Boom—
Zuo Younian raised his hand, unleashing a second-tier magical saber that struck Linghu Isle. The water-element barrier held firm but rippled under the impact.
Seeing his attack blocked, the white-haired elder frowned deeply.
"A mid-grade second-tier formation."
In an instant, Zuo Younian felt a trace of hesitation. The power of a mid-grade second-tier formation was immense. If it was controlled by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, there was a chance it could kill him.
However, he soon noticed that the one controlling the formation was the frail and withered Chen Changyan.
"Ah, so Elian must have fallen for my diversion, leaving only this old relic here."
"A man who's half-buried in the ground still dares to stand in my way?" Zuo Younian sneered, then drove his battle saber into a strike.
The saber, named Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber, was Zuo Younian's natal artifact and his only high-grade second-tier weapon.
Forged from the celestial material Whiteblade Metal and imbued with the energy of the Metal element, this saber was one of the Qingyang Sect's three strongest natal artifacts. The forging process required a delicate balance of yin and yang through 36 days of tempering.
Though its offensive capabilities didn't surpass top-tier celestial swords like the Fiery Void Sword or Tianxu Immortal Slayer Sword, it was superior to most natal artifacts and could be considered an exceptional weapon.
It was said that even the Golden Core patriarch of the Qingyang Sect, Master Xu, used a Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber as his natal artifact, demonstrating its remarkable quality.
Now, wielded by Zuo Younian, a cultivator at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, the saber unleashed a blade aura over eight zhang long, radiating terrifying power.
The overwhelming blade aura descended, its brilliance striking the island's protective formation with explosive force, creating a violent surge.
On the central island, Chen Changyan's face reddened as he channeled his dwindling spiritual energy to keep the formation active, barely deflecting the blow.
"Luckily, the water-element formation counters the metal element of the Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber. Otherwise, I might not have been able to block that strike."
"Still, while he can't breach the formation, my spiritual energy won't last much longer."
Pale-faced, Chen Changyan knew his limits. Though controlling the protective formation didn't demand much from an experienced cultivator, he was only a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator with waning vitality.
To keep the formation active, he would have to deplete every last drop of his spiritual energy, potentially at the cost of his life.
"Perhaps this is my destiny."
Faced with this life-and-death crisis, Chen Changyan calmly straightened his robes, maintaining his composure.
He gazed at Zuo Younian in the distance, then pushed the formation's power to its maximum once more.
After attacking continuously for a full day and night without breaching the formation, Zuo Younian's expression grew pale with frustration.
"Old fool, you're truly stubborn. At your age, you dare defy me?"
His spiritual energy severely depleted, Zuo Younian swallowed a pill to recover some strength, begrudgingly acknowledging his opponent's resilience.
On Linghu Isle, Chen Changyan sat cross-legged, his frail form now ghostly pale. His spiritual energy was nearly exhausted, and his body, already drained of vitality, could barely sustain him. Yet, in his final moments, he remained unflinching.
Looking at Zuo Younian, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"I've lived 118 years. Who would've thought I'd face a late-stage Foundation Establishment master in my final battle?"
"I have no regrets in this life!"
"You should be proud to have held me off for an entire day," Zuo Younian admitted begrudgingly, sensing his energy partially restored.
"But you're nearly at the end of your rope. How much longer can you last?"
As he spoke, his eyes widened in alarm. In the distant sky, several streaks of radiant sword light tore through the clouds, hurtling toward Linghu Isle.
"Have the Chen family responded so quickly?"
"If I can't breach Linghu Isle and the Chen family's reinforcements arrive, I'll be trapped."
Zuo Younian hesitated, then made his decision. Seeing the sword lights draw closer, he turned to retreat.
On the island, Chen Changyan's eyes opened sharply. He let out a long, booming shout.
"Old dog, if I let you leave today, you'll become the greatest threat to the Chen family."
"After enduring your attacks for a day, it's my turn to strike!"
With that, he spat out his last drop of blood essence and squeezed out a thread of spiritual energy. With a sharp cry, he activated the Mingxu Sword.
The dazzling sword light ascended, radiating an unmatched sharpness. This was Chen Changyan's final, all-out strike, driven by the determination to protect his family. Its power was earth-shattering.
Caught off guard, Zuo Younian's expression changed drastically. In desperation, he raised the Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber to defend himself.
As part of the island's formation, the Mingxu Sword drew upon the water-element power of Linghu Isle's spiritual vein, unleashing fearsome power that even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would hesitate to face head-on.
Despite Zuo Younian's strength, he was no match for a formation built on such a powerful spiritual vein. The sword light, resembling a cascading heavenly river, surged forward with unstoppable might, sending the Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber flying.
With the blade aura still advancing, Zuo Younian hastily summoned a defensive seal artifact to block it. The artifact, a mid-grade second-tier seal, created a barrier that barely withstood the strike.
But the delay cost him dearly. Within moments, the Chen family reinforcements arrived.
Chen Changxuan, the fastest among them, was the first to strike, summoning his Crimson Flame Spirit Blade to attack. The flaming blade aura aimed directly at Zuo Younian's head.
At this critical moment, Zuo Younian unleashed his full potential, using the defensive seal to block the blade. He then attempted to flee with the Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber.
But after retreating only a hundred zhang, a streak of azure sword light intercepted him—the Fiery Void Sword wielded by Elian.
"Damn it."
Realizing he was cornered, Zuo Younian's face twisted in desperation. He summoned a mid-grade second-tier flying sword to strike at Elian, hoping to break through.
The flying sword, powered by Zuo Younian's cultivation, was formidable enough to trouble even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in single combat.
But Elian was not alone.
Chen Changxuan once again unleashed his Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, clashing with the flying sword. At the same time, he activated the Blazing Fire Divine Flags, trapping the Whiteblade Dustbreaker Saber within the formation.
With two of his key artifacts suppressed, Zuo Younian was on the brink of collapse, relying solely on a mid-grade defensive artifact as he struggled to escape.
...
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