This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

The waves of flame dissipated, and two jiao beasts, one grey and one black, each over thirty feet long, flew out of the cave entrance in a very bedraggled manner.

Both jiao beasts had three sharp claws underneath their bellies, emitting a cold glint in all directions.

However, the tough dragon scales that covered their bodies were now singed black, and some areas even had scales fallen off, exposing the flesh underneath.

The most crucial point was that the self-healing ability of the jiao beast’s physical body was extremely strong.

But the wounds caused by the scorching of the netherfire contained a brutal and chaotic energy echoing within, which needed time and effort to refine and assimilate; otherwise, the netherfire would suppress their self-healing ability.

The jiao beasts roared angrily, their eyes filled with a chilling intent as they looked toward Lu Qingshan and his two companions.

Pfft pfft pfft!

Countless water arrows shot out from the gaping maws of the two jiao beasts, flying towards the trio in a dense and overwhelming manner.

As sea demons, the jiao beasts had an innate talent for water control, and this water arrow technique even surpassed the power of a water attribute Golden Core Dharma Cultivation spell.

If it had been before, Lu Qingshan would have inevitably found it troublesome.

Such area effect spells have always been extremely sharp against Sword Cultivators.

However, now Lu Qingshan was not afraid in the slightest.

With a mere thought, accompanied by a sequence of vibrant and clear clashing sounds, countless fine water element sword qi surged out of the acupoints around his body, flowing over his entire body in an instant, converging and merging to form a layer of flowing sword armor on his skin, glittering like glimmering waves.

Without retreating, Lu Qingshan advanced instead, actively welcoming the onslaught of arrows under the protection of his Water Walking Sword Armor.

Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang!

The surging water arrows struck Lu Qingshan’s Water Walking Sword Armor, making sounds like metal and jade colliding, but were easily withstood by the armor.

The Water Walking Sword Armor was a defensive skill cultivated by Lu Qingshan with huge resources that even a Golden Core Cultivator might not be able to afford; facing Water Element Spells, it was not strange to have such defensive power.

After Lu Qingshan took on the majority of the water arrows, the water arrows that Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan faced were just a tiny fraction, allowing both of them to focus less on defense!

The combination of their three-person team, which included two Sword Cultivators known for their offensive prowess as well as a fire attribute Dharma Cultivation, was indeed incredibly strong in terms of offense, but slightly weak on the defense.

Hence, Lu Qingshan took on the role of a Body Cultivator by using his Water Walking Sword Armor.

After blocking the water arrow spells from the two jiao beasts, Lu Qingshan, with his body wrapped in sword armor composed of water element sword qi, approached the grey jiao in an instant using Formless Sword Escape and tangled with it in combat.

The most viable way to overcome the strong with the weak was to fight in numbers at a localized point.

Therefore, their strategy was simple, first utilize the Red Lotus Netherfire Bead to weaken the combat power of the two jiaos, then have one person entangle one of the injured jiao beasts, allowing the other two to focus their attacks and swiftly eliminate the other jiao beast.

Among them, only he, who had cultivated the Water Walking Sword Armor, was most suited to play this role.

Moreover, Lu Qingshan understood that at this stage, he was far from matching the offensive capabilities of Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan.

Swish!

A sound of a flying sword, fraught with lethal intent, lingered around Lu Qingshan’s ears, and with a glance from the corner of his eye, he saw a strand of blood-red sword light flash through the air, streaking forward and aiming for the great vertical pupil of the Black Jiao.

Flying Sword Secret Technique!

Lu Qingshan’s heart trembled.

Indeed, Zang Xiaojian had stronger moves up his sleeve.

Although the speed of the flying sword was still not faster than the speed of sound, the blood-red glow that covered it significantly increased the lethality of Zang Xiaojian’s flying sword.

The Black Jiao, senseing the overwhelming might of the blood-colored flying sword, did not dare to be negligent and extended its massive claws, aiming to smash the flying sword.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

The blood-colored flying sword weaved and charged between the Black Jiao’s giant claws.

With the enhancement from the blood light, the flying sword’s sharpness increased by several levels, cutting through the thick scales on the jiao’s claws and, seizing the moment when the grey jiao faltered from the pain, broke away from the claws, and the sword light fiercely slashed across the belly of the grey jiao.

There, a large wound already existed due to the Red Lotus Netherfire Bead, with scales long fallen off.

Rip!

The blood-colored flying sword mercilessly carved a large piece of flesh from the belly of the Black Jiao, and blood splattered from the wound.

On the other side, the force of Mo Yan’s attack was not lesser than that of Zang Xiaojian.

In terms of destructive power, fire attribute Dharma Cultivators have always been at the top.

Not to mention that the fire Mo Yan wielded was not ordinary fire, but one of the most terrifying natural netherfires in the world.

Mo Yan formed seal gestures with both hands, and the next moment, a crimson and a dark blue fire serpent meandered out from his hands, rapidly expanding in size during flight to become two terrifying creatures over fifty to sixty feet long, with gaping maws ready to bite at the Black Jiao.

In addition, Mo Yan summoned three huge Fire Ring Magic Artifacts.

The Fire Rings, flashing with dazzling flames, spun swiftly following the two fire serpents, launching an attack on the Black Jiao.

A black radiance rose instantly over the Black Jiao’s body.

Clearly, it held more dread for the attacks from Mo Yan than for the previous flying sword.

Boom boom boom!

The Fire Serpent bit onto the Black Jiao’s protective dark light, and a muffled thunder-like sound erupted as the red and blue Fire Serpents intertwined, incessantly eroding that layer of protective dark light.

Watching this scene, a chill flashed through Mo Yan’s eyes.

"Explode!" he uttered softly.

The three nearby Magic Artifacts that were Fire Rings emitted dazzling Spiritual Light, as Spiritual Power surged and raged wildly.

The next instant.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three loud explosion-like thunder sounds, accompanied by blinding Spiritual Light, completely engulfed the form of the Black Jiao.

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Mo Yan had, in the moment they had just clashed, detonated three high-quality Magic Artifacts.

After the Spiritual Light dissipated, the protective dark light of the Black Jiao had already collapsed, and its body was torn and battered, blood streaming everywhere. From the looks of it, had it not been protected by that layer of protective dark light, it would have likely been blown to pieces on the spot.

This tactic made even Lu Qingshan feel somewhat intimidated.

Mo Yan, possessing the power of Red Lotus Netherfire, was nearly invincible among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Yet, on top of that, Mo Yan himself was an exceptional Artifact Refiner, which meant numerous techniques... and lavish spending.

In just a few breaths’ time, Mo Yan had already squandered the astonishing value of dozens of Red Lotus Netherfire Beads and three precious Magic Artifacts.

Truly like a War God.

A Renminbi War God.

Looking at the severely injured Black Jiao, Mo Yan’s eyes were filled with bloodthirsty intent.

He was so willing to deplete his own resources because he feared that if the battle dragged on too long, Lu Qingshan wouldn’t be able to withstand the Grey Jiao’s attacks.

After all, the fragility of a Sword Cultivator’s body was well-known to all.

Despite Lu Qingshan seeming at ease in his entanglement with the Grey Jiao while wearing the Water Walking Sword Armor, Mo Yan knew very well that Lu Qingshan was, in fact, dancing on the edge of a knife.

The Black Jiao, at first, used its protective dark light to resist Mo Yan’s Netherfire. Although its defenses were dismantled by the self-detonation of Mo Yan’s Magic Artifacts, the Black Jiao could still rely on its strong physical body to endure. Even if it was injured, it wouldn’t necessarily fall.

But Lu Qingshan was different; he couldn’t afford any mistakes.

If any attack that the Water Walking Sword Armor failed to block landed, Lu Qingshan’s physical body would be annihilated.

This was a disadvantage inherent to the Cultivation path, unavoidable.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Seeing the Black Jiao so grievously wounded, Zang Xiaojian’s eyes lit up, his Flying Sword rose again, the Blood Light surged, and it swept past the Black Jiao’s body repeatedly, cutting off bits of flesh, like the torturous dismemberment of the Jiao Beast.

The Black Jiao writhed, letting out a piteous and agonizing scream, filled with madness and hatred, no longer caring for any attacks, and suddenly charged at Zang Xiaojian.

Severe injuries had completely triggered the ferocity of the Black Jiao.

Mo Yan’s complexion changed, and he quickly manipulated the Fire Serpents formed from his Netherfire, trying to block the Black Jiao.

But at this moment, the Black Jiao, already reckless of all else, had bloodshot eyes, focusing only on the figure of Zang Xiaojian.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The Fire Serpents coiled tightly around the Black Jiao’s body, scorching its flesh, but the Black Jiao continued unabated, carrying flames all over its body. Its tail whipped fiercely and its claws, flashing with cold light, struck towards Zang Xiaojian.

In contrast to Mo Yan’s panic, Zang Xiaojian faced the dangerous situation with utmost calm.

Rumbling!

It was like the sound of thunder, like a tide, as a layer of something mysterious and deep with the aura of Heaven and Earth suddenly enveloped Zang Xiaojian’s Flying Sword.

Under the influence of this force, the Sword Light turned into a nearly invisible afterimage, condensed into a point of cold gleam. With a whoosh, it passed straight through the abdomen of the Black Jiao.

Slash—

The Demon Core of the Black Jiao was pierced by Zang Xiaojian’s sword, shattered into numerous fragments.

Its massive body, only ten zhang away from Zang Xiaojian, thunderously fell, its huge eyes filled with unwillingness and ferocity.

"The realm of sound speed!" Mo Yan stared in shock.

Zang Xiaojian’s last sword had reached the first realm of Flying Sword, the realm of sound speed.

That was a technique exclusive to Golden Core Sword Cultivators.

Zang Xiaojian had actually pierced through this realm while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

…

Next to the boulder, Qin Yitian gazed intently ahead.

The direction of her gaze was the battlefield where Lu Qingshan and the others fought the Jiao Beasts.

However, the five-colored Radiance from Mo Yan’s Spirit Bead Artifact enveloped everything, obscuring all movements, making it hard to see clearly.

But Qin Yitian’s eyes were serene, seemingly unaffected by the Radiance, as if she could see through everything.

Finally, after Zang Xiaojian executed that sonic-speed sword, Qin Yitian slightly moved, her red lips parted slightly, and she uttered a few faint words, "Wind Sword Intent..."