Joining forces

Once Wang Yu saw the Dwarf's face clearly, his heart sank.

At the mention of the "Firebird Li Clan" and "Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Wood," the Masked Young Man's gaze darkened as well.

Just then, a rustling came from the woods behind the Dwarf. An enormous Filth-Bone Fish, over ten feet long and with six legs beneath its belly, crawled out. An Old Woman in brightly colored clothes, her hair gray, lay on its back.

It was none other than Madam Yin.

At that moment, she lay facedown on the enormous Filth-Bone Fish's back, utterly motionless, like a corpse.

Wang Yu's expression changed again at the sight.

"Anyone who dares covet the Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Wood must die!"

The Masked Young Man spoke each word distinctly. The instant he finished, he shot toward the Dwarf like a crossbow bolt.

"Hahaha! A mere brat who's only just formed his spirit root dares attack me? Since you're a remnant of the Li Household, I'm entitled to a windfall!" The Dwarf burst into wild laughter. He slapped the Black Leather Pouch at his waist with one hand, and a great mass of black vapor flew out.

Within the swirling black vapor, a dozen or so Filth-Bone Fish flickered in and out of view, surrounding the Masked Young Man and lunging at him with snapping jaws.

The Masked Young Man whirled his Long Spear in an impenetrable defense, blocking every one of the Filth-Bone Fish.

Wang Yu watched the fierce battle, then glanced at Madam Yin on the back of the enormous mutant Filth-Bone Fish, his expression shifting uncertainly.

"Boy, since you know about the Li Household remnant too, you can leave your little life here as well," the Dwarf said carelessly, casting Wang Yu a sidelong glance.

Then he shook both arms. The two Golden Rings on them rose into the air, turning into two streaks of golden light that hurtled down at Wang Yu's and the Masked Young Man's heads. At the same time, his hands rapidly formed seals, and he muttered an incantation.

Bang!

Without thinking, Wang Yu raised the Iron Shield in his hand to block. The next instant, a dull impact rang out. His body swayed, and both feet sank more than a foot into the ground.

Alarm surged through him. The long saber in his other hand slashed out like lightning, only to strike empty air.

The Golden Ring spun once, then swiftly swept around behind him and smashed toward him again.

Left with no choice, Wang Yu could only swing the Iron Shield behind his back.

Bang!

Another dull impact sounded. He staggered two steps forward, but when he swept his saber backward, the slash missed again.

The Golden Ring flew ceaselessly, as slippery as a living creature, circling Wang Yu and attacking him relentlessly. Every blow carried tremendous force.

In just a few breaths, it had battered Wang Yu into staggering this way and that. He could only evade, with no chance to fight back.

Had his body not been far tougher than an ordinary person's, and had Overclocking mode not given him sharp eyes and swift hands, he would probably have been smashed into pulp within a few blows.

This was the "Artifact Control Technique" mentioned in Daoist Chongyun's notes-a deadly weapon only late Qi Refining immortal cultivators could master!

Shocked and furious, Wang Yu hurriedly stole a glance toward the Masked Young Man.

Over there, billowing black vapor had completely engulfed the Masked Young Man, while the other Golden Ring flitted left and right within it, appearing and vanishing like a ghost.

Clangs and crashes mingled with the shrill cries of the Filth-Bone Fish, rising one after another without pause.

Wang Yu sucked in a cold breath.

This "Li Household remnant" was in a far worse predicament than he was.

Fortunately, the Dwarf seemed to be wholly occupied with controlling the two Golden Rings. He stood motionless, unable even to spare the attention needed to send the giant Filth-Bone Fish into the attack.

At this thought, Wang Yu's mind raced under Overclocking. Before he could act, however, the Masked Young Man suddenly gave a low shout:

"Come, fire!"

A soft whoosh sounded.

A blaze shot skyward from the black vapor. A thick Fire Serpent could faintly be seen thrashing wildly, sweeping away all the surrounding black vapor in the blink of an eye. The dozen or so Filth-Bone Fish dissolved into wisps of smoke amid the flames.

The Golden Ring was also sent flying dozens of feet backward by a vicious strike from the Fire Serpent.

The Fire Serpent then swung its body and soared straight toward the Dwarf, with the Masked Young Man faintly visible behind it.

After a moment's stunned pause, Wang Yu hastily looked closer. Only then did he realize that it was no Fire Serpent at all, but the Crimson Long Spear from earlier. Now, flames surged over its entire length, making it resemble a weapon of Gods and Devils.

Gripping the spear with both hands, the Masked Young Man charged through a shroud of fire. In a few swift movements, he reached the Dwarf and began whirling the flaming spear in wild, sweeping arcs.

Great waves of flame surged out, engulfing the Dwarf in an instant. Fire blazed skyward all around him, and the temperature soared.

The Masked Young Man kept his spear moving, but beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead. He seemed to be straining terribly.

"Is that all the legendary Firebird Bloodline of the Li Household can do? How disappointing."

The Dwarf's mocking voice suddenly rang out from within the flames.

The next instant, billowing black vapor appeared at the center of the blaze, surging dozens of feet high. Wherever it passed, the fire died out. In the blink of an eye, it had smothered every last trace of flame.

The Dwarf's figure slowly emerged within the black vapor, one hand forming a seal and the other supporting the Black Leather Pouch.

The Black Leather Pouch was continuously spewing dense black vapor.

"A mere rogue cultivator dares belittle our Li Household's bloodline!" The Masked Young Man's face paled. He tried to say more, but suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The flames covering his spear swiftly vanished.

At the sight, the Dwarf chuckled sinisterly and was about to activate the Magical Artifact in his hand again to capture the Masked Young Man, when he suddenly heard a whistling sound.

The next instant, a streak of Black Light came howling from afar. With a blur, it crashed toward him on a vicious gust of wind.

"You're courting death!"

Rage flashed across the Dwarf's face. He activated his hand seal, and the surrounding black vapor surged together before him, transforming into an enormous hand the size of a water vat that snatched the Black Light.

Boom!

The enormous black hand shattered into billowing mist. Yet after shuddering a few times, the Black Light was forcibly stopped by the remaining black vapor. It halted right before the Dwarf, revealing its true form.

It was a small Iron Shield!

When Wang Yu sensed that the Golden Ring attacking him so furiously had suddenly become slow and sluggish, he had hurled the Iron Shield with all his strength without a second thought.

Now, seeing the Dwarf stop the Iron Shield so easily, his heart jolted. Yet he suddenly darted backward, reached out, and forcibly seized the Golden Ring circling slowly nearby.

A buzzing rang out.

The Golden Ring writhed wildly in his grip as though alive, jerking left and right.

But Wang Yu gave a low roar. The arm gripping the Golden Ring swelled to twice its girth, shredding his sleeve and exposing a bare arm covered in bulging veins.

The Golden Ring, which had still been able to move, was immediately pinned fast in his palm by immense strength. It could only tremble faintly in defiance, no longer able to move freely.

"You dare touch my Magical Artifact!"

Seeing this from afar, the Dwarf flew into a rage. He shook the Black Leather Pouch in his hand, about to activate something.

But just then, the Masked Young Man shot the Dwarf a vicious look and tore the mask from his face, revealing a lifelike Firebird Tattoo.

"Fire Phoenix Engulfs the Plains!"

The Masked Young Man's voice suddenly became extraordinarily hoarse, but the words he spoke were icy cold.