Compared to the others, Mao Ba seemed much less impressive, merely providing support from the sidelines.
He was an Immortal Dao Cultivator, one who valued the spirit over the flesh. It was impossible for him to engage the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui in close-quarters combat; a single blow would grievously wound his Primordial Qi.
However, his contribution was far from insignificant.
GLUG GLUG GLUG...
He took the Red Gourd from his waist.
A radiant, multicolored, gaseous "liquid" poured into his stomach.
Instantly, Mao Ba's gaunt face flushed crimson. He became incredibly agitated, as if he were on stimulants, and flecks of golden light even appeared in his eyes.
"...Go!"
After a series of incantations, WHOOSH...
Talismans flew out from his Gua Bag, most of them yellow, but with three silver ones among them.
But for some reason, just as the three silver Talismans flew out, Mao Ba immediately retrieved them.
"Hic—I'm going bankrupt today! Burn, you bastard, burn!"
FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!!
Like a drunken man, Mao Ba staggered and swayed as if performing a shamanistic dance. Chanting incantations and forming hand seals, he sent the bright yellow Talismans hurtling like brilliant meteors toward the besieged Flesh and Blood Tai Sui.
Exorcism of Objects!
It was a technique exclusive to Immortal Dao Cultivators of the Dao Fire Realm (Breaking the Cocoon), those who had surpassed Foundation Establishment, activated their Spirit Root, and ignited the Divine Fire within their Purple Mansion Dantian.
For Mao Ba to use it at the Foundation Establishment Realm clearly meant he had paid a hefty price and was prepared to fight the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui to the bitter end.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The yellow Talismans were no turtles, moving at a sluggish crawl.
On the contrary, they were as fast as lightning!
In less than the blink of an eye, the yellow Talismans slammed into the old man one after another, erupting into clusters of intensely hot flames that left the Tai Sui charred black and reeking.
This was no ordinary fire.
It only harmed demons, not humans.
To the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui, it was as scorching as the sun, yet when it brushed past the others, it felt as warm as a spring day.
"ROAR!"
Burned by talisman fire, sliced by sharp swords, and battered by a barrage of iron fists...
The Cocoon-Breaking Realm cultivators led the main assault!
The three at the peak of Foundation Establishment attacked from the flanks!
A Foundation Establishment Daoist provided support.
For a moment, the group's coordination was flawless.
The old Tai Sui had lost all its earlier arrogance. Charred black, with sinew and flesh flying everywhere, it was completely suppressed and could only scream in agony.
But!
The Flesh and Blood Tai Sui's five hundred years of Cultivation were not for nothing.
Its Life Force was abnormally tenacious.
Despite the group's relentless bombardment, they couldn't finish it off. A demonic red light flickered within its body as its flesh churned continuously, healing its wounds. It seemed determined to outlast them all!
The others, with their mortal eyes, couldn't perceive the mystery within.
But how could it escape the eyes of the "professional," Mao Ba?
Having committed to this costly battle, he now possessed some of the abilities of the Dao Fire Realm, and his Spiritual Power was immense.
A sweep of his golden-flecked eyes was all it took.
He discovered an egg-sized Elixir Pill inside the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui. It looked like a red, glassy piece of jade and was continuously supplying the creature with Life Force!
The Demon Pill!
After a Demon Beast reaches five hundred years of age, its entire Cultivation condenses into a Pill. From then on, the Pill grows stronger until it becomes an existence equivalent to a Human Path Golden Core!
Even a five-hundred-year Demon Pill!
It held immense benefits for human Cultivators. A mortal who obtained it could live for two hundred years, free of all illness and disaster!
If a Cultivator obtained it, Breaking the Cocoon, opening their Dantian, igniting their Divine Fire, and reawakening their Soldier Embryo would all be well within reach!
'Damn it! If we let this beast keep resisting, the Demon Pill's Energy will be depleted, and its potency will be drastically reduced!'
Mao Ba's expression flickered uncertainly. He hurriedly shouted to the others, "The Demon Pill! The Demon Pill is in its Middle Dantian!!"
The Middle Dantian!
Also known as the Yellow Court, it's located below and to the left of the heart, above the navel, on the body's golden ratio line.
Everyone present was an accomplished master of Cultivation. They knew human anatomy like the back of their hand and were all familiar with this basic knowledge.
Although the demonic, muscle-bound old man that the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui had become was grotesque, it still had a humanoid form. Its approximate location couldn't be mistaken!
However...
BAM!!
A dull thud echoed.
Mengqingshan spat blood as he was sent flying backward. Fresh blood sprayed from his already cracked torso, his sternum on the verge of collapsing. He crashed to the ground not far from Mao Ba.
"Pfft! You do it! The rest of us can only hold it back!"
After coughing up a mouthful of blood, Mengqingshan charged back into the fray without a backward glance, giving Mao Ba no other choice.
'Me?'
Mao Ba wanted to curse.
But Mengqingshan was right. The berserk Flesh and Blood Tai Sui was too ferocious; the four of them combined could barely hold it to a stalemate.
The moment Mengqingshan was knocked back, the balance was completely lost.
"Ah!"
A scream of pain rang out!
Under the increased pressure, Zhao Wei had taken a direct hit from the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui. The gash on his right arm was so deep the bone was visible; the limb had nearly been torn from his body.
CLANG! CLANG!
Cloud Heaven Flow wasn't faring much better.
His high-quality Fine Steel Treasure Sword was covered in nicks and on the verge of shattering completely.
Eagle Shark was in the worst state of all.
He was the strongest, so he naturally drew its main aggression. He had taken the most hits from the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui, and his claws were a mangled mess.
The situation only improved when Mengqingshan rejoined the battle, preventing them from being completely overwhelmed.
Thus, they truly had no opportunity to spare a hand to attack the Demon Pill. Only Mao Ba, who was outside the main fray, had that chance.
'Damn it all!'
'I'll risk it!'
Seeing this, Mao Ba swore under his breath. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as a silver Talisman flew from his Gua Bag. He spat a mouthful of blood onto it!
He immediately wilted like a frosted eggplant, completely drained of energy.
But at the same time, the silver Talisman hanging in the air changed. Wisps of lightning began to spark from it, and with a brilliant flash, it transformed into a foot-long Thunder Sword!
The instant the Thunder Talisman appeared, the hair on everyone's bodies stood on end. An unprecedented sense of crisis gripped their hearts, as if they were about to be obliterated into dust by the majestic Celestial Might!
Thunder!
Supreme Yang!
The bane of all evil in the world!
No one had expected it.
Mao Ba actually possessed a Thunder Talisman, and what's more, he could activate it!
The foot-long Thunder Sword!
Seeming both ethereal and solid, it radiated an aura that promised judgment upon all creation as arcs of lightning shot from its form.
No one doubted the destructive Power it contained.
One could say that if Mao Ba wished it, everyone present—even Eagle Shark—would be instantly annihilated!
Thankfully... this Thunder Sword was aimed at the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui!
"ROAR!!"
The moment the Thunder Sword Talisman appeared, the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui sensed its impending doom. It went into a blood-soaked frenzy, its Power surging. With a single sweep, it tore Eagle Shark's entire right arm to shreds!
Their strongest fighter, crippled in an instant!
"Do it now!!"
Mengqingshan's roar was like thunder. He had gone completely berserk, joining Cloud Heaven Flow and Zhao Wei in a desperate attempt to hold back the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui.
PFFT!
Mao Ba spat out another mouthful of blood. He had finally established a complete spiritual connection with the Thunder Talisman. He bellowed.
"Go!!"
KZZZRAACK!!
In the void, a brilliant flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating every face—
The madness of the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui.
The hope on the faces of Mengqingshan, Cloud Heaven Flow, and Zhao Wei.
Mao Ba's immense relief.
And... in the darkness of the forest...
Wu Dao's slowly spreading, savage grin.
...
CRACK!
Thunder rolled, blindingly brilliant, as the foot-long blade shot forward like a sea dragon.
In the span of a single moment, it crossed more than ten meters in a flash, aimed directly for the vital spot housing the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui's Demon Pill!
Nine feet!
Five feet!
Three feet!
It was almost upon it!
But in that fleeting instant, the unexpected happened!
"You beast!!"
"What?!"
"Run!!"
A chorus of shocked roars and horrified cries erupted.
Before everyone's eyes, at point-blank range, a mocking smile spread across the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui's face. Its chest cavity suddenly split open, spewing a thick, yellowish-brown smoke.
The smoke was dense and did not disperse. Like a geyser, it shot out to meet the oncoming Thunder Sword head-on.
Thunderbolt and yellow smoke.
They were like fire and water. The moment they collided, a violent explosion rang out, sending sparks flying. They were evenly matched!
But this stalemate didn't even last a second!
"Gah..."
In the distance, Mao Ba spewed a huge mouthful of blood, which also began to pour from his eyes, ears, and nose.
The Thunder Sword's power was instantly halved.
Corroded by the yellow smoke, the lightning grew weaker and weaker until it was completely swallowed up. The sword reverted to a silver Talisman, now riddled with holes, which fluttered to the ground.
They had miscalculated!
No one had expected the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui to have such a life-saving "Demon Technique" up its sleeve. At the critical moment, it had dealt them a stunning blow that left them reeling!
WHOOSH!!
After corroding the Thunder Talisman, the yellow smoke from the Flesh and Blood Tai Sui didn't vanish. It shot out as swiftly as a viper toward the nearest person—Cloud Heaven Flow!
In that life-or-death moment, Cloud Heaven Flow only had time to twist his body, but the yellow smoke still grazed his left arm!
And without losing any momentum, the yellow smoke, as if sentient, locked onto the half-dead Mao Ba nearby and slammed squarely into his neck!
The next moment,
"Damn it..."
Cloud Heaven Flow, who had been hit first, grew pale with horror.
His left arm began to itch unbearably. When he reached to touch it, it felt as if it were made of clay. His entire arm stretched out, and his hand plopped right off onto the ground!
'This is bad!'
Cloud Heaven Flow was scared out of his wits, his heart pounding in terror!