Chapter 2263 - 1204: Winner Takes All (Part 3)

At the last moment, Yang Xiao advanced instead of retreating, gritting his teeth as he raised his hand and used the ring-headed saber to block the opponent’s Jade Ruyi. Then he freed his left arm and forcefully hurled the Ghost Lantern.

Accompanied by a burst of green light, astonishingly, it was Duan Jiqing, who had the upper hand in strength, who flew back.

But at this moment, Yang Xiao didn’t capitalize on the opportunity to pursue, because his right arm was hanging limp, unable to exert strength. Although it wasn’t broken, it could barely maintain a posture of holding the saber, and further intense combat was impossible—earlier, the Jade Ruyi’s dark force almost twisted his arm off.

But the situation wasn’t good for the opponent either; Duan Jiqing, who was knocked back, fell directly into a muddy pit and struggled for a moment before crawling out, covered in mud.

Yang Xiao forced himself to swallow the metallic taste in his throat, knowing only too well how perilous it had been just now.

In that instant, he had deployed three magical artifacts in succession: the ring-headed saber to counter the Jade Ruyi, the Ghost Lantern to blind the opponent, and, most crucially, the Taoist Great Demon’s Ghost Sleeve Robe. If it hadn’t disrupted the Jade Ruyi at the last moment, he would definitely be facing more than just an injured arm.

He was risking everything, and so was his opponent, though not with any less ruthlessness.

The intense battle didn’t cloud Yang Xiao’s rationality; his mind began to ponder a question.

Why could Duan Jiqing become so strong?

It wasn’t due to elixirs, as Yang Xiao had his eyes on him the whole time. His surge in strength was instantaneous, something elixirs couldn’t achieve.

After all, Yang Xiao had taken elixirs himself, and they were top-grade elixir pills painstakingly refined by the Esoteric Sect. He didn’t believe the foster son of the Huagubiao Tower Master could possess better elixirs—it’s unrealistic.

Moreover, if it were an elixir, his good sister wouldn’t have any reason to instruct him to snatch it, so the truth could only be that he possessed an ultimate magic artifact.

But by now, Duan Jiqing seemed to have exhausted all his trump cards, and Yang Xiao discovered three artifacts on him.

First was the Jade Ruyi, which could disrupt the opponent’s spiritual power flow.

The second was the silver scalpel, a space-type magical artifact without a doubt, because when the Mirror Ghost was attacked, he clearly felt the space beside the Mirror Ghost tear open.

To be precise, the Mirror Ghost’s arm was "torn" off by that force.

The third was the golden silk jacket, a defensive magical artifact, undoubtedly the only reason his earlier saber strike didn’t send him reincarnating.

But none of these three artifacts were what Yang Xiao was looking for; this guy must have a fourth artifact, which was his ultimate trump and the reason for his enhanced strength.

Initially, Yang Xiao suspected it might be the red scroll on the ground, the one resembling a Holy Decree, but that thing had no spiritual power response at all—it absolutely wasn’t the Resentful Eye.

At this moment, Yang Xiao was resting, and Duan Jiqing not far away had also ceased his assault, evidently catching his breath as well.

Yang Xiao took advantage of this time to rethink everything that had occurred before Duan Jiqing’s surge in strength and quickly recalled a moment when he made a throwing gesture just before getting stronger.

Back then, due to the sudden occurrence and the speed, he hadn’t seen clearly, and afterward, he was embroiled in combat with the opponent, leaving no room to ponder over it.

Now Yang Xiao judged that what he threw back then might very well be that mysterious artifact.

And thinking further, why would the opponent rather throw it out than keep it on himself? Isn’t that strange?

According to Yang Xiao’s analysis, that item was likely very fragile or extremely susceptible to interference. Once disrupted, Duan Jiqing’s formidable state would be broken.

The more sinister an artifact’s ability, the more dangerous it is—this Yang Xiao understood well. He knew that as long as he found that artifact, he would stand invincible today.

And regarding how to find it, he had an idea. Since it was an artifact and its ability was still in use, there must be a connection between it and its owner.

Back when he was in Japan’s Kusunoki Family, Jiushan Cangxuan had imparted many valuable insights to him, greatly enhancing his understanding and control over spiritual magical artifacts.

Yang Xiao smirked and put away the ring-headed saber and Ghost Lantern, drawing the Human Bone Staff in reverse.

Without a word, he swung the staff toward Duan Jiqing, and seemingly unsatisfied with just one, he followed up with a second swing.

If Duan Jiqing were in peak condition, he could have surely found a way to dodge. But at this moment, he too had been heavily injured by Yang Xiao.

So, after a tangled scuffle, one of the staff strikes still landed on Duan Jiqing, though it hardly caused any substantial harm.

But the damage didn’t matter—Yang Xiao only intended to test.

After the staff hit, receiving feedback from the Human Bone Staff, Yang Xiao’s eyebrows shot up sharply, and he immediately looked toward a certain space to the right.

He sensed something in that space was manipulating the spiritual power surging within Duan Jiqing.

It was like an invisible thread connecting them tightly.

Without hesitation, Yang Xiao swiftly flashed to appear in that space he sensed. Upon seeing Yang Xiao’s movement, the originally unresponsive Duan Jiqing seemed to realize something too, as his milky-white eyes filled with resentment, clearly about to launch another attack.

With the Mirror Ghost temporarily out of commission, Yang Xiao had the samurai puppet keep an eye on Duan Jiqing while he focused on locating that item.