Chapter 740 - 111: Nascent Souls Compete for the Initiative_2
The child replied affirmatively, received the talisman, and was about to step forward when Mo Tianxin’s expression suddenly changed slightly. With a loud shout, a Golden Body Nascent Soul leapt out from the top of his head, releasing countless beams of golden light and radiant clouds, enveloping everything within ten zhang.
The moment the golden light shone, a faintly approaching shadow suddenly flickered and revealed its true form. A Nascent Soul rushed straight toward him, surrounded by rolling turbid Qi and billowing black smoke, thick beyond dispersing.
Mo Tianxin froze momentarily, then sneered coldly, "Zhang Boyant, so you’re that Old Demon."
Watching it charge straight at him, he hesitated momentarily.
When his Nascent Soul was formed, it was condensed using refined gold from the west, Taibai True Evil, and Primordial Gang Sky Sand. After achieving completion, it became solid and indestructible, immune to foreign skills, impervious to all forms of demonic Qi, which would dissipate like sword Qi before reaching him.
If it were an ordinary Demon Dao disciple charging at him, he wouldn’t fear them in the slightest and could strike them down with a single sword at hand.
But the opponent was a cultivator of the Nether Spring Sect, whose body was steeped in Netherworld Energy with bone-corroding and soul-eroding effects. Even a mere trace of it could harm his Divine Soul, one of the few impurities capable of wounding him.
If he were to attack now with his sword, there was a high likelihood of severely injuring this opponent. Yet, he himself would inevitably suffer damage as well.
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind. The Nascent Soul extended a finger, instantly summoning countless beams of sword light that transformed into a finely-woven net, blocking the other’s path forward.
He intended to force the opponent to retreat and then launch a counterattack. But unexpectedly, Zhang Boyant seemed either crazed or utterly reckless today. The painstakingly cultivated Nascent Soul ignored the sword light striking its body, even willing to risk death by those chaotic swords, resolutely charging inward until it reached two zhang away from him!
Mo Tianxin’s pupils contracted—something was off. He prepared to unleash a killing blow.
Just then, Xu Gongyuan, lying on the ground barely clinging to life, suddenly widened his eyes and pulled out a Jade Mirror from his sleeve. With a flash toward him, a beam of radiance shot forth. Although the golden glow emitted by his Nascent Soul blocked it from causing harm, the Nascent Soul still trembled slightly.
In such a critical moment, even a minor flaw could entirely alter the battle’s outcome. Mo Tianxin had been wholly focused on Zhang Boyant, and now, caught off guard, his intended killing strike was abruptly interrupted.
Zhang Boyant had been waiting for precisely this opportunity. His eyes blazed with green fire as he roared furiously and charged within three chi of him.
The Nascent Soul extended its hand, conjuring a Dharma Talisman inscribed with blood-colored seal script, which was slapped onto Mo Tianxin’s Nascent Soul. Then came the second, and a third! His hands moved incessantly, slapping down talismans one after another without hesitation.
Mo Tianxin felt a powerful pressure emanating from the talismans as if trying to seal him completely. He let out a loud yell, ignited his Sword Qi, and golden rays burst forth, immediately shredding the talismans to pieces. Just as he was about to use a Dharma technique to injure the opponent, Zhang Boyant slapped another talisman onto him.
Mo Tianxin’s Nascent Soul froze again. To his shock, he realized that if he was to harm his opponent, he must fully remove the talismans stuck to him first. Even a single one left could allow Zhang Boyant to risk taking a sword strike and, within moments, completely suppress him.
Zhang Boyant paid no heed to what Mo Tianxin was thinking. His actions became increasingly frenzied, and he remained silent, slapping talismans onto him one after another.
Such madness seemed to infuriate Mo Tianxin but left him with no choice but to react accordingly. For every talisman slapped onto him, he used his Sword Qi to remove it.
The two were locked in a fierce exchange, with no room for any other actions. You slap a talisman, I remove it—a pace that grew increasingly rapid as if both were racing to act faster than the other.
Mo Tianxin smirked coldly. He could guess what the opponent was plotting, but his Sword Qi moved as he willed. He refused to believe that Zhang Boyant could truly outpace him. Once he caught a break, even a slim advantage in speed would allow him to finish this Old Demon off in one decisive strike!
However, after several breaths, Mo Tianxin suddenly sensed something amiss. His Nascent Soul began to grow sluggish, as though it could no longer be fully controlled.
Initially unsure of the issue, a sudden realization struck him moments later—he finally understood!
The problem lay in the smoke miasma Xu Gongyuan had unleashed earlier!
Mo Tianxin had initially misjudged it. He hadn’t anticipated that it would penetrate the protective golden glow of his Nascent Soul, corroding him. As the filthy Qi accumulated, it finally disrupted the smooth operation of his mana.
Normally, these foul toxins posed no threat to him; he would dispel them upon contact. But at present, his full focus was locked onto Zhang Boyant in a life-and-death struggle—mere moments would decide the victor, leaving no room for even the slightest hindrance.
"Smack!" Zhang Boyant finally managed to firmly stick a talisman onto Mo Tianxin’s Nascent Soul. Grinning, he conjured another and slapped it down forcefully. Then, as though unstoppable, even more talismans followed, covering him completely.
Mo Tianxin was now taking several breaths just to remove a single talisman, but against Zhang Boyant’s rapid onslaught, it was already too late to turn the tide.
At this point, even escape was no longer an option. He shouted in despair, "Old Demon Zhang, do you think taking my Nascent Soul will let you complete the ’Three Yin Undying Body’?"
Zhang Boyant seemed utterly indifferent to his words, his hands working relentlessly, affixing the blood-red talismans until every part of Mo Tianxin’s Nascent Soul was thoroughly covered. The golden light on the Nascent Soul gradually dimmed.
Mo Tianxin’s face was filled with regret, unwillingness, and terror. As the final talisman was slapped onto the Nascent Soul’s crown, Zhang Boyant suddenly opened his mouth wide and swallowed the Nascent Soul into his body.
Mo Tianxin’s physical body convulsed, blood streaming from his seven orifices, and he collapsed to the ground.
Zhang Boyant grinned wickedly, lunging forward to drain Mo Tianxin of flesh and blood completely. Then, with a flick, he absorbed the two children corrupted by Demonic Qi as well.
Having finished, his Nascent Soul emitted a resounding crash and returned to his body seated dozens of zhang away. Zhang Boyant was left panting heavily, his face turning pale.
The battle seemingly had gone smoothly for him, but in truth, it had been fraught with risk. Any slight misstep, even a momentary delay, would have meant being shredded by Mo Tianxin’s chaotic sword strikes. Such an outcome would destroy centuries of cultivation in an instant.
Moreover, as he charged forward, had Mo Tianxin disregarded self-injury to strike with his sword immediately, he would have been gravely injured despite winning. Under such circumstances, Zhang Boyant would’ve lost his chance entirely, even forfeiting his life.
Yet fate favored him. Mo Tianxin’s Spirit Platform faltered in that crucial moment—not attacking outright but instead choosing self-preservation. This opened the door for Xu Gongyuan’s interference, allowing Zhang Boyant to seize the Nascent Soul.
Zhang Boyant burst into wild laughter, proclaiming, "Heaven blesses my Spirit Sect, fortune favors me, fortune favors me!" His voice then turned cold as he licked his cracked lips and sinisterly declared, "Cheng Yinglin, you’re next!"
...
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)