today I'll skin you alive!" Liu Hongyuan spat, his voice dripping with icy venom.
Meanwhile, Shi Nantian hadn't escaped unscathed from the emerald ripples. Though a portion of his mana had been depleted, he wasn't in as dire a state as Liu Bailin and could still maintain his sword flight.
Clearly, Shi Nantian had realized the Jade Magic Seal's formidable power came with a crucial flaw: it required continuous activation. Any interruption or attack would significantly diminish its mana-draining effect.
Moreover, with sufficient speed and a determined effort to evade, one could still dodge the attack.
"All talk and no action! If you're so capable, why don't you try it yourself?" Shi Nantian retorted, urging his flying sword to strike Liu Hongyuan once more. Clearly growing desperate, he aimed for a swift resolution, his own mana reserves dwindling rapidly.
Clang!
A crisp metallic sound echoed through the forest as Shi Nantian's flying sword was blocked by a Mystic Iron Flying Shield.
"Come on, brat! Let's see what other tricks you've got," Liu Hongyuan snarled, rapidly closing the distance between them.
But amidst the vast wilderness, a sigh suddenly cut through the air:
"Alas, fellow Daoists of the Liu Clan, how long must you remain spectators? Must this old one personally intervene to purge your clan's rot?"
Moments later, several hearty voices joined in:
"Hahahaha! No need for that. The Liu Clan's affairs will be settled by the Liu Clan itself."
"Nevertheless, we extend our deepest gratitude to young Master Shi of the Shi Clan for his righteous assistance. The Liu Clan will not forget this debt!"
Three unfamiliar voices had suddenly joined the fray. Liu Hongyuan finally realized what was happening, his face turning ashen.
Meanwhile, Li Qing inwardly exclaimed in astonishment: "They even had backup!"
(End of the Chapter)
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