Chapter 970: Powerful Sword Formation
Seeing Ye Mo trapped within his sword formation, the ninth-level Golden Core cultivator sneered. If his formation were so easily breached, he would have perished countless times. It wasn't merely a combination of sword rays; discrete ray combinations were interwoven, lethal to any cultivator lacking exceptionally strong spirit sense. He had used this technique to slay many stronger opponents, never failing.
Creak…
Zi Xu's sword rays clashed with the formation's, their cultivation essence barriers trembling from the residual force. The Golden Core cultivator was surprised by Ye Mo's dense, precisely targeted counterattack, but remained unconcerned; his formation's assault had only just begun.
Ye Mo's Illusion Cloud Exert Will technique fused sword and will, directing his sword rays with his intent. His potent spirit sense allowed him to track the formation's rays, countering each one. However, after this initial strike, he sensed something amiss.
Without time for reflection, he instinctively erected another cultivation essence barrier before retracting Zi Xu. A chilling sensation followed; despite his swift reaction, several unnoticed sword rays pierced his barrier, wounding him. He immediately consumed a cultivation recovery pill and a life force pill.
The Golden Core cultivator was astounded to see Ye Mo's injuries rapidly heal. He instantly deduced the cultivator possessed potent elixirs, solidifying his belief that Ye Mo was a peak Golden Core cultivator. The presence of such potent pills, along with a top-grade flying spirit artifact, suggested the possibility of Nascent Soul-enhancing elixirs. The acquisition of such a pill would justify the loss of his companions. Just as he prepared to attack again, he found Ye Mo had vanished from the formation.
Stunned, he realized his formation had only landed a single effective blow before Ye Mo's escape. Although his own skill was limited, and his attacks lacked fluidity, he recognized Ye Mo's profound understanding of formations—the cultivator had instinctively identified and exploited the formation's weakness upon being injured, escaping immediately. Had he remained uninjured, he might have studied the formation, but the risk was too great now.
Ye Mo attempted to discern the source of his injury, but a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator launched another attack with a mid-grade spirit artifact longsword, giving Ye Mo no respite. Infuriated by his earlier injury and disregarding any potential damage to his spirit sense, he unleashed a soul spike.
The seventh-level cultivator was momentarily stunned, allowing Zi Xu to sever his head with a purple arc. Before the body fell, Ye Mo collected the longsword and storage ring and consumed a spirit recovery pill. The soul spike had been effective, but at a significant cost.
The ninth-level Golden Core cultivator attempted to re-trap Ye Mo, only to find his companion slain. Ye Mo, despite significant blood loss and depleted spirit sense, observed the cultivator's pale complexion, a clear indication of the formation's strain. He immediately unleashed Shadowless, and before the seven swords could encircle him, Zi Xu struck.
While eager to test the Golden Core cultivator's formation further, Ye Mo knew the risk was too high given his injuries. The unknown possibility of pursuers, and the cultivator's strength—at least equivalent to Ji Zhiyuan, perhaps exceeding him—compelled immediate action.
Thud thud thud
Zi Xu clashed with the formation, but this time Ye Mo sensed the hidden sword ray despite his Exert Will strike. Its subtlety made detection exceptionally difficult, yet its presence within the formation was undeniable. Another attempt would result in injury, even if the obvious rays were evaded. This was how he'd been wounded earlier.
Though unable to effectively counter this hidden ray directly, he refused a repeat injury. Before the formation could activate, he unleashed a soul spike, aiming to incapacitate the cultivator before the attack.
The cultivator, unprepared for this unusual spirit sense attack, paused, disrupting the formation's rhythm and neutralizing the hidden rays. Ye Mo, aware of the formation's significant spirit sense drain and the importance of uninterrupted attacks, immediately unleashed a series of Zi Xu strikes—the Illusion Cloud Whirlpool technique. Shadowless automatically locked onto the cultivator's meridians.
The cultivator, experienced in combat, recognized the deteriorating situation. Escape was impossible; his instinctual response was a rune—specifically, a soul pill rune, a single-use magic artifact crafted by Nascent Soul cultivators, possessing the force of a Nascent Soul strike, but requiring activation time for lower-level cultivators.
Ye Mo, recognizing the threat, knew he couldn't escape, and acted to prevent its activation. The whirlpool strike enveloped the cultivator, who, undeterred, continued his attempts to activate the rune.
Had Shadowless been unavailable or had the rune been activated sooner, Ye Mo would have been helpless. However, it was too late. Before Zi Xu could strike, the cultivator felt his meridians burning, understanding the dire situation. He abandoned the rune, attempting to shield himself with his cultivation essence, but Zi Xu’s swirling rays still enveloped him.
Crack crack
Ye Mo saw that his attack inflicted only superficial wounds, merely shattering the cultivator's top-grade spirit artifact. He understood why the cultivator had disregarded Zi Xu, prioritizing the soul pill rune.
Upon witnessing his spirit artifact's destruction, the ninth-level Golden Core cultivator fled without hesitation. Ye Mo pursued relentlessly, forcing the cultivator to use his sword formation defensively. Shadowless, however, broke free of the binding cultivation essence and devoured his Golden Core. With his Golden Core gone, the cultivator met his end beneath Zi Xu's blade.