Chapter 29: The Might of the Ninth Rank (Please keep reading!)

This was the Ice Spike technique cultivated by Master Bai Song. Once a cultivator’s skill reached the first rank, the power of such techniques would increase severalfold.

Just like the Ice Spike technique Bai Song now unleashed, gathering the chill of heaven and earth, resulting in ice spikes of formidable might.

When Su Ye saw those ice spikes and the whisk sword stabbing toward him, he flicked his sleeve and tossed out several talisman slips. These talismans glowed with a luminous yellow light, transforming into massive armored warriors that stood before Su Ye.

These were Armor Soldier Talismans; when activated, they could summon armor to protect the caster. The armor manifested by the talismans now was comparable to a first-rank cultivator.

Their offensive power was not outstanding, but their defense far surpassed that of a first-rank cultivator.

Boom!

When Bai Song's whisk sword struck the armored warriors, its terrifying force shattered one instantly. The power contained within the ice spikes was equally fierce; though they did not destroy the armor outright, they cracked them upon impact.

Su Ye moved his sleeve, retreating swiftly. At that moment, another talisman shot out from his sleeve.

This talisman radiated a faint purple light; it was called the Purple Infant Talisman, crafted specifically to counter those like Bai Song who cultivated through refining infant essence—a heretical path.

Xu Tao had inquired about Su Ye’s situation, and Su Ye, in turn, had been gathering information about Bai Song.

However, there was little news about Bai Song in Jinhua County. From the scant information available, Su Ye deduced Bai Song cultivated by refining infant essence and hurried to craft the Purple Infant Talisman as a countermeasure.

Unfortunately, his materials were limited, and the talisman was of poor quality. Its restraining power could still harm Bai Song, but not kill him.

The purple light twisted, forming a thin thread that wound toward Bai Song’s body.

Though Bai Song did not recognize the Purple Infant Talisman, he sensed its power was highly restraining. He dared not be careless; flicking his whisk, he retreated instantly.

A cold smile appeared on Su Ye’s face. With another flick of his sleeve, several more Purple Infant Talismans shot forth.

Purple threads intertwined, forming a vast net that descended upon Bai Song.

In an instant, the purple net fell atop Bai Song. The threads composing the net seared his flesh like branding irons, hissing as they touched him.

Bai Song roared in anger, and a grey-white barrier flashed around him—his true essence shield, forged from refined infant energy and his strongest defense.

But the Purple Infant Talismans were made to counter his heretical cultivation. The moment his shield appeared, the purple threads destroyed it.

A cold smile crept onto Bai Song’s face. His power surged, and a mighty force erupted from within him, making the purple net tremble violently. It lasted only a moment before shattering under the pressure.

At that moment, Bai Song conjured a spell seal in his hand and attacked Su Ye.

The seal transformed into a crying infant’s ghostly face, striking heavily on Su Ye’s shoulder. Su Ye felt a mountain-like force crash into him, sending him flying and coughing blood.

He drew a deep breath, formed a spell seal, and golden light flashed as thunder and fire surged, dispersing the infant ghost’s face from his shoulder.

“I would very much like to see what other tricks you have!” Bai Song’s aura surged with fury. He had not expected to be forced to this extent by a mere first-rank cultivator.

Su Ye coughed lightly, a smile on his face. Just as he prepared to unleash his final move, he suddenly sensed a pure surge of yin energy entering the Su household.

The yin energy coalesced into a giant gray-black palm, holding a bronze seal in its center, which crashed down upon Bai Song.

“Qu Zhang!”

Bai Song cried out fiercely, instantly guessing who had intervened.

He swung his whisk, releasing a blast of cold wind to meet the palm’s attack.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the cold wind was scattered by the palm, which, bearing the bronze seal, slammed heavily onto Bai Song.

He was sent flying, crashed to the ground, and spit out a mouthful of blood.

A malevolent wind burst from Bai Song’s body, and he transformed into a white shadow, vanishing instantly from the Su household.

After Bai Song fled, a middle-aged scholar appeared in Su Ye’s courtyard.

“Qu, the City God!” Su Ye coughed lightly and stepped toward the scholar.

This was Qu Zhang, the City God of Jinhua County, himself a ninth-rank power.

“Thank you, City God, for your timely assistance,” Su Ye said quietly.

“Ah, you need not thank me. Bai Song is my enemy as well. Unfortunately, the people of Jinhua County have lost their faith, and my power has been greatly diminished. I could not kill Bai Song,” Qu Zhang sighed softly.

City Gods like him were true deities officially appointed by the court. As a ninth-rank City God, he corresponded to cultivators of the ninth rank.

Especially for low-ranking deities, their strength was intimately tied to the faith of the people under their jurisdiction. If all the populace worshipped the City God, the incense power would flourish and the deity would be strong; if not, their power would weaken.

Now, with monsters rampant in Jinhua County, the population had dwindled and the people suffered. Lacking the strength to save the people from disaster, the populace gradually ceased to worship the City God, making Qu Zhang weaker still.

“Bai Song has suffered grave injuries and will not dare cause trouble again soon. If you, City God, plan carefully, you may yet kill him,” Su Ye smiled.

In his previous world, there were no deities like the City God who cultivated through incense and faith; he knew nothing of their ways. Only upon meeting Qu Zhang did he gain some understanding of such gods.

He realized he had misunderstood Qu Zhang earlier.

“Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!”

Qu Zhang repeated the word thrice. Bai Song, though not the strongest among ninth-rank powers, was still beyond his ability to kill.

He set his gaze upon Su Ye and said gravely, “Now that Qu Zhang must take time to heal his wounds, you should seize this opportunity to advance to the ninth rank. Then, your chances of killing him will greatly increase!”

Su Ye, a mere first-rank cultivator, had managed to contend with Bai Song for so long. If he advanced to the ninth rank, slaying Bai Song would be much easier.