The great blood-colored halberd swept out, carrying the savage baleful energies accumulated over a thousand years on the Withered Bone Plains. It became a dark-red ribbon of light and struck Xin Laoweng, who had launched a sneak attack from behind, with the force of a blade cutting through rotten wood.
Boom!
Amid the explosive roar of Astral Essence, Xin Laoweng suffered a devastating blow, blood and shredded flesh flying everywhere.
"Is that all you've got?" The Black Baleful Duke sneered, shook his battle halberd, and prepared to hoist Xin Laoweng on its blade.
But the instant he relaxed his guard, one hand of the Xin Laoweng standing before him, reaching out to accept the token, abruptly swelled into a sharp fox claw.
Riiip!
The claw tore through the air and, almost without any interval, pierced the jet-black battle armor with ease, its talons sinking into the Black Baleful Duke's chest.
The Black Baleful Duke's body shuddered violently. He raised his head in shock and stared at the expressionless Xin Laoweng before him.
Meanwhile, the utterly lifelike Xin Laoweng he had pierced and shattered with his halberd, scattering flesh and blood everywhere, slowly dissolved into bubbles like an illusion and vanished.
"You fell for it!" Xin Laoweng spoke calmly, watching the Black Baleful Duke's abruptly dilating pupils with an unruffled gaze. "The one behind you was merely a false body. I am the real one. You underestimated me far too much!"
"A divine ability? You old fox, you hid yourself well. You'd already reached the Divine Ability Realm." The Black Baleful Duke's voice was hoarse.
"Fellow Daoist Black Baleful, hand over my daughter. Then bridges will be bridges and roads will be roads; we can go our separate ways and remain at peace. Otherwise-"
Xin Laoweng spoke gravely.
"Otherwise what?" The