Fierce Battle

But no matter what, Yan Ming was still his own flesh and blood. Yan Tianheng pulled his son behind him with one hand while holding the other before his chest. His hand seals shifted, and pale yellow spirit power streamed from the surface of his body, forming the shape of a shield.

Poof!

The fireball collided with the Spirit Power Shield, hissing and crackling. Yet moments later, it vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea. The Fireball Talisman had only sealed a low-grade Spell; breaking through the Yan Family patriarch's defenses was simply too much to ask.

When his move failed to achieve any effect, Lin Xuan's expression grew increasingly grave. He did not rush to attack again. A hasty strike at this moment would be useless.

Before learning to strike others, one must first learn how to take a beating. Battles between cultivators were exceedingly dangerous; one careless moment could cost one's life. Thus, one had to set up defenses first. Since the sneak attack had failed, Lin Xuan now needed to prepare for a drawn-out battle.

He was not trash like Yan Ming. Though facing a formidable enemy, Lin Xuan still thought with calm deliberation.

Lin Xuan no longer hesitated. He mobilized the spirit power within his body, forming a protective barrier over his skin as well. Then he took two Talismans from his robes. A trace of reluctance flickered through his eyes, but in the next instant, his gaze became resolute as he tossed both Talismans into the air.

The first Talisman blazed with golden light, transforming into a massive golden copper coin above Lin Xuan. With a point of his finger, the coin flew down and blocked the front of him.

"Diamond Technique!"

The Yan Family patriarch's expression changed drastically. This was a mid-grade defensive Spell of the metal element, exceptionally sturdy. How could an independent cultivator possess such a precious Talisman?

But his surprise had only just begun. The other Talisman also took effect, transforming into a huge pale-blue bubble-like object that enveloped Lin Xuan within it.

"Water Spirit Talisman!"

Another mid-grade defensive Spell!

When he had heard from his son that an independent cultivator was purchasing cultivation techniques with Mid-Grade Pills, although numerous bystanders had testified to it, Yan Tianheng had remained half-convinced and half-doubtful. But now, he believed it. Someone truly was doing such a thing. With his many years of experience judging people, this boy was definitely no independent cultivator. That attire was merely meant to conceal his identity.

"Who exactly are you?" Yan Tianheng's face darkened as he spoke each word slowly.

Lin Xuan said nothing. Things had reached the point where neither side could rest until the other was dead. Words were useless; only a fool would expose his own identity.

Using two mid-grade defensive Spells at once pained him greatly. One had to know that for Talismans, defensive ones were far more difficult to craft than offensive ones, and far more valuable as well.

Even after inheriting Zhang Yu and Zhou Yan's possessions, he had possessed only these two. And now he had used them both at once.

Lin Xuan did not answer. Instead, he activated his spirit power, and several ice bullets appeared in the air, whistling toward his opponent.

"Hmph, mere tricks!"

A sinister smile appeared on Yan Tianheng's face. He was an expert at the peak of the Spirit Movement Stage. How could he possibly take a low-grade Spell like the Ice Bullet Technique seriously?

Yan Tianheng stretched out one hand, curling his index finger and thumb together as he muttered an incantation. Spirit power circulated rapidly through his body. In an instant, a mass of flame the size of a bucket appeared before his palm, then transformed into the shape of a bird.

As for the Ice Bullet Technique, he did not even spare it a glance. Even if it struck his Spirit Power Shield, it could not harm him in the slightest.

The Fire Bird Technique was a mid-grade fire-element Spell. As expected of an expert on the verge of Foundation Establishment, even his first move was extraordinary.

Yet Lin Xuan was not flustered in the least. With a reach into his robes, he drew out five more Talismans. The Freezing Technique—water and fire countered each other. Though it too was a low-grade Spell, with sheer numbers, five against one, it could still fight the Fire Bird Technique to a standstill.

Yan Tianheng's eyes widened, his expression one of stunned disbelief, surprise, and fury. This was far too unexpected. Just what was this boy's background? How could he have so many Talismans on him?

Independent cultivators could be ruled out first. Even elite disciples of sects could not possibly be so wealthy!

But no matter what, he absolutely could not be allowed to return alive.

With that thought, Yan Tianheng unleashed a tempestuous barrage of attacks, one mid-grade Spell after another smashing toward Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan's expression remained indifferent, though his heart was filled with shock. As expected of an expert whose cultivation technique had reached the seventh layer. At this moment, he realized just how fortunate he had been to kill Zhou Yan with a trap back then.

If Zhou Yan had not seen how weak his cultivation was and grown too contemptuous, failing even to activate a basic protective barrier, Lin Xuan would have perished in that small mountain valley long ago.

The current head of the Yan Family, however, was going all out, leaving no room for tricks. Of course, Lin Xuan was no longer that trash disciple who had lingered at the first layer of the Spirit Movement Stage.

Lin Xuan began pulling Talismans from his robes again. There was a reason he did not use his own spirit power to cast Spells. First, although he had improved greatly, the time had been too short. Compared with his opponent, his cultivation was a full three layers lower; accordingly, his spirit power was much weaker. When Spells clashed, technique was merely supplementary—the main factor was whose spirit power was deeper. Since he was weaker than his opponent, would attacking the enemy's strength with his own weakness not be courting death?

Second, because Lin Xuan had obtained a Spirit Tool, the focus of his cultivation differed from that of ordinary disciples. He knew only a few Spells.

To defeat a formidable enemy, he had to avoid the solid and strike the weak. Compared with Yan Tianheng, what was his advantage? He had many Talismans.

They could be activated instantly and consumed very little spirit power. Against an opponent stronger than himself, why not use them?

As for the Ice Needle Technique and the Spirit Tool, those were his trump cards. Since this had turned into a prolonged battle, he naturally could not reveal his hidden cards lightly.

After first making a rough plan in his mind of the situation he faced and how he should fight, Lin Xuan calmed his heart and steadily used Talismans to clash head-on with his opponent.

Boom, boom, boom...

Explosions rang out without end. A battle between cultivators could only be described as incomparably fierce. Yan Tianheng was both shocked and enraged. Though he was already an expert at the peak of the Spirit Movement Stage, mid-grade Spells were no trifling matter. His spirit power was being depleted at an alarming rate, and his magical power was declining rapidly. Yet his opponent's Talismans seemed inexhaustible. If this continued...