Lian Xin suddenly realized she could reach Mo Qi with a mere raise of her hand, startling herself.
However, she quickly recovered and hastily struck out with a palm towards Mo Qi.
At that moment, a sharp palm wind whistled through the air. Mo Qi also jolted awake and, in a moment of desperation, instinctively unleashed the ribbon-like spell he had acquired after absorbing the Wen Gu.
Countless ribbon-like illusory figures burst forth from his body, wrapping around Lian Xin's hand with fierce tenacity. They then continued to surge forward, engulfing Lian Xin's entire body, tightening their grip and shaping her into a perfect curve.
Mo Qi paused again.
Yet, to his utter astonishment, even bound within the ribbon-like light, Lian Xin's hand could still move forward, eventually striking Mo Qi. Though the force had been significantly weakened.
Mo Qi was still hit, and the pain was excruciating, as if his chest cavity were about to explode.
His body recoiled backward, while Lian Xin's forward momentum, unable to be halted immediately, continued to press against him.
Simultaneously, Lian Xin channeled her spiritual energy, attempting to break free from the ribbon-like illusions, believing it would be a simple matter.
She assumed that a divine ability unleashed by a Celestial Immortal cultivator would be easily overcome.
However, to her bewilderment, whenever she exerted force to break free, the ribbon-like illusions would suddenly expand. When she ceased channeling her spiritual energy, the illusions would shrink back to their original size, binding her body. Despite numerous attempts, she could not break free.
Her anger intensified, her forward momentum unabated, her hand still pressed against his chest.
Then, a peculiar event unfolded.
Firstly, Lian Xin's bow, not bound by the ribbons, suddenly slipped from her grasp, twisting and somehow squeezing into his body.
Secondly, Lian Xin's spiritual energy began to flow uncontrollably through her palm into his body.
The fear, surprise, and shock Lian Xin experienced were beyond words.
But instinct drove her to struggle fiercely. Coupled with Mo Qi's recoil, her palm was wrenched free from Mo Qi's body, preventing further spiritual energy from flowing into him.
However, Mo Qi's body was undergoing a momentous transformation.
The bow that entered his body dissolved into a stream of liquid, circulating through his meridians and finally merging into his soul sea, gradually integrating with the Earth Arrow.
Centered on the point of fusion, a surge of spiritual energy erupted, expanding in all directions. His muscles and bones creaked and groaned in that instant, and his internal organs were gradually coated in a thin layer of golden light, as if he were being reborn.
Though he hadn't tested it, Mo Qi knew that his physical capabilities had been silently enhanced, making him likely impervious to ordinary attacks.
Furthermore, his offensive capabilities had probably undergone a qualitative leap.
He first continued to circulate his spiritual energy, performing the Great Heavenly Cycle. While significant improvement was unlikely in such a short time, he had hastily elevated his cultivation to the middle stage of Celestial Immortal.
This level of cultivation might not be considered high in the Demon Realm, but he realized that what had entered his body moments ago was the Heavenly Bow!
Only the Heavenly Bow could perfectly complement the Earth Arrow.
The Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow returning to his body meant he could gradually reclaim his past cultivation.
However, it was difficult to predict how much cultivation the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow inherited from his previous life.
Furthermore, it was also uncertain how much cultivation he could absorb with his current life's body.
For the time being, he would have to rely on the power of the magical artifacts themselves to fight.
But he could maximize the power of the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow, wielding them more skillfully than anyone else.
Moreover, the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow entering his body had another advantage: they could temper his body, continuously improving his cultivation. His current life's body also possessed infinite potential, which in turn could continuously enhance the power of the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow. They complemented and promoted each other, promising a bright future!
At this moment, Lian Xin finally broke free from the restraint of the ribbon-like illusions, shaking herself violently, shattering the illusions into dust.
Seeing Mo Qi's triumphant expression, Lian Xin was furious. The Heavenly Bow, which had accompanied her for so long, had been "devoured" by him. How could this be tolerated?
Lian Xin was so enraged she felt like spitting blood and roared, "Spit it out!"
As she spoke, Lian Xin formed her hands into claws and lunged at Mo Qi, a thick black mist surging from her palms.
Mo Qi, eager to test the power of the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow, formed a hand seal.
Phantoms of sharp arrows lined up before him. Compared to before, they were thinner, but their outlines were more distinct, and the distance between each arrow was smaller, fitting snugly together. All the arrow phantoms then formed a single, thicker arrow that spanned heaven and earth.
Most striking was the aura it exuded.
Even before the arrows were loosed, an overwhelming pressure spread outwards, capable of shattering one's will.
It was as if a colossal mountain had descended upon the enemy's head, striking terror into their hearts.
Lian Xin had intended to close the distance, but at this moment, she felt the overwhelming pressure of the opponent's spell waves crashing against her, making her falter.
However, the spiritual energy in her hands remained undiminished as she fiercely attacked Mo Qi.
Mo Qi pointed a finger, and the arrow phantoms roared forth, light and shadow weaving, too brilliant to behold directly.
In an instant, the arrow phantoms collided with the black mist.
A deafening roar echoed.
The black mist dispersed outwards, becoming thin and scattered in moments.
The arrow phantoms, unstoppable, charged forward with an even louder whistling sound.
Lian Xin was greatly alarmed. She changed her grasp to a palm, formed a hand seal, and pushed forward, "Soul Devourer!" A humanoid silhouette suddenly emerged from her body, hurtling towards the arrow phantoms.
The humanoid silhouette seemed to possess substance, its movements wild and clawing. It surged forward and slammed into the arrow phantoms, which momentarily halted before piercing through the silhouette.
The humanoid silhouette instantly dissolved into nothingness.
Lian Xin then pushed her palms forward again, and another humanoid silhouette burst forth, crashing into the arrow phantoms. This silhouette was even more ferocious, baring its teeth, and emitting beast-like roars.
The arrow phantoms struck this humanoid silhouette, resulting in a thunderous impact. The silhouette vanished.
The arrow phantoms paused again, their speed significantly reduced, and the outlines began to blur.
Lian Xin pushed her palms forward once more, and another figure detached itself, colliding with the arrow phantoms.
Mo Qi was greatly shocked. This must be an evil art she practiced by absorbing people's essence and blood. The figures seemed endless, which was truly bizarre.
If this continued, he would surely be no match for her!
However, he had at least proven one thing: the combination of the Heavenly Bow and Earth Arrow had greatly enhanced his combat power.
He could continue to temper and improve it gradually in the future.
Lian Xin was equally shocked. She had also witnessed firsthand Mo Qi's reborn combat prowess.
This only strengthened her resolve to reclaim the Heavenly Bow, but it seemed a direct confrontation was not the way.
At this moment, another figure surged forth, colliding with the thinning arrow phantoms.
"Boom!"
A massive explosion occurred, light and shadow flickering, space shattering. Energy mingled with misty afterimages, scattering in all directions before gradually dissipating.
As all the light and energy dispersed, both sides had fought to a draw, neither able to overcome the other.
They stood locked in a stalemate.