Foundation Establishment Marvel: **[Flight by Fleshly Body]!**
It required no consumption, as innate as a natural instinct. Its speed was similar to riding the Blue Butterfly Sword, but it expended no true essence. It was as simple as raising a hand or moving a foot. Accelerating, however, required consuming true essence.
Wang Yu glanced down at the rapidly approaching Tuolong below, ignored it completely, identified his direction, and continued flying towards the other side of the Withered Leaf Swamp.
An hour later, he had roughly verified the flight speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. A single drop of true essence could sustain him for three days of non-stop flight at twice the speed of a high-tier flight artifact. If he learned a second-grade movement technique, that gap would likely widen to over tenfold.
Additionally, there was another Foundation Establishment marvel called **[Protective True Aura]**. It had low consumption, near-instant activation speed, and a defensive strength equivalent to a standard second-grade low-tier defensive spell. With these two境界 (jìngjiè - realm) advantages combined, the difficulty for a Qi Refining cultivator to kill a Foundation Establishment one was evident. This wasn't even factoring in methods like true essence, spells, etc.
Fortunately, these were abilities unique to human cultivators. Demonic beasts, wraiths, and spirits did not possess them, or they had different types of realm-specific marvels. It was said that after condensing a Golden Core, human cultivators would develop even more realm marvels. These characteristics could completely distinguish beings of different realms, yet they often failed to provide a massive advantage in combat against peers of the same realm. They had value, but not as much as one might imagine.
With that, all objectives of Wang Yu's return home were achieved, even slightly exceeded. Now, it was time to return and claim the benefits of his status as an inner disciple.
*Establish a manor, amass wealth, control a city, and plunder the riches of an entire region!* The future seemed bright indeed.
Just as he was about to set off, Wang Yu suddenly heard laughter ahead, laced with thick resentment and killing intent, blocking his path.
"Hahahahaha! You little demon whelp! You've made this master run around day and night in this stinking swamp for months! I've finally caught you! Hmph— Surrender now!"
Wang Yu's brow furrowed tightly. Having just taken a breath of fresh air, seeing such a loathsome creature was truly nauseating.
"It's you."
"Indeed, it is this master." Lan Boting brought his fingers together in a sword gesture. The longsword perpetually carried on his back hummed as it left its scabbard, pointing directly at Wang Yu. The aura of the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment was unmistakable. "Wang Yu, was it? Lan will take your head today to atone for the crime of failing to eradicate a demon."
"Ridiculous."
After establishing his foundation in both paths, Wang Yu's capital had grown even more substantial. So what if it was mid-Foundation Establishment?
"If not for Changxi's schemes, wanting to use my identity for greater gains, would the tragedy at Withered Leaf City have happened? You brought this upon yourselves."
Lan Boting's eyes blazed with anger. "Changxi's greed is her own undoing. But you shouldn't have implicated me as well!"
"This master? Hah—" Wang Yu let out a scornful laugh, his expression full of disdain. "Braggart! Do you even warrant my schemes? With your temperament, Fellow Daoist Lan, you'll inevitably die in some forgotten corner, your corpse left unburied~"
"How dare you!"
Sword light flashed, rivers roared.
The high-grade magical sword unleashed a sky-full of sword energy, each strike possessing power enough to crush a Qi Refining cultivator. Realm + Artifact represented the full strength of a human cultivator.
Wang Yu, having just broken through, hadn't yet refined the Earth Origin Cauldron or the Glazed Soul Lantern. Twisting his body, he flew upwards. However, the river-like sword energies changed direction in unison, continuing their pursuit.
*Damn it!* he cursed inwardly.
*Despise the enemy strategically, respect the enemy tactically.*
Lan Boting, originating from the Heavenly Void Sword Sect, even if not the top of his generation or having studied in the [Righteous Qi Academy], still possessed凌厉 (línglì - sharp, fierce) sword techniques. Among peers of the same realm, he was definitely an upper-tier opponent. Let alone for Wang Yu, who had just broken through and hadn't yet updated his other methods. This required serious attention!
In the midst of the chase, Wang Yu quickly assessed his available capabilities. First-grade spells were out; they might work against early Foundation Establishment, but against Lan Boting, they fell far short. That left only the demonic奇术 (qíshù - extraordinary art) **[Soul-Devouring Evil Armor Art]** and the **[Profound Yin Hand]**, one of the core techniques of the Netherspring View. Only these two could aid him in this battle.
Especially the second-grade high-tier spell, Profound Yin Hand. Foundation Establishment True Essence + Great Accomplishment realm would allow him to unleash its profundity and full power, far surpassing the small-scale efforts of the Qi Refining stage.
To win, the Profound Yin Hand would be the key. It could not be used lightly.
Facing the hundreds of pursuing sword energies, Wang Yu had an idea. He flew back the way he came, towards the late second-grade Tuolong. Perhaps that was a force he could借用 (jiè yòng - borrow, utilize).
Seeing his狼狈 (lángbèi - wretched, sorry) figure, Lan Boting laughed heartily. "So what if you broke through? You're still an ant, just like months ago. I should thank you for the spiritual energy fluctuations that guided me here."
With that, he shot forward, trailing a light blue streak, his speed several times faster than Wang Yu's.
*BOOM—!*
The long river of sword energy finally caught up to Wang Yu. At the moment of impact, an ice wall materialized beneath his feet. He stomped down hard on it, erupting with the full strength of his body. It was like a powered charge, a spring launch; his entire form shot forward, suddenly accelerating and escaping the perilous situation.
The ice wall was instantly destroyed by the sword energies, the loud explosion echoing as they continued their relentless pursuit, giving a sense of不死不休 (bù sǐ bù xiū - fight to the death).
Witnessing this from behind, Lan Boting was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting a spell to be used that way. The delay in capturing a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator who hadn't even learned a movement technique angered him. With a wave of his right hand, the storage pouch at his waist glowed, and an artifact emerged.
"Demon Binding Rope, go!"
He was growing impatient and directly used a method specifically designed to deal with demonic cultivators. Catching a glimpse of the yellow light far surpassing the speed of the sword energies from the corner of his eye, Wang Yu's heart jumped. A sense of foreboding arose.
"Another second-grade high-tier artifact?"
Fast! Too fast!
With the distance already short, the yellow rope arrived beside Wang Yu in the blink of an eye. With a *whoosh*, it bound him up tightly. His arms were forced behind his back, his legs pressed together; the Demon Binding Rope had trussed him up like a worm. Even straining until veins bulged on his forehead, his Body Cultivator strength couldn't break free. This artifact had its peculiarities; brute force wouldn't open it!
"An ant remains an ant."
Amidst the scornful tone, the hundreds of sword energies finally slammed into Wang Yu. Amidst the漫天 (màn tiān - filling the sky) particles of spiritual light, the figure, who had been channeling the Black Fiend Armor, was sent flying hundreds of meters.
*Cough— Cough—*
The Soul-Devouring Evil Armor Art, as a high-grade demonic奇术 (qíshù), prioritized defense against spirit sense. The souls it devoured were mostly second-grade, granting it immense power. But facing Lan Boting's sword energies, it still felt somewhat inadequate.
Struggling to leap up from the mire, Wang Yu coughed up blood repeatedly. Fortunately, the Demon Binding Rope didn't seal his true essence, or the outcome would be hard to say.
Lan Boting's blue streak halted above him.
He spoke as if looking down from a great height. "Not running anymore?"
"Hah, why don't you look behind you?" Wang Yu's confident tone gave Lan Boting a bad feeling. He swept the area behind him with his spirit sense but found nothing, making him furious.
"At a time like this, you still use such..."
*ROAR!!!*
In an instant, the swamp erupted. A massive Tuolong, over twenty meters long, burst from the ground like a flood dragon emerging from its lair. Its already狰狞 (zhēng níng - ferocious) head, augmented by a bloodline secret art, transformed into a huge mud-dragon head, chomping down viciously on Lan Boting.
"I—" *Squelch~*
It was like eating a small snack. The Tuolong crashed back to the ground, then looked疑惑 (yíhuò - puzzled) towards Wang Yu's location. But there, aside from a few disordered footprints, was no one.
Just as it moved to investigate, blue light erupted from its mouth. Lan Boting, covered in stomach fluids and disgusting digestive matter, shot out looking utterly狼狈 (lángbèi - wretched). His embarrassment was eclipsed by the fire practically shooting from his eyes. A broken fang was embedded deep in his calf, blood flowing freely.
"Bastard! Aaaaaah!"
*River and Lake Sword Art: Water and Sky as One Line.*
A mere late Foundation Establishment demonic beast wasn't something he feared. Before the third tier, human cultivators held an absolute advantage, let alone a disciple from a hegemon-like force like himself. What infuriated him was being misled by Wang Yu's crude trick. The attack had come from underground!
The compressed sword energy transformed into a thin line, possessing some of the marvel of 'sword energy transforming into silk'. It seemed unremarkable but contained terrifying destructive power.
The Tuolong roared at the sky, stomping its short legs. The surrounding swamp began to boil. Filthy mud and water surged upwards in a reverse cleansing wave, only to be cleanly split down the middle by the blue line. Unimpeded, it slashed onto the Tuolong's armored back, leaving a deep, bone-exposing gash. The beast cried out in pain and entered a rage.
It actively deployed the mud-sphere ability Wang Yu had seen before, creating a domain for a one-on-one, wild brawl.
But how could Lan Boting willingly let Wang Yu's 'lead the enemy to fight each other' plan succeed? With a tug of his right hand, Wang Yu, still under the effect of Invisibility but connected by the Demon Binding Rope, was also pulled into this vast, self-regenerating mud-sphere domain that quickly repaired itself even if broken.
Lan Boting could sense Wang Yu's position through the connection with his artifact, but the Tuolong could not. In its eyes, Lan Boting was the only opponent.
The great battle erupted anew.
Sword light and mud flew everywhere. Scales and flesh occasionally rained down. Wang Yu, huddled at the edge of the mud-sphere domain, gritted his teeth and actively severed his own left arm! This created a gap in the Demon Binding Rope's restraint. Using Phantom Form Steps, he left a substantial phantom double to be bound in his place, while his true body quickly relocated, waiting for an opportunity.
In this three-way battlefield, one man and one beast fought a life-and-death battle. It had to be said, the Tuolong's physique was formidable. Even covered in wounds, it still erupted with fierce combat power. It truly lived up to its draconic bloodline; it had some skill.
"Damnit! Cough—" In contrast, Lan Boting, though holding the advantage, also began coughing up blood. Within this mud-sphere domain, the Tuolong's innate demonic arts were greatly enhanced; every strike required careful defense.
"Offer blood to the scabbard, devote the body to the sword."
"Blood Origin Sword, strike!"
As if resolving himself, Lan Boting used his trump card. Instantly, bloody light erupted. A terrifying,森寒 (sēn hán - grim and cold) sword energy, like a crack in reality, twisted and turned but carried an极致 (jízhì - ultimate) sharpness.
(End of Chapter)