Chapter 51 Battling the Saintess! This Senior Truly Underestimated Himself
Chapter 51: Battling the Saintess! This Senior Truly Underestimated Himself
Once Bai Ling said those words, Han Lie was basically certain that she indeed wanted to turn him.
But unfortunately, Han Lie was no naive fledgling who would easily believe others' words.
Han Lie deliberately lowered his voice and cautiously said, "Saintess, such words are fine if you say them to This Senior in private, but do not let them be overheard by others!"
"It's also because you consider This Senior a friend that I won't speak of this outside."
"As for leaving the Heavenly Void Sect..." After a brief pause, Han Lie shook his head and smiled. "When I was young, I had such thoughts. Now, for this old bone of mine, stability is most important."
"I appreciate the Saintess's kind intentions."
"Alright, Old Man Han, since you don't wish to leave, I won't force you." Bai Ling sighed lightly, a flicker of disappointment deep in her eyes.
"If I can inherit my master's legacy in the future and become the next Sect Leader of the Heavenly Void Sect, I will definitely reform the Servant Disciple department!" To keep up the act completely, Bai Ling added ambitiously.
Han Lie echoed, "Heh, I hope This Senior can live to see that day."
After exchanging a few more casual words with Han Lie, Bai Ling found an excuse and left.
After closing the door properly, Han Lie had no time to dwell on other unnecessary thoughts. He immediately sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes, entering that mysterious, dream-like yet not dream-like state of meditative cultivation.
Based on all the information he had captured at close range about Bai Ling just moments ago, a graceful, slender black silhouette instantly condensed and stood upright directly in front of Han Lie.
"Hmm... I've only managed to mimic Bai Ling's cultivation level. As for her combat style, weapons used, techniques and spells... those are still unclear for now."
"That's fine. At least it's a shadow at the Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection level."
As for what combat style Bai Ling's shadow would exhibit, that wasn't something Han Lie could control. After all, he lacked information about that aspect of her. He could only let Bai Ling's shadow act freely.
"Let's try it first. With my current cultivation and combat experience, how many exchanges can I manage against a Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection cultivator?"
Immediately after, Han Lie flipped his palm, and the black blade appeared in his grasp.
Swish!
The next instant, the sound of splitting air rang out.
Han Lie's pupils abruptly constricted. He saw Bai Ling's shadow transform into several blurred black lines in an instant, closing in on him with lightning speed.
With no time to think further, Han Lie reflexively raised the black blade before him.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing reverberated. A terrifying force transmitted through the blade and invaded his body. Han Lie was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, blood spurting from his mouth as he flew.
When he shakily got back to his feet, he saw the shadow holding a shadowy longsword. It swung the sword horizontally through the air with a light motion.
In an instant.
Vast spiritual power formed into a thousand-zhang tidal wave that came crashing down toward Han Lie like Mount Tai pressing down upon him.
Seeing this scene, a thought stirred in Han Lie's mind. Scorching spiritual power imbued with Pure Yang energy climbed onto the black blade as if raging flames were burning along its edge.
Facing the oppressively crashing spiritual power tidal wave, Han Lie felt not a trace of fear. Instead, a glint of eagerness flashed in his eyes.
Boom!
The Yin Yang Demonic Art operated at full capacity. An endless stream of spiritual power continuously surged onto the black blade, causing the flames on its edge to grow even more intense.
Then, just as the spiritual power tidal wave was about to crash down, Han Lie gripped the black blade tightly and slashed down through the air with furious might!
Majestic Pure Yang spiritual power immediately surged forth from the blade's edge, transforming into a hundred-zhang colossal spiritual phoenix ablaze with raging flames that fearlessly charged forward.
Despite the vast gap in their cultivation levels, the spiritual flame phoenix actually managed to hold its ground against the spiritual power tidal wave for a moment.
The Pure Yang spiritual power burning upon the phoenix was rapidly evaporating the spiritual power tidal wave. If not for the overwhelming disparity in magnitude between the two streams of spiritual power, Han Lie had no doubt he might even have been able to suppress his opponent.
After a long time, having evaporated most of the spiritual power from the tidal wave, the flame phoenix finally dissipated into smoke as its energy was exhausted.
Seeing this scene, a satisfied expression appeared on Han Lie's weathered face. "That's enough."
After all, there was a gap of two minor stages between them. To achieve such performance with a casual slash—what more could one ask for?
Afterward, the remaining less-than-three-hundred-zhang spiritual power tidal wave surged forth. Han Lie offered no resistance, allowing himself to be swallowed by the spiritual power tidal wave. He chose to restart.
The gap between himself and Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection was now roughly understood. Next, Han Lie planned to try something else: whether he could kill Bai Ling's shadow if his "Soul Reaper" slash managed to hit it.
However.
Time after time of falling down, and time after time restarting... Han Lie never got the chance to use "Soul Reaper." On the rare occasions he did manage to use it, Bai Ling's shadow evaded it at the last possible moment.
Finally.
After over a thousand restarts, Han Lie finally seized an opening during the shadow's attack. He used the "Soul Reaper" slash and chose to 'perish together' with it.
"Ah——!"
The Soul Reaper slash passed through the shadow. The shadow immediately let out a sharp, piercing, and miserable shriek.
In just moments, it dissipated like light smoke brushed away by a gentle breeze.
Reopening his eyes, Han Lie's consciousness had returned to reality. Everything that happened during his meditative cultivation battle with Bai Ling's shadow was imprinted with utmost clarity in Han Lie's mind and body.
Although his cultivation hadn't actually increased, Han Lie could clearly feel that his actual combat strength at this moment was somewhat stronger compared to before his meditative cultivation session.
"Hoo..."
Settling his mind, Han Lie murmured to himself, "This proves that if it hits, 'Soul Reaper' can indeed kill a Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection expert."
The first actual combat use of the Soul Reaper slash... When Zhu Fan was hit by it, he immediately lost his three hun and seven po souls, becoming a walking corpse devoid of self-awareness. He himself wasn't instantly killed. But why did Bai Ling's shadow get instantly killed with one slash just now? It must be because it was merely a shadow.
"As for that initial clash of spiritual powers..."
Han Lie stroked his beard, which was only a few centimeters long, and an unconscious arc of joy lifted at the corner of his mouth.
Initially, he hadn't expected that with his mid-Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, he could achieve such impressive performance in a contest of spiritual power against a Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection shadow.
"It seems... This Senior initially underestimated the strength of spiritual power imbued with Pure Yang energy..."
So much so that during his previous encounter with Zhu Fan, Han Lie had been focused on finding opportunities to use the Soul Reaper slash on him, hardly employing his spiritual power in combat.
Judging from his earlier performance, Han Lie had no doubt whatsoever that with the enhancement of the Pure Yang Sacred Body and the Yin Yang Demonic Art, his own spiritual power strength alone was likely sufficient to rival, even suppress, Foundation Establishment Stage Late-level experts!