Master Golden Light stood proudly in the center of the arena, with the Wild Wolf Gang members behind him. Before making his entrance, he had assured Jia Tianlong that he alone could handle all of the Seven Mysteries Sect’s participants in the duel. Of course, the reward for his guaranteed victory had been raised from the originally promised five thousand taels of gold to eight thousand.
The thought of acquiring such a vast amount of gold afterward filled Master Golden Light with fervor. He cast a contemptuous glance at the crowd opposite him, already eager to slaughter every last one of them.
Han Li was not standing with Li Feiyu but had positioned himself on the other side of the crowd. Li Feiyu was with Zhang Xiuer, whispering intimately as lovers do. Naturally, Han Li had no intention of intruding on their private moment.
“I wonder what these two are thinking, flirting in a life-and-death situation like this?” Han Li felt a tinge of bitterness rising within him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Han Li, like everyone else, stared curiously at the dwarf opposite them.
“The Wild Wolf Gang members are hiding behind, letting a garishly dressed dwarf take the lead? This is unbelievable! Could it be that this dwarf possesses some extraordinary skill?” Han Li blinked, pondering the situation.
It seemed Sect Leader Wang shared Han Li’s thoughts. Instead of sending everyone forward at once, he dispatched a blade-wielding guardian to confront the dwarf, aiming to gauge the opponent’s capabilities before making further moves to avoid unnecessary casualties.
Although this was a melee-style duel, it was perfectly acceptable for both sides to send out one fighter for a one-on-one showdown. Sect Leader Wang thought so and acted accordingly.
Seeing only one person approaching him, Master Golden Light understood his opponent’s intention. He let out a series of eerie, cackling laughs, his grating voice unsettling everyone who heard it.
The guardian sent out was a robust man in his thirties with a fierce demeanor. The veins on his hand gripping the blade bulged prominently, indicating his expertise in close combat. Unfazed by the strange laughter, he remained calm, clearly experienced in battle.
As the burly man drew near, Master Golden Light ceased his cackling. Unhurriedly, he retrieved a yellow talisman from his robe. The talisman shimmered with a golden glow, adorned with intricate golden characters and patterns, clearly a valuable artifact.
Ignoring the approaching guardian, the dwarf held the talisman with one hand and began chanting incantations.
Although the Seven Mysteries Sect guardian had no idea what the dwarf was up to, his extensive combat experience told him that whatever it was, it was best not to let him finish. Otherwise, the consequences would likely be unfavorable.
Without a second thought, the guardian lunged forward, closing the distance in a few swift strides. He swung his steel blade with a cold flash, bringing it down forcefully toward Master Golden Light’s head with all his might.
Just as the blade was about to strike, the incantation ended. Before the steel blade could reach him, Master Golden Light slapped the talisman onto his body. Instantly, a dazzling golden light erupted from where his hand had struck.
The blinding radiance obscured the burly man’s vision, but he remained composed, driving the blade down with unwavering force.
A metallic clang reverberated across the arena.
The burly man felt a searing heat in his palms, his weapon nearly slipping from his grasp. Startled, and though still unable to see clearly, he knew the situation had taken a dire turn. Pushing off with his toes, he swiftly retreated several meters before steadying himself, raising his blade defensively.
At that moment, he heard gasps of astonishment from both inside and outside the arena.
The sounds only heightened his anxiety. He desperately wanted to know what had happened to his opponent, why it was so bizarre. Fortunately, his vision gradually returned to normal, and he hurriedly focused his gaze ahead.
Several meters away, the dwarf stood motionless, enveloped in a layer of golden light about an inch thick. The radiance resembled a sturdy suit of armor, encasing the dwarf securely and leaving no openings. It was clear that his earlier strike had merely landed on the golden shield without actually hitting the dwarf. The golden light, as solid as steel, had rendered his attack futile.
Though well-traveled and experienced, the burly guardian was stunned by this never-before-seen spectacle. Clutching his steel blade, he felt utterly lost, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
It wasn’t just the guardian who was shocked; everyone on Sunset Peak was equally dumbfounded.
Legends about immortal cultivators were known to very few in the martial world, especially in such a remote area. Thus, most people found this talisman phenomenon utterly mysterious and profound.
While Jia Tianlan secretly rejoiced and the Seven Mysteries Sect members exchanged bewildered glances, Han Li, standing at the back of the crowd, was even more astonished than anyone else.
Aside from the dwarf, Han Li was likely the only person on the entire mountain who had some understanding of spells. Clearly, the opponent was using a talisman similar to the Spirit Concentration Talisman, albeit seemingly more advanced.
While no one was paying attention, Han Li silently recited the incantation for the Heavenly Eye Technique, casting it upon himself. He then hurriedly turned his gaze toward the dwarf.
Beneath the golden radiance, faint, almost imperceptible white light shimmered around the dwarf’s body. Compared to the golden glow, the white light was exceedingly faint. Had he not been specifically looking for it, he might not have noticed it at all.
This dwarf was an immortal cultivator with far weaker spiritual power than Han Li. This discovery filled Han Li with both joy and worry.
He was delighted because, as a beginner, his spiritual power was deeper than his opponent’s, indicating that this dwarf was also a half-baked immortal cultivator. Yet, he was worried, uncertain about how many spells the dwarf knew, how powerful they were, and whether he could handle them.
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