Li Su remained silent, preparing to unleash the Dayan Sword Formation at its maximum power to eliminate the demon cultivator. The spirit stones were rapidly depleting, absorbed by the formation.
“I can make a blood oath with you right now,” proposed the demon cultivator.
Despite the demon cultivator’s continued attempts, Li Su remained unresponsive. The increasing turbulence within the formation unsettled the demon cultivator, who, though outwardly calm, began to panic secretly. In his former mid-nascent Infant-stage strength, he wouldn’t fear, but now, depleted of treasures and with regressed cultivation to the early Nascent Infant stage, panic set in.
In the end, strength was a cultivator’s backbone. No matter his past power, his current depleted state induced panic. Maintaining calm on the surface was an accomplishment.
“Kid, think it through,” the demon cultivator spoke again, shaking slightly. “Even if you obtain the legacy of those two and control this killing formation, you can only deal with me. Once the Heavenly Demon Palace comes, they won’t be lured by you. They’ll slaughter all cultivators and even mortals here to force you out.”
“Your words are excessive,” retorted Li Su.
Li Su snorted, activating the entire Dayan Sword Formation decisively.
The cave trembled as the remaining thirty-plus ancient long swords, the Dayan Swords, simultaneously attacked. The unique method of refining these ancient swords made setting up the Dayan Sword Formation challenging, requiring a skilled artificer’s cooperation. Many Dayan Swords had been destroyed in battles three hundred years ago, but what remained was indestructible for the demon cultivator.
“Damn it!” The demon cultivator, caught off guard, could only engage in the battle.
“Kid, you’ll regret this when the Heavenly Demon Palace arrives!” he shouted before fully immersing himself in the battle. Over thirty Dayan Swords unleashed a stunning attack inside the formation, creating the illusion of countless swords surrounding the demon cultivator due to their incredible speed and numerous afterimages.
Moreover, the Dayan Swords themselves could project the Dayan Sword Formation to a certain extent, creating illusions.
“Damn it, damn it!” The demon cultivator’s roars persisted, showcasing his remarkable strength as he withstood the numerous Dayan Sword attacks. Against Foundation Establishment or early Golden Core cultivators without advanced defensive techniques, a single strike might prove overwhelming. This battle, designed for Nascent Infant cultivators, consumed extraordinary spirit stones.
With the Sect Leader providing ample spirit stones, Li Su spared no expense, unleashing the full power of the sword formation. The Dayan Swords frenziedly attacked, obscuring the demon cultivator from view due to their sheer numbers. However, his overwhelming demonic aura remained palpable, distinct from the usual blood-red spiritual energy, having a blackish gleam.
His cultivation method apparently differed from what he imparted to the cultivator Bai. It seemed he deliberately withheld valuable knowledge to prevent the cultivator from leaving once he obtained something truly valuable. At that time, lacking meant to restrict the cultivator within the killing formation, he possibly left hidden tricks in the cultivation technique but didn’t disclose them.
The battle raged, a clash between Dayan Sword Formation and the demon cultivator. Li Su couldn’t directly intervene, but the Sect Leader began channelling true energy, considering joining the battle. Yet, Li Su sensed the Sect Leader might not need to intervene.
“Ahhhh~” The demon cultivator’s cries echoed, significantly injured. After Li Su enhanced the Dayan Sword Formation, its power surged, while the demon cultivator’s strength waned, with few treasures remaining.
“Strike while the iron is hot,” Li Su controlled the Dayan Sword Formation, launching a frenzied attack.
The sky brimmed with sword light within the entire Dayan Sword Formation, and an overwhelming wave surged towards the demon cultivator.
“Kid, you’ll regret this… Ah!” The demon cultivator emitted one final, wretched scream, and then the sounds of battle dwindled. Over ten thousand spirit stones had been consumed.
“Is he dead?” Li Su questioned. He gestured, and the multitude of Dayan Swords ceased their attacks, condensing back into thirty-six swords hovering within the formation.
Within the formation, there was no trace of the demon cultivator. He hadn’t escaped. His body had been pulverised by the Dayan Swords, leaving no remains. This was true obliteration, with only a faint blood mist lingering in the air. On the ground, occasional slightly larger shreds of clothing remained.
Even his Nascent Infant was nowhere to be seen, indicating its pulverisation. This individual couldn’t have escaped, so the only possibility was that he had been killed, along with his mysterious golden soul.
This outcome didn’t surprise Li Su. It would have been unexpected if he couldn’t handle this individual, even with the Dayan Sword Formation at full power. It would have meant the individual had many hidden cards, requiring Li Su to wait until he became stronger.
“Li Su, let me use my divine sense to search, just to be sure,” the Sect Leader suggested.
“Alright,” Li Su replied, preparing to open a gap for the Sect Leader. However, he recalled something and stopped.
“Master, this demon possesses extremely malicious soul-attacking techniques. His soul is probably exceptionally strong. Let’s not use divine sense to search right away. He might be waiting for us,” Li Su cautioned.
His vigilance stemmed from recalling that both the formation master and the Nascent Infant cultivator named Liu Chuan had suffered fatal soul injuries at the hands of this individual.
“This guy’s soul is probably incredibly powerful. When a soul reaches a certain level of strength, even if his physical body dies and his Yuan(Nascent) Infant is destroyed, his soul can still persist, allowing him to attempt body possession or use soul-related techniques.”
In such a situation, using divine sense to search would play into this guy’s trap.
“Li Su, these Heavenly Thunder Pearls can threaten someone at the early Golden Core stage. Take them,” the Sect Leader offered, presenting several Heavenly Thunder Pearls forged from collected thunderstorms.
Li Su recognised them, acknowledging their considerable power against souls vulnerable to thunder. He tossed two into the Dayan Sword Formation, filling it with raging thunder and lightning.
“Damn it!” The demon cultivator’s voice echoed from a corner, indicating his soul had survived and was hiding. Blasted by Li Su using the Heavenly Thunder Pearls, the demon cultivator’s soul agilely avoided the assault.
Li Su reactivated the Dayan Sword Formation, but the demon cultivator hid again, revealing a weakness—ineffectiveness against souls. The formation struggled against entities like ghost cultivators who voluntarily or involuntarily lost their physical bodies.
While ghost cultivators were rare, those losing physical forms couldn’t last long with just their souls. Although a potential candidate for ghost cultivation, this demon cultivator faced a perilous path.
Li Su tossed another Heavenly Thunder Pearl but couldn’t harm the demon cultivator. The Sect Leader’s Pearls were slightly less potent.
“Use the Thunder Pill,” Li Su suggested. This potent item from the Purple Thunder Cloud Beast was more formidable than the Pearls.
The demon cultivator threatened, claiming Li Su’s formation couldn’t harm him anymore. Li Su retaliated with the Thunder Pill, unleashing formidable Purple Thunder that annihilated the demon cultivator’s soul, body, and spirit.
“Now, this guy is gone for good,” Li Su declared.
“Where did you get this Thunder Pill?” the Sect Leader inquired, eyeing the potent item.
Li Su casually mentioned obtaining it by killing the Purple Thunder Cloud Beast, inadvertently revealing more than intended. The Purple Thunder Cloud Beast’s level likely surpassed the fifth Golden Core stage, a detail the Sect Leader might have deduced.
“Li Su, are you already at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage?” the Sect Leader asked.
Li Su displayed a guilty expression, confirming it. The Sect Leader was surprised again, marvelling at his swift progression from the third to the fifth Golden Core stage. Her amazement would likely intensify if she knew he was actually in the late Golden Core stage.