At this thought, Lin Changheng slapped a Divine Movement Talisman onto himself, increasing his speed by a fraction.

The distance between them continued to widen. This was by Chen Guqing’s design; by forcing the Veil Hat Female Cultivator further away, she would be doomed if any complications arose, with no chance of rescue.

Before Lin Changheng could arrive,

The Female Cultivator had already activated a second Golden Bell Talisman, replacing the shattered one to shield herself securely.

However, her face was visibly pale; she had clearly expended a great deal of energy.

After all, for someone at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation to fight a Late Stage Qi Cultivation expert was a desperate stretch.

If it weren’t for the numerous Talismans she possessed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

This was also why she had dared to make a move, but who could have known she would end up drawing the fire, with the entire burden of pressure falling upon her?

"Hmph!"

Chen Guqing attacked again with his Giant Scythe. Simultaneously, he retrieved a pitch-black stone bottle with his other hand, hiding it behind his back. He enveloped the crimson powder within with his Magical Power and, with a single puff, sent it sweeping toward the Female Cultivator’s Golden Bell in the next instant.

She had no time to react at all.

Then, a strange scene unfolded. The Golden Bell, which had always blocked Magical Artifacts and was known for its powerful defense, had no reaction whatsoever. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

It was silently permeated, allowing the crimson mist to billow directly into the Female Cultivator’s face.

"What is this? Poison powder?!"

Startled, the Veil Hat Female Cultivator was forced to inhale some of it due to the powerful pressure. She quickly sealed her nose with Magical Power and took out an Antitoxic Pill, swallowing it down.

"Heh heh, you’ll find out just how wonderful it is soon enough."

Chen Guqing felt no shame for his despicable methods; on the contrary, he laughed aloud, pleased with himself.

He didn’t know how many more Upper Grade Defense Talismans the Female Cultivator had on her, and he feared that any delay might lead to complications. Thus, a plan formed in his mind. He executed his usual trick, and sure enough, she fell for it.

"Hmph! Wonderful? This Middle Grade Antitoxic Pill of mine..."

A voice full of cold mockery escaped the Female Cultivator’s lips, but in the next instant, a wave of weakness suddenly washed over her entire body.

A tingling, numbing sensation that evolved into an unbearable itch rose up from within her, causing her face to flush crimson. Even her snow-white neck was dotted with a rosy blush.

"Your Antitoxic Pill... forget Middle Grade, even an Upper Grade one would be useless. Because this isn’t ’poison’ at all, so naturally, it can’t be detoxified."

A strange look flashed in Chen Guqing’s eyes as he let out a sinister laugh. "On the contrary, this is a rare and powerful tonic. It just has a few... shameful side effects that turn a virtuous maiden into a wanton vixen."

At his words, the Veil Hat Female Cultivator’s expression changed drastically. For the first time, she revealed the terrified look of a young maiden, utterly flustered and at a loss.

She was a picture of pitiable beauty.

"Hahaha!"

Chen Guqing roared with laughter, his attack with the Magical Artifact never ceasing.

After a long moment, the Veil Hat Female Cultivator could no longer contain herself. A breeze blew aside her veil, revealing a stunning, flushed face, brimming with an unconcealed, liquid passion.

"Hsss..."

’In that case, I suppose I can’t bring myself to be so ruthless as to destroy such a flower.’

Other thoughts began to stir in Chen Guqing’s mind.

He had never doubted the wondrous and potent effects of the crimson powder; the many Xu Family Furnace Cauldrons he had abducted and kept in his cave abode could attest to it.

By pairing it with a certain Evil Gu he possessed, he could harvest her Primordial Yin while Planting the Gu, causing the Female Cultivator to lose her mind and become utterly devoted to him.

Since the Xu Family had destroyed his clan, he would slaughter every last Male Cultivator of the Xu Family, defile all their women, and force them to rebuild a new "Chen Family" for him!

This insane idea wasn’t just some passing thought; he had already begun to put it into action!

...

Just as the Female Cultivator’s Heart and Spirit gave way and her Silver Plate Spiritual Artifact began to wobble and fall, Chen Guqing brazenly put away his two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts, preparing to move in and Plant the Gu.

But as soon as he came within three steps, the Female Cultivator, whose head had been hanging limply, suddenly snapped her head up. She had been holding onto one last sliver of clarity amidst the passion.

Clenched between her fingers was a Talisman she had been holding since who knew when, shimmering with Spiritual Light. It was an Upper Grade Attack Talisman.

It was already activated, striking toward Chen Guqing’s face with incomparably fierce might.

"Die!"

The Female Cultivator’s voice was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. With this one final, decisive strike, the endless tide of desire burst forth like a breaking dam in the next instant, completely washing away the last remnant of reason she had been desperately clinging to!

She would not even see the result of her own strike!

...

But facing such a sudden, potentially fatal blow, Chen Guqing’s face showed not a hint of panic, but rather composure and a trace of mockery...

He had been feigning weakness to lure her in!

As his figure shot backward,

A Golden Seal flew from his body at almost the same instant. It swelled in the wind, growing to the size of a great stone lion used to guard the gates of a mansion, and met the attack head-on.

BOOM!

The Golden Seal trembled violently for three breaths of time before becoming motionless, having blocked the majority of the Upper Grade Talisman’s power.

It was an Upper Grade Defensive Magical Artifact!

No wonder he’d put away his two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts. It wasn’t arrogance, nor was he besotted by her beauty. He had been freeing up his Controlled Space to accommodate this Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact.

All to be ready for any unexpected events.

The depths of this man’s schemes and calculations were truly terrifying!

But a man’s power has its limits; how could he possibly account for every eventuality?

Although he had retreated at the first possible moment, the Upper Grade Talisman’s blast was too fast. He hadn’t created enough distance, and the residual power that escaped the main impact sent him flying backward unsteadily, like a fallen leaf swept away by an autumn wind.

As for the Female Cultivator, she had already collapsed to the ground, unconscious, left with nothing but her amplified instincts.

Her long legs were clamped tight, squirming restlessly, and soft, unconscious moans escaped her lips...

"Once I’m done with you, I’ll go and slaughter your entire clan!"

Chen Guqing was thrown off his feet, landing unsteadily. He was lightly injured, but with the situation firmly in his control, he wasn’t flustered.

He never expected it. WHOOSH! A biting, ice-cold wind suddenly swept toward him from a very low angle from behind, scattering the fallen leaves.

Lin Changheng had made his move!

Just moments before, when Lin Changheng had neared the battlefield, he had been cautious, activating a Concealment Talisman. He had not been detected by the two combatants locked in their fierce battle.

He had also discovered that the Female Cultivator had already inhaled the crimson mist and was under its effects.

Since things had already progressed this far, he didn’t rush to reveal himself. Instead, he used Earth Escape from a distance to approach cautiously.

He wanted to assess the developing situation to judge if his intervention was still necessary.

If the Female Cultivator had been struck by a fatal poison or killed in one blow, there would have been no need for him to charge in and fight alone.

But then he heard Chen Guqing clarify that it was a tonic, one that merely had the special effect of arousing passion.

Lin Changheng didn’t take him at his word, but a quick assessment of the Female Cultivator’s condition told him that the man was likely telling the truth—it wasn’t a fatal poison.

And so, in that split second when the Female Cultivator launched her surprise attack with the hidden Talisman and Chen Guqing was blasted away while blocking it, Lin Changheng had seized his opportunity.

He predicted where Chen Guqing would land and, in quick succession, sent three Talismans flying.

A Middle Grade Cold Wind Talisman!

CRACKLE.

A blast of frigid wind was upon him, ice already condensing. It came so suddenly that Chen Guqing was startled, cold sweat breaking out on his back.