Chapter 146: Fight for Golden Core!

Damn it!

Seeing this, Xiao Shanhe flew into a rage.

Although Xu Liang wasn't his disciple, he was still a cultivator of the Spirit Beast Sect, and moreover, he had come looking for Yunhe on his orders.

As a Golden Core cultivator, he ordered a Foundation Establishment cultivator to stop, yet he was ignored?!

Most importantly.

After that brat killed Xu Liang, he even put on that expression.

Meanwhile, seeing Xiao Shanhe like that, Yunhe instantly felt relieved.

This old thing has been targeting him for more than just a day or two.

He keeps causing trouble for him based on mere suspicion.

In Xiao Shanhe's eyes, the 'Thousand Poisons Myriad Insects Technique' seems more important than his own grandson.

Yunhe gave him a cold glance, then suddenly grinned, caught Xu Liang's storage bag, turned and fled without hesitation!

In just a few breaths, Xiao Shanhe was already only a few thousand zhang away from him.

"Where do you think you're running?!"

Xiao Shanhe snorted coldly, formed a seal with both hands, and his speed surged.

As a Golden Core cultivator, he no longer needed external aids to fly, and his escape speed was even greater than Yunhe's, who was riding the Flowing Cloud Falcon Boat.

Fortunately, the original distance between them was not small; even if he were to catch up, it would still take some time.

"Old thing!"

Yunhe extended his divine sense and could feel the icy killing intent behind him.

He took out an Elixir from his storage bracelet, put it in his mouth, and silently restored his mana.

The howling strong wind swept past his ears.

Two streaks of light, one ahead and one behind, swiftly sliced through the air.

But at this moment everyone was fleeing the beast tide, so few noticed them.

Even if they did notice, no one would say anything.

A Golden Core cultivator chasing and killing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—isn't that just casual slaughter?

The distance between them kept closing.

Suddenly.

Yunhe felt a divine sense sweep over him; without a doubt, it was Xiao Shanhe's.

But correspondingly, his divine sense also swept over Xiao Shanhe.

Their divine senses were nearly equal!

Moreover, what slightly cheered Yunhe was that Xiao Shanhe's condition wasn't too good.

That makes sense when you think about it.

The Spirit Beast Sect was the first sect to suffer the impact of the beast tide.

Being able to lead so many disciples out of the beast tide through a breakout must have involved intense battles.

Adding to that, being chased by the beast tide while flying at full speed from the Spirit Beast Sect to the Guiyuan Sect also consumed some of his strength.

Although these losses were not great for Xiao Shanhe and were well within his tolerance.

But for Yunhe, every shortcoming of the opponent was an opportunity.

Seeing Xiao Shanhe draw ever closer, Yunhe directly pulled out a large handful of talismans from his storage bracelet and flung them wildly behind him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The booming sound rang incessantly in his ears.

"Hmph! Do you think you can turn things around with just these Second Stage talismans?" Xiao Shanhe snorted coldly, full of disdain.

Activating a spell seal, a solid barrier quickly formed around his side.

But as soon as his words fell, he saw Yunhe, having thrown out a handful of talismans, pull another handful from his storage bracelet.

Then came a third, then a fourth.

Seeing this, Xiao Shanhe's face darkened.

Is this kid in the talisman wholesale business?

Little did he know, the guess was actually somewhat accurate.

What is needed to make Second Stage talismans?

Hide-made talisman paper, Beast Blood, and mana.

And all three of these are things Yunhe never lacks!

Each time he practiced making talismans, he would produce some; after seven years of accumulation, though not saying there are many, at least it's not something that can be exhausted with just three or four handfuls.

The distance they had originally closed gradually widened again.

Even if Xiao Shanhe doesn't fear these Second Stage talismans, once they reach a certain quantity they still pose some trouble for him.

"Kid!"

Xiao Shanhe formed another seal with both hands, slightly opened his mouth, and a special ring spewed out.

The next second.

A loud, clear cry rang out from nowhere as the ring transformed into a huge fire bird engulfed in flames, screeching as it bore down on Yunhe at extreme speed.

A clear, resonant long cry rang out as a circular ring appeared out of thin air, transforming into a huge firebird engulfed in flames, screeching as it rushed toward Yunhe at extreme speed to crush him.

Feeling that immensely threatening aura, Yunhe's face turned slightly pale.

He immediately flicked his storage bracelet.

He immediately kept flicking the storage bracelet.

One scale-armor shield, one set of heavy stone armor, one brocade-feather banner.

Three medium-grade defensive spiritual artifacts went forward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just upon contact with the firebird's appearance, under the waving of its sharp claws, these three medium-grade defensive spiritual artifacts all shattered instantly!

"This guy"

Seeing the Vermilion Bird Ring, his treasure, still fleeing ahead at high speed, and his own speed slowed due to obstruction, Xiao Shanhe couldn't help but want to curse again.

They are clearly small things unworthy of his notice, yet they keep making him feel uneasy.

It didn't cause him any harm; it purely disgusted him.

"Fire Phoenix!"

Xiao Shanhe gave a low shout, his internal mana surged wildly, he cast a spell and infused it into the Vermilion Bird Ring; the treasure's power suddenly increased, the giant firebird with spread wings swelled by several zhang, flapped its wings, and its speed actually increased by a third compared to before!

Yunhe had been watching his movements; seeing him cast the spell, he plunged headfirst toward the ground.

Five Elements Escape Technique!

In the blink of an eye, just as the Vermilion Bird Ring was about to smash him again, he put away his flying boat and disappeared from Xiao Shanhe's sight.

"Earth Escape Technique?" Xiao Shanhe snorted repeatedly, "Useless."

Boom!!

The giant firebird plunged down without hesitation; the tremendous roar accompanied by terrifying shockwaves swept wildly, the entire ground cracked and sank layer by layer, dry spiderweb-like fissures appeared on the ground.

Whoosh——

What surprised Xiao Shanhe was that, at the edge of the Vermilion Bird Ring's impact, Yunhe actually flew out again.

However, his complexion was somewhat pale, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The recent impact left him with lingering fear.

If he hadn't used the Five Elements Escape Technique instead of the Earth Escape Technique, he might not have been able to avoid the center of the Vermilion Bird Ring's impact.

If his body weren't strong enough, even just the edge impact couldn't have made him feel this okay.

A Golden Core cultivator, indeed formidable!

Equipped with a treasure, it's utterly incomparable to what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could match.

Just as he was about to slay this kid, he never expected that he would again escape disaster; Yunhe's several resistances, though seemingly insignificant, made him as slippery as a loach, leaving Xiao Shanhe shocked and angry.

He immediately prepared to cast a spell and chase after him.

But then he suddenly saw.

The fleeing Yunhe abruptly stopped his movement.

A sudden turn.

A cold gaze swept over his face.

Seeing this, Xiao Shanhe gave a light laugh.

"Want to make a last-ditch effort? You're not worthy."

But suddenly.

Xiao Shanhe's smile froze; his mind seemed to instantly fill with countless insects, frenziedly and recklessly 'gnawing' at him.

It caused his thoughts to have a brief moment of dazedness.

After regaining his senses, he was greatly astonished.

It was actually a divine sense attack?!

But before he could recover from his astonishment, Xiao Shanhe's heart suddenly throbbed.

An extremely dangerous feeling welled up; he almost instinctively retreated, simultaneously lowering his head to look.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

When?!

Just then, in the depression where the Vermilion Bird Ring had previously bombarded the ground—a place where absolutely no living creature should be able to survive—a black shadow shot up at great speed.

Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse!

Swish!!

The pitch-black hand, like hard pincers, the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse's claws fiercely scraped across Xiao Shanhe's face.

Rip——

Xiao Shanhe's splendid brocade robe tore instantly; his chest was also scratched with three not-too-deep marks; he looked shocked at the suddenly appearing Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse.

"Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse?!"

"Tsk."

Seeing his carefully laid ambush fail, Yunhe vexedly smacked his own mouth.

Regarding timing, he felt he had seized it perfectly.

First, he faced the pursuit as a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, feigning weakness; then he used ground cover to interfere with Xiao Shanhe's vision, seizing the chance to release the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse; the terrifying impact from the Vermilion Bird Ring's attack caused both sides' divine senses to be unable to advance; he then used his own escape to draw Xiao Shanhe's attention, suddenly employing an unexpected 'Heart Worm Technique' to interfere; finally, the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse launched a sneak attack from a place where it absolutely should not appear.

But a Golden Core cultivator lives up to his reputation; although he gave Xiao Shanhe a surprise, his reaction speed is indeed quick.

After failing the strike, Yunhe did not linger in battle, fleeing again toward the distance.

And the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse conveniently avoided Xiao Shanhe's counterattack, as well as the returning Vermilion Bird Ring.

However, although the instant kill failed, the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse's corpse toxin is not so easy to handle.

The Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse's corpse toxin is inherently strong; moreover, Yunhe further strengthened it with materials like the 'Rotten Toxin Fruit'; black lines rapidly spread across the scratches on Xiao Shanhe's chest, causing his complexion to drastically change.

Watching Yunhe swiftly depart with the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse, Xiao Shanhe's expression flickered.

The Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse, comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, let him know that capturing Yunhe would not be so simple.

But at the same time he also understood what the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse represented.

That Qingzong Sect brat has been to the Heavenly Insect Sect ruins, and he definitely has the 'Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Art' on him!

He, who had long been obsessed with this technique, merely hesitated briefly before pursuing again.

The Vermilion Bird Ring still had some restraint over the Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse.

He took out a black pill, stuffed it into his mouth, quickly circulated his mana to digest the elixir, and the corpse poison seemed to be temporarily suppressed.

Both sides entered into a stalemate once again.

But this time, Xiao Shanhe wanting to manipulate Yunhe again was not so easy.

The Vermilion Bird Ring came smashing down again, but the Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse slightly opened its mouth and spat out a black small seal.

He went up to meet the Vermilion Bird Ring.

Boom!!

The collision of the two magical treasures gave the Vermilion Bird Ring an absolute advantage, smashing the black wood seal flying, yet it also made the Vermilion Bird Ring's attack become sluggish.

"A magical treasure?" Seeing this, Xiao Shanhe's breath hitched.

Is this really a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Not only does he have a Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, but his spiritual sense is also not weak, enough to match a Golden Core's spiritual sense, and spiritual sense attacks can also affect his mind.

Now he even brought out a magical treasure!

Where does such a wealthy Foundation Establishment cultivator come from?

His spiritual sense swept over Xiao Shanhe's surprised look, and Yunhe let out a low laugh.

Indeed.

Just as Yunhe had anticipated.

As a Spirit Beast Sect cultivator, Xiao Shanhe has not summoned any spirit beast to aid in battle up to now, indicating he does not possess a third-tier spirit beast.

His third-tier Goldfire Centipede was ruined by his precious grandson at the Heavenly Insect Sect ruins.

Moreover, with Xiao Shanhe's early Golden Core cultivation base, he obviously lacks the resources to raise a second third-tier spirit beast.

This is the information gap between the two sides.

This is also why Yunhe decided to kill Xu Liang and provoke Xiao Shanhe.

Because he felt that facing a Spirit Beast Master without spirit beasts, even if the opponent is an early Golden Core cultivator, he is not completely without a chance to win!

Even if he cannot win, stepping back ten thousand steps, he has absolute confidence he can escape.

Moreover, judging from the current situation.

"The advantage is mine."

As Yunhe's low mutter fell.

Behind him, Xiao Shanhe's face suddenly flushed with an abnormal redness, then turned eerily pale.

Xiao Shanhe's heart instantly filled with both shock and anger.

He tore open his clothes and saw black patterns like a spiderweb densely covering his chest, already spreading over half of his thorax.

The Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse's greatest strength lies in its flesh and corpse poison, and with the poison strengthened, how could it be so easily suppressed?

Furthermore, his frequent use of mana and true essence causes the corpse poison to erupt faster and more violently.

However, if given a moment to adjust his breath, he could suppress it again; the opponent's use of that black small seal is extremely unskilled, and a few more strikes from the Vermilion Bird Ring could utterly crush it.

But Yunhe would not give Xiao Shanhe such an opportunity.

Without hesitation, he stopped his flight escape, and the Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse flashed with black light, lunging forward!

"Courting death!" Xiao Shanhe's anger surged.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator facing him actually does not flee but wants to fight?

If this gets out, it'll be a huge joke.

In regret, he didn't care about worsening future injuries; gritted his teeth, he suddenly mobilized all his mana, pressed forward to suppress the corpse poison again, then without the slightest hesitation turned his body and drove the Vermilion Bird Ring to meet the Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse.

Yunhe's eyes flashed with killing intent as he fiercely threw out three spirit insect pouches.

The next moment, he formed seals with his fingers.

Hummm——

Countless red-ringed gold-spotted bees swarmed out of the spirit insect pouches, instantly forming a golden-red cloud that rolled toward Xiao Shanhe.

At the same time, he flipped his palm, a hunting banner fluttered into his hand, and hundreds of beast souls surged forth, among them many second-tier beast souls!

These movements were all swept up by Xiao Shanhe's spiritual sense, yet they also left this Spirit Beast Sect Golden Core cultivator astonished.

Heavenly Capital Insect Corpse, beast soul banner, insect swarm—just what sort of cultivator is this brat, orthodox or demonic spy?!

Most importantly.

No matter which, it seems to make him feel threatened!

Xiao Shanhe suddenly let out a muffled grunt.

Counterattack.

Starting with the Heart Insect Technique!

———

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(End of chapter)