Chapter 21: Turning the Tables

"I have old ties with Sister Li of the Dan Tang; she gave me several bottles to eat like meals."

Seeing the opponent enraged, Chen Zhao let out a loud laugh.

Yet his heart remained utterly tense.

The Lightness Talisman's effect was fading; if he kept running, he'd be caught soon.

He must strike back.

He twisted his waist, turned, and retreated into the dense forest.

While Zhao Dehai had not yet caught up, he hurried to absorb the medicinal power of the Soul-Returning Pill inside him.

"You cowardly liar, only daring to hide and skulk."

Zhao Dehai snorted in contempt and cursed bitterly.

Though he could not sense Chen Zhao, he still discerned his position by the rustling of trees and shaking leaves.

The forest fell silent; Chen Zhao had not fled—likely using pills to restore his Qi, aiming for a war of attrition.

Thus, Zhao Dehai grew calm.

All he needed was to rest and wait; once the Spirit-Avoiding Pill's effect wore off, Chen Zhao would surely die.

At that moment.

A rustling came from the left.

"Can't sit still anymore?"

Zhao Dehai chuckled softly and blasted a Fireball through the trees.

Out flashed the Qingfeng Blade!

A chill surged from behind—he instantly summoned a protective barrier, barely blocking the Ice Spike.

The barrier had developed faint cracks, likely from depleted Qi.

And as he parried.

Chen Zhao and the Qingfeng Blade moved several zhang farther.

And this time.

Again, the left.

"Deceptive feints—child's play!"

Zhao Dehai roared loudly, but it was only bluster.

He continued firing Wind Blades toward the left.

Chen Zhao is treacherous and cunning—he must be trying to exploit my habitual thinking, making me believe this is a feint!

I won't be led by Chen Zhao's mind!

As the Wind Blade slashed through the forest.

Again, the Qingfeng Blade?

He hesitated in shock, instinctively turned his head, and summoned the barrier again.

Before he could even exhale.

The Qingfeng Blade struck from behind, while a Thunder Arc Talisman flew straight toward his face.

"Trivial tricks!"

Zhao Dehai remained calm, deftly blocking the Qingfeng Blade with the Wuqing Treasure Sword; the barrier suffered only minor damage, nothing serious.

True, his Qi was nearly depleted—but his total Qi reserves were several times Chen Zhao's.

He was already this drained; Chen Zhao must be far worse.

Even if he took a Soul-Returning Pill, restoring half his Qi would take at least an hour.

The earlier Ice Spike Technique had been weak and feeble—further proof this man was at his last breath.

Still, for caution's sake.

Zhao Dehai held the Wuqing Treasure Sword horizontally across his chest, alert to all surroundings.

Suddenly.

Chen Zhao erupted from the right forest, forming hand seals as a massive Fireball plummeted from the sky!

Only then did Zhao Dehai feel fear.

Such overwhelming Qi—how could this be a man who had fought long and hard?

Could this man have other miraculous pills?

The barrier shattered on contact—he could only swing his sword to block.

Boom!

Zhao Dehai staggered back five steps, blood flooding his mouth.

He had already been severely wounded by the Gold Blade Talisman; now, struck by this Fireball Technique, his internal organs shifted instantly, pain twisting his face.

Yet he spat out a jet of black blood and sneered:

"You little brat, I admit your cunning. I truly can't sense your position—but can you hide mine?"

"Those two women—surely they're being driven this way by now?"

Hearing this, Chen Zhao was startled.

He turned to look.

There, Xin Tong carried the unconscious Su Wanyao, fighting her way backward toward him.

Behind them, the withered old crone moved calmly, keeping distant, seemingly unexhausted of Qi.

Chen Zhao silently cursed.

He was about to break out—when he saw Zhao Dehai had recovered, blocking his path and shouting:

"Elder, I've blocked this one—please join me and kill these three!"

The old woman chuckled, tossing him a Qi-Replenishing Pill:

"Good use of the word 'blocked,' but Miss Su's order to me was to kill these two girls. As for him, you handle it yourself."

"However, everything on him belongs to me."

Hearing this, Chen Zhao's heart sank.

Robber cultivators are what they are—unchangeable in nature; they've set their sights on his Spirit-Avoiding Pill.

After dealing with Xin Tong, the next target will be him.

He turned his head toward the other side.

A pale blue barrier trembled weakly, already at its last breath.

Xin Tong, being an Empty Spirit Body, could not replenish her spiritual energy; while sustaining the Array, she also had to divert attention to resist the Yin poison—naturally, she was overwhelmed.

"Younger brother, I've sent a message back to our sect—reinforcements will arrive within half a day. If you can't win, just run. Don't worry about me."

Xin Tong's anxious voice echoed in his ear; Chen Zhao frowned.

He dared not gamble his life on that reinforcement.

Didn't Su Muqing consider this when setting up this killing trap?

When they arrive, they'll likely be Su Muqing's loyal cronies sent to clean up.

This matter cannot be dragged out.

Chen Zhao hardened his resolve and sprinted toward Zhao Dehai.

"At this point, instead of fleeing, you're coming closer to me?"

Zhao Dehai smiled slyly.

Yet inside, he raised his vigilance to the utmost.

He swallowed the Qi-Replenishing Pill, refined it slightly, and regained three-tenths of his spiritual energy.

Chen Zhao's Fireball Technique must have consumed much energy—his strength is spent, mine is full; perhaps the tide can turn.

This time, he guessed right.

Chen Zhao had only six-tenths of his spiritual energy left, and he needed to reserve some for escape.

If he continued with ranged Dharma Battle, after five spells, he would surely die.

Clutching the Qingfeng Blade, he closed the distance in three breaths.

He flung a Deceleration Talisman with his left hand, sidestepped the Wuqing Treasure Sword, and stabbed toward Zhao Dehai's lower back.

Zhao Dehai snorted, formed a hand seal, and summoned a protective shield.

Simultaneously, his treasure sword flew free, spun midair, and shot straight for Chen Zhao's heart.

Chen Zhao did not dodge or retreat—he pinched the Golden Light Shield in his left hand and shoved forward with his right.

He expended three-tenths of his spiritual energy.

There came a sharp crack—the Qingfeng Blade pierced the shield, slicing through flesh like brine curdling tofu, driving straight for the heart.

But Chen Zhao, focused solely on killing, how could he protect himself?

Even with the Deceleration Talisman slowing it, could the Golden Light Shield block a Mid-grade Dharma Treasure?

In less than a breath.

The Golden Light Shield shattered, and the sword was already at his chest.

"Trade wounds? My sword is coated in poison—touch blood, and it's instant death. Have the guts to keep going—see who dies first!"

Zhao Dehai spat blood with a grimace, a mad glint flashing in his eyes.

He poured all his strength into the Wuqing Treasure Sword, determined to kill his enemy before his own heart was damaged.

But the next second.

Chen Zhao's lips curled into a faint smile—he made no defensive move, gently pushed his right hand forward, and shattered Zhao Dehai's heart meridian.

Yet the Wuqing Treasure Sword halted an inch from Chen Zhao's chest, unable to advance further.

Why?

Did Chen Zhao have another trick up his sleeve?

Zhao Dehai's eyes, filled with confusion and resentment, gradually dimmed.

His final sight.

Was Chen Zhao stripping off his outer robe and discarding the lifeless Golden Cicada Robe to the side.

Everything had been within his calculations.

Liu Chen's Purple Blue Long Sword was also a Low-grade Magical Tool—it could stall the Wuqing Treasure Sword for an instant.

The Golden Cicada Robe, being more defensive, could do the same.

Moreover,

Zhao Dehai's spiritual energy was no longer what it had been, and he was further delayed by the Deceleration Talisman and the Golden Light Shield.

It was utterly foolproof.

Chen Zhao turned to face the other side.

The withered old woman was fully focused on breaking the Array, with no attention for him.

While the Spirit-Avoiding Pill's effect still held, he stored the Wuqing Treasure Sword in his Storage Bag.

He surged his spiritual energy and sprinted toward the sect.