37: Chapter 37: The Fire Phoenix Talisman!

Once they left the Cold Palace, the Girl in Green Dress took the real Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult directly to an empty area relatively close to Zhao Changsheng.

Just as the latter, full of confusion, was about to speak, the Girl in Green Dress transformed into a streak of light and shot fiercely towards Zhao Changsheng's direction. Her speed was so fast it left only an afterimage, and she vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

The Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult had just sensed something was wrong and wanted to leave.

A pillar of soaring flames shot forth from the direction the Girl in Green Dress had departed, carrying a wave of scorching heat, giving almost no time for reaction.

With a loud 'Boom!', it slammed into him!

"Boom!!!"

A deafening explosion erupted. A blinding white light suddenly swelled, then abruptly contracted, before bursting forth with a world-shattering force of impact.

The originally empty ground instantly collapsed and fractured. Flying debris filled the air, and black smoke, blotting out the sky and carrying sparks, churned and soared into the heavens.

By this time, the Girl in Green Dress had already swept to Zhao Changsheng's side, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder.

Zhao Changsheng wasn't looking at the Girl in Green Dress. Instead, his gaze was fixed dead on the smoke-billowing ruins, his face so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it—his Divine Sense swept over the area, and the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult's aura was still present, proving the other was not yet dead.

"How is this possible?! Revered Master clearly said that no Foundation Establishment Cultivator below the Core Formation Stage could withstand the heavenly thunder seed! What kind of sinister Demonic Technique has he cultivated?"

The Girl in Green Dress's Divine Sense had naturally also detected the aura that hadn't vanished, and the still-living Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult.

"It means his turtle shell is hard enough."

As soon as Zhao Changsheng's words fell, a sharp "Shiiing—" sound tore through the air!

A bloody light, like a poison-tipped arrow, carrying a bone-chilling killing intent, shot straight for the Girl in Green Dress's heart!

The Girl in Green Dress only saw a flash of red before her eyes. The bloody light was so fast it surpassed the limits of vision; there was simply no time to dodge.

But Zhao Changsheng had anticipated this. With a flick of his wrist, a golden light screen instantly swelled, blocking in front of the two like an impregnable wall!

"Thud!!"

The dull impact made their eardrums ache. The bloody light, like a spinning drill bit, slammed hard into the golden protective shield. Sparks flew in all directions as it embedded itself more than halfway in before being firmly held in place by the shield's spiritual light, unable to move further.

The Girl in Green Dress broke out in a cold sweat, her back instantly soaked, every hair on her body standing on end. Her heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of her chest—for that brief moment, the shadow of death had truly enveloped her.

Only then did she realize that Zhao Changsheng's repeated warnings for her not to be careless were not mere nagging; he had long guessed this Devil Head possessed such a hidden trump card!

"Cough, cough..."

A series of urgent coughs came from within the thick smoke. As the dust gradually cleared, a blood-soaked figure staggered out. His robes were tattered, his body covered in wounds, but his eyes were terrifyingly red, surging with towering rage and piercing killing intent, locked dead on Zhao Changsheng and his companion.

"Intermediate-grade Golden Wall Talisman..." the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult ground out through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing together.

"Two mere Foundation Establishment Cultivators, yet you're willing to use such a precious Talisman, and you even have a treasure that can break my protective bloody light. I underestimated you!"

"Pity it didn't finish you off in one go! Otherwise, there'd be no need for this idle talk! You Devil Head!"

Having regained her composure, the Girl in Green Dress shouted angrily, her voice full of lingering fear and indignation—if Zhao Changsheng hadn't reacted quickly just now, she would already be in the Yellow Springs.

"Devil Head?" The Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult suddenly sneered, his laughter full of mockery. "You of the Seven Sects occupy the name of the Righteous Path, yet haven't you committed plenty of filthy deeds yourselves? How dare you call me a Devil Head?"

"Still better than a Devil Head like you who slaughters the innocent! Enough talk, prepare to die!"

Before the Girl in Green Dress's words had even fully faded, three bluish-white longswords materialized out of thin air, hovering before her.

The sword blades gleamed with a cold light, their spiritual light flickering unpredictably. Each one was a top-grade Magical Artifact. The three spiritual lights intertwined, their combined power even more formidable, aimed directly at the vital points of the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult!

Seeing this, Zhao Changsheng also had no intention of wasting words. He opened his palm.

A small, ethereal gray sword quietly appeared, its body wreathed in a faint, radiant glow—this was a genuine talisman treasure, its power far surpassing ordinary Magical Artifacts!

"Top-grade Magical Artifacts? A talisman treasure?" The Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult's eyes darkened, then he burst into wild laughter. "You do have some assets! But do you really think these things are enough to kill me? Wishful thinking!"

Before his laughter ended, his figure suddenly blurred, transforming directly into an afterimage and vanishing from the spot!

"Move!"

Zhao Changsheng shouted in a low voice. Without the slightest hesitation, he wrapped an arm around the Girl in Green Dress's slender waist. Spiritual light erupted at his feet, and his body shot into the sky like an arrow from a bowstring, not a moment of delay!

The two were astonishingly fast, reaching high altitude in an instant. A blue light surged around them, forming a thick protective shield that firmly encased the pair.

Held tightly in Zhao Changsheng's embrace, the Girl in Green Dress's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, a wave of shyness washing over her heart.

Her figure was petite, reaching at most Zhao Changsheng's chest, so she was naturally buried against him in one motion.

And where they had just been standing, the figure of the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult had already manifested, a dense ball of bloody light gathered in his palm, but he had struck empty air.

"Such fast speed!" He stared fixedly at the two green Talismans on Zhao Changsheng's feet, the killing intent in his eyes intensifying, almost enough to burn everything to ashes. "Intermediate-grade Flight Talismans! No wonder you could dodge my ambush!"

Flight Talismans of this Rank were something only Core Formation Cultivators would be willing to use.

Zhao Changsheng had expended no small cost back then to exchange for three of them, and now they were finally coming in handy.

Compared to the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult's fury, the Girl in Green Dress's heart was filled with remorse.

She had previously thought Zhao Changsheng was overly cautious and verbose. Only now did she understand that if he hadn't been thoroughly prepared, the two of them would have long become the other's victims.

"Junior Brother, his strength is too great. Shouldn't we retreat first, return to the Sect, and ask Revered Master to intervene?" the Girl in Green Dress suggested in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"No need." Zhao Changsheng shook his head, his expression grave but his gaze firm. "To eliminate him, I alone am sufficient. There's no need to trouble Revered Master."

Having said that, he raised his hand and turned it over. A fiery red Talisman appeared in his palm.

The moment the Talisman appeared, the surrounding air suddenly heated up, a wave of hot air hitting their faces. The Phoenix pattern engraved on the Talisman seemed to come alive, its wings spreading, flames coiling around it, emitting an astonishing pressure.

"This is... an Intermediate-high-grade Talisman, the Fire Phoenix Talisman?!"

The moment the Sect Master of the Black Fiend Cult clearly saw the Talisman, his pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with terror. He was genuinely panicked!

In that instant, disregarding the pain of his wounds, he frantically circulated the Devilish Qi within his body. His figure transformed into a streak of bloody light as he turned and fled madly into the distance, not daring to stay for even a moment!

As for revenge, it had long been tossed beyond the ninth heaven—the power of this Fire Phoenix Talisman was such that even a Core Formation Cultivator would have to avoid its Sharpness. For him, an injured Foundation Establishment Cultivator, to take it head-on would mean certain death!

One must know that a Talisman of this Rank was something even a Core Formation Stage Cultivator might not possess, and even if they did, they would absolutely not use it lightly!