34: The power of the Spirit Sea? It's nothing more than fuel.
On the long street of the black market, the air seemed to solidify.
Li Lie stood with his hands behind his back, his Gray Robe fluttering without wind. A visible stream of light blue Qi circled his body. This was the mark of a Spirit Sea Realm expert: Spiritual Power liquefied and projected as Gang Qi.
In comparison, Lin Que, who was only at the Origin Opening Realm Early Stage, resembled a small boat tossed in monstrous waves.
"Good! Such guts!"
Li Lie laughed out of extreme anger. He hadn't expected this ant-like Loose Cultivator to dare provoke him even on the verge of death.
"Since you wish to die, I shall let you witness the difference between an Immortal and a Mortal!"
Boom!
Li Lie suddenly raised his right hand and pressed down through the air.
The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth seemed to be summoned, instantly gathering in his palm, transforming into a massive azure light palm the size of a millstone, descending toward Lin Que's head with the momentum of Mount Tai.
Spirit Rank Low Grade Technique—Azure Gang Great Hand Seal!
Before this palm even landed, the terrifying wind pressure had already cracked the bluestones beneath Lin Que's feet into spiderweb patterns.
The Loose Cultivators watching nearby turned pale and retreated in panic.
"This is the Spirit Sea Realm! Spiritual Power leaving the body, turning the illusory into the real!"
"If that slap lands, let alone a person, even an Iron-Armored Rhinoceros would be turned into meat paste!"
Lin Que, standing at the center of the storm, was not panicking as everyone expected.
He raised his head. His pitch-black eyes reflected the descending azure light palm, and instead of fear, a flicker of light named "calculation" flashed within them.
"Spiritual Power liquefied, suppressing and locking onto the enemy... It is indeed much stronger than the Origin Opening Realm."
Lin Que could clearly feel that the air around him had become viscous, and his body was stuck in quicksand; even raising his hand became difficult.
This was Realm suppression.
If this were an ordinary challenge across Realms, he would probably have to close his eyes and wait for death right now.
But unfortunately for his opponent.
He was Lin Que.
"Since you want to play a big game, I'll play a big one with you."
Lin Que took a deep breath. The True Essence within his body stopped defending and began circulating frantically in reverse!
Secret Canon of Self-Sacrifice Sacrifice—[Burning Lifespan, Sacrificing to Heaven]!
This was not a simple burning of vital energy and blood, but something far more taboo—burning Lifespan!
Sacrifice: One hundred years of Lifespan!
Side Effect: Vitality severance, five signs of decline of the immortals and mortals (rapid aging)!
[Fatal level malicious attack detected!]
[Target locked: Li Lie (Spirit Sea Realm Early Stage).]
[Malice Value: 100% (Killing intent confirmed).]
[Transference initiated!]
Buzz!
An invisible line of Karma connected to Li Lie the moment the Azure Great Hand Seal descended.
"Kneel before this old man!!"
Li Lie wore a sinister grin. The Great Hand Seal was only three feet above Lin Que's head. He seemed to already see the scene of this Genius youth's brains splattering.
However.
At this very moment.
"Pfft—!!"
Li Lie, who had been radiating a magnificent Aura, suddenly changed his expression wildly!
He felt as if an invisible large hand inside his body had violently extracted a large portion of his life force!
The feeling was like a robust tree instantly being drained of moisture, turning into dead wood!
"My... my hair?!"
Li Lie discovered in horror that the few strands of black hair hanging before his eyes were turning white, withering, and falling out at a visible speed!
His previously taut skin quickly became covered in wrinkles, and age spots appeared.
A dense Death Qi instantly enveloped his entire body!
five signs of decline of the immortals and mortals! Instantaneous aging!
"Wha... what's happening?! My Lifespan!!"
Li Lie let out an old, hoarse scream. The Spirit Sea within his body violently fluctuated due to the sudden severance of vitality, and the "Azure Gang Great Hand Seal" he had slammed down lost control, vanishing with a soft pop an inch above Lin Que's head.
The entire scene fell into dead silence.
Everyone widened their eyes, staring at this bizarre sight.
How did that imposing middle-aged strong man suddenly transform into a shriveled, wrinkled old man on the verge of death in the blink of an eye?!
"Cough, cough... cough..."
Li Lie hunched over, coughing violently, each cough sounding like his last breath. He looked at his hands, which resembled dried tree bark, his eyes filled with incomprehensible terror.
"You... what did you do to me?! Demonic Technique! This is a Demonic Technique!!"
Lin Que stood still.
Because he had sacrificed Lifespan, not only did he not age, but thanks to the System's feedback mechanism, he gained an unimaginably vast and pure life force!
His skin became even more radiant, and the True Essence inside his body was like boiling magma, filling him to the brim.
"Demonic Technique?"
Lin Que twisted his neck, making a series of crisp cracking sounds.
He walked step by step toward the still trembling "old man." A black light flashed in his hand, and the thousand changes multi-treasure pearl transformed into a long saber as black as ink.
"This is called... respecting the elderly and cherishing the young."
"Since you are a Senior, it is only filial piety for this Junior to send you to rest in peace sooner."
"No! I am an Iron Sword Sect Elder! You can't..."
Li Lie felt the undisguised killing intent in Lin Que's eyes and turned to flee.
But his body was aged to the extreme; even taking a step was difficult. How could he possibly run?
Swish!
A jet-black saber light sliced across the long street.
Seven Absolute Blades—Decapitation!
This strike was without any flourish, possessing only speed, precision, and ruthlessness!
Pfft!
Li Lie's wrinkled head flew high into the air, his aged face still bearing extreme terror and regret.
If he hadn't coveted those treasures... if he hadn't provoked this fiend... Alas, in the cultivation world, there are no "ifs."
The corpse fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The remaining dozen or so Iron Sword Sect Disciples froze in place as if paralyzed, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Dead?
The Spirit Sea Realm Grand Elder... just died like that?
Beheaded by a Origin Opening Realm youth with a single saber strike?
And the manner of death was so bizarre—instantaneous death by aging!
"Mon... monster!!"
Someone shouted. The remaining Disciples let out a cry and turned to run, not even bothering with Li Lie's corpse, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.
Lin Que did not pursue them.
He put away his long saber and walked calmly to Li Lie's corpse.
Under the gaze of countless pairs of respectful and fearful eyes, Lin Que bent down and skillfully searched around Li Lie's waist.
Storage Pouch, obtained.
He also casually stripped off the somewhat defensive Gray Robe (Magical Artifact) from Li Lie's body. Although it was a bit dirty, he could wash it and sell it for money.
The next second, the corner of his mouth curved slightly upwards.
As expected of a Spirit Sea Realm Elder, his assets were truly abundant!
Besides over three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, there were seven or eight bottles of Medicinal Pills stacked in the corner, along with a piece of sheepskin scroll exuding an ancient Aura.
Most importantly... deep inside the Storage Pouch, Lin Que found a fist-sized piece of Ore that was entirely crimson and emitted high heat.
fire yao crystal!
This was a top-grade Material for refining fire-attribute Spiritual Artifacts, and it was also the target the Little Snow Ferret had been clamoring for!
"It truly is a good item."
Lin Que put away the Storage Pouch, stood up, and glanced around at the Loose Cultivators who were silent as cicadas in winter.
No one dared to meet his gaze.
If even a Spirit Sea Realm expert was instantly killed, who would dare risk their life?
Lin Que ignored these gazes. He lifted the sleeve containing the "waste rock" and "broken sword" and turned to merge into the crowd.
At this moment.
In a dark corner of the Southern Commandery.
A figure wearing a Black Robe and a Bronze Mask was watching everything from afar.
"Instantly stripping away Lifespan... what an overbearing forbidden technique."
A hoarse voice came from beneath the mask, carrying a hint of amusement:
"I originally thought he was just an ignorant Crossing River Dragon, but who would have thought... he is actually a Demonic Path Seed carrying the Legacy of the Nine Nether."
"Interesting."
"The Demon Suppression Division should be very interested in this kid..."
The black figure let out a low laugh, and his form dissipated into the air like smoke... Lin Que was unaware that he had been targeted again.
He now had only one goal—return home, divide the spoils, and then use the newly acquired resources to rush into the Origin Opening Realm Middle Stage!
After all, killing an Iron Sword Sect Elder meant the feud was completely sealed.
If he didn't quickly grow stronger, waiting for the Iron Sword Sect's true foundation—that Old Ancestor who is rumored to be in secluded death cultivation attempting to break through to the Core Formation Stage—to emerge... then he would truly be in trouble.
"However..."
Lin Que touched the Storage Pouch in his embrace, a ruthless look flashing in his eyes.
"Before that, I'll first digest the inheritance left by this old fool."