No sooner had Ling Qing heard the sound than he felt a gust of golden wind strike at him.
With a gesture, he drew the Three Lights Divine Water from the gourd bottle and transformed it into a curtain of water to shield himself. At the same time, he leaped up and merged sword and body as one with the Azure Dragon Sea-Churning Sword, slashing straight at that golden wind.
Clang!
Ling Qing felt as though an iron rod had struck the crown of his head. His brain throbbed violently, and pain split his skull.
Nor was that all. The Azure Dragon Sea-Churning Sword let out a mournful cry as well, clearly unable to match the other party.
He also saw the shape of the magic treasure that had attacked him.
It was a golden hoop.
The golden hoop spun through the air, then came smashing at Ling Qing once more.
Ling Qing knew the Sea-Churning Sword might not be able to endure a second blow. He could no longer spare any thought for the snow dragon chasing after him.
With a raised hand, nine Azure Gates unfolded in layered ranks before him.
The golden hoop struck, sending waves of azure light shuddering across the gates. Layer upon layer of golden gates were forced steadily backward.
Even Ling Qing, standing at the very rear, felt boundless pressure bearing down on him.
Yet the Nine-Layer Azure Gate was worthy of being the most important treasure in Ling Qing's possession after the Wanhua Whisk, especially since it had absorbed an entire illusory world.
Though it fell far short of spirit treasures that truly opened a world, its defensive power was by no means weak.
Once the golden hoop's force was spent, the Nine-Layer Azure Gate, compressed to its limit, suddenly rebounded and