Chapter 89: Slaying Linglong

I still have some draft material left; starting today, I’ll post five updates daily until the third day of the New Year; after the third, I won’t be able to keep up the pace!

Put it this way: though He Pingsheng is only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, the spiritual energy reserves in each of his dantians are certainly no less than those of an eleventh- or even twelfth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

Yet he possesses a total of five such dantians.

If you consider his total spiritual energy reserves, they truly far surpass those of any Qi Refining disciple.

“Sister, don’t panic!” said the tenth-layer disciple holding the iron rod. “I’ll go first and wear him down—no matter how thick his dantian reserves are!”

“Can he possibly match all four of us combined?”

Before Linglong could respond, the disciple charged forward, iron rod in hand.

When the distance closed to within a zhang, his power erupted—he swung the massive iron club straight down at He Pingsheng’s head.

Thud…

The tremendous force struck the earth-yellow light membrane surrounding He Pingsheng’s body.

The membrane’s glow dimmed once more.

But this time, He Pingsheng did not continue channeling earth-elemental magic power to sustain his defense; instead, with a flick of his spiritual sense, three fire crows coalesced.

The moment they formed, the three fire crows shot toward the male disciple from three different directions.

From three angles.

Because the distance was so short, the time was minimal.

The male disciple had neither space nor time to defend himself.

He could only step back and swing his rod at the fire crow directly before him.

The blow struck two targets at once—it shattered the front fire crow and also knocked down the one beside it.

But there was a third.

After the first two fire crows crashed to the ground, the third struck the male disciple squarely.

Thud…

Thick, searing fire spiritual power exploded outward.

The disciple was instantly killed.

Hiss… hiss… hiss…

The other three were stunned.

He Pingsheng had just summoned three fire crows—could one alone kill a tenth-layer cultivator?

“Go!” He Pingsheng didn’t hesitate—he instantly formed three more fire crows, which, guided by his spiritual sense, attacked the other male disciple and Linglong.

One fire crow for the male disciple, two for Linglong.

As for Luoyu, He Pingsheng made no immediate move against her.

He still held a favorable impression of this woman.

Back when he was a laborer disciple, it was Luoyu who intervened to stop Linglong from killing him—and later gave him two [Golden Bone Pills].

For this reason, He Pingsheng refrained from attacking her.

“Damn it…” Linglong cried out, then calmly summoned a small, round silver shield.

The shield expanded under spiritual power to a zhang in diameter, blocking her front.

The first fire crow slammed into the shield.

The shield’s glow dimmed slightly, but instantly, Linglong channeled more magic power into it, and it brightened again.

Linglong spun the shield to intercept He Pingsheng’s second fire crow.

Meanwhile, the male disciple had also activated his defensive magic treasure to block the third fire crow.

“All of you—attack together! Seize the initiative!”

Linglong shouted.

She launched her flying sword again—the blade flashed, slicing toward He Pingsheng.

Simultaneously, Luoyu and the male disciple struck.

Three people. Three flying swords.

Three beams of sword light.

He Pingsheng naturally did not dare to slack off.

He first summoned three fire crows with fire spiritual power, sending them charging at the male disciple.

Then he pushed his earth-elemental power to its limit.

He maximized the Earth Armor Technique.

Puff…

The male disciple’s sword light was effortlessly dispelled by He Pingsheng.

Finally, Linglong and Luoyu’s sword beams struck the earth armor’s light membrane.

The membrane could not withstand their combined assault—it shattered with a puff.

But their attacks had indeed been fully absorbed.

Hummm… hummm… hummm…

The next instant, a brighter shield appeared around He Pingsheng’s body.

Technique: Golden Shield.

This was a metal-elemental defensive technique.

“Keep going—I refuse to believe it!” Linglong said. “Just two more rounds, and he’ll be drained dry!”

The remaining three continued assaulting He Pingsheng relentlessly.

Yet He Pingsheng responded calmly.

He hadn’t even activated the [Sturdy Rock Talisman]; with only the Golden Shield and Earth Armor, he easily repelled their relentless attacks.

And during gaps in his defense, he even counterattacked and killed the male disciple.

Four of them surrounded He Pingsheng.

Yet he stood like a porcupine—unassailable—and had already killed two of them.

Linglong and Luoyu grew increasingly alarmed.

“Luoyu sister… you’re not acting like yourself!”

“You’re definitely holding back!”

“Damn it…”

“What are you doing?”

As the battle dragged on, Linglong began to break down—she screamed at her sister beside her.

At this point, her own spiritual energy was nearly exhausted.

“No… I’m not holding back!” Luoyu said anxiously. “I’ve used my full strength—his defense is just too formidable!”

Hummm… hummm… hummm…

Another Earth Armor appeared around He Pingsheng’s body.

Seizing the moment of defense, he waved his hand and pulled a gourd from his storage bag.

The golden gourd opened—inside, it was filled entirely with golden sacred nectar.

He Pingsheng scooped up a single drop, swallowed it, then returned the gourd to his bag.

That single drop of sacred nectar instantly refilled his nearly depleted fire, earth, and metal dantians.

That’s how extraordinary it was.

“Sister, if I’m not mistaken, Brother He just swallowed some kind of heavenly treasure that instantly replenishes spiritual energy!” Luoyu said urgently. “We must retreat now—we can’t win!”

Originally, they had planned to drain He Pingsheng’s energy.

But now, seeing this, they could no longer remain calm.

“Fine…” Linglong said. “Sister, hold him off for a few breaths—I’ll activate the paper crane!”

Activating the paper crane required several breaths.

Linglong withdrew, leaving Luoyu to launch a full assault on He Pingsheng.

But He Pingsheng would not let her succeed.

“Summon…”

Thud…

The next instant, a golden figure twelve chi tall appeared beside Linglong.

Technique: Yellow Turban Force.

Under He Pingsheng’s spiritual control, the Yellow Turban Force swung its blade at Linglong.

The Yellow Turban Force attacked autonomously—He Pingsheng didn’t need to focus on it.

But during his duel with Luoyu, he noticed something odd.

Luoyu was at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining.

Yet from the start, her attacks were weak and limp.

They appeared grand and sweeping, but each strike carried little force.

Others might not notice, but He Pingsheng knew—this woman was deliberately holding back.

Since she was holding back, he had no intention of truly fighting her—so he merely went through the motions against Luoyu.

“Cut…”

A flying sword flew through the air, hissing as it pierced Linglong’s lower abdomen and pinned her firmly to the ground.