Chapter 65: Desperation

In the dense forest, Lin Shiji and his group moved cautiously. As Song Lixin's party engaged in fierce combat, Lin Shiji prepared meticulously, silently coordinating with Lin Tianming and the others, outlining their strategy.

Once the Yellow Spirit Monkeys disappeared into the forest depths, Song Lixin and his three remaining companions quickly retrieved and consumed a Yuan Recovery Pill each. Meanwhile, Lin Shiji's group inched closer, reducing the distance to less than a hundred meters.

Suddenly, Song Lixin sensed something amiss. He leaped up to the treetop, glaring down at Lin Shiji's group with a mix of anger and panic.

"Not good, we've been discovered! Attack now!" Lin Shiji commanded. Without hesitation, he launched an assault, beginning with a lethal strike.

He summoned a golden sword energy that shot towards a white-robed man among Song Lixin's group. Lin Shiji's plan was clear: despite their numerical advantage, his group's lower cultivation levels necessitated a quick incapacitation of at least one opponent to alleviate the pressure on his juniors.

Choosing the white-robed man, a Qi Refining eighth-level cultivator, as his target, Lin Shiji unleashed a ferocious attack, confident in his ability to land a killing blow due to the element of surprise.

Pouring his immense Qi Refining peak-stage power into the sword energy, Lin Shiji's attack reached the white-robed man swiftly. The man, panicked and desperate, managed to counter with a hastily summoned sword strike, but it was quickly overwhelmed.

"Boom..."

The clash of energies resulted in a deafening explosion. The white-robed man's feeble defense was shattered almost instantly, and Lin Shiji's sword energy continued its path, ripping through his body. The man froze, wide-eyed, before crumpling to the ground, dead.

With one opponent down, Song Lixin's group's strength was further diminished. The remaining three, Chen and another cultivator, swiftly retreated to Song Lixin's side, their faces etched with anxiety.

Lin Shiji's group, weapons at the ready, stood poised to strike, creating a tense standoff. Both sides sized each other up, gauging their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Seeing Lin Shiji's cultivation level matched his own, Song Lixin realized the gravity of their situation. With only three of them left and their energy significantly drained, they were at a severe disadvantage. Despite their dire situation, Song Lixin feigned calmness, scrambling for a plan.

"If we could just stall for time," he thought, "perhaps we can recover some Qi and turn the tides."

Trying to negotiate, Song Lixin addressed Lin Shiji, "Friend, there's no need for violence. I'm Song Lixin. Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding?"

"We can let bygones be bygones. You can have the Jade Spirit Fruits. Just allow us to leave."

But Lin Shiji responded with a cold laugh, showing no intention of negotiating. He aimed to finish the fight quickly, launching another series of powerful sword strikes at Song Lixin.

Song Lixin, despite his bravado, found himself on the defensive. His damaged spiritual shield barely withstood Lin Shiji's relentless attacks. Though a seasoned cultivator, Song Lixin struggled under the intensity of the assault.

While Lin Shiji engaged Song Lixin, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi focused on Chen, the Qi Refining ninth-level cultivator. Another wounded opponent was left to Lin Xingcheng and the remaining Lin family members, who outnumbered and outmatched him thanks to their numerous talismans and combined efforts.

Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi worked in tandem, with Lin Tianming methodically weakening Chen's defenses while subtly setting up his Di Sha Sword Formation. Lin Xingzhi, not to be outdone, matched Chen blow for blow, their skirmish intensifying.

The battlefield was chaotic, filled with the clashing of energies and the explosion of spells. Trees were felled and the ground torn asunder by the ferocity of the fight.

As the battle wore on, Chen's face grew increasingly pale. With his Qi nearly depleted, he was forced into a defensive stance, frustration mounting.

"I can't let this drag on," Chen thought, eyes flickering with desperation. "I need to gamble everything on one attack."

Seizing a brief lull, Chen retrieved a white pearl brimming with violent energy. Without hesitation, he hurled it at Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi.

"Watch out, Tianming!" Lin Xingzhi shouted, retreating hastily and issuing a warning.

Sensing the immense power contained within the pearl, Lin Tianming quickly fell back, deploying two high-grade defensive talismans that conjured protective walls.

The pearl exploded with tremendous force upon impact, obliterating the first wall in an instant. The second wall held briefly before disintegrating under the onslaught. The explosion's shockwave sent Lin Tianming flying, smashing through several trees before he came to a halt.

Lin Xingzhi, having retreated further and deployed his own defenses, emerged with only minor injuries. He watched in alarm as Lin Tianming rose from the ground, blood trickling from his mouth but otherwise unscathed.

"That was close," Lin Tianming muttered, grateful for his timely retreat and robust physique. The talismans had done their job, mitigating the worst of the damage.

Chen, seeing his trump card fail to achieve the desired result, paled further. The white pearl had been his last-ditch effort, a precious item meant to secure his survival. Now, with no aces left to play, his fate seemed sealed.