Slaying a Tendon Refining Evil Cultivator

Slaying a Tendon Refining Evil Cultivator

The terrifying pressure of a Tendon Refining Realm Evil Cultivator descended like a ten-thousand-zhang ice abyss, instantly enveloping the entire hollow by the stream. The air froze, the yin wind howled, and a black-robed figure emerged from the dense fog. Its ghostfire eyes fixed on Li Yifan, its killing intent surging like a tide.

"Form up! Fight to the death!" Li Yifan roared, his voice like thunder, instantly dispelling the chill in his team's hearts. His gaze burned bright. He wasn't afraid—instead, his fighting spirit soared! At the peak of the Bone Refining Realm, with two great techniques mastered and teammates who worked in perfect harmony, today he would test himself against a stronger foe!

At his command, the squad's spirits surged! Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi roared as blade met shield, forging the front line of their defense. Qian Xiaoliu nocked a crossbow bolt, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. Chen Feng and Zhang Tie drew their twin blades, their auras joining as they guarded the flanks.

Li Yifan stepped forward and took his place at the head of the formation. The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique thundered into motion, its blazing yang true qi surging like a mighty river, heat steaming from his body as it scattered and incinerated the sinister energy assailing him. He secretly circulated the Iron Bone Technique at the great achievement stage. His muscles and bones rang in unison, a bronze sheen faintly gleaming over him as he stood firm as a rock.

"Heh heh... Mere ants dare put up a fight?" The black-robed Evil Cultivator cackled. His figure blurred, turning into a twisted wisp of black smoke that left afterimages as it lunged straight at Li Yifan! A withered, sharp claw shot out, its fingertips glossy black and wreathed in profound yin Killing Intent that could corrode the soul, reaching for the crown of his head!

"Just what I wanted!" Li Yifan neither dodged nor retreated. With a deft step of the Spirit Fox Steps, he slipped aside from the attack as his saber sprang from its sheath! He unleashed the Burning Wood Saber Technique at the great achievement stage with all his might. The blade glowed red-hot like iron fresh from the forge, its scorching intent tearing through the air as he swept upward with a "Burning Wind" strike at the Evil Cultivator's wrist! Offense and defense in one!

"Clang—!"

Blade and claw clashed again, unleashing a deafening metallic ring! This time, Li Yifan only swayed slightly before planting his feet firmly. The Evil Cultivator, however, felt a scorching pain lance through its claw. Its protective sinister energy sizzled as the saber qi burned it!

"What?!" The Evil Cultivator was shocked. This brat was far stronger than when they had fought last time!

"Now! Kill!" Li Yifan barked.

Qian Xiaoliu had already been poised to strike. Three Evil-Breaking Crossbow Bolts formed a triangle as they soundlessly shot toward the Evil Cultivator's back, knee, and shoulder well! The timing and angles were exquisitely cunning!

Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi surged forward at the same time, attacking with blade and shield as they slashed at the Evil Cultivator's ribs from both sides! Chen Feng and Zhang Tie rolled in low, their twin blades sweeping toward its ankles!

Surrounded on all sides, the Evil Cultivator was both shocked and furious. It let out a wild roar, and profound yin sinister energy erupted from its body, forming a black wave that blasted outward in every direction!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The crossbow bolts were knocked off course, while Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi were held back for a moment by the wave of energy. Chen Feng and Zhang Tie, however, were at lower cultivation levels. The blast set their blood and qi churning, and their movements faltered.

But that brief disruption had already created the perfect opening for Li Yifan! The eruption of sinister energy didn't affect him in the least; his Nine Yang True Qi shielded him, leaving all evil unable to approach! He drove the Spirit Fox Steps to their limit, closing in on the Evil Cultivator like its shadow. His blade flashed again, and the "Prairie Fire Style" spread like a sea of flames, engulfing its vital points!

Forced to block with its claws, the Evil Cultivator met his blows in a dense flurry of clashing steel! The longer they fought, the more alarmed it became. The brat's true qi was so blazing and pure that it heavily countered its profound yin technique. His saber work was fierce and seasoned, his footwork strange, and his defense astonishing. When they occasionally met head-on, it couldn't gain the upper hand! And the fly-like harassment from the others only made it more and more frustrated.

"Profound Yin Ghost Howl!" The Evil Cultivator, driven to fury, suddenly opened its mouth and let out a piercing shriek! The sound wave carried a spiritual attack and sinister energy, hurtling straight for everyone's souls!

Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, and the others felt an agonizing pain in their heads, their movements slowing instantly. Qian Xiaoliu also groaned, nearly losing his grip on the crossbow.

Only Li Yifan was unaffected! The blazing righteous qi of the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique guarded his spirit platform, giving him exceptional resistance to such evil arts. He merely furrowed his brows, his saber momentum undiminished. Instead, as the Evil Cultivator unleashed its sonic attack and its defenses briefly slackened, his blade flashed like lightning, thrusting straight for its heart! That strike gathered all his power—fast, vicious, precise!

The Evil Cultivator was horrified. It hurriedly raised a claw to block, but it was half a beat too slow!

"Shhk!"

The blade swept across its chest and abdomen, tearing its black robe and revealing the dark armor beneath! But the blazing Nine Yang True Qi had already penetrated the armor!

"Argh!" The Evil Cultivator let out a bloodcurdling scream. Its chest burned as if seared by a branding iron, black smoke pouring out as its profound yin true qi instantly fell into disarray!

"Perfect!" A brilliant gleam flashed through Li Yifan's eyes. He knew the decisive moment had arrived! The Nine Yang True Qi in his body converged at an unprecedented speed. Crimson-gold light blazed across his saber, as if it had become a miniature sun! A terrifying saber intent that could incinerate the eight wildernesses locked onto the Evil Cultivator!

"Nine Yang Burning Heaven! Burning Wood—Final Kill!"

He and his saber became one, transforming into a crimson-gold rainbow that tore through the darkness and slashed toward the Evil Cultivator's head with unstoppable force! It was a supreme strike that gathered all the power of his peak Bone Refining Realm cultivation and the essence of his two mastered techniques!

The Evil Cultivator was so terrified that its soul nearly fled its body! It had just suffered a grievous wound, its true qi was in disarray, and now it faced this earth-shattering strike—the bane of all yin and evil. It felt utterly unable to resist! It desperately drove its profound yin true qi and crossed its claws above its head to shield itself as it retreated at full speed!

But it was too late!

Where the blade flashed, it was like a hot knife through butter! The Evil Cultivator's claws and protective sinister energy were severed and vaporized in an instant. The blade's momentum never slowed as it swept unobstructed across its neck!

A head frozen in a look of terror soared into the air! The headless corpse stood rigid for a moment before crashing to the ground. Black blood sprayed out, only to be incinerated and dissolved by the lingering Nine Yang True Qi!

The early-stage Tendon Refining Evil Cultivator had been slain!

The hollow fell into utter silence. Only Li Yifan remained standing with his saber in hand, breathing slightly hard as the crimson glow on the blade slowly faded. Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, and the others stared at the headless corpse, dumbfounded, hardly daring to believe their eyes. Their captain... had actually slain a Tendon Refining Realm Evil Cultivator despite the difference in realms!

[Slew a Tendon Refining Realm Evil Cultivator despite the difference in realms! A breakthrough in state of mind! Proficiency in the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique greatly increased! Insights into the Burning Wood Saber Technique deepened! Martial will grew more concentrated!]

Li Yifan steadied his churning qi and blood. That last strike had cost him dearly, but the results were remarkable. He walked over to the corpse and examined it carefully, finding a black token covered in strange runes, a bag that exuded yin energy, and several bottles of unknown pills on its person.

"Search the battlefield and collect all the evidence! Qian Xiaoliu, keep watch on the surroundings! Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, treat Chen Feng and Zhang Tie!" Li Yifan issued his orders swiftly, his voice steady and carrying unquestionable authority.

"Yes, Captain!" The others came back to themselves, thrilled beyond measure, and immediately got to work. Their captain had slain an enemy from a higher realm—the battle had been a complete victory! The name of the Seventh Squad would surely resound throughout the Qingzhou Xuntian Guard!

In this battle, under Li Yifan's leadership, the Seventh Squad had combined exquisite teamwork with overwhelming strength to slay the Tendon Refining Realm Evil Cultivator threatening Maple Forest County, perfectly completing their Grade B Lower mission! The items seized from the Evil Cultivator were also important clues.

A short while later, the squad left the edge of the Misty Forest in haste, carrying the Evil Cultivator's head and the seized items. The night of the waning moon had yet to pass, but with the Evil Cultivator slain, the gloom hanging over Maple Forest County had begun to lift.

Li Yifan knew that slaying this fiend was only the beginning. The power behind it might be even greater. But after this battle, his confidence had surged. Though the road ahead was perilous, he would press on!