Pitting Strength Against a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator

Amid the afterimages, a black short spike shot out, carrying the icy, deathly spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. It tore through the air and aimed straight for Xu Yuan's heart.

The timing was vicious, the angle tricky. An invisible force that locked onto the soul also wound its way over, determined to make its target freeze for an instant, with nowhere to evade.

Against such a sudden assault, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator would only meet instant death.

Yet Xu Yuan, facing this lethal blow head-on, showed not the slightest panic. Instead, a cold, condescending glint flashed through his eyes. That trace of relaxation after his victory had been bait he deliberately released.

The instant before the black short spike struck him.

Buzz.

A layer of ancient, savage vine armor abruptly appeared around Xu Yuan, gleaming with dark green and dusky gold. Layer upon layer of armor leaves overlapped, brimming with vigorous life yet indestructibly tough. It was the Green Wood Battle Armor formed from the Celestial Wood Vine.

The short spike struck the armor leaves with a piercing clang. Though it penetrated them at once, the obstruction still kept it from killing Xu Yuan instantly.

At the same time, the immense Yin Wood vitality contained within the armor leaves fiercely repelled and purified that icy, deathly spiritual power.

The Yin Wood Heavenly Heart Art within Xu Yuan's body circulated madly at an unprecedented speed. The power of the Green Wood Sacred Body was fully unleashed, and a warm yet incomparably resilient green-gold radiance began to glow around him.

The terrifying affinity of a Heaven-grade wood spiritual root for the wood spiritual energy between heaven and earth erupted. Throughout the Clear Sand River venue, and even the distant mountains, forests, and waters, wood spiritual