Daoist Gao stood on Xuan Guang, his face dark and gloomy. He pointed behind him and said to Bao Dingheng, "Brother Bao, if you don’t act, I’ll retreat with these two fellow Daoists. Let’s see how you handle the outcome then!"
Bao Dingheng’s heart tightened. He had indeed hoped for Daoist Gao and Zhang Yan to clash first, but looking at the situation now, Li Yuanba’s strength seemed to have surpassed what it was before. Daoist Gao and his three men alone might not be enough to deal with him.
Bao Dingheng frowned secretly, thinking to himself, where did such a formidable character suddenly come from? How come he had remained unseen until now? He then cupped his hands and said, "Daoist Gao, please don’t be anxious. My brothers and I will certainly join the fray. Let us combine our strength to eliminate this foe first and discuss the rest later."
Daoist Gao snorted, glancing at him without making a move first, clearly showing his distrust.
Bao Dingheng felt displeased but knew now was not the time to bicker over pride. He gave Fang He a meaningful look.
Fang He understood immediately. He pointed below and shouted at Zhang Yan, "Young man, how dare you boast so arrogantly! Don’t think your body as strong as iron allows you to act recklessly. Take this strike of mine and see how you fare!"
He slapped his waist, and with a sharp "clang," the Dharma Sword hanging there flew out of its sheath, transforming into a streak of flowing light, speeding downward to slash at Zhang Yan.
As the sword reached Zhang Yan, Fang He raised an eyebrow, a sly smile appearing on his face, secretly executing a spell. The Dharma Sword trembled, emitting a greenish glow that suddenly dispersed, transforming into two slender green lights that shot toward Zhang Yan’s eyes.
Fang He believed the move to be exceptionally clever, executed at such close proximity that it would surely catch Zhang Yan off guard.
He also knew that even if a Power Dao Practitioner’s eyes were stabbed, without the blow penetrating their brain, they merely needed to circulate their Mysterious Skill to recover completely within moments.
However, in battles between cultivators, every fleeting opportunity mattered. As long as Zhang Yan showed a momentary flaw, their duo had the means to slay demons and eliminate threats, with superior techniques ready to follow. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
Bao Dingheng noticed Fang He’s sword move was insidious, one he had never seen before. A cautious vigilance arose in his mind, but simultaneously he kept a close eye on the two rays of sword light, gripping his Dharma Sword tightly in anticipation of a successful strike so he could unleash his killing move.
Zhang Yan tilted his head slightly to evade, only to find that the two green lights seemed imbued with a spiritual nature, shifting in tandem with his movements, continuing their pursuit of his eyes.
Now he observed clearly that the two green lights were, in fact, two flying shuttles as thin as cicada wings and about two fingers wide. Their ability to maneuver and shift with such precision stemmed from Fang He’s techniques that masked their true identity, making them appear as nothing but a Flying Sword to outsiders.
Had it been an ordinary Power Dao Practitioner in this situation, they might have suffered a silent loss immediately.
But Zhang Yan sneered disdainfully. He let out a cold shout and exhaled Taiyin Xuan Guang from his mouth. The green shuttles’ Spiritual Energy was worn down in the blink of an eye, transforming them into mundane objects. After a flash, all that remained was a wisp of ash scattering down.
In mid-air, the group only noticed a golden light darting out, shrinking and flashing as the two green rays vanished without a trace. Before they could fully process the surprise, Fang He felt a sharp pain in his chest, a salty taste rising in his throat. To avoid disgrace, he quickly swallowed it back, but a trace still seeped out at the corner of his mouth. Hastily, he raised his sleeve to wipe it, appearing utterly disheveled. Inside, he was deeply shocked, unable to discern what technique Zhang Yan had employed.
Zhang Yan raised a hand to summon two golden hammers that flew back from afar, orbiting around him. He stepped forward, with clouds rising to lift him, soaring straight toward the group.
The group, seeing his fierce momentum, hurriedly scattered, though their movements were deliberate rather than chaotic, each taking a position to subtly encircle him.
Daoist Gao stood on Xuan Guang, sidestepping tens of feet away. First glancing at Bao Daoist and Fang He’s positions, his mind settled. Then, he reached into his sleeve and retrieved a copper seal. He raised it to the sky and chanted, "Strike!"
The copper seal flipped in the air, directing the side imprinted with characters toward Zhang Yan. It emitted a booming sound resembling a symphony of golden drums, pounding against cymbals. A streak of Thunder Light shot forth, rushing toward Zhang Yan with unmatched speed.
Zhang Yan saw its rapid approach and raised his twin hammers to meet the blow. With a thunderous "crack," the Thunder Light dispersed, but his figure wavered slightly in the aftermath.