Continuous Challenges, Invincible

The wind swept across the stone platform close to the ground. I stood my ground, my hand still on the hilt of my saber. The aura from the southeast grew closer, like a crack tearing through the air.

The spirit beast raised its head, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

A figure leaped from the woods, its wings spanning ten feet wide. Golden feathers glinted coldly in the setting sun. It landed without a sound, only the shockwave of crushed air.

"Golden Feather Demon King." I recognized the name. Rumor had it in the Northern Desolation, it could kill a nascent-stage demon cultivator in three breaths.

It didn't speak. With a flap of its arms, over a dozen wind blades sliced towards my face.

I took half a step back. The spirit beast suddenly charged out, using its body to block the first wave of attacks. The Golden Feather Demon King took to the air, circling upwards and preparing to dive.

I stared at its trajectory, slowing my breathing.

The System interface suddenly popped up: [Which attribute counters wind-element divine abilities? Time limit: fifteen breaths]

The countdown began.

I remembered the earth-element barrier I used against the Earth-Splitting Rhinoceros, and Zhen Yuanzi's words—No matter how fast the wind, it can't pierce a mountain.

The answer came to me.

I selected "Earth."

[Correct! Reward issued: one Mountain Suppressing Talisman]

A yellow paper talisman appeared in my palm, depicting the outline of a mountain.

Without hesitation, I slapped the talisman onto the ground.

BOOM!

Three rock walls rose from the ground, forming an arc around the stone platform. The Golden Feather Demon King, in mid-dive, was forced to pull in its wings and stop abruptly, its momentum faltering.

Now.

I drew my saber, my toes pushing off the edge of the stone platform. I leaped into the air. Flowing Abyss cut a straight line, aiming for the base of its right wing.

It raised an arm to block. A piercing metallic clang rang out. Its armor cracked, and the blow knocked its body off course, sending it crashing to the ground.

It flipped to its feet, its eyes changed.

"You didn't win with brute force," it said.

"With judgment," I gripped my saber hilt. "Your flight path was restricted by the rock walls. Your second turn would have been half a beat slower."

It stared at me for a moment, then folded its wings and walked out of the valley.

I didn't move, standing there, catching my breath. Only a little over twenty percent of the spiritual power in my Dantian remained, but my heartbeat was steady.

The spirit beast returned, rubbing against my leg.

A shadow flickered in the distance among the trees. Three figures entered the valley entrance.

They wore grey and white robes, their faces covered with frost masks. Where they stepped, thin ice formed on the ground.

"Northern Desolation Cold General," the System's prompt sounded.

The three stopped and raised their hands simultaneously. A wave of cold air spread from their palms, quickly engulfing the entire stone platform area.

I immediately felt my meridians stiffen, and my spiritual power circulation slowed.

The spirit beast spewed a stream of golden light, trying to dispel the cold air, but it was suppressed after only a few breaths.

The three formed a triangular formation. The one in the middle spoke, "Three Talents Frost Condensing Array. It traps the spirit and locks the meridians."

As the words fell, ice cones descended from the sky, and ice pillars rose from the ground. I couldn't dodge in time. My left shoulder was grazed, and a sharp pain shot through it.

I knew I couldn't take this head-on.

I still had half a bottle of Soul Protecting Dew left. I took it out and drank it. My spiritual sense instantly cleared somewhat.

The System interface popped up again: [What is the weakest element in the Three Talents Array?]

Options appeared.

A. Heaven

B. Earth

C. Human

I remembered ancient texts mentioning that among the Three Talents, Heaven leads, Earth bases, and Human controls. The Human element controls the array's operation and is the easiest part to disrupt.

I chose C.

[Correct! Reward issued: one Formation Breaking Nail]

A short black nail appeared in my hand, heavy to the touch.

I stared at the central Cold General, waiting for him to form seals again. I suddenly charged out. The spirit beast cooperated, attacking from the flank, forcing him to divide his attention.

I took the opportunity to circle behind him and fiercely drove the Formation Breaking Nail into the spiritual acupoint on his lower back.

The man grunted, and the array's rhythm was broken. The two on the sides faltered, and the ice pillars began to disintegrate.

I swept my saber horizontally, the blade skimming the ground, cutting the ice layer beneath their feet. The two lost their balance, and the formation completely collapsed.

The three looked at each other, withdrew their hands, and retreated.

I didn't chase.

I sat down by the stone platform, my fingers trembling slightly. Blood began to seep from my wound, staining my Daoist Robe on the left shoulder.

The spirit beast lay beside me, panting heavily.

The sun was setting, its light slanting into the valley floor. There was movement in the distance again.

A figure wreathed in arcs of electricity strode forward. A Lightning Kylin Beast, lightning flaring with each step it took.

It stood at the valley entrance, looking up at me. "Can you still fight?"

"Yes," I replied, standing up and holding Flowing Abyss horizontally in front of me.

It chuckled and charged.

Its speed was so great I could barely see its shadow. I could only rely on my spiritual sense to track its direction, managing a clumsy block. Each collision sent a numb ache up my arm, and the lightning energy surged along the blade into my meridians, causing unbearable pain.

After more than ten exchanges, I was hit on the shoulder blade by a claw, blood streaming down my back.

It stepped back, shaking the blood from its claws. "You're done for."

I didn't answer, instead staring at the dancing arcs of electricity above its head.

The System was still there. Maybe I could try one more time.

I silently asked in my mind: Are there any weaknesses related to lightning elementals?

A few seconds later, the System responded: [What do lightning elementals fear most? Time limit: twenty breaths]

Options appeared.

A. Water B. Fire C. Wood D. Metal

I remembered one of the Five Elements' counter-relationships – Wood gives birth to Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, Metal overcomes Wood. But lightning is Metal, so theoretically, it should fear Fire.

However, this Lightning Kylin Beast clearly wasn't afraid of high temperatures.

I thought of another saying – lightning strikes from the heavens, striking high places. If I could guide the lightning to backfire on it...

I chose C, Wood.

[Answer is not entirely correct, but triggered a special judgment. Reward: One Lightning Guiding Needle]

A slender silver needle landed in my palm, a leaf pattern carved into its base.

I raised my hand and tossed the needle into the air.

When the Lightning Guiding Needle reached a height of thirty feet, the clouds in the sky churned, and a bolt of lightning struck, hitting the needle's tip precisely.

The current traveled down the needle, but instead of grounding, it formed a circuit in the air, striking the Lightning Kylin Beast from above.

It let out a scream, its body charred black, limbs twitching.

I didn't stop. I mobilized the last trace of spiritual power in my Dantian and unleashed the third form of the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Art, "Wave Breaking Style."

Flowing Abyss erupted with a grayish-blue light, its blade flashing like a waterfall as it swept out.

The Lightning Kylin Beast was sent flying back over thirty feet by the attack, crashing into two ancient trees. It struggled a few times but couldn't get back up.

It lay on the ground, gasping for breath. "Who... exactly are you?"

I didn't answer, sheathed my blade, and walked back to the stone platform.

The sun had completely set, leaving only the afterglow in the valley, illuminating the bloodstains.

I sat down by the stone platform again, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. My fingertips were stained with blood, making them a little slippery.

The spirit beast lay at my feet, no longer moving.

In the distant woods, several figures stood watching. They hadn't entered, nor had they left.

I knew they were still watching.

I also knew that as long as I was still standing, it wouldn't be over.

The blood on my sword hilt slowly dripped down, hitting the stone platform and carving a small pit.

The next second, footsteps sounded from the southwest corner.