Chapter 168: Re-Slaying Foundation Establishment

This sword strike, due to the closer distance, carried even greater power.

He Pingsheng had no time left to raise the Holy Wood Shield.

He could only roll sideways to evade the blade's light, while countless metal-based magic power surged from within him, rushing toward the Golden Shield.

Whether he could withstand it depended entirely on this one moment.

The blade's light sliced through the air, carving a long furrow into the ground, then struck He Pingsheng's protective shield.

Boom…

Though his body shifted slightly, he ultimately failed to dodge the blade's attack.

The golden aura surrounding him shattered instantly.

The remaining blade light struck his body.

His upper-body Dao robe was torn into countless fragments.

Fortunately, He Pingsheng had trained his body, and relied on his physical strength to fully block the residual blade light.

The towering ancient trees around him toppled one by one.

Flames erupted everywhere; countless creatures in the forest fled in chaos.

But no matter what, He Pingsheng had successfully blocked Feng Daogu's two attacks intact.

"Good boy!" After unleashing two blade lights, Feng Daogu's magic power was momentarily depleted, leaving her unable to launch a third strike immediately.

Seizing the chance, she began cursing again: "You actually blocked my two swords? No wonder you're a disciple personally trained by the Ancestor!"

"He Pingsheng… today you will surely die!"

"Last time, I was careless!"

"This time, I'll show you the difference between a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and a trash like you!"

While speaking these words, Feng Daogu condensed her third blade light and slammed it down once more.

But it was useless.

He Pingsheng had also seized that moment to raise the Holy Wood Shield.

This time, after raising the Holy Wood Shield, he did not channel metal-based magic power to reinforce the Golden Shield.

Instead, he launched a counterattack.

He filled his meridians with wood-based magic power, gave it a slight turn, and then unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy.

Boom…

Feng Daogu's merciless blade light descended.

As before, the Holy Wood Shield's protective barrier shattered instantly.

But it didn't matter!

He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out a magic treasure: the Nine Radiant Dragon-Slaying Banner.

With a casual swing, he used offense as defense.

The banner unfurled, swirling violently, and shattered all remaining force of the blade light.

That residual energy exploded outward in a torrent of power, surging through the surroundings.

Two more trees were snapped in half.

Simultaneously, dozens of thorny vines sprang from the ground—over a dozen vines coiled toward Feng Daogu from every angle at once.

Technique: Holy Wood Poisonous Dragon Art!

The vines, like thorned venomous snakes, whipped toward Feng Daogu with unmatched speed.

Feng Daogu was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, having failed multiple attempts to reach Golden Core, now residing in a pseudo-Golden Core realm.

So she naturally wouldn't be easily ensnared by vines.

"Slice…"

With a flick of her hand, blade light shot out, and the vines were severed one after another with a hissing sound.

Though some venomous thorns sprayed poison, none of it reached Feng Daogu's body.

"Hmph…" Feng Daogu sneered: "He Pingsheng, you're impressive… too bad your cultivation base is too low!"

"Die…"

Feng Daogu gripped her sword with both hands and slashed straight at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng stepped sideways instantly, barely evading the blade aura—but the moment after, he felt the ground beneath him tremble violently.

Boom…

A massive ice spike, over a zhang tall, suddenly erupted from the earth; had he not reacted in time, it would have pierced his body outright.

"Boom…"

Boom boom boom…

One ice spike after another burst from the ground, chasing He Pingsheng as he retreated, and soon the earth formed a colossal ice dragon!

"Again!"

Feng Daogu gave He Pingsheng no chance to counter; she leapt into the air ten zhang high and slashed down once more from afar.

He Pingsheng also leapt into the air.

"Open…"

He activated all eight seals on his black banner, thrusting it forward with a thunderous roar.

The next instant, a thick silver lightning bolt surged forth, slamming into Feng Daogu's blade light.

Technique: Great Banner Rolling Thunder Art!

The two attacks collided.

Then exploded in the center.

A tremendous energy wave formed a visible shockwave, surging diagonally outward.

The massive trees around them toppled one after another.

But in this exchange, He Pingsheng was clearly at a disadvantage—his lightning energy was exhausted, while her blade aura still retained half its strength, slicing toward him.

Open…

Holy Wood Shield!

Only on the third activation of the Holy Wood Shield did he fully block her attack.

At this point, He Pingsheng's wood-element dantian was completely drained.

All the attacks he had just unleashed drew entirely from the spiritual energy of his wood-element dantian.

Three activations of the Holy Wood Shield.

One use of the Holy Wood Poisonous Dragon Art.

And one use of the Great Banner Rolling Thunder Art—lightning, being wood-affiliated, naturally consumed wood spiritual energy.

Fearing Feng Daogu would strike again, He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out the 【Soul-Annihilating Bell】.

He activated it with a bang.

Having suffered before from the Soul-Annihilating Bell, Feng Daogu instantly retreated upon seeing it.

He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.

Good—you're retreating.

He didn't intend to annihilate her with the bell—he only wanted to scare her off.

Then buy himself time to activate a talisman.

No choice!

He couldn't win a direct fight—this peak Foundation Establishment cultivator was simply too powerful.

He had to rely on external tools.

He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out a second-grade talisman.

Top-tier quality.

Name: Golden Shield Talisman.

Previously, at Hou Muxian's wedding, he had acquired a second-grade talisman, 【Golden Bone Talisman】, from the Jiaoyi Society, and after strengthening it, turned it into two 【Golden Shield Talismans】.

He had already used one when fighting Changping Daoist and Feng Daogu.

Now, he had only one left.

This was his final second-grade defensive talisman.

"Open…"

He Pingsheng shouted loudly.

After a single breath, a golden light shield encased his body.

He Pingsheng was instantly elated.

Back when he was in Qi Refining, activating this talisman had taken him three full breaths—now, it took only one.

Fast enough!

"Damn it!" Feng Daogu, hovering in the air, cursed: "How do you still have this damn thing?!"

"Slice…"

She lunged forward violently and slashed at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng was not afraid.

Because last time, Feng Daogu had slashed four times before breaking through his Golden Shield Talisman.

Logically, this time, the Golden Shield Talisman should withstand at least four strikes.

So he let the sword light descend without moving, instead reaching out to pull out another talisman: the Heavenly Fire Talisman.

This thing was strengthened from a second-rank talisman, the Blazing Fire Talisman.

He Pingsheng knew he could not kill Master Feng with his own strength.

If so, then he could only waste two talismans.

"Open…"

He Pingsheng uttered another soft command; after a single breath, the talisman in his hand turned into a fireball.

"Go…"

With a hiss, the fireball shot forth toward Master Feng.

Master Feng was no fool—seeing the fireball, she immediately flew away on her sword.

But she did not expect the fireball to pursue automatically; with a bang, it struck her back.

In an instant, fierce flames erupted.

Within the endless fire, Master Feng was reduced to ash in moments.