After dealing with the three corpses, Yang Lingrui prepared to depart.

But the moment he turned around, an intense gaze pierced his back, accompanied by crushing pressure.

This oppressive feeling reminded him of those awful moments in the Su Family courtyard.

Late-stage Gathering Qi!

“Trouble never ends,” Yang Lingrui grumbled inwardly, irritation rising.

He’d been careful to hide his wealth, avoided the third day’s chaos, and chosen midnight for his departure.

Yet still, predators lurked.

How he wished for higher cultivation to wipe out these vultures.

“Clap… clap… clap…”

Mocking applause echoed through the night, followed by a chuckle.

“Hehehe, what excellent moves! I thought those three were hunting you, but you’re the true mantis in disguise.”

A scholar emerged from the forest, his snow-blue robe swaying. Though his voice carried elegance and his posture refinement, a grotesque purple-black scar dominated half his face.

Yang Lingrui’s fingers closed around hidden talismans. “Come for spiritual treasures, senior?”

“Ah, no.” The scholar waved a paintbrush. Ink swirled, coalescing into a fluttering bird.

Ink Manipulation Technique!

Yang Lingrui recognized this common scholarly technique.

“I care not for treasures,” the scholar continued, aiming his brush like a sword. “Since you entered Moon Watching City, I’ve watched you. Among men, your face ranks top three. Such perfection…”

His scarred hand caressed ruined flesh. “Physicians failed me. This scar devours my peace.”

“Take those three’s belongings. I want only your face.”

WHOOSH!

Three fire talismans exploded between them. Yang Lingrui spun, slapping a divine movement talisman onto his leg as he fled.

The scholar flicked his brush, summoning a water serpent to smother the flames.

“Hmph!”

Ink wings sprouted from his calves. He shot forward like a loosed arrow.

Yang Lingrui reacted swiftly, but his opponent was a genuine late-stage cultivator at the Gathering Qi seventh level – three levels higher. Even with the divine movement talisman’s boost, he was caught up before long.

The scholar blocked Yang Lingrui’s path with frosty eyes, preparing to attack. But when he looked up, his face paled. His pupils shrank as he violently suppressed the technique he’d been about to release.

“Hold on! Don’t act rashly!”

His agitation came from seeing Yang Lingrui press wind blades against his own face with desperate resolve. The scholar’s chest tightened – he’d searched years for such perfect features belonging to someone with low cultivation. He couldn’t let this treasure be damaged.

“Don’t move! We can negotiate!” The scholar forced calm into his voice. “No coercion. Name your price.”

Yang Lingrui adopted a considering expression.

Seeing progress, the scholar pressed, “I’ve abundant spiritual crystals. First lower those blades – you might cut yourself.”

“Three hundred? Five hundred? A thousand?”

“All feasible. Just speak your demand.”

He theatrically stored his paintbrush while edging closer. Yang Lingrui appeared deep in thought, ignoring their shrinking distance.

“Almost there,” both men thought simultaneously.

When three yards separated them, the scholar suggested, “Let’s delay this decision. I’ll escort you back to Yang Family to consult elders—”

_Whoosh!_

Mid-sentence, an ink-water arrow shot from his mouth toward Yang Lingrui’s throat. The ambush came blindingly fast, but Yang Lingrui’s fingers already crushed the golden talisman.

“Diamond Unbreakable!”

_BOOM!_ Golden light erupted. The arrow shattered against the radiant barrier.

“Diamond talisman?!” The scholar’s jaw dropped. He’d spied Yang Lingrui’s earlier fight – the spiritual shield and divine movement talismans made sense, but this? Had the Yang Family’s talisman-crafting Elder reached late-stage cultivation?

_Hummm…_

The scholar’s survival instincts screamed warning before his conscious mind understood why.

A strong sense of threat radiated from the blooming golden light, making him shiver. He raised his paintbrush and thrust it forward.

Boom—

The mountain-opening talisman’s fierce cutting force surged from the brush tip. The scholar narrowed his eyes and poured more spiritual power, causing the spiritual ink to spread before him and form a large shield.

“Go!”

The scholar yelled, struggling to deflect the Talisman Technique’s violent force.

By now, events had slipped completely beyond his control.

He’d assumed his cultivation level combined with the spiritual treasure paintbrush would let him easily crush Yang Lingrui.

Yet here he was, forced to reveal his true combat skills.

First a diamond talisman, now a mountain-opening talisman!

What kind of family was this Yang Family?

Cold dread gripped the scholar’s heart. This boy couldn’t be allowed to survive.

He mustn’t let the youngster return alive!

Ironically, Yang Lingrui shared the same thought.

Since the scholar had witnessed his two late-stage Gathering Qi talismans, letting him escape was impossible.

But first he needed an opening. Yang Lingrui hatched a plan and shouted:

“Old man! Do you truly wish to keep fighting?”

Yang Lingrui’s aura shifted suddenly, radiating false confidence as he smirked. “Persist, and soon you’ll be fighting for your own life.”

Wariness flickered in the scholar’s eyes. After brief consideration, he squinted at the dimming golden light around Yang Lingrui.

The youth’s sudden boldness felt suspicious.

At worst, this was a stalemate. With proper defense, even another mountain-opening talisman could be blocked.

How many more could the boy possibly have?

Once those talismans were exhausted, victory would still be his.

Suddenly, the scholar spotted Yang Lingrui’s lips twitch—a telltale sign of extreme stress. Though quickly masked, the scholar caught it.

The boy wasn’t confident at all! This was pure bluff!

The scholar’s confidence soared.

“Hah! Impressive nerve for a corpse-to-be! Nearly fell for his empty posturing!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep