Unless he killed Tuoba Yan instantly or took away Tuoba Yan's Horse Talisman, it was impossible to kill him.
Again and again, the masked man racked his brains and spent great effort severely injuring Tuoba Yan, only to watch Tuoba Yan restore his body to perfect condition time after time.
As the fight dragged on, the masked man suffered a mental breakdown.
The masked man's gaze remained fixed on Tuoba Yan.
If looks could kill, Tuoba Yan would have been cut into a thousand pieces by the masked man already.
The masked man pushed off the ground, intending to leap onto a tree trunk and leave this place.
Just as both his feet left the ground, golden chains that traversed space wrapped around his ankles.
The masked man warned, "Kid, are you seriously not done yet?"
Tuoba Yan's expression turned grave. "Tell me who is behind you, and I'll spare your life. If you refuse, I'll make you beg for death but be unable to die. You've seen it too—my ability can..."
Before he could finish speaking, the masked man suddenly raised his hand and drew his battle blade across his own throat.
"Urgh!"
Tuoba Yan froze.
When he came back to his senses, he activated the Horse Talisman. A white glow enveloped the masked man.
The masked man's injuries rapidly healed.
The masked man was revived. His face twisted viciously as he said, "You want to force me? Dream on. Hahaha!"
Laughter rang out as the battle blade floated into the air.
For the final time, the masked man unleashed his battle blade, channeling the last of his Soul Power. The spinning Han Bing Zhan Dao radiated intense cold, but instead of attacking Tuoba Yan, it spun through the air and precisely severed his own throat.
His head hit the ground, and blood gushed out.
His severe injuries and the freezing chill snuffed out the masked man's life.
Tuoba Yan activated the Horse Talisman again. The light of life wrapped around the masked man. His head reconnected with his body, but no vitality returned to the corpse.
The Horse Talisman only had healing effects, restoring objects to perfect condition. True immortality was the ability of the Dog Talisman.
If one had to describe the Horse Talisman's power, it was more like granting others an ability similar to an "Unbreakable Golden Body."
With the Horse Talisman, even if someone were chopped into minced meat, their body could still be restored intact. However, it could not bring the dead back to life.
Tuoba Yan looked down at the corpse on the ground.
The masked man had refused to reveal the mastermind behind him even in death. There could only be two reasons.
First, the masked man was loyal enough to the mastermind to sacrifice his life.
Second, the masked man greatly feared the mastermind behind him.
Tuoba Yan touched the corpse with his finger and stored it in his Storage Soul Guide Device.
Then he turned to look at Zhang Ping behind him.
He walked over to Zhang Ping and used his dagger to cut the ropes binding her hands and feet. Then, activating his First Soul Skill, he enveloped Zhang Ping in a white glow.
Zhang Ping's injuries quickly healed, and her entire demeanor became radiant and refreshed.
"Alright, I'm leaving."
"You're leaving just like that?"
"Is there something else?"
Tuoba Yan winked at Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping had wanted to team up with Tuoba Yan. Thinking of the strength he had displayed earlier, the words reached her throat but were swallowed back down. "Then... I wish you all the best!"
"Thanks."
Tuoba Yan glanced at the unconscious Xie Yue and Hu Liena.
He still had quite a bit of Soul Power in his Dantian.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena had just been attacked by the masked man because of Tuoba Yan, and both had sustained some injuries.
"Forget it. After today, there will be no more ties between us!"
With that thought, white light enveloped Xie Yue and Hu Liena separately.
"Zhang Ping, don't tell them I came back."
With that, Tuoba Yan kicked off and leaped onto a tree trunk, leaving the area.
Not long afterward, Xie Yue and Hu Liena woke from their unconsciousness.
Hu Liena looked around and asked, "Where's the masked man... did you drive him away?"
Only Zhang Ping remained at the scene. There was no fourth person in sight.
Hu Liena instinctively assumed that Zhang Ping had taken care of the masked man.
However, Zhang Ping was only a three-ring Soul Elder. She was no match for the masked man.
Zhang Ping's eyes flickered as she explained, "I don't have that kind of ability. After you passed out, the Guardian Knights arrived. They scared the masked man away!"
"Really?"
"Mm."
Faced with Zhang Ping's lie, Hu Liena chose to believe it.
Other than that lie, there seemed to be no better explanation for why the masked man had suddenly left.
With the danger gone, Hu Liena examined herself and cried out, "My Soul Power has risen by one level."
Xie Yue also said, "Mine rose by one minor level too. My Soul Power has now reached level forty-two!"
Hu Liena continued in amazement, "And not only that—I feel an indescribable sense of comfort throughout my body. It's as though I've just recovered from a serious illness, and also as though I've been reborn!"
Xie Yue held his chin as he pondered aloud, "I feel the same way. Strange. Why did my Soul Power Level suddenly rise by one minor level? Why do I not hurt after being severely injured by the masked man? Why do I feel even better instead?
Such a strange occurrence was unprecedented and unheard of.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena focused their gazes on Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping paused, then turned her back to them. Her eyes continued to flicker as she said, "I forgot to tell you. After the Guardian Knights arrived and saw that you were injured, they gave you some pills. Maybe the pills took effect!"
Zhang Ping had also been healed by Tuoba Yan, but her Soul Power Level had not increased. Like Xie Yue, she too felt that her body had become better suited for cultivation.
Xie Yue smiled. "Little sister, the two of us have turned misfortune into a blessing this time."
"Mm, it really is a blessing in disguise."
Tuoba Yan's figure involuntarily surfaced in Hu Liena's mind, and she blurted out, "Tuoba Yan really is a coward. Brother, don't ever save him again. Someone like him isn't worth saving!"
Xie Yue nodded. "Little sister is right. This is a lesson, and we must learn from it. I thought no cowards existed in the Tuoba Clan. I never expected Tuoba Yan to be timid as a mouse, running at the first sight of danger. The facts prove that someone like him isn't worth befriending!"
Hu Liena clenched her hands slightly. Whenever she thought of Tuoba Yan, anger rose in her heart. "Not just befriending him—we don't even need to speak to him. Seeing him would only dirty my eyes!"
"Ah?"
Zhang Ping's heart jolted. Hu Liena's words startled her.
It was only a minor matter, yet Hu Liena's prejudice against Tuoba Yan had escalated to the point where she did not even want to speak with him.
Hu Liena noticed Zhang Ping and advised, "Zhang Ping, I can tell that you like Tuoba Yan. Am I right?"
Zhang Ping's face reddened, and she lowered her eyes.
Earlier, when she saw Tuoba Yan's handsome appearance, she had felt that children ought to listen to adults.
Now, Tuoba Yan had returned after leaving. He was not someone timid as a mouse.
It was worth mentioning that, judging by the way Hu Liena and Tuoba Yan spoke, Zhang Ping felt that there seemed to be some minor grudge between them.
Yet when they encountered the masked man, Xie Yue and Hu Liena had stepped forward. In the end, they were defeated and fell unconscious, while Tuoba Yan had returned and used a healing Soul Skill to treat their wounds, even restoring their bodies to perfect condition.
Zhang Ping felt that Tuoba Yan was loyal and righteous, a man she could entrust her life to. Her feelings for him only grew stronger.
Hu Liena specialized in charm techniques and was more mature than most girls. Seeing that Zhang Ping had Tuoba Yan in her heart, she advised, "Tuoba Yan is a lecher and a coward. Zhang Ping, you really should keep your eyes open and see Tuoba Yan for who he truly is."
Zhang Ping immediately retorted, "Hu Liena, thank you for the reminder. But I think everyone has different views on love, and they like different people. Alright, let's not keep talking like this. We should get moving!"
As a three-ring Soul Elder, Zhang Ping was qualified to team up with Hu Liena and Xie Yue.
At once, the three continued onward together through the canyon.
Walking at the back, Zhang Ping watched Hu Liena's retreating figure and thought, Hu Liena, don't blame me. Tuoba Yan told me that he didn't want you to know he was the one who saved you. Besides, you're far too alluring. It's hard for men not to be moved by you. With one less rival, I'll have one less competitor!
Before you continue