Chapter 26: Substitute Death Vine
Upon hearing Du Yifeng’s provocation, Chen Qiang did not get angry.
He merely said calmly, “I also want to see if your Tianxuan Sect’s new generation has made any progress!”
“You’ll see it for yourself,” Du Yifeng replied confidently.
As soon as Du Yifeng finished speaking—
His two disciples, as if responding to him across the air, each took out a stack of Fireball Talismans from their storage pouches.
In the next instant—
The two of them began to fling out the Fireball Talismans as if they cost nothing, turning them into a rain of fire that enveloped Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong!
Their actions caused quite a commotion.
Yang Hong gripped the Seven Star Technique-Breaking Sword tightly and said nervously, “Senior Brother Xu, my Qi Strength can only extend three feet from my body. With so many Fireball Techniques— I’m afraid I can’t slash them all down myself…”
“Why bother slashing them?”
Xu Zhengyang turned around, saw the scene, and shook his head with a smile. “So many Fireball Talismans—there’s clearly a much more efficient way to deal with them. But they just won’t take it. They insist on putting on a fireworks show.”
As he spoke—
Xu Zhengyang pulled Yang Hong behind him, simultaneously activating the Technique Manager, and shouted, “Blackthorn Formation!”
As soon as he said this—
Spikes burst forth from the ground in a spiral formation, tightly packed, eventually forming a semicircular fortress of earth spikes, one zhang and three chi in diameter!
This earthen spike fortress encased Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong, forcefully withstanding the barrage of fireballs!
…
“Blackthorn Formation?”
Outside the Suspended Milk Forest, Du Yifeng looked shocked when he saw this, then immediately asked the person beside him, Ma Zhiyuan, “Senior Brother Ma. You’re a Spiritual Cultivator—does the Blackthorn Formation exist among Tier 1 spells?”
“Never heard of it.”
Ma Zhiyuan stared solemnly at the Water-Mirror Technique display.
After a moment—
He offered a seemingly reasonable guess and said to Du Yifeng, “If I’m not mistaken—
This Blackthorn Formation…
Is probably the effect of some magic treasure crafted by Pei Zhen for his disciple!”
“Hahahaha!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Qiang laughed heartily, shaking his head at Ma Zhiyuan and saying, “Seems like you old geezers of the Tianxuan Sect are really blind. You can’t even recognize something this simple!”
“Oh?”
Ma Zhiyuan’s eyes lit up when he heard that.
He knew Chen Qiang’s character and was aware that Chen Qiang wasn’t the type to speak without reason.
So Ma Zhiyuan cupped his hands toward Chen Qiang and asked, “Then may I ask Senior Brother Chen—this ‘Blackthorn Formation’… What exactly is it?”
“Do you think I’d tell you that so easily?”
Chen Qiang replied smugly, “Figure it out on your own!”
At that moment—
Chen Qiang suddenly found himself able to understand Pei Zhen’s feelings during the disciple acceptance ceremony.
However—
When he thought of that ceremony…
Chen Qiang couldn’t help recalling Yang Hong’s diarrhea incident that day, and the smile on his face instantly froze.
“Hmph.”
Chen Qiang snorted coldly and once again turned his gaze to the Water-Mirror Technique.
…
Inside the Suspended Milk Forest—
Xu Zhengyang’s Blackthorn Formation was composed of one Earth Spike Technique after another.
Although they were both Tier 1 attack techniques—
The Earth Spike Technique had physical form, so its power was somewhat stronger than the Fireball Technique.
Precisely because of that—
When Xu Zhengyang arranged the Earth Spike Techniques densely, forming a semicircular bunker as the “Blackthorn Formation”—
It could completely withstand the overwhelming fire rain!
Taking a beating passively was not Xu Zhengyang’s nature.
So, after withstanding the firestorm, while the smoke and dust stirred up by the Fireball Techniques hadn’t dispersed—
He took the initiative to dismiss the Blackthorn Formation.
Then he slapped both hands on the ground and shouted, “Draw the ground as a prison!”
Hearing Xu Zhengyang’s words, Yang Hong instinctively shivered.
But in the next instant—
When Yang Hong realized that Xu Zhengyang was now his teammate and not his opponent—
Excitement immediately lit up on Yang Hong’s face, and he lifted his Seven Star Technique-Breaking Sword, charging at the two, beating down the drowning dogs!
Since the two had acted so ruthlessly, Xu Zhengyang naturally wouldn’t show mercy!
Because of that—
Xu Zhengyang’s attack this time was even more ruthless than when he fought Yang Hong at the disciple acceptance ceremony!
After dragging the two entirely into the ground, he used Mud to Stone to lock them up, making it so they couldn’t even breathe!
“Hahahaha!”
Upon seeing this, Yang Hong laughed loudly while stabbing the Seven Star Technique-Breaking Sword twice into the ground!
The blade went in white.
Came out red!
After finishing off the two, Yang Hong cheerfully slung the Seven Star Technique-Breaking Sword onto his back, then said to Xu Zhengyang, “Let’s go, Senior Brother Xu—the nuisances are taken care of.
Time for a Spirit Milk bath!”
“Mm.”
Xu Zhengyang nodded, reaching for the Jade Gourd hanging at his waist, quickly replenishing the spiritual energy he had just expended.
…
At the same time, outside the Suspended Milk Forest—
Seeing all of this, Chen Qiang glanced sidelong at Du Yifeng and mocked sarcastically, “Not teaching properly in daily life—what’s the point of stuffing your disciples with so many talismans at the last minute? And even said ‘life and death don’t matter.’ What a joke!”
Ma Zhiyuan couldn’t help but shake his head at the sight, sighing inwardly, thinking, [A wasted trip…]
Du Yifeng had invited him to provide support.
But not only did Ma Zhiyuan fail to help Du Yifeng obtain the two portions of Heart-Spirit Nectar, both of Du Yifeng’s disciples ended up dealt with here.
Even if there were reasons—
The result was still what it was…
Even if Ma Zhiyuan had the thickest skin, he still didn’t have the face to accept the benefits Du Yifeng had promised in advance.
“My condolences.”
Ma Zhiyuan patted Du Yifeng on the shoulder, about to console him—only to see that Du Yifeng wasn’t angry at all.
Instead, he smiled and countered, “Who says having lots of talismans is useless?”
As soon as Du Yifeng said this—
From the spot where Yang Hong had just landed his finishing strikes, two tender green sprouts suddenly sprouted.
The green sprouts grew visibly with the wind.
In just a moment, they had grown into massive vines over one zhang long.
Immediately after—
The vines suddenly burst open from the middle, and two naked figures spilled out from within—shockingly, they were Du Yifeng’s disciples!
“Substitute Death Vine?”
Upon seeing this, Chen Qiang narrowed his eyes and immediately recognized the nature of the item. Looking at Du Yifeng, he said, “That’s a Tier 2 magic treasure—and a disposable one. You’re really generous—giving each of your precious disciples one!”
Du Yifeng smiled slightly and said loudly, “Just two Substitute Death Vines—why so shocked, Senior Brother Chen?”
Speaking of which—
Du Yifeng casually pulled out a fan and waved it, smiling, “If these two Substitute Death Vines can give Senior Brother Chen a lesson— Then I’d say it’s a worthwhile trade.”
“Hmph, then you’re in for disappointment!”
Chen Qiang said disdainfully, “If my junior nephew could kill those two brats once, he can kill them a second time!”
Du Yifeng didn’t argue after hearing this, merely pointed at the Water-Mirror Technique screen and said calmly to Chen Qiang, “No need to say more—let’s just wait and see!”
As soon as Du Yifeng finished speaking—
His two disciples quickly pulled out a set of clothes from their storage pouches and changed, while each held a radiant Tier 2 talisman in hand!