Chapter 279

Chapter 279: The Power of the Second Level Talisman

The crisis at the villa proved somewhat less complicated than expected. Zhou Luo was now at the late stage of the ninth level of Qi Refinement, only a minor realm apart from his opponent.

Therefore, facing Xu Tian’s assault, he didn’t even need to reveal any hidden trump cards. Holding a top-grade magical artifact and wielding the Five Elements Sword Technique, he was capable of contending with her.

The only thing that gave Zhou Luo pause was the figure he had glimpsed when he first entered the courtyard.

He wasn’t foolish enough to think that figure was Yao Wu.

Moreover, to have silently deployed a high-grade hidden formation, there had to be at least one high-tier formation master present.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Tian attacked.

At the half-step Foundation Establishment stage, her spiritual energy erupted, golden radiance lighting up the night sky as an overwhelming sword momentum bore down upon him.

Zhou Luo reacted calmly. Shuo Feng pulsed with blazing spiritual energy, and a blinding scarlet radiance erupted, transforming into rolling flames.

Clang—

The two collided under the night sky. Below the bright moon, crimson and golden figures attacked relentlessly. Sword auras shot out frequently, carving deep sword scars into the ground and trees.

Xu Tian’s beautiful eyes flickered with surprise—she hadn’t expected his strength to be this formidable.

Crucially, the golden treasured sword he wielded and the cultivation art he employed were both top-tier.

Is this guy really just a live-in son-in-law of the Lin Family?

Xu Tian thought of the intelligence gathered by her subordinates, her mood sinking.

She had believed she could easily control him, but it appeared this might not be the case.

He’s been deliberately hiding his strength the whole time!

Realizing this, Xu Tian held nothing back. A more dazzling golden brilliance erupted from her body. With a flick of her wrist, her sword sent sparks of golden light shooting upwards.

Wherever the golden light touched, it adorned the night sky, transforming into countless sharp blades that surged forth like a torrential rain of pear blossoms.

Zhou Luo crossed his sword to block, once again calling forth a massive water screen that absorbed the onslaught.

Xu Tian abandoned her sword and charged forward. Emerald-green spiritual energy swirled around her fair, delicate right hand. As her jade-like hand thrust out, the energy coalesced into a gigantic beast that roared forth, exploding violently mid-air.

Zhou Luo felt stirring winds surround him. His figure flashed as Wind Moves Without a Trace activated.

Using his movement speed, he abruptly distanced himself while unleashing another wave of scorching flame.

Xu Tian hadn’t anticipated him being so cautious; he evaded even as her attack was still materializing.

Does he know the Hehuan Sect’s attack patterns too?

Or does he perhaps know our cultivation arts?

Considering the strength he’d displayed, a terrifying possibility struck Xu Tian.

"I-is my Senior Brother’s death related to you?" she shouted sharply, releasing a golden talisman.

The talisman bloomed in the sky with blinding light, unleashing astonishing power.

Zhou Luo retreated. His gaze was cold as he stared at his opponent.

He chose not to respond. Instead, in silence, he swung his sword. Aided by the Water Spirit Heart Method, his Water Curtain Sky Blossom technique was pushed to its pinnacle.

A massive water screen surged out like a mountain range greeting a tidal wave, forcibly enveloping the talisman within a pale blue radiance until its power was utterly extinguished.

Xu Tian’s expression grew colder.

She hadn’t expected this guy’s technique to be so terrifying; it simply didn’t seem like a Qi Refinement level technique.

But if it was Foundation Establishment level, how could he invoke it so effortlessly?

Unknown to her, the powerful strength Zhou Luo displayed relied entirely on the aid of the Water Spirit Heart Method.

Swish—

Just as Zhou Luo was contending with her, something else shot through the darkness.

That object wasn’t a magical artifact; it resembled some kind of living creature.

It moved at incredible speed, trailing thick, noxious fumes. In the blink of an eye, it was upon Zhou Luo, then detonated violently.

Following the explosion, sky-splattering green blood sprayed out, carrying a potent corrosive ability eerily similar to the Bone Corruption Powder.

Zhou Luo’s body flashed with spiritual light, vanishing abruptly.

"Where was he?"

Xu Tian, surging forward aggressively, discovered her opponent had disappeared without a sound.

She prepared to release her mental strength to sense him. Zhou Luo abruptly materialized from the water’s surface somewhere below, lunged with his sword, and streaked straight towards her exposed back.

Caught utterly off guard, Xu Tian paled and twisted her body desperately to block.

Swish Swish Swish—

Simultaneously, waves of living creatures surged relentlessly from the shadows. Scanning them with his mental strength, Zhou Luo instantly identified them as various kinds of deadly poisonous Gu insects.

A Gu Master was concealed somewhere in the shadows, watching him. This was likely the reason they were targeting Zhu Quancheng.

The Gu insects detonated mid-air, one after another, momentarily relieving the pressure on Xu Tian and buying her time to react.

Staring at the figure under the moonlight, Xu Tian bit her lip firmly, swallowed a spirit pill, and then experienced a surge of spiritual energy as she summoned another magical artifact.

It resembled a paper umbrella, covered in deep crimson patterns. As she invoked it, the umbrella spun rapidly. Threads of deep crimson power radiated outwards, suffusing the sky above with more red.

A top-grade magical artifact!

Sensing its power, Zhou Luo immediately recognized the artifact’s caliber.

At that moment, the Gu Master also emerged from the shadows, lunging forward. He controlled a fist-sized, ink-green Gu insect, directing it like a sharp blade aimed straight for Zhou Luo’s head.

Cornered like this, Zhou Luo decisively produced the previously forged Thunderstrike Talisman he had created.

He had originally intended to use Little White, but someone else was clearly hidden nearby—the formation master who had set the hidden formation had not yet acted.

He needed to ensure no witnesses remained from tonight.

To force that concealed individual out, he had to use this item.

The appearance of the Second Level talisman released crackling arcs of lightning that made both opponents’ hearts quail.

They exchanged a quick glance, seeing mutual apprehension in each other’s eyes.

Zhou Luo had already resolutely channelled power into the talisman.

Boom!

The talisman flared brilliantly, erupting with thunder and jagged lightning bolts. Gargantuan arcs of electricity, seemingly capable of shattering the heavens, surged forth with terrifying might.

However, thanks to the hidden formation, nothing seemed abnormal outside its boundaries.

"Get inside the house, now!"

Finally unable to hold back, the formation master shouted urgently from the darkness.

Xu Tian and the Gu Master clad in a black cloak launched themselves towards the house without hesitation.

"Trying to flee?"

Zhou Luo guided the talisman’s power downwards, driving it straight towards the main entrance.

Frightening thunder and lightning exploded violently, the boundless might crashing down mercilessly.

Suddenly, points of light flickered in the surrounding air, coalescing into a shimmering, transparent barrier that rose before the oncoming lightning.

This was a top-quality defense formation. The opponent had secretly set it up during the battle.

But Zhou Luo remained utterly calm, entirely dismissing the defensive shield.

A top-quality formation was insignificant facing a Second Level Thunderstrike Talisman.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Thunders roared. Several immense lightning bolts hammered the barrier. Its terrifying might poured forth like a flood.

The formation disintegrated like paper, collapsing instantly before the unleashed power surged towards the two at the doorway.

Xu Tian and the black-cloaked Gu Master had no choice but to scramble for defense, each summoning their most potent techniques and artifacts.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Deafening detonations shook the heavens and the earth. The enormous lightning arcs, writhing like colossal white serpents, carried unimaginable destructive force.

As the power of the talisman finally subsided, two scorch-marked and utterly disheveled figures became visible on the charred ground.