Chapter 168: Chapter 164: The 6th-Ranked True Successor Candidate
The Soul-Devouring Banner was a Demon Artifact commonly used by disciples of the Holy Blood Sect, who followed the path of the orthodox Demon Sect.
The power of this type of Demon Artifact varied wildly, depending on the materials used in its creation and the quality and quantity of souls it had absorbed.
Though they were all called Soul-Devouring Banners, some could instantly slay a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection, while others couldn’t do a damn thing against a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Early Stage after being waved all day.
The Soul-Devouring Banner in Liu Chixin’s hand was clearly one of immense power. With a single, casual wave, a sinister wind billowed forth, carrying with it what sounded like the wailing of ghosts and the howling of wolves.
Alarm bells screamed in Du Youqian’s mind; he absolutely could not let that thing touch him, not even for an instant.
Demon Artifacts like the Soul-Devouring Banner, Soul-Extinguishing Lamp, Hundred Ghosts Banner, and Enchanting Soul Flag were exceptionally vicious, specializing in damaging the Divine Soul.
To be wounded by such a Demon Artifact, even if one’s soul wasn’t extinguished outright, would mean, at best, a damaged Divine Sense. At worst, one’s soul would be left incomplete, their Dao Foundation would crumble, and all hope for the path to eternal life would be lost.
However, since Du Youqian was part of the Demon Sect in this life, he had naturally researched how to counter such weapons. He had even had Luo Jinyu spar with him using lesser-grade Soul-Devouring Banners and Soul-Extinguishing Lamps, so he wasn’t about to panic now.
He also knew that Liu Chixin, having just seen his servant killed and sensing his powerful Sword Intent, would certainly be on guard.
’Trying the same trick again would be underestimating my enemy.’
Besides, all skilled combatants understood a fundamental principle: strength and weakness were two sides of the same coin.
The moment one unleashed their ultimate killing blow was also the moment they exposed their greatest vulnerability.
If Du Youqian were to use his ultimate Swordsmanship and fail to kill his opponent instantly, he would be serving himself up as a target.
Therefore, Du Youqian simply had his Flying Sword strafe and harry from a distance, never making direct contact with Liu Chixin, lest the sword be tainted. He also raised the Round Thin Shield he’d used earlier, protecting himself completely.
First, secure a position of invulnerability, then look for a chance to counterattack.
Liu Chixin brandished the Soul-Devouring Banner. Sinister energy flooded the air, manifesting as ghostly apparitions with hideous expressions that sought any opening to press in.
The sight alone would have scared a timid person to death.
Du Youqian used his Flying Sword for harassment while simultaneously bombarding the Soul-Devouring Banner with righteous, yang-aspected Magic, scattering many of the ghostly apparitions.
At the same time, he discreetly activated a portable Illusion Array he carried with him.
But the moment he activated it, Liu Chixin sensed something was amiss. A faint light bloomed in his deep-set eyes as he sneered, his voice transmitting via Divine Sense, "Don’t embarrass yourself with such petty tricks!"
With that, he tossed out a Spiritual Artifact shaped like a paper kite.
The Spiritual Artifact was small and thin, and it glided at his side.
He remained completely unaffected by the Illusion Array, the Soul-Devouring Banner continuing its relentless pursuit of Du Youqian.
Du Youqian wasn’t discouraged.
Portable arrays were, by their very nature, far weaker than a formally established Grand Array.
If Liu Chixin, ranked sixth among the True Successor Candidates, were to be defeated by a mere Illusion Array, he would become a laughingstock.
Failing to get a result was well within his expectations.
’Forcing him to reveal a trump card is a decent outcome in itself.’
Liu Chixin was now using four Spiritual Artifacts at once: the Soul-Devouring Banner, the illusion-breaking Spiritual Artifact, and two Defensive Spiritual Artifacts.
’How long can his Magical Power, at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, sustain that?’
Still, Du Youqian felt a pang of regret.
When he built the Guardian Envoy’s Mansion, he’d never once considered that someone would attack him at his own doorstep.
The arrays he had set up were primarily to conceal the sounds of the mining operation below and offered no defensive capabilities.
’Otherwise, if I could activate a Grand Array now, it would be more than enough to give Liu Chixin a world of trouble.’
The thought was fleeting; Du Youqian didn’t dare let his focus waver while fighting such a powerful enemy.
’Although I don’t think Liu Chixin is one of the stronger True Successor Candidates, he’s no pushover either.’
He was far, far stronger than the previous Guardian Envoy from the Taihe Sect.
’My odds of victory against him are probably only fifty to sixty percent.’
The problem was, neither of them truly knew the other’s full capabilities.
One careless mistake—a "capsized boat in a gutter," as they say—and it wouldn’t matter what the odds were on paper. Defeat meant death, and the win rate would become zero.
Thus, Du Youqian was exceptionally cautious in this fight. He dodged and weaved, his Flying Sword constantly probing, trying to draw out all of Liu Chixin’s trump cards before making a move.
Liu Chixin wasn’t aiming for a quick victory either. Though he pursued Du Youqian relentlessly, he didn’t commit to an all-out assault, instead holding thirty percent of his strength in reserve for defense while constantly sending taunts via Divine Sense.
"Weren’t you full of big talk just now? What’s the matter, all bark and no bite?"
"Junior Yu, I heard you heavily wounded a Guardian Envoy from the Taihe Sect with three sword strikes. I thought you might actually have some skill. I didn’t realize your ’skill’ was just hiding in your shell! Where are the three strikes that crippled that weakling? Use them! Let me see what you’ve got!"
"Junior Yu, your Cultivation and Swordsmanship are nothing special, but your concubine is quite a beauty. Wouldn’t such a gorgeous woman get lonely in an empty boudoir? After I refine your soul into my banner, I’ll be sure to make time to ’comfort’ her for you!"
But no matter how Liu Chixin provoked him, Du Youqian remained unmoved, sticking to his battle plan.
Meanwhile, Fang Hua, having rescued Luo Jinyu, watched the battle with extreme composure.
She had complete faith in Du Youqian and paid no mind to Liu Chixin’s taunts.
A certain saying of Du Youqian’s was firmly imprinted on her mind:
"Always remember, if you want someone to shut up, you don’t need a louder voice, a more persuasive argument, or superior eloquence. You need a sword that’s sharp enough. And if the sword can’t scare them into silence, then cutting off their head will certainly do the trick."
Fang Hua watched with keen interest, wondering just when Du Youqian would cut off that detestable fellow’s head.
The two continued to trade blows conservatively for over a hundred exchanges. The sheer variety of Magic and Secret Techniques left Fang Hua, who was watching from the sidelines, dazzled.
She had never imagined Du Youqian knew so many different kinds of Magic and Secret Techniques; she had always thought he was a specialist who relied on his Swordsmanship to overcome all other methods.
But while the battle looked intense, neither had yet deployed a move that could decide the outcome.
They were both waiting for the other to make the first mistake, at which point they would unleash a decisive blow.
Otherwise, once a finishing move was used, one of them was bound to lose. If you used your ultimate technique while your opponent’s defense was still solid and they had made no errors, the one to fall would likely be you.
But since both combatants were extremely cautious and made no mistakes, the battle had naturally devolved into its current state.
It looked incredibly lively and intense, but in truth, the substance of the fight was unremarkable.
Perhaps the only point of interest was that Du Youqian, despite being a Demon Cultivator, was using mostly righteous and honorable Magic—even employing Thunder Techniques on multiple occasions.
Liu Chixin was the first to lose his patience.
It seemed unbelievable, but his combat experience told him that if this war of attrition continued, he would be the one to run out of steam first.
Besides, he prided himself on being a True Successor Candidate; how could he let a common Inner Disciple like Du Youqian hold him up?
If he couldn’t secure a quick victory, he would lose all prestige. Worse, in the upcoming competition to become a True Inheritor, he would be perceived as weak, and the others would likely conspire to eliminate him first.
A pained look flashed in Liu Chixin’s eyes. A pitch-black Palm Fan appeared in his hand, seeming to constantly radiate a palpable Evil Qi.
The Evil Qi was so thick it was almost tangible, coiling like smoke around the fan’s surface.
He gripped the handle as if it took immense effort, veins bulging on his forehead. Mustering all his strength, he fanned it toward Du Youqian.
Hundreds of streams of Evil Qi shot forth, each taking a different form—some looked like ghosts, others like Demon Fiends—as they flew toward Du Youqian, baring fangs and claws.
Du Youqian’s expression turned grave. He recalled his Flying Sword, Jinhuan, and took out a thin Talisman that shimmered with a metallic luster.
He channeled his Magical Power to activate it.
A hazy, phantasmal image of a fair, slender, and impossibly delicate hand appeared and formed a Technique seal.
BOOM! A blast of Magic erupted, scattering the streams of Evil Qi from the black Palm Fan into disarray.
PHEW! Fang Hua, whose heart had been in her throat, finally let out a breath of relief.
When she saw Liu Chixin take out the Quasi-Treasure Level Demon Artifact, a rare look of surprise and worry had appeared on her usually placid face.
She had been worried Du Youqian wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Thankfully, Du Youqian still had a trump card like a Talisman Treasure.
It was said his master was a Core Formation Master—a beautiful, voluptuous woman who was a master of Charm Art.
Judging by the phantasm from the Talisman Treasure, the mere sight of that hazy hand was enough to stir the heart. One could only imagine the peerless charm of its owner.
In the moment Fang Hua’s thoughts strayed, the situation on the battlefield changed once more.
Just as Liu Chixin’s strike with the Quasi-Treasure failed and his Magical Power wavered, Du Youqian’s sword, Jinhuan, flew out again. It carried an unstoppable Sword Intent as it slashed toward Liu Chixin.
The timing was perfect. A moment later, and Liu Chixin’s Magical Power would have recovered, closing the opening.
Liu Chixin felt his stomach drop. Under normal circumstances, he could have blocked this sword strike at some small cost.
But now, he had no choice but to reveal another trump card.
In the next instant, a Hundred Ghosts Banner appeared. Its surface was pure black, seemingly capable of absorbing all light—even one’s very gaze.
Several souls of Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators burst from the banner, including one at Foundation Establishment Peak. Its face was vaguely recognizable as that of a True Successor Candidate who had fallen long ago.
Ignoring the pang of regret, Liu Chixin controlled the ghosts, sending them charging fearlessly toward Jinhuan.
The incomparably sharp Sword Intent annihilated the ghosts in an instant, but the intent itself was nearly spent in the process.
Though the Flying Sword was still sharp, it had lost that all-severing intent.
Liu Chixin’s expression was grim as he prepared to counterattack. ’After an all-out strike like that, Du Youqian must have an opening.’
But to his surprise, Du Youqian simply took out a Bell and shook it with a faint smile.
JINGLE JINGLE JINGLE!
A soul-snatching, captivating chime rang out. Liu Chixin’s expression froze, and he stood rooted to the spot, mustering all his power to resist the sound, lest his very soul be drawn out.
Unhurried, Du Youqian tossed out another object.
It was round and tumbling, glowing with a silvery metallic luster. Liu Chixin’s eyes fixed on it, and his face instantly turned ashen. He was just about to use his final life-saving Secret Technique to flee.
But just then, a sharp pain shot through his meridians.
Liu Chixin knew it was Du Youqian’s Sword Intent, which had wounded his meridians.
The injury wasn’t severe, but it was just enough to interrupt him from gathering his power.
In the next instant, the single-use Sword Pill detonated, and an unstoppable wave of Sword Qi engulfed him.
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