The Golden Aegis

Chapter 88: The Golden Aegis

The Brilliant Gold Elder stood arrogantly in the center of the field, the men of the Wild Wolf Gang behind him.

Before stepping out, he had already guaranteed Jia Tianlong that he alone could handle every Seven Mysteries Sect member participating in the duel. Naturally, as compensation for single-handedly handling the entire battle, the originally promised five thousand ounces of gold had been increased to eight thousand.

The thought of obtaining so much gold after the matter was done filled the Brilliant Gold Elder’s heart with feverish excitement. He cast a contemptuous glance at the crowd across from him, already impatient to begin slaughtering them.

Han Li was not standing with Li Feiyu but had positioned himself at the other end of the crowd.

That was because Li Feiyu was with Zhang Xiuer, whispering intimately in the manner of a man and woman sharing secrets. Han Li naturally wasn’t so tactless as to intrude on their private little world.

“How can this pair of young lovers be exchanging sweet nothings in a life-or-death situation like this?” Han Li felt a faint, bitter twinge in his chest.

Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention to the dwarf standing across the field, just like everyone else.

“The Wild Wolf Gang has everyone hiding in the back, but they send out a dwarf dressed in such gaudy clothing as their vanguard? That’s utterly ridiculous. Unless this dwarf possesses some extraordinary technique…” Han Li blinked, his thoughts calculating.

Sect Leader Wang clearly shared the same suspicion. Rather than ordering a general charge, he sent a single saber-wielding protector to engage the dwarf. His plan was to probe the opponent’s strength before committing further, avoiding unnecessary casualties.

Although this was a melee-style duel, if both sides chose to dispatch only one man, a one-on-one confrontation was perfectly acceptable. That was what Sect Leader Wang thought. That was what he did.

Seeing only a single man approaching from the opposing crowd, the Brilliant Gold Elder immediately understood their intent.

He let out a strange, grating laugh. His raspy voice, like a cracked gong, made everyone who heard it feel an unpleasant tightness in their chests.

The dispatched protector was a burly man in his thirties, with a fierce, hardened look. The veins on the hand gripping his blade bulged prominently, marking him as a seasoned close-combat fighter. He remained calm and steady even after hearing the strange laugh, a sign of extensive battle experience.

As the burly man drew close, the Brilliant Gold Elder stopped his strange laughter. He unhurriedly reached into his robes and produced a yellow talisman. This talisman shimmered with golden light and was covered entirely in golden characters and patterns. It was clearly of considerable value.

Ignoring the approaching man, the dwarf held the talisman in one hand and began chanting an incantation.

Although this Seven Mysteries Sect protector had no idea what the dwarf was doing, his extensive combat experience told him that whatever the dwarf was trying to accomplish, it was best not to let him finish. To allow it would surely prove disadvantageous.

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, closing the distance in a few swift strides. He swung his steel blade, a cold flash of light descending towards the dwarf’s head. The strike was swift and heavy, carrying all his strength.

Just as the blade was about to land on the Brilliant Gold Elder’s head, the incantation was complete. The moment before the steel touched him, he slapped the talisman firmly against his chest. Instantly, a blinding, piercing golden light flared from the spot where his hand struck.

The intense glare dazzled the burly man, but he did not panic. His steel blade still came down with all its force.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang throughout the field.

The burly man felt a hot jolt in his hand, and his weapon nearly flew from his grip. Startled, and still unable to see clearly, he knew the situation had turned dangerous. He pushed off the ground with his toes, retreating several yards in a blur of motion before stopping, his blade held ready.

It was then that he heard gasps of astonishment rising from both inside and outside the field.

Hearing those sounds only deepened his anxiety. He was desperate to know what had happened to the dwarf, how it could be so bizarre. Fortunately, his vision finally cleared. He quickly focused his gaze.

There, several yards away, the dwarf stood perfectly still. But his entire body was now covered in a layer of golden light a fraction of an inch thick. This golden radiance was like a thick suit of armor, enveloping the dwarf in an impenetrable shield. The earlier strike had clearly only hit the golden barrier; it had never truly touched the dwarf. What was this golden light that it was as tough as steel, rendering the blade utterly useless?

Even this seasoned protector, for all his experience, was stunned by the unprecedented sight.

He stood there, holding his blade, his mind blank, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

He was not the only one stunned. Everyone on Sunset Peak was frozen in shock.

The truth was, rumors of cultivators were few and far between in the Jianghu. In a remote place like this, those who knew of them were even rarer. To most people present, this talisman phenomenon was an utterly mysterious and unfathomable sight.

While Jia Tianlong secretly gloated and the Seven Mysteries Sect’s members exchanged panicked glances, Han Li, standing at the back of the crowd, was far more astonished than anyone else.

Han Li was probably the only person on the entire mountain, aside from the dwarf himself, who had any understanding of spells. It was obvious that the dwarf was using a talisman similar to the Spirit-Fixing Talisman, only it seemed to be a more advanced type.

Taking advantage of the general distraction, Han Li silently activated the Celestial Eye Technique, casting it upon himself without anyone noticing. He then quickly looked at the dwarf.

Beneath the golden light, he could see faint, indistinct wisps of white light floating around the dwarf’s body. Compared to the brilliant golden light, this white radiance was so faint that it was nearly imperceptible. If one wasn’t specifically looking for it, it would be easy to miss entirely.

This dwarf was actually a cultivator with less magical power than Han Li himself. The discovery filled Han Li with mixed feelings of delight and concern.

He was delighted because, even as a beginner, his own magical power was deeper than the dwarf’s, suggesting the dwarf was also only a half-baked cultivator. He was concerned because he didn’t know how many spells the dwarf knew, or how powerful they were, or whether he himself could handle them.