Chapter 254: Chapter 161: Not Eager to Pick Up Money? There’s a Problem with Your Mindset

WHOOSH!

A water-blue signal arrow exploded in the sky.

The Northern Wanderer had managed to fire the signal arrow for help just in time, before the Sword Array sealed him in.

He then started cursing, "Xiao Chen, you despicable, shameless, treacherous, lowly scoundrel!"

"FUCK YOU...!"

Xiao Chen shook his head. "There you go again, losing your temper."

"To be unable to accept such a small setback... you must be incredibly fragile."

Hearing this, the Northern Wanderer’s face flushed crimson. He was so stifled and furious he wished he could glare Xiao Chen to death.

Long before this large-scale invasion, the Western Wanderer, leader of the Four Great Wanderers, had specifically emphasized that no one was to go to Qingyang and cause trouble for Xiao Chen.

Their priority was to prepare the Nine Directions Nine Heavens Demon Transformation Array. They were to avoid variables like him that could affect the sect’s grand plan as much as possible.

But the Northern Wanderer didn’t see it that way.

For the past month, rumors about Xiao Chen had spread all over Hezhou.

It started with the monthly report: first, the Wind and Thunder Dual Swords worth 110,000 Spirit Stones, which made countless people envious.

Then came the story of him slaying a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single sword strike at the Xianghe Market, sparking widespread discussion.

Immediately after, during a robbery in the Black Flame Mountain Range, Xiao Chen took care of a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator from the White Bone Sect.

It was no exaggeration to say he was stealing all the limelight.

And as everyone knew, the best way to make a name for oneself was to defeat the person currently in the spotlight, using them as a stepping stone.

The Northern Wanderer had seen the intelligence reports on Xiao Chen and considered himself far superior.

Especially this time, with the advantage of the Soul-breaking Needle, he believed he could create an enormous gap between them.

He had originally thought he’d be too busy setting up the array and would have to wait for the next opportunity.

But to his surprise, Xiao Chen had delivered himself right to his doorstep.

The moment he saw him appear, the Northern Wanderer had been pleasantly surprised.

Relying on his Frost Water Divine General, he was ready to gang up on him.

But he never would have imagined that Xiao Chen had prepared a Golden Light Talisman specifically designed to counter the Spirit Control Technique.

What was even more fucking outrageous was that an ordinary Golden Light Talisman couldn’t affect a Guardian Spirit of the Frost Water Divine General’s level.

But Xiao Chen’s talisman seemed to have been specially enhanced.

The instant the golden light shone upon it, his Frost Water Divine General was directly dissolved.

Even that might have been acceptable. After all, without his Guardian Spirit, the Northern Wanderer still had his pride and joy, the Water Technique.

But the next moment, he watched as Xiao Chen successively pulled out three Top Grade, Dharma Artifact Level Flying Swords and, with a flick of his wrist, deployed a Sword Array.

’The intelligence reports never mentioned this!’

If his reaction had been a breath slower, he likely wouldn’t have even had time to use the signal arrow for help.

Then, the Northern Wanderer discovered in despair that the Sword Array’s assault was exceptionally fierce; he couldn’t break out of it on his own.

Xiao Chen wasn’t engaging in Magical Combat at all; he was purely overwhelming him with the advantage of his talismans and Magical Artifacts.

This behavior instantly reminded the Northern Wanderer of a past he was unwilling to recall.

Back then, despite being at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, he had been bullied by a disciple from the Yingyue Immortal Sect who was merely at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, all because he was a Loose Cultivator with no background.

He had tried to fight back with all his might, but his opponent refused to engage in proper Magical Combat.

Relying on the Magical Artifacts in his hands, the disciple had beaten him half to death.

The current situation felt exactly like a return to that time.

He possessed a full mastery of Water Technique but had no opportunity to use it. How could he not feel stifled?

For a moment, in the Northern Wanderer’s eyes, Xiao Chen’s figure overlapped with that of the Yingyue Immortal Sect disciple from all those years ago.

It made him unable to stop himself from cursing loudly.

But cursing wouldn’t solve the problem. After calming down, he immediately realized something was wrong.

"The Golden Light Talisman has been out of stock for a year. Where in the world did you get it?"

The Northern Wanderer demanded sharply while using the Ringed Water Black Tortoise Shield for Defense.

This enhanced version of the talisman requires a special kind of Spiritual Material to craft, one that can only be produced in the Eastern Domain.

Logically, even if Hezhou had any in stock, they should have expired long ago.

Xiao Chen shook his head. "I’m guessing you don’t want to know the answer."

’This thing came from the Eastern Wanderer. It was originally meant to be used against the Su Family’s Grand Array. To achieve the best results, the Eastern Wanderer carried the most effective talisman he could acquire. And it’s proven to be very effective; it pushed the Northern Wanderer right over the edge.’

"Xiao Chen, I will make all your friends and family pay for what you’ve done today!"

Seeing the Small Three Talents Sword Formation’s assault grow ever more ferocious, he knew even his Top Grade, Dharma Artifact Level Ringed Water Black Tortoise Shield was about to give way.

The Northern Wanderer finally gritted his teeth and activated his life-saving trump card.

Not far away, the puddle of water left on the ground where the Frost Water Divine General had dissolved suddenly began to surge, rapidly coalescing into a human shape.

At the same time, a large amount of water splashed from the Northern Wanderer’s body inside the Sword Array.

When the splashes settled, he had appeared directly where the puddle had been, leaving only a pool of flowing water inside the Small Three Talents Sword Formation.

PTHOO!

The Northern Wanderer violently spat out a large mouthful of blood, his aura becoming turbulent.

But he didn’t have time to wipe it away. He hurriedly pulled two Secret Talismans from his Storage Bag and threw them out.

"Yellow Springs Secret Technique: Mountain Suppression!"

The two Secret Talismans immediately transformed into the likeness of two small mountains, pressing down directly over the Sword Array.

For a short time, the three Flying Swords were rendered immobile.

Having dealt with the threat of the Small Three Talents Sword Formation, the Northern Wanderer finally had a moment to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He looked up, staring at Xiao Chen with venomous eyes. "Didn’t expect that, did you? I can get out of your Sword Array."