The cultivation method Jiang Xunzhen practiced was the Qi Refining Stage preliminary method from the "True Interpretation of the Vermilion Crow Bathing in Fire," which led straight to the golden core.
Although the Qi Refining Stage preliminary method could not compare with the profundities of the stages after Foundation Establishment, it was just as intricate.
At that moment, Jiang Xunzhen let out a thunderous shout, and the enormous fire shuttle took shape, its vast flaming power billowing upward.
Everything that came close to him melted under the terrifying heat.
Poison vines, poisonous mist, pink flowers...
When the staff-wielding elder saw this and sensed the powerful flames and fluctuations of Law Power surging around the fire shuttle, he retreated at once without another word.
"Go!"
Jiang Xunzhen's face was pale from the tremendous amount of Law Power he had expended. Seeing the elder about to flee, he smiled coldly.
Then he pointed two fingers at him.
The fire shuttle became a crimson meteor, trailing a long tail of flame as it sped toward the elder, who had leaped high into the air a short distance behind the center of the poison vines and was about to summon some kind of flying Law Artifact to escape.
The fire shuttle was incredibly fast.
In the blink of an eye, it shot through the air and reached the elder's back.
Sensing the vast power of the flames behind him, the elder knew he could not escape. He retreated decisively while swinging his wooden staff with all his might, the Law Power in his body surging out like a tide.
"Junior, do you truly think this old man fears you?"
The elder's face twisted savagely as he sent his wooden staff crashing straight into the fire shuttle. When the two collided, their immense Law Power clashed, sending one massive shockwave after another surging out and leaving the valley scarred and ravaged.
It was hardly surprising that a clash of Law Techniques on such a scale caused widespread destruction.
The others, afraid of being caught in the aftermath, retreated as well. But as soon as they reached a safe distance, Lu Zhiyuan gave a vicious laugh and swung his golden mace down at the heads of the two Heart-Eroding Stronghold cultivators.
As an earth-aspect cultivator, he had considerably more Law Power than the others. With Chen Shuangbai's enhancement as well, Lu Zhiyuan naturally still had strength to spare.
But the two Heart-Eroding Stronghold cultivators were no pushovers either.
They exchanged a glance. Veterans of many battles, they knew that while earth-aspect cultivators were strong and well defended, they lacked agility.
The taller Devil Cultivator glanced at his companion and said, "You go deal with that brat..."
Clearly, he had seen that Chen Shuangbai was wounded and wanted to take his life while he was vulnerable.
But Lu Zhiyuan had no intention of giving them the chance.
"Trying to split up? Did you ask your grandpa Lu first?"
Eyes blazing, Lu Zhiyuan roared and brought his golden mace down between the two of them, a fierce wind howling in its wake.
Earth-yellow spiritual light surged from the mace, and the faint images of mountain ranges appeared. A pressure as heavy as a mountain locked onto both men, leaving them rooted to the spot for a moment.
"Junior Brother Chen, now!"
Lu Zhiyuan roared again.
Chen Shuangbai understood at once. He formed another Sweet Dew Incantation and sent it across the distance to Jiang Xunzhen.
Jiang Xunzhen, who had been exhausted, felt his Law Power surge anew with the Sweet Dew Incantation. A smile spread across his face, and he shouted, "Many thanks, Junior Brother Chen!"
"Die, demonic sect beast!"
Bolstered by the fresh Law Power, the giant fire shuttle immediately broke the stalemate. It burst through the poison vines conjured from the elder's wooden staff and crashed down like a crimson meteor.
"No!"
The elder's face filled with terror as he watched the giant fire shuttle descend upon him, but all he could do was watch it fall, threatening to burn him to ashes.
At death's door,
the elder let out a piercing howl.
"You want me dead? Then let's die together!"
"Ten Thousand Poisons Explosion!"
The elder's body exploded apart, and a vast cloud of dark green poisonous mist burst from within him. Countless python-like poison vines erupted from it, attacking indiscriminately in every direction like a flood freed from its restraints.
The fire shuttle burned away a large portion of the poison vines, but Jiang Xunzhen had forced himself to unleash the technique, and his Law Power was exhausted. He could no longer sustain the shuttle.
Jiang Xunzhen also fell heavily from midair, feeling as though his entire body was about to break apart.
But the poison vines, wantonly strangling the life within the valley, would not stop. In an instant, they swept out to kill in every direction, but just then, Chen Shuangbai acted once more.
He rose to his feet and circulated the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method, stabilizing his injuries. Drawing on the water in the pool, he formed two whips of water and pulled Jiang Xunzhen and Lu Zhiyuan in front of him. At the same time, he took the Cold Spring Sword in hand and poured Law Power into it madly.
"Senior Brother Lu, help me!"
Seeing the poison vines bearing down from all directions and strangling everything in their path, Lu Zhiyuan knew it was time to risk his life. He took a talisman from his robes, flung it into the air, and activated it with his Law Power.
An earth-yellow curtain of light covered the three of them, temporarily blocking the poison vines as they lashed toward them.
But after just three breaths,
blood was already flowing from the corner of Lu Zhiyuan's mouth, a clear sign of how great the pressure was.
Chen Shuangbai's gaze remained calm. With Cold Spring in hand, he executed the third move of the Spring Rain and Flowering Wood Sword Instruction he practiced.
"Listening to the Rain in a Lotus Boat!"
The Spring Rain and Flowering Wood Sword Instruction had six moves, and Chen Shuangbai had mastered only three so far. This one was a defensive sword move.
With Chen Shuangbai at its center, the sword force unfolded, spreading in all directions like ripples. But it spread for only an instant before drawing inward and spiraling around itself, layer upon layer, like countless lotus leaves unfurling and overlapping in the wind and rain.
Finally, under Chen Shuangbai's control, the countless lotus leaves formed from Sword Qi overlapped. A wooden boat suddenly took shape, enclosing the three of them and standing between them and the poison vines.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
Dozens of poison vines lashed at them, only to be stopped by the ceaselessly flowing spiritual light upon the lotus boat, gentle yet tenacious.
With the help of Lu Zhiyuan's talisman, they held out for roughly a few breaths. The elder was dead, and the poison vines had lost their source; in the end, they dissolved into formless Spiritual Qi and dissipated.
Lu Zhiyuan was exhausted. Unable to sustain the talisman any longer, he too collapsed to the ground.
But Chen Shuangbai still could not fall.
Although the poison vines had dissipated, quite a lot of the poisonous mist that filled the valley remained.
With the last of his Law Power, Chen Shuangbai summoned the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch, dragged the other two onto it, and flew to a place outside the valley where the air circulated freely.
Only after making sure the poisonous mist would not spread to them did Chen Shuangbai let out a long breath. He dropped ungracefully onto the ground and exchanged smiles with Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Xunzhen.
"Hahahaha!"
After the hearty laughter, Jiang Xunzhen recovered a little strength and took the pill Chen Shuangbai handed him. Slowly regulating his breathing, he began to recover, marveling that he had actually defeated a cultivator a minor realm above him in this battle.
Lu Zhiyuan said, "It's just a pity we let two demonic beasts escape."
Chen Shuangbai said, "What we managed to do was already remarkable. Senior Brothers, you mustn't belittle yourselves."
It might have been better if he had kept quiet.
The moment he spoke, both men turned slightly admiring gazes on him.
Lu Zhiyuan said with feeling, "Before we came out, I was thinking I'd have to keep you safe, Junior Brother. I never expected your Law Techniques to be so skillful, and that enhancement was a marvel among marvels."
Jiang Xunzhen added, "If not for the enhancement from your incantation, Junior Brother Chen, I certainly couldn't have dealt with that old dog, much less turned the tables and killed him."
"Junior Brother Chen, you deserve tremendous credit for this battle!"