Slaying the Fiend

Chapter 327: Slaying the Fiend

Activating a True Treasure was far more difficult than activating an ordinary Talisman Treasure. This was precisely why Liu Jing had asked his fellow disciples to guard him; he had no desire to share the fate of that unfortunate junior sister. Only after releasing a yellow ring-shaped magical tool to orbit around himself did he truly feel at ease enough to sit cross-legged and begin pouring his mana into the firebird True Treasure.

The fiery red talisman in Liu Jing’s palm began to glow with increasing intensity. The firebird within the talisman danced more and more lively, as if it might leap out of the talisman at any moment. It seemed that the moment the bird took form and flew out would be the moment of successful activation.

Although Han Li was still locked in an entangled struggle with the Ice Fiend on the ground, he understood that his fellow disciples were deploying other measures, and a sense of relief settled in his heart. His greatest fear was that these companions would lose their nerve and simply flee, leaving him alone with no way to obtain what he needed from the Black Fiend Sect Leader.

With no need to divide his attention, Han Li’s mind returned entirely to the opponent before him. Even using the Smoke Step with his mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation placed a considerable burden on his body. He could not prolong this high-speed battle any further; he had to risk a single, all-out strike.

Having reached this conclusion, Han Li waved his silver sword with one hand, his form flickering incessantly, pressing the Ice Fiend so hard it could barely breathe. With his other hand, he silently and discreetly hooked an object from his storage pouch with his fingers, tightly winding it around his ring finger.

Once this was done, a flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes. He brought both hands together, assuming a wide, powerful two-handed sword stance, and suddenly, with all his might, he delivered a savage overhead chop, blade and body as one. This strike’s speed and ferocity far surpassed all his previous attacks. The Ice Fiend’s heart tightened in alarm. It hurriedly launched itself backward, raising its crystalline ice claws in a cross to parry the blow.

A clear “clang” rang out. The Ice Fiend sneered coldly, using the force of the parry to accelerate its backward flight, seemingly about to widen the distance between itself and Han Li. But a hint of mockery appeared on Han Li’s face.

Just as the Ice Fiend sensed something was wrong, Han Li released the hand gripping the sword and suddenly yanked it back.

The result was instantaneous. The Ice Fiend’s backward momentum inexplicably halted. Then, unable to control itself, it shot forward toward Han Li. Han Li, now holding his sword with both hands once more, assumed a slashing stance, his face completely devoid of expression.

The Ice Fiend was horrified. It struggled desperately, but it was too late. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of Han Li. Han Li’s silver sword flickered slightly, and countless dense, silvery streaks flashed and vanished. The two figures passed each other in an instant. Then, both forms were revealed again under the moonlight. Han Li stood holding his sword, while the Ice Fiend crashed heavily to the ground.

This scene was seen clearly by Song Meng and the others watching from the air, and their tension spiked.

The Ice Fiend staggered to its feet. It stared at Han Li’s back, a vicious grin spreading across its face. It was just about to say something when its expression suddenly froze.

A series of crisp cracking sounds came from the Ice Fiend’s body. Its crystalline, ice-like form was covered in countless fine cracks. In the blink of an eye, the cracks grew and lengthened, and with a shattering sound, the Ice Fiend’s entire body collapsed into a heap of sparkling ice shards on the ground.

Half of an intact claw jutted out from the pile of crystalline fragments, its razor-sharp tips still exuding a chilling aura. This was the only thing that had withstood Han Li’s rapid cutting and emerged completely unscathed.

Han Li coldly glanced at the utterly shattered Ice Fiend. He raised his head to look at the three blood-red cocoons, which were now glowing even more brilliantly, and furrowed his brow.

Without a word, he waved his hand and pulled. One of the ice claws flew straight toward him.

Only under the reflection of the moonlight could one faintly see a translucent thread connecting Han Li to the claw. This was the fatal reason for the Ice Fiend’s demise.

While re-engaging it in combat, Han Li had manipulated the translucent thread on his ring finger, silently winding it around the Ice Fiend’s claw. Unfortunately for the creature, its transformed ice body, while transparent and hard, had also lost its keen sense of touch. This allowed Han Li to easily succeed and claim its life.

Han Li lowered his head to examine the ice claw closely. After a moment of hesitation, he casually tossed it aside.

Although he knew full well that this claw, having withstood a sword forged from Silver Essence without breaking, would be a top-grade material for artifact refining, the thought that it had once been a human hand made his skin crawl. He could not overcome this mental block to collect it.

He walked over to the Ice Fiend’s remains, used his silver sword to rummage through the pile of ice fragments, and flicked out a storage pouch. He gave it a brief look before carefully stowing it away. Then, without a sound, he flew back up into the air to see what his fellow disciples were up to, and how the three Blood Servants were about to emerge from their transformation.

What Han Li did not know was that at the very moment the Ice Fiend had fallen, in a secret chamber beneath a rockery, a clean-shaven, middle-aged man with closed eyes suddenly opened his blood-red orbs. He murmured to himself:

“The Ice Fiend is dead, is it? Fine. It saves me the trouble of dealing with it later.”

Having said this, he closed his eyes again as if nothing had happened.

Before him lay a skeletal corpse, its skin stretched taut over its bones, appearing as if not a single shred of flesh remained. Judging by his clothing, he was a cultivator from Yellow Maple Valley.

...

Han Li rode his artifact up into the air. Before he could speak, Song Meng and the others quickly gathered around, each wearing expressions of amazement and showering him with praise. Their words and actions carried a trace of newfound awe. The “Xuehong” senior sister’s dual-cultivation partner, in particular, had red-rimmed eyes and a face full of endless gratitude.

Han Li made a modest remark, then, with some confusion, pointed at the talisman in Liu Jing’s hand, which was now glowing a piercing red, and asked about it.

One of the disciples promptly explained the matter of the “True Treasure,” which filled Han Li with delighted surprise and set his mind completely at ease.

Of course, Han Li had heard of True Treasures before. He just hadn’t expected this Senior Disciple Liu to possess one, and to be willing to use it now. Under normal circumstances, such an item was a last-resort life-saving measure.

Han Li’s experiences were different from Liu Jing’s, so he naturally could not fully grasp the complex feelings and anxious calculations running through Liu Jing’s mind.

To Han Li, what others thought of him was a matter of complete indifference. As long as his own interests were not affected, what did it matter? It wouldn’t cost him so much as a single hair.

Of course, if there was an opportunity to leave a good impression on others without any real effort, Han Li was happy to take it. But to maintain that impression by using a treasure like a True Treasure? He would never do something so foolish, even if he were beaten to death.

Nevertheless, Liu Jing’s actions did move Han Li a little. He even began to wonder if his own views had been wrong all along. Could there really be such “good people” in this world, who would disregard even their own safety to eradicate evil?

Just as Han Li was feeling a twinge of self-reproach, a roar suddenly erupted from below. The sound was filled with bloodlust and a desire to kill.

Han Li and the others were startled. They quickly looked down.

One of the three blood-red cocoons below had begun to swell and distort incessantly, as if the Blood Servant inside was about to emerge.

Han Li’s heart tightened. It seemed he would have to deal with the other Blood Servants first, to buy this Senior Disciple Liu some time.

Just as he was about to take action, a calm voice spoke from behind them.

“Everyone, please step aside. Let me deal with these three fiends.”

Joy lit up the faces of the group. Han Li quickly turned to look.

Liu Jing was smiling at them. Resting in his palm was a small, exquisite red bird, fluttering back and forth, utterly adorable. The oppressive heat that had been in the area had vanished without a trace.

“So this is the True Treasure’s original form?” Han Li looked at the little red bird with some surprise.

“Thank you all for the protection!” Liu Jing slowly rose to his feet and floated lightly in front of Han Li and the others. Then, to their startled gazes, he unhesitatingly blew gently on the bird in his hand. The fiery red bird let out a clear cry, flew out of Liu Jing’s palm, and dove lightly and swiftly downward.

At that moment, one of the cocoons below let out a muffled “噗嗤” sound and split open of its own accord. From within stepped a fiend wreathed in azure light. Its appearance was strikingly similar to the Ice Fiend’s semi-demonic form, except its color was a deep cyan.

The fiend’s face was unmistakably that of Daoist Qingwen. But now his expression was one of utter madness, as if his sanity had fled.

He let out two wild roars, then looked up and spotted the little red bird fluttering lightly down toward him. His body froze. The madness on his face actually receded for a moment, replaced by an expression of extreme terror.

Immediately, he looked around in panic, then, with a surge of azure light, shot into the air, trying to flee.

But at that moment, the little red bird let out a sharp “嗞啦” sound, its body swelling rapidly as it transformed into a flaming giant bird over ten feet in size. It flapped its wings once and, as if by teleportation, appeared directly behind the fiendish Qingwen from a distance of over ten zhang. Then, with its sharp, red beak, it gave a light peck.