88: Spiritual power competition

In the nameless small mountain, Lin Shiming stared at Cultivator Wu, his expression solemn.

Cultivator Wu was definitely the most troublesome opponent he had ever encountered. In previous battles, he could swiftly control the situation with his powerful wood-element spiritual seeds, Yao Beasts, and abundant Spiritual Qi, but he couldn't see through this Cultivator Wu.

Furthermore, this person was very likely a Disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect; otherwise, he wouldn't possess so many powerful Spirit Beasts, nor would he have the opportunity to kill an Inner Sect Disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect.

Therefore, Lin Shiming did not release the Golden Winged Mantis immediately.

The Golden Winged Mantis was definitely his trump card, and the Serpent Vine Flower seeds required spiritual infusion after releasing their toxins.

Lin Shiming grabbed a handful of talismans and threw them at the Color-Changing Lizard, then took out the Five Elements Pagoda and released Five Elements Spells to bombard the Color-Changing Lizard Yao Beast.

Seeing Lin Shiming attempt to kill his Yao Beast, Cultivator Wu didn't hesitate. He took out a golden ring Magical Artifact, threw it into the air, and it formed a golden circular light shield, blocking the Five Elements Pagoda.

Countless Spell attacks fell, but they could only transform into streaks of Spirit Light.

They couldn't attack the Color-Changing Lizard at all.

The Color-Changing Lizard continued to charge towards Lin Shiming.

At this moment, Lin Shiming was not flustered. Instead, he abruptly formed a hand seal, and two Mystic Soul Needles were strangely interspersed within two Ice Crystal Spell talismans.

The Mystic Soul Needles circled in the air, releasing a brilliant white Spirit Light and radiating cold gleams, but in the next moment, they pointed directly at Cultivator Wu.

Clang!

The two usually irresistible Mystic Soul Needles stopped about a meter in front of Cultivator Wu, blocked by a shimmering golden spiritual shield.

And in the next moment, Lin Shiming's surrounding high-grade Flying Swords and spiritual shield, operating at high speed, once again clashed with the Golden Filament Silver Thread Magical Artifact.

Countless sparks shot out, and the Spirit Light was astonishing.

Both of them raised an eyebrow almost simultaneously, then exchanged a knowing smile.

Sneak attack, a fellow Daoist.

Lin Shiming once again formed a hand seal. Countless wooden vines grew out, but this time they didn't wrap around Cultivator Wu; instead, they enveloped Lin Shiming. Then, ten Serpent Vine Flower seeds appeared in Lin Shiming's hand.

And in the next moment, they were buried in various hidden corners.

Cultivator Wu, seeing this, waved his hand, and surprisingly, three more Spirit Beasts appeared: a Green-Horned Savage Ox, a Blue Spirit Thunder Leopard, and an Evernight Bat.

All three Yao Beasts were at the Late Stage of the second-tier, and their strength was in no way inferior to the Red-haired Demon Monkey.

The three Yao Beasts let out a long roar, then charged towards Lin Shiming together. The Evernight Bat was the fastest, with the Blue Spirit Thunder Leopard following closely with its lightning Spells.

With the three Yao Beasts unleashed, Cultivator Wu's brow relaxed slightly. He didn't believe Lin Shiming could survive this time, especially with the Color-Changing Lizard, making it four Late Stage second-tier Yao Beasts.

However, Lin Shiming's calm expression immediately brought him a hint of disappointment.

And in the next moment, with a series of hand seals, first ten Iron Bramble Wood broke out of the ground, occupying most of the path the three Yao Beasts had taken, and then ten more Serpent Vine Flowers rose up again.

The flexible and exceptionally thick serpent vines instantly bound the three Yao Beasts, with only the Evernight Bat Yao Beast escaping a section, but it was about to face the thorn rain attack of the Iron Bramble Wood.

Cultivator Wu's expression remained as usual, even carrying a hint of amusement.

Even if Lin Shiming bound them, he dared to release his three high-grade Flying Swords.

If he released them, his Golden Filament Silver Thread could break through Lin Shiming's spiritual shield and directly strangle him.

In the next moment, a massive golden light appeared, then like lightning, it rushed towards the three bound Yao Beasts.

The golden mantis blade shone brightly, and then the head of the Green-Horned Savage Ox flew high.

Cultivator Wu's pupils involuntarily constricted, and he quickly unleashed several talismans, wanting to save the remaining Blue Spirit Thunder Leopard Yao Beast and the dark bat Yao Beast.

He completely couldn't understand why the terrifying defense of Yao Beasts, usually so formidable, was now like a joke before the Golden Winged Mantis.

"Is this a descendant of a third-tier Yao Beast?" Cultivator Wu thought of a possibility.

Lin Shiming didn't answer. Of course, the Golden Winged Mantis also answered for him.

As the golden light shone brightly, the three bound Yao Beasts were completely powerless to resist and became souls under the mantis blade.

The remaining bat Yao Beast, however, was not slow.

But under the dual influence of the Serpent Vine Flower and Iron Bramble Wood, the Golden Winged Mantis still found a flaw, and with one mantis blade strike, it was also cut in half.

Lin Shiming was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but in the next moment, he felt the Golden Filament Silver Thread appear around him again.

Terrifyingly, in the next moment, the Golden Filament Silver Thread suddenly lengthened by nearly double, bypassing the three spiritual swords, continuing to wrap around the spiritual shield, and then around Lin Shiming's neck.

The silver thread, carrying a cold gleam, was terrifyingly fast. A sharp metallic friction sound was heard, and half a meter in front of his neck, the Qingxiao Sword flew out, blocking the Golden Filament Silver Thread's attack. Countless sparks splashed onto Lin Shiming's body, extinguished by the spiritual cover of his Dao robe.

Lin Shiming felt a wave of lingering fear. Fortunately, he had kept one Qingxiao Sword; otherwise, at that moment, he might indeed have been entangled and killed by the slender yet sharp silver thread.

Lin Shiming continued to maintain high mental concentration, once again controlling the Serpent Vine Flower and Iron Bramble Wood to move towards Cultivator Wu, and also sent the Golden Winged Mantis to charge at the latter.

Cultivator Wu, whose assassination had failed, was also greatly disappointed. One had to know that the Personal Disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect had also died in his hands in the same manner.

People have habitual thinking. When he used half of the Golden Filament Silver Thread twice, he made the enemy Cultivator think that was its full length, but in reality, he had hidden half. He just didn't expect Lin Shiming, who always kept a trump card, to break his move.

The arrival of the Golden Winged Mantis also completely flustered Cultivator Wu.

But at the same time, he took out a golden bell Magical Artifact. The Magical Artifact suddenly magnified countless times, then, as if locked on, directly covered the high-speed Golden Winged Mantis.

And at the same time, his body retreated backward, once again entering the Hidden Spirit Concealment Formation.

The Formation blocked vision and spiritual aura, but what emanated from it was an immense Spiritual Pressure.

"He's using a Talisman Treasure!" Lin Shiming's heart instantly tensed.

Seeing this, he also didn't hesitate. After taking out several talismans, he also took out the Purple Sword Talisman Treasure.

He was not a Formation Master, and he wasn't confident in breaking the Formation instantly. If he couldn't break the Formation before Cultivator Wu activated the Talisman Treasure, then what he would face was a destructive Talisman Treasure.

The gamble was too big, so he chose another path: also taking out a Talisman Treasure, a Talisman Treasure clash!

Spiritual power wins!

With continuous hand seals, a purple spiritual sword formed out of thin air within the purple talisman, and Sword Qi comparable to Foundation Establishment circulated ceaselessly within the purple spiritual sword.

And almost simultaneously, Cultivator Wu also activated his Talisman Treasure, which was also a sword.

Its power was largely similar to Lin Shiming's Purple Sword Talisman Treasure.

"A battle of spiritual power?" Lin Shiming murmured, and the purple spiritual sword slashed through the air.

At this moment, Cultivator Wu's figure reappeared. He held a small bottle to his mouth, and inside the bottle was a drop of hundred-year spiritual milk, countless times more precious than spirit water.

One drop could instantly restore all Spiritual Qi during the Qi Refinement Stage.

Cultivator Wu swallowed the spiritual milk, then stared at Lin Shiming, speaking with immense confidence:

"You chose to gamble on breaking the Formation, which still offered a sliver of hope, but alas..."