Chapter 129

This substance was essentially solidified spiritual energy, drawn from the essence of heaven and earth, capable of replenishing a spellcaster's true power. The profound crystal He Lingchuan had produced was of excellent quality; as soon as the spellcaster drew a breath, the spiritual energy within the crystal transformed into true power, continuously flowing into his dantian.

He felt like a refilled pool and quickly nodded.

Just then, the back panel of a carriage was smashed. Lu Yao pushed hard, and the panel flew off, instantly clearing his view.

From his vantage point, the situation on the slope was clear at a glance.

"These scoundrels are still digging pits for him?" Lu Yao roared in anger, his gaze fixed on He Lingchuan, who was giving orders.

"You little pup, trying to play an endless obstacle course with him here? Does he really think Lu Yao is good-tempered?"

With the profound crystals enhancing it, the road surface began to freeze much faster.

In the blink of an eye, the first layer was laid down.

"Hmm, it looks very smooth." However, He Lingchuan was still not reassured, so he asked the spellcaster to reinforce it again.

"Reinforce it again."

So, two more layers were laid down consecutively.

Under the morning light, the ice-covered road emitted a brilliant white glow, sparkling brightly.

By this point, the spellcaster's face was pale, and he was swaying unsteadily. Although the profound crystals supplied energy, human mental power is limited. Performing spells with such high intensity was a first for him; in just a few dozen breaths, he was exhausted, feeling mentally drained and intellectually depleted, wanting nothing more than to lie down and sleep for three days and three nights.

He Lingchuan extended his hand to him. "The remaining profound crystals? Give them back."

The returned profound crystals had shrunk significantly.

Maotao lifted the spellcaster onto a horse, intending to flee with everyone else.

No one noticed that behind the last barricade of carriages, Lu Yao suddenly stopped and waved to his subordinates. "The bow!"

Someone immediately presented him with a bow.

Lu Yao called an archer over, pointing at He Lingchuan. "Shoot that He family brat dead! You know, the one who looks especially arrogant!"

The archer dared not hesitate. He took an arrow, nocked it onto the bowstring, and aimed at He Lingchuan on the slope.

This bow's design was more flamboyant and heavier than ordinary ones of its kind. Its lines somewhat resembled a bat spreading its wings, especially the exaggerated curve of the bow ears. The "head" of the bat was on the grip, where one holds the bow and nocks an arrow.

As soon as the archer aimed, He Lingchuan's figure instantly appeared blurred, and he found himself unable to precisely lock onto his position.

It was like trying to see what lay beneath the surface of a lake where water ripples violently.

Primal energy!

The bow he was using was an undisputed magic artifact. However, the primal energy on his opponent interfered with the artifact's effectiveness, preventing it from unleashing its full potential.

Their side was at a disadvantage due to their status as unaffiliated fighters, lacking primal energy enhancements.

The archer tried twice but couldn't get a precise lock, and cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.

Lu Yao glared at him from the side, barking, "What are you hesitating for? That brat is getting farther and farther away!"

Since there was no escaping it, the archer gritted his teeth and shouted, "I am willing to sacrifice three years of my life!"

No sooner had he spoken than a sharp hook, indistinctly a claw or a tooth, shot out from the bow grip and pierced his palm like lightning.

But the archer himself felt nothing; this action didn't affect the stability of his hand. Instead, his spirit was invigorated, and his vision suddenly became sharp and clear.

Others also saw a spectral eye-shaped illusion suddenly emerge directly in front of the bow grip. It was deep red, with a round eye and vertical pupil, and distinct blood vessels.

The pupil rotated left and right a couple of times, then suddenly opened wide, like a cat's eye in the night, opening to its fullest.

And the archer, aiming through the spectral eye, instantly saw He Lingchuan's back clearly!

With the effect fully active, all distracting light and shadows vanished. In the archer's sight, there was only a simple target.

"Now!"

He aimed at He Lingchuan's lower back, and with a "whoosh," the fletched arrow left the string.

In merely two breaths, He Lingchuan's figure became blurred again, and the primal energy resumed its effect.

The special effect of this bow was clearly to help its wielder briefly seize an opening in primal energy fluctuations to deliver a fatal strike.

After firing this arrow, the archer gasped for air, as if he had run forty *li* without stopping. His previous calm composure was gone; his face was pale, and his lips were blue.

He was originally a tall, thin man of about forty with a sallow complexion. To others, his changes were visible to the naked eye:

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened, his eyes became a bit more clouded, his chin sharpened, and he grew even thinner.

In short, the archer appeared to have aged three to five years in just a few breaths.

This was the price of using the bow. Lu Yao didn't want to bear it himself, so he made someone else use it.

The ghostly eye in front of the bow disappeared. Lu Yao snatched the bow from the archer, handed it back to a subordinate to put away, and ordered, "Smash all these broken carriages!"

***

Just one more turn ahead, and they would be safe, temporarily out of range of the bandits' long-range attacks.

He Lingchuan was about to spur his horse faster when the broken saber at his waist suddenly vibrated. At the same time, a chill spreading up his back made his heart contract violently.

His sixth sense was screaming a warning:

Something terrifying was hurtling towards him from behind, moving incredibly fast!

He Lingchuan had no time to think or look back. He instinctively grabbed his shield with a backhand motion and threw it behind him.

It was as if a firm and steady voice prompted him in his mind:

"Jump off the horse!"

For some unknown reason, He Lingchuan unhesitatingly obeyed.

With a dull thud, the lightweight shield—which had been shaped from ancient mountain vines soaked in tung oil for a century, then steamed and dried nine times—shattered into pieces upon impact.

It was known that this item possessed both hardness and resilience. Let alone being instantly smashed, even if left to be hacked by knives and axes, it would take a considerable amount of time to cut through.

Yet, at this moment, it was destroyed in a single blow.

After shattering the shield, the object's speed only slowed momentarily before it continued its forward charge.

Just then, He Lingchuan jumped off his horse, landing with a somersault, nearly tumbling headfirst due to inertia. Fortunately, his body's agility was excellent. He took several quick steps forward, and though he stumbled awkwardly, he managed to forcefully stop himself on a large rock at the edge of the cliff.

In front of him was a bottomless abyss; that was a close call.

As for why he didn't jump to the other side, it was too dangerous. That side had the flailing hooves of several other people's mounts, and he could easily have been trampled into paralysis if he jumped there.

He Lingchuan was still inwardly congratulating himself on his choice when his foot suddenly met empty air—

"Damn it!" The large rock he had landed on had come loose.

Having stood there for years, battered by sun and wind, it was already hollow inside and could not withstand the forceful impact of a young man.

It promptly cracked into four or five pieces, plunging into the dreaded abyss along with the one who had dislodged it.

He Lingchuan swore vehemently.

"Why a cliff fall again?!"

"Can't there be a more creative way to die?"

Was the only difference between him and the original body that one had already fallen off a cliff and died, while the other was currently on the way to doing so?

But even as he swore and free-fell, he saw a white shadow dart across his horse's back, exploding into a cloud of blood mist at his mount's neck!