Chapter 221 : Fierce Battle Against the Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse

Chapter 221: Fierce Battle Against the Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse

“In that case, Fellow Daoist Li, are you trying to threaten me!?”

Just as Lin Chang’an emerged from seclusion, he was met with someone exerting pressure through sheer power. This made him visibly displeased, and he turned to look at this so-called Master Li.

Though his False Core cultivation was phony, his spirit pet’s breakthrough to Core Formation was very real.

Before the breakthrough, he could endure such humiliation. But if he still had to endure it afterward, wouldn’t his spirit pet’s breakthrough have been for nothing?

“Master He, this Fellow Daoist Li didn’t mean it that way.”

Seeing this unfold, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt stepped forward with a smile to explain, while secretly transmitting a message to introduce the identity of this Master Li.

A Guest Elder of Five Dragon Island, a False Core cultivator, but he also had a third-rank spirit pet—a Copper-armored Corpse.

Although Fairy of Rainbow Skirt seemed to be speaking on his behalf, she was actually implying that with the abundance of talent on Five Dragon Island, he might not receive any special treatment if he joined.

But her Xuanyin Pavilion was different. They would treat him as a true Core Elder, and even offer him a secret Core-condensation art exclusive to the Pavilion.

“So you’re Master Li.”

Upon hearing that this person was powerful and a Guest Elder of Five Dragon Island, Lin Chang’an immediately smiled.

Damn!

He had thought this was a newly joined False Core cultivator of Xuanyin Pavilion, and that the two were playing good cop, bad cop.

Turns out, they were from Five Dragon Island all along.

Not someone he could afford to offend!

The defiant expression on Lin Chang’an’s face vanished in less than three seconds, replaced by the humility from earlier.

“Good that you understand. I am a Guest Elder of Five Dragon Island. You’re quite fortunate—our island still lacks manpower...”

This Master Li, likely used to wielding the might of Five Dragon Island, looked at him with an air of arrogance.

But the treatment offered was worlds apart from what Fairy of Rainbow Skirt had just relayed via voice transmission.

After all, it made sense—Xuanyin Pavilion urgently needed Core Formation cultivators, while Five Dragon Island did not.

“Fellow Daoist He, don’t be mistaken. Xuanyin Pavilion is merely an outsider sect. In these waters, no one can escape the influence of the Long Clan of Five Dragon Island.”

This Master Li secretly transmitted another message, causing Lin Chang’an to sneer inwardly.

His words were nothing short of coercion, clearly not wanting him to join Xuanyin Pavilion, even threatening him to stay away.

How overbearing.

And considering the infamous conduct of Five Dragon Island, Lin Chang’an certainly wouldn’t dare to join so lightly.

“Fellow Daoists, I’ve barely formed a Core, only a False Core at that. I dare not dream of cultivating those legendary Core-condensation arts, given their stringent requirements.

Thank you both for protecting me. I’ll soon return to my homeland. Perhaps I can serve as a local patriarch in a small region.”

Lin Chang’an maintained a fake smile. He had no desire to get involved in the entanglement between Xuanyin Pavilion and Five Dragon Island.

It was best to keep his distance.

Seeing how tactful Lin Chang’an was, Master Li gave a conceited, indifferent smile, though inwardly he sneered.

Leave? As if it were that easy.

Fairy of Rainbow Skirt seemed disappointed, but as if prepared for this outcome, she smiled and clasped her hands.

“Master He’s spirit pet successfully formed a Core in our Xuanyin Pavilion’s Spirit Land. I’ve prepared a small gift as thanks.”

A female disciple of Xuanyin Pavilion respectfully stepped forward to present the gift. Lin Chang’an swept it with his divine sense and couldn’t help but glance at Fairy of Rainbow Skirt.

The gift was no small offering.

He understood, of course, that his spirit pet’s breakthrough within their Spirit Land had brought considerable benefits to the Pavilion.

“I didn’t expect to trouble Master He today, but this Master Li has quite a poor reputation. I once heard that two Fellow Daoists declined him and...”

The voice transmission from Fairy of Rainbow Skirt made Lin Chang’an feel quite satisfied with her attitude.

“You’re too kind, Fairy. Ultimately, I owe you a favor today.”

After listening to her reminder, Lin Chang’an was secretly startled and responded with a voice transmission, firmly remembering this favor.

“I’m but a humble rogue cultivator, unaccustomed to formal ties. Thank you both for your kind intentions.”

Outwardly, Lin Chang’an smiled and clasped his hands in farewell.

Fairy of Rainbow Skirt wore a look of regret, as if lamenting her failure to recruit a powerful cultivator for her sect.

Master Li, on the other hand, flashed a sinister smile and shot her a warning glance, his intentions crystal clear.

……

After Lin Chang’an departed, Master Li turned to Fairy of Rainbow Skirt with a smile.

“Fairy of Rainbow Skirt, I have pressing matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, the False Core Master departed without any regard for decorum, causing many Xuanyin Pavilion disciples to secretly resent their weakness.

Watching him leave, a refined female cultivator with a serious expression approached Fairy of Rainbow Skirt.

“Sect Master, this Master Li has a notorious reputation. I fear that Master He is in grave danger.”

Five Dragon Island’s methods were tyrannical. As one of their mad dogs, Master Li wasn’t much different.

Over the years, it was rumored that many cultivators who offended the Long Clan of Five Dragon Island had been secretly killed by Master Li.

Though many cultivators detested him, his victims were mostly rogue cultivators with no backing.

And no one would stick their neck out for the dead.

“Yes, let’s hope Fellow Daoist He has some luck.”

Fairy of Rainbow Skirt sighed softly. She had already given a veiled warning. The rest would depend on Master He’s fortune.

Her initial plan had been to leverage Five Dragon Island’s infamy to push Master He toward joining Xuanyin Pavilion.

On the surface, the Long Clan of Five Dragon Island couldn’t act too openly against them, since they were both under Bihai Palace’s jurisdiction.

But unexpectedly, Master He was determined to leave.

Now, she could only hope he would survive.

Even if he didn’t join Xuanyin Pavilion, she had still forged a good connection—and indirectly created an enemy for the Long Clan.

……

Yet Lin Chang’an wasn’t against joining Xuanyin Pavilion.

The treatment they offered was certainly tempting.

Unfortunately, he was a phony. He couldn’t last long. Once it was discovered that his False Core was fake...

A rogue cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage with a third-rank spirit pet?

Who wouldn’t be tempted?

“What a pity, the treatment offered by Xuanyin Pavilion...”

After flying away from Five Dragon Island, Lin Chang’an summoned his flying spirit artifact—a gourd—and fled at full speed.

Though fast, it was clear he had been targeted.

“Damn it, the third-rank Copper-armored Corpse can track scents. That guy must’ve memorized mine during our earlier exchange.”

Lin Chang’an frowned and glanced behind.

He could hide his aura and was confident he wouldn’t be discovered.

But amidst the vast sea, once submerged, his Wind-Chirp Bird wouldn’t have the upper hand.

“Should I bet on not being discovered?”

Lin Chang’an shook his head. He didn’t want to risk his life on a gamble.

Besides, it was just a False Core cultivator.

He could temporarily unleash the power of the False Core stage, and his spirit pet—Wind-Chirp Bird—completely restrained the opponent’s Copper-armored Corpse.

Not an unwinnable fight.

“But if this guy knows my spirit pet counters his Copper-armored Corpse, and he still dares to chase me... he must be confident.”

Lin Chang’an was a mere fake. Even if he could momentarily display False Core strength...

He could only fly using an artifact—not the light flight characteristic of a real Core cultivator.

He soared through the skies until he spotted a small island, where he quickly landed.

Without hesitation, he buried a formation plate and flags.

Then he concealed his aura and hid within the formation.

Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered. He didn’t dare look up to search for Master Li in the skies.

After all, a Core Formation cultivator’s senses were sharp. No matter how well he hid, even a glance could alert them.

“A third-rank formation is in place, and with the Wind-Chirp Bird spirit pet—if he hasn’t found me, good. If he has... then I’ll take him down!”

If possible, he didn’t want to clash with a False Core cultivator.

……

A brown-yellow streak of light shot across the sky.

Though Master Li was usually arrogant, he was exceedingly cautious when hunting cultivators of similar strength.

While flying with his escape light, he released the third-rank Copper-armored Corpse, ready to deal with a sudden ambush at any moment.

“His aura has vanished!”

Hovering above the sea, Master Li’s expression turned grim as he scanned the surrounding waters. Beside him, the grotesque-looking Copper-armored Corpse radiated a terrifying corpse aura.

Its pair of savage, emotionless corpse eyes scanned the surroundings, exhaling a foul, putrid stench as it searched for a scent.

“Fellow Daoist He is truly cautious, hiding this well.”

Still unable to detect a trace, Master Li let out a cold sneer, leisurely hovering midair as he shouted:

“Impressive, Fellow Daoist, to be able to evade my Copper-armored Corpse’s scent-tracking. But I wonder—if another Core Formation cultivator were to arrive, how long could you continue hiding?”

Just then, a flicker of unstable aura flashed from a distant island, instantly causing the Copper-armored Corpse to let out a bloodthirsty roar.

“Found you!”

Master Li laughed loudly, transforming into a stream of light and darting toward the island with the Copper-armored Corpse in tow.

That fleeting aura—unstable and sudden—was intentionally released by Lin Chang’an.

He didn’t dare gamble on whether Master Li’s words were true or false.

It was better to expose a flaw, quickly kill or repel the opponent, and then escape.

“Fellow Daoist He, so stubborn—then this calamity is yours to bear!”

Master Li roared with laughter. Raising his hand, a square, earthen-yellow seal came crashing down.

From the island below, two soaring sword lights erupted into the sky.

“A sword cultivator!”

Sensing the overwhelming sword intent, Master Li’s expression turned serious. Among cultivators of the same level, sword cultivators’ offense rivaled even body cultivators.

“Fellow Daoist Li, do you truly wish to fight to the death with me!?”

Feigning as Master He, Lin Chang’an shouted in anger and forcefully activated his technique, unleashing an extremely terrifying aura through the twin sword intents.

“Fellow Daoist He, you misunderstand. I merely wish to invite you to meet with the Long Clan of Five Dragon Island.”

Damn it!

Without hesitation, Lin Chang’an sent both sword lights slashing forth.

Go to the Long Clan? That was no different from walking into death.

If it were exposed that he was a False Core cultivator, not even his third-rank spirit pet could protect him—his secrets would all be dragged out.

“Fellow Daoist He, are you insane!?”

Master Li was shocked and furious. How could this He fellow go all out right from the start?

Normally, when he dealt with people like this, they at least didn’t dare offend the Long Clan so easily.

Who could’ve expected this one to start a death match immediately?

A terrifying sword light burst forth, colliding directly with the earthen-yellow seal. The sword light shattered instantly.

Though that strike had the power of a False Core cultivator, it was still different from a true magic treasure.

Yet the second sword light was already at Master Li’s front.

Even then, Master Li remained composed, shouting coldly, “Stubborn fool! Since you refuse to recognize the situation, then feed your vital blood to my spirit pet!”

The third-rank Copper-armored Corpse let out a roar and lunged at the sword light.

Its terrifying claws swatted the sword light away with a single strike.

The scene sent a jolt through Lin Chang’an—this was his first battle with a False Core cultivator.

As expected, incomparable to any foe he’d faced before.

“Roar!”

A corpse roar shook the heavens as the third-rank Copper-armored Corpse pounced forward.

Lin Chang’an feigned panic, slapping his Spirit Beast Pouch. The massive figure of the Wind-Chirp Bird appeared.

“Haha! This third-rank fire-attribute demon beast—its demon core will be mine!”

For some reason, Master Li still wore a face full of confidence despite the elemental disadvantage, laughing as he charged forward.

At the same moment, Lin Chang’an sneered coldly.

He also had his eyes on that Corpse Core.

Trading it for a Core Formation spirit item or a wood-attribute third-rank demon core wouldn’t be difficult.

Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation—Activate!

As Lin Chang’an formed a hand seal, a scarlet barrier enveloped the entire island.

Seeing this, Master Li’s eyes flashed with seriousness.

“You’re just a rogue cultivator—how do you have a third-rank formation!?”

Ordinary False Core rogue cultivators wouldn’t even have a single magic treasure, let alone a formation.

Especially someone like Lin Chang’an, whose unstable aura clearly indicated he’d just formed his core recently.

This was unexpected—but Master Li didn’t panic. His expression merely turned solemn, assuming this person had hidden his identity.

“I wonder where exactly you’re from, Fellow Daoist. Perhaps you even have old ties with my Five Dragon Island. This might all be a misunderstanding.”

Ever cautious, Master Li felt it best to investigate this person’s background first.

“Haha! Fellow Daoist Li, you jest. Since you’ve come to kill me—then stay here!”

Lin Chang’an shouted, now fully committed. He had no intention of giving the opponent time to delay.

With full force, the formation erupted at maximum power.

Fiendish energy filled the entire barrier, and the terrifying fire-attribute spiritual energy grew dense to an extreme.

Upon seeing the formation, Master Li was truly shocked. The formation had such intense fiendish aura—it clearly indicated someone powerful backing Lin Chang’an.

After all, such fiendish aura couldn’t be accumulated overnight.

But what he didn’t know was that Lin Chang’an had killed countless Sinister Spirits over the years with this formation. The formation plate and flags had naturally absorbed a great deal of that aura.

The name alone—Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation—made it clear: the more fiendish the aura, the more ferocious the formation.

Moreover, the primary formation plate once belonged to the late-stage Core cultivator, Blood Fiend True Lord.

“Fellow Daoist, it’s time for your journey to the afterlife!”

Over the years, except when he fought the third-rank Sinister Spirit Yaksha, Lin Chang’an had never fully activated this formation.

Now, within the formation, nine quasi–third-rank Fire-devouring Demon Spirits surged toward Master Li in a frenzy.

“Haha! Since I knew you had a third-rank fire-attribute demon beast, would I come unprepared?”

Master Li laughed loudly. Then, from the mouth of the third-rank Copper-armored Corpse—locked in combat with the Wind-Chirp Bird—emerged a bead radiating pure water essence.

“A water-attribute magic treasure!”

Seeing this, Lin Chang’an was shocked. No wonder the man was so confident.

In the next instant, a water curtain shield formed around the Copper-armored Corpse, completely blocking the fire’s oppressive heat.

With the treasure’s aid, the Copper-armored Corpse let out a bloodthirsty roar—it clearly now saw the Wind-Chirp Bird as prey.

“Courting death!”

Lin Chang’an sneered coldly. If it were an ordinary third-rank fire-attribute spirit beast, this might have been trouble.

But unfortunately, his Wind-Chirp Bird was anything but ordinary.