The sneak attack was sudden and incredibly fast. Wang Ping had only just seen the blood-red skull and thought of dodging when he felt a massive force slam into his side.
Surprisingly, Wang Ping didn't feel any pain. As the skull struck him, he saw a faint cyan light screen form over his body...
Wang Ping immediately remembered the Armor Talisman that Yu Cheng Taoist had placed on him, but the powerful force still sent him flying backward. Then, he heard Zuo Sizi shout, "Watch out!"
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Feng Miao, who had just captured the Snake Demon, being swarmed by a group of Little Demons. By the time flames flared up, he had already been thrown back dozens of feet, the powerful momentum snapping several old trees and causing the light screen on his body to gradually weaken.
*THUMP*
Just as Wang Ping was about to pass out, a twenty-foot-tall Golden Armored Warrior holding a long spear materialized to protect him. 'This must be the Soldier Talisman Yu Cheng Taoist gave me.'
*CLANG*
The Golden Armored Warrior had just appeared when the sound of metal striking metal made Wang Ping's eardrums ache. Then, the shockwave of Spiritual Qi from the impact threw his rising body back to the ground.
Seeing that its first strike had failed, the skull attacked Wang Ping again, but this time, it was blocked by the Golden Armored Warrior.
*CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG*
The continuous clangor echoed ceaselessly. The shockwaves from the impacts not only pinned Wang Ping to the ground but also stirred up massive waves on the river's surface. Wang Ping felt as if the entire world could collapse at any moment.
But soon, the impacts stopped...
Realizing it couldn't defeat Wang Ping quickly, the skull decisively retreated toward a southern mountain peak, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
"How are you?"
Yu Lian called out continuously in his Spirit Sea.
Wang Ping shook his head, but the ringing in his ears wouldn't stop. In the distance, the river was still churning with waves, accompanied by the strange cries of the Little Demons.
'It must have been a Secret Technique Cultivator!'
As Wang Ping thought this, he stood up, drew a steel sword from his storage pouch, and warily scanned his surroundings. The sound of weapons clashing snapped him back to his senses. At that moment, the Golden Armored Warrior transformed into a stream of light and returned to his body.
"That malevolent presence is gone!" Yu Lian's voice was faint. Then she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
A thousand thoughts raced through Wang Ping's mind, considering all sorts of possibilities, but right now, he had to deal with the Little Demons in the river first. Forcing himself to focus, he leaped forward with his sword, landing beside Xia Yao. With a flick of his Longsword, he slashed the eyes of an onrushing Pig Demon.
"How is Fellow Daoist Zuo?"
After knocking Wang Ping aside, the skull's second target had been Xia Yao. At the critical moment, Zuo Sizi had pulled her out of the way, but he himself was sent flying, landing more than a hundred feet away, his condition unknown.
Covered by Wang Ping, Xia Yao disengaged from the fight as quickly as possible and ran toward Zuo Sizi. Just then, Feng Miao found a moment to fire a signal flare into the sky.
Wang Ping glanced at the rising signal flare. Having just blinded two Little Demons in a row, a savage energy surged within him. He let out a great roar and, instead of retreating from the surrounding Little Demons, charged forward. At the same time, he circulated the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian at maximum speed and formed a hand seal for the Sword Control Technique with his left hand to steady his mind. His Longsword then flashed with a cold light, vanishing as it swept around him.
*SCHLICK*
The Little Demons charging him were swept by the blade's edge. Some had their chests sliced open, some were decapitated, and others were cut in half at the waist. Blood sprayed everywhere, dyeing most of Wang Ping's body red, followed by steaming entrails...
At this moment, Yu Lian's body changed to its normal size and wrapped around Wang Ping's waist. She emanated a purplish-cyan Spiritual Qi, supplying him with the energy needed for the Sword Control Technique.
As the spinning Longsword returned to Wang Ping's hand, a drumbeat suddenly sounded from the opposite bank. Hearing the drums, most of the Little Demons waded back into the water and returned to the northern forest. A few at the front, their eyes already turned red with bloodlust, ignored the call and charged recklessly onward.
This time, Wang Ping didn't use the Sword Control Technique he had just learned. Instead, he employed the footwork of the Qianmu Sword style and swiftly executed a killing move, slitting the throats of the remaining Little Demons...
A few breaths later, as he watched the last Little Demon fall, a flash of exhilaration cut through him, suppressing the fear he had felt during the ambush.
"I'm sorry..."
Feng Miao walked over and apologized, the mission's Snake Demon dangling from her hand.
The apology was necessary. It was because of her that Wang Ping had been dragged into this dangerous, if not fatal, situation.
Wang Ping quelled the violent energy in his heart and shook his head at Feng Miao before looking toward Xia Yao. He could see clearly now: Zuo Sizi was covered in blood, and half of his body had caved in.
After a moment...
Zuo Sizi was already gone. Xia Yao took an exquisite blanket from her storage pouch and covered his body.
This was the first time Wang Ping had experienced life and death so closely. He stared silently at Zuo Sizi. Though they hadn't known each other well, a pang of sorrow still struck him.
'Even a Qi Cultivator on the verge of Foundation Establishment is as fragile as paper.'
Wang Ping thought, his gaze falling upon the earth torn up by the clash between the Golden Armored Warrior and the skull. Half of the soil was coated in a deathly gray aura, emitting a nauseating stench. The other half, however, was brimming with life, with green grass in some places even sprouting at a visible rate.
"Those maniacs from the Taiyin Sect's hedonist faction again!"
As Feng Miao spoke, she looked toward the southern sky. A yin-yang symbol—the sigil of the Daoist Scripture Hall—lit up there, followed by a turquoise stream of light that flew from the horizon toward them. A few breaths later, an old Daoist in a blue robe, his face mostly hidden by a snow-white beard, landed before the three of them.
"This humble Daoist is Gu Heng of Sanhe Temple. Were you the ones who just released the red signal?"
The old Daoist glanced at the scene of the battle, then turned to Wang Ping's group. "There are traces of the Taiyin Secret Technique here. How did a few little Qi Cultivation juniors like you manage to survive?"
As the local, Wang Ping immediately cupped his hands and replied, "Junior Changqing of Qianmu Temple. We did indeed just encounter an Evil Cultivator from the Taiyin Sect here..."
"A Direct Disciple of that old fellow Yu Cheng... Changqing? No wonder you survived. He must have given you some life-saving measures." Gu Heng looked Wang Ping up and down before turning to the other two.
"Junior Feng Miao of the True Yang Sect..."
"Junior Xia Yao of Lishui Prefecture..."
Gu Heng was taken aback. Young disciples from two of the Five Profound Sects appearing at once, and one of them dead. He couldn't help but look at the blanket-covered form of Zuo Sizi.
"What happened here?"
Feng Miao bowed again and proceeded to recount the events.
After listening to Feng Miao's account, Gu Heng's gaze fell on Wang Ping. "Since your Qianmu Temple already has a plan, it wouldn't be right for me to interfere. I will fully support your mountain search. If you encounter any Secret Technique Cultivators, leave them to me..."
With that said, he looked at Feng Miao and Xia Yao. "As for you two young ladies, since your mission is complete, you should be on your way. Leave the rest to Qianmu Temple and Sanhe Temple..."
Before Gu Heng could finish speaking, he suddenly seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky. Then, without another glance at the three, he transformed into a stream of light and vanished over the horizon.