10: Wildfire Sword Technique, Yellow Heaven Talisman Technique

"It really hurts..."

When the power bestowed by the Talisman faded and the side effects began to manifest, this was Wang Liu's first thought.

"But fortunately, the city has been taken!"

"I was the first to scale the wall!!"

He happily imagined the rewards for his latest contribution.

He didn't dare dream of a promotion to Commandant, but there would surely be plenty of silver and land.

Ideally, twenty mu of top-quality paddy fields!

That would make life at home a bit better.

The next instant.

Drowsy, he was just about to close his eyes for a short rest when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a crimson streak from the corner of his eye, tearing through the sunset sky and whistling downward.

"That's—"

His pupils dilated instantly, and then, they were abruptly extinguished within the firelight.

"Boom!!!"

"Enemy attack——————!"

A shrill roar instantly echoed through the heavens!

That terrifying sword light sliced through the gate tower effortlessly, plowing a scorched trench several yards wide and dozens of yards long into the ground!

Within the trench, nothing remained.

Dozens of bodies encased in heavy armor were instantly torn apart, and the city gate's brickwork was reduced to powder.

Densely packed severed limbs and shattered weapons were violently thrown by the explosive shockwave, crashing down with blood and charred meat onto the terrified crowd nearby!

With the power of a single sword strike, the city wall collapsed.

At least dozens of elite Yellow Heaven Army soldiers crowded here, cheering as they entered the city, instantly evaporated from the world.

After a brief, dead silence, panic and chaos erupted like a volcanic explosion.

"Run!"

"An Imm... Immortal!! It's an Immortal from the State Preceptors Mansion!"

Whoosh~

...

Before the Yellow Heaven Army could recover from this sudden devastating blow, the sounds of breaking air rang out repeatedly from the sky.

Five streaks of light of different colors, but equally sharp and peerless, like meteors falling to earth, followed closely behind that red sword light and descended violently!

"Boom— Boom— Boom—"

Massive explosions rang out one after another.

In the military formation before the city, a storm of yellow dust and smoke swept in all directions, mixed with countless bits of flesh and blood rising into the sky until they formed five massive, bizarre mushroom clouds.

Next, a deluge of ice shards poured down like torrential rain; wherever they passed, Yellow Heaven Army soldiers were frozen along with their armor, then shattered into ice fragments.

Swish swish swish—

Whip shadows several yards long lashed out wildly, and countless thorny poisonous vines grew frantically from the ground, entwining or even directly piercing through the bodies beneath the iron armor.

There was even an earthy-yellow great seal that expanded to the size of a house in the wind, crashing down and instantly crushing several squads of soldiers and their horses into meat paste!

In an instant, Sword Qi crisscrossed and Magical Artifacts roared!

In just these few short breaths, the area near the city gate had become a living hell, with severed limbs mixed with internal organs and blood being scattered everywhere.

Hundreds of elite Yellow Heaven Army soldiers had lost their lives to the Yellow Springs before they could even react.

The morale of the Yellow Heaven Army had instantly collapsed, falling into extreme chaos and panic!

"Cultivators from the State Preceptors Mansion!"

On the riverboat, Yu Xuzi's spirits rose. He immediately guessed the identity of the newcomers and looked closely.

He saw six figures finally stop their attacks, standing suspended in the air above the city gate like Immortals looking down on ants.

The leader wore a crimson cloud-patterned Daoist robe and looked to be about thirty years old, though he was actually over fifty.

His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and his body radiated a scorching pressure like a furnace. He was none other than Ding Qing, a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the State Preceptors Mansion!

Behind him were five Cultivators dressed in the same Daoist robes, both men and women.

They held various Magical Artifacts—some held swords, some banners, some seals—and their cultivation levels were all at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

"Wild Cultivators of the Yellow Heaven Cult, this seat has come as promised. Hurry up and get out here—!"

Ding Qing shouted angrily toward the Yellow Heaven Army's camp, his voice rolling like waves and kicking up dust, yet his tone was cold and devoid of emotion.

These nonsensical Wild Cultivators!

Originally, he hadn't wanted to descend the mountain before the State Preceptor came out of seclusion, fearing further complications.

But this Yellow Heaven Cult actually dared to be the first to send a challenge letter to their State Preceptors Mansion, which truly infuriated him!

Indeed, the reason True Man Huang Tian led the expedition personally was that he saw the State Preceptors Mansion delaying its move south and could not wait any longer, so he took the initiative to challenge them.

"Arrogant fool! Do you think my Yellow Heaven Cult has no one?!"

An angry shout, like a sudden thunderclap from the direction of the camp outside the city, instantly dispersed some of the pressure brought by the State Preceptors Mansion Cultivators.

Next, ten figures flew out.

The leader's earthy-yellow spiritual light was the most intense, his aura already reaching the level of Late Stage Qi Refining, surprisingly on par with Ding Qing.

It was none other than True Man Huang Tian!

Behind him followed his nine Disciples: six in the Early Stage of Qi Refining and three in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

"You are the Cult Master of Huang Tian Cult?"

"Correct, it is indeed this Immortal Master."

True Man Huang Tian looked at him with a sneer. He had hidden his edge for so many years just for today.

"Late Stage Qi Refining... you've hidden yourself quite well!!"

"You can only blame yourselves, you mountain people, for being too aloof and arrogant, unwilling to spare a second glance at those below the mountain."

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Ding Qing's eyes, and his killing intent surged: "A Wild Cultivator is just a Wild Cultivator. To dare call yourself an Immortal Master with a mere Qi Refining cultivation... you truly are a frog at the bottom of a well!"

Ding Qing wasted no more words and took the initiative to attack, pointing a finger at the scabbard at his waist.

Clang————!!

Accompanied by a clear sword hum, a blood-red Flying Sword shot out.

In an instant, it expanded in the wind, turning into a ten-yard-long giant flaming sword that slashed down furiously!

"Die!"

[Prairie Fire Sword Art — Fire Crows Burning the Wilderness]

As the sword stance unfolded, it seemed as if countless phantom fire crows accompanied the sword light, flying and shrieking as scorching air currents spread wildly.

"What boastful talk!"

True Man Huang Tian gave a cold laugh, yet he calmly and quickly chanted an incantation.

"Huang Tian Protector, Golden Armor Subduing Demons!"

Hum~

The golden Talisman in his hand spontaneously ignited, and a five-yard-tall giant armored soldier, as solid as if cast from gold, appeared out of thin air before him!

The armored soldier's features were blurred; it held a giant shield and a long spear, radiating an aura as heavy as a mountain.

"Boom————!"

The giant flaming sword slashed heavily against the golden armor giant's shield, erupting with a deafening roar.

Flames and golden light intertwined and burst forth, and the violent shockwave spread like ripples, lifting and shattering all the earth and stones on the ground!

The golden armor giant's body shook violently, and a deep sword mark appeared in the center of the shield, but it ultimately blocked that ferocious strike.

"Hmph! Let's see how many strikes you can block!"

Ding Qing's sword seal changed, and the giant red sword exploded in mid-air, transforming directly into continuous threads of flame that entwined and sliced from all directions.

[Prairie Fire Sword Art — Sword Fire Burning the Prairie]

The dense sword stance fell like silken rain without any gaps, specifically designed to break through protective spiritual shields and defensive Spells!

True Man Huang Tian's expression was grave. The burly golden armor giant shielded him, and then he flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending out Talismans in rapid succession!

"Golden Blade Talisman!"

"Thick Earth Talisman!"

"Mysterious Ice Talisman!"

Over a dozen yard-long golden sword blades burst forth one after another, and thick Mysterious Ice cold air filled the Void Realm for ten yards, continuously extinguishing the threads of flame with a "sizzling" sound.

Bang bang bang~

The threads of flame that broke through surged with red light, but they crashed directly into the towering earthen walls rising from the ground.

The air boomed continuously as various spiritual lights flashed and annihilated each other frantically.