C13 The Battle of the Sect Master

Ye Chen swiftly produced a sphere from his sleeve, and in a flash, billowing white smoke enveloped the dense forest. Hsu Qi, caught off guard, was shoved aside. He could only sense in a haze that the Sect Master was intent on killing him, prompting him to instinctively flee in the opposite direction.

"Kid, do you really think that obscuring my vision will give you the upper hand? Don't underestimate the Cloud Chasing Sword," the Void Returning Taoist declared.

Initially, the Void Returning Taoist had planned to use his divine sense to pinpoint Ye Chen's location, dismissing the white smoke as inconsequential. However, he quickly discovered that this particular smoke was capable of binding even his divine sense.

Over the five years of preparation, Ye Chen's greatest concern had been the Cloud Chasing Sword—its elusive nature made it a formidable opponent. Hence, he had devised a plan to grind icing grass into a powder that could effectively shield against divine sense detection, a technique documented in pharmacological texts.

"Even if I can't pinpoint your exact location, the idea that you could defeat me with your skills is nothing but a fanciful delusion," bellowed the Void Returning Taoist.

"We'll just have to see about that," Ye Chen murmured. The cat-and-mouse game had commenced, and only at the end would it be clear who the victorious 'cat' was.

Zhao Qinger, who had trained Ye Chen in martial arts, had honed his auditory skills to perfection. A decade of practice had given him the fundamental ability to locate by sound, allowing him to extract a wealth of information from even the most trivial noises around him.

At that moment, the Void Returning Taoist was virtually blind, only able to detect the sinister hissing that seemed to encircle him like a multitude of venomous snakes ready to strike. These sounds clouded his judgment, and then, suddenly, a streak of light aimed straight for the back of his head.

The Ling Fei Sword Technique was formidable indeed. Ye Chen had always believed that even mundane martial arts could prove invaluable. However, his disappointment was palpable when he heard the distinct ring of metal on metal, signaling that his surprise attack had been thwarted.

Runes began to rise on the surface of the Void Returning Taoist's body, their shimmering light effectively deflecting Ye Chen's Golden Flood Dragon Sword. Despite its short length, the sword couldn't penetrate, forcing Ye Chen to hastily retreat while simultaneously casting two golden fire runes.

Boom!

A colossal pillar of fire erupted in an instant, with the Void Returning Taoist's body at its epicenter. The surrounding white smoke was blasted away, yet as Ye Chen made his retreat, he noticed the runes remained intact, a sinking feeling growing within him. It was clear that a Foundation Establishment expert was not so easily subdued.

Having withstood two rounds of attacks, the Void Returning Taoist let out a cold smirk. His Cloud Chasing Sword chimed, signaling his readiness to strike. But Ye Chen was quick to act, denying him the opportunity. Each swing of the Golden Flood Dragon Sword released a swarm of tiny snakes that merged into three massive pythons, their rows of razor-sharp fangs lunging viciously at the elder.

"Fire Spell!" Ye Chen bellowed, forming a hand seal, and over twenty orbs of flame hurtled towards the Void Returning Taoist, who was visibly taken aback. The ability to wield a top-grade magical artifact and unleash such a devastating divine ability simultaneously was proof enough that Ye Chen was no ordinary foe.

The pythons continued to coil around the Void Returning Taoist, the fireballs weaving around him, thwarting any attempt to wield the Cloud Chasing Sword. Seizing the moment, Ye Chen cast another cluster of Ice Ling Grass, causing white smoke to billow forth once more.

But the tide had turned. The Void Returning Taoist, with swift strokes of his Cloud Chasing Sword, had severed the python apparitions, and the fireballs had failed to make their mark, repelled by the protective runes on his skin.

"Humph, it's fortunate I preemptively revised the Void Returning Divine Arts. Otherwise, this would have been a real challenge," the Void Returning Taoist muttered in annoyance. He had excised all the divine abilities from the Void Returning Divine Arts, leaving only basic techniques like the Fire Spell and Wind Rider Technique. Had Ye Chen mastered those advanced offensive methods, the Taoist would have been hard-pressed to cope.

With a breath, the Void Returning Taoist summoned a fierce gale, its voracious power scouring away the adjacent white smoke. Ye Chen, however, remained unfazed, his sneer deepening as he spotted the old rogue's vulnerability.

Riding the wind's momentum, Ye Chen hurled ten golden fire talismans. At his soft command, the enormous fireballs detonated. Caught in the midst of channeling his divine ability, the Void Returning Taoist had no chance to evade. Even a Foundation Establishment Expert would struggle to withstand such a formidable blast.

From within the fiery red blaze, a blood-red radiance suddenly burst forth, sending a chill through Ye Chen's heart as he sensed impending doom. Fortunately, the Heart Protection Mirror on his chest flickered just in time, warding off the Cloud Chasing Sword's assault and sparing Ye Chen an immediate demise.

Despite being surrounded by a multitude of fireballs, he was still able to launch fresh attacks. It was clear that a Foundation Establishment old monster was not going to be easily defeated.

Ye Chen's Heart Protection Mirror now sported cracks, and it seemed that it would completely shatter after just two more direct hits, leaving him utterly defenseless.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ye Chen hastily conjured another smokescreen to conceal himself from the Void Returning Taoist's divine sense. At the heart of the explosion, the old thief was so frustrated that he felt like cursing out loud.

A puff of green smoke escaped his lips, turning his once white hair to a charred black. Gone was the image of the venerable sage, replaced by a disheveled beggar. Despite this, Ye Chen remained vigilant, still unable to see a path to victory.

"Where did this little bastard find that Golden Fire Talisman? My armor is nearly shattered!" The Void Returning Taoist was visibly frustrated as the protective runes on his body faded, his armor almost undone by the blast of Ye Chen's talisman.

"Hmph, since you're so eager to witness the advanced spells of the Void Returning Divine Arts, today you shall die with your eyes closed in satisfaction."

Simultaneously, Ye Chen released two more bundles of Ice Ling Grass, ensuring that the white smoke around him wouldn't dissipate and could keep replenishing itself.

Ye Chen had prepared an immense number of Ice Ling Grass bundles and Golden Fire Talismans to ensure the defeat of the Void Returning Taoist. Yet, the true moment of despair had only just begun. He distinctly heard the same voice echoing from three different directions, each carrying the unmistakable pressure of Foundation Establishment.

"Could it be that the three cycles of the Void Returning Divine Arts enable a Cultivator's mana to be three times that of an ordinary person, with refined clones reaching an equivalent level?"

How could he continue the fight...

Facing one old thief was challenging enough, but now there were three. Ye Chen was completely taken by surprise.

This was not the moment for astonishment. He swiftly composed himself and resolved to tackle the issue methodically. Under the guise of the billowing white smoke, he stealthily moved toward one of the duplicates. However, the Void Returning Taoist was no pushover. Unable to spot Ye Chen, he unleashed his full magical power without any reservations.

Sword lights flickered from every direction, the crimson sword energy weaving a vast net that gradually encroached upon Ye Chen's maneuvering space. It constricted around him, inexorably closing in, and it was clear that it would ultimately extinguish his existence.