At a critical moment when Nan Songzi was channeling his magical artifact, he turned his head and saw Murong Qingyan, who had retreated half a mile away. She held a jade talisman no larger than half a palm in her hand. The previous resonant sound had come from there, and at this moment, the female cultivator struck the talisman once more.
A flash of violet light erupted, condensing into a hammer of pure brilliance. Although it was launched from half a mile away, it arrived in an instant. Nan Songzi let out a loud cry as he was sent flying backward. The “Void Traversing Talisman” he had been relying on shattered with a bang. Not only that talisman, but also the protective talismans he had activated earlier, including the spells driving the “Form Follows Intent Technique,” and even the incantations prepared to operate his magical artifact, all failed simultaneously and dissolved into nothingness.
Meng Wei seized the opportunity. While her Pine-patterned Sword remained defensively stationed internally, the sword light she had been conserving burst forth like a bird breaking free of its cage. With a soft whistle, it pierced through the watery mist, almost blending into the radiant haze spreading across the lake.
In the blink of an eye, the sword light pierced through Nan Songzi’s protective True Qi, leaving a trail of bl0od.
At this moment, the second “Violet Light Hammer” shattered the air, and Nan Songzi, unable to resist, was struck once again. His body plunged obliquely into the water, disappearing to an unknown depth.
On the lake’s surface, the two female cultivators had gained the upper hand but did not relax their vigilance. Meng Wei knew that her “Dispersing Mist Sword” had only grazed Nan Songzi’s upper left arm, causing no significant harm. Meanwhile, farther away, Murong Qingyan had never expected this round of attacks to deliver a fatal blow to Nan Songzi.
She tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing as she thought to herself, ‘Why isn’t it here yet?’
The next moment, the lake quaked as Nan Songzi burst out of the water, laughing loudly. Not a trace of anger or embarrassment remained from being knocked into the lake; instead, his excitement was palpable.
“So it truly is the Great Void True Talisman!”
Standing on the lake, Nan Songzi fixed his unblinking gaze on the jade talisman in Murong Qingyan’s hand. “That woman said this talisman has always been in your possession, and she was right.”
The “Great Void True Talisman” in Murong Qingyan’s hand, officially named the “Great Profound Seven Transformations Five Directions True Form Talisman,” was one of the most prized treasures of the Myriad Cosmos Sect. With this talisman in hand, one could naturally disrupt the operation of talismans within a radius of several miles, focus their spirit, and even shatter fully formed talisman spells, returning gathered spiritual energy to its initial state. Its power was so overwhelming that it was also called the “True Void Talisman.” Alongside the sect’s other treasure, the “True Void Violet Mist Jade,” it was held in the highest regard.
However, the talisman’s greatest value lay not in breaking talismans or taking lives but in the sect’s unique sacrificial refinement method. This method had inscribed the sect’s two most profound manuals—the ‘Myriad True Qi Core Refinement Formula’ and the ‘Flowing Mist Thousand Reflections Ascension Method’. Mastering these could break through the Core Refinement stage, temper one’s true form, and pursue immortality.
Nan Songzi had chased Murong Qingyan across countless miles, not just to settle old scores but primarily to obtain this treasure. After all, no beauty could outweigh the value of one’s own life. Seeing the talisman now, he was ecstatic, chuckling as he rubbed his hands together.
“Dear niece, your heart isn’t with the sect. If the Myriad Cosmos Sect’s lineage ends with you, this ‘Great Profound Seven Transformations Five Directions True Form Talisman’ will only gather dust. Why not give it to your uncle instead? I can make full use of it to uphold the sect’s legacy. You can go be a good daughter and serve You Kan in Flying Soul City to your heart’s content. You’ll gain endless benefits. Why stubbornly cling to this?”
You Kan was the city lord of Flying Soul City and a major figure in the Jade Cleansing Alliance. Even in the entire cultivation world, he was a force to be reckoned with. Murong Qingyan’s adopted mother was none other than You Kan’s wife, Madam Xia. However, rumors suggested that You Kan harbored inappropriate thoughts about Murong Qingyan, his adopted daughter. Nan Songzi’s words were clearly an insinuation of this.
Unexpectedly, Murong Qingyan burst into laughter upon hearing his words, disregarding her posture as she doubled over, laughing until she was out of breath. Her voice, tinged with gasps, carried a magnetic charm that danced on her bright and clear words.
“Let me enlighten you, you lecher. This talisman is indeed useless to me. However, even if I were to destroy it, I would never let it fall into your hands…”
As she spoke, she laughed again, even more unrestrained this time. Her playful voice was captivating, but her words struck a nerve in Nan Songzi, making his face darken.
“Have you reached the peak of the ‘Myriad True Qi’? Is there no way forward? Can you not find a Void Stepping manual to match it? How does it feel to be stuck at the Core Refinement stage, watching helplessly as your body ages?”
“Nan Songzi, you brainless water-filled buffoon, have you really not figured out by now why you managed to escape the pursuit of Flying Soul City and survive in the Three Great Northern Lakes? Let me tell you—it was because I wanted to see just how long you could last! Your whole body may be brimming with energy, but your core has long shriveled!”
Nan Songzi’s face turned ashen, her words hitting him squarely in his weak spot. After a long moment, he took a deep breath, suppressing his anger as he nodded heavily.
“Very well. Very well, Murong Qingyan! I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over that talisman, and for the sake of your late mother, I’ll spare your life and even leave you some dignity. But if you refuse… ha!”
The eerie sound of laughter suddenly erupted as two nearly imperceptible shadows emerged from the mist beside Murong Qingyan. These shadows vaguely resembled human forms, with four arms entwined. However, Murong Qingyan had already anticipated the danger. She leapt into the air, her jade talisman flashing with violet light, shredding the two shadows into countless fragments that dissolved into mist.
Nan Songzi had never intended to persuade Murong Qingyan, and neither had she believed that Nan Songzi would rely solely on words to gain the upper hand.
Yet, within just a few moments, a change became apparent over the inner lake.
Unnoticed, the mist thickened, and an ominous dark red hue emerged, either from some shift in the light source or another arcane influence. A faint, cloying fragrance wafted across the lake’s surface.
It seemed Nan Songzi had activated a sinister artifact, as both female cultivators sensed a profound shift in his tactics.
The dense fog birthed shadowy figures that flitted about erratically. These apparitions, shrouded in intense heart-devouring innate Qi, lacked direct offensive capabilities. However, any contact would unleash a mental assault, making them a formidable nuisance.
Meng Wei fared better, having been raised in a traditional daoist sect, where her steadfast will and righteous sword aura rendered her impervious to such demonic energies.
Murong Qingyan, however, was less fortunate. Originating from an unconventional sect and prone to overthinking, she was naturally at a disadvantage against heart-devouring innate Qi. Although her “Great Void True Talisman” possessed remarkable dispelling powers, it couldn’t fully counteract the situation, leaving her at a disadvantage.
Seizing the moment, Nan Songzi appeared behind Murong Qingyan and reached out to grab her.
Murong Qingyan, summoning her remaining strength, turned and activated the “Great Void True Talisman,” releasing a resonant blast as its violet light slashed out like a blade. Nan Songzi, however, stood his ground. His protective True Qi shield absorbed much of the attack, while the rest he endured, allowing his skin to rupture and blood to spill into the air as mist.
His speed was astonishing, catching Murong Qingyan off guard. Despite her efforts to escape into the air using her damaged “Void Traversing Talisman,” Nan Songzi relentlessly pursued her like a shadow. As the “Great Void True Talisman” flashed again, his figure was already upon her. The innate Qi surrounding him intensified, pressing down oppressively.
A resonating hum filled the air as the “Great Void True Talisman” erupted in a dazzling violet glow. The light pierced through the dense mist, blending with the dark red fog in an unsettling yet mesmerizing display.
Murong Qingyan let out a low cry as the violet light flew from her hand like a shooting star, rising high into the sky.
The sudden loss of her talisman surprised even Nan Songzi, who had been attempting to seize it. Overjoyed, he abandoned the stunned Murong Qingyan and turned to grab the talisman.
His speed was unmatched, and just as his fingertips were about to touch the talisman, a sharp whistle of sword energy cut through the air. A chilling sensation swept over his fingers as the talisman was knocked away by the incoming sword Qi.
“You wretch!”
The attack’s origin was evident—a daoist nun from the Rifting Earth Sect. Enraged, Nan Songzi hesitated but then redirected his focus, shifting his body to pursue the talisman once more.
This time, Meng Wei shadowed him. Her Pine-patterned Sword flickered with light, forming layers of sword Qi that barred Nan Songzi’s path to the talisman. Though unable to completely stop him, the barriers repeatedly disrupted his momentum.
Meanwhile, Murong Qingyan was already closing in on the talisman, just a few paces away.
Realizing he might lose the talisman, Nan Songzi’s eyes turned blood-red. With a furious roar, the wounds inflicted by the two female cultivators erupted in a mist of blood. From this mist, a blood-red shadow emerged, expanding as it enveloped Nan Songzi. The shadow fused into his body, causing his form to swell ominously.
In an instant, his body began to fade and blur.
Meng Wei reacted swiftly, drawing back her sword to form a flawless ring of sword Qi. A fraction of a second later, Nan Songzi abandoned the talisman and charged directly at her.
The sword Qi ring dissipated much of his momentum, but Meng Wei remained vigilant. A thin black shadow struck the ring with a metallic clang before morphing into a nearly invisible aura that attached itself to the sword Qi. The aura shimmered and shifted rapidly, repeatedly condensing and dispersing until it breached the defensive barrier.
“The God-Slaying Thorn!”
Meng Wei had read about such a technique in ancient texts but had never seen a countermeasure for it. Distracted, she felt an icy force penetrate her body, converging at her Core Refinement Point like a dagger stabbing into her chest.
Despite her resilience, Meng Wei couldn’t suppress a cry of pain. The sword Qi ring shattered as Nan Songzi moved in with a sinister grin. “Hand over the talisman, or I’ll trade your life for it!”
His now grotesquely swollen hand reached for her neck.
Just then, a blinding light pierced through the fog, leaving searing trails in his vision.
Nan Songzi’s heart sank as he muttered, “Not good!” Moments later, a deafening rumble of thunder rolled across the winter night, echoing through the valley.
All unclean forces instinctively feared the tribulation lightning. The sinister arts Nan Songzi employed were potent but incomplete, rife with vulnerabilities. The heavenly lightning descended with incredible speed, striking him before he could react.
Although the lightning’s raw power was not overwhelming, the heavenly aura it carried wreaked havoc within him, causing his Qi and innate Qi to destabilize.
Meanwhile, Murong Qingyan neared the talisman, now only a few meters away. Suddenly, a splash echoed across the lake as a figure emerged from the water, timing their movement perfectly to snatch the talisman. With a playful laugh, the figure retreated swiftly.
The sequence of events happened so rapidly that the three combatants, previously dominating the battlefield, stood stunned.
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