Chapter 223: Chapter 219: Life in Desolate Places, Blooming Without Defeat
Zhang Daoyi’s words had barely fallen when the sword sound clanged sharply; two sword lights streaked across the sky and merged, then, in the blink of an eye, they were nearly upon him.
Geng Metal Sword Qi, Gui Water Sword Qi, employing the principle of metal generating water, the Sword Light Division gave rise to hundreds of dark black sword radiance assaulting like a tempestuous storm.
Even a clay figure has a temper, let alone a Mystic Sect genius like Yuan Zhen.
Cultivating static cultivation isn’t about turning oneself into a stone devoid of emotions and desires; emotions that should exist will still arise, not to mention that now Yuan Zhen’s Mental State had been utterly disrupted by certain someone’s tactics, his static cultivation couldn’t suppress the rage.
Unfortunately, Yuan Zhen was now badly injured.
Sparks of electricity flickered, and shadowy figures glided around; the Mo Wu Sword, like a living creature, swam up to Jiang Li and was grasped by him, the sword tip hummed and trembled, and instantly, the sword seemed like flowing fire.
Jiang Li once again executed the Divine Sword Thunder Protection High-frequency Technique, intertwining sword shadows in front of him like mercury pouring to the ground, all the sword radiance being severed one by one by the merciless sword tip, scattering countless sparks and creating a dazzling spectacle.
Although not as sharp as before when borrowing the power of Heavenly Thunder, it was already sufficient for Yuan Zhen’s present condition.
Sword shadows flew endlessly, no matter how furiously Yuan Zhen attacked, he couldn’t touch the figure standing at the brink of the Ghost Gate. Seeing this, Yang Ji on the other side suddenly erupted, taking advantage of Jiang Li dealing with the sword radiance to attack his back with the Thunder Technique.
"Too weak."
From an acupoint over Jiang Li’s shoulder, Innate Qi burst forth, transforming into a gigantic Dragon Claw, with golden Dragon Scales distinctly visible, as if a True Dragon was present, displaying a sense of ultimate power.
With this claw unleashed, the thunder that just burst forth was extinguished by a single strike, and the air surged wildly with the movement of the Dragon Claw, suddenly exploding with a blast.
"Boom!"
The Dragon Claw broke through the sound barrier, pressing forward with unstoppable force.
"Five Directions Thunder Gods, I know their names.
Summon with a call, swift as whipping lightning."
Yang Ji hastily chanted the Thunder Spell, summoning thunder, with the Thunder Eye wide open, bolts of thunder arriving all at once, the wind and thunder roaring instantaneously.
"Boom."
Among the erupting airwaves, the Dragon Claw pressed on undeterred by the thunder, tearing through it with one strike.
"There’s one thing I wasn’t lying about," said Jiang Li calmly, "having no trump cards is indeed stronger than having them."
Having skills ready certainly gives a sense of security, but they constantly draw in Divine Essence and True Qi, especially Divine Essence. Without constant attunement with spiritual power, the unleashed skills will only drain the user first.
Jiang Li always needed to provide ten percent of his Divine Essence to the talisman.
After using two moves, the Divine Essence consumption greatly decreased, but it still required constant replenishment, hindering the full display of his strength.
It was like a minor irritation, not obvious but always there, making the use of spiritual power less harmonious and affecting the flow of True Qi.
And with all skills unleashed, he felt a long-lost sense of unobstructed flow, with True Qi functioning impeccably.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, don’t forget about me."
Zhang Daoyi finally managed to suppress the agitation in his body, stood upright, and approached like shrinking the earth beneath him. Qiushui Sword raised, the long river of Sword Qi reappeared.
As the loser, Zhang Daoyi should have stayed out of it, but Jiang’s verbal taunts were too detestable, and with Yuan Zhen now engaged in combat with Jiang Li, it dragged this Daoist into the fray as well.
This one had no injuries, just that his body was a bit overheated before, making it difficult to act.
Now that he made a move, he immediately revealed a power superior to that of the grievously wounded, with a torrential river of Sword Qi, overwhelming and unceasing, immediately putting pressure on Jiang Li.
"I haven’t forgotten."
Jiang Li cried out softly, and Innate Qi around his body surged like mist, abruptly transforming into a dragon shape to meet the river of Sword Qi.
"Rumble!"
As they collided, it was like thunder, both Sword Qi and Essence Qi spilling outwards, sharp and crisp as autumn wind, surging and tumbling like a sea of clouds, indistinguishable in their ferocity.
Even though his Divine Soul was not fully healed, his True Qi, having been restored to its peak by an Elixir, and liberated by the fact that he had played all his cards, was now even more freely commanded, displaying a freedom far beyond his previous capacity.
Furthermore, having contemplated the True Form of the Eight Heavenly Dragons and Great Power Bodhisattva, Jiang Li’s strength was greater than before when he contended with Zhang Daoyi.
Nonetheless, battling three at once was still pushing Jiang Li to his limit.
Yuan Zhen, observing the situation, instantly commanded Geng Metal and Gui Water to separate. Two Sword Orbs, one pure white and one dark black, each with its own assertive, fierce, adaptive, and unpredictable Sword Qi, attacked Jiang Li as if they were two different Swordsmen employing disparate Swordsmanship, besieging him.
This was an attempt to divide Jiang Li’s attention.
Jiang Li struck back with a sword, the Mo Wu Sword landing on the Geng Metal Sword Light, scattering it while also leaving charred marks.
Fire overcomes metal; the High-frequency Sword was precisely the counter to Geng Metal Sword Light.
At the same time, with Jiang Li’s left hand as the platform, another Dragon Claw suddenly grasped, its wide-reaching force sweeping across the dark black Sword Light, tearing it apart in the air.
But at this moment, Yuan Zhen’s real body stabbed forward with a sword finger, Sword Qi surging forth, an invisible sword momentum coming head-on.
Visible as Sword Qi, hidden as sword momentum, both proceeded side by side, an unseen sword radiance silently arriving.
Xiyi Sword Skill!
Amidst the chaotically raging battle, Yuan Zhen finally executed this sword formula.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, there’s nothing wrong in seeking the Ghost Gate, but attacking my nephew under the guise of rivalry, that was your mistake," said Zhang Daoyi while drawing in Five Vile Qi to neutralize the Innate Qi, solidifying Sword Qi on the Qiushui Sword, and prepared to deliver that most weighty sword strike.
Meanwhile, Yang Ji, with Thunder Eye wide open, remained silent, scheming a sneak attack.
Attacks came from three sides, converging in a deadly tide.
With ominous momentum coming from all three, even though two of them were gravely injured, the situation still remained extremely perilous.