Victory Through Wits Against a Powerful Foe

The reason this brat was so troublesome was not because his cultivation was profound, but because he had too many treasures—especially Talismans. Though most were low-grade, they had still given Yan Tianheng a real headache.

The Spirit Tool and Beast Talisman had fought to a standstill. Since the other side had no more Talismans, Yan Tianheng was ninety percent certain of victory.

Imagining that after killing this brat, he might not only obtain a Mid-Grade Pill but also claim that Spirit Tool for himself, Yan Tianheng nearly burst into wild laughter, his expression utterly arrogant.

Lin Xuan's expression, however, was grim. After remaining silent for a moment, he suddenly raised his hand. Spirit power surged, and several ice bullets whistled toward his opponent.

"You dare make a fool of yourself with such trash Spells?"

Yan Tianheng sneered and did not move at all. Ice bullets were merely beginner Spells. Let alone a disciple with a fourth-layer cultivation technique, even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could not break through his defenses with such a basic Spell.

Of course, Yan Tianheng was not the sort to take a beating without striking back. He stretched out his hand, and a wave of heat rushed toward Lin Xuan's face as a Fire Bird appeared before him.

The two Spells crossed paths. The Ice Bullet Technique struck the Spirit Power Shield like a clay ox sinking into the sea, without causing the slightest reaction.

The mid-grade Fire Bird Spell was different. Had it been Lin Xuan's own shield, it would certainly have been torn apart. But before the duel, he had used Talismans to set up two additional layers of Restrictions. The outermost Water Spirit Barrier shook violently, its light dimming considerably, but it did not break.

Both were mid-grade Spells, yet defensive ones were just a little stronger than offensive ones.

The panic on Lin Xuan's face deepened, as though he had completely lost his bearings. He once again drove his spirit power and produced an Ice Bullet Technique, attacking his opponent.

"A dying struggle!"

Yan Tianheng laughed triumphantly. What he had feared were the Talismans. Competing in spirit power? This brat was courting death. Since Lin Xuan wished for it, Yan Tianheng continued using mid-grade Spells to attack Lin Xuan's defensive Restrictions.

After three exchanges, the Water Spirit Barrier shattered, and the Diamond Technique was on the verge of collapse. Though the Spirit Tool and Demon Tiger Soul were evenly matched, in terms of their own strength, Lin Xuan was being suppressed until he could barely breathe. Or rather, he was already at death's door.

The next strike would take this brat's life!

Lin Xuan's face remained full of alarm, but his heart was entirely different. He indeed knew few Spells, yet the Ice Bullet Technique was far from his only means of attack. The reason he had repeatedly used this weak beginner Spell was to create an illusion, making his opponent look down on him and thus paving the way for what came next.

The time was ripe!

From that arrogant expression, Lin Xuan could tell that his opponent had already concluded that Ice Bullet Technique was the only Spell he knew.

Without changing expression, Lin Xuan gathered all his remaining spirit power. Though he had spent most of the battle using Talismans, his own power was nearly exhausted as well.

Water-attributed chill once again filled the air. Yan Tianheng did not grow suspicious, but in the next instant, his eyes flew wide. Before Lin Xuan appeared not ice bullets, but dense clusters of sharp little needles glinting with cold light.

Ice Needle Technique!

Yan Tianheng cried out, the terror in his voice impossible to conceal. The reason was simple: although Ice Needle Technique was also a mid-grade Spell, its power was not inferior to a high-grade one. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult to master. Even he, an expert at the peak of the Spirit Movement Stage, had not learned it. Yet this youth whose cultivation technique was only at the fourth layer...

He had originally believed that Lin Xuan merely possessed many Talismans and a wealthy fortune. Now, it seemed he had misjudged him. This brat's own strength was astonishing as well. He had deliberately shown weakness earlier to lower Yan Tianheng's guard.

Once he realized this, Yan Tianheng's face turned pale as paper. This meant he had fallen into a trap carefully laid by Lin Xuan. The situation was perilous beyond measure.

The situation had reversed. Now it was Lin Xuan who wore a confident smile. With a flick of his hand, he fired more than a hundred Ice Needles. Yan Tianheng gritted his teeth and desperately poured more spirit power into his shield, but it was already too late.

He had little spirit power remaining. Besides, with his strength, there would have been no problem blocking one or two mid-grade Spells with a Spirit Power Shield. But the Ice Needle Technique possessed power comparable to a high-grade Spell.

Had he been prepared, he would never have taken it head-on. Dodging would have been the wise choice, but there was no time now.

Bolstered by Yan Tianheng's spirit power, the shield erupted with brilliant light. But the Ice Needles were even more powerful. Amid a series of muffled pops, it barely blocked two-thirds of them. The remaining thirty-odd Ice Needles, however, riddled him like a sieve. Yan Tianheng's eyes remained open, his face filled with unwillingness, as he fell straight backward.

"Father!" A cry reached Lin Xuan's ears, filled with both grief and terror. Lin Xuan turned around. It was that boy called Yan Ming, staring at him with a face full of fear.

"D-Don't kill me!"

Lin Xuan said nothing. Expressionless, he cast an Ice Bullet Technique and sent this spoiled young master to the Underworld.

It was not that Lin Xuan was cruel and merciless. Rather, if weeds were not pulled up by the roots, they would grow again when the spring breeze blew. To show mercy to an enemy was to be cruel to oneself. Besides, Yan Ming had seen his true face. How could Lin Xuan allow such a person to remain alive in this world?

To be fair, Lin Xuan was not a bloodthirsty person, but when it was time to act, he would never be soft-hearted.

After dealing with the Yan Family father and son, Lin Xuan naturally began collecting the spoils. There was no need to stand on ceremony. First, he raised his hand, and the Gold Binding Rope flew back into his palm.

After Yan Tianheng died, the demon tiger's soul lost its support and returned to the Talisman Paper. This was also the only type of Talisman that could be used repeatedly until its energy was exhausted.

Lin Xuan bent down and picked up the Beast Talisman.

Compared to ordinary Talismans, this Beast Talisman was slightly larger and emitted faint ripples of spirit power. An Iron-Armored Explosive Flame Tiger was drawn upon it, lifelike in every detail. Its eyes in particular looked vivid and spirited.

So this was the special Talisman that only Ghost Path cultivators could refine. Lin Xuan held it in his hand and examined it carefully for a long while before storing it in the Storage Bracelet against his chest.

Earlier, when Lin Xuan had reached into his clothes for Talismans and brought out empty hands, it had also been to deceive Yan Tianheng and make him lower his guard. His Talismans had not actually run out, but this battle had consumed nearly a hundred of them. All the low-grade Talismans he had bought this time were used up. Still, with this Beast Talisman, he could more or less make up for the loss.