"If you insist on seeking your own death, you can't blame me. Taste the power of my Jadefire Blade."
Xu Yan snorted coldly and raised his hand, sending an incomplete short blade of archaic design flying out. Jade-green flames blazed across it, and the moment it flew out, the temperature nearby rose sharply.
Feeling the heat, Xin Ruoyin and Xiao Mei hurriedly retreated, afraid of getting caught in the attack. Hovering in midair, Lin He felt his mouth go dry and was secretly alarmed. Without a second thought, he took out his Black Iron Flying Shield and put on his Fire-Repelling Armor, which offered strong protection against fire attacks.
The small shield immediately expanded as soon as it left his hand, becoming a shield that blocked the space in front of Lin He. The Jadefire Blade was extraordinarily sharp. With just one slash, the short blade left a deep gouge in the shield. The entire shield shuddered under the heavy blow, then began to wobble precariously.
Fortunately, the small shield was agile enough to shake off much of the force through its constant movement. Otherwise, that single slash might have cleaved it in two.
Lin He beckoned, and the shield immediately shrank and flew back to him. He looked at the deep gouge with a pang of regret, then put it away in his Storage Bag.
Lin He beckoned, and the shield immediately shrank and flew back to him. He looked at the deep gouge with a pang of regret, then put it away in his Storage Bag.
With the small shield out of its way, the Jadefire Blade drove straight in and immediately reached the space above Lin He's head. At that moment, his Fire-Repelling Armor generated a red Protective Shield to block it.
This Fire-Repelling Armor suited Lin He's Metal-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots. Its defense against fire attacks was formidable, not much weaker than an Exquisite Top-Tier Defensive Magical Artifact. This time, however, something unexpected happened.
The short blade struck the red Protective Shield viciously, making it shake violently. The jade-green flames seized the opportunity to spread. These flames were truly bizarre, enveloping the entire red Protective Shield. After a series of crackling sounds, Lin He discovered to his astonishment that his red Protective Shield was being eaten away bit by bit, growing ever more fragile.
"It can actually devour spiritual power!" The discovery made Lin He's expression turn grim. He finally stopped holding back and raised his hand, deploying his strongest defensive magical artifact-the Yellow Gauze Umbrella.
The Yellow Gauze Umbrella was an Exquisite Top-Tier Defensive Magical Artifact with outstanding defensive capabilities. Its protection had allowed Feng Yue to stand undefeated among low-level cultivators.
As he put away the Fire-Repelling Armor, a yellow sphere of light immediately enveloped Lin He. Sure enough, the short blade descended the next instant and slammed viciously into the sphere. The jade-green flames came surging down as well, causing a series of violent explosions across its surface. Even so, the Yellow Gauze Umbrella did not collapse. Instead, it spun continuously to shed the force, reflecting part of the short blade's power back at it and finally weathering this assault.
The jade-green flames were also completely blocked outside the Yellow Gauze Umbrella, unable to burn Lin He himself.
Watching the Jadefire Blade rebound, Xu Yan gave a soft exclamation of surprise. He had fully expected this attack to at least grievously wound his opponent and make him suffer, even if it could not kill him on the spot.
"Gladly take it? You want my magical artifact? Just because of that Magic Treasure Fragment you used a moment ago?"
"Take it off me? You want my magical artifact? With nothing but that magic treasure fragment you just used?"
Seeing that the short blade's power far surpassed that of ordinary magical artifacts, Lin He had spoken to test him.
Sure enough, Xu Yan's expression changed at the words "magic treasure fragment." Then he said darkly, "I didn't expect you to recognize it. In that case, I have all the more reason not to let you leave alive."
The power of this magic treasure fragment fell far short of a complete magic treasure, but it was much stronger than an ordinary Top-Tier Magical Artifact. If one had to make a comparison, it was like a Talisman Treasure that could be used without limit.
A Talisman Treasure possessed only a tenth of a magic treasure's power, and its number of uses was limited. The power of a magic treasure fragment was harder to judge, depending on how badly damaged it was. Yet even if both possessed only a tenth of a magic treasure's power, the fragment could be used indefinitely as long as its wielder had sufficient magical power, whereas a Talisman Treasure would disappear after only three or four uses. Which was superior needed no explanation.
If other cultivators learned that Xu Yan possessed such a magic treasure fragment, it would likely bring him considerable trouble, even with someone backing him. Thus, Lin He's words only deepened Xu Yan's murderous intent.
"Die!"
Strangely, after saying this, Xu Yan did not direct the Jadefire Blade to attack again. Instead, he looked at Lin He as though he were already a corpse.
A peculiar look crossed Lin He's face. He was all too familiar with that gaze. During the Forbidden Land Trial, he had looked at quite a few people that way himself. It was the look he wore before launching a sneak attack-only now, he was the one on the receiving end.
Instinctively, Lin He activated the Cloud-Treading Boots on his feet. This Top-Tier Auxiliary Magical Artifact truly was exceptional. With a single movement, he traveled seventy or eighty feet in the space of one breath. A golden-furred ape suddenly appeared where he had been standing, its hand still poised to rip out his heart.
"A Level Two Demon Beast, a Golden-Eyed Ape!"
Lin He's face was dark as storm clouds. Had he not been cautious, recognized his opponent's expression, and possessed a Top-Tier Auxiliary Magical Artifact like the Cloud-Treading Boots, he would probably have met his end right there.
The golden-furred ape seemed deeply displeased by the failed ambush. He bared his teeth at Lin He in a fit of irritation, quite befitting a unruly monkey. Then he took out a magical artifact resembling a veil and draped it over his head. A bizarre sight followed: the golden-furred ape vanished again. No matter how Lin He searched with his spiritual sense, he could find no trace of him.
Lin He frowned and was about to take countermeasures, but Xu Yan gave him no time. He pointed at the Jadefire Blade beside him, and the short blade came hurtling toward Lin He again.
Lin He barely had time to activate the Yellow Gauze Umbrella before the short blade attacked again, wreathed in jade-green flames. The Golden-Eyed Ape suddenly appeared and threw a fierce punch at the Yellow Gauze Umbrella. Demon beasts already possessed tough, powerful bodies, and the Golden-Eyed Ape was especially adept at close combat. Lin He felt an immense force crash into him and frantically poured magical power into the Yellow Gauze Umbrella, barely keeping his defenses from being breached. Yet once he had blocked the attack and was ready to retaliate-
The Golden-Eyed Ape pulled a face at him, then draped the veil over his head and vanished again. This underhanded tactic of striking and running left Lin He utterly on the defensive.
Off to the side, Xin Ruoyin and Xiao Mei had already been stunned by the words "magic treasure fragment." Now, with a Golden-Eyed Ape helping Xu Yan, appearing and disappearing without a trace, even they could tell that Lin He was at an overwhelming disadvantage.
"Miss, should we run?"
At a loss, Xiao Mei asked the question, but Xin Ruoyin gritted her teeth and shook her head.
"This senior risked his life to save us. How could we simply walk away?" she said.
"Miss, while this senior is keeping him occupied, we can still escape. If we wait any longer, we won't be able to run even if we want to."
Concerned for her young mistress's safety, Xiao Mei was deeply worried. Xin Ruoyin, however, was much calmer. She looked at Xiao Mei and said solemnly,
"We'll return to the Residence immediately and activate the Grand Array. Even if we can't kill him, we can at least hold him back a little and ease the pressure on this senior."
Without waiting for Xiao Mei to agree, she ran toward the Residence. Xiao Mei had no choice but to follow. Yet the two had not gone far when a vicious voice rang out.
"Little girl, take one more step, and I'll kill your maid first."
Xin Ruoyin's expression changed drastically. Looking back, she saw that Xu Yan was indeed watching her out of the corner of his eye while controlling the Jadefire Blade. His threat could not have been clearer.
Xin Ruoyin no longer dared move. She caught hold of Xiao Mei and stopped. She had not expected Xu Yan to be able to spare attention for her actions in the midst of such a fierce battle. He also seemed to have seen through her intentions. Under these circumstances, she naturally did not dare make any rash moves.
Seeing Xin Ruoyin behave so obediently, Xu Yan was thoroughly satisfied. He turned back toward Lin He, preparing to deal the fatal blow. Just then, Lin He suddenly stared at him with a strange smile.