At this critical moment, the woman suddenly pulled a pill glowing with an eerie light from her robes and swallowed it without hesitation.
In an instant, her aura surged wildly. Her previously pale face turned rosy, and a resolute light flashed in her eyes.
"Trying to kill me? It won't be that easy!" the woman shouted, lashing her whip at the black-robed shopkeeper like a nimble spirit snake, faster and more powerful than before.
The black-robed shopkeeper felt a tremendous force bearing down on him and hurriedly twisted aside. Even so, the whip's lingering force grazed him, leaving a bloody mark on his arm.
"Hmph, nothing but the struggles of a dying beast." The black-robed shopkeeper snorted coldly, paying no heed to the wound on his arm.
The treasured sword in his hand danced with even greater ferocity. As runes flickered, it transformed into countless sword shadows that swept toward the woman like an overwhelming storm.
The woman's expression grew increasingly grave. She knew full well how formidable the black-robed shopkeeper was, and this wave of attacks came with overwhelming momentum.
Gritting her teeth, she mobilized every last bit of spiritual power in her body. Her whip spun rapidly around her, forming a defensive barrier.
However, the black-robed shopkeeper's sword shadows were far too powerful. Each one struck the whip barrier as though it were solid, setting off waves of thunderous booms.
The woman gradually began to falter. Beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her face turned pale once more.
Her spiritual power was being depleted at an alarming rate, while the black-robed shopkeeper seemed to still have strength to spare.
Suddenly, a sword shadow broke through the whip's defense and stabbed straight toward the woman's shoulder. She gave a muffled groan, and the whip flew from her hand.