"Not good, it's a tier-three talisman."
As Lin Mocheng brought out the talisman, the elder patriarch's expression instantly changed. Without hesitation, he pushed the Blazing Fire Divine Array to its maximum power. Torrential flames surged into a blazing fire domain, enveloping the entire summit of Spirit Apricot Mountain.
"Cut—!"
In an instant, Lin Mocheng infused the Wind Severing Soul Sword Talisman with all his spiritual energy. A dazzling, ethereal sword light emerged in the sky, seemingly formless yet brilliantly radiant, cutting down from the heavens with a sharp metallic hum.
Wind is invisible, clouds are intangible.
This rare divine ability, exclusive to wind-attribute cultivators, manifested on the mountaintop, causing the winds and clouds to churn violently before the blow even landed. For a brief moment, it seemed as if a Purple Mansion elder was personally unleashing the technique, filling the air with ghostly howls and overwhelming power.
In the blink of an eye, the sword light struck the summit of Spirit Apricot Mountain. Following a moment of eerie silence, a deafening, earth-shattering explosion erupted.
Unlike the incomplete power of the Earthly Divine Thunder Orb, this attack mirrored the full strength of a Purple Mansion elder's divine ability. Even with the support of the mountain's tier-two lower-grade spiritual vein, the Blazing Fire Divine Array was unable to withstand such a tremendous and vast force.
The sword light obliterated the Blazing Fire Divine Array in an instant. Billowing flames were snuffed out by the sword's energy, dissipating into thin air. The array's components were severely damaged, requiring years of repair to recover. The elder patriarch, hit by the backlash, struggled to stabilize the chaotic flow of spiritual energy in his body, rendering him temporarily unable to act.
Moreover, the Wind Severing Soul Sword Talisman continued toward them with its remaining power, aiming to strike down both the elder patriarch and Elian. Fortunately, the Blazing Fire Divine Array had significantly weakened its force, reducing it by more than 80%.
Though the elder patriarch was incapacitated, Elian had been lying in wait. Seizing the moment, he unleashed the Fiery Void Sword and the Purple Sun Furnace, colliding head-on with the sword light. After a fierce clash, the residual sword energy finally dissipated.
Breathing heavily, the elder patriarch regained some composure, his face pale with lingering fear.
"Thank goodness we set up the array with the spiritual vein. Without it, today would've been disastrous."
He swiftly retrieved the array flags, wincing at the dimmed glow of the Blazing Fire Divine Array components.
"It'll take years to repair…"
Before they could recover further, the Lin family's four Foundation Establishment cultivators struck again, unleashing their artifacts toward them.
"Clang—!"
Lin Mocheng led the charge, hurling his Thunder Demon Splitting Shuttle toward them. The artifact tore through the air with rumbling winds and lightning, targeting their vital points.
Despite losing the Blazing Fire Divine Array, the elder patriarch still had the Bronze Tower and Crimson Flame Spirit Blade. Suppressing the backlash within his body, he engaged Lin Mocheng directly.
The other three Lin cultivators joined in, aiming to overwhelm the elder patriarch. However, Elian stepped forward, his Fiery Void Sword radiating dazzling sword energy as he intercepted them single-handedly.
Of the three, Lin Moxin was the strongest at the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment, wielding a mid-grade tier-two defensive artifact. The other two were weaker—one, a purple-robed woman, had been at the third stage for years, while the last was only at the second stage.
Though the trio could barely hold their own against an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Elian fought them to a standstill, holding his ground against their combined assault.
The Nine Deflection Bell hovered above him, shielding him while he wielded the Fiery Void Sword and the Purple Sun Furnace, exchanging more than a hundred blows.
"Not good."
Amidst the battle, Elian noticed the elder patriarch struggling against Lin Mocheng. With his cultivation at the seventh stage of Foundation Establishment, the elder patriarch was at a clear disadvantage against Lin Mocheng, who was at the ninth stage.
Without the support of the Blazing Fire Divine Array, the elder patriarch's strength had been halved. Although his Crimson Flame Spirit Blade and Bronze Tower were formidable, and his Heavenly Flame Sword Art exceptional, Lin Mocheng's superior cultivation and three tier-two upper-grade artifacts tipped the balance in his favor.
Additionally, Lin Mocheng wielded the Earthly Divine Thunder, a divine ability that further suppressed the elder patriarch.
Realizing the elder patriarch's peril, Elian resolved to break the stalemate. He focused his gaze on the trio before him, knowing that Lin Moxin, with his higher cultivation and defensive artifact, would be difficult to eliminate quickly.
Making a decisive move, Elian expanded the Nine Deflection Bell, releasing the Purple Sun Furnace to unleash a torrent of Purple Sun Flame.
"Watch out!"
The Lin cultivators' expressions shifted as the flames surged toward them. Lin Moxin quickly activated a protective talisman, releasing a burst of dazzling lightning to counter the flames.
"Earthly Divine Thunder."
Elian's pupils contracted slightly, recognizing the formidable power sealed within the talisman—a divine ability Lin Mocheng had likely imbued himself. The lightning clashed with the flames, scattering them and sending the Purple Sun Furnace flying back, its glow dimmed from the impact.
Yet Elian remained unfazed. Seizing the opportunity, he unleashed a thousand streaks of starlight—his Myriad Star Needles.
"Not good, it's the Myriad Star Needles!"
The Lin cultivators paled at the sight of the infamous, lethal artifact. Lin Moxin, furthest from the attack and with the highest cultivation, managed to evade using his defensive artifact.
The purple-robed woman, slower to react, barely dodged some of the needles but was pierced through her protective artifact and spiritual shield, sustaining serious injuries.
The weakest cultivator wasn't as fortunate, pierced by dozens of needles, his body riddled with wounds before he plummeted to the ground, shattered upon impact.
The scene shocked everyone present. Who would have thought that the Lin family's own treacherous artifact would turn against them in such a devastating manner?
"It's over…"
Lin Moxin, having narrowly escaped, felt a chill run down his spine. His fear of Elian deepened. With one ally dead and another gravely wounded, the odds were no longer in their favor. Continuing the fight meant certain death.
Without hesitation, Lin Moxin abandoned the battlefield, summoning his flying sword to retreat into the distance.
"Everyone, retreat! Return to Ink Green Mountain immediately!"
...
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