Chapter 770: 542

Li Qinghong, with her Spear slanted, quietly gathered Thunderbolt within it, without replying. The woman hurriedly said:

"Taoist Fellow... we are both compelled by circumstances, why resort to such violence? Just send half of the cultivators out from the formation, and I'll let Taoist Fellow kill half of the little devils. We'll report back respectively, and it would count as getting through this..."

Li Qinghong didn't trust her and simply smiled, saying:

"Send them out? Taoist Fellow thinks too highly of the situation..."

The gentle woman wasn't surprised, exchanged a glance with her husband, and could only say:

"Taoist Fellow is really without mercy! Why must we fight and kill..."

Li Qinghong smiled broadly and answered:

"All those in the formation are my friends and family. I can't exchange them with Taoist Fellow like that. How about I offer a Spiritual Object in exchange for the devil leader in Taoist Fellow's hands?"

"Oh?"

The gentle woman exchanged a glance with her husband again, thinking to herself:

"Even if we can't deceive her into weakening the Formation, there's no harm in looking at the treasure..."

So she smiled and said:

"Excellent! Taoist Fellow, please bring it out to try... I am Liu Qiao, and this is my husband Helian Changguang... may I know Taoist Fellow's name..."

Li Qinghong was unwilling to tell her, even if this Devil Cultivator gave her their names, she still wouldn't trust them. She simply brought out a hint of white brilliance and softly said:

"Taoist Fellow, please look!"

This speck of light spun in the air and suddenly struck towards the faces of the two, Liu Qiao's expression changed slightly, while Helian Changguang, who seemed to have been prepared, lifted a clump of dark clouds from his sleeves, wrapping the two up tightly.

But the white light stopped midair, unmoving, flickering uncertainly. Li Qinghong frowned and said:

"What does this mean?"

Liu Qiao was slightly startled, her wrist moved as she was about to explain, but Helian Changguang grabbed her wrist, his expression stern, and quickly backed away with his wife, saying:

"You may deceive her, but not me."

As his words had yet to fall, the white light in the air suddenly flickered, swelling rapidly in less than the blink of an eye and exploding, condensed Thunder Light spraying out, swiftly changing from white to purple-white, then scattering into a skyful of thunder rain, lighting up a swath of the sky.

"Boom!"

Even the horde of Devil Cultivators below had their breaths caught at the sudden thunder rain. They had to bring out their Magic Artifacts to defend themselves, and the cultivators in the formation quickly seized the opportunity, casting spells down like a torrential downpour.

In a moment, morale surged from below as Li Qinghong also took the chance to thrust her Spear forward, conjuring a shadow of thunder in the form of a bird and swiftly flew towards the Thunder Light.

Another roar resounded; Helian Changguang, shrouded in black mist, leaped out from the Thunder Light with a dirty and disheveled appearance. The Spear in his hands fended off the Thunder Light as he coldly shouted:

"Thunder Cultivation!"

Liu Qiao fared even worse, not only was her clothing charred, but her mouth also bore traces of blood. She fanned the air with her Brocade Fan, creating a gust of black wind, and muttered:

"Damn... Wretched woman! Once I break the formation, I will turn all your friends and family into blood food!"

Li Qinghong, upon hearing these words, slightly opened her almond eyes, and without a word, silently took note. Although the two Devil Cultivators had sustained no light injuries upon first encounter, they did not retreat. Instead, they simultaneously attacked her, rolling clouds of black smoke billowing. Liu Qiao thought to herself:

"Such power, it must be some Talisman Technique... This woman didn't wait to use it at the time of mutual exhaustion... to achieve the element of surprise... what a waste to use it so rashly, fortunately."

Helian Changguang, much more cautious, silently conveyed with Mana:

"Qiao'er, could this person be from the Direct Lineage of Zifu? Or a Thunder Cultivator... we better be careful!"

Liu Qiao disagreed, replying:

"Where is there a Zifu direct lineage without Feather Clothing? Besides, which noble family claims to be Thunder Cultivators? Although their combat power is stronger, they must possess valuable items."

As the two conversed, they simultaneously attacked Li Qinghong, whose Spear casted purple shadows, scattering the black smoke. After exchanging a few moves, she had an estimation:

"This Helian Changguang is very powerful, but Liu Qiao is weak and ineffective, not on the same level... Helian Changguang could already match a noble family's direct lineage, while Liu Qiao is like a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator."

Her Thunder Spear moved fluidly, easily defending against the two's attacks, occasionally thrusting out unexpectedly, forcing Liu Qiao into a perilous state, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Helian Changguang frowned at the scene, taking out a white bone skull from his Storage Bag, and with a gentle toss, red and grey smoke billowed forth, with radiant light shooting from the hollow eye sockets, shrouding the couple.

After releasing that Magic Artifact, he still felt it wasn't enough, and took out a red agate from his Storage Bag, floating it beside him, emitting beams of red light, stabbing towards Li Qinghong's eyes.

"What a solid background."

Li Qinghong slightly squinted her eyes. Her family also possessed Pupil Techniques, although orthodox and not particularly brilliant, they were sufficient to ward off the red light without too much impact. However, she could no longer divert her Spear to interfere, silently calculating in her mind.

The Brocade Fan and Vestment robe the Female Cultivator wielded were of Foundation Establishment level, and while not exceptionally outstanding, were still noteworthy; yet, they were not within her ability to acquire and were most likely gifts from her husband.

Meanwhile, Helian Changguang had taken out two Foundation Establishment Magical Instruments from his Storage Bag. Though they were standard quality, his identity was now clear - he was most likely from the direct lineage of the Devil Cultivators.

Devil Cultivators' Magical Artifact crafting was more convenient, and typically, they possessed more than Immortal Cultivators, though often of inferior quality. However, these two Foundation Establishment Magical Instruments were still greatly aiding the battle, one restraining Li Qinghong, the other protecting himself, and slowly they began to exert pressure on her.

After battling dozens of exchanges with Helian Changguang and his wife, the man was relieved to see that she didn't use any Magic Artifacts or Talismans, mistook his concern for overthinking, and gradually grew more vicious.

He then took a blood-colored luminosity from his Storage Bag and said coldly:

"Taoist Fellow invited me to enjoy a bolt of Thunder, now allow me to return the favor!"

With a flick of his finger, the blood-colored luminosity in midair flapped twice, revealing its form, casting a hazy shroud that descended upon them, leaving a layer of bloody dust.

Li Qinghong's Body Protection Thunder Light immediately became covered with the blood-colored light, her movements slowed down, and her Spear moves became more sluggish. She was forced to retreat a step and switch from offense to defense.

"Boom!"

A muffled thunderous sound erupted from the clouds, and Li Qinghong's eyes shone with Purple Light as the Immortal Foundation "Mysterious Thunder Berth" within her body was pushed to its extreme. A bursting ray of Thunder Light was unleashed, forcing the couple to step back.

Her face slightly flushed, she continued thrusting her Spear, each strike leaving a trail of purple Thunder Light, defying the blood-colored luminosity, and her ferocity grew even more relentless than before.

Helian Changguang managed to deflect several strikes and let out a cold grunt. The agate that had been emitting red light in the air also descended, sinking into his chest. Suddenly, a surge of black light exploded, dazzlingly bright.

Wielding his Spear, he engaged Li Qinghong in combat. The two clashed in the sky with echoing roars, and Liu Qiao found herself unable to intervene, only able to maintain distance while waving her Brocade Fan, blowing out puffs of black smoke to disrupt Li Qinghong.

"Good..."

Helian Changguang's Spear Technique was fair at best, but his Mana was strong, his Cultivation Technique of high quality, and his Spear skills were not bad. He fought on equal terms with Li Qinghong for dozens more exchanges, and taking advantage of the attacking smoke, he struck harshly with venomous intent.

Little did he know that Li Qinghong, after fighting for a while, with her Thunder Pool churning ceaselessly, was finding her rhythm. Each Spear thrust was more ruthless and overpowering than the last, breaking his harsh slash and counter-stabbing diagonally.

Helian Changguang had to expend twice as much Mana to fend off her attack, quickly realizing something was amiss. His opponent's Spear Technique grew fiercer with each strike, not only neutralizing the demonic power of his Thunder Light but also dissipating his blood energy Spellwork, rendering it useless.

"Could it be she took an Elixir..."

He clenched his teeth in secret, having not seen her take any Elixir, but as Devil Cultivators often concealed Elixirs within their flesh, which could be converted without ingestion in emergencies, he found nothing strange and silently endured.

Li Qinghong's advantage grew more apparent. She unleashed two violent bursts of Thunder Light, and Liu Qiao hurriedly manipulated the black smoke to block, but Li Qinghong's Spear instantly swiveled back. Accompanied by explosive purple thunder, it aimed straight for her face.

"Ah!"

The shock in her heart was immense as she retreated repeatedly. The accumulating Thunder Light blasted her Body Protection smoke to shreds, and the piercing glare of the incoming Thunder Light caused immense pain in her eyes, leaving her just enough time to produce a Talisman.