Lin Yan took a deep breath, knowing that the final test had arrived. He couldn't give up; only by defeating these guardians could he get closer to the inherited entity.
Beneath his feet, three Soul Ring —purple, black, and purple—rose in succession, emitting a chilling light. The Blue Silver · Sword Leaf instantly appeared in his hand, its blade pointing at the three energy guardians.
"I'm sorry, but this item is extremely important to me; I must have it."
Before the words were even finished, the three energy guardians moved simultaneously. Their speed was astonishing; they transformed into three streaks of green light, attacking Lin Yan from three different directions. Energy spears thrust out, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air. Green light condensed at the spear tips, containing terrifying life energy—but this energy was not for nourishment, but for annihilation!
Lin Yan's pupils contracted, and he activated the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its limit, his figure as ethereal as smoke, dodging the two gunshots in the blink of an eye. At the same time, he flicked his wrist, and the Blue Silver · Sword Leaf drew a perfect arc.
" Tai Chi Sword Technique, Cloud Hands!"
A sword circle formed, trapping the third incoming energy spear. The guard felt as if the spear was stuck in quagmire, its power redirected and deflected. Lin Yan followed suit, and the spear involuntarily changed direction, colliding with another pursuing spear!
"Boom!"
The two energies collided, producing a muffled sound and scattering green light.
But the third guard's attack had already arrived, his spear aimed straight at Lin Yan's back. Without turning his head, Lin Yan countered with a backhand strike, using the " Su Qin Carries the Sword on His Back " technique from Tai Chi Sword Technique, precisely striking the side of the spear tip.
"Bite!"
With a crisp ringing sound, the energy spear was deflected, grazing past Lin Yan's body.
The exchange happened in the blink of an eye. Although Lin Yan was in grave danger, he managed to defuse the first round of attacks with his exquisite Tai Chi Sword Technique. However, he knew that prolonged defense would lead to defeat, and he had to take the initiative to find an opening.
" Scale-Leaf Light Rain!" The Second Soul Skill erupted, and countless sharp leaves shot towards the three guards like a storm, attempting to disrupt their movements and energy gathering.
The guards were surrounded by a green light, forming energy shields that blocked most of the scales, but the relentless attacks also momentarily slowed their movements.
Now!
Lin Yan's gaze locked onto one of the guards whose energy fluctuations were slightly disordered due to blocking the scales and leaves. The Third Soul Ring, that black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, suddenly shone brightly!
" Blue Silver · Sword Leaf, break!"
He pushed his Soul Power and Tai Chi Sword Intent to their limits, becoming one with the sword, transforming into a blue streak that tore through the darkness, piercing straight at the core of the guard—the leaping green flame in his chest!
Sensing a deadly threat, the guard frantically channeled his energy into his spear, attempting to meet the attack head-on.
"Puff--!"
The blue sword tip clashed with the green spear tip! There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a soft sound like tearing silk. The highly condensed Blue Silver · Sword Leaf, combined with the penetrating power of the Tai Chi Sword Technique technique and the domineering power of the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, instantly shattered the energy spear's defense. The sword's edge plunged straight in, precisely striking the ball of green flame!
"Buzz..."
The guard's body trembled violently, and the vines and light threads that made up its body instantly collapsed, turning into the purest life energy that dissipated. The green flame at its core flickered a few times before going out completely.
One strike, one kill!
The other two guards roared silently, their attacks becoming even more frenzied. Their spears swirled like wheels, creating whirlwinds of green energy that enveloped Lin Yan.
Lin Yan was slightly out of breath; that last sword strike had taken a toll on him. But his eyes remained calm. He used profound footwork, and his Blue Silver · Sword Leaf circled, pointed, guided, and neutralized attacks, fully demonstrating the defensive capabilities of the Tai Chi Sword Technique. No matter how fierce the opponent's attacks were, he remained unmoved, like a rock in a raging torrent.
He waited, waiting for the next opportunity. At the same time, he was also carefully observing the behavior patterns and mental connections of these energy guardians.
Finally, he discovered an extremely subtle delay in the energy transfer between them. When one guard launched a powerful attack, the energy of the other guard would momentarily shift slightly to support it, causing a momentary weakness in its own defenses.
"Now!"
As one of the guards gathered energy again and unleashed a massive green spear beam, Lin Yan moved. He didn't try to block the spear beam head-on; instead, his figure slid sideways like Gui Mei, aiming directly at another guard whose defenses were slightly weakened due to the energy transfer!
" Illusory Color Concealment!" His First Soul Skill was activated, and his figure suddenly disappeared.
The guard was taken aback, having lost sight of his target.
The next moment, Lin Yan appeared beside it as if emerging from the void, his Blue Silver · Sword Leaf piercing towards the green flames in its chest with unwavering determination!
"Puff!"
Second guard, eliminated!
Seeing his companions destroyed one after another, the last guard emitted a wave of grief and anger. He burned all his energy recklessly, transforming into a huge green pillar of light that rushed towards Lin Yan, a desperate attempt to take him down with him!
Faced with this attack that had gathered all his remaining power, Lin Yan's expression was solemn, but he did not retreat. He gripped the sword with both hands and poured all his Soul Power into the Blue Silver · Sword Leaf. The dark patterns on the sword seemed to come alive and emitted a deep hum.
Instead of confronting him head-on, he held his sword upright in front of him, the tip trembling slightly as he drew one layer upon another of intersecting Tai Chi Sword.
" Tai Chi... Wuji!"
A green beam of destructive light slammed into the seemingly gentle sword circle, the violent energy being broken down, guided, and weakened layer by layer. Lin Yan's body trembled violently, his tiger's mouth split open, blood staining the sword hilt, but his eyes were firm, his steps were as steady as Boulder, and the sword circle in his hand continued to spin stubbornly.
Finally, the destructive beam of light energy was completely deflected and deflected, striking the surrounding rock walls and causing an earthquake, but it failed to harm Lin Yan in the slightest.
The pillar of light dissipated, and the last energy guardian also exhausted its power, its form slowly dissipating and turning into pure energy specks.
Lin Yan leaned on his sword, panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat, his Soul Power greatly depleted. But he couldn't afford to rest, his gaze fixed intently on the unharmed sapling of light in the center of the altar— the Tree of Eternity's Inheritance Vessel.
He walked step by step onto the altar, and the closer he got, the more he could feel the vast yet gentle life force, as well as the strange Daoist charm that connected and coexisted with all things.
When he finally stood before the inheritor, the small tree of light seemed to sense it, swaying gently. Green stardust from its crown fell and merged into Lin Yan's body. Instantly, he felt his depleted Soul Power and physical strength rapidly recovering, and even the wounds on his hands began to heal.
An ancient and vague piece of information, accompanied by incomparably pure Life Origin energy, slowly flowed into Lin Yan's mind, resonating with his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul at the deepest level.
Without hesitation, Lin Yan sat cross-legged on the altar, relaxed his mind and body, and guided this power to begin absorbing this unprecedented Fourth Soul Ring.