Chapter 120: Slaying Enemies

Among the three ultimate killing techniques of the Clear Water Palace, the first two were wide-area attacks that swept across all directions. Only the final move, “Raging Waves Strike the Sky,” was a supreme killing move that focused all power on a single point to break through the opponent’s defenses. However, Mu Yuan had practiced Tidal Flow, and his “Canglang Water Sword” was a top-tier sword art that emphasized adaptability. Although Mu Yuan had not yet reached the master level of creating his own sword techniques, with his high-level perspective, he could make slight modifications to this move.

After all, sword arts valued improvisation and freedom, with no fixed sword forms. This was especially true for water path techniques, which adapted to their surroundings like water taking the shape of its container!

Fierce sword qi converged into two massive illusory great swords, each aimed at killing one of the two enemies.

The other enemy was already tied up by Shangguan Shuiqing. The spells of the Clear Water Palace emphasized endless continuity. Though not particularly sharp, they were incredibly resilient. Although this enemy also used ice-cold spells, they were no match for Shangguan Shuiqing. Now, with Mu Yuan’s sword technique attacking them, the enemy let out a startled cry. They met the attack with an ice sword formed in their hand, which exploded upon impact.

The fire-aligned demon who had been confronting Mu Yuan earlier was in an even worse state. Most of Mu Yuan’s sword qi was directed at him. This demon was extremely poor, even worse off than the White Wolf Demon Mu Yuan had encountered in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. At least that demon had weapons and magical artifacts. These two demons, however, both used weapons condensed from their own Zhenqi! The ice sword shattered, and the fire sword also crumbled and dispersed. This demon was even struck by Mu Yuan’s sword at the waist. Blood gushed out, and he became unsteady, actually falling from mid-air!

“Whoosh!”

A sharp, whistling sound was heard. The demon pierced by Mu Yuan was then penetrated by a black arrow that came from nowhere. His heart was destroyed, and his physical body died.

Mu Yuan followed the sound and saw that the honest-looking man had already dealt with his own opponent. He had actually transformed his hair into arrows and casually slain this demon as well!

For demons who had not formed a Primordial Dan, once the physical body died, their spiritual sense would gradually dissipate. Only by achieving Inner Pill formation was there hope of Soul Seizure and rebirth. But this demon had no such chance!

The honest man killed this demon and flew over, smiling as he said, “Fellow Daoist, your sword technique is truly sharp!”

Mu Yuan felt quite favorable toward this man and responded with a smile, “Just call me Mu Yuan.”

The man grinned again, “I am Tie Ling!”

Mu Yuan smiled, “Let’s deal with these demons first!” As he spoke, his sword light shifted, and overwhelming sword qi descended upon the head of another demon!

“Mm!” Tie Ling’s iron wings vibrated behind him, granting him extreme speed. In an instant, he closed in on the demon. His hands transformed into two iron hammers, swinging back and forth. A hurricane howled, sweeping away the demon’s frost and cold air. This demon’s ice sword had already been shattered by Mu Yuan. Although he had reformed another one, the death of his companion had greatly shaken him. Distracted and now surrounded by three attackers, the demonic energy around his body was broken through repeatedly. Finally, with a loud cry, he endured two strikes of sword qi and fled without looking back!

Mu Yuan smiled inwardly. In a short moment, the three of them had broken four demons, greatly boosting their morale. However, the overall situation was still not optimistic. Master Long Yin was fighting the Peacock Demon King alone. The Square-scarf Scholar was fighting one against three. The other two had joined forces but were still locked in a stalemate with four demons!

Earlier, the Peacock Demon King was empty-handed, but now he held a round, sparkling pearl. Water vapor spread from it, radiant light swirling. Inside, the forms of fourteen water dragons tumbled about. The pearl shimmered with strange brilliance and flowing, illusory light, appearing very gentle. Yet, it actually suppressed Master Long Yin’s extremely fierce and powerful Vajra Dharma Form!

Mu Yuan suddenly noticed Shangguan Shuiqing beside him trembling. He quickly asked, “Senior Sister Shangguan, what’s wrong?”

Shangguan Shuiqing gritted her teeth and said, “Does junior brother not recognize this? This is our sect’s Water Soul Pearl. Before leaving the Clear Water Palace, our master gave it to Senior Brother Liu for him to take out. Unfortunately, last time we were ambushed by this Peacock King, and we ultimately lost our sect’s treasure. I never expected this demon king to have refined it and now uses its demonic power here!”

“Clear Water Palace’s treasure?” Mu Yuan’s thoughts flashed. Tie Ling also heard this and said angrily, “He actually stole your magical artifact? Today, we’ll just take it back!”

With a loud shout, Geng Metal Qi surged around his body. A beam of light shot fiercely from his eyes. The multi-colored demonic light surrounding the Peacock Demon King suddenly rippled. Tie Ling’s eye-beam attack actually broke through the Peacock Demon King’s protective demonic light and cut off a section of his hair!

“Audacious!”

The Peacock King let out a cold shout. The Water Soul Pearl in his hand glowed brighter. The fourteen water dragons inside churned violently. The manifested water vapor suddenly transformed into a mist that covered the sky and land. Master Long Yin’s Wrathful Vajra was trapped within it, actually unable to break free. The golden light swelled and receded, and the surrounding mist swelled and receded with it. Seizing this slight opportunity, the Peacock King uttered a light whistle and pounced over to attack!

Mu Yuan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Beside him, Tie Ling also gave a loud shout. A burst of dazzling white, brilliant light erupted from his Dantian. The Geng Metal Qi within dozens of miles surged vigorously. The arrows, spears, swords, and sabers that had fallen on the ground shot up into the sky, gathering around him. In an instant, they all melted, merging into a flowing mass of molten iron that tightly covered his body. It shifted with his movements, forming a sturdy suit of battle armor! Simultaneously, he pushed his weapon and armor art to its limit. His arms came together, and energy beams surged and flickered, actually transforming into a massive divine sword three zhang long!

The Peacock King was originally wrapped in a brilliant, multi-colored light. Now, as he charged forward, he dispersed the radiant light around him, revealing a lean and handsome face. He had long limbs and a well-proportioned body, actually a rare handsome man. But Mu Yuan had no mind to admire this. This person’s Magical Power was formidable. Mu Yuan currently had no various magical artifacts at hand. Facing a demon who had achieved Elixir Formation, he had zero chance of winning. Fortunately, this person was tied up by Master Long Yin for most of his energy, and Tie Ling and Shangguan Shuiqing were by his side. With the three of them joining forces, there might still be a chance for survival!

The eighteen talismanic scripts on the Water Restriction Escape Sword were fully activated by Mu Yuan. The light surpassed that of the sun and moon. Clear Water True Qi swirled torrentially around him, forming a huge vortex in front of him. Piercing clear light bloomed fiercely. The Talisman Sword trembled slightly in mid-air. Dozens of sword moves merged into one. The Clear Water Palace’s “Raging Waves Strike the Sky” exploded forth with a piercing strike!

Shangguan Shuiqing’s Flying Sword had been destroyed earlier, and she had no other magical artifacts on hand. Her pretty face turned cold. Facing this enemy who had injured them and stolen their treasure, she hardened her heart. She gathered her Zhenqi at her fingertips, highly compressed it, and fiercely pushed it out!

The combined force of the three of them violently collided with the Peacock King’s swiftly approaching form. Instantly, a rapidly spinning vortex of light and energy formed. Mu Yuan’s firmly planted stance was pulled by it. He couldn’t help but stagger a few steps forward!

Various different forces pulled, spun, pushed, and ground against him… His whole body felt like it was about to be torn apart. Around him were all sorts of bizarre, colorful energy lights and swirling forces. Mu Yuan let out a loud shout. Clear light burst fiercely from his Dantian. His whole person seemed to transform into a stream of water. No matter how the riverbed changed, he just went with the flow, his spirit remaining clear amidst the chaos!

The true essence of the Pure Stream Heart-Cleanse Truth Art lay in following the natural course of things. Although it was different from Tidal Flow, they had similarities. Mu Yuan had studied this art for a short time and had not yet grasped its subtleties. But now, in this critical situation, with all kinds of fierce and powerful forces pressing down on his body, he couldn’t help but spin along with them, releasing his own restraints. The violent, turbulent waves of energy that had been crushing his body, making his bones and sinews crack, now allowed him to go with the flow amidst the myriad energy waves. He borrowed the forces to circulate, greatly reducing the feeling of oppression!

As Zhenqi circulated outside his body, Mu Yuan became like a swimming fish. He suddenly darted out of the vortex, his sleeves fluttering. He raised his hand and sent out several beams of sword qi!

Shangguan Shuiqing was also well-versed in the true essence of the Pure Stream Heart-Cleanse Truth Art. She also broke free after a short while. Only Tie Ling, with his wild and fierce Zhenqi, stood like a rock in water. His Geng Metal Qi ran rampant, clashing hard against the surrounding energy waves. Explosions rumbled one after another. His whole person stood like a mountain peak. No matter how the energy waves swirled and tumbled around him, infused with white Zhenqi, his hair like steel, his sleeves like iron, majestic and unmoving!

With Tie Ling’s Zhenqi causing trouble inside and Mu Yuan’s sword qi breaking the rotation from outside, the vortex exploded with a roar. Countless brilliant lights scattered like a torrential rain, flying apart in all directions!

The Peacock King seemed somewhat surprised that he hadn’t managed to kill Tie Ling with one strike. He was about to make another move when Master Long Yin broke free from the Water Soul Pearl behind him. The Vajra Pestle swept through the air with a great whooshing sound, pressing down from afar like Mount Tai crushing down. The Peacock King had to turn around. A brilliantly colored light lit up in his hand, transforming into a shield of light to resist the pressure of the Vajra Pestle!

“Truly hateful, this demon is too ferocious. I can’t do anything about it either!” Tie Ling emerged from the vortex. The battle armor wrapped around his body flowed down, changing according to his will. He scratched his head and spoke in a resonant voice.

Mu Yuan gave a bitter smile, thinking to himself that this demon had already achieved Elixir Formation cultivation. Aside from Tie Ling’s formidable combat power, their side really had no means to contend with this demon!

Now tangled up again by Master Long Yin, the Peacock King seemed somewhat irritable. He let out a long, sharp whistle. The sound waves rolled out, making the mountains ring and the valleys echo. His aura was extremely domineering!

“First, let’s help the Square-scarf Scholar finish his opponents. I think among those present, only he can assist Master Long Yin effectively!” Mu Yuan assessed the situation and said in a deep voice.

Tie Ling chuckled and was the first to pounce over.

The opponents fighting the Square-scarf Scholar, aside from a female demon enveloped in fiery red demonic light from the start, also included two demons wearing green leather armor. These two demons were extremely close, and their appearances and spells were identical. Tie Ling targeted these two. Mu Yuan and Shangguan Shuiqing exchanged a glance and also rushed over!

“This is too stifling. Let’s see if I can find some different methods!” Mu Yuan realized during the previous battle that the Clear Water Palace’s spells were rather average in combat power, even inferior to some demonic cultivators. He began to consider selecting a few usable spells from among the various techniques sealed within the Black Water Gourd.

After thinking it over, he chose the Northern Dark Water Curse.

After all, the Pure Stream Heart-Cleanse Truth Art was a water path technique. Using the Northern Dark Water Curse was most appropriate and wouldn’t attract attention.

The Yin-Yang Dual Energy spanning the Black Water Gourd in his Dantian was quietly torn open by Mu Yuan. The Mysterious Turtle formed by the Northern Dark Water Curse immediately crept out. With a thought from Mu Yuan, the Great Art of Yin-Yang Soul Shackling and Qi Sealing closed back up. He himself let out a light whistle. The Northern Dark Water Curse coiled around his Talisman Sword as he thrust it out fiercely!

These two demons were entirely covered in green light, with a faint, rich, floral fragrance-like aura. It was unclear what kind of demon they were. Their forms were extremely bizarre, soft as if boneless. As soon as Tie Ling engaged them, he was entangled by them. His tremendous strength found no purchase, landing emptily. Their auras were linked. Although their overall pressure wasn’t great, they were incredibly cunning, specifically targeting the weak points in Tie Ling’s attacks to counter. They avoided the solid and struck the void, leaving Tie Ling’s weapon and armor art with nothing to grasp, making him extremely frustrated!

Mu Yuan thrust out his sword. It tore through the air with a mournful sound. At the tip of the sword, faint flashes of thunder light appeared. Once the spells of the Five Elements Path were cultivated to the stage of merging Gang and Sha Qi, one could unleash thunder techniques. Although Mu Yuan was currently using Clear Water True Qi, the Northern Dark Water Curse was initially condensed using Tide True Qi. Thus, he could utilize the various spells of Tidal Flow, activating the Kui Water Divine Thunder. His sword strike landed right between the two demons, forcing them apart!