Chapter 536 297: Opportunity for Nascent Soul Formation (Part 2)

CLANG!

A crisp sound rang out.

Jia Yujun was completely unscathed. Instead, it was the Red Crow Sword that was sent flying backward.

'This is ridiculous!' Lü Zhong thought.

He had to admit, the Golden Light Spell this Daoist Nun from Qingxu Temple cultivated was truly profound, capable of flawlessly blocking a full-powered strike from his Red Crow Sword.

That was something even he couldn't do.

If he hadn't realized Jia Yujun's move was a deliberate attempt to shatter her opponent's confidence, he would probably have lost much of his will to fight by now.

'As expected of someone from Central Earth. Her combat tactics are more cunning than those of the Southern Barbarians. She understands the principle that attacking the mind is the highest strategy...' Lü Zhong thought, gaining a new appreciation for her strength.

Just as he was thinking this, Jia Yujun made her next move.

With a laugh and a wave of her long sleeve, the golden light around her body dimmed, coalescing into a swarm of small golden swords that rained down on Lü Zhong.

He didn't need to think to know that the small swords were all a variation of the Golden Light Spell.

Even so, the Sword Light was exceptionally fierce, in no way inferior to the techniques of a Sword Cultivator.

Lü Zhong quickly summoned the Flood Dragon Spirit Banner for Defense, moving at high speed to dodge the incoming small swords. At the same time, he activated the Wood Thunder Seal in his Sea of Consciousness, waiting for the right moment to counterattack.

At this moment, a streak of light could be seen twisting through the air, moving with breathtaking speed and grace.

Every so often, a crisp sound would ring out.

It was the even faster small swords striking the Flood Dragon Spirit Banner as it protected its master.

Each time this happened, the small sword would violently explode.

Golden Sword Qi sprayed out in all directions.

When it occasionally fell upon the sandy ground, it would instantly carve deep gouges into the earth.

Just as Jia Yujun focused her Heart and Spirit to activate the Golden Light Spiritual Swords, she suddenly felt a threat approaching. Without a second thought, she flickered out of place and shot backward, simultaneously forming a hand seal and Chanting. She fiercely activated ten Little Golden Radiance Banners, urging them to release even more golden light to protect her body.

In the next instant, countless bolts of lightning materialized out of thin air.

"Ancient Thunder Skill!" A flicker of shock appeared in Jia Yujun's eyes.

Although she had learned from Huayi Temple that Lü Zhong was skilled in Thunder Skills, she had assumed they were just ordinary ones. Seeing this now, she was stunned.

It was a known fact that the Ancient Thunder Skills hadn't been lost due to a lack of power. On the contrary, their power was terrifyingly immense. Compared to the modern, modified Thunder Skills—which came with numerous requirements and restrictions for practice—the ancient versions were leagues more powerful.

She silently revised her assessment of Lü Zhong's strength.

With another obscure incantation, Jia Yujun's figure gradually faded from view.

This was a variation of the Golden Light Spell: Invisibility. This method of becoming invisible was far superior to the standard Invisibility Technique, and even more refined than most Invisibility Secret Skills.

In countless combats, she had relied on this very technique to defeat opponents far stronger than herself.

She was using it now out of caution.

Meanwhile, Lü Zhong had finally destroyed all the Golden Light Spiritual Swords.

It was time to return the favor!

As payback, he condensed over a dozen Spirit Swords of his own.

"Where'd she go?"

Lü Zhong scanned his surroundings, but he couldn't see a trace of her, nor could he detect her with his Divine Sense. Only a nagging premonition warned him that his enemy had not yet left.

'An Invisibility Technique, or something else?'

'Whatever it is, I'll just break it with my Celestial Net Secret Eye Technique.'

As soon as he activated his Celestial Net Secret Eye, he caught sight of Jia Yujun's figure. It was incredibly blurry, however, which proved her method of Invisibility was indeed extraordinary.

"That's enough!"

Lü Zhong let out a cold laugh and pointed forward with a Sword Gesture.

Another series of crisp CLANGS rang out.

A startled and uncertain Jia Yujun reappeared. She was shocked once again, her gaze sweeping over Lü Zhong's eyes. Then, a clear light flashed in her own as her vision locked onto the spot between his eyebrows.

"Y-You... what kind of Spiritual Eye Skill is that?"

"Why don't you guess?" Lü Zhong wasn't an idiot; he wasn't about to reveal his secrets to her.

Before she could reply, another barrage of Mirror Light shot toward her.

'If once doesn't work, I'll do it a thousand times!'

'Eventually, I'll break through that damn turtle shell.'

He refused to believe that casting the Golden Light Spell consumed no Magical Power whatsoever!

The fierce battle reignited.

Jia Yujun had lost her earlier composure. Lü Zhong had given her one "surprise" after another, performing in a way that was completely uncharacteristic of a Southern Barbarian Cultivator. He wielded an Ancient Thunder Skill and possessed a Spiritual Eye Skill that could see through her Invisibility.

He seemed more like a True Disciple from some Central Earth Immortal Sect, out traveling the world to gain experience.

Jia Yujun couldn't help but suspect that Huayi Temple had given her false intelligence.

In the short span of ten breaths, the two had exchanged hundreds of blows. And though every one of Lü Zhong's attacks had been futile, Jia Yujun, who appeared to have the upper hand, felt her heart sink as her expression grew more and more grim.

The golden light covering her body was growing weaker.

'This can't go on!'

Jia Yujun suddenly realized that her fighting spirit was slowly ebbing away. In stark contrast, Lü Zhong's was soaring ever higher.

'If this continues, I'll be the one to die here, my cultivation scattered to the winds!'

Gritting her teeth, she abandoned her all-encompassing Defense, thus freeing up the ten Little Golden Radiance Banners.

With a single thought, the Small Flags transformed into Golden Swords.

Her attacks came as a sudden squall, a torrential downpour unleashed upon Lü Zhong.

This time, however, she got a taste of what it was like to have her attacks completely blocked. Every last one of the Golden Swords that Lü Zhong couldn't parry in time was intercepted by the four nimble Little Flood Dragons.

Seeing this, Jia Yujun's expression soured even further.

However, while Lü Zhong appeared relaxed, he had actually just weathered a series of perilous moments.

He had only been able to withstand the relentless assault of those ten Golden Swords thanks to several advantages. His Celestial Net Secret Eye provided crucial aid, which was supplemented by the powerful physique he'd gained from Body Refining and the formidable Magical Power output from his Jade Vein Technique. On top of that, he had also buffed himself with various Magic Skills and Divine Techniques before the fight began.