Chapter 25: The Battle of Plum Blossom Pond (Part Two)

The old plum tree's "palm" not only blasted the Wen Xiu away, but also swept the several boulders taller than a man rolling out more than ten zhang.

The two Wu Xiu hidden in the rock crevices were also severely wounded, spitting blood as they tumbled out, their bodies crisscrossed with wounds as if slashed by dozens of blades.

Those were caused by the old plum tree's branches.

Xu Yuan hid inside the tree hollow, suddenly feeling the earth shake and the sky tremble, then saw the old plum tree unleash its divine power!

Xu Yuan was also startled: Is the old plum tree also a strange entity?

I never noticed it before!

But Xu Yuan quickly understood: this old plum tree was the nest of the Water Ghost sisters, already refined by them into a treasure under their control.

The old plum tree swept away the boulders, and Xu Yuan suddenly heard a voice beside his ear: "Still not acting? When will you strike?!"

Xu Yuan suddenly saw the exit of the tree hollow appear before his eyes!

Xu Yuan curled his body into a ball and shot out with a whoosh.

The Wu Xiu wielding the short spear was still spitting blood when a pill struck him from above—he dodged sideways but didn't notice a branch stabbing from behind, with a sudden thrust through his chest!

The Wu Xiu froze instantly; the branch retracted, and he lost all strength, collapsing limply to the ground, eyes wide open, dying with unbearable resentment.

Xu Yuan used one Longzhu Waidan to distract the short-spear Wu Xiu, then lunged at the shield-and-single-sword Wu Xiu.

Xu Yuan stomped forward; the Wu Xiu raised his shield, hiding his entire body behind it.

Thud!

The Wu Xiu sank heavily, his feet sinking one inch into the ground.

But immediately after, he slashed a blade from behind the shield—only to face a torrent of fire dragon!

The Wu Xiu cursed and hastily retreated.

The Wen Xiu was flung away, landing on a rocky beach several zhang distant; dazed, he barely stood up, glancing around to assess the situation, when suddenly a gray-blue pill rose before him, emitting a distinctive "medicinal aroma."

The Wen Xiu involuntarily inhaled once—and instantly his vision went black; he collapsed limp to the ground.

Poison pill!

Xu Yuan spat "Fu Zhong Huo" while advancing step by step, his fingers guiding remotely, making the golden pill loop in a wide arc to ambush the Wu Xiu from behind.

Snap!

Another pill flew through the air and collided with Xu Yuan's Longzhu Waidan; Xu Yuan staggered, and the flame in his mouth was extinguished.

The Rank Dan Xiu rushed forward swiftly; his level was higher, his Longzhu Waidan as large as a fist, shimmering with silver light.

After knocking away Xu Yuan's Longzhu Waidan, it still circled and flew around him.

The Wu Xiu seized the opportunity, dropping his shield and single sword, swinging them in rapid succession to form a dazzling blade wheel rolling toward Xu Yuan.

The Rank Dan Xiu pointed his finger; the silver Longzhu Waidan shot straight at Xu Yuan.

Caught between two assaults, Xu Yuan retreated swiftly—but the Rank Dan Xiu was certain: this brat won't escape!

Wound him badly, capture him alive, and deliver him to the Holy Maiden; when she eats him, it's the same effect as eating a June insect.

Xu Yuan suddenly pulled out two calligraphy scrolls, slapped them onto his legs—his speed doubled instantly, and with a whoosh, he left behind a trail of afterimages, breaking free from the encirclement of the Rank Dan Xiu and Wu Xiu!

"Huh?" The Rank Dan Xiu was startled.

The "Teng Yun" and "Cheng Feng" calligraphy scrolls Xu Yuan stole from Qiao Master, when stuck to his legs, greatly increased his speed.

The Rank Dan Xiu shook his head; no more holding back—he'd rather kill him than let him escape.

The medicinal effect is the same anyway.

But Xu Yuan was cunning—he retreated swiftly to the side of the old plum tree!

The Wu Xiu chased after him rapidly, and dozens of branches shot toward him like spears.

The Wu Xiu screamed, raised his shield instantly—and thud! He and his shield were both pierced and flung backward.

The Rank Dan Xiu frowned, snorted, and strode forward.

His Longzhu Waidan circled protectively around him, then he opened his mouth and blasted forth "Fu Zhong Huo."

He was a seasoned Eighth-Rank; his Fu Zhong Huo was several times fiercer than Xu Yuan's!

The flame erupted three zhang before him, thick as a wooden tub, like a colossal fire dragon—every branch of the old plum tree it touched burst into flame; the very same branches that had just flung the Wu Xiu away turned to ash in an instant.

The old plum tree creaked and groaned as it recoiled; the Rank Dan Xiu pursued relentlessly.

The Rank Dan Xiu knew clearly: unless he utterly destroyed this tree, he could never capture Xu Yuan smoothly.

Xu Yuan's mind flickered; the golden pill silently shot toward the Rank Dan Xiu.

Xu Yuan's golden pill was only the size of a dragon's eye, its surface pitch-black, resembling an iron bead—its appearance paled beside the Rank Dan Xiu's, and its power was far inferior.

But the Wu Xiu raised his shield to intercept it.

Thud!

The golden pill was deflected; the Wu Xiu staggered back three steps, spat another mouthful of blood, and a deep dent appeared on his shield.

Xu Yuan grew furious, and with "Cheng Feng" underfoot, he chased after the Wu Xiu.

The Rank Dan Xiu unleashed his full power—burning the old plum tree with Fu Zhong Huo while directing his golden pill to harass Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan relied on his speed to dodge the Rank Dan Xiu's sneak attack, opened his mouth, and spat out another gray-blue Longzhu Waidan with a cough.

The Wu Xiu gripped his sword, braced his shield with both arms to block the Longzhu Waidan.

Snap!

The Longzhu Waidan struck the shield—and exploded into fragments.

The Rank Dan Xiu sneered: "A Longzhu Waidan still unrefined? You dare use it? Clearly you're out of options."

But after the Longzhu Waidan shattered, a green mist rose.

The Wu Xiu inhaled a trace by accident—immediately black vapor surged across his face, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a thud.

The Rank Dan Xiu's face darkened: "Poison pill!"

This poison pill, when dissolved, could kill over a hundred people!

Using it now just to ambush a Wu Xiu is truly a waste, but Xu Yuan has no time to feel regret; the Dan Xiu's Longzhu Waidan is already pursuing.

Xu Yuan flees at great speed.

Yet the Dan Xiu is experienced, and his control over the Longzhu Waidan is far more skilled than Xu Yuan's.

Several times, Xu Yuan had to use his own Golden Pill to block the opponent, barely dodging a fatal strike each time.

But after a few collisions, Xu Yuan's Golden Pill could barely hold out.

The Dan Xiu spits the Fu Zhong Huo from his belly, forcing the old plum tree into a step-by-step retreat, while most of his attention remains on Xu Yuan.

Seeing Xu Yuan growing increasingly desperate, the Dan Xiu thought silently: "The heat is sufficient; it is time for a single killing blow!"

Xu Yuan's tattered clothes are soaked with sweat, yet his eyes grow ever more resolute: He must go all out!

As Xu Yuan made this decision, he glanced up; within the Dan Xiu's originally green "Life," a dark red line suddenly emerged.

Xu Yuan's heart steadied greatly.

The Dan Xiu had burned the old plum tree down to a single bare trunk; he suddenly retreated far backward, manipulating the Golden Pill through the air with both hands, spinning rapidly with himself as the core. After seven or eight rotations, the Golden Pill's speed reached an unimaginable degree, and only a ring of silver light could be seen around the Dan Xiu's body.

The old plum tree hid far away by the water pool, daring not approach the Dan Xiu again.

The water ghost sisters are locked in a fierce battle with the Holy Maiden and her servant, fighting to a standstill, and cannot spare any thought for Xu Yuan; they can only think silently: "Boy, you must pray for your own fortune."

The two sisters already regret agreeing to partner with Xu Yuan on this deal.

There will be more tonight; please vote for the monthly tickets!

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(End of this chapter)