Chapter 583 441 Eroded by Nothing

Talisman lay in ambush next to Jindou Island for several years, yet had never seen his senior brother Mutuo leave the island.

He and Mutuo were both Mages from the Qin Ling Temple in the Youxiang Province. After Maha perished and the Qin Ling Temple collapsed, Mutuo and he fled Zhao Country one after another, heading in different directions.

The lineage of the Qin Ling Temple had already declined; not even a trace of Compassion remained. After the passing of the Furious Path, the lineage was much weaker than usual, many divination and killing techniques became ineffective, and survival outside meant concealing and hiding.

Although Mutuo was not skilled in Spell Battles, the Taoist lineage of the temple resided in him, therefore, Mutuo could calculate other people's movements, living a more comfortable life. Talisman was stronger, but his ability in divination paled in comparison, thus he had suffered greatly these past years.

After fleeing from Zhao Country to the East Sea, and passing through the Zhu Lu Sea, he vaguely sensed something amiss. After setting up a high altar for sensing, he discovered that not only had his senior brother's Dharma Body been shattered, but he also did not dare reincarnate back into Zhao Country. A shock went through his heart:

"Ordinarily you can conceal your Qi, retain the heritage, and track with divination; I could never catch you dead or alive. Now your Vital Energy is greatly damaged, and it's the old monk's opportunity!"

Talisman had some fortuitous encounters these past years, he set up a high altar and, combining the Taoist spells he had learned over the years and spitting out three liters of blood, finally managed to determine the location. He treated his injuries while laying in wait in secret.

Buddhist Practitioner heritages relate closely to destiny, the Taoist Lineage of the Qin Ling Temple was strongly linked with Mutuo's life. As a fellow disciple of the Qin Ling Temple, Talisman needed only to kill Mutuo and subsume it into the Five Viscera Temple for the lineage to naturally fall into his hands.

Never did he expect that after several years of ambush, Mutuo had yet to appear, but Talisman sensed a magical artifact instead. The survival techniques of Zhao Country's Buddhist Practitioners were top-notch, and thus Zhao Shi were always bold. Without a second thought, Talisman was eager to check it out, hastily riding the wind in search.

Meanwhile, Li Xuanfeng halted on the sea to cultivate. Before he received any news from Jindou Island to the South, from the North, a ray of golden light flew rapidly towards him, hurriedly alighting nearby and circling the area.

Using the Pupil Technique, he scrutinized closely and indeed it was a large monk, long-faced with deep-set eyes, clutching a short rod in each hand, his body flushed red with anger, his eyes glaring furiously - clearly of the Furious Taoist Lineage.

This person exuded a very vigorous aura, his body emanating golden flames. Li Xuanfeng noticed it and removed the Jin Geng Longbow from his back, observing silently.

'Is this Mutuo?'

Li Xuanfeng watched coldly, realizing something was off. According to the information from the Ning Family, Mutuo should have been severely injured and not recovered yet, especially since there was no mention of him holding dual rods…

'It seems it's a cohort of Mutuo... all Furious dogs...'

Instead of luring out Mutuo, he hooked a Furious Mage first. Li Xuanfeng watched him intently without hurrying to take action, holding the bow and observing.

The large monk had half a robe draped on him, with two long sticks on his back. He seemed like the type of warrior monk, pausing his search in the sea region where the artifact's aura appeared. As Li Xuanfeng was far away, relying only on the Pupil Technique to watch from a distance, the monk didn't detect him.

Li Xuanfeng's Black Gold Spirit Armor was of Foundation Establishment level, recognized as "Black Eye Tiger," with inherent capabilities for Concealment. Even if he approached the monk, he might not be discovered, but Buddhist Practitioners were enigmatic, who knew what methods they had for detection. Thus, he kept watching from afar.

Talisman then furrowed his brows and observed for a while before suddenly perking his ears, gazing into the distance where a shadow sneaked by from the South, lingering nearby. A Cultivator in the Qi Cultivating Late Stage – how could Talisman let him go? Gliding through the air, he cried out:

"Who goes there!"

The Cultivator from Jindou Island was startled, taking a look at him, indeed it was a Buddhist Practitioner. Thinking to himself:

"The superior talked about some Buddhist treasure, which must be on him! A thorough conversation, just relying on the superior to handle it…"

Hence, he took a step back, intending to brush him off, and return to the island, confident in his own background, he replied softly:

"Senior, greetings. I am from Jindou Island..."

Before he could finish saying his name, Talisman's face was already covered with a cruel smile. With an extended hand, the Cultivator felt an overpowering force, his face flushed and breaking out in a sweat, he hurriedly reached for the Talisman in his sleeve.

Talisman's strength among Mages was considered excellent, and since Mages were inherently stronger than at Foundation Establishment level, let alone the now fallen lineage, how could he resist? Feeling his blood rushing to his brain, the monk was already upon him, hoisting him up by the collar.

The Cultivator opened his mouth to defend himself, but instead spat out blood; the aura shield on his body flared up. However, it was only a defensive shield of Qi Cultivating Peak level and vanished instantly when struck by the Mage's palm.

"Superior! Superior…"

Talisman disregarded his screams, twisted off his limbs, pulled out the stark white bones, and pressed a palm on his skull.

Although not adept at the Soul Searching Technique, Talisman had learned a couple, examined his last three days of memories, laughed heartily, and said:

"Situ Mo is truly a coward! If not for him, the senior brother would have fallen into my hands long ago."

Instead of killing him, he sustained the dying man's life essence, circled the island, found a banyan tree, and attached the Cultivator's head onto it, letting him hang by a thread of life.

He then scooped up a handful of blood from the corpses on the ground and, pouring it lavishly over himself, lightly smeared it on his face; his features shifted rapidly, and in a crackling moment, he had transformed into the appearance of the Cultivator.

"Heh heh."

With a chuckle, Talisman soared upon the wind, flying carefree to the South.

Only after a good ten breaths did Li Xuanfeng come down from the island's edge, stepping inward, advancing slowly and raising his eyebrows as he looked towards the big banyan tree.