Suddenly, the white-robed youth let out a loud roar and pulled a stack of Yellow Paper from his chest, looking for all the world like someone rushing to sweep graves during Qingming.
Zzzzz!
A rain of Yellow Paper flew forward, and on closer look, every single one was a Thunder Shock Talisman, crackling with electricity.
“Wha!?”
The blood figure who had been about to approach froze, face twisted in shock, stumbling back two steps, eyes wide—he had never seen such a spectacle.
Such petty tricks wouldn’t even catch the eye of any Nascent Soul cultivator, but this fresh Avatar of the Bloodthirsty Banner Lord was still fragile.
Seeing so many Spirit Talismans thrown out like they cost nothing, even he was rattled.
“Thunder Lord, help me!”
With a ghostly scream, Yun Liu detonated them.
Thunder rolled without end, a carpet-bombing that shook the world.
***
The change in quantity became a change in quality.
Hundreds of Thunder Shock Talismans exploded with power comparable to a genuine Nascent Soul lightning spell, creating a miniature man-made heavenly tribulation, full of festive flavor.
To prevent the blood figure from escaping, Yun Liu gripped Earthbind Talismans in his left hand and Frostseal Talismans in his right, tossing them into the thunderstorm like fireworks, determined not to let even a fly escape.
The true terror of Talisman arts was that anyone could feel like a spell cultivator—if you were willing to burn money, there was no magic you couldn’t use!
While tossing Spirit Talismans, someone mumbled under his breath, as if afraid the Bloodthirsty Ancestor wouldn’t hear.
“I thought you were something impressive, but you’re just overestimating yourself. No need for Shiyu to step in—I alone can deal with you!”
Lin Shu covered her ears, eyes wide in disbelief.
She had already prepared to die, intending to delay this terrifying demon cultivator to repay the two young ladies for saving her.
Yet the young master didn’t hesitate, unleashing a barrage of Thunder Shock Talismans that taught the enemy a painful lesson.
Genius Alchemy Hand, Strange Array, Guile Divine Talisman… was there anything this young master couldn’t do, other than giving birth?
When the thunder finally subsided, Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu dared to peek from behind Qin Xing, gazing in shock at Yun Liu’s back.
Forget the bloodthirsty maniac—they themselves were stunned, clutching their senior sister’s hands and trembling on either side.
This was the first time they had seen Yun Liu’s ruthless methods in person.
It was terrifying—compared to this, the Five-Phase Trial was practically gentle.
***
As the smoke cleared, all that remained was a charred pit, its original appearance as the Chengbei Garden completely unrecognizable.
There were many ways for a mere Golden Core to defeat enemies, but this was the simplest and most straightforward.
If one Thunder Shock Talisman couldn’t solve the problem, then ten.
If ten weren’t enough, a hundred.
Yun Liu’s eyelid twitched—not from lingering fear of the sneak attack, but from the pain in his heart.
That wasn’t a small amount of money.
It seemed that slaughtering Yellow-hairs wouldn’t be enough—he needed to have a talk with Starshuo Madam.
If the price was right, the Heaven-Grade Knot Ginseng Pill could be a scapegoat’s comforter, helping a righteous daughter to achieve the Great Circle of Golden Core.
Of course, other Qi Luck Maidens could also compete fairly.
“Cough… cough cough!”
A hoarse roar came from the bottom of the pit, and Yun Liu’s gaze sharpened—the blood form was still alive.
Ji Shiyu’s face turned pale as she gripped the Seven Stars Sword, spreading her divine sense in vigilance.
But the blood figure could hardly be called alive anymore.
Its once-mighty body was now half-destroyed and grotesque, its twisted face unrecognizable.
One hand clawed desperately at the bottom of the pit, leaving a gruesome trail of blood.
“You two… little bastards! How dare you destroy my Avatar! We’ll see who has the last laugh!”
The Bloodthirsty Banner Lord’s Avatar glared with venomous hatred at the white-robed youth and the golden-haired girl.
Who would have thought a mere Foundation Establishment brat would carry hundreds of Spirit Talismans of all kinds, ending up outfoxed while hunting?
“Still running your mouth at death’s door—let me teach you a lesson on Shiyu’s behalf!”
Yun Liu sneered coldly, stoking the hatred, then flicked another Thunder Shock Talisman between his fingers to block that foul mouth.
Qin Xing and Xiao Xinran’s expressions became even more bizarre, chills running down their spines.
What kind of chivalrous defender’s speech was this?
“Eh?”
Ji Shiyu lowered her head shyly, her heart pounding.
She was flustered by Yun Liu’s sudden gentle attitude.
So, Master was standing up for her?
No wonder he was so angry.
Hehe, even his overprotective side was so handsome…
Heat radiated from behind.
Within that short moment, someone’s anger had already reached a boiling point.
Ji Shiyu didn’t need to look back to guess Xiao Xinran’s expression.
Strangely, this time, the little Yellow-hair felt a bit proud.
Open, unabashed favoritism was the most reassuring of all, and her lips couldn’t help but curl up.
The boy’s meticulous protection always made her enjoy it.
Annoying. Why couldn’t Master say such things in private, instead of in front of everyone (referring to the ex-wife)?
And calling her “my master” too—so he liked this kind of tone!
Hmm, could it be that Mother said something?
Ji Shiyu shook her head, feeling it was very possible—for example, the idea of marrying into the Ji nest.
If the Xiao Family didn’t want the son-in-law, then the Palace of the Heavenly Pivot Star would accept him. Mother Ji was definitely the type to say such things.
But she still hadn’t decided whether to agree or not.
No one knows a daughter better than her mother.
The logic was correct, but the target was wrong.
With the strategist’s support failing, she decided to take over the match herself.
Bang bang…
At the bottom of the pit, the Bloodthirsty Banner Lord’s Avatar was charred inside and out by the thunder, while Ji Shiyu, the “culprit,” was covering her flushed face, lost in thought—completely unaware that she had unwittingly accepted the main quest from Yun Liu, deepening the grudge with the Demon Sect.
At last, under the relentless bombardment of Thunder Shock Talismans, even the blood form at the peak of Golden Core had its hardened skull blown apart, completely severing its connection with the main body’s soul.
In his final moments, the Bloodthirsty Banner Lord glared with fury at Yun Liu, spitting a spray of blood.
“Young master, watch out!”
Lin Shu was already on guard, but Xiao Xinran moved faster, leaping in front of Yun Liu.
The Flying Sword flew from her hand, severing the blood arrow.
The mass of red squirmed and shrieked on the ground, split in two—a Blood Maggot, utterly disgusting.
A few drops of blood splashed onto Xiao Xinran’s hand, but she only wiped them off in disgust, unconcerned.
“Ugh, truly… spitting blood!”
Ji Shiyu kept her distance, retching.
These Demon Sect fiends just got more disgusting the more you looked at them.
***
Far away in the Nili Abyss, at the main Demon Sect headquarters, the Bloodthirsty Ancestor’s eyes flew open.
He was enraged, his qi sea trembling with fury.
The destruction of the Avatar immediately triggered backlash.
Not only had he lost a Demon Icon and an ear in East Pole Province, but the fresh Avatar he’d just refined was pummeled to pieces by a pack of brats.
If the Saintess heard that he’d been humiliated by a little yellow-haired girl, how could he show his face again?
“Ji Shiyu, I’ll remember this. What a fine Ji Shiyu of Falling Cloud Peak!”
The golden-haired girl’s face and voice were burned into the Bloodthirsty Banner Lord’s memory for life.
As for the equally hateful white-robed youth, the old demon actually forgot to ask his name.
***
Yun Liu clutched his wound, shaking his head to signal to Qin Xing that he was fine, then stepped into the pit to pick up the Crystalline Stone Core.
At times like this, the benefit of the Tianxing Method’s body protection became clear.
With the Overlord Body always active, unbreakable and unyielding, if he were still a fragile sword cultivator from before, he’d be lying on the ground waiting for an ambulance by now.