186: Chapter 186 Repelling

"Sigh, what a pity for Young Friend Xu."

Jin Chuan hid behind the scenes, watching Xu Changsheng, who looked like an ant under the black clouds.

"It is just hard to know what Young Friend Xu actually did to attract a killer like Gu Lingye to come in person."

Huang Jinglong said indifferently, "Why bother about him? That is just how low-level Cultivators are. From the moment he chose to refuse your invitation to take him as a disciple, his fate was already sealed."

He sighed heavily, "Young Friend Xu is a real man; to remain so calm and composed in the face of such an offensive."

"Heh, he is just unable to react in time. I have seen this many times."

Meanwhile.

Xu Changsheng saw the black thread shoot toward him with lightning speed, then vanish into the Void Realm—silent, soundless, and invisible.

"Hiss!"

He faintly saw a transparent line shooting straight at his glabella, splashing out some white, paste-like liquid.

Seeing this.

The pent-up frustration in Gu Lingye's heart poured out, and she let out a long breath, "Refreshing! This brat is finally dead, and my Heart Demon has been broken."

Jin Chuan lowered his head.

Su Tinglan closed her eyes in pain.

However, after just one breath.

Something was amiss.

On the terrace, Xu Changsheng's aura not only failed to dissipate but was climbing steadily!

Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Golden Core Early Stage.

Golden Core Late Stage!

An aura surpassing the Golden Core!

Feeling a Spiritual Pressure that towered over Gu Lingye, Su Tinglan suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, witnessing a scene she could hardly believe.

Where Xu Changsheng had been standing, his figure was nowhere to be found.

In his place stood an old locust tree.

The old locust tree was lush and green, its branches thick with leaves, and every leaf overflowed with dense wood Spiritual Qi.

It was even growing, rising foot by foot, becoming the brightest star under the night sky.

Her deep blue pupils trembled, not just because of Xu Changsheng's strange form, but more so because of the rise in his Realm.

She had been immersed in the chamber of commerce for many years and had never seen a secret technique that could allow someone like Xu Changsheng to continuously raise two major Realms.

"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Xu has been hiding his strength all along?"

Thinking it over, this was the only possibility, but...

Why would he only reveal his full strength now? She could not fathom it.

Huang Jinglong and Jin Chuan, behind the light screen, were no better off.

The latter looked greatly shocked, "What is going on? How did Young Friend Xu's cultivation increase so much?"

Huang Jinglong merely raised an eyebrow; he was clearly much more knowledgeable.

"There are plenty of methods in the cultivation world—external infusion, Nascent Soul Talisman seeds, Divine Soul possession—all can achieve this. However, I am more inclined to believe that this Fellow Daoist Xu has been hiding his cultivation."

"Impossible. I personally investigated his cultivation, and his Foundation Establishment phenomenon was seen by many. He has only been in the Foundation Establishment Stage for a few years; there is no strength to hide."

"Hmm, tell me the ins and outs of this person's background again."

...

Where there is joy, there is sorrow.

When Gu Lingye saw that Xu Changsheng had blocked her Mystic Talisman strike, a crack appeared on her originally calm face, "How is this possible?"

"You are merely in the Foundation Establishment Stage, how could you possibly withstand the power of a Mystic Talisman?"

At this moment, Xu Changsheng's Spiritual Pressure had already pressed down upon her.

Feeling this familiar Spiritual Pressure, she suddenly recalled something, "No, this power... why is it so detestable?"

Seeing Xu Changsheng transformed into a tree, she frowned.

Recalling the Old Locust Demon from that day, her face turned pale with horror, as if she had seen a ghost, "Stinking tree bark, you really are a persistent spirit!"

She waved her hands in anger, gathering the sky full of black clouds above her head.

She controlled bolts of lightning to strike Xu Changsheng.

Crackling sounds filled the air.

However, it had no effect at all.

All the attacks striking the locust tree were like mud entering the sea, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.

The locust tree emitted ripples, absorbing all the lightning strikes and rendering them invisible.

Gu Lingye became even more frantic and patted her Storage Pouch.

Two streams of light spun in mid-air, transforming into two offensive weapons.

One was a bone needle about half a zhang long, and the other was a top-heavy hammer.

The Spiritual Pressure was astonishing; they were actually both Tier 3 Magic Treasures.

Gu Lingye's face twisted as she drove the Magic Treasures toward Xu Changsheng, "Since you are so confident in the things that old tree bark gave you, then try this move of mine!"

At the same time, she threw out a large stack of Tier 3 Talismans behind the Magic Treasures.

They arrived in an instant.

"Boom!"

The bone needle and bone hammer crashed into the tree canopy.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss."

The canopy rippled with a cyan-green, ancient luster, keeping the two Magic Treasures at bay.

As for the various Talismans, they bombarded the canopy's spiritual light without even causing much of a ripple.

A muffled sigh came from within the tree trunk, "Senior, do not waste your efforts. The Protection Talisman that Senior Tree gave me is by no means an ordinary item; it cannot be broken. How about we turn hostility into friendship?"

He was very calm; he only had one Protection Talisman, while Gu Lingye had endless tricks.

Hearing this.

Gu Lingye was suddenly enraged, "Junior, it is not your place to lecture me!"

After saying this, she raised her right hand and grabbed fiercely.

Immediately after.

The pale surfaces of the two Magic Treasures, trapped by the cyan spiritual light, suddenly turned red and then rapidly expanded.

They disintegrated inch by inch.

Dazzling white light shot out.

"Boom!"

Gu Lingye had actually detonated the two Magic Treasures!

A blinding, pure white ball of light exploded above the canopy, rising slowly like the rising sun, illuminating the entire Immortal City as bright as day.

Jin Chuan, behind the scenes, had just finished explaining Xu Changsheng's background and identity to Huang Jinglong when he turned back and saw this scene.

"This lunatic!"

Jin Chuan scolded angrily, "Is it necessary to be so ruthless to a Junior?"

After pondering and observing the methods used, he and Huang Jinglong both believed that Xu Changsheng was just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and his performance at this moment relied on external items.

As for what kind of external items, they would have to ask repeatedly after they repelled Gu Lingye.

Unexpectedly, when Gu Lingye failed in one strike, she actually used a trump card like detonating her Magic Treasures.

It was more than a trump card; it could be said to be a last resort at the moment of death.

"What kind of grudge, what kind of resentment is this?"

Xu Changsheng, hiding within the tree trunk, knew that the hatred between him and Gu Lingye could no longer be resolved, and his expression gradually turned cold.

He lowered his head and looked at the Protection Talisman that was about to burn out.

"I can only try this move."

With this thought in mind.

He crushed the Protection Talisman in his hand completely.

Outside, Gu Lingye's face was livid; her great killing move had actually been blocked.

"Hateful, too hateful."

The bone armor embedded deeply into her palm, and her delicate brows twisted into a knot.

She still had one more method, but judging by the current situation, it was highly likely that she would not be able to do anything to Xu Changsheng.

Moreover, if she used this method, she was not confident that she could escape the pursuit of Huang Jinglong, who would follow closely behind.

She glared fiercely at Xu Changsheng a few times.

Then she turned and left.

Without the slightest hesitation, she flew away toward the outside of the Immortal City, as if the harsh words she had said before were just empty talk.

However, Xu Changsheng's voice rang in her ears.

"It is impolite not to reciprocate. Senior, I will return the favor."