Chapter 79: Killing, Poisoned

The yellow-turbaned force, two zhang tall, was merely an illusion.

It was formed from golden spiritual energy.

The illusion held a massive golden axe and swung it down at the woman.

Of course, the axe too was formed from illusion.

Bang… bang… bang…

The yellow-turbaned force was foolish, knowing only one move: relentless axe swings.

Yet despite only this single technique, the woman opposite could barely defend herself.

On the other side, He Pingsheng could now focus entirely on countering the man’s attacks.

Eighth spear!

Ninth spear!

Outside He Pingsheng’s body, a dull yellow earth-elemental shield coalesced, sustained by his spiritual power; each strike slightly dimmed its glow.

But it didn’t matter.

As long as he continued pouring out earth-elemental spiritual energy, the shield would brighten again.

This was the difference between spell defense and talisman defense.

Talisman defense could not be replenished on the fly; if the opponent struck often enough, the talisman shield would eventually break.

But spell defense was different.

As long as your magic power had not been exhausted, the shield would not break.

Of course, if the enemy’s attack was strong enough to shatter it in one blow, that was another matter.

“Damn…” The man landed from the void, face ashen.

Just now, he had used the Zhuang family’s secret technique: Zhuang Family Thirteen Spears.

Unfortunately, the man had not yet reached the peak of this technique, so he could only launch nine spears—not thirteen.

Moreover, this technique had drained nearly eighty percent of his spiritual power.

“Sister…” the man shouted: “This golden man is controlled by his spiritual sense—just retreat when you get the chance! Once you’re outside his spiritual range, you’re safe!”

The man was right, no doubt.

Once outside He Pingsheng’s spiritual sense range, the golden man’s attacks could be evaded.

The woman waved her hand, sending another powerful sword light flying—attacking to defend.

Then she prepared to retreat.

She thought if she could just get twenty zhang away from He Pingsheng, she’d be safe.

But she never expected that even beyond twenty zhang, He Pingsheng could still control the yellow-turbaned force to keep attacking.

“Sister… use your last resort treasure now…”

“Strike for a killing blow!”

The man shouted again.

The woman’s face darkened: “I don’t have any last-resort treasures left!”

Yet this remark successfully caught He Pingsheng’s attention.

He Pingsheng had no choice but to divert most of his focus toward the woman.

At that moment, the man turned and fled—swooshing away in an instant.

He ran…

He Pingsheng was stunned.

He just ran?

“Brother… don’t leave me!” The woman nearly wept.

Watching the man vanish into the distance, He Pingsheng had no choice but to reach into his storage pouch with his spiritual sense and pull out an [Ice Arrow Talisman].

“Release…”

He murmured softly.

The Ice Arrow Talisman instantly formed a foot-long ice arrow, which shot through the air and chased after the fleeing man.

The man had intended to activate his paper crane to escape, but before he could, the ice arrow pierced straight through his body.

The foot-long white ice arrow pierced through him and stuck fast.

The arrowhead protruded from his chest; the tail remained embedded in his back.

Bang…

The ice arrow exploded violently after embedding itself in the man’s body.

The man, dead.

Throughout, He Pingsheng never learned the man’s name.

Originally, He Pingsheng could have used the Ice Arrow Talisman to kill both of them from the start.

But he didn’t.

After the Stubborn Rock Talisman absorbed their attacks, He Pingsheng’s mindset shifted—he no longer wanted to end them quickly, but to test his current combat strength against them.

The result was quite satisfying.

He Pingsheng turned his head, stepped hard, and lunged toward the Zhuang family’s female disciple.

“Young brother… I apologize for my earlier aggression!”

“This was all a misunderstanding!”

“Young brother, you’re right—treasures in this realm belong to whoever claims them. I was merely misled by my brother’s words!”

“Young brother, spare my life today, and I’ll do anything for you!”

The woman struggled to hold off the yellow-turbaned force while begging He Pingsheng.

As she spoke, she even threw him a seductive glance.

“Young brother, I’m a direct descendant of the Zhuang family—my father is the third elder of the Zhuang family!”

“My mother hails from the Ice Pole Immortal Sect!”

“Though I’m not as exalted as your lineage, I’m no lowly person!”

“If you spare me, I’ll serve you well!”

“After I serve you, if you’re unsatisfied, you can kill me then—no rush!”

The woman gradually changed how she addressed He Pingsheng.

Previously, she called him “young brother”; now, she called him “elder brother.”

He Pingsheng ignored her entirely, watching silently.

The yellow-turbaned force required no further control—he only needed to continuously pour out his golden spiritual energy.

The woman was barely holding on.

“Elder brother…” she said again: “I know of a sacred spot in this realm—it holds one of the main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Elixir: [Zhuyu Fruit]. Stop, and listen to me!”

“If you think I’m lying, kill me then—no hurry!”

“With your power, I couldn’t possibly escape anyway!”

This time, He Pingsheng was tempted.

He waved his hand and recalled the yellow-turbaned force.

“Recalling” it meant simply draining the golden spiritual energy from within it.

“Phew…” The Zhuang family disciple exhaled, sweat glistening as she looked at He Pingsheng: “May I ask your name, elder brother?”

He Pingsheng replied coldly: “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. You have three breaths—speak.”

“Yes!”

The woman pulled out a jade slip: “Elder brother, I have a map of every treasure location in this realm—take a look!”

“If you’re unsatisfied, kill me anytime!”

She flung a green jade slip through the air toward him.

He Pingsheng caught it carefully, inspected it thoroughly, found no irregularities, then pressed it to his forehead.

At that moment, faint whistling sounds came from afar.

Puff… puff… puff…

Immediately, He Pingsheng felt a chill on his leg, abdomen, and right shoulder.

He sensed three needle-thin pins had pierced his flesh.

“Damn…” He Pingsheng’s face twisted in regret.

He’d been careless after all.

He shouldn’t have believed this woman’s lies.

The woman leapt suddenly to her feet.

She didn’t attack He Pingsheng—instead, she leapt backward, putting distance between them, and hid behind a large tree.

Now, even if he threw the Ice Arrow Talisman, it couldn’t reach her.

A numb sensation spread from the three needle points through He Pingsheng’s entire body.

They were poisoned!