Chapter 243: 引蛇出洞

Wind Rises in the Nine Provinces

According to information from Hao Ren and his sister, crucial locations like the Qingtian Sect's spirit mine are definitely guarded by ninth-level cultivators. There are usually more than one, perhaps three or four, as the mine's extensive area makes it impossible for a single ninth-level cultivator to guard it effectively.

If he were to expose his presence there, he would inevitably be pursued.

As it turns out, the situation is much as predicted: Hao Ren has successfully drawn two ninth-level cultivators away from the mine.

Now, the task is simple: find a way to eliminate these two Qingtian Sect cultivators!

In the night sky, the two pursuing figures were clearly visible, steadily closing in on Lu Ye's position.

While the two pursuers were still three *li* away, Hao Ren reached Lu Ye, prompting Lu Ye to marvel at his speed. He was a ghost cultivator, after all, and remarkably swift!

Even two ninth-level cultivators flying on their artifacts couldn't catch him.

However, Lu Ye noticed strange patterns he had previously seen on Lan Yudie emerging on Hao Ren's neck, suggesting that his incredible speed was likely due to the activation of some secret techniques.

His face was slightly pale, and he looked dishevelled.

Hao Ren nodded slightly at Lu Ye, moved to the prearranged position, and then abruptly vanished.

No sooner had he left than two figures, controlling flying spiritual artifacts, arrived not far in front of Lu Ye. A streak of light, the gleam of an activated artifact, shot directly towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye glanced up and noted that the opponent's artifact seemed less powerful than his own. The spiritual light around his body was also dim, clearly indicating he had consumed many spiritual pills. This ninth-level cultivator was considerably weaker than Yuan Guang.

“That’s not the ghost cultivator!” the spell cultivator, who had yet to act, suddenly exclaimed.

The streak of light from the artifact veered slightly, grazing Lu Ye’s cheek and stinging his skin with the accompanying gust of wind. From start to finish, Lu Ye remained motionless, as if paralyzed by fear.

In truth, Lu Ye was confident he could either dodge or block the attack, which is why he made no superfluous movements.

The attacker was likely a weapon cultivator, as he stood upon a blade.

When cultivators fly on artifacts, they can choose between specialized flying spiritual artifacts or the spiritual artifacts they use for combat. There’s a distinct difference between the two.

Specialized flying spiritual artifacts undoubtedly offer a more comfortable experience, providing more space, greater speed, and smoother flight. However, they consume more energy.

Like the weapon cultivator before him, using a combat artifact for flight is possible, though the experience is inferior to a specialized flying artifact. Its advantage lies in conserving spiritual power.

Furthermore, some combat artifacts are ill-suited for flight. Swords and blades are acceptable; flying on a sword or blade at least appears somewhat graceful. However, if one were to use a spiked club, the sight of them flying on such an artifact would be quite jarring.

The choice between a specialized flying spiritual artifact and a combat artifact ultimately hinges on one's financial prosperity.

This principle applies similarly to how cultivators at the seventh-level choose their combat artifacts: some possess spiritual artifacts capable of both close-quarters combat and mid-range engagement.

Cultivators incur substantial expenses in their cultivation, with daily spiritual pill consumption and spirit stones for practice all contributing to the cost.

At lower cultivation levels, they also need to purchase spiritual talismans for self-defense.

Upon reaching the seventh-level, many cultivators need to acquire artifacts.

At the eighth-level, they must then purchase flying spiritual artifacts.

And at the ninth-level, they are required to purchase Heaven-grade cultivation techniques...

Consequently, cultivators at the Spirit Creek Realm typically live very austere lives, finding it difficult to accumulate wealth.

Specialized flying spiritual artifacts are not cheap, typically costing around two to three hundred spirit stones. The better the artifact, the more expensive it becomes, with some reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Although Lu Ye had not yet reached the level of artifact flight, he possessed some understanding of these items.

Upon seeing the weapon cultivator flying on a blade, Lu Ye immediately realized he was poor and lost most interest in him. Even if he were to kill such a person, their storage bag likely wouldn't contain many valuable items.

However, the spell cultivator's small boat looked exquisite and might be worth some money.

Both of them hovered in mid-air, looking down at the seemingly petrified Lu Ye. The weapon cultivator asked in a deep voice, "Have you seen an eighth-level ghost cultivator?"

Lu Ye remained silent, his mind occupied with how to bring the opponent down. With the cultivator suspended in mid-air, the previously laid traps were ineffective.

Receiving no answer, the weapon cultivator grew impatient and asked again, "Which faction do you belong to?"

Still, there was no reply.

“Then you can die!” the weapon cultivator snorted coldly. A cultivator who wouldn't declare their faction was undeniably an enemy, so he decisively prepared to strike.

As he spoke, the spiritual artifact in his hand trembled slightly, and murderous intent surged.

Lu Ye reached into his storage bag, pulled out an item, and threw it to the ground!

“Hmm?” The weapon cultivator’s eyes lit up. He swooped down before the item even hit the ground, for what Lu Ye had thrown was a flying spiritual artifact.

For a weapon cultivator so impoverished that he could only fly on a blade, a flying spiritual artifact was an undeniable lure. Especially coming from a seventh-level cultivator, the weapon cultivator viewed it as a desperate attempt to buy his life.

The artifact belonged to Yuan Guang; Lu Ye had claimed it as spoils after opening Yuan Guang's storage bag following his death. It was now the perfect item to use.

The weapon cultivator snatched the flying spiritual artifact with lightning speed. Upon closer inspection, he found the item somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Of course, it would be familiar; both Yuan Guang and he were ninth-level cultivators from the Qingtian Sect, implying they shared a connection. He had seen Yuan Guang's flying spiritual artifact before and had even ridden on it with him.

Before he could fully comprehend the situation, the area around him twisted and transformed, abruptly revealing a chaotic stone forest. When the stone forest vanished, the weapon cultivator disappeared along with it.

This sudden transformation startled the spell cultivator, and then something even more terrifying occurred.

Below him, spiritual power surged as two streaks of light, each imbued with murderous intent, shot towards him at incredible speed. As they intersected, the two streaks seemed to form a pair of scissors...

The spell cultivator was cautious. Despite his strength surpassing Lu Ye's, he hovered more than thirty *zhang* away, fearing the seventh-level cultivator might suddenly unleash an artifact attack, a lesson he had learned painfully in the past.

So, after a brief fright, the spell cultivator's mind settled. His usual caution had finally paid off. "I truly am very stable," he thought.

Thirty *zhang* was already beyond the maximum range for a seventh-level cultivator's artifact; there was no way the opponent could harm him.

With two soft thuds, the flying spiritual artifact beneath the spell cultivator was violently struck and immediately began to sway precariously. He had already activated his spiritual power as Lu Ye attacked, preparing to cast a spell, but this sudden turn of events rattled his focus, interrupting the spell. He hastily tried to stabilize his flying spiritual artifact.

Falling from this height, even if not fatal, would leave him half-dead. His small physique was certainly not as robust as a body cultivator's.

His mind was a jumbled mess. *Who the hell told me a seventh-level cultivator's artifact range wouldn't exceed thirty *zhang*? This is not just over thirty, it's already thirty-five!*

A scorching aura surged from below, and the recently stabilized flying spiritual artifact was struck by another violent impact, even more ferocious than the last: it was Lu Ye’s Fire Dragon Spell!

Under the night sky, a massive fire dragon slammed into the flying spiritual artifact, directly flipping it over.

With a cry of alarm, the spell cultivator plummeted from mid-air. Two streaks of light swirled around him, darting back and forth, but failed to kill him because an extremely thick spiritual power barrier suddenly appeared around his body.

This was a life-saving spell technique that every spell cultivator practiced!

His body swayed precariously under the impact of the two streaks of light. Though he felt dizzy and disoriented from the impacts, his life was not in danger as long as the spiritual power barrier remained unbroken.

Witnessing this, Lu Ye felt an increasing urgency to find a way to construct spiritual patterns on his artifacts. Without the enhancement of sharp spiritual patterns, the artifact's power was truly inadequate.

The spell cultivator's spiritual power barrier was indeed formidable, but if Lu Ye were to use his Pan Mountain Blade, enhanced with sharpness, it would shatter in just three to five strikes. With two sharpness enhancements, it might only take one or two.

Unlike now, where the streaks of light from his artifact struck the spiritual barrier with impressive, alarming thuds, yet were essentially just tickling the opponent.

While he silently grumbled, unbeknownst to him, the spell cultivator was gripped by terror. It wasn't just his fall from mid-air; more critically, he witnessed a seventh-level cultivator wielding two artifacts simultaneously. Under the barrage of these artifacts, his spiritual power was rapidly draining away, like floodwaters breaking through a dam!

Using the impact from the artifacts, he stabilized himself and hastily cast a levitation spell.

This spell allowed one to float in the air for a short period. Dong Shuye had once demonstrated it in front of Lu Ye, only to be stunned by Lu Ye's Fire Quail strike.

Spell cultivators generally don't use artifacts for combat; it's not that they can't, but rather that there's no necessity. Their spells can strike enemies from a great distance, whereas wielding an artifact requires dividing their concentration, and its attack range is limited. Thus, for spell cultivators, the path of artifact-wielding is largely superfluous.

However, once spell cultivators reach the seventh-level, they can cultivate more powerful spells, much like Lu Ye did with the Fire Dragon Spell. Consequently, spell cultivators experience a significant increase in strength upon reaching the seventh-level.

This ninth-level spell cultivator let out a long breath after casting the levitation spell. Although he had been thoroughly embarrassed by a seventh-level cultivator, he had now stabilized the situation. From here, he just needed to ascend, create distance, and resume artifact flight, and he would regain control of the battle!

At that point, the seventh-level cultivator would be nothing but a target.

Being so thoroughly humiliated by a seventh-level cultivator was an immense disgrace. He decided to teach the opponent a harsh lesson, to show them the terrifying fury an enraged ninth-level spell cultivator could unleash!

Spiritual power surged, and his body shot upwards. He stepped back onto his flying spiritual artifact...

He looked down, but the seventh-level cultivator was no longer there.

Where was he? He had been flustered moments ago and hadn't specifically tracked the opponent's movements; now he had no idea where the person had gone.

Spiritual power fluctuations suddenly emanated from above his head. The spell cultivator looked up, and his scalp immediately tingled with dread.

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