A Narrow Victory

The two Yellow Flying Knives struck the Yellow Light Screen, making it tremble slightly.

Shen Long took out a Blue Pill and swallowed it. It was a Qi Recovery Pill, capable of rapidly restoring a Qi Refining Cultivator's spiritual power.

With a flick of his sleeve, Shen Long sent a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat flying toward Xu Lei.

Xu Lei's advantage lay in possessing the Parent-Child Blades, but the drawback was equally obvious. Controlling the Parent-Child Blades consumed far more divine sense than controlling a single Dharma Artifact. Spiritual power could be restored by taking Qi Recovery Pills, but there were no first-rank pills on the market that could restore divine sense.

The Iron Tail Scorpion burrowed underground, waiting for an opportunity.

The Mother Blade in Xu Lei's hand blazed with yellow light. One Child Blade flew back in defense and cleaved the Crimson Fireball apart.

Before long, another Crimson Fireball came shooting over, crashing toward Xu Lei.

Now it was a contest of endurance. Xu Lei had somewhat more spiritual power, but Shen Long also had the Iron Tail Scorpion as a helper.

Shen Long cast spells swiftly, sending Crimson Fireballs flying one after another toward Xu Lei. Xu Lei did not dare meet them head-on, for fear of giving the Iron Tail Scorpion an opening. Sun Yang was the lesson written in blood.

As a result, only one Child Blade attacked Shen Long, while the other two tangled with the Azure Moon Shears and the Red Flying Dart.

Xu Lei furrowed his brow and hastily took out a Qi Recovery Pill, swallowing it.

His divine sense was being consumed heavily. In contrast, Shen Long looked relaxed, as though he could keep going for a long time yet.

After more than half an hour, the two still had not determined a victor. Shen Long swallowed a second Qi Recovery Pill, while Xu Lei's expression had grown somewhat listless from the severe consumption of his divine sense.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you can have the Spirit Control Token, and the rest belongs to me. How about it?"

Xu Lei spoke. Shen Long had cultivated four first-rank spells to Great Perfection, while Xu Lei had not mastered even one. He did not want to spend too much time cultivating spells. Whenever he needed them, he could simply buy Talismans, which would not cost many Spirit Stones.

Shen Long acted as though he had heard nothing and continued releasing Crimson Fireballs one after another at Xu Lei.

Over the years, whenever he was in the Marketplace, he would spend two hours practicing spells. It was not that Heaven rewarded diligence; this was simply one of the few ways he had to improve his strength.

Crimson Fireballs crashed toward Xu Lei one after another. Xu Lei could only control a Child Blade to shatter the incoming Crimson Fireballs.

A grayish-white tail stinger burst from the ground and struck a Cyan Light Screen with a muffled thud.

Xu Lei raised his right hand, and a Fire Snake Talisman shot out, transforming into a crimson fire snake over ten feet long that slammed into the ground.

With a thunderous boom, the crimson fire snake exploded. A massive pit several yards wide appeared in the ground, black smoke billowing from within.

Having failed in one strike, the Iron Tail Scorpion had already burrowed back underground to continue waiting for its chance.

Xu Lei's expression turned extremely ugly. In a war of attrition, he was certainly no match for Shen Long. The Iron Tail Scorpion was an enormous threat.

With a flip of his right hand, he took out a Talisman shimmering with red light. A miniature calf was depicted on its surface. He flicked his wrist, and the red Talisman flew out, transforming into a Crimson Calf the size of a house. It radiated terrifying heat as it charged toward Shen Long.

Feeling the shocking heat emanating from the Crimson Calf, Shen Long frowned deeply. With a shake of his right hand, a white ice spike roughly three feet long shot forth and struck the Crimson Calf. The Crimson Calf immediately exploded, turning into surging flames that engulfed Shen Long. The spiritual light of the Yellow Light Screen dimmed.

Two Child Blades shot over and struck the Yellow Light Screen. The Yellow Light Screen shattered, leaving only a Cyan Light Screen.

With a thought from Shen Long, a dense Blue Water Screen appeared close against his body—the Mystic Water Shield.

The two Child Blades flew back. Xu Lei sprinted toward the cave entrance. He knew perfectly well that if this continued, he would die without doubt.

Even if he could not obtain the Spirit Control Token, the other valuables would be enough.

A wise man did not fight when the odds were against him. So long as he escaped, he would spread the news everywhere. Shen Long would surely face pursuit from the Li Family, the Han Clan, and the Chen Clan.

Just as he reached the vicinity of the cave entrance, a thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around Xu Lei's right foot.

The Mother Blade in his hand shone brightly with yellow light. A Child Blade shot out and severed the Cyan Vine, but a Crimson Fireball came flying over and struck the Cyan Light Screen.

With a thunderous boom, surging flames swallowed the Cyan Light Screen.

Even through three layers of defense, Xu Lei could feel the astonishing heat.

"Today is your day of death, Xu Lei. Take one of my Fire Thunder Beads!"

Shen Long's voice rang out.

The Fire Thunder Bead was far more powerful than the Lightning Attraction Talisman. It was a one-use treasure, comparable to the full-force strike of a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator.

Xu Lei was greatly startled. Shen Long was close to Sun Huowang, so he really might have acquired such a terrifying weapon.

He hurriedly slapped the Yellow Jade Pendant on his chest. The pendant immediately blazed with yellow light, and a dense Yellow Light Screen appeared, forming a fourth layer of protection.

A fist-sized stone flew over and struck the Cyan Light Screen. The Cyan Light Screen did not budge in the slightest.

"Damn it, I've been tricked."

Xu Lei flew into a rage. A Giant Fireball the size of a house descended from the sky and smashed into the Cyan Light Screen.

With a thunderous boom, the Giant Fireball exploded, engulfing Xu Lei's figure. Heat waves rolled outward, and even the ground showed signs of melting.

Shen Long traced a shape through the air with both hands. A Crimson Fireball the size of a house appeared out of thin air, radiating terrifying heat as it smashed toward the other side.

The Crimson Fireball plunged into the sea of flames, causing the blaze to surge higher.

He released Giant Fireballs one after another to attack Xu Lei. At the same time, the Azure Moon Shears and the Red Flying Dart blazed with spiritual light and plunged into the flames, followed by a series of muffled bangs.

Four Child Blades flew out of the sea of flames. Two met the Azure Moon Shears and Red Flying Dart, while the other two attacked Shen Long, only to be blocked by the Cyan Light Screen.

Shen Long remained unmoved and continued releasing Crimson Fireballs one after another toward his opponent.

A dazzling mass of yellow light lit up. The flames dispersed, revealing Xu Lei. A Yellow Light Screen covered his body, his face was pale, and his divine sense had been severely depleted.

He had an Earth Escape Talisman, but the Iron Tail Scorpion was underground. How could he dare use Earth Escape to flee? Would that not be walking straight into the net?

A thick Cyan Vine drilled out of the ground and wrapped around Xu Lei's right leg. At the same instant, a grayish-white tail stinger burst from the earth and struck the Yellow Light Screen with a muffled thud.

Xu Lei was badly startled and hurriedly recalled a Child Blade to attack the Iron Tail Scorpion. The Iron Tail Scorpion swiftly burrowed underground and hid.

A Crimson Fireball the size of a house descended from the sky and struck the Yellow Light Screen, surging flames once again swallowing Xu Lei's figure.

Before the flames had even dispersed, another Giant Fireball came flying over and smashed into the Yellow Light Screen.

The spiritual light of the Yellow Light Screen dimmed, as though it could collapse at any moment.

"Shen Long! Spare me! I'll give you all my valuables."

Xu Lei begged for mercy.

Shen Long remained unmoved and released another Giant Fireball toward Xu Lei.

Xu Lei had no attack Talismans left. He could only watch helplessly as Giant Fireballs crashed down one after another. The Yellow Light Screen grew ever dimmer, and several tiny cracks appeared across the Yellow Jade Pendant's surface.

A grayish-white tail stinger burst from the ground and struck the Yellow Light Screen. Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, the Yellow Light Screen shattered, and the tail stinger pierced through Xu Lei's head.