Core Demon didn't even need to think; he knew how much trouble this signal talisman for ascending would bring him.
If the Immortal City reacted quickly, even without deploying Fake Core or True Core cultivators, enough late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would be able to surround and entangle him to death.
Many ants can kill an elephant—it's an exaggeration, but there's some truth to it.
With a strength difference between late-stage Foundation Establishment and Fake Core cultivators, this is possible, but against early- or mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, no matter
how many there are, it's useless; they'll fight until their hands are sore and their strength is exhausted.
Therefore, he had to leave, but before that, he had to teach the woman in green who ruined his plans a lesson.
[At this point, I hope readers remember our domain name: Taiwan Novel Network (էաҟąղ.çօʍ). Super smooth.]
The Fake Core Demon's heart was filled with gloom.
Although exposed this time, if he could kill all these powerful and vigorous law enforcement cultivators
to nourish his [Nine Ghost Soul-Destroying Nails], he might be able to advance to the level of a magic weapon and escape the embryonic state!
This could be considered a blessing in disguise, and it was the optimal solution that the False Core Demon quickly found in his predicament.
His intellect, experience, and decisiveness were truly extraordinary!
But since things were ruined, he could only use the woman's head to vent his anger!
A pair of pale, lifeless eyes stared at Bai Hengwan flying towards him, like the gaze of a withered soul in a dry tomb, with a hint of bloodlust in them.
"Let my magic weapon taste your soul and flesh!"
Then, his thin right hand suddenly stretched out and grabbed fiercely in front of him!
"Whoosh—!"
A pitch-black ghost head, over ten feet in size, formed from pure demonic energy, appeared out of thin air. Its teeth were sharp and deep, its eye sockets swirling with black blood. A chilling wind, carrying a corrosive aura, and a piercing ghostly howl, instantly traversed nearly a hundred feet, snapping down at Bai Hengwan!
The speed was astonishing!
Clearly, this was for real!
Bai Hengwan's expression was extremely solemn. Facing the furious attack of a pseudo-core cultivator, she dared not hold back in the slightest. With a swift wave of her hand, a brilliant azure spiritual light shone around her. She cried out,
"Wind Wall!"
In an instant, the air currents in front of her converged and swirled wildly, forming an incredibly thick "azure tornado wall" composed of countless wind blades. The rapidly spinning wind blades emitted sharp, piercing sounds, firmly protecting her behind them.
"Boom!!"
The pitch-black demonic head slammed into the wind barrier!
Demonic energy and wind spirit power collided and annihilated violently, producing a deafening roar. The azure wind barrier trembled violently, countless wind blades shattering under the bite of the demonic fangs, but new wind blades quickly formed, stubbornly resisting.
"Crack! Crack!"
The dissipated demonic energy and wind spirit power shredded all the surrounding rocks and trees! The stalemate
lasted only a moment before the wind barrier finally couldn't completely withstand the power of the fake core and shattered with a crash! Bai Hengwan groaned, her figure using the force to drift backward, her face slightly pale, clearly having suffered some shock.
"Hmph! You've got some skill, let's see how many you can withstand!" The fake core demon sneered, already attacking again.
However, just as Bai Hengwan's old strength dissipated and new strength had not yet arisen, and her figure retreated, seemingly revealing a slight opening, a cunning glint flashed in the eyes of the fake Core Formation Demon. From his left sleeve, a jet-black light, almost blending into the shadows, shot out silently! Its speed was extreme, and it didn't even generate the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy, making it
extremely vicious and ruthless!
[Nine Ghost Soul-Destroying Nails]!
This nail had been quietly retracted at some point, and then launched again in a sneak attack!
Bai Hengwan's aura was fluctuating at this moment, and her divine sense was also disturbed by the fierce collision just now. It seemed that she was about to be ambushed by this vicious Soul-Destroying Nails! At
what seemed like a critical moment, a trace of calm flashed in Bai Hengwan's eyes. She seemed to have been prepared all along and was not flustered. She suddenly patted the storage bag at her waist, and a warm, pure white jade light, exuding an aura of awe and inviolability, shot into the sky!
It was a treasure, roughly a foot long, carved entirely from an unknown type of white jade, resembling a ruler.
Mysterious runes naturally flowed across its surface, radiating a powerful spiritual pressure imbued with the speed of wind and thunder, yet also carrying a sense of "judgment" and "measurement"!
Lin Changheng, observing this scene from afar, immediately recognized it as a potential magic weapon. He
was initially taken aback, then realized that even a rogue cultivator like himself had crafted a potential magic weapon and obtained the rare spiritual material [Xun Wind Thunder Liquid] from the other party; it seemed perfectly normal for this noble and high-ranking disciple of the Immortal City to possess such a weapon.
This potential magic weapon was the [Measuring Jade Ruler]!
Although it was only an embryo, far from complete, its extraordinary material already revealed its initial power!
"Measuring the heavens and establishing rules, evil spirits be banished!"
Bai Hengwan shouted, and the embryonic [Measuring Jade Ruler] spun rapidly, scattering slivers of clear, jade-like light that precisely blocked the dark light!
"Clang—!"
A crisp sound, like jade chimes striking each other, rang out!
The invincible [Nine Ghosts Soul-Destroying Nails] struck the clear light of the jade ruler, as if it had met its nemesis. The dark light instantly dimmed, its forward momentum abruptly halted, and much of its bloodthirsty aura was dispersed!
The embryonic jade ruler also trembled, letting out a mournful cry. Clearly, taking this sneak attack head-on was not easy, and
it flew backward.
Although the [Nine Ghosts Soul-Destroying Nails] was countered by the [Measuring Jade Ruler], its cultivation time was shorter, and the wielder's magical power was also at a lower level; the latter was no match.
"A magic treasure embryo?!" The fake Core Formation Demon was both surprised and delighted, a greedy glint in his eyes. "And such a righteous embryo at that! Very well! Kill you, and this embryo will be mine!" "
Moreover, your status in Floating Life Immortal City is not necessarily bad, so I can capture you to be my furnace! Let me be the groom tonight, the son-in-law of your Floating Life Immortal City!"
The fake Core Formation Demon became even more audacious, cackling and trying to provoke him, but in reality, he completely abandoned his underestimation, his demonic energy surging again, preparing to unleash even stronger methods.
Bai Hengwan, having blocked the fatal blow with the magic treasure embryo, was temporarily unharmed, but the [Measuring Jade Ruler] trembled violently, still shaking slightly in her hand. Connected to the woman's mind, it caused her aura to become disordered, and a pang of heartache flashed through her heart.
This embryo was not easy to nurture, and having withstood the blow of a fake Core Formation cultivator's magic treasure, it had already suffered a slight damage.
"Take another blow from me! [Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts]!"
The fake Core Formation Demon roared, shoving his palms forward!
In an instant, countless twisted, ferocious "ghostly figures" emanating from him appeared out of thin air, densely packed and blotting out the sky!
These ghostly figures were not illusions, but rather condensed pure demonic energy and the resentment of remnant souls, carrying a bone-chilling cold and a power that corroded the soul, sweeping towards Bai Hengwan like a surging black tide.
Wherever they passed, the grass and trees withered instantly, and the rocks were covered with a thick layer of black frost!
This attack had an extremely wide range and astonishing power, completely sealing off all of Bai Hengwan's space to dodge, forcing her to take the hit head-on!
"As expected of a fake Core Formation cultivator!"
Lin Chang, who had stopped at a distance, detached from the situation and watching the battle from afar, raised an eyebrow at the massive and extremely bizarre scene before him, and then stared intently at Bai Hengwan's condition.
Regardless of his relationship with Bai Hengwan, the mere fact that they had a cooperative relationship and that Bai Hengwan had provided him with considerable assistance made it impossible for Lin Changheng to stand idly by and watch this woman be in danger.
His arm hung naturally, concealed by his robe sleeve, but unseen by anyone, a ball of dark golden [Dark Radiance Profound Flame] quietly appeared in his palm, rising and falling, ready to intervene at any moment.
While Bai Hengwan's [Measuring Jade Ruler], this embryonic magical artifact, relied on its righteous and awe-inspiring nature to counteract evil, Lin Changheng's [Dark Radiance Profound Flame] was different. It retained the extremely yang and powerful, evil-dispelling and purification characteristics
of the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame], making it more targeted and thorough! He had sufficient confidence in this, which was why he remained still, waiting to strike at the most crucial moment. Bai Hengwan's expression flickered. Sensing the overwhelming demonic power, she knew that with her own cultivation and the embryonic jade ruler, she would find it extremely difficult to withstand it! Although she held a noble position and rarely had the opportunity to openly engage in combat with cultivators, it didn't mean her combat abilities were weak. A resolute glint flashed in her eyes, and without hesitation, she continued to openly activate the jade ruler, while simultaneously and swiftly retrieving from her sleeve a talisman—an ancient yellow color, its edges even slightly damaged, yet radiating a chillingly sharp aura! She concealed it behind her back. This was her most prized possession! "A talisman?!" Lin Changheng's mind instantly calmed, knowing that Bai Hengwan was most likely unharmed. Last time, Lin Changheng had obtained a talisman from Bai Hengwan whose spiritual light was fading, named the [Azure Cleansing Sword Talisman], which he estimated could be used at least once, and perhaps twice with good luck. At this moment, Lin Changheng guessed that this woman possessed another talisman, otherwise she wouldn't have given it away. Of course, Lin Changheng wasn't the type to be ungrateful; he still remembered the woman's kindness. No one would complain about having too many [talismanic treasures], and giving them away was already a great favor. The jade ruler emitted a series of dazzling lights and shadows, its power exceeding its actual size, but enough to intimidate outsiders. "Please show yourself, treasure!" She then turned the talismanic treasure around, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence onto it, her inner power surging in like a burst dam! Over-stimulation! "Clang—!" A sword's cry, like tearing silk, resounded through the sky! The ancient yellow talismanic treasure suddenly erupted with incomparably brilliant and concentrated golden sword light, soaring into the sky and transforming into a tangible, three-zhang-long, golden giant sword phantom, its entire body flowing with an aura of destruction! The giant sword phantom instantly swept past the jade ruler, carrying an unstoppable, terrifying sword intent, and fiercely slashed down at the surging tide of hundreds of ghosts! "Boom—!" The golden sword light collided violently with the black ghost tide! There was no stalemate, only crushing destruction. Wherever the sword light passed, countless ghostly figures melted away like ice and snow, emitting mournful howls before dissipating. The surging tide of demonic energy was forcefully cleaved in two by this indestructible and incomparably sharp sword intent! The golden greatsword continued its momentum, though its color had dimmed slightly and its size had shrunk somewhat, it still carried terrifying power, instantly piercing through the ghostly tide and slashing towards the False Core Demon King behind it, whose expression had drastically changed! "What?! A talisman treasure!" "A true Core talisman treasure!" The False Core Demon King's expression changed. He had seen the opponent's little trick earlier, and originally thought it was just a False Core talisman treasure, intending to use it against him, but the result was completely unexpected. — He couldn't escape in time, and in his haste, he only had time to condense the demonic energy around him into a thick False Core level magic light shield to cover himself. At the same time, the white bone shield, a high-grade second-tier demonic artifact, shot out and blocked in front of him. "Bang!!!" The golden sword shadow slammed into the shield! The shield shattered under the strain, its spiritual light scattering, severely damaged! "Hiss!" The magical shield also shattered, torn apart! The remaining sword light struck the old demon, and with a crack, a bone pendant around his neck shattered! A gray mist suddenly released from the bone pendant and then contracted, disappearing in a flash, as if it had blocked something.
But the old demon still coughed up a mouthful of black blood, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His aura instantly weakened considerably, clearly indicating he had suffered serious internal injuries!
"What a pity!"
Lin Changheng, watching from afar, couldn't help but mutter to himself, his eyes gleaming. At the same time, he quietly retracted his outstretched, flicking finger into his sleeve, unseen by anyone.
He could clearly see that the demon cultivator's bone pendant was obviously some kind of rare life-saving item, capable of resisting or weakening fatal injuries.
Without this item, the talisman's attack had a chance to directly kill this arrogant pseudo-core old demon.
But it was still a miscalculation!
As Bai Hengwan's strength waned, the golden sword shadow vanished into light, reverting to its talisman form, landing in her slightly trembling jade hand, where it was gripped tightly.
Clearly, the attack hadn't killed him outright, leaving the woman unwilling to accept it, but she had no other choice.
The talisman still shone brightly, clearly still possessing sufficient power.
She was too weak to activate it a second time!
"Good! Good! Good!"
The old demon who had suffered a great loss exclaimed "Good!" three times, but his voice was icy cold, filled with resentment and killing intent.
He wiped the black blood from the corner of his mouth, and the previously ethereal demonic energy around him suddenly solidified, becoming as tangible as a black, viscous substance. An even more dangerous and insane aura began to rise.
His whitish eyes were fixed on Bai Hengwan, devoid of any mockery, filled only with the purest madness to tear her to pieces!
He no longer bothered with pretense; his sinister aura was palpable. Clearly, he was willing to fight to the death, regardless of the cost, even if it meant suffering further injuries, to kill this female cultivator who had caused him such a great loss and who possessed such a valuable treasure, and seize everything from her!
Bai Hengwan felt the tangible killing intent and madness, and her heart sank. She knew the most dangerous moment was about to arrive, and her mind raced as she considered how to deal with it.
"Boom!"
The demonic energy gradually took shape, but just then...
"Whoosh!"
A sharp, piercing sound pierced the air from the distant horizon, approaching with astonishing speed!
Accompanying it was an undisguised, vast, and overwhelming pressure, like rolling thunder, sweeping in like a tidal wave! This pressure was no less powerful than that of a pseudo-Core Formation demonic cultivator! This
sudden turn of events caused the pseudo-Core Formation demonic cultivator, who was about to fight desperately, to freeze in mid-air!
He abruptly turned his head, looking in the direction from which the pressure came, a hint of surprise and deep apprehension flashing in his eyes.
—
"Reinforcements from Floating Life Immortal City? So fast?!"
His mind raced.
From the start of the attack until now, only five or six breaths had passed—this was far too fast!
Bai Hengwan, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, had already caused him trouble; with another opponent of the same level, he would definitely not fare well today, and might even face certain death!
"Hmph! You're lucky!"
In a flash, the pseudo-Core Formation demonic cultivator made the wisest choice.
He glared fiercely at Bai Hengwan, as if trying to etch her image into his soul. Without hesitation, he blurred into a faint black shadow, shooting off in the opposite direction from the source of the oppressive aura. His speed was at its peak; he vanished into the sky in a few flashes, not even having time to utter a harsh word before disappearing!
The powerful oppressive aura grew stronger as it approached, quickly becoming clear. A purple streak of light appeared in their vision.
Simultaneously, a powerful divine sense, like a steel blade slicing through bone, swept over them, startling all the surviving members of the enforcement team. They all bowed respectfully,
as if in a salute, or perhaps a welcome.
They knew in their hearts that the crisis was over and they were safe.
But their gazes still involuntarily drifted towards Bai Zhenchuan, a sense of regret lingering. They knew that if she hadn't arrived in time, they would have long since perished under the clutches of the pseudo-core demonic cultivator.
The true teachings are profound and noble; even a venerable person would humble themselves to face a False Core cultivator with only a Foundation Establishment stage body—one cannot help but admire them!
Meanwhile, Bai Hengwan, whose pressure had suddenly dissipated, relaxed her tense mind and delicate body.
Lin Changheng, who had been observing quietly from the sidelines as if an outsider, suddenly appeared beside Bai Hengwan with a glint in his eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Li, I'm alright!"
Bai Hengwan naturally knew who the newcomer was and immediately informed him softly.
However, Lin Changheng didn't speak, but instead forcefully reached out and grabbed the woman's shoulder.
"What?"
Bai Hengwan was startled. The principle of "men and women should not touch" wasn't prevalent or a constraint in the cultivation world, but Lin Changheng, who had always treated her with courtesy and impeccable manners, was still surprised by this sudden action!
Lin Changheng still didn't answer; his gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on the back of Bai Hengwan's right shoulder.
Under the vision of [Insight into Demonic Arts], there was an extremely subtle, almost invisible, writhing black demonic energy attempting to silently infiltrate her body, drilling towards the meridians deep within her shoulder blade!
Silently!
This was the demonic seal that the fake Core Formation Demon had secretly planted when he fled, of the same origin as the one planted on Lin Changheng last time, but even more sinister!
Moreover, its methods were insidious and covert,
so much so that even Bai Hengwan herself had not noticed it! Feeling such a sharp gaze, no matter how calm and composed she was, no man had ever touched her body before, nor had she ever been stared at like this. A blush involuntarily appeared on her fair and delicate neck.
A feeling of shame and anger quietly rose in her heart, and then her mind began to wander wildly. "Don't move!"
Lin Changheng shouted in a low voice. A thin layer of [Dark Radiance Profound Flame] subtly flowed on his palm, spreading towards Bai Hengwan's body, yet it was well controlled so as not to burn her.
—Bai
Hengwan subconsciously wanted to break free, but hearing Lin Changheng's unquestionable shout and feeling the steady, mountain-like strength on her shoulder and a hot but harmless aura, she stopped moving abruptly, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise and doubt.
Just then, the wisp of demonic energy that was trying to penetrate seemed to have received a fatal stimulus, suddenly twisting violently and emitting a silent shriek, trying to accelerate its penetration.
"Hmph! Still trying to cause trouble!"
Lin Changheng's eyes turned cold, and the wisp of [Dark Radiance Profound Flame] in his palm, condensed to its extreme, shot out like a needle, striking the demonic seal with perfect accuracy!
"Hiss—!"
A very faint sound, like cold water dripping into hot oil, rang out on Bai Hengwan's body.
The insidious demonic seal couldn't even put up a fight against the extremely yang and powerful third-tier spiritual fire. It was instantly burned and purified, turning into a wisp of barely perceptible green smoke that dissipated from Bai Hengwan's shoulder and
then vanished into the air.
The entire process happened in the blink of an eye, from Lin Changheng's intervention to the dispelling of the demonic seal, only a breath or two.
Only then did Bai Hengwan feel a faint, strange sensation, as if something had been peeled away, from her shoulder blade, followed by the complete disappearance of that lingering discomfort.
She instantly understood, her face paling, filled with lingering fear.
"It was—the demonic seal?" her voice trembled with realization and apprehension.
"Yes, that old demon planted it before he left; the method was very subtle." Lin Changheng released his grip on the woman's shoulder,
his tone returning to its usual calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter. "It's alright now."
Bai Hengwan looked at the composed Lin Changheng, her heart filled with surprise and gratitude. She prided herself on her strong spiritual sense, yet she had been completely unaware of the demonic seal, while Lin Changheng had not only detected it instantly but also easily dissolved it with a mere gesture!
This insight and skill had once again refreshed her understanding of this "Fellow Daoist Li."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li! We are so grateful for your help this time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" She seemed to remember something, and bowed slightly solemnly, her gratitude sincere.
Lin Changheng waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the approaching purple light, and said calmly, "Reinforcements have arrived."
"Whoosh!"
The purple light in the sky had already traversed dozens of miles and arrived nearby.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the light receded, revealing a young man in a purple robe, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a angular face, and extremely handsome features!
But the arrogance on his face was clearly visible, giving him an air of looking down on the world and regarding all things as worthless.
"Little sister greets Senior Brother Wu!"
"We pay our respects to True Disciple Wu!"
Bai Hengwan smiled upon seeing the young man and bowed in greeting.
Next, the other law enforcement cultivators followed suit.
"I, Li, have met Master Wu!"
Lin Changheng also cupped his hands in greeting.
He muttered to himself, "Since it's Wu Zhenchuan, Senior Brother Wu, then this person must be Wu Huayuan,"
the third disciple under Qinglan Sanren. Qinglan Sanren had obtained a third-tier precious herb for Core Formation from the wilderness and bestowed it upon Wu Huayuan. This news spread widely throughout the Immortal City, becoming the talk of the town. Even I, who rarely ventured beyond the city walls, had heard of it—"
Because Lin Changheng was too focused on himself, and his level was slightly insufficient, he only achieved Core Formation through this person.
But it was unclear whether it was a fake or genuine Core Formation—
now, judging by this imposing presence and the feeling he gave the other person, Lin Changheng knew this person was most likely a genuine Core Formation cultivator!
Fake Core Formation cultivators have their cultivation path severed; they basically have no chance of breaking through to the mid-stage of Core Formation, and this state is impossible for them.
Lin Changheng was certain.
Excluding fake Core Formation, this person, whether a genuine Core Formation cultivator or not, must be a genuine Core Formation cultivator!
After all, the Southern Palace would not allow the appearance of a Golden Core cultivator.
"Hmm!"
Wu Huayuan's expression was cold as he scanned the chaotic scene, the injured law enforcement officers, the weak Bai Hengwan, and the corpses lying on the ground, as if confirming the situation. He was fully aware of the battle that had just taken place.
He nodded slightly to Bai Hengwan in response, his tone softening: "It's good that Junior Sister Bai is alright."
Then, his sharp gaze shifted to Lin Changheng, who stood beside Bai Hengwan with an unremarkable appearance.
His gaze was scrutinizing and contained a hint of barely perceptible inquiry. After all, everyone present looked disheveled, except for this person, whose aura was stable and whose clothes were neat, making him stand out.
This was also the first time Lin Changheng had directly faced a True Core cultivator, and he was uneasy. He
was a little worried that his [Illusory Appearance Teleportation Demon Technique] would be discovered by the other party.
But in fact, Wu Huayuan only glanced at him and didn't seem to take Lin Changheng, this "Mid-Foundation Establishment" cultivator, too seriously, perhaps mistaking him for Bai Hengwan's follower. What this beggar was more concerned about was the fake Core cultivator who had run rampant in the Immortal City and dared to attack the enforcement team!
He uttered a sentence, his voice as cold as ice: "You all stay here to clean up the mess, heal your wounds and rest. That demon—can't escape!"
Before his words had even finished, his figure blurred, transforming into a sharp purple rainbow, following the faint aura of the fake Core demon's remaining troops as he fled, chasing after him at an even faster speed than he had come! In an instant, he disappeared into the horizon, leaving only the rumbling sound of thunder echoing beneath his feet.
Clearly, this True Disciple Wu was determined to kill, vowing to slay that demon cultivator as an example to protect Wu Yan of the Floating Life Immortal City.
Only after Wu Huayuan left did the tense atmosphere in the arena ease.
Bai Hengwan withdrew her gaze from the distance and turned to Lin Changheng, transmitting her voice, "Senior Brother Wu is highly regarded by Master, and his temperament—"
Lin Changheng smiled noncommittally, "It's alright. True Disciple Wu is a man of strong principles, a pillar of Immortal City, and a role model for us all."
Bai Hengwan handled the situation exceptionally well, demonstrating the skill of a True Disciple of Immortal City in managing subordinates and controlling the hearts of the troops.
First, with a sorrowful expression, she personally closed the eyes of the fallen enforcement team member, promising generous compensation to his family and a memorial inscription on the Immortal City Martyrs' Monument. Her earnest words moved the troops.
Then, she took out precious healing pills and personally stabilized the wounded team members' injuries, offering gentle comfort. All the troops who had fought were also encouraged and rewarded, with a promise that their achievements would be truthfully reported, ensuring that no one's blood was shed in vain. After
these actions, the troops, initially somewhat disheartened by the encounter with a powerful enemy and the death of their comrades, were calmed down. Her words, though seemingly weak, were revitalized. The surviving law enforcement officers, their eyes red with emotion, were filled with a burning desire to risk their lives for her once more! They were ready to face any danger, even death!
Lin Changheng couldn't help but marvel, gaining a deeper understanding of Bai Hengwan's shrewdness.
He knew he was far less adept at winning over people and controlling situations than Bai Hengwan. His understanding of her methods and cunning had deepened. For
a long time, Bai Hengwan had treated Lin Changheng with a rather unpretentious attitude, but this time, Lin Changheng witnessed her revealing her true essence before even engaging with the enemy! That effortless, all-encompassing demeanor created a striking contrast, making Lin Changheng feel that she was essentially a goddess high above, ethereal and otherworldly,
and combined with her stunning beauty, she possessed a completely different kind of charm!
"Perhaps, this is her true self—" Lin Changheng mused to himself.
After everything was settled and the crowd dispersed, Bai Hengwan slowly walked to Lin Changheng's side. The stern expression of authority on her face melted away like ice, returning to her usual composure, even with a hint of weariness.
"I apologize for making you laugh, Fellow Daoist
Li," she said softly. Lin Changheng smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Bai's methods are extraordinary; I admire them greatly."
After parting ways with this woman, Lin Changheng did not return to the small courtyard in the inner city.
Instead, he slowly flew towards the outside of the Immortal City—
If Bai Hengwan were present at this moment, she would have noticed that its general direction was exactly the direction in which the two Core Formation cultivators had left one after the other, and she would have been greatly surprised.
At this moment, Lin Changheng was still traveling forward at a leisurely pace.
But despite his slow flight, his mind was actually racing, and he seemed to have other thoughts on his mind.
In secret, he had already "divided his mind into two":
[Remember this site's domain name Taiwan Novel Network experience is great, ẗẅḳäṅ.ċöṁ super awesome]
He quietly cast the [Divine Blood Curse Seal Demon Technique] and began to sense the curse seal that had already been cast.
It could be seen that there were two constructed lines, thin but tough, short but long, extending from his body, connecting to two places in the dark.
One of them was obviously in the direction of the Purple Extreme Sect, and it was obvious that it was binding Ye Qingwu.
The location of the other place was uncertain.
Still moving, seemingly fleeing and desperately trying to escape,
one could sense from this alone that the opponent was in a terrible state, as if being chased by some terrifying being.
"Excellent!"
Lin Changheng's lips curled into a cold smile.
This second line, which hadn't existed before, was the very one he had just used! It
landed on the fake Core Formation Demon.
It was when Bai Hengwan unleashed the [True Core Talisman Treasure], taking advantage of the moment when both sides were tense, their attention drawn, and focused on their defenses, that Lin Changheng activated the [Divine Blood Curse Seal Demon Technique], actively weakening the curse seal and
suppressing his presence and state to the minimum. As the [True Core Talisman Treasure] broke through the opponent's defenses, he flicked his finger at just the right moment.
The fake Core Formation Demon, wounded by the pain, was completely unaware that a silent curse seal had struck his body.
He who hunts geese all day long has his eyes pecked by them!
A person who frequently uses curse seals to subdue others has one day been cursed himself!
However, Lin Chang dared not rashly mobilize it. His knowledge of the fake core's power was limited, and he dared not easily attempt to control it.
If the opponent discovered it and forcibly broke through and erased it, he would easily suffer a backlash!
Therefore, for now, it could only be used as a potential tracking method, to be detonated directly at the appropriate opportunity! To strike by surprise!
In fact, this wasn't the second time Lin Changheng had used the [Divine Blood Curse Seal Demonic Technique]. The real second time was on that envoy from the Immortal City, which is why he was able to track him down without fear of losing him.
However, after Lin Changheng revealed everything to Bai Hengwan, the curse seal naturally dissipated within a few days.
There are only three possibilities for the [Divine Blood Curse Seal] to dissipate.
First, Lin Changheng actively dispelled it, causing no harm, dismantling it from its core, and making it disappear without a trace, so that the cursed person wouldn't even know they had been marked.
Second, it could be forcibly isolated, broken through, or destroyed by someone with great magical power, thus dissipating.
Third, the cursed person could die. The [Divine Blood Curse Seal] requires life force to exist; once life force disappears,
the curse seal is like a rootless duckweed, water without a source, quickly drying up and disappearing on its own.
Clearly, since this envoy from the Immortal City chose to be a spy, and Bai Hengwan knew about it, death was a foreseeable outcome.
With this person's death, Lin Changheng's controllable number of curse seals returned to five!
This time, he used one more on this fake Core Formation demonic cultivator.
This person harbored hostility and murderous intent towards him, and regardless of whether he was instigated by someone, Lin Changheng would definitely not let him go if he had the opportunity and the strength. Otherwise, he would have no
peace of mind!
Now, this fake Core Formation demonic cultivator was injured by Bai Hengwan's [True Core Talisman Treasure] and was being hunted down by [True Core Cultivator] Wu Zhenchuan. Moreover, according to the connection transmitted through the curse seals, this person's aura was extremely unstable, and his injuries were obviously worsening.
In the end, there were only two possible outcomes.
Either he would be beheaded and killed by Wu Zhenchuan, or he would use a more powerful but more energy-consuming secret technique to try to escape!
If it was the first one, all worries would be gone. But if it was the second one, even if the fake Core Formation demonic cultivator managed to escape by chance, his condition would definitely be poor, and his injuries would be even more severe.
Lin Changheng only needed to follow the clues to have a chance to strike while the enemy was down, to beat him while he was down, and to kill him outright. Not only could he achieve his goal, but the fake Core Formation Demon's collection would certainly be considerable, perhaps allowing him to make a fortune.
But now everything was uncertain, and Lin Changheng simply flew away slowly.
Two days later.
Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in a newly opened, secluded cave deep in the desolate mountains.
He meditated and regulated his breathing expressionlessly, but most of his mind was focused on a distant place—through the special mark quietly planted on the fake Core Formation Demon, silently sensing the other party's location and condition.
The signals from the mark were intermittent and constantly shifting, indicating that the old demon was desperately fleeing
and employing various methods of concealment and interference with tracking.
Suddenly, the violent fluctuations from the mark subsided, and the light representing the old demon's location stabilized in one area, ceasing to move.
"That's about it."
Lin Changheng opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them, and let out a soft chuckle. "After traveling thousands of miles, he really managed to escape. This old demon is truly skilled; even a True Core cultivator like Wu Huayuan couldn't catch him on the spot."
At this moment, the False Core old demon had stopped moving. Judging from the faint aura reflected by the mark, his condition seemed quite weak. Clearly, his previous escape and battle with Bai Hengwan and Wu Huayuan had taken a heavy toll on him, and he was probably healing and recovering in some hidden place.
"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits." A dangerous smile curled at the corner of Lin Changheng's lips.
He naturally wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip by. A fully-fledged pseudo-core demon in perfect condition required caution.
But a severely injured pseudo-core demon, fleeing in panic, whose exact location he had pinpointed, had become a mobile treasure trove and perfect prey to test his own strength!
Moreover, this demon harbored an old grudge against him, and there was no guarantee it wouldn't become a future threat. The opportunity was perfect, and
Lin Changheng had decided to take this trip.
Without further hesitation, he rose to his feet.
A flash of light, and he shot off instantly.
The location was only about two hundred li from Lin Changheng's current position; he would arrive in no time.
The old demon had taken advantage of the "blind spot" mentality, managing to sneak back again. Wu Huayuan had indeed not expected this fiend to escape.
Lin Changheng approached at a moderate speed, not excessively pursuing speed and wasting his mana and condition.
He also swallowed a mana-restoring pill to ensure his condition was still perfect when he reached his peak.
"About ten miles."
Lin Changheng stopped his escape light a thousand miles away. This was because the spiritual sense range of an ordinary pseudo-core cultivator was exactly eight miles!
Even a true core cultivator in the early stage of core formation had a spiritual sense range of only ten miles.
This distance was well controlled, ensuring he wouldn't be detected.
With a thought, Lin Changheng's figure and face twisted and changed again, transforming into a scholar-like cultivator, with a refined and cultured appearance.
Moreover, his aura slowly subsided. Under the operation of the [Concealing Breath Demon Technique], he didn't completely disappear, but deliberately suppressed it to the early stage of foundation establishment.
After confirming his state again, Lin Changheng slowly flew over the mountainous area.
After all, fully concealing his aura carried the risk of being exposed, because the opponent possessed pseudo-core spiritual sense. And who would conceal their aura like this for no reason? It would easily be suspected of being suspicious!
The old demon was naturally suspicious and would definitely be wary, which would be detrimental to his approach plan.
But at this moment, Lin Changheng disguised himself... As an ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator passing by, he would appear much more normal and less likely to arouse suspicion.
Weighing the pros and cons, Lin Changheng made the above decision.
Meanwhile,
ten miles away, deep within a secluded cave hidden by dense vines
, the False Core Formation Demon appeared utterly disheveled.
His already thin body was now even more hunched, his beard and hair bore scorch marks from being burned by lightning, and his face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. His tattered black robe was torn in several places. Beneath the wound lay a deep, bone-revealing scar, still crackling with electricity—the mark left from taking a direct hit from Wu Huayuan's lightning technique.
He sat cross-legged on the cold rock, his demonic energy dimming like a candle flickering in the wind, desperately circulating his cultivation technique
to suppress the rampant alien lightning power within him and repair his damaged meridians and internal organs.
He had set up several simple concealment and warning barriers around the cave entrance, his white eyes flashing warily in the darkness, like a frightened bird.
—
"Cough cough—Damn it!" He coughed up a mouthful of blood crackling with electricity, his face growing even more pale. "Lightning technique! Lightning technique! I never expected that within this mere Floating Life Immortal City, a cultivator of both wind and lightning techniques would appear one after another! When did it become so easy to find alien spiritual roots?" "
Especially that bitch! Once I recover, I will definitely extract your soul and refine your spirit to vent my hatred!"
His heart was filled with resentment and lingering fear.
Wu Huayuan's strength far exceeded his expectations, and his magnificent lightning technique completely restrained him. If it weren't for his bizarre escape technique and his decisive self-destruction of a precious demonic artifact to block the enemy, he would have truly perished.
Although he had escaped by chance, his injuries were extremely severe, and without years of hard work, healing treasures, or qi-boosting pills, it would be difficult for him to fully recover.
But why did he only harbor the strongest hatred for Bai Hengwan? Because she was relatively easy to deal with. He couldn't very well go and take revenge on Wu Huayuan, a True Core cultivator, could he? He couldn't even defeat him now, and the gap between them would only widen in the future—
he was a demonic cultivator, not a foolish one; he couldn't just seek his own death, could he?
Just as he was focusing all his efforts on healing, with most of his divine sense contained and only a sliver of it paying attention to the outside world, a faint aura appeared at the edge of his divine sense's perception.
A small cultivator in the early Foundation Establishment stage was riding a beam of light, traversing the sky above this mountain forest. It looked like he was just passing by,
but the direction was unmistakable, heading straight for the area where he was hiding.
The old demon with the fake core frowned slightly, his divine sense, like invisible tentacles, scanning the "early Foundation Establishment" cultivator more carefully. The cultivator's
aura was weak, his mana mottled, a typical rogue cultivator, with nothing amiss.
"An ant that strayed into this place—" He felt slightly relieved, but his long-cultivated caution prevented him from completely letting his guard down.
"If he knows his place, he'll stay away; if he's foolish enough to come closer—I can use him to replenish my qi and blood!"
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes, then he closed them again, continuing to focus on healing, only sparing a sliver of his mind to keep an eye on the approaching "prey." In his mind, an early Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator was easily killed, posing no threat whatsoever.
Whether to refine blood pills or control him as a puppet to run errands and purchase supplies would be a good option.
"Whoosh!"
Just as the "Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator" was only a hundred feet from the cave, seemingly about to brush past it, a powerful suction force suddenly emanated from within the cave!
A black ghost hand formed from pure demonic energy appeared out of thin air, piercing through space with lightning speed, grabbing the seemingly unsuspecting "Foundation Establishment cultivator" and dragging him into the dim cave!
"Hehehe—you ignorant brat, perfect for nourishing this old man!" The sinister laughter of the fake Core Formation Demon echoed in the cave.
He was severely injured and his body was parched, desperately needing nourishment. The moment he smelled the scent of a living person, his previous thoughts abruptly changed. This Foundation Establishment cultivator, who had willingly delivered himself to his doorstep, was now nothing short of a potent tonic.
His eyes gleamed with greed! He
immediately abandoned all pretense of politeness, preparing to crush this "ant" and devour its essence and soul.
However, just as the "Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator" was pulled close by his demonic hand, and was about to be crushed, a sudden change occurred!
The "Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator" showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a cold smile appeared on his face.
He had originally planned to approach the other party and attack directly, even if the effect was less pronounced, it was a last resort. Now, however, this demonic cultivator had given him a helping hand—wasn't this like finding a pillow just when you're about to fall asleep?
Within the previously frail scholar's body, a sudden, explosive surge of energy erupted, a dazzling burst of power that shook the demonic hand of the Foundation Establishment cultivator. The demon's energy was significantly dispersed, and the cultivator's previously unsteady stance was instantly stabilized! Simultaneously, the
previously unstable energy surged like a volcanic eruption, instantly rising from the early Foundation Establishment stage to the peak of the sixth level. Furthermore, the purity and depth of the spiritual pressure far surpassed that of other cultivators of the same level!
"What?!" The savage grin on the fake Core Formation demon's face froze instantly, a strange light flashing across his face! He immediately understood that he wasn't a hunter at all, but had fallen into a carefully laid trap!
But the next instant, he understood.
This person was only at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment! Even the strongest sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator was still not at the late stage.
He was one major level and two minor levels below him!
Even though he was severely injured, he was still not someone a mere mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator could provoke!
—Moreover
, this person's true physique is round and full, astonishingly so, clearly indicating he is also a body-refining cultivator. He could be used as a powerful elixir; consuming him would at least restore half of his injuries!
With this thought, the two were now almost touching. The False Core Demon's desire surged, and without thinking, he tried to forcibly interrupt his healing and activate his demonic energy.
However, for Lin Changheng, who was prepared, it was too late!
Lin Changheng's attack was swift and decisive, giving his opponent no chance to breathe!
[Illusory Demonic Technique]!
A stream of emerald light reappeared between his fingers, shooting out rapidly with the help of the forest trees. An invisible yet incredibly domineering illusionary power, like a raging sea, instantly surged into the False Core Demon's weakened consciousness due to his injuries.
"Ugh!" The demon gasped, feeling the scene before him suddenly change. He was no longer in a dark cave, but in a boundless purgatory, with countless vengeful spirits he had slaughtered rushing towards him.
His divine sense was powerful, and he instantly recognized it as an illusion. In that brief moment of mental lapse, he had already taken action.
Almost simultaneously with the illusion's activation, Lin Chang coldly observed the old demon's hastily erected false core demonic shield, and snorted, "[Divine Qi Curse Seal], Explode!"
The curse seal power within Qianya's body instantly erupted. "Pfft—!"
The false core old demon's body trembled violently, spitting out a mouthful of palm energy mixed with fragments of internal organs. The thick demonic shield that had just formed on his body, like cloth torn from the inside, flickered and disintegrated, revealing his unprotected flesh below.
Even worse, the explosion of the curse seal severely disrupted his already sluggish mana flow due to his injury, abruptly interrupting his intention to unleash stronger offensive or defensive spells.
This internal and external attack became the final straw that broke the camel's back!
[Dark Radiance Profound Flame]!
Empowering the true meaning of [Fire Control Divine Power]!
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Lin Changheng opened his mouth and spat out a ball of deep, golden fire, the size of a human head, piercing the night sky. Carrying terrifying heat capable of incinerating everything, it distorted the air in its path, effortlessly passing through the disintegrating demonic energy. The
demonic energy melted away as if it had encountered its nemesis! It flew like a meteorite, aiming to strike Lin Changheng's chest!
"How dare you, you brat!!" The False Core Demon's eyes widened in fury. In this life-or-death moment, he unleashed his full potential, ignoring his injuries, and forcefully activated his natal demonic energy, spitting a mouthful of essence onto a white bone shield that had suddenly appeared before him!
Seeing this, Lin Changheng felt relieved. This bone shield had already been damaged and its spiritual energy lost after being struck by Bai Hengwan's [True Core Talisman].
Its re-emergence now meant that it had exhausted its tricks, its methods completely depleted by Wu Huafu.
This was a great thing!
"Buzz!"
The bone shield shone brightly, transforming into a massive wall of ghostly heads, blocking its path!
"Boom—!!!"
The Dark Flame Fireball slammed into the bone shield!
A terrifying explosion resounded, the entire cave shook violently, and rubble rained down. The high-grade second-tier bone shield, scorched by the Dark Flame, only lasted two breaths before groaning, its spiritual light fading,
countless cracks appearing on its surface, before it shattered with a deafening roar!
The remaining power of the fireball slammed into the old demon!
"Pfft—!" The old demon coughed up blood again, his chest scorched, and he was slammed against the rock wall. His breath instantly weakened to the extreme, his eyes filled with disbelief, horror, and despair!
He couldn't understand how a Foundation Establishment cultivator could possess such terrifying true fire, such bizarre illusions and curses!
"This is a third-tier true fire?"
The old demon's incredulous exclamation rang out. The difference between a pseudo-core cultivator and a true core or golden core cultivator,
besides strength, lifespan, and cultivation progress, lies in their core fire!
The reason a pseudo-core cultivator forms an "inferior core" is because they haven't ignited the crucial [natal core fire].
The two are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
This was his deepest pain; he had always longed for a core fire but couldn't obtain it, even coveted it for a long time, and now he had seen it in this mere Foundation Establishment cultivator!
How astonishing!
How filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!
But Lin Chang didn't care at all, and didn't give the other party any chance whatsoever!
He opened his mouth and spat out the dark jade sword embryo, nurtured in his dantian. Though not fully refined, under the infusion of his immense magical power, it transformed into a stream of light tearing through the darkness, bursting forth with a nascent yet incredibly sharp sword intent, aimed directly at the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows of the False Core Demon!
"No—!" The False Core Demon let out a final, unwilling roar, desperately twisting his head, simultaneously summoning a second-tier high-grade demonic artifact—a small, luminous banner—to attempt a block.
"Sizzle!"
Although the sword embryo was slightly slowed by the banner, the banner was instantly cleaved in two by the sword light, still precisely piercing the center of the demon's brow!
The sharp sword erupted within his skull in an instant, shredding all life force!
"Ah!"
The False Core Demon's body stiffened abruptly, his eyes dimming rapidly before finally solidifying completely, filled with endless resentment and confusion, before collapsing limply to the ground, lifeless.
A False Core Demon who had dominated Pingnian and Zheya Immortal City for so long had fallen!
Lin Changheng's gaze was wary, his breathing slightly labored, and his face pale.
The combo attack he had just unleashed, seemingly fluid and effortless, had actually consumed a great deal of his mana and mental energy.
Killing someone of a higher level was no easy feat!
He didn't rush forward immediately, but instead manipulated the [Sword Embryo] to shred and sever the man's heart, dantian, neck, and limbs. Only after confirming that the man was beyond dead did he step forward and unceremoniously collect his storage bag, the damaged bone shield, and the small banner, among other spoils of war.
Within the man's dantian lay the severely damaged [Nine Ghost Soul-Destroying Nail],
which Lin Changheng extracted.
At this moment, this once ferocious and imposing embryo, poised to become a complete magic weapon, had lost much of its spiritual radiance and appeared pitiful.
The once glossy black nail body was now mottled and riddled with fine cracks, especially the tip, which had a small chipped open. The eerie ghostly energy and resentment swirling around it had almost completely dissipated, leaving only a faint trace of its spirit, like a candle flickering in the wind.
Clearly, this magic weapon embryo had first directly confronted Bai Hengwan's [Measuring Jade Ruler], and then, after a brief clash, it had also confronted Wu Zhenchuan's magic weapon embryo, and even the magic weapon itself, resulting in its near-destructive blow.
Even if suitable materials were found to repair and nurture it in the future, its potential and power would inevitably be greatly diminished, making its advancement into a true magic weapon even more difficult.
"What a pity—" Lin Changheng shook his head slightly, feeling a pang of regret that something so close to becoming a magic weapon was now half-ruined.
He sealed it separately in a jade box and affixed a binding talisman. Although damaged, the materials themselves and the refining techniques they contained might still have some research value, or perhaps—it could be used as a reference for his own [Sword Embryo]?
Then, Lin Changheng directly sucked up the corpse, placing his fingers on the old demon's forehead, drawing out the fresh soul, and then attempted to search for it!
Since this fiend was dead, and had suffered severe injuries before death, its emotions were volatile, and its soul was unstable, possibly containing fragments. Lin Changheng's attempt wasn't to decipher everything, but only to capture the scattered fragments and obtain some useful information—
the next instant, as the old demon's soul let out a mournful howl, a wisp of soul suddenly twisted and deformed, transforming into a beam of dark light, breaking free from his control and shooting towards him!
"Not good!" Because the distance was too close, the dark light instantly pierced through the distance, directly striking Lin Changheng's forehead and sea of consciousness.
There was no way to dodge it.
Lin Changheng had never encountered such a situation before, and even his usually composed heart was thrown into turmoil!
"Could this be—possession?"
"Sizzle!" The jet-black light moved faster than he could react. Lin Changheng felt a sharp pain between his brows as an extremely cold and sinister force forcibly entered his sea of consciousness!
The False Core Demon was incredibly cunning. Knowing his injuries were too severe and his oath was ineffective, he resorted to other evil schemes. Knowing the profound foundation and astonishing methods of this Foundation Establishment cultivator, he simply seized control, taking everything for himself!
Moreover, being a False Core cultivator's soul, possession, if not overwhelming, would be effortless.
Especially since he possessed a demonic possession technique, which was perfect for him!
"Hahaha! What a vast sea of consciousness! What a solid foundation! Heaven has not forsaken me; it is only right that this old man has obtained this—"
Upon arriving in Lin Changheng's sea of consciousness, the scheme succeeded. The radiant light formed from the old demon's soul manifested a distorted face within Lin Changheng's sea of consciousness. Before its ecstatic thoughts could fully travel, they were abruptly cut short.
For it had "seen" the center of the sea of consciousness.
There was nothing there, but rather a simple, heavy bronze cauldron with three legs and two handles, suspended in the air.
The cauldron was engraved with various strange and ancient beast-shaped patterns, and mysterious runes were slowly flowing, emanating a chaotic, ancient, and all-encompassing aura. Before this cauldron, the old demon felt as if it were an ant gazing at the sky, even its own existence becoming small and unreal.
"This—what is this?! No—!" The old demon's ecstasy instantly turned into a scream of extreme terror. Without thinking, it desperately tried to escape this sea of consciousness.
However, it was too late.
The Buddha cauldron didn't even move to launch an attack; it merely trembled slightly, as if disturbed by a mosquito.
An invisible and intangible force, yet seemingly containing some kind of power, instantly spread out, sweeping across the entire sea of consciousness.
The remnant soul of the old demon, transformed into Xing Guang, couldn't even put up a struggle. Before this power, it was like ice and snow exposed to sunlight, instantly melting and disintegrating. All soul power, consciousness, memories, and traces of existence were erased in an instant.
Vanished into thin air!
Outside, Lin Changheng's body trembled violently. The expected impact of the possession and the tearing of the soul did not occur.
Still shaken, he looked inward into his sea of consciousness and saw that the Buddha cauldron was still quietly suspended, as if nothing had happened.
"Hoo—" Lin Changheng let out a long sigh of relief, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. A flicker of realization and lingering fear flashed in his eyes. "This Buddha Cauldron—it actually has the ability to penetrate this place!"
After all, no matter how strong his divine soul was, it couldn't compare to the old demon's fake core divine soul—he was aware of this.
But his divine soul was refined and stable, possessing the ability to resist!
However, if the opponent also possessed some kind of possession technique, even if it failed, the impact of the divine soul penetrating this crucial point would cause irreversible damage, which was unimaginable.
Calming down with lightning speed, Lin Changheng collected all the spoils of war and the fake core old demon's head. He once again unleashed the [Dark Blazing Profound Flame], with a hint of resentment, completely reducing the charred corpse on the ground, which had been utterly destroyed, to ashes, erasing all traces of the oath.
Even the cave here collapsed, completely burying everything.
Having done all this, he lingered no longer, immediately using his escape technique to silently leave the area.
In this battle, he unleashed all his abilities and revealed all his trump cards, finally managing to defeat a fake Core Formation cultivator despite only being at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment!
Although this was a fake Core Formation cultivator who had suffered two consecutive oaths and injuries, leaving him in extremely poor condition, he was still still a fake Core Formation cultivator