Chapter 158: Targeting a Certain Someone
Lan Chang'an stepped out of the stone hall.
Above his head, the clouds of spiritual energy began to spin faster, the phenomenon of Core Formation rising to new heights.
Once the process of Core Formation enters the later stages, it cannot be interrupted. Otherwise, it would be considered a failure, resulting in a powerful backlash.
Just moments ago, Fu Xuemei had consumed the inferior Crystal Condensation Pill.
Inferior Crystal Condensation Pills not only have poor efficacy but also contain more impurities, which would affect the quality of the resulting core.
During the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lan Chang'an might have considered an inferior pill as a backup option. But at this critical stage of Core Formation, he wouldn't even think about using inferior items. This is because the quality of the core directly influences the success or failure of forming the Nascent Soul in the future.
In his previous life, Lan Chang'an had heard that rare and superior-grade Crystal Condensation Pills could make the Core Formation process smoother, and for those with high potential, it could even free them from the constraints of success or failure, allowing them to enhance the quality of the core instead.
In some ancient sects with long histories, the Golden Dan seeds were often provided with superior Crystal Condensation Pills as standard, paired with various Core Formation spiritual items to enhance the quality and greatly increase the chances of achieving an "Immortal Golden Dan."
Currently, Lan Chang'an had a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill and a Core Formation spiritual item, the Tianjing Water. Compared to those sect geniuses and Golden Dan seeds, however, he was far behind!
"Haha! Junior Brother Cheng, this plan is truly brilliant! We deceived her into giving us the genuine Crystal Condensation Pill without much effort."
Not far away, He Yuanwu, who was engaged in battle, praised loudly.
Just now, when Lan Chang'an and Fu Xuemei exchanged the Crystal Condensation Pills, it did not escape the detection of the three Fake Dan Immortals' spiritual senses.
Lan Chang'an naturally noticed this.
As long as Bai Ling Immortal didn't object, there wouldn't be a problem.
Bai Ling Immortal, aware of the dire situation, and out of gratitude for Junior Brother Cheng's previous life-saving efforts, chose not to interfere in the transaction.
Without Junior Brother Cheng's help, she won't be able to hold off the two Fake Dan cultivators for long. The early-stage Foundation Establishment Fu Dong won't be able to stop them at all, and Fu Xuemei will likely face death and the end of her cultivation path.
"Senior Brother He, you're mistaken," Lan Chang'an shook his head and laughed.
"Junior Sister and I are from the same mountain. I've sold my life for her before, and now we are engaging in a fair transaction. This way, I've fulfilled my obligations both personally and in terms of duty."
After completing the transaction, he sensed the probing of the two Fake Dan Immortals, their spiritual senses tinged with greed.
Fortunately, Lan Chang'an was using the alias of Junior Brother Cheng; or else he'd have to consider making a run for it and disappearing to some far-off place.
Having already obtained this Crystal Condensation Pill, he wasn't worried about his identity being exposed. Aside from the excellent effect of the Hundred Illusions Mask, Lan Chang'an's own cultivation was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
In the cultivation world, it was common for those with high cultivation to disguise themselves as having a lower cultivation level. But for a lower cultivation to simulate a higher one with stable effects and deceive an ordinary Immortal was almost unheard of.
Illusions created through magic can be easily seen through and are not included in this category.
At least, in his previous life, Lan Chang'an had never seen any tool or secret technique that could achieve such an effect.
...
In the basin.
Bai Ling Immortal's breathing was heavy, her combat power gradually declining due to the overexertion of her spiritual and mental energies.
Boom!
The second-rank superior-grade puppet controlled by Fu Dong attempted to assist but was struck and sent flying by a casual swipe of the Fake Dan opponent's Core power from a distance.
Fortunately, it was a puppet with high defense; if it had been someone at the late Foundation Establishment stage, they would have been seriously injured.
"Leave the puppet to me. You fall back a bit and focus on controlling the formation's defenses to prevent any Fake Dan from attacking."
Lan Chang'an instructed, taking the puppet's control item from Fu Dong.
Fu Dong hesitated for a moment before handing it over obediently.
The look he gave Lan Chang'an was now less reverent than before.
Rationally, he knew that "Brother Cheng" was risking his life to protect his sister and was fully entitled to be compensated for it. But emotionally, he couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable.
This was about his sister's success in forming her core, possibly even her life and death.
Whoosh!
The puppet controlled by Lan Chang'an moved swiftly, harassing the two Fake Dan Immortals.
The puppet's movements were quick and skillful, maintaining a delicate distance, dodging the casual long-range strikes from the Fake Dan Immortal.
"Junior Brother Cheng, now that you've got the Crystal Condensation Pill, it's best to stop meddling here!" He Yuanwu's face darkened, his brows furrowing.
With Junior Brother Cheng's late Foundation Establishment spiritual sense controlling the puppet, its threat level had risen by two notches.
His movements were steady yet agile, forcing the Fake Dan Immortal engaged in direct combat to pay attention to him, slightly distracting their focus.
If they dealt with him, it could affect the balance of the direct confrontation, possibly leading to a cascade of failures.
If they didn't deal with him, it would indeed cause interference.
A Fake Dan Immortal couldn't completely ignore the attacks of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, especially during direct combat when the mana shield was thin.
If the puppet were to strike their lower body, the hindrance would not be small.
"Mm? His puppet control skills aren't bad?" Bai Ling Immortal noticed that after Lan Chang'an took control of the puppet, the pressure on her lessened slightly.
Lan Chang'an was very precise in maintaining distance, seemingly familiar with the maximum threat range of a Fake Dan Immortal and the possible ways they could attack.
At one point, the direction of Lan Chang'an's puppet harassment and Bai Ling Immortal's attack formed a subtle pincer, making their targeted opponent, Xiang Jinglong, extremely uncomfortable.
Swoosh!
An eerie, invisible sword shadow tore through his robe, leaving a shallow blood mark.
"Bastard!"
Xiang Jinglong was utterly frightened, realizing that most of Lan Chang'an's puppet harassment was directed at him.
He tried several times to use his Core power to strike from a distance and destroy it, but Lan Chang'an's feints distracted him, further splitting his focus.
"It can't be too obvious," Lan Chang'an reminded himself, ensuring that his puppet control skills seemed slightly better than an ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivator, but not superior to a second-rank superior-grade puppet master.
The effectiveness of his control wasn't just due to Bai Ling Immortal's strong offense; it also stemmed from his understanding of combat against Fake Dan Immortal.
As long as he didn't appear too extraordinary, it would be fine.
After all, Junior Brother Cheng was a veteran at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Having been expelled from the sect years ago, it was reasonable that he had made some progress.
Nearby, Fu Dong was astonished and couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"Brother Cheng."
Fu Dong quietly handed Lan Chang'an a quasi-third-rank talisman.
Earlier, Fu Xuemei had given her brother two quasi-third-rank talismans, one of which was an attacking talisman.
"Hmm."
Lan Chang'an nodded. A quasi-third-rank attack talisman would perform more stably in the hands of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
...
As time passed.
Bai Ling Immortal's combat strength continued to decline, but she managed to maintain a delicate balance with Lan Chang'an, barely holding off the two Fake Dan opponents.
Several times, one of the Fake Dan Immortals nearly succeeded in breaking into the stone hall.
Inside the stone hall's formation, Fu Dong occasionally activated a second-rank superior-grade talisman to relieve some of Bai Ling Immortal's pressure.
"Fu Xuemei will need at least another two or three days to successfully form her core. It's hard to achieve success while on the defensive."
Despite the current stalemate, Lan Chang'an wasn't optimistic.
Bai Ling Immortal was using a secret technique, rapidly depleting her spiritual energy, and couldn't maintain her peak strength for long.
Once she reached her limit, she wouldn't be able to hold off the two Fake Dans, or even one of them might be enough to overpower her.
Lan Chang'an's mind raced, and he made his puppet take a small risk, advancing slightly to strike at Xiang Jinglong's exposed back.
"Break for me!"
Xiang Jinglong suddenly accelerated towards Lan Chang'an's puppet, his palm surging with Core power, forming a fierce swirling wind that enveloped the puppet.
Boom! Crack!
Under the deliberate targeting of the Fake Dan Immortal, the second-rank superior-grade puppet was instantly torn apart.
"Got tricked! That was a deliberate trap." Xiang Jinglong sneered, feeling a rush of satisfaction as if he had just swatted a bothersome fly.
At that moment, a powerful spiritual pressure descended.
"Watch out!" He Yuanwu warned.
In an instant, a dark red cloud of fire roared toward Xiang Jinglong, engulfing him.
"Quasi-third-rank talisman! It can't hurt me!"
Amidst the exploding flames, Xiang Jinglong's angry voice echoed.
"A Fake Dan Immortal can only control one magic treasure at most, consuming a lot of energy. You've just split your attention to destroy the puppet, so you can't defend at full strength."
Lan Chang'an watched coldly, estimating that Xiang Jinglong's protective barrier would shatter, leaving him with some flesh injuries.
If it weren't for his cultivation in body refinement, with a physique comparable to the top of the second rank, these wouldn't just be minor injuries.
As the flames began to dissipate, Lan Chang'an activated the violet pearl talismanic treasure that Fu Xuemei had given him.
Since he had promised to protect her, he couldn't afford to hold back, or it would be clear he was slacking off.
The violet pearl talismanic treasure glowed vividly, almost leaping out of its design, emitting the pressure of a magical treasure.
Swoosh!
The talisman transformed into a violet orb of light, flying to Xiang Jinglong's head, casting down a violet radiance with a power that faintly surpassed that of a Fake Dan.
The talismanic treasure Fu Xuemei had given him was an exceptionally rare superior quality talisman.
Xiang Jinglong immediately felt the threat.
With the flames still lingering on his body, he hurriedly summoned back his axe-shaped magical treasure, placing it above his head.
The violet radiance struck the axe, dimming its light and causing it to tremble.
This gave the faster Bai Ling Immortal an opportunity.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Several erratic, invisible sword shadows slashed towards Xiang Jinglong.
Fortunately, half of the invisible sword shadows were intercepted by He Yuanwu.
"Hiss!"
Xiang Jinglong grunted, rolling on the ground to protect his vital points.
His back and arms were left with bloody gashes, deep enough to see the bone.
"Stop!"
Luckily, He Yuanwu on the other side went all out, barely managing to hold off Bai Ling Immortal.
Xiang Jinglong finally had a moment to catch his breath, reinjecting mana into his magical treasure to block the violet orb's strike.
"This brat! He's deliberately targeting me?"
Xiang Jinglong's eyes filled with rage as he glared at Lan Chang'an within the stone hall's formation.
This wasn't the first time.
Since controlling the puppet, Lan Chang'an had mainly harassed and hindered him.
Earlier, he had used the second-rank superior-grade puppet as bait, followed by a series of attacks with a quasi-third-rank talisman and a powerful talisman treasure, coordinating with Bai Ling Immortal and nearly taking his life.
"Who else would I target if not you, since you're the weaker one?" Lan Chang'an remained silent, ignoring Xiang Jinglong's resentful gaze.
Seeing that the situation had stabilized, he temporarily retracted the talisman treasure to conserve its usage.
(End of Chapter)