Chapter 1338 - 693: Artifact Spirit

"Crack!"

Another crisp sound, the dislocated bone was forcibly reset.

Long Teng’s face twisted in pain, but the battle intent in his eyes grew even more crazed.

"But do you think this is enough to defeat me?"

Blood-red mist suddenly erupted around Long Teng.

"I’ll crush your bones one by one!"

Gu Sheng’s pupils contracted slightly as he sensed the eerie transformation in Long Teng’s aura.

The blood-red mist clearly carried a demonic essence!

"Blood Evil Demon Technique?"

Gu Sheng tightened his grip on the sword hilt.

"You’ve truly fallen into the Demon Path!"

Long Teng laughed wildly.

"As long as I can kill you, what does it matter if it’s the Demon Path?"

He formed a sealing sign with his hands, and the blood-red mist rapidly condensed onto the Demon Refining Spear, unexpectedly repairing its cracked spear body.

"Azure Dragon’s Chant!"

With Long Teng’s fierce shout, he merged with the Demon Refining Spear, transforming into a blood-colored Demon Dragon.

The Demon Dragon roared to the heavens, shaking the earth, and even the space trembled.

"Not good!"

Gu Sheng’s heart rang with alarm. This was the full power strike of a Taichu Realm strongman, capable of destroying half a city!

His spiritual power surged madly within him.

The seven stars on the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword lit up, and the sword body emitted an unbearable humming.

Simultaneously, his muscles tensed, driving the peak physical strength of the Heavenly Palace Realm to its limit.

"Come on!"

Gu Sheng shouted, swinging his sword to meet the blood-colored Demon Dragon.

"Boom---!!!"

In the instant when the two forces collided, the world fell silent.

A violent energy storm swept out, flattening all buildings within a hundred-mile radius.

In the blinding light, Gu Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backwards, crashing through ancient city walls.

"Cough, cough..."

Gu Sheng struggled out from within the wall, kneeling on one knee, supporting his body with his sword.

The web between his thumb and forefinger was completely torn, his right arm bone was cracked, and his internal organs were severely shaken.

Long Teng’s assault had not ceased.

"Whoosh——"

The sound of the air being pierced came, and the Demon Refining Spear shot like a blood-red lightning straight for Gu Sheng’s heart!

"Clang!"

At the critical moment, the Ancient Reincarnation Bell on Gu Sheng’s chest automatically protected its master, emitting a clear bell toll, blocking the lethal blow. Yet the tremendous impact still knocked Gu Sheng flying once more, his body plowing a thousand-meter long furrow in the ground.

"Pfft——" Gu Sheng spat out another mouthful of blood, his aura languid to the extreme.

From a distance, Long Teng’s figure slowly emerged.

His face was pale, clearly the Azure Dragon’s Chant had also taken a heavy toll.

But when he noticed the Ancient Reincarnation Bell hovering in front of Gu Sheng’s chest, greed suddenly flared in his eyes.

"A supreme defensive spiritual artifact?"

Long Teng licked his lips.

"Looks like my haul today isn’t just the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword!"

Dragging the Demon Refining Spear, he stepped slowly toward the heavily injured Gu Sheng, his footsteps like the countdown of a grim reaper.

"Gu Sheng, to force me this far is enough for you to be proud of."

Long Teng sneered.

"But now, the game is over."

Gu Sheng struggled to get up, his mind racing to think of a countermeasure.

All conventional means had been exhausted, and against Long Teng in the Taichu Realm, he had almost no chance of winning.

At this critical moment, a golden light descended from the sky, landing beside Gu Sheng.

"Gu, I’ve come to help you!"

The newcomer was Ling Xiao, holding a mysterious Golden Alms Bowl, from which rippled pale golden liquid, exuding a divine aura.

Long Teng paused in his tracks, squinting at Ling Xiao.

"Another one courting death?"

Ling Xiao ignored Long Teng’s taunt, speaking softly to Gu Sheng.

"I’ll use the Golden Alms Bowl to restrain him; you find a chance to escape!"

But Gu Sheng shook his head.

"It’s useless... Even together, we can hardly defeat someone in the Taichu Realm."

"Then what do we do?"

Ling Xiao asked unwillingly.

"Are we to just sit and wait for death?"

As Long Teng approached step by step, Gu Sheng spoke in a grave tone.

"I have one more way...but it’s extremely risky."

"What way?"

"My strongest martial technique is the Infinite Sword Qi, and my most powerful spiritual artifact is the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword."

Gu Sheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"If I use the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword to perform the Infinite Sword Qi, perhaps I can defeat him."

Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Gu Sheng smiled wryly.

"The problem is... the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword is too high level, and I can currently only barely control it. Forcing a martial skill with it might backfire, even draining my spiritual power."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao’s expression turned solemn.

"Then... wouldn’t that mean mutual destruction?"

"Other than this, our only choice is to flee."

Gu Sheng said lowly.

"But with Long Teng’s speed, he’ll catch up to us in no time."

Long Teng was already within a hundred feet, the blood light on the Demon Refining Spear growing stronger, clearly preparing for the final strike.

Ling Xiao gritted his teeth.

"Since it’s fight or flight, we might as well gamble! If we fail, we’ll run together!"

Gu Sheng looked at Ling Xiao’s determined gaze, then at Long Teng’s face full of greed in the distance, taking a deep breath.

"Alright! Let’s gamble!"

Gu Sheng gripped the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword tightly, determination in his eyes.

In the past, he would only take a desperate gamble when cornered, but this time was different—though Long Teng’s Demon Refining Spear was fearsome, it hadn’t yet driven him to the brink of death.

"Are you certain? If the Infinite Sword Qi fails, the backlash will be enough to sever all your meridians."

Ling Xiao’s voice rang near his ear, both worried and expectant.

Gu Sheng grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth.

"Haven’t we won most of our bets?"

Ling Xiao laughed heartily, patting Gu Sheng.

"Good! In that case, I’ll hold off Long Teng; you focus on your sword skill!"

Not far away, Long Teng held the Demon Refining Spear, the spear tip cutting a deep groove in the ground, sparks flying.

He sensed the gradually concentrating Sword Qi around Gu Sheng, his brows furrowing.