Rumbling!!!
A sudden deafening roar echoed within the county yamen, and rolling demonic energy surged in all directions!
Amidst the surging demonic energy, Yuan Yongcheng and Su Hongzhu stood facing each other. They met fist with fist, and though they remained motionless, waves of fierce wind were generated.
Witnessing this scene, everyone's expressions immediately darkened. The combat strength displayed by Yuan Yongcheng at this moment far surpassed that of ordinary second-realm martial practitioners!
It was likely that even a martial practitioner in the middle stage of the Bone and Tendon Realm would be no match for him!
Yet, before today, though he hailed from the Confucian school, he was merely in the early stage of the Enlightenment Realm. With the aid of an official seal, he could exert mid-stage power and display late-stage killing force within the county town.
However, Yuan Yongcheng, having shifted his cultivation from the Way of the Scholar to the Way of Martial Arts, had seen his realm advance by leaps and bounds. Even without relying on that official seal, he could now wield power equivalent to the mid-second realm or higher!
"Attack together!"
Ji Yuan flew forward, shouting simultaneously, "There's no need for honor or chivalry against this kind of person who has fallen into demonic ways and lost all humanity!"
As he spoke, he leaped into the air, and a handful of talismans were scattered into the sky.
In an instant, over a dozen watermelon-sized fireballs whistled down, bombarding the ground. The surging flames immediately engulfed the two combatants!
"Slash!"
Ji Yuan roared, and from mid-air, he unleashed a sword strike.
A flash of cold light appeared, and an unfathomable aura descended from the sky. The crescent moon-like sword light tore through the air!
Concurrently, Shen Lang and Hui Xin stepped forward.
One held a book filled with surging Righteous Qi, from which hundreds of characters leaped from the pages, forming an article in mid-air. It instantly expanded several times, enveloping the raging flames.
The other chanted Buddhist scriptures, and a string of prayer beads around his neck rose into the sky. Waves of Buddhist light surged forth from it, and with a mere thought, it descended into the flames with immense weight!
Rumble!!
The earth-shattering roars resounded, and the spiritual energy in the area descended into chaos. Rolling demonic energy raged, stirring up a blade-like gust of wind that howled!
And amidst this swirling wind, Zhao Yuansong remained unmoving. His hands moved swiftly in a series of hand seals, and the magical power within him surged forth!
In just a moment, a large, earthy-yellow seal materialized before him. With a flick of his finger, the seal shot forward, breaking through the air.
In mere blinks of an eye, the seal arrived. It paused in mid-air before descending with wisps of earthy-yellow airflow, crashing down like a mountain peak!
Instantly, everyone felt the ground beneath them tremble, and the sound of thunderous roars assaulted their ears, leaving everyone disoriented.
Just as the seal descended, a powerful gust of wind dispersed the weakening flames, and two figures reappeared in everyone's sight.
It was Yuan Yongcheng, who had fallen into the demonic path. His hands were raised, and powerful protective energy gathered in his palms. He appeared to be struggling, barely holding back the descending seal.
On his body, his official robe had been torn by the sword light, and a wound stretched from his shoulder to his abdomen on his chest.
However, as demonic energy surged, it not only erased the residual sword qi within the wound but also prevented any blood from flowing.
"Amitabha!"
Hui Xin chanted a Buddhist invocation. The one hundred and eight prayer beads descended with his voice, spewing forth waves of Buddhist light, and pressed down alongside the earthy-yellow seal!
At the same moment, the article formed by hundreds of characters from all directions converged, densely clinging to Yuan Yongcheng's body!
"Take another punch!"
Su Hongzhu roared, and then punched him heavily on the forehead!
With a 'bang', Yuan Yongcheng cried out in pain and leaned back, no longer able to withstand the immense pressure. He allowed the earthy-yellow seal and the one hundred and eight prayer beads to fall!
Boom!!!
Countless dust clouds billowed up, and yellow mud and shattered bricks flew out!
Just then, Ji Yuan descended from the sky. As Su Hongzhu retreated, he struck down with his long sword!
Clang!!!
An impassioned sword cry pierced the heavens, and strands of sword qi crisscrossed, instantly dispersing the dust!
At this moment, Ji Yuan's feet rested on Yuan Yongcheng's abdomen, his hands gripping the sword in a slashing motion.
As for Yuan Yongcheng, he gripped the sword edge between his hands. Although demonic energy surged in his palms, it could not stop the flowing sword qi on the blade.
His palms were now bloody and mangled, with wounds so deep they revealed bone.
Upon the ghastly white bone, numerous fine scratches, as thin as cow's hair, could be seen!
Yuan Yongcheng's eyes erupted with killing intent, wishing to tear apart the young Taoist who was trampling him.
His face, filled with murderous intent, combined with the dense black and red patterns, appeared even more ferocious and terrifying.
After ten years of diligent study and achieving success in the imperial examinations, his official career had not been without its challenges, but he had not encountered any major setbacks.
Especially after being appointed as the county magistrate of Qianyu City, he had achieved remarkable merits year after year, leaving a significant mark in the county archives.
Even without falling into the demonic path, his impressive record would have been enough to secure a high position in the county city!
Much less now that he had fallen into the demonic path. In his own eyes, he was destined to become the master of a demonic domain, enjoying great freedom and all the worldly glories!
But now! He was being trampled upon in such a manner by a mere youth!
An unprecedented sense of humiliation erupted within him and was magnified infinitely under the influence of his demonic heart!
He roared with widened, enraged eyes, like an angry beast, with two streams of bloody tears trickling from his eyes.
Mighty protective energy surged from his body, like a vengeful ghost emitting sharp, piercing screams.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan immediately withdrew his sword and retreated, while producing a talisman in his hand.
This was one of the talismans he had written in the headquarters of the Three Blades Society, using materials provided by the Zhenshan Sect and the Yuanshan Escort Agency.
Ji Yuan unhesitatingly injected his vital energy into the talisman's core, then slapped it onto his chest. Instantly, a clear light flowed throughout his body.
In the very next moment, a fist appeared before him and then landed softly on his chest.
Instantly, a volcanic eruption of power surged forth. Even with the clear light protecting Ji Yuan, he felt his blood and qi surge!
He was sent flying like a sack, propelled several yards away. If Guo Tao had not leaped forward and caught him, he would have likely crashed through the courtyard wall and fallen among the demonic figures outside!
At this moment, Ji Yuan leaned on his sword with some difficulty, his gaze fixed on Yuan Yongcheng, who was enveloped in rolling demonic energy, several yards away.
On his chest, the talisman, capable of withstanding three full-strength blows from a martial practitioner in the early Bone and Tendon Realm, had now burned to ash, leaving only a faint clear light that was slowly dissipating.
Without a doubt, the seemingly light punch from the opponent had unleashed a killing force equivalent to the late stage of the Bone and Tendon Realm!
There was a problem!
Ji Yuan was about to warn everyone, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a sweet sensation rose in his throat, and his mouth filled with the taste of blood.
A trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. His blood and qi were in turmoil, and his vital energy was incredibly disordered. Let alone speaking, even standing still felt like knives slicing through his body.
On the other side, seeing Ji Yuan injured and his face turn deathly pale, if he hadn't activated a protective talisman in time, he would have been killed on the spot.
Almost simultaneously, a surge of anger ignited in several people's hearts. Shen Lang and Hui Xin attacked, regardless of the cost!
Especially Shen Lang, hatred flashed in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the book suspended before him, with nearly half its characters remaining, exploded!
An unimaginably dense wave of Righteous Qi immediately surged in all directions. Each character transformed into thick ink, and the air was filled with a refreshing scent of ink.
Shen Lang reached out in front of him, and the dense ink flowed back, coalescing into a long sword of ink in his hand!
"The Sage said... To hell with the Sage!"
His eyebrows bristled as he said, "Those who harm my brothers! Die!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he threw the ink sword in his hand!
The sword, over three feet long, wobbled in the air. Even a normal person standing there wouldn't need to dodge, knowing it wouldn't injure anyone.
However, just as a cold smile flickered across Yuan Yongcheng's lips, the ink sword suddenly straightened, as if grasped by an unseen hand, and slashed down at him with lightning speed!
Almost at the same time, Hui Xin, uncharacteristically, did not chant a Buddhist invocation before attacking. With fierce brows, he flung the prayer beads in his hand like a brick!
With the surge of Buddhist light, it appeared before Yuan Yongcheng in a blink of an eye, attacking alongside the ink sword descending from above!
Clearly, after witnessing Ji Yuan's near-death experience and serious injuries, these two Confucian scholars and Buddhist monks had unleashed their greatest killing intent!
Yet, as the two fatal attacks descended, Yuan Yongcheng, enveloped in demonic energy, remained unfazed.
Suddenly, he slowly raised his head, his gaze not on the ink sword slashing down, but on a large seal that had appeared out of nowhere!