Chapter 86: Golden Light Shield

Master Jinguang stood proudly in the middle of the field, with the Wild Wolf Gang members behind him.

Before entering the arena, he had guaranteed Jia Tianlong that he alone could deal with all the participants from the Seven Mysteries Sect in the duel. Naturally, as compensation for handling the entire affair, the previously promised five thousand taels of gold had now increased to eight thousand taels.

The thought of acquiring such a large sum of gold after the event filled Master Jinguang with excitement. He cast a disdainful glance at the crowd opposite him, eager to slaughter them all.

Han Li was not with Li Feiyu; instead, he stood on the other side of the crowd.

Li Feiyu was with Zhang Xiuer, intimately whispering sweet nothings. Han Li, naturally, wouldn't be so tactless as to disturb their private moment.

"I wonder what these lovers are thinking?" Han Li mused, feeling a pang of jealousy. "They can actually flirt and talk about love in such a life-and-death situation!"

Snapping back to reality, Han Li, like everyone else, gazed curiously at the dwarf opposite them.

"The Wild Wolf Gang members are all hiding behind, yet they've sent such a shabbily dressed dwarf to lead the charge. This is truly bizarre! Could this dwarf possess some extraordinary skill or secret technique?" Han Li blinked, pondering this thought.

Sect Master Wang clearly shared Han Li's thoughts. Instead of allowing everyone to rush forward, he sent out a saber-wielding protector to face the dwarf. It seemed he wanted to first ascertain the dwarf's capabilities before making further plans, to avoid unexpected casualties.

Although it was meant to be a chaotic free-for-all, if both sides chose to send only one person to fight, it was perfectly acceptable for it to become a one-on-one duel. This was Sect Master Wang's intention, and he acted accordingly.

When Master Jinguang saw only one person from the opposing crowd approaching him, he understood their unspoken agreement.

He let out a strange, guttural laugh. His rasping voice, like a broken gong, caused discomfort in everyone who heard it.

The protector sent out was a burly man in his thirties, with a fierce expression. The veins on his saber-wielding hand bulged, clearly indicating he was a skilled close-quarters bladesman. His composure remained unshaken by the strange laugh, suggesting extensive combat experience.

Seeing the strong man approach, Master Jinguang stopped his eerie laughter. Unhurriedly, he took out a yellow talisman paper from his robe. The talisman shimmered with golden light, covered in intricate golden characters and patterns, immediately betraying its high value.

The dwarf ignored the approaching strong man, holding the talisman in one hand and beginning to chant a spell.

Although the Seven Mysteries Sect protector didn't understand what the dwarf was doing, his extensive combat experience told him that whatever the dwarf was attempting, it was best not to let him complete it, as it would surely be disadvantageous.

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, covering the distance to Master Jinguang in a few rapid strides. He swung his steel saber, a cold glint flashing as he brought it down in a powerful, swift strike, clearly putting all his strength into it.

Just as the saber was about to land on Master Jinguang's head, the incantation was completed. Before the blade struck him, he slammed the talisman onto his body. Instantly, a dazzling golden light erupted from where his hand touched.

The intensely blinding golden light momentarily obscured the strong man's vision, but he remained unfazed. His steel saber still came down with full force.

"Clang!" A metallic impact echoed throughout the arena.

The strong man felt a sudden heat in his hand, and his weapon nearly flew from his grasp. Startled, and still unable to see clearly, he knew the situation was dire. He pushed off the ground, darting several yards backward before stopping, holding his saber defensively, ready for anything.

At that moment, he heard many people inside and outside the arena gasp in astonishment.

Hearing these exclamations intensified the strong man's anxiety. He was desperate to know what strange thing had happened to his opponent. Fortunately, his vision returned to normal, and he quickly focused his gaze.

A few yards away, the dwarf stood perfectly still, but his entire body was enveloped in a golden glow about an inch thick. This golden aura resembled a thick, impenetrable armor, protecting the dwarf completely. It seemed the previous saber strike had only hit this golden shield, not the dwarf himself. Whatever this golden light was, it was as hard as steel, rendering the attack utterly ineffective.

Although the strong man protector was experienced, he was still stunned by this unprecedented spectacle.

Gripping his steel saber, he felt a surge of confusion, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

It wasn't just the strong man who was stunned; everyone on Sunset Peak was dumbfounded.

It's important to note that rumors about cultivators were exceedingly rare in the martial arts world, especially in such a remote area, where knowledge of them was almost nonexistent. Therefore, most people found this strange talismanic phenomenon utterly mysterious and unfathomable.

While Jia Tianlong secretly rejoiced and the Seven Mysteries Sect members exchanged bewildered glances, Han Li, standing behind the crowd, was far more astonished than anyone else.

Han Li was likely the only person on the entire mountain, besides the dwarf, who had any understanding of magical arts. It was clear the opponent was using a talisman similar to a Spirit-Calming Talisman, but seemingly more advanced.

Taking advantage of others' distraction, Han Li secretly recited the incantation for the Heavenly Eye Technique, furtively cast it upon himself, and then quickly looked towards the dwarf.

Beneath the golden glow, on the dwarf's body, subtle, faint white light shimmered. This white light was extremely dim compared to the golden aura. One would likely not notice it unless actively looking for it.

This dwarf was actually a cultivator with significantly lower spiritual power than Han Li. This discovery brought Han Li both joy and worry.

The joy stemmed from the fact that even as a beginner, his spiritual power was greater than the dwarf's, indicating the dwarf was also an amateur cultivator. The worry was not knowing how many spells the opponent knew, or how powerful they might be, and whether he could truly handle them.

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