Strike and Flee

"Not good!"

"Boom!" 

A deafening explosion erupted beside Li Chenliang, sending up a cloud of dust.

"Got him!" Chen Jinshu's heart leaped with joy.

She hadn't expected the talisman she'd instinctively thrown to actually hit its mark.

"It seems reaching proficiency in Golden Needle Technique has improved my precision as well."

In the month before coming to the market, she had frequently hunted in the Cold Pine Forest. Her Golden Needle Technique had advanced to proficiency—faster, deadlier.

As for her quick reflexes? She owed that entirely to the spirit rabbits that would occasionally dart out from the bushes.

The moment the grass rustled, her needles would shoot out, piercing straight through their skulls. The rabbits in Cold Pine Forest were much farther than Li Chenliang's current position. The explosion instantly drew everyone's attention.

Chen Huaiyang's expression flickered with surprise as his gaze landed on Chen Jinshu, standing at the corner of the spirit ship.

He hadn't expected her to assess the situation so keenly—clearly, she had trained hard in real combat, reacting far quicker than the other spirit farmers.

"Cough! Cough!" As the smoke cleared, Li Chenliang's disheveled figure was revealed.

His once-neat robes were now smeared with gray ash, and a few strands of his hair had been singed. The power of a high-grade Blazing Flame Talisman was nothing to scoff at—equivalent to a full-force strike from a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Scanning the crowd, his face twisted in humiliation before his murderous gaze locked onto Chen Jinshu.

"I hadn't even come for you yet, and you dare strike first?" he snarled, his sinister eyes boring into her.

Chen Jinshu's expression tightened. She knew he wouldn't let her off easily now—but she didn't regret her decision.

"Whoosh!" Just then, three figures from the front rushed toward the spirit ship at high speed.

Chen Huaiyang wouldn't let them pass. In a flash, he intercepted them, his sword gleaming with razor-sharp intent, forcing the trio to halt. The three hesitated, knowing they were no match for him.

Most of the wasps in the air had already been knocked unconscious by the Shadowpeak Flich's ability, leaving only a few stubborn ones—quickly finished off by the spirit farmers' fireball spells.

The farmers' gazes now turned forward, sensing the impending battle. Realizing the fight was about to begin, Chen Jinshu immediately activated her Lunar Water Pearl to its limit. A massive curtain of water surged around her, forming a protective barrier. She gripped her Plum Rain Fan, ready for combat.

"You actually wiped out all my spirit bees? You're dead!"

Li Chenliang's face darkened as he surveyed the fallen wasps. His hand hovered over a black gourd at his waist—but then his eyes fell on the Shadowpeak Flich perched on Chen Jinshu's shoulder.

"With that freakish bird around, my spirit insects are useless!"

This operation had not accounted for a spirit creature capable of countering his insects. After a brief hesitation, he abandoned the gourd and drew a white sword instead. Chen Huaiyang stood between Li Chenliang and the three attackers, creating a temporary stalemate.

…

Li Chenliang sent a voice transmission to Chen Wenshan and the others before lunging toward Chen Jinshu with his blade. Chen Huaiyang's expression turned icy as he moved to block—but suddenly, the trio behind him whipped out a long iron chain, wrapping it around his waist.

"Damn it!" He slashed at the chain with his sword, but only sparks flew.

"Fine. Then we fight!"

Spinning rapidly, he unleashed a series of azure sword beams toward the three.

At the same time, he transmitted to the spirit farmers: "Buy me sixty breaths!"

As he spoke, dazzling sword shadows filled the air…

…

The spirit farmers exchanged glances before stepping forward, weapons raised to shield Chen Jinshu. A flicker of emotion crossed her face. She had thought their earlier promises were mere courtesy—yet here they were, truly willing to protect her.

"Whoosh!"

 Li Chenliang's sword sliced through the air like a viper, locked onto Chen Jinshu as if the farmers didn't exist.

"Uncles, retreat!"

Seeing the white blade arc toward them like a crescent moon, she shouted urgently.

"At my current level, I can only use Spring Thunder Technique three times!"

Her mind raced as a crackling purple lightning sphere formed in her palm. The moment Li Chenliang closed in, she would hurl it—buying at least thirty breaths for Third Uncle. The rest would be up to the farmers. Dodging swiftly, she watched as the farmers scattered.

"Boom!"

 The spirit ship shuddered as a fierce slash carved deep into the wood, leaving a long scar.

"Swoosh! Swoosh!"

The farmers darted across the deck, launching their own assaults. The air above the ship blazed with multicolored spiritual lights—and soon, blood. Chen Jinshu seized the moment, hurling the lightning sphere at Li Chenliang's retreating figure.

"Crackle—Boom!"

Electricity erupted in midair, streaking toward him. Li Chenliang, mid-dodge, sensed the attack and raised his sword to block.

"Bang!" 

The sphere detonated against the blade, scattering arcs of lightning.

"Argh! It burns!" The current seared through him like countless needles.

"Slash!" 

At that moment, Chen Huaiyang's deep-blue sword appeared beside him—a flash of steel, a spray of blood.

"He got away!"

Chen Jinshu glimpsed three figures vanishing into the forest.

"Clang!" 

Li Chenliang's right hand spasmed in agony, tendons severed. His sword clattered to the ground.

He turned just in time to see Chen Wenshan and the others flee, leaving only afterimages.

"Bastards! You sold me out!"

With a snarl, he flung two black orbs. 

"Boom!" 

A thick smog engulfed the area. Chen Huaiyang waved his hands, summoning a gust to disperse the smoke—but Li Chenliang was already gone.

"Even if he survives, that wound will haunt him."

Choosing not to pursue, Chen Huaiyang reactivated the spirit ship and checked on the farmers. Their side was weakened, and the enemy might still have tricks. Chasing now risked disaster.

Besides, Li Chenliang's right hand tendons were severed—a crippling injury that would hinder his future Foundation Establishment. One of his meridians had been cut.

"Any serious injuries?"

"Elder, most of us are wounded!"

"Yonghua and Yongle are bleeding heavily!"

Frowning, Chen Huaiyang swiftly fed them a Revitalizing Pill. Without delay, he steered the ship toward Vulture Mountain, slotting in extra spirit stones to boost its speed. The battlefield's disturbances might attract opportunistic cultivators.

…

Two quarters of an hour later, they finally arrived. Though Chen Jinshu's ambushes had succeeded, her spiritual energy was depleted, and she bore minor cuts from near-misses.

Li Chenliang had targeted her relentlessly—without the farmers' aid, her injuries would've been far worse.

"I need a movement technique."