Chapter 322: Chapter 309: Kill!
Hmm!
The confrontation between the "Soul-Stealing Eye" and the "Separation Fire Golden Eye" ultimately ended with Zhouyang letting out a muffled hum of defeat.
This wasn’t because the "Separation Fire Golden Eye" was inferior in power to the "Soul-Stealing Eye," but because this divine technique was acquired later and he had just begun to learn it, not even reaching minor achievement.
On the other hand, the Netherworld Cat’s "Soul-Stealing Eye" was its innate talent, perfected from birth, naturally exhibiting greater power than Zhouyang’s "Separation Fire Golden Eye."
Though Zhouyang retreated, he was protected by the Tier Four "Soul Suppressing Talisman," and not overwhelmed by the "Soul-Stealing Eye," losing the ability to retaliate.
Therefore, when the dark green Flood Dragon shadow summoned by Murong Qianqian charged at him, he simply opened his mouth and spat out a Sharp Gold Sword, slashing it toward the head of the dark green Flood Dragon shadow.
Roar~
With an unwilling roar, the dark green Flood Dragon shadow was split into countless spiritual lights before it could unleash its power.
However, Zhouyang didn’t have time to rejoice, as the now larger Netherworld Cat, seeing that the "Soul-Stealing Eye" was ineffective, transformed into a black shadow lunging at him.
Demon Beasts, after all, are Demon Beasts. Even a Netherworld Cat, known for its magical techniques, possesses formidable close combat abilities.
After all, if their claws and fangs weren’t sharp enough, even if they could immobilize the enemy’s soul, they might not be able to break through the enemy’s defense.
"Azure Dragon Cauldron, arise!"
With a low shout, an ancient-looking Giant Bronze Cauldron flew out from Zhouyang’s Storage Ring, quickly draping him in a veil of green spiritual light.
The Netherworld Cat’s claws raked across that green spiritual light, only causing a slight tremor in the protective shield.
This unexpected change left not only the Netherworld Cat in disbelief but also stunned Murong Qianqian at a distance, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
"Boy, what is your true background? Could it be that you’re really the illegitimate child of some Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator?"
Murong Qianqian ceased her attack, pointing at Zhouyang with disbelief and exclaimed in shock.
From the start of the fight until now, Zhouyang displayed abilities and revealed artifacts that were beyond the means of a First-Layer Purple Mansion Cultivator.
Murong Qianqian may not have top-quality artifacts due to investing most of her wealth into raising her Netherworld Cat, unlike other renowned major sect peers.
But she dared to swear that even the core disciples of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect might not have artifacts as good as Zhouyang’s, or even possibly less so.
This made her suspect Zhouyang’s true identity, fearing he might indeed be an illegitimate child of some Nascent Soul Stage Zhenren of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, as Zhong Chuming initially feared!
Upon hearing her exclamations, Zhouyang first paused, then his expression darkened, and he snorted coldly, "Hmph, you’re from a renowned major sect and resort to such lowly slander when you can’t win. Aren’t you ashamed to tarnish the reputation of your Beast Taming Sect?"
Before his words fell silent, he no longer looked at Murong Qianqian’s trembling face, swiftly forming a spell with his hands, actively disassembling the "Ten Directions Extinction Sword Array," to unveil another secret technique from the "Great Derivation Sword Technique."
"Sword Array, unite!"
With a low shout from his mouth, the ten "Great Derivation Divine Light Swords" suddenly converged in the center, merging into a crimson giant sword three zhang long.
"Slash!"
Zhouyang shouted again, forming a sword seal with two fingers, pointing it at Murong Qianqian. The crimson giant sword quivered slightly and disappeared from its original place, reappearing above Murong Qianqian’s head.
This sudden shift frightened Murong Qianqian, causing her to turn pale with fright.
By this time, the power emitted by the crimson giant sword showed signs of exceeding Tier Four high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, stepping toward Tier Five.
This move was witnessed by Zhouyang once in Zhenyue Immortal City when Jia Yunzhen used it.
At that time, Jia Yunzhen used this move to injure a Tier Four high-grade flying demon beast severely.
Time seemed to slow as events unfolded.
At that moment, Murong Qianqian demonstrated the qualities expected of a disciple from a renowned major sect.
She raised her jade hand, directing the defensive Spiritual Artifact, a Silver Treasure Umbrella, to block the oncoming giant sword, while another hand tapped her Storage Bag to take out and activate a gleaming Tier Four high-grade Defense Spirit Talisman for self-protection.
Boom!
The crimson giant sword fell, and the Silver Treasure Umbrella artifact didn’t last even a moment before shattering into countless fragments.
Then, with no hindrance, the crimson giant sword pressed against the newly activated Tier Four high-grade Defense Spirit Talisman.
Pfft!
Colliding with the protective shield, Murong Qianqian instantly felt a portion of the pressure transferred onto her due to the talisman’s defense, making her cough blood.
Yet, she was a Seventh-Layer Purple Mansion Cultivator, protected by a Tier Four high-grade Spirit Talisman, and the crimson giant sword couldn’t kill her.
After a brief stalemate, the crimson giant sword barely broke the talisman’s defense before dispersing into ten flying swords, which were recalled by Zhouyang.
It was evident that when he retrieved the flying swords, Zhouyang’s face briefly showed an unnatural flush, indicating the considerable exertion from that strike.
However, he did not stop there.
Since Murong Qianqian could catch up to him once, she could do it twice or even thrice.
And if this time it was Murong Qianqian chasing him, next time it might be Zhong Chuming, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Therefore, today he must kill Murong Qianqian to completely sever Zhong Chuming’s possibility of tracking him.
Having made up his mind, he immediately waved his hand and took out the "Golden Light Celestial Stabilizing Mirror" talisman treasure he used to kill Luo Yunqing back in the day.
Murong Qianqian, knowing the value of this treasure, turned pale and screamed sharply when she saw the silver talisman in his hand, "Talisman treasure!"
In a major sect like the Beast Taming Sect, there are naturally many talisman treasures. In the sect’s treasure vault, there are talisman treasures refined by Golden Core Stage cultivators before their passing, available for junior cultivators to exchange.
Murong Qianqian happened to have a talisman treasure on her as well.
Therefore, upon seeing Zhou Yang take out a talisman treasure, while her face changed drastically, she hurriedly took out her talisman treasure from her storage bag as well.
At this moment, she no longer had the time to feel the pain of her losses in today’s battle.
Now she only hoped to drag on until Zhou Yang’s magical power was exhausted. As long as Zhou Yang’s magical power ran out, she would win.
And as long as she could secure a victory today, just the magical artifacts Zhou Yang had already exposed would be enough to compensate for her losses today and even allow her to make a huge profit.
At this moment, being a Seventh-Layer Purple Mansion Cultivator had its advantages. Although she was later to draw out her talisman treasure than Zhou Yang, it only took her ten or so breaths to fully activate the talisman treasure after taking it out.
By the time her talisman treasure transformed into an emerald flying saber and slashed toward Zhou Yang, his talisman treasure had only been half activated.
Of course, the reason wasn’t just that her cultivation was higher than Zhou Yang’s, it was also related to the quality and grade of the talisman treasure.
The "Golden Light Celestial Stabilizing Mirror" talisman treasure in Zhou Yang’s hand was refined by extracting the origin of a Tier Five Top Grade lifebound spiritual artifact from a Ninth-Layer Golden Core cultivator.
Yet, the emerald flying saber talisman treasure of Murong Qianqian was merely refined using the origin of a Tier Five Middle Grade artifact.
At this moment, as the emerald flying saber slashed toward him, the Azure Dragon Cauldron protecting Zhou Yang started to struggle heavily under the pressure.
This defensive spiritual artifact, no matter how excellent, is still just a Tier Four High-grade Artifact, whereas the emerald flying saber is undeniably a talisman treasure.
In truth, for a Tier Four Top Grade Artifact to withstand the attack of a talisman treasure, it is already an outstanding specimen among Tier Four Top Grade Artifacts.
After all, the reason talisman treasures exist is primarily to compensate for Purple Mansion cultivators’ inability to completely activate Tier Five Artifacts.
"Hold on for a little longer, just a little longer!"
Zhou Yang multitasked, frantically urging the Azure Dragon Cauldron to defend against the emerald flying saber’s attacks while desperately channeling magical power into the talisman treasure to speed it up.
After about thirty breaths, just as the defense light emitted by the Azure Dragon Cauldron was showing signs of cracking, he finally managed to activate the talisman treasure before the shield broke.
"Stop!"
The golden treasure mirror that materialized in his hand shone at Murong Qianqian, and the scene that played out on Luo Yunqing unfolded once again upon her.
"No, what kind of divine technique is this, why so strange? Kitty, help me!"
Her body immobilized, mouth unable to form words, Murong Qianqian, in her panic, hurriedly used the spiritual connection through the "Demonic Soul Contract" to desperately call her Netherworld Cat for help.
Sensing its master’s fear, the Netherworld Cat quickly activated the "Soul-Stealing Eye" divine technique and aimed it at Zhou Yang, hoping to rescue its master by diverting attention.
However, Zhou Yang, after finally creating a winning opportunity by activating the talisman treasure, wouldn’t let this beast ruin his plan.
Glaring his eyes, before the Netherworld Cat could fully employ its divine technique, he launched an attack using the "Godslaying Needle" secret skill on the Netherworld Cat.
Meow~
Pierced hard by the "Godslaying Needle," the Netherworld Cat let out a tragic cry, its divine technique failed.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Yang spat out the "Netherworld Bone-Eroding Needle" hidden within him, aiming straight for Murong Qianqian’s brow.
The cruelest thing in this world is to watch the executioner’s blade descending upon you, and yet not be able to even tilt your head to avoid it.
Murong Qianqian, dignified as a Seventh-Layer Purple Mansion Cultivator, now resembled a death row convict watching the executioner’s blade swing toward them, unable to make a single move!
The "Netherworld Bone-Eroding Needle" was a treasure Zhou Yang obtained during his Foundation Establishment Stage, its grade far below his current status as a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator. Normally, no Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator would be caught by it.
Even if it hit, it wouldn’t be lethal to a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator.
But now, this treasure achieved the nearly impossible, piercing through the brow of a Seventh-Layer Purple Mansion cultivator, ending the life of one from a renowned major sect.
Murong Qianqian could not utter a single word until her demise.
Only those eyes filled with unwillingness and regret conveyed to Zhou Yang how deeply she regretted in her final moments.