Life-Bound
The Daoist Mu bent his fingers into claws, like twisted, gnarled old tree roots, and fiercely pierced Hua Chunning's heart, drawing life force from it.
Xue Changfeng waved the apricot-yellow flag in his hand, and it swept away Hua Chunning's head.
"Wrong!"
The Daoist Mu frowned.
Hua Chunning's life force was barely a thin layer, even weaker than that of her own puppet.
Xue Changfeng removed Hua Chunning's head, but couldn't find the radiant mark. He sensed something was wrong. "It's an illusion!"
The two immediately withdrew.
Hua Chunning appeared in mid-air, peach blossoms falling from her body, obscuring her figure, and softly murmured:
"[I said spring would come early, but why haven't I seen spring yet?]"
The [Wu Earth] formation has been removed, but it has also stirred up the earth's energy.
Both Daoist Mu and Hua Chunning practiced wood magic, and their spiritual energy scattered during their battle.
But as Hua Chunning finished speaking, the chaotic thoughts suddenly paused, and then the earth's energy subsided and life force burst forth, showing some signs of Yang Spring.
Hua Chunning was able to enter the Dao through Qi Ingestion thanks to Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain's manipulation of the timing in the [Wu Earth Secret Realm].
Hua Chunning, though lacking the power to manipulate the heavens, could still mimic some of the Daoist principles, using the immense Law Power of the [Azure Yang Peach Ascension Talisman] to make the Manifestation of this small battlefield more favorable to her.
Xue Changfeng is merely relying on his Law Artifact to show off his power; he is not a threat.
On the contrary, this Daoist Mu is ruthless and vicious. He can even create human puppets and cultivate wood magic, which can steal people's life force, making him a greater threat.
Therefore, Hua Chunning ignored Xue Changfeng and instead focused her attention on the Daoist Mu, pointing at him from afar and softly chanting:
"[Little Peach, around three or four o'clock, should report to the destined one]"
The Daoist Mu, practicing the Wood Method, could naturally sense the burgeoning Spring Qi, and his own Qi was increasing. However, he felt no joy; instead, he was shaken. "The Old Method are truly terrifying! A mere Qi Refining cultivator possesses such power!"
Peach branches, no more than two inches long, grew out of the Daoist Mu's body, with three or four peach blossoms just beginning to bloom on the branches.
The Daoist Mu's gaze sharpened, and he reached out to pluck a branch, only to feel a sharp pain, as if he had broken his own finger. His expression immediately changed, and he quickly pulled out several talismans to activate them, but they had little effect.
Springtime brings forth lush trees and blossoming branches; this is the natural order of things.
Although talismans are wondrous, they cannot defy the laws of heaven and earth.
Seeing that she had succeeded in her first move, Hua Chunning's expression softened slightly. She then showed no mercy, gripping the peach branch tightly and softly chanting:
"[A tree in full bloom, alone in its fragrant season]"
Wherever the Daoist Mu's body was once stained with peach blossoms, new branches sprouted and peach blossoms bloomed.
The life force that sustains this body covered in peach blossoms must be obtained by encroaching on the life force of the Daoist Mu himself.
The Daoist Mu's flesh was withered and shriveled, his hair was dry and yellow, and he was visibly beginning to age.
This is the Spring Seasonal Method, which evolved from the Spring Phenological Periods [Peach Blossoms First Bloom].
"What a troublesome Old Method!" Daoist Mu frowned deeply as he looked at the peach blossoms growing on his fingertips.
On the other side, Xue Changfeng remained uninvolved, but his face was full of anger and his whole body was trembling.
"How dare that bitch look down on me!"
When Xue Changfeng saw Hua Chunning's clumsy imitation of the [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron], it immediately stirred up old grudges.
What angered Xue Changfeng even more was that Hua Chunning relentlessly pursued and killed Daoist Mu, without even glancing at him!
"Fellow Daoist Mu, step back! I'll kill her!"
Xue Changfeng roared angrily, waving the apricot-yellow flag in his hand, stirring up sand and gravel that crashed down, directly breaking Hua Chunning's illusion that concealed her figure, forcing Hua Chunning to temporarily put down the Daoist Mu and withdraw to avoid it.
"You despicable woman deserve to die! I'm the one who should be your opponent!"
Having succeeded in his first move, Xue Changfeng did not hesitate any longer and continued his attack.
[Wu Earth] is heavy and tends to intimidate others with its power.
Let alone the frail peach blossom, even [Yi Wood] fears being buried by soil and crushed by stones.
Hua Chunning naturally knew the Daoist tradition to be restrained. Facing the overwhelming earth and rocks, her gaze turned slightly cold, and she gently touched her forehead with her right index finger.
In an instant, the rosy clouds burst forth.
The dust, rocks, and gravel that filled the sky melted away when they met the glow of the sunset.
On the contrary, the glow of the sunset seemed to have been nourished, becoming even more radiant and dazzling.
[Wu Earth] is earth on the ground and clouds in the sky.
Although they look very different on the outside, they are similar on the inside.
However, there is a distinction between upper and lower levels.
[Wu Earth] was once held by the [Human Emperor], so it was naturally of unparalleled nobility.
That was a distant memory from the Middle Ages.
The Xue Household of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain are orthodox immortal cultivators, and their most glorious achievement is naturally that Xue Household ancestor Zeng Kongzheng [Rainbow Rosy Clouds] ascended to immortality.
Not only Xue Changfeng, but all the Xue Household members of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, surely believe deep down that the [Rainbow Rosy Clouds Fruition] is more prestigious than the [Wu Earth Fruition].
Seeing the rosy light easily dispel the sand and gravel around him, Xue Changfeng wasn't surprised; on the contrary, he felt it was only natural. His face showed not astonishment, but indignation. "I am a descendant of the Xue family! How can the rosy light side with outsiders?!"
However, that radiant light was only activated by a mark and was not a truly sentient being, so it naturally could not understand Xue Changfeng's grievances and confusion.
Hua Chunning activated the rosy light and swept it away, knocking the apricot-yellow flag from Xue Changfeng's hand.
Xue Changfeng's face was blank, as if his mind and thoughts were blocked by the soil and rocks, unable to function.
On the other side, the Daoist Mu was still dealing with the peach blossoms covering his body. Seeing that Xue Changfeng was useless, but Hua Chunning had finally revealed her last resort, he chuckled and simply gave up cleaning up, letting the peach blossoms bloom on his body and steal his life force.
The peach blossoms, having reached their peak, begin to fade and fall.
The Daoist Mu's vitality was waning; his skin and flesh began to dry up and fall off, making him look extremely terrifying.
Beneath the flesh and blood, however, there was no bone or blood to be seen; instead, a layer of bluish-black bark was visible.
The Daoist Mu shook off his flesh and skin, as if freed from some kind of restraint. He sighed comfortably, revealing his true appearance. Unlike his previous aged appearance, he was now a lean and handsome middle-aged man.
Hua Chunning, as if facing a formidable enemy, asked softly, "Senior, are you Elder Lin Yunqing of the Azure Cloud Sect?!"
"You're smarter than that fool from the Xue Household," Lin Yunqing said with a smile, looking Hua Chunning up and down. "Give me the wooden talisman at your waist, and I'll spare your life, how about it?"
Hua Chunning smiled after hearing this, "Senior just praised me for being smart, how could you try to fool me with such crude words?!"
"That makes sense." Lin Yunqing smiled after hearing this, and said with great interest, "Since you've guessed my identity, why don't you fight or flee?"
Upon hearing Lin Yunqing identify himself, Hua Chunning's heart sank. Although she possessed skill, she was only at the Early Qi Refining and had no confidence in defeating a New Method Foundation Establishment. She smiled and said, "This place isn't far from Supreme Mystery Mountain. Perhaps the one fleeing next will be you, senior."
Lin Yunqing smiled meaningfully, "I'm afraid that's not necessarily true."
He cursed inwardly for Lightless, who had been hiding in the shadows and hadn't shown himself, for not launching a sneak attack as planned.
Although his cultivation level was far superior, he had indeed suffered severe injuries and damage to his foundation.
Even if we manage to subdue this female cultivator, we must still worry about her retaliatory attack before she dies.
Is this elusive, Daoist Lightless planning to let the two fight like the snipe and the clam, while he reaps the benefits?!
Hua Chunning's mind raced upon hearing this, and she became wary. "There are still people hiding in the shadows, hindering the sect's reinforcements!"
"Fine!" Lin Yunqing sighed, a decisive man indeed. "Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to take drastic measures!"
"Although the Old Method of Qi Refining has not yet produced a [Life-Bound Object], the [Yi Wood] Manifestation within this body is still rare and can suppress the injuries, buying some more time!"