The Gold-Horned Bull, despite its formidable cultivation, had exceedingly thin reserves of spiritual energy. The cyan-gold spear it wielded, though made of exceptional materials, was crudely crafted and merely at the quasi-third-tier level.
The Magnetic Treasure Bracelet, perfectly suited to counter such treasures, unleashed a single silver light that effortlessly knocked the cyan-gold spear from the bull's grasp.
Seeing its rescue attempt fail, the Scarlet Flame Python narrowed its eyes coldly. Overpowering Xu Daoyuan's attempts to block it, the python opened its jaws and began to inhale from a thousand feet away, unleashing its Heaven-Swallowing Serpent Technique.
The patriarch's pupils contracted as he immediately recognized this terrifying divine ability, a signature skill of the Heaven Serpent Lake lineage. This technique was immensely powerful; even Purple Mansion cultivators caught off guard and swallowed whole would be reduced to ashes.
However, the patriarch had a plan.
He waved his hand, summoning the Crimson-Gold Three-Treasure Flags, which spread out across the sky. The array's power locked the surrounding space, neutralizing the Scarlet Flame Python's devastating technique.
But the slight delay was all the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly needed. It unleashed a burst of Gold Wing Divine Light, blocking Elian's two third-tier flying swords, and attempted to escape into the distance.
The cultivators aboard the Seven-Star Demon-Slaying Boat refused to let it go. They coordinated their efforts, releasing dozens of divine abilities and flying artifacts to bombard the injured butterfly.
As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." The butterfly, though formidable, lacked the physical resilience of other beasts. Now severely injured, it was overwhelmed by the relentless assault, spilling blood as it frantically tried to flee.
Its retreat was abruptly halted when a cyan-colored orb streaked through the air and smashed into it, breaking its bones and sending it hurtling back.
The source of this powerful attack was the patriarch, who had used the Ethereal Green Spirit Pearl, a third-tier treasure, after successfully stalling the Scarlet Flame Python's technique.
The precise and powerful strike left the butterfly grievously wounded, illustrating the saying, "A flurry of punches can beat even the strongest master."
In that instant, Elian's Fiery Void Sword struck again, splitting the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly cleanly in two.
Victory achieved, Elian felt his body trembling from exhaustion. He quickly returned to the boat and consumed a Purple Essence Pill. Despite the nourishing feedback from his life-bound flying sword, each use of a third-tier treasure consumed nearly 10% of his spiritual energy.
Having fought and slain two Purple Mansion-level beasts, Elian had burned through nearly all of his spiritual energy, leaving him on the verge of collapse.
The patriarch and Elian consumed their Purple Essence Pills and soon felt their energy return, their spiritual reserves restored to their peak.
Meanwhile, the battles in the sky had reached a critical juncture.
The Gold-Horned Bull and the Scarlet Flame Python, seeing their comrades fall, began showing signs of retreat. However, the Violet-Striped Wolf King, now in a frenzy, stopped them from fleeing.
Its chilling gaze locked onto Elian, hatred burning in its eyes.
"Keep them occupied," the wolf king growled through spiritual transmission. "I will kill him at all costs, then retreat."
With that, the Violet-Striped Wolf King unleashed a divine ability to block Yang Laozu's Blazing Thunderfire Sword, then used a third-tier mid-grade flying sword to fend off Xu Qianyang's divine abilities.
Protected by a third-tier upper-grade defensive treasure, the Purple-Gold Heaven Shield, the wolf king forced its way toward Elian.
"This must not happen!" Yang Laozu shouted, hurling the Mountain-Splitting Soul-Cleaving Axe to strike the wolf king's shield. The blow dimmed the shield's light by over 40%.
The group understood that letting the wolf king succeed would be disastrous.
Xu Laozu snorted coldly, disregarding his depleting reserves of energy, and summoned the Xu family's most treasured artifact, the Golden Fire Dragon Shears.
A thunderous dragon's roar shook the battlefield as Xu Qianyang unleashed the famous weapon.
In the entire Chu Kingdom, among the hundreds of Purple Mansion cultivators and the forty-odd third-tier upper-grade treasures, the Golden Fire Dragon Shears ranked among the top ten for sheer destructive power.
Xu Qianyang poured all his strength into activating the treasure, summoning two fiery dragons to tear toward the wolf king.
The wolf king's expression turned grim, but its determination didn't waver. Ignoring its injuries, it charged forward with unrelenting resolve, intent on killing Elian no matter the cost.
To the wolf king, Elian was an intolerable threat. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator had slain two Purple Mansion-level beasts before its eyes. While the beasts had their disadvantages, such a feat still filled the wolf king with apprehension.
"Unbelievable. You're not even at Purple Mansion, yet you've achieved this much. If you reach Purple Mansion, you'll become a catastrophe for us."
"You must die today!"
The wolf king's killing intent boiled over as it pushed the Purple-Gold Heaven Shield to its limits and charged.
The Golden Fire Dragon Shears struck the shield with a deafening clang, shattering it completely, though the treasure's power was spent.
Suppressing a mouthful of blood, the wolf king closed the distance to Elian, locking onto him with a vicious glint in its eyes. With a deep breath, it spat out a radiant purple light—its Purple Light Soul-Annihilation Curse.
"Not good, it's the Purple Light Soul-Annihilation Curse!"
The group turned pale as they watched the wolf king unleash its lethal attack, knowing that neither Elian nor the patriarch could withstand it alone.
Faced with imminent death, Elian sighed softly.
Raising his hand, he summoned a translucent white jade bracelet. The bracelet shimmered with celestial light and transformed into a radiant sword aura.
This sword was unlike anything seen before, illuminating the battlefield with its brilliance. In an instant, it swept away the clouds above, casting silence over the battlefield.
The sword aura surged forward, cutting through the void with unstoppable momentum, meeting the Violet-Striped Wolf King head-on.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D