63: Chapter 63 Soul-Devouring Needle

Green poisonous mist was still churning all around, and the pungent, fishy stench made one's chest feel tight. Vision was completely obstructed; never mind seeing the enemy clearly, even the plants and trees just a few steps away were a blurry mess.

Li Qing shielded Zhou Yao tightly behind him, his Spiritual Qi taut throughout his body as he focused intently on sensing the movements within the mist, ready to react to any surprise attack at any moment.

Just at this dead, oppressive moment, Zhou Yao's voice suddenly rang out, directly breaking the terrifying silence:

"The person is over there!"

Li Qing's heart jolted violently, and he subconsciously looked in the direction Zhou Yao's fingertip was pointing.

But looking out, there was only thick, impenetrable green mist; it was empty, without even half a silhouette, let alone any trace of an enemy.

However, Li Qing did not doubt her in the slightest, and his heart instantly realized—he had almost forgotten that Zhou Yao was born with the Golden Eyes of Truth!

These eyes were no ordinary pair, but an extremely rare innate talent capable of seeing through all falsehoods and illusions. No matter how brilliant the Formation or how concealed the hiding technique, they all had nowhere to hide before her Golden Eyes of Truth!

Li Qing felt a surge of joy and, without the slightest hesitation, moved with lightning speed.

He didn't waste a single word, casting an Earth Spike Technique in the direction Zhou Yao had pointed.

At the same time, Li Qing reached back to produce a High Grade defensive Talisman, and with a push of Spiritual Qi from his fingertips, the Talisman instantly transformed into a pale golden light barrier, steadily protecting Zhou Yao.

Li Qing then added an Earth Spirit Shield to himself.

Li Qing had always been prudent in his actions; even when holding the upper hand, he would never allow himself to fall into the slightest danger.

"Boom—!!"

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted within the poisonous mist!

"Ah!"

Clearly, the Mysterious Woman hiding in the shadows had not expected that Li Qing could accurately lock onto her position!

She had assumed the poisonous Formation she had laid out was seamless and would trap the two of them inside, slowly draining their Spiritual Qi until they died from the poison.

Yet she never dreamed that Zhou Yao possessed the Golden Eyes of Truth, which directly saw through her hiding place, catching her off guard with the Earth Spike Technique and causing her to suffer a minor injury on the spot!

The mist Formation churned violently, and the Mysterious Woman's figure was finally forced out. Clad in black, her face hidden behind a veil, she revealed only a pair of venomous, icy eyes. Staring fixedly at Li Qing and Zhou Yao, her tone was filled with shock and anger:

"How could you possibly have discovered me?!"

Li Qing couldn't be bothered to waste words with her, and said coldly:

"You rat hiding your head and showing your tail, today I will make sure you never return!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an Earth Spike Technique condensed and shot toward the Mysterious Woman once more.

The Mysterious Woman moved slightly, disappearing into the poisonous mist again.

For a moment, they fell into a stalemate.

But with Zhou Yao assisting the entire time using the Golden Eyes of Truth, Li Qing was like a tiger with wings, fighting more bravely as the battle continued.

No matter how the Mysterious Woman activated the poisonous Formation, shifted the Formation eyes, or released concealed poison gas, Zhou Yao could see through it all with a single glance, whispering the locations, flaws, and the whereabouts of the Formation eyes into Li Qing's ear.

The originally lethal poisonous Formation and maze, before the Golden Eyes of Truth, became nothing but decorations!

With Li Qing's attacks, the poisonous mist grew thinner and thinner, and its power grew weaker and weaker.

The Mysterious Woman, however, grew more alarmed as she fought.

She had thought she could use the poisonous mist to slowly exhaust Li Qing's Spiritual Qi and then capture him easily.

But why, after attacking for so long, was this guy's offensive force still so strong? Why was there not even a hint of his Spiritual Qi weakening?

Could he have hidden his cultivation level?

For a time, the Mysterious Woman was beaten back step by step, forced to dodge in a sorry state.

Each of her attacks was seen through and blocked by Li Qing's Earth Spirit Shield. Seeing her own Spiritual Qi slowly decreasing and gradually falling into a disadvantage, the Mysterious Woman's eyes hardened, and she finally decided to unleash her trump card!

She suddenly pulled back and retreated, her hands swiftly forming hand seals as she chanted obscure and difficult incantations.

The next moment, the Formation suddenly shifted, and all the poisonous mist gathered to form a dazzling green spear, shooting straight toward Li Qing's face. It was as fast as lightning and imposing, clearly a move of immense power.

Li Qing's eyes narrowed, and without thinking, he immediately channeled all his Spiritual Qi into the Earth Spirit Shield!

He also cast a Yellow Dust Barrier.

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, the Yellow Dust Barrier shattered.

"Clang!"

With another muffled sound, the Earth Spirit Shield gave a crisp crack and lost its effect.

But the green spear also exhausted its Spiritual Qi and vanished.

Yet Li Qing had never imagined that this was merely a feint by the enemy!

Just as he was blocking the overt attack, the Mysterious Woman's lips curled into a sinister smile.

A Soul-Devouring Needle, as fine as a cow's hair, pitch-black, and completely hidden behind the green spear, shot silently toward the center of Li Qing's brow!

At this moment, Li Qing had no defenses on him.

Li Qing was fully focused on blocking the frontal attack and had not noticed this Soul-Devouring Needle at all!

At the critical moment, golden light flashed from Zhou Yao's Golden Eyes of Truth, instantly seeing through everything!

"Watch out! It's a Soul-Devouring Needle!"

Zhou Yao was terrified, her Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and she screamed, but it was already too late!

The Soul-Devouring Needle was moving at extreme speed; in the blink of an eye, it was right before Li Qing's eyes!

She did not hesitate in the slightest, not even having time to think. Her body acted faster than her brain, and she took a sudden step forward, directly blocking in front of Li Qing!

She was going to take this lethal blow for Li Qing!

Li Qing's pupils constricted, his heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped by a giant hand, and he was so shocked that his hair stood on end:

"Zhou Yao! No!"

But it was all too late.

Fortunately, Li Qing had been prepared beforehand and had placed a High Grade defensive Talisman on Zhou Yao! The pale golden light barrier instantly lit up, forcefully blocking in front of the Soul-Devouring Needle!

"Crack—!"

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

The High Grade defensive Talisman did indeed block the vast majority of the power, but the Soul-Devouring Needle was simply too domineering, its power so formidable it exceeded imagination. After merely a moment of stalemate, the light barrier was directly shattered!

The Soul-Devouring Needle did not lose momentum, and with a "pfft" sound, it pierced fiercely into the center of Zhou Yao's brow!

Fortunately, thanks to the buffering of the Talisman, and perhaps also the Golden Eyes of Truth saving its master at the critical moment, the Soul-Devouring Needle only pierced the surface layer and did not truly drill into Zhou Yao's brain to cause a fatal result.

Even so, the terrifying power of the Soul-Devouring Needle, which specialized in attacking the Divine Soul, still slammed fiercely into Zhou Yao's Sea of Consciousness.

Her whole body trembled, her face instantly turning as pale as paper. She closed her eyes, and her body collapsed limply toward Li Qing, fainting away directly.

"Zhou Yao!!"

Li Qing let out a roar, his voice filled with monstrous rage!

He reached out to hold the unconscious Zhou Yao in his arms. Looking at the Soul-Devouring Needle stuck in her brow and her pale, bloodless face, a fury like never before instantly overwhelmed his reason!

Seeing Zhou Yao severely injured and unconscious because she had saved him, the killing intent in Li Qing's heart instantly surged to the extreme!

"You dare hurt her! Today I will definitely make you pay the price!"

Holding Zhou Yao, Li Qing's eyes were blood-red, and the Spiritual Qi around his body surged madly; he had completely entered a berserk state!

He no longer held back any trump cards. Five High Grade offensive Talismans from his Storage Pouch were pulled out as if they were worthless, and one after another, he smashed them madly toward the Mysterious Woman!

How terrifying was the power of High Grade Talismans? Such a dense, wild bombardment simply gave the opponent no chance to dodge or block!

The Mysterious Woman's face changed drastically in fear. She had never seen such a crazy attack, and she certainly hadn't expected him to have so many precious High Grade Talismans in his possession!

She desperately activated her Spiritual Qi to defend, and casually cast out a Formation Plate.

But under Li Qing's reckless, wild assault, her defenses were instantly torn to shreds!

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed violently from the Mysterious Woman's mouth; the sheer number of High Grade offensive Talismans had shattered the Formation she had just laid out.

The Mysterious Woman's body was covered in wounds from the explosions, her Aura instantly withered to the extreme—she was severely injured!

She knew she could no longer be a match for Li Qing in his rage; if she didn't leave, she would have only a dead end.

The Mysterious Woman cast a venomous look at Li Qing, gritted her teeth, and pulled out an escape Talisman. After crushing it, she turned into an afterimage, fleeing in a sorry and panicked state, and instantly disappeared into the depths of the mountain forest.

Li Qing watched the direction in which the opponent had fled, his eyes cold and biting, but he did not pursue.

At this moment, in his heart, there was only the unconscious Zhou Yao in his arms.

He hated himself—why hadn't he used all the High Grade offensive Talismans sooner!

Li Qing held Zhou Yao carefully, gently stroking her pale cheek, his voice trembling and full of heartache and regret.