Bloody

Chapter 11: Blood-Red (Free Chapter)

Daoist Yan laughed and strode forward, slowly closing the distance. As he walked, he said, "What other talismans do you have? Bring them out for this old Daoist to see!"

Yu Ci seemed to grit his teeth. He suddenly reached his right hand into his left sleeve, while his left hand remained tucked inside the sleeve, his posture extremely peculiar.

At that very moment, a crimson light flashed ahead. Daoist Yan had already charged forward silently, bringing his sword down. Only then did he roar:

"Die for me!"

Daoist Yan had nearly been struck by lightning just moments ago and was still shaken. How could he possibly let Yu Ci make the first move?

Yu Ci looked up sharply, his eyes fixed on the dazzling sword light at the tip of the talisman sword. He didn't dodge or evade, appearing stunned. But just as the sword light was about to strike, he flicked his hand back, and a streak of green light shot out from his sleeve, cutting upwards. With a clang, it actually managed to block the sharpness of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword head-on.

Daoist Yan was slightly surprised, then chuckled coldly. He slightly retracted his sword, added more force, and swung down again. What power did the Nine Yang Talisman Sword possess? The green light blocked the first strike, but it vibrated with a hum, its light almost scattering. With another sword strike, Yu Ci was about to be cut in half.

Yu Ci's eyes widened. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a stream of blood, which landed directly on the unstable green light. Then, through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a syllable:

"Haste!"

A cold glint suddenly appeared.

Under Daoist Yan's disbelieving gaze, vibrant bloodstains spread through the green light. As the crimson color seeped in, the green light grew even more dazzling. The light in its central area almost solidified, emitting an almost tangible luster.

The Nine Yang Talisman Sword slashed down. Yu Ci met it with the green light for the second time, and the sound was still a clang akin to metal striking metal. However, this time, only the outer layer of light peeled away; the solidified green light area remained completely unharmed.

Yu Ci's face was pale, but he grinned.

He had never truly considered escaping. His previous flight was merely to buy time to draw talismans and fight. But time was tight, and he only managed to create the Mist Flow Shadow Stasis Talisman and palm lightning, which had no effect during the battle.

Fortunately, Daoist Yan was talkative and said a few extra words, giving him the opportunity to quickly form the "Seven Star Sword Talisman" in his sleeve. Finally, he used his heart's blood to activate it, turning the ethereal into the substantial, forging this sharp weapon. The process was smooth, as if guided by a divine hand.

Of course, a single talisman sword might not be enough to defeat Daoist Yan. But Yu Ci using Talisman Arts was vastly different from Yu Ci wielding a sword. He excelled at talismans, but he loved the sword even more. Compared to the tedious calculations involved in using Talisman Arts, he was more accustomed to the simple and direct choices made between life and death in close combat. Wandering for twelve years, how many times had he drawn his sword and killed people?

This was his true nature.

All extraneous thoughts cast aside, facing a foe a level higher than him, Yu Ci grinned:

"Let's see how my Seven Star Talisman Sword compares to your Nine Yang Talisman Sword?"

"You don't know your place!"

Daoist Yan hadn't expected that after a fierce battle, the junior would look down on him. Fury surged through him, and with a roar, he charged forward again, unleashing the Nine Yang Talisman Sword, which hissed and whistled.

The void seemed to be sealed off by dozens of thin, red silken threads. Each red thread was condensed from the purest, most refined fire energy. With a slight tremor, flames erupted, engulfing several yards of the surrounding forest in an instant, leaving almost no gaps.

However, the sound of the blazing flames could not drown out the clanging resonance from within. Daoist Yan felt a slight tremor in his hand and saw a streak of green light shoot out from the sea of fire. It appeared to be a straight line, but it was actually slightly curved and changed, precisely dodging the sharp edge of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword, avoiding fatal damage in a very skillful manner.

Yu Ci, enveloped by the sword light, broke through the sea of fire. Although he was on fire in multiple places, his hair and eyebrows not spared, his life was not in danger. A simple roll on the ground extinguished the flames.

But the crisis was not over. Daoist Yan, leveraging the power of his talisman sword, seized the initiative. He immediately shifted his sword's momentum, catching up to the sidestepping Yu Ci. He no longer focused on intricate changes, relying purely on the sharpness of the talisman sword, slashing down from above.

This sword strike transformed skill into brute force, and its power was even greater than the massive fire before. Yu Ci, however, neither dodged nor blocked, driven purely by the vague instinct from deep within his body. He flicked his sword back, not parrying or blocking, and thrust directly at Daoist Yan's face, a move intended for mutual destruction.

"Insolent junior!" Daoist Yan no longer knew what to curse. Of course, he wouldn't die with this mortal boy. He could only change his move temporarily, shifting his sword to deflect Yu Ci's sword light.

Their sword lights collided, emitting a piercing whistle in the void, like someone blowing a bamboo flute. This made Daoist Yan's chest feel heavy. He saw clearly that this Seven Star Talisman Sword was truly created by Yu Ci out of talismans and a mouthful of vital blood, conjured from thin air. How could it be evenly matched with his Nine Yang Talisman Sword, which he had painstakingly refined for two years?

Damn it!

Suffocated by this frustration, Daoist Yan wished he could tear Yu Ci to pieces the very next moment. His sword light became increasingly vicious and ferocious. However, Yu Ci's resilience exceeded his expectations. It was clear that this pretty boy's swordsmanship was mediocre, lacking any exquisite moves. But strangely, even though he didn't follow any proper form, his wounds gradually accumulated. Yet, at critical moments, he could always thrust his sword directly at vital points, forcing Daoist Yan to defend himself, and each time it was effective.

This was impossible!

Trading lives sounds simple, it's all about attacking where the opponent must defend, a contest of courage. But to constantly dance on the edge of life and death, where would one get so much courage to expend? Not to mention, while depleting courage, one also had to accurately perceive, strike quickly, and control steadily, posing a real fatal threat to the opponent.

Such eyesight, technique, mindset, and courage integrated into one. He made dozens of sword strikes without a single miss. Setting aside everything else, if he were placed in the same position, could he do it?

If this Daoist's divine sense were more refined, perhaps... he still couldn't do it!

As this thought took hold, Daoist Yan was inevitably distracted. Just as he swept his sword towards Yu Ci's neck, Yu Ci slightly shifted his body, letting blood splash from his shoulder. He used this to gain a sliver of an opening, surged forward, and the cold light of the Seven Star Talisman Sword, like stars, thrust directly at the vital points of his face.

From defense to offense! Yu Ci finally gained a sliver of initiative.

His mind naturally focused on the tip of his sword, without any hesitation, he thrust forward.

Yu Ci's swordsmanship was taught by the Crimson Yin Female Immortal when he was twelve. He fled a year later, so his foundation was not solid. Later, he wandered around without any master's guidance. Purely in terms of swordsmanship, it was indeed mediocre. But his courage was extraordinary, and his thinking was different. Wandering the martial world, he often fought and killed people, gradually realizing:

Swordsmanship has its levels, and cultivation has its strengths and weaknesses, but in the face of life and death, my opponent and I are absolutely equal. I don't compete in swordsmanship or cultivation; I only compete in who can seize a sliver of life at the moment of life-and-death transition.

Betting courage for a sliver of opportunity, exchanging death for life to seize the initiative.