The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 88: Golden Light Shield

Golden Light Senior stood arrogantly in the center of the field, with the Wild Wolf Gang members behind him.

Before making his appearance, he had already assured Jia Tianlong that he alone could handle all the participants from the Seven Mysteries Sect in the duel. Of course, as compensation for his guarantee of total victory, the originally promised five thousand taels of gold had been increased to eight thousand.

The thought of acquiring such a vast sum afterward filled Golden Light Senior’s heart with fervor. He cast a disdainful glance at the crowd opposite him, already eager to slaughter them all.

Han Li was not with Li Feiyu but stood on the other side of the crowd.

Li Feiyu was with Zhang Xiuer, whispering intimately like lovers. Naturally, Han Li wouldn’t be so tactless as to intrude on their private world.

"What are these two lovebirds thinking? How can they still flirt in a life-or-death situation like this?" Han Li felt a faint tinge of bitterness rise in his mouth.

Snapping back to reality, Han Li, like the others, stared curiously at the dwarf opposite them.

"The Wild Wolf Gang has all retreated to the back, leaving this gaudily dressed midget to take the lead? How bizarre! Could this dwarf possess some extraordinary skill?" Han Li blinked, pondering the thought.

Sect Leader Wang seemed to share Han Li’s suspicion. Instead of sending everyone forward at once, he dispatched a saber-wielding Protector to confront the dwarf, likely intending to gauge the opponent’s abilities before making further moves to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Though this was a chaotic melee-style duel, if both sides sent only one fighter at a time, a one-on-one duel was perfectly acceptable. Sect Leader Wang thought so—and acted accordingly.

Seeing only one person emerge from the opposing crowd, Golden Light Senior quickly grasped their intent.

He let out a series of eerie chuckles, his grating voice unsettling everyone who heard it.

The Protector sent forth was a burly man in his thirties, his face fierce and his saber-wielding hand bulging with veins—clearly an expert in close combat. Even upon hearing the strange laughter, his expression remained composed, indicating his ample battle experience.

As the burly man drew near, Golden Light Senior ceased his laughter. Unhurriedly, he retrieved a yellow talisman from his robe. The talisman shimmered with golden light, adorned with intricate golden characters and patterns—obviously a priceless artifact.

Ignoring the approaching warrior, the dwarf pinched the talisman with one hand and began chanting an incantation.

Though the Seven Mysteries Sect’s Protector had no idea what the dwarf was up to, his extensive combat experience told him that whatever the opponent was doing, it was best not to let him finish. Otherwise, the consequences would surely be unfavorable.

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, closing the distance in a few swift strides. Swinging his steel saber with a flash of cold light, he delivered a heavy, forceful slash aimed straight at Golden Light Senior’s head—clearly putting all his strength into the blow.

Just as the blade was about to strike, the incantation was completed. Before the saber could land, Golden Light Senior slapped the talisman onto his body. Instantly, a dazzling golden radiance erupted from the point of contact.The dazzling golden light made the burly man's eyes unable to see clearly, yet his heart remained unshaken as he still fiercely swung his saber downward.

"Clang!" A metallic collision echoed across the entire area.

The burly man felt a burning sensation in his palms, his weapon nearly slipping from his grasp. Startled, though still unable to see, he knew the situation had turned dire. Pushing off with his toes, his body swiftly retreated several zhang before stopping, saber raised defensively.

At that moment, he suddenly heard gasps of astonishment from the crowd both inside and outside the arena.

Hearing these sounds only intensified his anxiety. He desperately wanted to know what had happened to his opponent that seemed so bizarre. Fortunately, his vision finally cleared, and he hurriedly focused his gaze.

Several zhang away, the dwarf stood motionless, his entire body enveloped in a layer of golden light about an inch thick. This radiance formed an impenetrable armor around him, impervious to wind and rain. Clearly, the earlier saber strike had merely hit this golden shield without reaching the dwarf himself. The nature of this golden light was unknown, yet it was as unyielding as steel, rendering the saber strike utterly ineffective.

Though Protector Jia Tianlong was well-traveled and knowledgeable, this unprecedented spectacle left him utterly dumbfounded.

Gripping his steel saber, his mind was a blank slate, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.

It wasn't just the burly man who was stunned—everyone atop Sunset Peak was equally astonished.

After all, rumors about Cultivators were known to very few in the Jianghu, especially in such a remote and insignificant place. Thus, most found this talismanic phenomenon profoundly mysterious and unfathomable.

While Jia Tianlong secretly rejoiced and the Seven Mysteries Sect members exchanged bewildered glances, Han Li, standing at the back of the crowd, was far more shocked than anyone else.

Han Li was likely the only person on the entire mountain, aside from the dwarf, who had any understanding of spells. Clearly, the opponent was using some kind of talismanic incantation similar to the Mind-Calming Talisman, and it seemed even more advanced.

Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, Han Li silently recited the incantation for the Heavenly Eye Technique, casting it upon himself before urgently turning his gaze toward the dwarf.

Beneath the golden light, faint wisps of white radiance drifted around the dwarf's body. Compared to the golden glow, this white light was exceedingly faint—so much so that one might not notice it unless deliberately searching for it.

This dwarf was actually a Cultivator with far weaker spiritual power than Han Li himself. This discovery filled Han Li with both joy and worry.

Joy, because even as a beginner, his spiritual power was deeper than the dwarf's, indicating that the latter was also a half-baked Cultivator. Worry, because he didn’t know how many spells the opponent knew or how powerful they were—would he be able to handle them?

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(End of Chapter)