Li Yan's counterattack was too fast. Wan Qingshe hadn't even had time to recall his flying sword.
The moment the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent" flew above his head, it was already on the verge of death. Its entire body was a dull gray color, devoid of any luster. If its main body hadn't been a magical treasure of excellent quality, its artifact spirit might have already perished.
The eyes of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent" were lifeless. It opened its mouth, and before it could make a sound, it had already transformed back into a long, narrow flying sword and fell straight down from the sky.
The surface of the long, narrow flying sword no longer had any trace of the cold, green light. Its body was covered with a layer of gray substance, like a gray, lifeless stone sword.
"Ah!"
The moment the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent" reverted to a flying sword and fell, Wan Qingshe suddenly clutched his head and let out a miserable cry.
It was the severe pain in his divine soul brought about by the heavy damage to his natal magical treasure, a pain he simply could not endure.
"Poison cultivator... great... great grandmaster!"
Amidst his cries of pain, he hissed out these few words. At this moment, he once again remembered another identity of Li Yan from the news: a master of poison.
But he had never imagined that Li Yan could actually counter the world's most unique "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent," causing its artifact spirit to suffer in return. His skill in fighting poison with poison had reached such a terrifying level.
"Did you want to harm me?"
Li Yan was staring at him at this moment, just like before, a dark glint flickering in his eyes.
Wan Qingshe was about to open his mouth to explain to Li Yan, that they could exchange antidotes. In the midst of the severe pain in his divine soul, he was momentarily unable to determine if Li Yan was also suppressing poison after being poisoned.
At this moment, his body suddenly trembled again, and boundless terror rose in his heart.
He only felt his right shoulder suddenly lose all sensation. And an inexplicable force was rapidly spreading from his right shoulder throughout his body. Wherever it passed, his magical power was disappearing uncontrollably, section by section.
"Not good, he's going to kill me!"
Wan Qingshe, in his agony, remembered the palm strike Li Yan had just landed on his shoulder. The power of that palm was so bizarre.
It was like being bitten by his own "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent," directly corroding his protective light shield, and even his magical treasure-grade robes were instantly destroyed.
This person Li Yan was ruthless. A great grandmaster of the poison dao, feared by all. Because of his own sneak attack, he was now going to kill him completely.
"Flee!"
Wan Qingshe felt his magical power disappearing and the numbness spreading faster and faster. He knew he was probably done for.
In his fear, he endured the severe pain in his divine soul, his divine sense hooked onto the green flying sword, and at the same time, another silver flying sword appeared under his feet. With a sudden slide, his body had already flown towards the distance at extreme speed.
At the same time, several medicinal pills had appeared in his other hand. He stuffed them into his mouth and swallowed them all forcefully. His expression was one of panic and resentment.
"Trying to run? Fellow Daoist Li, you..."
Seeing Wan Qingshe turn and flee, riding his sword away in an instant, the Third Elder quickly glanced at Li Yan, about to fly off to stop Wan Qingshe.
"There's no need. Let him go. I am fine!"
Li Yan cupped his hands towards the Third Elder.
He had reacted the moment the other party had launched the sneak attack. The difference in their strength was too great, and Li Yan was usually a very cautious person. How could he allow himself to capsize in a ditch?
The moment his divine sense scanned the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent," he saw through the strength of this demonic beast. So he didn't dodge. Since the other party wanted to sneak attack, he would let him suffer a great loss.
If it were anyone else, Li Yan would have made sure they died. It wasn't that the current Li Yan was kind-hearted, but that the other party had a Spirit Transformation cultivator behind him. He didn't want to draw out that old monster.
However, the toxicity of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent" was still beyond Li Yan's expectations. It had actually corroded his protective light shield in an instant.
But when the other party's fangs tried to hook into Li Yan's skin, a faint silver light appeared on Li Yan's skin, almost imperceptibly, and blocked the other party's poisonous fangs.
Although Li Yan was confident that his Fragmented Poison Body would be fearless against the potent poison of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent," and that his Fragmented Poison Body might even benefit greatly after devouring the poison, he still chose the safest approach without sufficient time to study it. The moment his tough physical body tensed and blocked the other party's poisonous fangs.
He used his most proficient "Maggot on the Bone" potent poison, and with a sudden surge of his magical power, he counter-injected it into the mouth of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent," and then sent it flying with a palm strike.
But if it were just that, it would have been fine. Li Yan had never been too lenient with those who sneak attacked him.
The palm strike that landed on Wan Qingshe's shoulder had instantly switched between two types of potent poison. One silently corroded the other party's protective light shield and clothes, while the other was layered on top and infused into the other party's skin...
"Oh, it's nothing!"
Li Yan reached up and touched his neck. There was only a red mark there, which he had deliberately created by relaxing his skin a little. He didn't want others to know how strong his physical body was, and that it could even resist poison corrosion.
At the same time, with a wave of his other hand, a small, exquisite jade bottle was also put away just right.
"Is there an icy coldness entering your body at your neck?"
At this moment, Su Hong also spoke. And in the sleeve of her robe, a jade hand was also holding a white jade bottle.
But when she saw the jade bottle in Li Yan's hand, she did not take it out again, but immediately asked a question. This concerned Li Yan's life, and a trace of concern unconsciously appeared in Su Hong's eyes, though she herself was unaware of it.
With Su Hong's extensive knowledge, although she did not know how to refine poison, she was very clear about the toxicity of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent."
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Su. There is no such symptom!"
"This person is somewhat sinister. A dignified sword cultivator, yet he even used such a sinister demonic beast for the artifact spirit of his magical treasure! He came here with ill intentions towards our clan, and now that he's been poisoned and injured, he will definitely hold a grudge."
The Third Elder looked into the distance, where there was no longer any trace of Wan Qingshe. She also understood why Li Yan had stopped her. Even if she caught up, she couldn't kill him.
"Hahaha... it's fine. He won't lose his life, but if he wants to recover and come out again, he can forget about it for at least ten years."
Li Yan chuckled.
He calculated in his heart that the "Sword-Washing Sect" was very far from the Tianli Clan. Just teleporting back would take several years.
And in his current state, he would probably have to find a place to stabilize his injuries first.
If he really wanted to completely remove the potent poison, Li Yan felt that with Wan Qingshe's cultivation, it would take at least fifty years. This was even with him showing mercy.
However, he couldn't guarantee that the "Sword-Washing Sect" had some heaven-defying medicinal pills, or that the Spirit Transformation cultivator would personally intervene. With all these factors combined, it was possible that this person could recover in about ten years.
The other party had lost the duel and then sneak attacked him, but Li Yan still hadn't killed him.
But Wan Qingshe would not be grateful for this. He would definitely hold a grudge and seek revenge. But this was the cultivation world. Was Li Yan supposed to let himself be injured by the other party?
Since the other party had struck ruthlessly, he should at least leave some shadows in the other party's heart.
In addition, based on what Li Yan knew about the situation on the Wind God Continent, that Spirit Transformation cultivator might be tied down by the fifth-rank Wind Beast. Therefore, after being injured this time, the other party should not be coming over again easily.
Li Yan's words were also telling the Third Elder the result, to reassure her that the other party would not die.
If Wan Qingshe died in the Tianli Clan, given Wan Qingshe's identity and status, there was a more than fifty percent chance that the Spirit Transformation cultivator from the "Sword-Washing Sect" would come seeking revenge. This was not something the current Tianli Clan could bear.
"Just how strong are you now?"
Seeing that after a dozen breaths, Li Yan still had no problems, Su Hong quietly put away the jade bottle in her palm.
She knew that the Malevolent Spirit Sect had many secret pill formulas. It was a giant in the poison cultivator lineage of a continent. Perhaps it had a pill formula to deal with the unique potent poison of the "Green-Scaled Profound Serpent."
And her heart was even more surprised by Li Yan's cultivation. "Gui Qu Lai Xi" actually had a strength level assessment for the powerful experts on every continent.
This Wan Qingshe, in the combat power of the Nascent Soul realm on the Wind God Continent, could be ranked in the top twenty below the Late-stage Nascent Soul. He could even kill a Mid-stage Nascent Soul, belonging to the strongest experts below the Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator.
Once he advanced to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul in the future, he might be able to sweep away everyone below the Great Cultivator. And Li Yan's battle against this person was almost as casual as a light brush of a pen.
This meant that Li Yan's true combat power had reached the very top of the Mid-stage Nascent Soul level.
"Oh, it was all luck. This person's combat power is extremely strong, but he has the arrogant flaw of a sword cultivator and was a bit careless for a moment. Otherwise, I would have been the one injured."
"By the way, Third Elder, we should go back quickly. After all, there are still important matters to attend to!"
Li Yan just smiled at Su Hong, immediately mentioned the matter of Hong Yin's physical body, and then changed the subject.
Seeing that Li Yan was fine, the Third Elder now had a better understanding of Li Yan's character. She knew that this person was terrifyingly low-key and rarely took the initiative to attack others. But once he did, it would often result in death.
It was as if if the other party didn't die, it would be a disservice to his every move. To let Wan Qingshe go was definitely not because he was kind-hearted, but because of the power behind him.
The Third Elder felt that the Nascent Soul cultivators she had seen were nothing in front of Li Yan. The so-called strong experts of this world had died one after another at Li Yan's hands.
Especially his strange and unpredictable methods of poisoning, even as a high-rank shaman cultivator, she felt her scalp tingle. Therefore, she also couldn't see how Li Yan cast his spells. If she couldn't see the other party's methods, how could she break them?
The Li Yan she had seen, once he used poison, never used any external objects. And his speed of "casting spells" was traceless. You simply didn't know the meaning and purpose of his every move.
Seeing Li Yan say so, and after confirming that he was fine, the few of them flew directly back in the direction they had come from.
"This person's poison arts have reached the realm of a great grandmaster, traceless and without form. And I didn't see what kind of potent poison was attached to that flying sword just now."
"That kind of potent poison that can instantly make a magical treasure lose its spirituality, I've thought of all the poisons I know, and I have no impression of this poison."
The two black-robed, masked elders had been standing behind Su Hong, their bodies taut, ready to act at any moment. But they had always remembered that they were only here to protect Su Hong.
As long as Su Hong was not in danger, they could not easily interfere in the affairs of others.
The two had been sent to Su Hong's side, and they had been strictly ordered that everything was to be centered around Su Hong. And the two of them had a great grandmaster-level joint attack art.
When the two of them cooperated, plus a few secret treasures, they even had a chance of killing a Late-stage Great Cultivator.
More importantly, Su Hong now had a treasure that could deter a Spirit Transformation cultivator. It was a life-saving trump card prepared for Su Hong. All this was enough to ensure that Su Hong was safe in this world.
As for why Su Hong had almost died on the Desolate Moon Continent, it was Su Hong's own fault. She had initially insisted on not having experts follow her at all times.
At that time, Su Hong was also a proud person, who only wanted to rely on her own strength to reach the peak step by step.
But after that incident, it really scared a lot of people in "Gui Qu Lai Xi," and they were even a little afraid afterwards.
So they dared not let Su Hong take risks easily again. No matter what Su Hong requested, there would be people protecting her openly or secretly at all times. And they immediately adjusted her training direction and plan.
"This person is that newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator from the Malevolent Spirit Sect, right? Could he have cultivated one of the three great poison bodies? Otherwise, he would be a terrifyingly extreme great grandmaster-level poison cultivator!"
The two black-robed, masked elders were constantly communicating secretly, pondering what they had just seen. At the same time, seeing Su Hong so close to Li Yan in front, the two of them were also conflicted.
With the means Li Yan had displayed, the two of them were no longer confident they could protect Su Hong. Yet Su Hong wouldn't let them isolate others from approaching.
In their eyes, a turn of Li Yan's head, a shrug of his shoulder could be him using poison, instantly taking a life.
But they knew their young lady's temper, and there was an order of seniority. They could not interfere at all times, as that would be tantamount to imprisonment.
These two were not in charge of collecting information on the Desolate Moon Continent before, so they were only aware of the news from the Desolate Moon Continent, not very clear about it.
And they had no idea that Su Hong had come to the Wind God Continent for a cultivator from the Desolate Moon Continent. Otherwise, they would have collected all the intelligence on Li Yan in advance.
Then, their speculation that Li Yan might have one of the three peerless poison bodies would have some confirmation.
As for Su Hong herself, when she left the Desolate Moon Continent, Li Yan was still an unknown little Foundation Establishment cultivator. Therefore, the information that "Gui Qu Lai Xi" had on him was only a few sentences, not much.
Later, Su Hong, due to Li Yan's fall from the cliff and disappearance, was more concerned about whether Li Yan was alive or dead.
She also did not use the power of "Gui Qu Lai Xi" to inquire about a small Foundation Establishment cultivator. That would make her seem a bit abnormal, which was something she was unwilling to do.
Later, she personally met Li Yan on the Verdant Continent. Seeing him alive, Su Hong was still happy, and was single-mindedly thinking about how to "retaliate" for the grudge of that year...
Later still, the news she found was all about the major events after Li Yan had formed his Nascent Soul. She was actually not clear about Li Yan's true strength, and had never even thought that his growth would be so fast.
After Wan Qingshe left, the Third Elder still made some arrangements. The "Sword-Washing Sect's" actions had already revealed an unusual meaning. This even represented the views of some old monsters in other sects besides the "Sword-Washing Sect."
But the Tianli Clan had finally achieved the peace they had now, and of course, they would not allow others to destroy it. If the Great Sacrificial Priest were here, none of this would be a problem. No one could sway the Tianli Clan.
On her way back, the Third Elder had already quickly notified the First Elder and Gong Shanhe of this matter...