"Whoosh!" A Flying Sword sliced across Li Mu's neck.
Did it succeed?
That simple?
A Foundation Establishment female Cultivator hiding in the forest had this thought, but immediately dispelled it!
No!
It didn't!
"Bang!" The target's body turned into a wooden dummy, breaking into two pieces and falling to the ground.
The next second, Li Mu's figure slowly rose from the ground behind the Foundation Establishment female Cultivator.
"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Who sent you to kill me? Can Wang Feng afford to hire you?" Li Mu vigilantly stared at the green-robed female Cultivator in front of him; if he hadn't used the Five Elements Escape Technique in time, that sword might have taken his life.
Just by that much, Li Mu's face was pale, his heart still pounding.
Li Mu had fully released his Divine Sense, maintaining constant vigilance, yet he hadn't detected any enemies lurking around.
He hadn't expected a Foundation Establishment female Cultivator to appear; her aura concealment was extremely skilled, rendering Li Mu's Divine Sense probes completely ineffective against her.
What's going on! Is that Wang Feng fellow crazy? It's just a few acres of Medium Grade Spiritual Fields, is it worth such a huge price for him? To hire a Foundation Establishment assassin to kill him? Li Mu found it hard to believe.
That's not right!
It makes no sense at all!
Could it be someone else? Who else did he offend?
Li Mu frowned, unable to understand for a moment who he had offended to be targeted by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Could his identity as Master Li have been exposed?
"Five Elements Escape Technique, used so skillfully, young man, you're not simple!" The green-robed female Cultivator smiled slightly, looking at Li Mu and praising him, "However, knowing that I'm Foundation Establishment, you still dare to be distracted? You're not taking me seriously enough!"
Before her words even finished, the green-robed female Cultivator lashed out a long green whip, sweeping towards Li Mu, sharp as lightning and incredibly powerful.
Li Mu was already prepared; his figure flickered, his body transforming into a mass of earth. In a moment, his figure separated from a distant Lan tree.
"Bang!" The long green whip struck fiercely at a cloud of dust, hitting nothing.
Li Mu, who had revealed himself, took a deep breath, patted his Storage Pouch, and Second-Order Profound Iron Swords emerged one after another, flowing out.
Li Mu formed a hand seal with his right hand, joined his hands together, and pointed forward. A series of sharp tearing sounds pierced the air as they flew towards the green-robed female Cultivator.
The seven Spiritual Artifact swords that suddenly attacked startled the green-robed female Cultivator, who hastily swung her long whip, batting away the Profound Iron Swords one by one, momentarily flustered.
Seeing this, Li Mu was not surprised but delighted, a faint smile appearing on his face. His sword art changed again, aligning the seven stars, and the Seven Stars Sword Formation was assembled.
"Whoosh, whoosh!" The seven Profound Iron Swords that had been knocked away instantly stabilized themselves in the air, speeding along their predetermined paths. The sword shadows became faster and faster, and Sword Qi surged forth.
"Sword Formation!" The green-robed female Cultivator's expression changed. Staring at Li Mu, who was controlling the sword formation, she realized something and loudly questioned, "No, you're not Qi Refining Seventh Level, what is your cultivation level?"
"Does that matter? You don't even know my cultivation level, yet you dare to come and kill me? I'm quite curious about your identity!" Li Mu let out a cold laugh, then remotely controlled the seven Profound Iron Swords to attack the female Cultivator.
"Buzz, buzz..." The sound of swords humming filled the air. The seven Second-Order Profound Iron Swords, like a hunting school of fish, launched a group attack on the green-robed female Cultivator within the formation with extremely fast sword speeds.
Once the sword formation was formed, there was no escaping, no fleeing.
The green-robed female Cultivator took out a small silver shield, swinging her long green whip with one hand, repeatedly fending off the Profound Iron Swords' attacks.
However, under the endless, incomparably sharp Seven Stars Sword Qi attacks, the small silver shield immediately became pitted and dented. In a moment, the long green whip broke into two sections.
The green-robed female Cultivator's expression changed. "Pfft!" Her forearm was cut by Sword Qi, splashing a string of blood.
Just as Li Mu was confident of victory and preparing to completely eliminate the green-robed female Cultivator, he suddenly had a premonition that something was amiss around him.
The next moment, "Whoosh!" four figures flashed out of thin air. Li Mu released four Battle Puppets from his Storage Pouch, ordering them to enter combat mode and immediately attack if any enemy approached.
"There are still helpers? I've found you, come out!" Li Mu maintained the Seven Stars Sword Formation while looking towards the bushes on his right. His Divine Sense vaguely sensed someone quietly approaching him, but something was blocking it, preventing him from discovering them.
"Your Excellency has quite the means, to even have so many Battle Puppets. Disperse the sword formation, and we can have a good talk." Yan Ling helplessly pushed back the cloak that covered her entire body, revealing herself. She stared at Li Mu and suggested.
Her whereabouts exposed, Yan Ling, with only a Peak Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivation, knew she had no way to break through the defense and prevent Li Mu from maintaining the sword formation against the four Second-Order Battle Puppets. She could only reveal herself and try to contend with him.
This assassination had completely failed. Even Aunt Sun, who was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, was trapped in the sword formation, and the battle situation was precarious.
"What a joke. If I withdraw the sword formation and release that Foundation Establishment female Cultivator, will she let me off easy? Who exactly are you people? Why are you attacking me?" Li Mu glanced at the black-robed female Cultivator's cloak, immediately realizing why his Divine Sense hadn't detected the two of them.
Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits took effect. In the virtual character box before Li Mu's eyes, the attribute information of the black cloak appeared.
【Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak】
【Grade: Third-Order Spiritual Artifact】
【Property: Conceals aura, isolates Divine Sense】
【An Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak sewn from Nine Illusion Mother Spider spiritual silk, Ink Spirit Silkworm silk, and Soul Rat beast hide, effective in isolating Divine Sense and concealing one's form.】
"We are assassins from the Listening Rain Pavilion. Previously, we accepted a mission to assassinate you, but it failed. This is our final assassination attempt, which is why a Foundation Establishment assassin appeared. However, since this operation has failed again, the Listening Rain Pavilion will not take any further action. Quickly withdraw the sword formation, do not harm anyone, otherwise, the Listening Rain Pavilion will not let you off!" Yan Ling stared at Li Mu, explaining and sternly warning him.
"Is that so! I'm so scared!" Li Mu sneered. The next moment, he increased the power of his spellcasting for the Seven Stars Sword Formation, greatly enhancing its lethality.
"Ah!"
The Foundation Establishment female Cultivator in the sword formation let out a miserable shriek. Her silver shield suddenly shattered, and an arm was immediately severed by a Profound Iron Sword. Immediately after, a sky full of Sword Qi poured onto her, and blood instantly stained her delicate body.
"Aunt Sun!" Yan Ling cried out anxiously, staring at Li Mu, "Stop quickly! This assassination ends here. Do you really want to be endlessly hostile with the Listening Rain Pavilion?"
As soon as her voice fell, Yan Ling took out a Second-Order Thunder Talisman, indicating her readiness to fight to the end.
Hearing this, Li Mu was momentarily silent, slowing down the Seven Stars Sword Formation's offensive. The next second, a large golden shield was taken out of his Storage Pouch and placed in front of him.
Seeing the spirituality and Spiritual Pressure emanating from the large golden shield, Yan Ling's pupils contracted, and she gasped.
A Third-Order High-Grade Spiritual Shield. If she wasn't mistaken, it was refined from a large amount of third-order geng metal and red gold. With this Spiritual Shield protecting him, the Second-Order Thunder Talisman she had on hand couldn't harm him at all. Not to mention, there were also four Battle Puppets guarding him, making it impossible to disrupt the sword formation he maintained.
In this assassination, they were completely at a disadvantage, unable to turn the situation around.
Currently, Aunt Sun was trapped in the sword formation, and the situation was extremely critical.
Yan Ling's delicate brows were tightly furrowed as her mind raced, thinking of a counter-strategy.
They had only accepted a mission to assassinate a small Qi Refining Seventh Level handyman. A veteran assassin at Qi Refining Ninth Level would surely succeed easily.
Who knew! They encountered a tough opponent. This small handyman stubbornly hid in a formation for several months without coming out.
Later, a Third-Order remote-controlled Flying Sword appeared, causing the Listening Rain Pavilion to lose a major member.
This attack on Li Mu was, firstly, to uphold the Listening Rain Pavilion's rule of rarely failing missions; secondly, to avenge Yan Lao's severed arm; and thirdly, to satisfy their curiosity about what capabilities this small handyman possessed to be able to remotely control a Third-Order Flying Sword.
Now, everything was clear. This guy wasn't some small handyman at all, but rather a 'giant crocodile' disguised as a 'small handyman.'
Skilled Five Elements Escape Technique, true essence and Divine Sense not weaker than a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and also a sword formation, Puppets, a third-order geng metal shield, seven Second-Order Flying Swords... With such spiritual items, who knows what other trump cards he was hiding.
Provoking such an enemy was truly despair-inducing!
"Fellow Daoist, please hold your hand. Let's talk it over. Isn't it better if we turn hostility into friendship? How about this, just tell us what compensation you need. As long as you release her, we are willing to pay with wealth and compensate you." Yan Ling quickly stopped him, persuading him with the promise of benefits, speaking in the tone of a weak woman.
Hearing this, Li Mu was indeed moved. It would naturally be best not to make enemies with an assassin organization like the Listening Rain Pavilion.
"Give me that cloak on you, and I'll let her go." Li Mu went along with the offer, eyeing the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak with desire, and gestured.
Upon hearing this, Yan Ling immediately became anxious. This Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak was a Spiritual Artifact only available to Core Disciples of the Listening Rain Pavilion. It was extremely effective and also a symbol of status. How could he have taken a liking to it!
"Fellow Daoist, could you please ask for other spiritual items? This cloak is extremely important to me, and it is also a personal garment for a woman. It's not suitable as compensation. Please choose something else! Spirit Stones, Spiritual Artifacts, Talismans, just name what you want." Yan Ling was both angry and anxious, politely refusing.
"I don't need other spiritual items. I've only taken a liking to this cloak that can block Divine Sense probes. Do you want the person or the cloak? You can choose slowly!" Li Mu chuckled, then glanced at the Foundation Establishment female Cultivator who had collapsed in the Seven Stars Sword Formation, reminding her, "That Foundation Establishment Senior's injuries are quite severe. If she doesn't stop the bleeding and heal quickly, she'll die soon even without me killing her!"
Hearing this, Yan Ling immediately became anxious. She quickly took off the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak she was wearing and threw it to Li Mu, urging anxiously, "Quickly disperse the formation! Quickly disperse the formation and release her!"
Li Mu controlled a Battle Puppet to receive the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak, then put away his third-order geng metal shield, dispersed the Seven Stars Sword Formation, and his figure became ethereal as he used the Five Elements Earth Escape, transforming into a streak of light and rushing into the Xiao Liang Mountain Illusion Formation.
Seven Second-Order Profound Iron Swords and four Battle Puppets followed closely behind, entering the protective Illusion Formation together.
Seeing this, Yan Ling let out a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid; if the other party didn't keep his promise, she would have no way to deal with him.
Yan Ling quickly ran forward, took out a Medicinal Pill for healing, and gave it to Aunt Sun. Then, carrying the severed arm and the person, she quickly flew away on her sword.
Within the Illusion Formation, Li Mu watched the two of them leave on their swords and sighed in relief. He then put the four Battle Puppets into his Storage Pouch and the seven Second-Order Profound Iron Swords into his Storage Pouch.
Li Mu happily put on the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak, immediately smelling a faint, elegant fragrance from the cloak.
After testing the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak's effects, it indeed had extremely strong aura concealment and Divine Sense isolation effects. Li Mu praised it with joy on his face: "The Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak's effect of concealing aura and isolating Divine Sense is truly good!"
After putting on the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak, the range of Li Mu's externalized Divine Sense shrunk to only one-tenth of its original size, clearly showing the effect of isolating Divine Sense probes.
Li Mu wore it for a while, then put the Ink Concealment Spirit Cloak into his Storage Pouch.
The eleven acres of Wind Spirit Grass seedlings were lacking spiritual rain irrigation, and their condition was somewhat withered. Li Mu faced the eleven acres of Spiritual Fields, formed a hand seal, and released the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique.
A strong wind blew, and the next moment, "Pitter-patter," large raindrops continuously fell. The eleven acres of Wind Spirit Grass seedlings fully stretched their tender green leaves, enjoying the baptism of spiritual rain, and their condition gradually returned to being well-hydrated and full of spirituality.
Seeing this, Li Mu breathed a slight sigh of relief. Fortunately, he returned in time and didn't find any Wind Spirit Grass seedlings that had dried up and died.
However, the two Spiritual Fields in Green Dragon Valley and Xiao Liang Mountain were a bit far apart. Wind Spirit Grass needed to be watered with spiritual rain every day to grow quickly. Therefore, Li Mu needed to travel back and forth frequently. Once the Spiritual Field in Green Dragon Valley was successfully spiritualized, continuing to plant Wind Spirit Grass in Xiao Liang Mountain would be somewhat unsuitable!
Li Mu immediately decided that after this batch of Wind Spirit Grass matured, he would prepare to switch to planting other Spiritual Plants, specifically those that were easy to cultivate and didn't require much care.