At the same Realm,

a Mystic Cultivator willing to trade blow for blow could slay this beast in just a few exchanges.

Lü Zhong was no Mystic Cultivator, but he was extremely proficient in close combat magic.

This was what he was counting on to deal with the Blood Demon.

Dozens of Sword Slashes flew out in an instant, sending flesh and blood spraying. Deep gashes were carved into the Blood Demon’s massive maw, forcing it to shriek in pain and swiftly retreat.

But Lü Zhong didn’t escape unscathed. The beast was incredibly fast, and it had landed a devastating claw strike aimed at his heart.

The blow was immensely powerful, and he felt a surge of blood rise in his chest, an incredibly sickening sensation.

Fortunately, his Star Yang Gang was unique, recovering much faster than ordinary Gang Qi. After circulating his Magical Power for a moment, he was as good as new.

The man and the beast then clashed.

For a moment, flashes of Mirror Light and a flurry of sword shadows filled the air in a dizzying spectacle.

With a loud BANG, Lü Zhong was sent flying, smashing into the ground so hard he created a spiderweb of cracks.

Down on the stone mountain, Yu Feng’Er and a panting Lin Muyun saw this and rushed up to help.

"Fellow Daoist Lü, I have a way to finish this beast! Help me hold it off for one more moment!" A harsh glint flashed in Lin Muyun’s eyes as he spoke to the bleeding Lü Zhong, as if he had just made a momentous decision.

"No problem," Lü Zhong nodded.

He shot back into the sky, engaging the Blood Demon once more.

Yu Feng’Er provided support from the side, running interference.

Just then, Lin Muyun flipped his hand over, revealing a silver Talisman. It was several times larger than a normal talisman, emitting a dazzlingly intense Spiritual Light. Its surface was covered in mysterious patterns, and at its very center was a painting of an exquisite silver bracelet.

The bracelet was so lifelike that the Runes on its surface were clearly visible.

This was the Lin Family’s ancestral True Treasure, the Silver Seal. Left behind by a Lin Family ancestor, it required the user’s own bloodline to activate. The process would furiously burn the user’s Life Essence Qi; the duration of the True Treasure’s effect was directly proportional to how long the Qi was burned. In exchange for this cost, it possessed terrifying might, capable of unleashing thirty percent of the power of the Magical Treasure, the Silver Killing Spirit Bracelet.

His purpose in using this talisman was not just to kill the Blood Demon, but also to eliminate Lü Zhong and Yu Feng’Er in the sky.

’If I’m not mistaken, the Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine is on one of them. As long as I can get that treasure and heal my old injuries, my cultivation path can continue. Using up this ancestral True Treasure will be worth it!’ Seeing the Blood Demon was occupied, Lin Muyun focused his entire Heart and Spirit, even dropping his Water Condensation Shield, and began to pour all his energy into activating the Silver Seal.

The moment passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the True Treasure before Lin Muyun had transformed into a brilliantly gleaming silver bracelet.

Without a hint of hesitation, he pointed a finger toward the sky.

"Go!"

The Silver Killing Bracelet shot out, its speed only a fraction slower than a normal Magical Treasure. It slammed into the Blood Demon, caving its torso in. A torrent of blood and viscera erupted from the beast’s mouth.

Like a kite with its string cut, it spiraled out of the sky.

Such was the might of a Magical Treasure.

The Blood Demon, whose strength was comparable to a Fake Pill Realm cultivator, was utterly powerless before the Silver Killing Bracelet.

"And now, it’s your turn!"

Lin Muyun laughed viciously. Ignoring the waves of exhaustion washing over him, he pointed a finger viciously at Lü Zhong. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

He saw Lü Zhong’s immense strength as a grave threat and was desperate to eliminate him.

"Don’t!" Yu Feng’Er cried out, finally understanding the hidden meaning in Lü Zhong’s earlier warnings. With no thought for her own life, she threw herself in the path of the incoming True Treasure.

"Relax!"

Lü Zhong’s steady voice rang out.

He crushed the Wood Talisman in his hand, and a cyan Spiritual Shield instantly enveloped them both.

Then, he also deployed the Wind Dragon Cloud Tiger Barrier.

As a veteran Talisman Maker, he had naturally recognized the origin of the talisman Lin Muyun used: a True Treasure, several times more powerful than even a Talisman Treasure.

But as powerful as a True Treasure was, it couldn’t instantly kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. An Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator might not be able to stop it, but for an elite cultivator like Lü Zhong, withstanding a blow or two was not an issue.

At that same instant, the Silver Killing Bracelet struck.

To Lü Zhong’s surprise, the Spiritual Shield actually blocked the incoming Silver Killing Bracelet!

Although the shield was on the verge of shattering from the impact, it had indeed blocked the True Treasure’s strike.

Seeing this, all three of them froze in stunned silence.

"It seems even the heavens want you dead, Fellow Daoist Lin!" Lü Zhong sneered, flicking a Technique Mantra toward the ground below.

In a flash, a figure shot out—it was the Spirit Puppet he had secretly deployed.

Having foreseen Lin Muyun’s plan to use them as bait, how could Lü Zhong not have made preparations? This Spirit Puppet, with the strength of a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was his trump card.

As the Spirit Puppet closed in, Lin Muyun, his Magical Power depleted, was completely defenseless.

He instantly forgot about Lü Zhong and Yu Feng’er, frantically recalling the Silver Killing Bracelet to defend him.

But it was too late. Wielding the Jade Nether Fire Fork, the Spirit Puppet pierced through Lin Muyun’s chest. Green flames flared violently, instantly incinerating him to ash.

With Lin Muyun dead, the True Treasure instantly collapsed into Spiritual Qi and dissipated into the air.

Lü Zhong turned to Yu Feng’Er. He ignored the fact that she was still reeling from shock and asked impassively, "Well? Was that lesson seared into your very soul?"

"Husband, I was wrong..." Yu Feng’Er said, lowering her head.

"No, that’s not what you were wrong about!" Lü Zhong explained when he saw her stunned confusion. "You can never be too wary of others. Just now, you had no guard up against Lin Muyun at all. You weren’t vigilant enough. *That* was your greatest mistake!"

The Cultivation Realm is full of deception. Most people in it will stop at nothing for personal gain. If you aren’t vigilant about everything, if you don’t assume the worst of others’ intentions and guard against their potential malice, sooner or later you’ll end up as a pile of dried bones on the roadside.

He suddenly spun around and pressed his sword to Yu Feng’Er’s neck. She didn’t flinch.

"From now on, be on your guard in all things!"

"I know," Yu Feng’Er nodded solemnly. "But I trust you, Husband. I know you would never mean me any harm!" As she spoke, she ignored the Golden Sun Sword at her neck and leaned in with a beaming smile.