The ghostly claw was already descending towards Guardian Zhao.
Its five fingers stretched towards his back, the Yin Qi surrounding the claw twisting violently as it gathered enough power to tear through his weakened body, yet before it could touch him, a small golden object suddenly flew through the air.
A talisman.
It floated between the two cultivators for barely an instant before its surface erupted with dazzling lightning.
The demonic cultivator's pupils contracted.
He recognised it.
A Rank 3 Heaven-Piercing Lightning Talisman.
It was not an ordinary Rank 3 talisman. Its refining requirements were extremely demanding, and even among Rank 3 Talisman Masters, only those with considerable experience and a profound understanding of lightning talismans could successfully draw one.
The talisman ignited.
A single line of lightning pierced through the battlefield.
It was so fast that the eye could barely follow it.
PSSHH!
The demonic cultivator's body suddenly jerked.
A hole appeared through his chest.
The lightning had completely pierced through his torso, passing from the front of his chest to his back, and for a moment, the demonic cultivator simply stood there in disbelief.
The ghostly claw disappeared.
The spell he had been preparing was forcibly interrupted, the Yin Qi surrounding his body collapsing as the Heaven-Piercing Lightning coursed through his meridians.
Guardian Zhao's eyes widened.
He had not expected to use this talisman gifted to him by his master to activate at this moment.
But he did not waste the opportunity.
He immediately pushed himself upright, ignoring the pain coursing through his body as he staggered backwards, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the demonic cultivator.
His legs felt heavy.
His Astral Qi had already been severely depleted, his body had suffered injuries from the previous exchange, and his Martial Will was beginning to fluctuate from overuse, yet Guardian Zhao gritted his teeth and continued moving.
He had one objective and that was to return to the market.
The defensive formation still possessed several Rank 3 formation plates, and if he could reach them, he could activate them personally and use their power to reinforce the market's defences.
The Heaven-Piercing Lightning Talisman could only buy him a little time.
He knew that.
A Rank 3 talisman might seriously injure a Purple Palace cultivator, but killing one was another matter entirely.
Guardian Zhao had already taken several steps when the atmosphere behind him suddenly changed.
The demonic aura that had been suppressed by the lightning erupted.
Darkness spread through the sky.
The demonic cultivator's body trembled as the lightning embedded within his chest was gradually forced out, the surrounding demonic Qi surging like a black tide and swallowing the remaining traces of Yang lightning.
At the same time, the mask covering his face finally fell apart.
Fragments of black material dropped through the air.
The face beneath was unexpectedly young.
He looked no older than thirty, his features handsome but cold, with a single long scar running across one side of his face, giving him an even more sinister appearance.
Guardian Zhao's footsteps stopped.
His heart sank.
He had hoped the talisman would at least cripple the man.
Instead, the demonic cultivator slowly raised his head.
There was no panic in his eyes.
Only killing intent.
Guardian Zhao's expression became solemn.
"Not good..."
The young cultivator reached behind him.
The Thousand Ghost Banner disappeared into his storage ring.
Guardian Zhao's eyes flickered.
Why was he putting away his greatest weapon?
Then the demonic cultivator's hand moved again.
This time, he took out a small object.
It was an insect.
The creature was strangely shaped, its body covered in dark patterns as it writhed violently between his fingers, its tiny limbs scratching against his palm as though it sensed what was about to happen.
Guardian Zhao's pupils contracted.
A Gu insect.
The demonic cultivator looked at it for a moment before throwing it into his mouth.
He swallowed.
The change was instantaneous.
The enormous hole in his chest began closing.
Flesh regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye, muscles reconnecting, blood vessels intertwining, skin growing over the wound as the terrifying injury disappeared within several breaths.
The demonic cultivator's aura surged.
It was even stronger than before.
Guardian Zhao's expression became ugly.
A healing Gu.
Not an ordinary healing Gu either.
To recover from an injury inflicted by a Rank 3 Heaven-Piercing Lightning Talisman so quickly, the Gu insect had to possess an astonishing level of vitality.
The young cultivator flexed his fingers, feeling the strength returning to his body.
Then he looked towards Guardian Zhao.
The killing intent in his eyes became unmistakable.
Guardian Zhao immediately turned around.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a formation plate.
His Astral Qi poured into it.
A translucent barrier instantly unfolded around his body, layers of formation patterns appearing across its surface as the protective light enclosed him completely.
The cultivators in the market saw this and their hearts lifted slightly.
"Guardian Zhao!"
"He activated a formation plate!"
"Quickly, reinforce the formation!"
The cultivators began moving towards the market's formation nodes, hoping that Guardian Zhao could return safely.
But the demonic cultivator merely sneered.
"A formation plate?"
He raised both hands.
His fingers curled inward.
It looked almost like the posture of a beast preparing to tear apart its prey.
Then he pulled his hands towards himself.
The surrounding air suddenly distorted.
Guardian Zhao's protective barrier trembled violently.
Crack!
A thin fracture appeared across its surface.
Guardian Zhao's expression changed.
He immediately pushed more Astral Qi into the formation plate, strengthening the barrier while his feet slid backwards from the tremendous force pressing against him.
Another crack appeared.
Then another.
The demonic cultivator had not even touched the barrier.
His hands remained several metres away, yet the invisible momentum generated by his clawing motion was already striking the formation from all directions, twisting the air and crushing the defensive light.
Guardian Zhao planted his feet firmly against the ground.
His knees bent.
His shoulders lowered.
His entire body became one with the earth as he poured every remaining strand of Astral Qi into the formation plate.
The barrier shook violently.
The demonic cultivator slowly stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
His eyes remained fixed upon Guardian Zhao.
The invisible force surrounding his hands grew heavier with every movement, and the protective barrier finally produced a sound that made every cultivator in the market's heart tighten.
CRACK!
A web of fractures spread across the entire barrier.
Guardian Zhao stared at the cracks before him.
His hand tightened around the formation plate.
He knew that he could not withstand another attack.
Yet he still refused to retreat.
Behind him was the Cloud Mist Ridge Market.
Thousands of lives depended on him standing here.
The demonic cultivator raised his clawed hands once more.
This time, the surrounding spiritual energy was dragged towards him in a violent spiral, forming a dark storm around his body.
Guardian Zhao's eyes became cold.
If the barrier broke, he would have to fight.
Even if he had to fight to the death.