Chapter 29: Defeated by a Qi Refining Cultivator, the Patriarch Dies with Unresolved Regrets

The talisman array disc spun and chimed, bursting forth with dazzling multicolored lights.

Twenty-seven superior talismans, including Thunderfire, Earth Prison, and Spirit Poison talismans, were arrayed within.

Earth Prison for trapping.

Thunderfire for killing.

Spirit Poison for poisoning.

As the serpentine shadows lunged forward, the Spirit Poison talismans in the array disk activated first.

Nine Spirit Poison talismans formed a radiant, seven-colored mist in the air.

Ssss—

The moment the poisonous fog spread, the plants in the area, which had developed resistance from growing amid miasma, instantly rotted into sludge.

The ancestor of the Spotted Demon Serpent, charging headlong, collided with the rainbow-hued poisonous mist and immediately sensed something was off.

Poison!

Simultaneously, the Earth Prison and Thunderfire talismans activated.

Eighteen trapping and killing talismans linked their energies, thunder and fire surged, covering the forest.

“Break!”

The ancestor opened its mouth, spewing a torrent of blood-light; most of the thunderfire’s power was corroded, and the small earthen barricade formed by the Earth Prison talismans was riddled with holes.

The venom released by the Spirit Poison talisman did little to harm it.

As the array disk activated, a three-foot sword descended toward Shen Lian’s head, but a flash of scarlet fire-light enveloped him—he had already escaped.

Yang Li, seeing his attack fail, recalled his sword and struck again.

Shen Lian, now to the side, his hands flickered, summoning over a dozen Thunderfire talismans which he hurled at the ancestor, also engulfing Yang Li.

Thunderfire talismans converged instantly; thunder roared, flames surged.

“Ah—!”

A scream rang out; Yang Li hastily formed a spell, shrouding himself in a blood-colored protective barrier.

But beneath the thunderfire, the blood-light shattered, and a bolt struck his head directly.

Amid the rolling thunder and fire, the ancestor surged forth atop a blood-colored cloud, all thunderfire kept at bay.

Narrow, triangular eyes fixed on Shen Lian, intent on colliding with him.

“Let’s see how many talismans you have left.”

Whoosh—

Shen Lian’s hands swept; left hand Earth Prison, right Thunderfire.

Both talismans activated, his scarlet fire-cloud burst, his figure darted aside, leaving behind only the activated talismans.

Boom—

Earth surged, forming a domain within a yard of the ground, enveloping the ancestor as thunderfire bombarded wildly.

“True Spirit of the Five Viscera.”

In the storm’s center, the ancestor’s blood-light flashed again; the shadowy forms of heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney manifested on its demon body, shrouded in a hazy blood-light.

Five divine colors intertwined within the viscera, withstanding the relentless thunderfire assault.

This scene startled Shen Lian, who had only just escaped and steadied himself.

What in the world was this!

How could a ninth-level Qi Cultivator be so formidable?

“Boy, your strength is impressive. I no longer wish to refine you. I’ll give you a chance to become my disciple.”

The ancestor, its five-viscera shadow now humanoid, looked like a serpent rider, swallowing flames amidst thunderfire, reducing the talismans’ power by half.

Yet Shen Lian did not relent; with a flick of his sleeve, he sent out several Heavenly Thunder Seeds.

Seeing them, the ancestor broke through the thunderfire, attempting to dodge.

A single Heavenly Thunder Seed equaled the strike of a ninth-level Qi Cultivator—despite the Five Viscera Demon Technique, its demon body was still frail.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Thunder Seeds shot from Shen Lian’s hand, turning swathes of forest to ruins.

Within the flames, the Spotted Demon Serpent flew sideways, trying to close in.

But Shen Lian gave it no chance; after throwing the Thunder Seeds, he escaped his original position with Fire Escape.

Thunderfire unleashed was more powerful and enduring than the talismans, transforming the region into a domain of thunder and fire.

Golden light glimmered around Shen Lian; a small phantom bell shielded him, warding off the surrounding thunderfire.

“Die!”

The ancestor swayed in the thunderfire, its eyes shining with demonic light, glaring at Shen Lian.

Crack—

Instantly, Shen Lian felt a chill; the Divine Thought talismans pasted on his body shattered and slid from his robes.

Ever since learning to make Divine Thought talismans, he always wore two wherever he went.

Especially this time, his robe’s lining was covered with them.

Without his own divine sense, he could only stack talismans.

Shen Lian felt dizzy, nearly collapsing into the mud.

He bit his tongue sharply, waking himself from the pain.

Seven Divine Thought talismans cracked, with the rest showing fractures.

Divine sense attack!

An advanced tactic among rogue cultivators, yet he had encountered it.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Shen Lian flipped his palm, sending twenty Divine Thought talismans spinning onto his robes, forming a faint golden halo.

If it weren’t for his cautious nature, he could never handle a high-level fight like this.

Seeing Shen Lian glowing gold, the ancestor’s triangular eyes widened.

“Mid-stage Qi Cultivator, let’s see how many talismans you have left!”

The ancestor’s eyes narrowed, divine sense descended again on Shen Lian.

Talismans thrown in handfuls, Thunder Seeds one after another, a mid-stage Qi Cultivator disturbing the tombs of Foundation Establishment?

The talismans on his robe crackled, their shield wavering; even with the talisman’s aid, Shen Lian’s skull throbbed painfully, barely able to withstand it.

Damn it, aren’t demon beasts supposed to be tough-bodied but weak in divine sense?

Did he encounter a mutant?

Scarlet fire-cloud exploded, Shen Lian switched positions repeatedly, striking and leaping each time.

Glancing at the ground beneath, he quickly formed a seal, sending a talisman into the earth.

“Activate!”

In an instant—

The ground roared; thorny vines burst forth, aimed directly at the ancestor.

His earlier preparations now triggered.

“You even prepared a backup!”

Seeing the sudden vines and spreading poison, the ancestor’s triangular eyes flashed with fierce light.

Crack.

Having unleashed divine sense attacks twice, he was also greatly depleted.

While dodging Thunder Seeds, his scales peeled away, demon blood streaming.

Without the scales’ protection, flesh reacted rapidly with the airborne poison, sizzling and hissing.

The ancestor never expected to be forced into such a state by a mid-stage Qi Cultivator.

His demon body trembled, swelling to five feet, colliding head-on with the vines.

Yet, at that moment, thunderfire rolled across the ground, surging up from all directions.

“Still more Thunderfire talismans!”

“Ah!”

Thunderfire from below struck his demon body, eliciting a scream from the ancestor.

Even with divine sense, the area flooded with thunderfire, his wounded body moved sluggishly.

He could not escape.

This insignificant Qi Cultivator had so many talismans—fine.

But even hid backup plans here.

What kind of cultivator was so paranoid, leaving tricks everywhere?

His demon body was torn by thunderfire, blood dripping, scales from neck to back ripped and charred, the ancestor shrieked as he flew back.

Whoosh!

Shen Lian seized the moment, flicking another stack of Thunderfire talismans at the ancestor.

Crackling, the serpent’s body convulsed, blasted into charred blackness.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Red Sun crossbow appeared in Shen Lian’s hand; two bolts shot into the demon body, piercing deep into the earth.

But Shen Lian dared not approach; forming a spell with both hands, he summoned the array disk again, quickly loading talismans and bombarding the pinned demon body.

Boom—

Another barrage; fissures appeared on the serpent’s body, and rainbow-colored blood flowed from its wounds.

Hiss—

The triangular snake head snapped upward half a foot, mouth opening with a screech.

“Insignificant Qi Cultivator... Insignificant Qi Cultivator...”

The voice, full of grief and resentment, echoed.

“Insignificant Qi Cultivator!”

Thud.

The raised snake head slammed back to the ground.

Its blood-red triangular eyes stared blankly, the light fading.

Dead with eyes open.

Whoosh—

Shen Lian rubbed his aching skull.

Staring at the demon serpent pinned to the earth, he didn’t step forward.

Having experienced divine sense attacks and nearly perished, he dared not approach.

With a flick of his finger, a medicine vial appeared, which he hurled at the serpent’s body.

Within the vial was powdered medicine ground from rainbow-colored corrosive poison pills.

Spirit Poison talismans and poisoned Red Sun bolts had little effect on the serpent—likely related to its cultivation method.

But Shen Lian believed the dosage simply wasn’t enough.

Now, he increased the amount.

No matter if this fellow was demon, devil, or human, it would receive a rainbow-colored poisoned skin.

Crack!

The vial shattered on the Red Sun bolt lodged in the ground, releasing a mass of rainbow powder.

Ssss—

The powder reacted swiftly with demon blood, bubbles rose from the flesh, black smoke billowed, a foul stench spread.

Within a few breaths, most of the serpent’s body was corroded; only the broken head remained, which suddenly sprang up like a blood arrow toward Shen Lian.

But Shen Lian—

Had already escaped ten yards away, his Fire Escape technique’s spiritual power still not dissipated.

He’d prepared for this long ago.

Thud.

The snake head crashed to the ground, missing its target.

“Insignificant Qi Cultivator!!!”