Chapter 371: Two Spears Severely Wound

At this moment, Xie Chucai was about forty zhang above the ground.

The dense spiritual energy released from his body condensed into clouds, supporting him as he hovered in mid-air.

With the five fingers of his right hand spread, he used the external manifestation of his Dao heart to pull down the power projected into the clouds from above. This displayed a profound Daoist art, resembling a "Heaven's Descent," to suppress Li Weiyi, who was attempting to escape upwards.

This Daoist technique was grand and powerful, its presence reverberating throughout the city. It pulled down clouds from several miles above.

However, top masters with exceptional vision, such as Zuo Qiuling, Song Yulou, and the Demonic Child, all recognized that Xie Chucai was overconfident, placing himself in an extremely disadvantageous position.

He needed to use upward force to support himself.

Yet, he also exerted a downward pulling force through the air, creating a counteracting effect, as if he were fighting himself.

Song Yulou gazed at the spear's light descending from the sky and remarked, "Escape and attack, a sudden shift. It seems Xie Chucai's perilous situation at this moment is a result of his carefully orchestrated plan. This 'Zuo Ning's combat wisdom and adaptability are rarely seen among the younger generation."

"Facing an insurmountable enemy, he not only shows no fear but also devises every possible method to counter. This mindset and resilience are far superior to Chen Huang and Cao Shisan." Zuo Qiuling knew Li Weiyi well, describing him as incredibly resilient, with diverse combat styles—a generational prodigy born for martial arts.

Xie Chucai, of course, did not believe he was overconfident.

The opponent was merely a five-star Spiritual Sense Master; even if he wasn't at the sixth level of cultivation, but only the fifth, he could easily kill him with a casual punch. It was similar to how the Demonic Child almost killed the well-prepared Tai Shi Yu, who was at the same cultivation level, with just two moves.

Xie Chucai was only concerned with one thing: he had to lock down and suppress 'Zuo Ning', preventing him from using spatial evasion techniques again.

"Still daring to counterattack?"

Xie Chucai smiled calmly and exhaled a storm.

Within the storm, spiritual energy condensed into dozens of flying blades.

This was not merely a puff of spiritual energy but a Daoist technique capable of tearing even six-star Spiritual Sense Masters and sixth-level Dao Seed martial cultivators to shreds.

"Whoosh!"

Li Weiyi, head down and feet up, appeared with star-trail patterns on his body, and formation lights flickered. He plunged into the spiritual energy storm, deflecting all the flying blades with the star-trail patterns.

With one spear thrust, he broke through Xie Chucai's protective spiritual energy, striking directly at his glabella.

Xie Chucai felt a slight surprise but remained composed. With the five fingers of his right hand, he released Profound Ice Energy, grasping the Myriad Things Staff-Spear and effortlessly neutralizing the full power of Li Weiyi's attack.

It was unexpected by everyone.

As if he had prepared in advance, Li Weiyi instantly abandoned the spear.

With a palm strike from his left hand, his arm created thousands of afterimages.

A five-star Spiritual Sense Master, intending to engage Xie Chucai in close combat?

"Bang!"

Li Weiyi endured Xie Chucai's palm strike, his spiritual light armor shattering into a cloud of light particles.

Xie Chucai's palm strike lacked follow-through; only one-tenth of its full power was delivered, failing to injure Li Weiyi. Instead, Xie Chucai himself stiffened as if petrified, plummeting straight down from mid-air.

"Forward!"

Li Weiyi's body flickered downwards in pursuit, seizing the meter-long Myriad Things Staff-Spear.

"Pfft!"

The battle spear shone dazzlingly, striking Xie Chucai's chest.

"Boom!"

Li Weiyi's spear strike sent Xie Chucai crashing to the ground, blood gushing from his chest like a fountain.

The ground trembled violently, and cracks spread out beneath Xie Chucai's body, the spearhead having completely pierced him.

Victory and defeat were decided in an instant.

Most martial cultivators present didn't even realize what had happened; Xie Chucai was already pinned to the ground, critically wounded by a single spear.

Xie Chucai clearly had the upper hand...

"It was a 'Binding Talisman'! First, he lured Xie Chucai into mid-air, then broke through his protective spiritual energy with a spear, and finally, endured his palm strike to plant the talisman on him. Everything was within his calculations; Xie Chucai's defeat was not unjust," Song Yulou stated.

Ge Xiantong stroked his chin, looking at Jiang Ning nearby. "That move where he placed the talisman, transforming one hand into a myriad, felt familiar, like a mysterious art used by someone who seized a military relic. Could it be the Fourth Divine Son of the Heretical Sect?"

Jiang Ning calmly replied, "In two years, who could cultivate their psychic power to the level of a five-star Spiritual Sense Master?"

Ge Xiantong remained noncommittal, a smile brimming in his eyes. "This is getting interesting! Xie Chucai just claimed he would take on everyone under forty from the Lingxiao Living Realm, and then he's invalidated by an unknown five-star Spiritual Sense Master. This is a huge loss of face."

Li Weiyi pulled out the Myriad Things Staff-Spear and, before the 'Jie' character Binding Talisman could shatter, struck with a second spear.

"Don't kill him yet..."

Tai Shi Bai shouted.

He understood Xie Chucai's background and feared that Li Weiyi killing him would invite immense trouble.

"Crack!"

The spearhead shattered the thigh bone of Xie Chucai's left leg, piercing straight through.

At this very moment, Xie Chucai, using his formidable physique and spiritual energy, shattered the Binding Talisman, letting out a scream. He was no longer as silent as before.

"Seeking death!"

The Demonic Child flew down from the top of the palace, bringing with him a vast demonic cloud. His five fingers enveloped the sky and ground, intending to kill Li Weiyi with a single palm strike.

Zuo Qiuling had been waiting for a long time for an opportunity to act. With a whoosh, he appeared beside the Demonic Child, grabbed his head with five fingers, and lifted his body above his own head.

Then, with a crash, he slammed him into the ground.

It was as if he were smashing a rag doll.

The entire plaza outside the palace collapsed.

Zuo Qiuling kicked the Demonic Child away and sternly reprimanded him, "With a temperament like yours, do you deserve to be the eldest disciple of Due Hall? Xie Chucai, a sixth-level cultivator, fought a five-star Spiritual Sense Master and lost. It was due to his own underestimation and carelessness; this defeat was deserved. You, a ninth-level martial cultivator, dare to attempt to kill a lower-level cultivator from the Lingxiao Living Realm? I could kill you for that."

"I'm letting you go this time out of respect for Due Hall."

The Demonic Child spat out a mouthful of blood. His physical body was formidable, and he endured the blow, rolling several times on the ground before springing to his feet.

He gritted his snow-white teeth, a blood pagoda flickering between his eyebrows, radiating immense killing intent. In an adult male voice, he roared, "Zuo Qiuling, does your Zuoqiu Family still want Due Hall's support?"

Zuo Qiuling replied coldly, "Who Due Hall supports is not for a Dao Seed martial cultivator like you to decide."

Song Yulou's melodious voice rang out, "Demonic Child, you should understand now: arrogance in the Dao Seed Realm is meaningless. Quickly break through to the Longevity Realm; Zuo Qiuling and I both await your challenge."

"Fine! We'll meet in the Longevity Realm; we'll see who kills whom then." The Demonic Child glared intently at Zuo Qiuling, filled with intense resentment.

On the other side.

Xie Chucai let out a long cry, spiritual energy surging wildly from his body as he stood up on one leg.

From his ancestral field, a Ninth-Grade Hundred-Character Weapon Battle Sword flew out. He used the sword to support his body and declared, "Using talismans refined by others to ambush me, is this the virtue of cultivators from the Lingxiao Living Realm? Come, fight again! Even with severe injuries, I can still defeat you."

Li Weiyi retreated to Tai Shi Bai's side to check his injuries.

Tai Shi Bai said contemptuously, "The other person just showed mercy, otherwise, you would already be dead on the spot. Is this how a top prodigy from Due Hall handles defeat?"

Song Lin said, "You've lost a lot of blood and are severely wounded. Even if we fought and won, you would certainly claim it wasn't a fair victory."

Xie Chucai looked around, seeing countless mocking eyes, and angrily retorted, "Can a five-star Spiritual Sense Master immobilize me? That Binding Talisman was either bought by him or refined by Tai Shi Yu. Did I lose to him? No, I lost to the master of talismans from your Lingxiao Living Realm."

In fact, everyone present shared this thought, but for the sake of the Lingxiao Living Realm's reputation, they naturally couldn't admit it.

Winning dishonorably was still a win, better than losing.

No one believed that 'Zuo Ning,' with his psychic power, could draw a Binding Talisman capable of immobilizing Xie Chucai, a figure more formidable than many seventh-level martial cultivators. In other words, even seventh-level Dao Seed martial cultivators could be immobilized by such a talisman.

If a five-star Spiritual Sense Master were so heaven-defying, would they still be called a five-star Spiritual Sense Master?

Li Weiyi said, "Why are you barking? If you can't accept defeat, wait until your injuries heal, and I will accept your challenge then."

Xie Chucai said, "You are skilled in the Disguise Art; who knows where 'Zuo Ning' will be then? You are a five-star Spiritual Sense Master, but do you dare challenge the 'Nine-Layer Dao Image Map'? If you can defeat the Dao Image of the strongest fifth-level Dao Seed cultivator from Due Hall, then it will prove my defeat today was not unjust."

Ge Xiantong laughed heartily, "Xie Chucai has a point. I see that 'Zuo Ning's mastery of psychic power is extraordinary. At the same level, he might not lose to Qin Qiu; it's worth a try. If he manages to break the fifth-level Dao Image, it would also convince Senior Brother Xie and Senior Master Brother Demonic Child, showing them that our Lingxiao produces many outstanding talents."

Song Yulou and other top masters exchanged glances, hope gleaming in their eyes.

Earlier, 'Zuo Ning' had indeed utilized an unknown Binding Talisman. However, he was able to block Xie Chucai's Daoist technique, break through his protective spiritual energy, and plant the talisman on him.

This was something no ordinary five-star Spiritual Sense Master could achieve!

Li Weiyi did not want to challenge the 'Nine-Layer Dao Image Map,' nor had he even considered fighting Xie Chucai. The more high-profile he became, the more he would expose himself, and the Jiuli Hidden Sect had many matters that needed to be conducted in secret.

"You tell me to challenge, and I challenge? Who do you think you are?"

Li Weiyi helped the severely wounded Tai Shi Bai, preparing to leave.

Song Lin quickly walked over, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said with extreme excitement, "Brother 'Zuo Ning,' you've been hiding your true strength! I see your psychic power is entirely capable of challenging and defeating a sixth-level Dao Seed martial cultivator. The Patriarch wishes to speak with you."

Song Lin looked at Tai Shi Bai with a pleading gaze, hoping he could say a few words to help.

What they would talk about was undoubtedly related to the 'Nine-Layer Dao Image Map.'

After all, ever since the Third Palace Master issued the 'Jiazi Register' summoning order, this matter had become tied to her prestige.

Tai Shi Bai's chest wound had stopped bleeding. He looked at Li Weiyi and said, "'Zuo Ning,' I know you have concerns about your identity and fear being too high-profile might attract danger. However, the Third Palace Master's summoning order explicitly states that as long as someone can break the Dao Image Map, regardless of their origin, she will guarantee their safety."

"By publicly breaking the Dao Image Map, you'll have the Third Palace Master's promise as protection, making you even safer. Anyone who targets you will have to think carefully."

Song Lin smiled wryly, "This also concerns the reputation of the West Sea Prince's Residence. My uncle will certainly reward you handsomely."

Li Weiyi pondered for a moment, then agreed, following Song Lin to Song Yulou's side.

He was a man who understood social etiquette. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Greetings, Patriarch!"

"No need for formalities. Tonight, I, Song, have a favor to ask of you."

Song Yulou helped Li Weiyi up with both hands and sighed, "The Jiazi Banquet is a tradition for cultivators on the 'Jiazi Register,' signifying, in a sense, their retirement from the mundane world to focus on cultivation. Now that things have turned out like this, tomorrow, the West Sea Prince's Residence and I will surely become the laughingstock of the entire Lingxiao City."

"If we cannot win a match fairly against them, in the eyes of martial cultivators across the land, the West Sea Prince's Residence will be seen as the culprits, bringing shame upon the entire Lingxiao Living Realm."

"Zuoqiu will be accused of bullying the weak, I will be seen as avoiding battle and being timid, and Tai Shi Yu and the other two will be deemed overconfident... Alas, so far, not a single layer of the 'Nine-Layer Dao Image Map' has been broken. Not being able to withstand ten moves without defeat leaves everyone utterly disgraced."

"If powerful cultivators from other Living Realms see our Lingxiao martial cultivators so incompetent at the same cultivation level, they might just develop some unwarranted ambitions. The Third Palace Master regards this matter with great importance."

Li Weiyi somewhat understood why the Third Palace Master, with her transcendent status, would value Song Yulou.

This person was not only dignified in appearance but also gentle, elegant, and well-mannered. His talent to break through to Longevity before his sixties was undoubtedly that of a dragon among men.

Li Weiyi asked, "Even Inheritance-level masters can't withstand ten moves at the same cultivation level?"

Zuo Qiuling explained, "Inheritance-level masters are divided into three tiers. First-tier inheritors, like Cang Li and Zhu Yibai, are exceedingly rare. Even a young Son of Heaven would have to pay a price to kill them at the same cultivation level. Second-tier inheritors, like Lu Cangsheng, are also extremely rare, appearing only once in a millennium in the Leixiao Sect. The vast majority are ordinary Inheritance-level martial cultivators."