Turnaround

"Was I tricked?"

"Damn it! This is the end!"

Su Shi'er's breath caught, his heart instantly sinking to the bottom.

He couldn't figure out when the switch had happened. But he also knew this wasn't the time to dwell on it.

Fortunately, it was still a Defense Talisman. Without overthinking, he hurriedly channeled his true essence into it.

The next second, the earth rumbled, soil and stone surging up to coalesce into a defensive shield.

At the same time, he stomped hard off the ground, using Shadowless Illusionary Steps combined with Wind Calling Technique to forcibly drag his body backward and upward.

As he retreated, just in case, he tossed out three more Defense Talismans.

Four Defense Talismans transformed into four overlapping earthen defensive shields.

Even so, Su Shi'er still felt uneasy, but just as he was about to throw out even more talismans—

"Bang bang bang..."

In an instant, two sword lights streaked past.

Before those sword lights, the four earthen shields were like paper. The sword lights passed through them effortlessly, landing squarely on Su Shi'er without deviation.

"Hiss..."

The sword light grazed him, and a shallow cross-shaped sword mark appeared on his chest.

Blood flowed from the wound, and the pain made Su Shi'er suck in a sharp breath.

Careless! A Qi Refining Stage fifth-layer bastard really wasn't easy to deal with!

If not for the four Defense Talismans softening most of the attack, those two sword lights would have torn him apart.

Su Shi'er steadied his nerves, riding the wind to land atop a Giant Tree. He quickly took out three Minor Restoration Pills, crushed them, and sprinkled the powder over his wounds.

Minor Restoration Pills were healing elixirs, usable both internally and externally.

At that moment, the Youth in Silk Scarf finally stepped out from the flames. A faint, eerie blood-red light shield covered his body. His face and body were covered in

many cuts and burn marks from shattered porcelain shards.

He carried a White Smoke-colored Two-foot Longsword in his hand, spat out a mouthful of turbid air, and cursed bitterly in his heart: This damned bastard, so insidious! If I hadn't just cultivated the Blood Light Shield the day before yesterday, I'd be half-dead at best this time.

Staring at Su Shi'er, the Youth in Silk Scarf was furious, his face twisted with rage.

"Fine! Looks like you really didn't skimp on buying talismans! Let me see just how many talismans you have left to use!"

"Gale Slash!"

The Youth in Silk Scarf curled his lips into a cruel smile, pouring surging true essence into the sword blade. He swept the flying sword. This time, four sword lights shot out, weaving into a grid-shaped pattern, radiating a fierce aura.

Four sword lights? That's just cheating!

Su Shi'er couldn't help but suck in another sharp breath. He knew clearly that these four sword lights packed serious power—he absolutely couldn't get hit again.

Facing the incoming four sword lights, he took a deep breath and leaped upward.

A whirlwind appeared simultaneously, carrying him higher into the air.

Then, the sword lights swept past. The lush, ten-meter-tall Giant Tree shattered into pieces under that single strike.

Midair, Su Shi'er watched with his heart pounding.

"Is this what a sword cultivator's attacks are like? This is terrifying—powerful, and completely unaffected by Wind Calling Technique or other spells?!"

"No, blindly dodging like this won't work. I don't have many Defense Talismans left, and sustaining spells at this level drains true essence too fast!"

"I have to end this quickly!"

Hesitating for a moment, Su Shi'er's gaze hardened. He hid all his attack talismans in his sleeve and dove toward his opponent, riding the wind.

In the air, he constantly shifted his form with the wind, giving the enemy no chance to strike, and drifted right up to him.

"Eight Extremes Mountain Collapse!"

The moment he closed in, he let out a fierce shout, decisively activating the Eight Trigrams Eight Extremes Fist and slamming down from above toward his opponent.

"A martial artist's move? Arrogant fool! You really think I don't know your plan? With those trash talismans, you want to break my Blood Light Shield? Dare to get close to me—go meet the Yellow Springs!"

Facing Su Shi'er's assault, the Youth in Silk Scarf sneered, raising his sword and bluntly exposing Su Shi'er's intent.

At this close range, he didn't think Su Shi'er could dodge.

As for those so-called talisman attacks, even if they could break his Blood Light Shield, he was confident he could withstand them.

"Swish!"

But just as they clashed, Su Shi'er didn't throw out any attack talismans. Instead, a one-foot-long sword appeared in his hand.

It was the White Mist Sword, obtained four years ago and always hidden in his Sword Pouch.

"So you had a flying sword hidden away? Too bad—playing with swords in front of a sword cultivator, do you think you stand a chance?" Seeing the sudden one-foot flying sword in Su Shi'er's hand, the Youth in Silk Scarf was startled at first, then burst into loud laughter.

As a sword cultivator, he had confidence in his swordsmanship. Besides, his cultivation was naturally stronger than the man before him.

Still, to be on the safe side, he stuck several Defense Talismans onto his body.

His flying sword then traced a light flourish in his hand; with a sweep and a clang, it easily blocked the slash Su Shi'er had aimed at him.

Seeing this, he finally relaxed completely. Blocked so easily—this kid's swordsmanship was truly pathetic. It seemed he really had no more tricks left.

A thought turned in his mind, and the Youth in Silk Scarf immediately channeled his true essence

into the sword blade, ready to finish the job in one stroke.

But just then, with a "crack!", the Precious Sword in his hand shattered on the spot.

His true essence had nowhere to go.

"What? You... this is actually a High-grade Magical Artifact?! How is that possible..."

The Youth in Silk Scarf finally realized what had happened; his heart trembled, and he cried out in shock. Before he could finish his words, he sensed the dire situation and hurriedly tried to retreat.

But Su Shi'er's sword showed no mercy; having severed the opponent's flying sword, it continued its downward arc. He didn't have the Youth's refined swordsmanship—he had been waiting all this time for exactly this moment.

Before a High-grade Magical Artifact, even the Youth in Silk Scarf's Blood Light Shield, tough as it was, could hardly hold out.

A flash of sword light passed by, a spray of blood splashed up, and an arm flew into the air.

"Puh! Aahhh~~~"

The Youth in Silk Scarf collapsed in a pool of blood, unable to hold back a miserable, agonized scream.

At this moment, his heart was filled with nothing but regret!

If he had known Su Shi'er possessed a High-grade Magical Artifact, he would never have let the boy get so close so easily.

What had been a commanding advantage was reversed in the blink of an eye. Now, with his arm severed, his injuries were severe, and his combat power had taken a massive hit.

As for Su Shi'er, having landed a blow, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He immediately mobilized his true essence and poured it into the White Mist Sword.

The White Mist Sword trembled slightly, its light blazing bright, and a sharp sword beam shot out, heading straight for the Youth in Silk Scarf's neck.

Though he had gravely wounded his opponent, he dared not be the least bit careless. This was a Qi Refining Stage fifth-layer cultivator—who knew if he had any other trump cards!

Ever since he had nearly been killed by that Fierce Tiger four years ago, he had become extremely cautious in his actions. Otherwise, he wouldn't have noticed this guy tailing him in the first place.