Chapter 97: Crystal Ball

Having encountered various crises outside several times in succession, Song Qingming gradually realized the dangers and conspiracies in the cultivation world. In order to improve his ability to survive when going out, during the three years in Qinghefang, Song Qingming used his spare time from cultivation to spend a lot of effort pondering some useful self-defense means.

Just like the Green Fire Thunder he just used to deal with Zhou Jintang, this thing was originally a one-time-use spiritual item like a spiritual talisman, and its quality was only first-tier. Its power was only slightly greater than an ordinary first-tier top-quality spiritual talisman. If it were used normally to fight the enemy, it would be difficult to play a role in deciding the outcome.

During the last trip to Mount Bailin, Song Qingming was almost ambushed by the cultivator named Ghost Head using a fake "Blood Soul Contract". After returning, Song Qingming repeatedly pondered this method of Ghost Head and found that he used a tricky method to seal attack-type spiritual talismans in inconspicuous objects. As long as a cultivator opened it, it would instantly trigger the spiritual talisman, making people unable to dodge in time.

Song Qingming later followed suit and made one, but he did not mess with any fake cultivation technique classics, but directly used another ordinary storage bag on his body.

His idea was different from Ghost Head's. He felt that the "Blood Soul Contract" that Ghost Head prepared at that time, although the cost would be relatively low, was too deliberate and complicated to use. It could only deceive those young brats who were not deeply involved in the world. It was difficult to succeed when encountering cultivators who were more cautious like Song Qingming.

The reason Ghost Head did this was because this move was his usual means to ambush others, and he could not do it so delicately. Another point was that his family background was not as wealthy as Song Qingming's now.

Song Qingming's idea of directly using a storage bag as bait was relatively simple. His purpose was not to take the initiative to harm others, but just to exchange for a chance to escape when he encountered a crisis that he could not get out of.

After all, ordinary people who were greedy would subconsciously lower their defensiveness when seeing valuable objects. As long as the opponent opened the storage bag he had prepared in advance, it would trigger the attack means inside. Zhou Jintang just now was also a very greedy person, and the result was no surprise; he still fell into Song Qingming's scheme.

"The second-tier defensive spiritual talisman used by Fellow Daoist should be the one obtained two days ago, right? Fellow Daoist Zhou is really willing to part with it, actually using this second-tier spiritual talisman directly." Seeing Zhou Jintang looking at himself viciously, Song Qingming continued to say with a faint expression.

Just as Song Qingming said, what he just used was his greatest life-saving means, which was why he was not successfully attacked by Song Qingming in one blow and saved his life.

Zhou Jintang saw that the yellow light shield on his body was becoming dimmer and dimmer, and he also knew in his heart that the spiritual talisman in his hand could not last much longer. He was now covered in injuries from the Green Fire Thunder, and it was feared that it would be very difficult for him to be sure to defeat Song Qingming.

The reason Song Qingming had not started to attack was actually that he was waiting. Although the trap he had prepared in advance had severely injured this person, Song Qingming did not know if Zhou Jintang had any other powerful means on him, so he did not dare to launch an attack rashly.

At least he had to wait until the ability of the second-tier spiritual talisman in Zhou Jintang's hand disappeared before he could make a move. After all, he already had the advantage, so he did not need to be too anxious.

Zhou Jintang also slowly recovered his reason from his anger. Seeing that the current situation was somewhat unfavorable, he slowly stood up from the ground and said with a calm expression: "Fellow Daoist Song really has good means. Zhou really underestimated you. Today I admit defeat. You go."

"You and I have only known each other for a few days, yet Brother Zhou has such deep friendship, traveling thousands of miles to see me off. No matter what, I must use a big gift to thank you properly. Even mortals have to pay attention to reciprocity. Don't you think so, Brother Zhou?" Song Qingming said with a calm expression.

"Alright, everyone is a person who knows it well. Let's not talk nonsense. If you want to eat me, you have to see if your teeth are strong enough."

From Song Qingming's words, Zhou Jintang also heard that he did not intend to let him go. For him, it would be difficult to make Song Qingming change his mind without a fight today.

As soon as the words fell, Zhou Jintang danced the long spear in his hand, and a cyan light blade on the silver spear tip quickly slashed toward Song Qingming. He knew that his injuries were not light, and dragging it out would be unfavorable to him, so he could only choose to take the initiative to launch an attack.

Seeing Zhou Jintang launch a full-force strike, Song Qingming did not dare to be negligent at all. He raised his right hand slightly, and a golden bronze umbrella appeared in his hand. After the bronze umbrella was opened, it became much larger, instantly protecting Song Qingming's entire body.

The cyan light blade and the yellow light covering the Heavenly Net Umbrella just touched, and a "squeaking" friction sound was emitted. Sparks flew instantly, and Song Qingming retreated several steps in a row before blocking this strike. It really made him somewhat puzzled.

Zhou Jintang's cultivation was already higher than Song Qingming's, and he was practicing an earth-attribute cultivation technique that naturally restrained the Kunyuan Technique that Song Qingming was practicing. Under normal circumstances, if the two compared magic power, Song Qingming would suffer a lot.

Song Qingming did not think much. After blocking this attack, he quickly turned to attack. His hands formed seals, and a burst of magic power flowed from the ground to Zhou Jintang's feet, turning into several sharp earth spikes.

Zhou Jintang was not in a hurry, jumped to the air with a sideways body, and easily dodged these spikes attacking from the ground.

Before he landed, the two spiritual talismans in Song Qingming's hand flashed with golden light, and two golden blade lights had already killed their way to his front. This time, the protective light shield on his body had not yet been used, and it was already difficult to dodge.

Unable to borrow force to dodge in the air, Zhou Jintang did not have enough time to use the magic power in his body to directly form a protective light shield to resist these two attacks. Just when Song Qingming thought his strike could hit the opponent, Zhou Jintang sneered contemptuously and took out a blue crystal ball.

This crystal ball was not large, only the size of a walnut. After Zhou Jintang placed it above his head, a blue light quickly wrapped around his surroundings, surrounding him tightly. The two mid-grade spiritual talismans used by Song Qingming hit the blue light group and quickly lost their spirituality, turning into an ordinary piece of waste paper and falling down.

The light group emitted by this crystal ball not only had outstanding defensive power but also had the ability to absorb spiritual power. The two mid-grade spiritual talismans had not been in contact with the light group for long before their spiritual energy was exhausted, which really made Song Qingming stunned on the spot. He did not expect Zhou Jintang to have such a powerful magic tool. The defensive ability of this crystal ball could be said to be no worse than the Heavenly Net Umbrella in Song Qingming's hand.

Seeing Song Qingming's expression full of surprise after seeing the power of his magic tool, Zhou Jintang had a bit more confidence in the next battle.

The magic tool on Zhou Jintang's head had followed him for many years and could be considered the top defensive ability among first-tier top-quality defensive magic tools. After obtaining it, it had saved his life several times and could be considered his most powerful defensive means.

After witnessing the power of the crystal ball on Zhou Jintang's head, Song Qingming's expression also changed, and he suddenly felt somewhat of a headache. Although he also refined a high-quality defensive magic tool like the Heavenly Net Umbrella, his attack ability was very ordinary. He only had a mid-grade White Jade Sword on him, and he did not even have a top-grade flying sword.

"It seems that there will be a bitter battle next."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 98 =====