Yu Ci slid down from the steep cliff wall, sprinting a few steps forward. The presence of Yan Daoist behind him had already dissipated. However, he knew that with the legendary abilities of a Nature-Connecting Cultivator, it was unreliable to escape through that concealed cave. Therefore, he only paused to catch his breath before continuing to run at full speed, simultaneously striving to calm his mind and draw talismans with his fingers tucked into his sleeve. Through the mysterious power of the Divine Bronze Mirror, he was able to temporarily retain them.
This was one of the effects of the Divine Bronze Mirror, but the duration and the number of talismans that could be stored were limited. Only three could be stored at a time, and only for the duration of half an incense stick's burning time.
Drawing talismans was an intricate task. By the time Yu Ci had run ten miles, he had barely managed to draw two. Just as he was preparing to draw the third, the night sky suddenly brightened, and a fiery red light shone from behind him, bringing with it a strong, pungent smell.
Only then could Yu Ci confirm that the smell was that of burning blood, mixed with the killer's own murderous intent, stimulating his nostrils.
He had long expected Yan Daoist to catch up, but the speed at which he did so was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Exhaling a murky breath, he suddenly and unexpectedly flipped over, leaping forward close to the ground. The next moment, a red line swept past, and the two trees, as thick as a bowl at the base, that he had just crossed were cut in half five feet from the ground and then collapsed with a thunderous crash. Even in the middle of the night, one could see dust rising and leaves scattering. The startled animals and birds cried out in alarm, turning the previously quiet forest into a noisy uproar.
Despite missing his target, Yan Daoist still laughed heartily. His laughter grew louder as he approached, and he soon caught up with Yu Ci, taunting, "Pretty twink, how sharp is this Nine Yang Talisman Sword of Daoist Priest?"
"Nine Yang? Isn't it the Three Yang Talisman Sword?"
Rarely did Yu Ci ask a question, but doing so slowed him down. Immediately, a burning sensation on his head indicated that Yan Daoist had flown past him, blocking his path with a wave of heat. Yu Ci immediately halted and assumed a defensive stance. His expression was serious, but there was no sign of panic.
"Pretty twink, your curiosity is quite strong..."
As Yan Daoist spoke with a smile, his eyes widened, staring intently at Yu Ci, who retained his calm demeanor. It seemed as though the scene of more than twenty herb collectors lying dead, the enemy's mockery, and the might of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword could only elicit this level of reaction from him.
"Good, you have remarkable courage. Daoist Priest was afraid you'd be a coward who'd flee at the first sign of battle!
The more Yan Daoist was surprised by Yu Ci's bravery, the more he wanted to shatter that calm facade. He took a step forward, standing just two zhangs away from Yu Ci, lightly swinging his sword technique, and chuckled.
"Why is it the Nine Yang Talisman Sword?" The Daoist priest chuckled, "The White Sun Mansion is stingy, doling out only the lowly Three Yang Talisman Sword to deal with us commoners. You're all so thrilled, yet you have no idea that within the White Sun Mansion, there are far superior swords such as the Six Yang Talisman Sword, Nine Yang Talisman Sword, and the Pure Yang Talisman Sword!
"Of course, they would never reveal the latter three. However cunning they may be, they still have to bow down to me. Ten years ago, I managed to infiltrate their mansion and learnt the method of 'fusion'. With enough Three Yang Talisman Swords as a foundation, one can refine and merge them, moving from three Yang to six Yang, then to nine Yang, and finally, by eliminating impurities, return to pure Yang - that is the ultimate.
"For the past two years, I have been travelling between Sky Rift Valley and the city of Sheer Cliff. Despite the hardship, I have managed to perfect the Nine Yang Talisman Sword. It is just a hair's breadth away from the pure Yang quality. Three times three equals nine, nine is the apex of Yang, its power has reached its zenith. With this sword in hand, even if you were to stumble upon a fortune, gather enough Shrimp Whisker Grass, and exchange it for a Three Yang Talisman Sword, you would not be able to withstand a single strike from my sword!"
With that, the Daoist Yan laughed heartily. Yet in his laughter, Yu Ci remained as composed as ever, neither relaxing nor panicking. The vast forest echoed only with the startled cries of the awakened wildlife.
The laughter abruptly ceased. Yan Daoist could no longer laugh. His eyes narrowed unnaturally, and he finally understood that the pretty youth before him was not some lowly novice who could be easily frightened. If they continued to tangle, rather than deriving any pleasure, he would likely end up frustrated, even after delivering the final blow.
"Very well, very well. I shall send you, this audacious pretty youth, on your way!"
As Yan Daoist spoke, he took a step forward, raising his Nine Yang Talisman Sword. He was tall and long-armed, and with just this movement, the emitted red light almost spanned the two yards, threatening to engulf Yu Ci.
In the face of the oncoming heatwave, the unique sharpness of the Sword Technique bore down on his forehead. Yu Ci did not resist, but slowly stepped back, while his left hand, hidden in his sleeve, slowly clenched, gripping the talisman stored on the Divine Bronze Mirror.
"Hmm?" Yan Daoist sensed something and glanced at Yu Ci's hand. He saw a large amount of misty cloud energy gushing from the youth's sleeve. In the blink of an eye, it formed a fog barrier. Under the reflection of the firelight, the figure behind the fog barrier became elusive, and with the shift of the light, it became even more elusive.
"Thinking of escaping again!" With a furious roar, Yan Daoist's Sword Technique cleaved through the wind, creating a sharp whistling sound. In a blink of an eye, it tore apart the fog ahead and slashed at the moving figure behind.
As the sword light swept past, Yan Daoist immediately realized something was amiss. This was clearly a Deception Technique. Instinctively, he turned and struck again, but his swing met only air.
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By the time he steadied himself in a defensive stance, his face was as cold as still water. In just a few breaths, a thin layer of fog had covered the several acres of forest. The fog didn't really obstruct anything, but it was night, and the deep forest was devoid of light. The only source of illumination was himself, the swordsman.
In the area illuminated by the firelight, he could see clearly. However, beyond this range, his vision was significantly hindered.
Yu Ci was moving at the very edge of the illuminated area, seemingly ready to plunge into the depths of the forest at any moment.
"Cunning pretty twink, but such a crude Deception Technique is useless against a Daoist priest like me!"
With this thought, he felt a twinge of regret. "It's a pity that I've only broken through two years ago, and my Divine Soul still needs nourishment. Some abilities can't be used freely, otherwise, where would this boy find a way to survive?"
With this thought, Yan Daoist didn't rely on his eyes but used Manipulation of Divine Consciousness. The situation within a radius of ten feet was reflected in his mind. He quickly realized that Yu Ci didn't seem to have any intention of escaping far. Although his figure was flickering, he always stayed within his line of sight.
No, this pretty twink was waiting for the right opportunity to strike!
Bouncing out of the realm of Manipulation of Divine Consciousness, his tall body suddenly dropped and contracted, hovering just inches above the ground. With a roll in mid-air, he moved as agilely as a monkey leaping through the trees, covering several feet in an instant.
As his toes barely left the ground, a sound of air being scorched whizzed past his ears. The forest, already lit by the fire, suddenly became even brighter. A chain of blazing white light tore through the void and pierced through.
Even while rolling in mid-air, Yan Daoist noticed the chain of lightning. It seemed as if the corners of his eyes had been whipped by the dazzling light, leaving a lasting imprint.
With a thunderous explosion, the lightning didn't hit Yan Daoist but streaked across the area, striking a poplar tree with a bowl-sized trunk on the edge of the forest. The tree snapped and then caught fire.
It was only then that Yan Daoist landed, his heart still pounding. As he straightened up, he glanced at the poplar tree that had been charred by the lightning and couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his eyes. If it weren't for his gradually proficient Manipulation of Divine Consciousness, allowing him to enter the state at any time, he might have been hit without even knowing what had happened.
Palm Thunder! To use it so quickly, there must be some Jade Talisman involved.
"This youngster does have a few tricks up his sleeve."
He composed himself with a forceful calmness, his cold laughter echoing around him. Unconsciously, he had translated "Pretty twink" into "youngster". Grinding his teeth, he spat out:
"Let's see, Daoist priest, whether you have more talismans in store, or I have more tricks up my sleeve!"
Before he finished speaking, he quickly pinched his fingers together, swift as the wind, drawing ten distorted lines in the air. The trails of red light, like branding marks, hung suspended in mid-air.
"Wind and Fire Wheel, swift!"
Suddenly, a storm erupted from the ground, bringing with it a wave of intense heat, sweeping in all directions. It blew away the thin mist that had been laid around them. Yu Ci, who had missed his chance to use Palm Thunder, changed color at the sight:
"Drawing Qi to Form Talismans!"
This was the true Drawing Qi to Form Talismans!
Even though he had suspected it, the confirmation still made him draw a cold breath. This was not a trick played with the Divine Bronze Mirror, but a genuine ability of the villain before him.
To be able to draw talismans in the air, to attract Divine Light without any medium, was not something that could be achieved with mere physical strength. It required the cultivation of one's body and Qi to an extremely high level, the strengthening of one's Divine Soul to a certain extent, and the attainment of the so-called "Separate Consciousness & Thoughts" cultivation level. From the Divine Soul, a magical object called "Divine Intent" was born. It was divided into Divine consciousness and Divine thoughts, replacing Cinnabar, peach wood, and other Spirit Guides, invoking Spiritual Response, and forming a truly effective Talisman.
Given this, the villain before him must be in the Nature-Connecting Realm, having broken free from the "Three Barriers of the Mundane", and become one of those legendary cultivators with immeasurable Divine Power.
The difference in their abilities was clear!
With the mist gone, Yan Daoist caught sight of Yu Ci. He turned around and sneered, "Youngster, do you now understand how formidable I am?"
Yu Ci pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
Yan Daoist laughed heartily and slowly approached, saying as he walked, "Do you have any other talismans? Show them to me."
Yu Ci seemed to grit his teeth, suddenly reaching his right hand into his left sleeve. At the same time, his left hand was also hidden in his sleeve, a rather peculiar posture.
At that moment, a red glow flashed in front of him, and Yan Daoist had silently charged forward, slashing down with his sword. Only then did he roar:
"Die for me, Daoist priest!"
Yan Daoist, who had narrowly escaped being struck by lightning earlier, was still on edge. How could he let Yu Ci make the first move?
Yu Ci abruptly lifted his head, his eyes fixated on the dazzling radiance of the Sword Technique. Unflinching, he seemed stunned. But just as the sword light was about to strike, he swiftly drew his hand back, releasing a streak of azure light from his sleeve, which intersected the incoming attack. With a resounding clang, he miraculously blocked the sharp edge of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword head-on.
Yan Daoist, slightly taken aback, soon sneered. He withdrew his sword slightly, then applied more force for a second strike. The Nine Yang Talisman Sword was formidable. The azure light had barely managed to block the first strike, its glow trembling and almost dissipating. As the second strike descended, it seemed certain that Yu Ci would be cleaved in two.
Yu Ci's eyes widened in shock. Abruptly, he opened his mouth and spewed out a Blood Arrow, which hit the unstable azure light. Then, he squeezed out a syllable between his teeth:
"Swift!"
A chilling radiance suddenly appeared.
Under Yan Daoist's disbelieving gaze, vivid blood threads spread within the azure light. As the blood seeped in, the azure light became even more dazzling. The central area of the light seemed to solidify, emitting a near-substantial luster.
As the Nine Yang Talisman Sword descended, Yu Ci once again met it with the azure light, producing a resonating clang akin to the sound of metal striking metal. This time, only the peripheral light peeled away, leaving the solidified azure area undamaged.
Yu Ci's face turned pale, but he couldn't help but start laughing.
He had never truly planned to escape. His previous flight was only to buy time to draw Talismans to counter his enemy. But time was of the essence, and he could only manage to create a Mist Flow Concealing Talisman and Palm Thunder, neither of which proved effective in the battle.
Fortunately, Yan Daoist was talkative, giving him an opportunity. With swift hand movements hidden within his sleeve, he formed the "Seven Dipper Star Sword Talisman", finally using a mouthful of heart's blood to activate it, transforming illusion into reality, and forming this weapon. The process went so smoothly, it was as if divine aid was at hand.
Of course, even with the Sword Technique, he might not necessarily be able to defeat Yan Daoist. But Yu Ci, who used Talismans, was vastly different from Yu Ci, the swordsman. He excelled at Talismans, but loved the sword even more. Compared to the complexity of using Talismans, he preferred the straightforwardness of a blade-to-blade combat, choosing between life and death in an instant. In his twelve years of wandering, how many times had he drawn his sword to kill?
This was his true nature.
All distractions were cast aside. Facing a vicious opponent a level above him, Yu Ci grinned:
"Let's see how my Seven Dipper Star Sword Talisman compares to your Nine Yang Talisman Sword?"
************
Brother Fish Bone prefers simplicity and straightforwardness, and I am also very candid about my love for bookmarks and votes.
I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e