Dead End
[To clarify the unit of length used in this book, which I've noticed has been misunderstood by many, I'll explain the unit of length. It uses the ancient Chinese foot (尺), which is 23 centimeters. One zhang (丈) is 10 feet, or 2.3 meters. Yi Yun's Thousand Army Saber has a six-foot blade, which is 1.38 meters. Adding the hilt, it's 7.2 feet, making it 1.65 meters, slightly taller than Yi Yun at age twelve.]
Yi Yun's Movement Technique had Subtle Movement a high level of mastery, and among martial artists of the same level, his speed was unmatched. However, against the Golden Crow Remnant, it was completely inadequate.
The absolute difference in their strength meant their speeds were on completely different levels.
No matter how fast Yi Yun ran, in the eyes of the Golden Crow Remnant, Yi Yun's speed was like that of a tortoise.
"Whistle--"
The Golden Crow Remnant roared and charged towards Yi Yun, extending its sharp claws, intending to kill Yi Yun with a single blow. However, at that moment, the Golden Crow Remnant, which was flying at high speed, suddenly stopped. A piece of flesh the size of a washbasin suddenly bulged up on its back. At the same time, the Golden Crow Remnant coughed up a wisp of blood, seemingly in great pain.
"Boom!"
The Golden Crow Remnant crashed heavily to the ground, shattering a large rock and raising countless plumes of dust!
"Um?"
Yi Yun was stunned. This Golden Crow Remnant was actually crashing into the ground on its own?
A thought flashed through his mind in an instant, and he activated his Energy Vision. In his Energy Vision, the Golden Crow Remnant was burning with energy, and within its body, there was an even more dazzling ball of energy.
That is Pure Yang Spirit!
Yes, this Golden Crow Remnant has not completely subdued the Pure Yang Spirit. It forcibly swallowed the Pure Yang Spirit, and the two beings are still engaged in a life-or-death struggle!
The battlefield, however, has now become the body of that Golden Crow Remnant!
One side seeks to refine the Pure Yang Spirit, while the other's power has already penetrated deep into the meridians of the Golden Crow Remnant, aiming to burn it to death!
Neither of these two pure Yang-type beings is something Yi Yun could possibly handle!
Although most of the Golden Crow Remnant's power was diverted to deal with the Pure Yang Spirit, it still only needed one attack to decapitate Yi Yun.
Seeing that the Immortal Palace was still dozens of miles away and there was no time to get there, Yi Yun turned around and rushed straight towards a dried-up lake!
Beneath this enormous lake lie the skeletons of unknown creatures!
These skeletons, having existed for an unknown period of time, appear to be decayed, yet some gleam with a jade-like luster.
Yi Yun sped through the skeletons.
Some of these skeletons were as large as mountains, with gaps between them large enough for Unicorn Giant Rhinoceros to run through. Others were about the size of a human, completely blocking the way. Yi Yun seized the opportunity and used his Subtle Movement Technique to its fullest extent!
In this forest of bones, Yi Yun can get the best cover, while the giant Golden Crow Remnant, with a wingspan of over ten meters, will be greatly restricted.
"Huh!"
Behind Yi Yun, the Golden Crow Remnant let out a hoarse roar, and it tumbled and crawled into the air again, chasing after Yi Yun.
Ignoring the forest of white bones blocking their path, the Golden Crow Remnant charged in like a cannonball!
"Puff puff puff!"
Sections of white bones were shattered by the Golden Crow Remnant, instantly turning into white powder. The Golden Crow Remnant was unstoppable!
However, it only flew for a few seconds before its body stopped abruptly, and it let out a scream!
A white bone, like a spear, pierced through the wing of the Golden Crow Remnant!
"Boom!"
The Golden Crow Remnant fell from the sky and crashed into a pile of bones.
A broken bone, its surface shimmering with a precious light, still shines brightly even after millions of years.
This very bone, so sharp and unparalleled, could not withstand the penetration of even the wings of the Golden Crow Remnant, which were as tough as black iron.
The Golden Crow Remnant's body convulsed violently, its injured wing covered in blood. It finally managed to pull the broken bone out with its mouth.
A small stream of blood spurted out from the wound, splashing all over the face of the Golden Crow Remnant.
The Golden Crow Remnant was born at the Gate of Fallen Stars. It had never encountered such resilient bones before. Despite appearing rotten, they were incredibly hard and sharp, able to break through its defenses even without the support of vital energy. This was beyond its comprehension.
It struggled to its feet again, the Pure Yang Spirit still burning fiercely within it, eroding its bloodline.
The two beings, both of pure Yang nature, have reached a point of intense, life-or-death struggle.
Seeing that the human had run far away again, the Golden Crow Remnant's feathers stood on end in anger.
Such a tiny creature was like an ant in its eyes. It originally thought it could be dealt with easily, which is why it swallowed the Pure Yang Spirit to kill Yi Yun.
However, things took an unexpected turn, dragging on for so long!
With the Pure Yang Spirit within its body, the Golden Crow Remnant felt itself getting closer to death with every breath it delayed.
Its time is running out. If it continues to pursue that human, it may be burned to death by the Pure Yang Spirit!
Although the Golden Crow Remnant felt that it could easily kill Yi Yun with just one more attack, it didn't want to take the risk.
It is not worth putting one's noble life in danger for the sake of a lowly human being.
Especially since the Golden Crow Remnant had already burned its pure Yang bloodline, this battle with the Pure Yang Spirit was destined to be a fight to the death!
It hesitated for a moment, then decided to focus on dealing with the Pure Yang Spirit first. After completely devouring the Pure Yang Spirit, it would then go after that damned human.
For the Golden Crow Remnant, devouring the Pure Yang Spirit is the most important thing. This can even further purify its bloodline and allow it to grow another claw.
In that way, it manifested the form of the ancient Three-legged Golden Crow!
The Golden Crow Remnant had worked hard for many years for this Pure Yang Spirit, and it did not want to fail at this crucial juncture!
However, at that moment, the Golden Crow Remnant saw the human run out of the dried-up lake and rush towards a mountain peak.
The mountain peak was like a divine sword piercing through the earth, incredibly steep, and at its summit stood an Immortal Palace!
The Golden Crow Remnant did not recognize the Immortal Palace, but it vaguely sensed Immortal Palace powerful aura, as if the Immortal Palace held an extraordinary opportunity!
If that human gets in, once the gates of the Immortal Palace are sealed, it might not be able to get in!
And naturally, it also missed out on those opportunities.
Thinking of all this, the Golden Crow Remnant spread its wings. For the sake of the opportunity in the Immortal Palace, it was worth risking a hundred breaths to delay and kill that human first!
It let out a long roar, forcefully suppressing the rampant Pure Yang Spirit within its body, and soared into the sky!
One of its wings had been pierced by white bone, damaging its meridians and bones and severely affecting its speed. Even so, it was still much faster than Yi Yun.
The Golden Crow Remnant easily caught up with Yi Yun in just over twenty breaths.
At that moment, Yi Yun had already rushed into a forest!
This forest had long since died, leaving only sections of dry, ancient Gu Mu, like broken halberds piercing the sky.
Over tens of millions of years, any kind of wood would have decayed, but these Gu Mu still remain in this broken world, standing proudly even though they have withered!
Once bitten by a snake Golden Crow Remnant is afraid of ropes for ten years. Even though the wood was already rotten, it dared not rush in and could only hover at the top of the forest.
In this way, it naturally cannot catch Yi Yun.
Using the cover of the withered forest, Yi Yun rushed towards the Immortal Palace in one breath. At this time Golden Crow Remnant had already overtaken Yi Yun overhead. It circled twice in the air and opened its hawk-like beak.
"Call--"
Without warning, a golden fireball was spat out from the mouth of the Golden Crow Remnant, falling straight down like a meteor!
Um!?
Yi Yun was greatly alarmed. He hadn't expected the firebird to have this trick up its sleeve. This withered forest couldn't withstand the fireball.
Yi Yun gritted his teeth, unleashing his Subtle Movement Technique to its fullest potential in an instant. He abruptly changed direction, leaping to the side.
"Boom!"
The fireball exploded, unleashing a powerful shockwave.
Although Yi Yun had dodged the frontal attack, he was still affected by the aftershocks. He felt an irresistible force strike him, and his body flew out like a straw.
"Boom!"
Yi Yun crashed into a large tree. The trunk trembled slightly, but Yi Yun felt a sharp pain in his back, as if his internal organs were about to be dislocated.
He stood up, supporting himself with the Thousand Army Saber, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
What terrifying power!
This attack from the Golden Crow Remnant was launched at the last moment of its power, and it even managed to dodge the fireball itself; it was only the aftershocks that left it in such a sorry state.
"Call!"
The Golden Crow Remnant folded its wings and fell into the forest, landing on an open space three zhang away from Yi Yun.
At this moment, the Golden Crow Remnant's wing was completely stained red with blood, its internal energy was in complete chaos, and its pupils were unfocused, unlike the sharp eyes of an eagle. Clearly, it had reached its limit.
Within his Energy Vision, Yi Yun could see two violent pure yang energies clashing wildly within the Golden Crow Remnant, almost causing its body to explode!
This Golden Crow Remnant is no longer viable!
However, even in this state, the Golden Crow Remnant was beyond Yi Yun's ability to defeat. A single, casual strike from it would shatter Yi Yun into pieces.
Conversely, if Yi Yun attacks the Golden Crow Remnant, even if the Golden Crow Remnant remains motionless and Yi Yun attacks without moving, Yi Yun will not be able to break through the Golden Crow Remnant's defense!
This is a despairing gap in strength.
At this moment, flames seemed to burn in the amber pupils of the Golden Crow Remnant. It stared at Yi Yun and suddenly sprang up!
Two iron claws, like sharp blades, came straight at Yi Yun!
The Pure Yang Power unleashed by that claw formed a powerful cage, imprisoning Yi Yun. In his current state, Yi Yun was no longer able to dodge!
With just a gentle wipe, Yi Yun's body would be sliced open like tofu!
At the critical moment, Yi Yun remained extremely calm and took out a Peace Amulet he always wore close to his body from his pocket.
The front of this sachet is embroidered with the word "Rou", and the back is embroidered with the divine patterns believed in by the Dahuang people to pray for blessings.
Inside the Peace Amulet was Life-saving Talisman left by Su Jie!
...(To be continued~^~)