Chapter 63

Zhang Yan saw that the river ahead was winding and twisted, and immediately had an idea. He turned his head and whispered a few words to Luo Xiao, who understood and leaped into the surging river, her movements light and graceful, not a ripple disturbing the water.

Zhang Yan himself then used a spell to create a mist. In an instant, a thick fog descended from the sky, enveloping the five large ships and shrouding the river surface in a light mist. The scenery around them became hazy, as if in a dream.

When Shen Yuefeng's ship turned the bend, he frowned at the sight of the fog-covered river. If he had refined his soul to merge with his sword pill, he would not have been troubled by this illusion. He could have simply slashed through it, and no spell could have obscured his vision. However, he now felt a bit of frustration. If they left this river, the other party could take off and fly away, hiding in the mountains, making it impossible for him to find them.

At this moment, he felt a sudden jolt under his feet, and the ship swayed violently. The boatman shouted, "It's leaking, it's leaking!"

Shen Yuefeng was taken aback. Although the river was turbulent, the boatmen he had chosen were all skilled, accustomed to navigating these waters even with their eyes closed. Even with the mist, how could they have run into trouble so easily? This must be Zhang Yan's doing!

He sneered, "A petty trick, trying to stop me?" He leaped off the ship, a dark light supporting his feet as he ran across the water, chasing after the other ship through the mist.

On the water's surface, Luo Xiao slipped out, leaping back onto the deck, not a drop of water on her. She smiled and said, "My lord, I've punctured their ship."

Zhang Yan nodded, "Well done."

Although the mist was thick, he could still see Shen Yuefeng clearly. He reached into his sleeve, took out the Soul-Taming Inkstone and the Proclamation Brush, and handed them to Luo Xiao, giving her some instructions. He then took out the Golden Magnetic Copper Mirror and placed it in his hand, his eyes fixed on the front.

Shen Yuefeng, unaware that his every move was being watched, ran a hundred paces on the water. Hearing the noise from the ship ahead, he knew they were close. He waved his sleeve, and a talisman paper rose into the air. With a single palm strike, he shouted, "Break!"

The talisman paper ignited without a flame, then drifted forward and attached to the ship. A green flame burst out, scattering sparks in all directions, instantly clearing the mist within five zhang.

With the view clear, Shen Yuefeng immediately saw the figures of Zhang Yan and Luo Xiao. Without hesitation, he pointed his finger, and the golden sword pill, which had been circling him, darted forward toward Zhang Yan.

At the same time, Luo Xiao flicked her wrist, and a cloud-patterned red brush flew into the air. However, instead of heading toward the sword pill, it aimed directly at Shen Yuefeng.

The sword pill reached Zhang Yan in an instant. Just as it was about to pierce through, a white light suddenly appeared, and the "Fate-Stabilizing Jade Tablet" flew out from his chest, blocking the sword pill. The two collided in mid-air, both pausing for a moment.

An opportunity!

Zhang Yan's eyes narrowed, and he raised the Golden Magnetic Copper Mirror. The mirror flipped in the air, and a beam of light shone down, solidifying the sword pill in place.

Seeing the sword pill immobilized, Shen Yuefeng was startled. He tried to recall the sword pill, but it was too late. The Proclamation Brush was already in front of him. He had no choice but to abandon this attempt, waving his sleeve to summon dozens of talisman papers, which burned instantly, creating a gray smoke barrier. The Proclamation Brush brushed through it, clearing it away, but without control, it lost its power and flew back.

Seeing the sword pill struggling in the light, Zhang Yan did not let it escape. He opened his mouth and spat out a breath of yin-yang poison, which instantly darkened the sword pill's light, making it stiff and unresponsive.

Luo Xiao, following Zhang Yan's instructions, saw the opportunity and struck the sword pill with the Heart-Crushing Hammer. With a "ping," the sword pill's light flickered, like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinction.

Shen Yuefeng, feeling a pain in his heart, spat out a mouthful of blood. He saw that the sword pill, under the combined attack of Zhang Yan and Luo Xiao, had lost all its light and was now like a common object, clearly broken.

Most of his abilities were tied to the sword pill. Now that it was broken, he hesitated, unsure how to deal with Zhang Yan and Luo Xiao.

Zhang Yan, seeing his hesitation, feared he might escape. He loudly taunted, "Shen Yuefeng, you came with such arrogance, but you turn out to be nothing. Now that your sword pill is broken, what else do you have to harm me?"

Shen Yuefeng, hearing this, felt a surge of anger, his body trembling. He roared, "Zhang Yan, do you think I can't take your life?" He waved his hand, and a dozen bright talisman papers spun toward them, emitting a sharp, metallic aura.

Luo Xiao's eyes showed disdain. She snorted and raised the Proclamation Brush. The brush swirled in the air, creating an invisible force field that instantly cleared away the talisman papers. Zhang Yan, having put away the copper mirror, saw his chance and waved his sleeve, sending a green light straight at Shen Yuefeng's chest.

Before the如意神梭 (Ruyi Divine Dart) reached him, Shen Yuefeng felt a sudden danger, his body hair standing on end. He had no time to react, and a dark light surged from his back, forming a barrier. He managed to block the Ruyi Divine Dart, but then Luo Xiao's Proclamation Brush struck again. He let out a low growl, and another dark light emerged to block it.

The Proclamation Brush swirled, brushing away the dark light, and then another dark light appeared to block it. Luo Xiao brushed three times, but each time Shen Yuefeng produced another dark light, as if his essence was endless. She realized he must have some way to replenish his essence.

She sneered, and two black needle-like lights appeared in the dark light behind her. These were the芒谲毒针 (Mang Jue Poison Needles) she had personally refined, made from the poison in her teeth, the same color as her dark light, silent and deadly, impossible to guard against. When He Fang was hit by these needles, he became stiff and immobile, allowing her to easily take his life.

She secretly held the Heart-Crushing Hammer in her left hand. When Shen Yuefeng's dark light was brushed away again, she immediately threw the hammer.

Shen Yuefeng was in a dire situation. He had already decided to retreat but was held back by the Ruyi Divine Dart. Knowing its power, he dared not let it chase him. Just as he was looking for a chance to escape, the Proclamation Brush retreated, and the Heart-Crushing Hammer came at him. He was startled and tried to block it with his dark light, but something flashed past his eyes, and his body went numb. He managed to barely dodge, but the hammer shattered his shoulder, and he fell into the water with a scream.

Seeing Shen Yuefeng fall into the water, Zhang Yan knew his goal was achieved. He called out, "Daoist Luo!"

Luo Xiao nodded and raised her hand, and a large, dark inkstone appeared in the air.

The Soul-Taming Inkstone, which was only five zhang in size when used by Zhang Yan, expanded to thirty zhang in Luo Xiao's hands, enveloping the entire river section.

Luo Xiao shouted and flipped her hand, dropping the inkstone where Shen Yuefeng had fallen. With a "boom," a huge wave surged, pushing the five ships a hundred zhang away, capsizing them. The fish demons and beauties on the ships leaped into the water, not afraid but jubilant. However, they were bound by blood contracts, so Zhang Yan was not worried about them escaping.

Luo Xiao watched the river for a moment, seeing no movement, then retrieved the inkstone and dived into the water. The Soul-Taming Inkstone could stabilize the soul and body, and with the poison in his body, Shen Yuefeng had no chance of escaping. This blow would surely kill him.

Zhang Yan stood on the water, rising and falling with the waves. As the waves calmed, Luo Xiao emerged, throwing a Heavenly Bag to Zhang Yan. "His body is disintegrated, and his soul has scattered."

Zhang Yan caught it and opened it, finding not only elixirs but also several Daoist books. He took one out, seeing "Talisman Book" written on it, a secret formula of the Guangyuan Sect. He flipped through it, seeing many detailed annotations, and became engrossed.

This book was originally intended for Jiang Yue after the elixir conference, so the annotations were very thorough. Now it had fallen into Zhang Yan's hands. Thinking of the flying talismans that could slightly resist magical treasures and their various uses, he felt a surge of excitement and became deeply engrossed.

At this moment, Luo Xiao approached him, holding something. "My lord, look at this."

Zhang Yan looked up and saw that Luo Xiao was holding a talisman, but it was glowing with golden light and surrounded by auras, clearly not an ordinary item.

Luo Xiao said excitedly, "This is called a 'Yuan Talisman,' unique to the Guangyuan Sect. It is refined by the elders and can store essence and auras, which can be used in battles."

"Ah, this is a Yuan Talisman?"

Hearing its origin, a hint of joy appeared in Zhang Yan's eyes.

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