Slay

'I clearly confirmed that there were no tracking marks left on my body. How did they set an ambush for me?'

'Looks like I'll have to capture him alive and force an answer out of him. But capturing a Body Cultivator alive will be a bit troublesome...'

Of course, only a bit.

Lin Chen lowered his eyelids, reined in the jumbled thoughts in his mind, and beckoned with one hand. Two large Spirit Bullets, one red and one blue, flew from his palm and shot toward Zhang Yuanlong.

"Guard!"

Without Hesitation, Zhang Yuanlong activated the Defense Spirit Artifact in his hand. At once, a small shield radiating earthy yellow spirit light blocked the way In Front Of him.

Though he was a Body Cultivator and wore spirit armor On Their Body, he had no intention of using his flesh to withstand his opponent's Trick!

Yet the anticipated impact never came. The two incoming Spirit Bullets actually collided in midair, and a cloud of mist instantly spread outward, swallowing both men!

Not good!

Zhang Yuanlong's expression changed. His left hand formed a seal, seemingly intending to use the Clear Wind Technique to disperse the white fog.

Qi Refining Stage Cultivators had not, like Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, developed [Spiritual Sense], which could survey their surroundings.

Thus, within the mist, their Line of Sight would be obstructed, leaving them unable to grasp the state of the battlefield.

Just then, a shadow Flashed behind Zhang Yuanlong.

Lin Chen seemingly intended to use the thick fog to obscure his enemy's Line of Sight and launch a close-range Sneak Attack!

"Die!"

Yet Zhang Yuanlong's left hand, which should have been casting a technique, suddenly halted. Both hands gripped the Great Saber as his right foot stepped back and his upper body twisted. Borrowing the momentum of the turn, he viciously slashed the sharp Great Saber behind him!

A casting process could not be stopped at will, or one would inevitably suffer backlash!

But from Zhang Yuanlong's incomparably fluid movements, it was clear that his earlier casting had merely been a feint. Evidently, he had deliberately left this opening for Lin Chen!

However, Zhang Yuanlong did not feel the expected sensation of flesh and blood tearing beneath his blade. Instead, his hands suddenly felt empty, as though he had struck nothing but air!

No!

That wasn't right!

Not as though!

What he had cut was air!

The phantom before him quickly dissipated. This was not the real person, but an illusion technique!

"Heh, you've Fallen into a Trap!"

A figure appeared directly In Front Of Zhang Yuanlong, then lunged straight at him!

At that moment, Zhang Yuanlong was turned sideways and could not directly respond to the attack coming from before him in that instant!

Yet at the critical moment, a savage grin appeared on Zhang Yuanlong's face. "You're the one who took the bait!"

In an instant, a three-inch streak of gleaming silver sword light shot from his chest.

Rip—!

As if lightning had split the sky, the fog suddenly blazed bright. Then, in the blink of an eye, it pierced straight through the figure's chest!

Hundred-Step Flying Sword!

Zhang Yuanlong looked like a cultivator who only knew how to fight up close with a Great Saber, yet he had actually concealed a flying sword On Their Body specifically for long-range attacks!

But when the flying sword completely pierced the figure before him, Zhang Yuanlong showed not the slightest joy. Instead, his expression changed drastically.

Because the figure before him rapidly dissipated. Clearly, this too was fake!

'Not in front of me, nor behind me. Then where is he...'

Zhang Yuanlong seemed to have Thought Of something and abruptly looked up.

But it was already too late!

A great net radiating pale blue light fell directly from the sky, enveloping him within!

Not good!

The keen instincts honed from life-and-death battles frantically warned him: once he was restrained, Lin Chen's terrifying assault would follow!

Break free!

Zhang Yuanlong let out an angry roar, mobilizing the true qi within his body as he tried to tear apart the net covering him in one stroke! But then he suddenly froze.

For at some point, Lin Chen had truly appeared before his eyes. His deep, shadowy gaze seemed to conceal whirlpools, directly seizing Zhang Yuanlong's mind.

Then came threads—countless threads!

In an instant, strands of Spirit Thread shot from Lin Chen's hands, winding around Zhang Yuanlong's thighs, binding his hands, and crawling up his torso. Before long, his entire torso was wrapped in Spirit Thread like a cocoon!

Lin Chen formed a hand seal, and in but a brief moment, a Spirit Bullet radiating a bone-deep chill took shape.

The white Spirit Bullet howled forth and struck Zhang Yuanlong. In mere moments, the pale blue Spirit Thread rapidly transformed white, emanating a profound cold. Amid Zhang Yuanlong's furious roar as he came back to his senses, it encased everything below his head in ice, turning him into an ice sculpture!

This was the Ice Bullet!

Now's the time!

Lin Chen's Gaze sharpened as his hands rapidly formed hand seals, and fluctuations of true qi surged forth once more!

He knew very well that although Zhang Yuanlong had been frozen, protected by his spirit armor and bolstered by his physical constitution, he had not suffered much injury. Given enough time, he could completely break free from the ice!

So while he was trapped was the best time to attack! Lin Chen had to shatter the enemy's defenses and deal him a severe injury within this window!

Two strikes!

This thought flashed through the minds of the two combatants locked in fierce battle.

While my first strike hits him, it will also crack the ice restraining him, giving him a chance to escape his bindings! Before he fully regains his mobility, I can still launch one more strike! Therefore, I must defeat him completely within two strikes!

Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Chen's mind, but his hands did not slow in the slightest.

Pale blue spiritual light transformed into an enormous water sphere in his hands, then began to compress continuously. Throughout the process, blue spiritual energy flecked with pale golden motes kept gathering into it.

Zhang Yuanlong stared fixedly at the scene before him. His battle-hardened body kept sounding warnings. Naturally, he could sense the power of the trick gathering in Lin Chen's hands, but trapped as he was, he could not even defend himself, much less dodge.

All he could do now was gamble that the spirit artifacts on his body could withstand the attack!

At last, a water sphere laced with golden light formed in Lin Chen's hands.

"Sever!" Lin Chen spat out the word expressionlessly, his gaze ice-cold as iron, his whole body radiating a razor-sharp aura.

In an instant, a beautiful blue-gold arc swept through the air. Yet beneath that beautiful exterior lay a chilling killing intent that made Zhang Yuanlong's expression drastically change!

Pfft!

The blue-gold arc smashed through the ice layer with unstoppable force, pierced the spirit armor, and utterly blew apart Zhang Yuanlong's dantian!

"Pfft!" A blood flower burst from Zhang Yuanlong's abdomen. His aura fell into disorder, true qi running wild through his body. His mouth filled with blood, and he spat out a mouthful of bloody froth!

"How is that possible..." He slowly Fell Down, but his eyes remained fixed on Lin Chen, his face bearing a trace of utter disbelief.

He was wearing spirit armor and a magic robe, coupled with a Defense Spirit Artifact. With all those layers stacked together, how could a Qi Refining Stage trick possibly break through them?!

The Water Blade Technique's power exceeded my expectations... Standing at a distance, Lin Chen watched This Scene, this thought flashing through his heart.

The High-Pressure Water Blade was a technology from Lin Chen's previous life. Water gained tremendous kinetic energy under high pressure, and when mixed with sandy abrasives, it became a water blade with terrifying cutting power.

The power of this trick depended on the spirit pressure Lin Chen could produce. If he went all out, Lin Chen could even unleash an attack close to the Foundation Establishment Realm!

"Tell me, how did you determine my location?" Lin Chen did not make another move. Instead, he stood at a distance and asked coldly.

Many cultivators rashly approached once they saw their enemies unable to resist. That was extremely dangerous, because no one knew whether the other party had a trump card for Mutual Destruction.

"Cough... You think I would tell you?" Zhang Yuanlong's body lay limply sprawled on the ground, his Whole Body gradually turning ice cold, yet the look he gave Lin Chen was still filled with venomous hatred.

"Looks like you're very confident in your ability to endure?" Lin Chen gave him a glance, and his eyes seemed to contain a certain... pity?

"I've captured quite a few Evil Cultivators alive before. Some of them were even more arrogant than you, but none lasted two incense sticks in my hands..."

Lin Chen lowered his head slightly, idly playing with the Spirit Thread in his hand. No expression could be seen on his face.

At the Same Time, a soundproof barrier silently rose around them.

"I'd like to see how long you can last." Lin Chen suddenly raised his hand. Strands of Spirit Thread shot out and attached themselves directly to Zhang Yuanlong's body. Then, as if they had come alive, they Drilled Into his ears and nose!

"No, no! What are you doing?! Stop! Aaaah!!!" At the sight of this bizarre scene, Zhang Yuanlong's expression changed drastically. He felt as though the Spirit Thread were parasitic insects drilling into his head, and an indescribable agony surged through him!

Yet just then, Lin Chen seemed to sense something. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he abruptly turned his head.

At the same time, the hand seal in his hand shifted. True qi surged and formed a dazzling golden arc that swept across Zhang Yuanlong's neck!

"No..." Zhang Yuanlong Had Not Yet Had Time To react before his entire being plunged into boundless darkness.

After confirming that the other party was dead, Lin Chen used the Spirit Thread in his hand to pull over the Storage Bag at the other's waist and took it into his hand.

Of the three ambushers, only Zhang Yuanlong had a Storage Bag; the other two did not have one.

Even so, they carried quite a few things. For instance, the spirit armor on Zhang Yuanlong's body still had salvage value even though it had split in two.

But Lin Chen did not go over to loot the corpses. Instead, he turned and looked coldly toward the dark woods beside him.

"Since you've come, Fellow Daoist, why not show yourself?"

As early as the battle just now, he had silently spread Spirit Thread throughout the entire battlefield. Naturally, he could sense that someone had quietly approached nearby moments ago.

The forest was silent. Only the rustling of leaves could be heard, along with the crisp chirping of cicadas.

The Evening Wind swept past, and Tree Shadows swayed and danced. No figure appeared.

Yet Lin Chen continued staring intently at the woods, making no other move.

Then, a fierce gust suddenly blew in. The leaves on the ground abruptly soared into the air, instantly blocking Lin Chen's Line of Sight!

At the Same Time, Lin Chen also sensed an incomparably chilling Killing Intent!

Lin Chen remained expressionless. At some point, a spirit talisman emitting intense spiritual energy fluctuations had appeared in his hand.

It radiated a fiery red glow, its Rune Patterns crimson as blood. With only the slightest agitation, the Fallen Leaves drifting around Lin Chen burst into clusters of flame!

Whoosh!

The scattered sparks faded into the night, and the leaves thrown aloft slowly drifted back down.

Inside the Room was silent. Only the gentle Evening Wind drifted past, as though everything just now had been nothing but an illusion.

"Heh!"

Lin Chen let out a cold laugh, unleashed the Divine Movement Technique, and lightly pushed off with his foot, retreating backward.

His figure was swiftly drowned by the darkness.

After a long while, a figure emerged among the trees.

"Skilled combat techniques, mastery of instant-cast Tricks, Coupled With that Second-tier Talisman..." Wang Ping drew a Deep Breath. It seemed they had kicked an iron plate...

Although the other party had expended quite a bit after that fierce battle and this was a good opportunity to Make A Move, after that brief probing just now, Wang Ping had a premonition—if they truly made a move, they would definitely be the ones to die.

'This Time, with the other party leaving, the news will inevitably leak out. If anything goes wrong...'

Wang Ping stood in the Original Place and pondered for a moment. Then he gave a faint sigh, and his entire body gradually vanished into the darkness.