"Hmph, well said, 'Into the Yellow Springs.' Elder Brother, you take Zhang Ying down, and I'll deal with this Lin Chen!"
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, Xiao Kui let out a cold snort, his aura erupting. The might of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator spread out, overwhelming Lin Chen.
"How about that? Lost your footing? You thought I just reached Core Formation, but in reality, I've broken through to mid-stage Core Formation!"
"So today, you'll be the one descending into the Yellow Springs!"
Xiao Kui's killing intent was palpable, his gaze towards Lin Chen filled with cruelty. It was truly a shame to kill such a young Core Formation cultivator, and an alchemist at that. But alas, this person was Zhang Yunlong's disciple, and could never be swayed to his side. He could only personally take action now, and extinguish a genius!
"My heavens, the Sect Master is actually mid-stage Core Formation! Hahaha, Heaven bless our Ghost God Sect! Zhang Ying, you fool, did you really think you were saved?"
"This time, we won't show any mercy!"
Zhou Tianguo, standing beside them, became incredibly excited upon learning of Xiao Kui's true cultivation. He had initially thought the Sect Master's realm was unstable, but now it seemed their Sect Master was truly seasoned and far-sighted!
"Hmph, if you have the guts, chase me!"
Zhang Ying sneered, then turned and dashed into the mine. For twenty years, twenty whole years, she had set up every single formation within this mine. Today, they would be used to deal with these damned Elders!
"Xiao Kui, let me ask you, was it you who secretly poisoned my Mistress back then?"
Lin Chen drew his sword and stepped forward, questioning Xiao Kui. However, as he spoke, he subtly activated the recording function on his phone.
"Hmph, indeed. It was I who gave her the Heavenly Winged Silkworm Gu, which led her to qi deviation."
"What of it, even if Zhang Yunlong is powerful? The Golden Winged Silkworm Gu is colorless and odorless, it only messes with the cultivator's aura. Even the greatest celestial being wouldn't detect it. How about it, isn't my plan brilliant?"
Xiao Kui was smug, making no attempt to conceal anything. In his mind, with his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation and Lin Chen being merely early-stage Core Formation, and on his home turf at that, Lin Chen was as good as dead!
"Hmph, since you admit it, then let us fight!"
"Thousand Layer Waves, explode!"
Lin Chen no longer hesitated, unleashing his strongest technique. As the technique manifested, his aura surged, reaching mid-stage Core Formation, matching Xiao Kui's.
"What? What kind of technique is this?"
Seeing this, Xiao Kui was stunned. Good heavens, were there actually techniques in this world that could forcefully increase one's cultivation realm?
"Sword Opens Metal and Stone, kill!"
Lin Chen gave Xiao Kui no time to ponder. The Minor Accomplishment Sword Art was instantly unleashed, charging towards Xiao Kui.
"Hmph, I'd like to see how long your technique can last!"
Seeing Lin Chen's ferocious assault, Xiao Kui stamped his foot. A spiritual artifact saber appeared in his hand, and he charged forward to meet the attack. He firmly believed that Lin Chen's temporary realm-boosting technique would consume vast amounts of spiritual energy and wouldn't last long!
With saber and sword, they engaged in a fierce battle in the air. They exchanged blows back and forth for a full ten minutes without a clear victor. Lin Chen's aura, however, was visibly weakening.
"How is it, can't you hold on any longer?"
Xiao Kui, acutely sensing this, wore a cold smirk. He knew it! Lin Chen would eventually run out of spiritual energy! The moment his cultivation reverted to its original state, it would be his time to slaughter!
However, what happened next caused Xiao Kui to gape, his eyes wide as if he had seen something terrifying. Lin Chen calmly took two Grade Three Spirit Replenishing Pills from his Nine Dragon Ring and swallowed them in one gulp. His aura once again stabilized at mid-stage Core Formation.
"You... Grade Three Spirit Pills? Hmph, I'd like to see how many you have!"
Xiao Kui's rage intensified. Wielding his curved saber, he charged forward. He refused to believe that he couldn't exhaust this opponent's spiritual energy today! For the next twenty minutes, every time Lin Chen's spiritual energy dwindled, he would pop two Grade Three Spirit Replenishing Pills into his mouth, stabilizing his cultivation. Half an hour later, Xiao Kui was drenched in sweat, his movements becoming sluggish. He was out of spiritual energy! He had only just broken through to mid-stage Core Formation, and his realm was still unstable. He had thought dealing with an early-stage Core Formation cultivator would be more than enough, but who could have predicted he would encounter such a monster? Grade Three Spirit Replenishing Pills, which were scarce and sought after outside, were being consumed by this guy as if they were free!
"It seems you're done for, but I haven't even used my full strength yet!"
Seeing a dignified mid-stage Core Formation cultivator like Xiao Kui starting to sweat, Lin Chen finally smiled. This time, he popped three Spirit Replenishing Pills into his mouth: "Silver Dragon Transformation, transform!"
With a roar, Lin Chen's entire aura surged again, reaching late-stage Core Formation.
"Late... Late-stage Core Formation?"
Xiao Kui was dumbfounded. He had thought he had a trump card, but it turned out this Lin Chen hid even deeper than he did!
"You could have directly boosted your cultivation to late-stage Core Formation, so why did you fight me at mid-stage Core Formation initially?"
Xiao Kui was bewildered but couldn't suppress his curiosity. If Lin Chen had used his late-stage Core Formation cultivation from the start, Xiao Kui would have been doomed!
"Heh heh heh, if I didn't exhaust your spiritual energy, how could I cripple your cultivation and capture you alive?"
Lin Chen chuckled, a cruel smile playing on his lips. Killing someone like Xiao Kui wouldn't be satisfying enough. He had to be captured alive and handed over to his master for xử lý!
"You..."
Hearing this, Xiao Kui finally panicked. Yes, with his spiritual energy completely depleted, he didn't even have the strength to self-destruct!
"Sword Like Startled Thunder, kill!"
Lin Chen didn't waste any more words. The second form of the Minor Accomplishment Sword Art was unleashed, charging towards Xiao Kui. With his spiritual energy exhausted, Xiao Kui, facing this fearsome sword strike, was utterly powerless to resist.
"However, this sword strike should be enough to end my life, right? At least I won't be captured alive and humiliated."
Xiao Kui closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. The precious sword instantly pierced Xiao Kui's body, shattering the Golden Core within his Sea of Consciousness. Just as Xiao Kui's life force began to ebb, Lin Chen popped a Grade Three Blood Replenishing Pill into his mouth.
"You... you are so cruel!"
Feeling his body's condition, Xiao Kui fainted from terror. Not because his Golden Core was shattered, but because he realized that even death had become a luxury. A Grade Three Blood Replenishing Pill, for an ordinary person with a shattered Golden Core, was enough to bring them back from the brink!