Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 169: Fierce Battle (Part Three)
Han Li and Senior Brother Lu continuously channeled their magical power into the "Sword Talisman" and the "Azure Flood Dragon Banner." Their entire focus and energy were devoted to controlling these two in their battle, without the slightest negligence or distraction.
However, because of this, neither of them had the spare heart or magical power to employ other tactics to gain the upper hand. They both understood clearly that if either side became even slightly careless, it would mean the immediate destruction of their treasure and loss of life, with no chance of recovery.
Thus, under the simultaneous shining of the Azure Flood Dragon and the Greatsword, the struggle between Han Li and Senior Brother Lu evolved into a prolonged battle to see whose magical power would be exhausted first.
When they realized that the remaining magical power was the critical factor in the fight, they simultaneously adopted a method to replenish their spiritual power. Each of them took out a spirit stone, holding it tightly in their hand to supplement the loss of their spiritual energy.
The only difference was that Senior Brother Lu’s was a low-grade wind attribute spirit stone, while Han Li’s was a mid-grade earth attribute spirit stone. This discovery made Senior Brother Lu’s expression turn ugly, filled with shock and anger.
It was unimaginable to him that a qi refining stage disciple like Han Li would possess a mid-grade spirit stone, which was usually only accessible to immortal cultivators of foundation establishment stage or above within their sect. Everyone knew that mid-grade spirit stones replenished spiritual power much faster than low-grade ones. This put Senior Brother Lu at a significant disadvantage in terms of spiritual power recovery.
However, Senior Brother Lu reconsidered. His magical power was originally much deeper than Han Li’s. Even if Han Li replenished his spiritual power faster with the spirit stone, he wouldn’t be able to sustain it for long. After all, the small amount of magical power restored this way was insignificant compared to the constant depletion from ongoing exertion.
Thinking this through, Senior Brother Lu calmed himself and refocused.
But when Han Li made his next move, Senior Brother Lu’s expression changed again, this time showing shock and disbelief.
Han Li actually withdrew the blue protective shield around him right in front of Senior Brother Lu, openly revealing his true self.
Even as clever as Senior Brother Lu was, he was thrown into confusion by Han Li’s action, unable to understand what Han Li was truly up to.
Did Han Li not fear that a single wind blade from him could easily end his life?
Senior Brother Lu’s mind raced. Without hesitation, he decisively raised his left hand and gestured into the void. A faint azure wind blade began to materialize.
But before Senior Brother Lu could finish forming the wind blade and launch it, the Greatsword entangled with the Azure Flood Dragon suddenly flared with brilliant light. Seizing the moment when Senior Brother Lu was distracted by the wind blade, it abruptly broke free from the Azure Flood Dragon and shot straight toward Senior Brother Lu himself.
Senior Brother Lu was taken aback, deeply startled. If he insisted on completing and releasing the wind blade, he might have been able to kill Han Li. Yet, under the Greatsword’s strike, he would almost certainly lose his own life as well, leading to mutual destruction.
Although a wind barrier still stood before him, it had never dissipated. However, since the Greatsword could contend against the Azure Flood Dragon formed by the Azure Flood Dragon Banner, the wind barrier would be easily pierced by the Greatsword’s strike and would not hold even a moment.
Such an outcome was far from what Senior Brother Lu wanted. He still had a bright future ahead and would never accept dying in this barren mountain wilderness alongside someone whose origins he didn’t even know.
With no time to hesitate, he quickly retracted the wind blade with a flick of his left hand, then forcefully poured all his magical power into the Azure Flood Dragon Banner, summoning the Azure Flood Dragon back.