But his Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact was still far in the distance, impossible to recall in time for a defense. All he could do was twist his body low to the ground, trying to evade.

At the same time, he slapped two Lower Grade Golden Shield Talismans on his body, instantly raising two golden shields to block his back.

In the next instant, still feeling uneasy, he seized the opportunity to form a hand seal, adding another layer of a Magical Power Energy Shield around himself.

CRACK!

CRACK!

When the cold wind made contact with the Golden Shield, its icy chill spread out, causing the shield to tremble violently.

A fine web of cracks spread across the first Golden Shield as it froze and shattered.

The second layer didn’t hold for long before it, too, cracked and broke apart.

By the time the chill reached his Magical Power Energy Shield, its force was spent. But then the second Cold Wind Talisman followed close behind, and the cold wind raged once more!

’How can these Xu Family bastards just throw around Middle Grade Talismans like that!’

Chen Guqing gritted his teeth, a sense of dread washing over him as he cursed inwardly.

He had spent all his savings to acquire this Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact. He had neither the resources nor the foresight to stock up on Middle Grade Defense Talismans.

Now, he was paying a heavy price for that oversight.

His Magical Power Energy Shield was breached. The remaining cold air washed over his body, instantly freezing the sweat on his back into a layer of frost. A bone-deep chill swept through him.

But he had managed to shift just enough that only one arm and one thigh were caught by the frigid wind. His blood in those limbs began to congeal; he was already suffering from frostbite.

He stumbled as he landed, his arm now stiff and clumsy.

He could barely keep his balance.

All of this happened in the span of a single breath.

Before Chen Guqing could even catch his breath, a Middle Grade Giant Vine Talisman had already burrowed into the ground. The Wood Element Spiritual Power was instantly drained from the surrounding trees and shrubs, causing them to wilt and wither away.

Then, three menacing vines, each as thick as a man’s arm, formed and shot out like giant pythons, binding Chen Guqing completely.

The timing was impeccable. Lin Changheng suspected that the enhanced comprehension granted by his Origin Treasure Seed also boosted his insights into Magical Combat.

As the immense crushing force of the Entanglement came, Chen Guqing finally pinpointed his enemy’s position.

His face twisted in horror as he watched a figure in a black robe and a bamboo hat emerge from the ground.

’Earth Escape? How can it be Earth Escape?’

The Five Elements Escape Techniques could typically only be cultivated by those at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation. Furthermore, they were rare in the Cultivation Realm, held by major Sects and powerful families.

’Could this person not be from the Xu Family?’

"Fellow Daoist, since you are not from the Xu Family, why act on their behalf! I am a Cultivator from the Chen Family, which was annihilated by the Xu Family. I am only seeking revenge. If you are willing to spare my life, I can offer you the Chen Family’s secret inheritance."

Chen Guqing immediately began to plead for his life, even offering a bribe. After all, everyone in this region knew of the conflict, history, and blood feud between the Xu and Chen Families.

Seeing that Lin Changheng remained unmoved, he shouted again, "I am willing to serve you hand and foot, to be your slave and servant, and to follow you for all eternity!"

Just then, the corners of Lin Changheng’s lips curled into a cold smile beneath his mask. He had already launched three Lower Grade Fire Bomb Skills.

’This bastard really is treacherous,’ Lin Changheng thought. ’He’s pulling the same old trick, feigning surrender while secretly circulating Magical Power to slow the effects of his injuries.’

’A completely sinister, two-faced man.’

If not for Lin Changheng’s Spirit Detecting Skill at the Great Success stage, anyone else might have actually been deceived.

Three fist-sized Fireballs whistled toward the tightly bound Chen Guqing. In the distance, the Golden Seal Spiritual Artifact he’d lost control of let out a soft hum as Chen Guqing, ever prepared, severed his connection to it. Simultaneously, a Giant Scythe and a Black Shield shot out from his Storage Bag.

The Black Shield radiated a cold, metallic glint. It abruptly expanded to the size of a door, forming a heavy barrier in front of him.

Meanwhile, the Giant Scythe quivered slightly before streaking through the air toward Lin Changheng’s neck, as swift and simple as a farmer scything grass.

BANG!

A Cyan Flood Dragon Banner shot out from Lin Changheng’s sleeve. The flag unfurled with a snap as a brilliant cyan light flared. A phantom of a Flood Dragon roared out from within it, its scales and claws flashing as it forcefully blocked the Giant Scythe that was hurtling through the air.

CLANG—

The sound of claw striking metal rang out across the land. The Giant Scythe’s blade collided with the Flood Dragon phantom’s Sharp Claws, sending out a shower of blinding sparks.

Lin Changheng sneered. His fingertips formed a hand seal, and the Cyan Flood Dragon Banner billowed. The Flood Dragon phantom coiled around the Giant Scythe like a living creature, stopping it in its tracks!

’What?’

But what made Chen Guqing’s pupils shrink in shock was that,

the three fist-sized Fire Bombs before him had, at some unknown point, grown as massive as setting suns. The scorching heat and immense pressure were so overwhelming that for a moment, it felt as if three suns were hanging in the sky!

He frantically activated his Black Shield, and its metallic light flared as he desperately tried to block all three Fireballs.

BOOM—!

The three massive, sun-like Fireballs slammed into the Black Shield, erupting with a deafening roar. A searing wave of flame instantly engulfed the surroundings, scorching the earth and making the air twist and shimmer with heat.

The Black Shield’s defensive area was limited. As it trembled violently, the power of the flames and the explosion washed over him from the sides.

A muffled grunt escaped Chen Guqing. His hair and beard were scorched, and his robes turned to ash that clung painfully to his skin!

However, the giant vines that had trapped him were destroyed in the blast, and their grip loosened.

Chen Guqing’s feet sank deep into the ground as blood gushed from the corner of his mouth. He was severely injured and utterly horrified, his heart practically bursting from shock. ’His Upper Grade Technique, the Blast Flame Skill, is cultivated to such a profound degree? He can even transform it from the Lower Grade Fire Bomb Skill?!’

A flash of despair crossed his eyes, and he opened his mouth to beg for mercy a second time.

But why would Lin Changheng give him that chance?

With a flick of his sleeve, the Wandering Bee Blade shot forth.

SHIINK!

Accompanied by a spray of blood, Chen Guqing felt his vision flip upside down. He then fell, landing on the yellow earth below. His head rolled a few times, becoming covered in dust and dirt before it came to a stop.

Where he had stood, only a charred, headless corpse remained, slowly toppling over.

But that wasn’t the end of it. The Wandering Bee Blade changed direction and repeatedly pierced the torso, riddling it with holes, before Lin Changheng was finally satisfied.

After that, he quickly cleaned up the battlefield. He took the Storage Bag from the waist, then used a flame enhanced by his Fire Manipulation Divine Power True Intent to incinerate the body, leaving only ashes behind.

Only then did he excitedly dash about, collecting the Upper Grade Defensive Magical Artifact and the two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts—one for offense and one for defense.

The only imperfection in his haul was that the two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts could not be used directly.

Otherwise, using these Magical Artifacts, which were strong identifying markers, would reveal the secret that Chen Guqing had died at his hands.

During this Magical Combat, only the Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact had not been taken out in front of everyone, but it was still unclear if Chen Guqing had used it at other times.

’Therefore, it’s best not to use them...’ Lin Changheng was sufficiently cautious.

That’s right, Lin Changheng planned to keep this matter under wraps.

After all, his cultivation level was publicly known to be only the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, a stage he had been at for some time.

Even with the help of the Veil Hat Female Cultivator, who was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, it still wouldn’t be enough to explain it.

Sometimes, a matter was insignificant as long as it wasn’t put on the scales. But once it was weighed, it could become an impossibly heavy burden.

It had to be concealed.

Fortunately, the Female Cultivator’s consciousness had been scattered during her final attack, which gave Lin Changheng the space to fabricate facts and invent a story.

He pondered for a moment and had a rough draft of his story ready: 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

He would say that when he arrived, he saw from a distance that Chen Guqing, overcome by lust and giving in to his beastly nature, was about to assault the Veil Hat Female Cultivator. As a result, she had struck him with a hidden Talisman, leaving him severely injured...