C16 The Old Taoist in Black Robe

Perched on the edge of a cliff atop a mountain peak five hundred meters from the cave, the old Taoist sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His brow was slightly furrowed, his demeanor calm. The autumn breeze swept by, lifting the fabric of his garments. Upon closer inspection, one could see tiny crimson blotches on his exposed skin.

With a deep exhale, the old Taoist's long-shut eyes gradually opened. He looked up and to the left, a barely perceptible smile gracing his face. "A dog can't change its nature, always skulking about."

A chilling laugh echoed through the air, and a ripple appeared, from which a sinister black mist emerged. Once the mist cleared, a figure cloaked entirely in black stood unaffected by the rustling autumn wind.

"You've got quite the nose on you, following me so closely," the old Taoist remarked with a cold sneer to the black-robed man.

The black-robed man remained still. "Hehe, if I didn't need you alive, I'd be curious to taste you, see if you're as delicious as they say. I've heard the souls of your kin are quite exquisite," he said, his voice low and raspy, his eerie laughter emanating from within the robe.

At his words, the old Taoist's face twitched, a flash of viciousness in his eyes that quickly faded. He rose to his feet, his form blurring and leaving behind several afterimages before vanishing from sight.

With a resounding "Boom," the two clashed, a gust of wind bursting forth as the black-robed man intercepted the old Taoist's aerial punch. They disappeared from view, only their swift-moving shadows visible, causing ripples and explosive sounds wherever they went.

When they reappeared, the old Taoist was visibly winded, hovering in mid-air. He took a deep breath to steady himself and scoffed, "A beast will always be a beast, never to become human."

"I must admit, you do have a sharp tongue," the black-robed man retorted, his pale right hand emerging from the folds of his robe. A faint black aura spiraled around it. With a sudden grip, a scythe materialized in his hand, its blade pitch-black and approximately two meters in length, thick and wrapped in tendrils of black mist, exuding a menacing presence. Upon closer examination, it seemed as though it could draw in one's soul.

"Empty words are futile. In the past, you might have had a chance to flee, but today, with your grave injuries and the impending disaster weakening you, escape is impossible. It's my lucky day—capturing you will be a feather in my cap. Heh..." His eerie laugh echoed as the Black Sickle traced a circle around him, dark energy erupting from within and coiling around his form.

"Run? Heh, today you'll learn why the chrysanthemums bloom so resplendently." A flash of light in his hand revealed a silver glow encircling the old Taoist. As the light dimmed, a slender sword was unveiled, measuring one foot and five inches three, with a simple design and a faint heavenly shimmer on its blade. The sword's aura of death transformed into a piercing cold, slicing through the air.

The black-robed man chuckled, his laugh tinged with a chilling undertone. With a sweep of the Black Sickle, he menacingly declared, "You've thoroughly enraged me. I've decided to sever your limbs and leave you clinging to life."

"That won't do at all. I'm rather curious to see the true face hidden beneath your black robe," the old Taoist retorted with a cold laugh.

His laughter subsided as his gaze intensified. He slowly lifted his right hand, his fingers snapping together sharply.

"Ding~~"

The sword responded to his will, and with the resonating hum, a piercing whistle cut through the air. The slender sword transformed into a streak of light, hurtling towards the black-robed man.

"Clang!"

The streak of light was deflected by the Black Sickle, spiraling through the air before reverting to its original form and resuming its assault on the black-robed man.

"Heh, your efforts are in vain against me. Spare yourself and plead; perhaps I'll consider leaving you intact," the black-robed man taunted, sensing the sword's flight through the air.

"Is that so?" The old Taoist's hands shifted as he sneered coldly.

"Blossoming Sword Rain Technique!"

As his cry echoed, the battle qi within him erupted. The solitary sword spinning in the air instantly split into two, then four, and in a breath's time, it multiplied into tens of thousands, transforming into beams of light that blanketed the sky and converged on the black-robed man.

As the black-robed man watched the onslaught of countless swords bearing down on him, he swept his Black Sickle through the air, setting it spinning rapidly around him. It whipped up a fierce, cutting wind, creating a protective shield.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal boomed, echoing like thunder. A wave of force, accompanied by sparks, rippled outwards, causing even the fabric of space to quiver slightly.

"Obstinate fool, I truly wonder how you managed to escape before. This sword array is all show and no substance, utterly useless..." He surveyed the surrounding sword array and the distant Taoist forming hand seals, shaking his head with a cold, mocking laugh.

Well then, what about this?

The old Taoist spared a disdainful glance at the black-robed man, now trapped within the sword array. A low hum emanated from his throat as his hand seals abruptly shifted. Thousands of sword glimmers burst forth, transforming into a myriad of tiny blue lights that fluttered like petals in the wind, swiftly encircling the black-robed man. In an instant, he was completely enveloped.

"Fall!"

The old Taoist's command resonated deeply. The sky's blue petals solidified into needles, their piercing chill forcing even the haughty black-robed man to acknowledge their threat.

The figure of the black-robed man shuddered as a thick black mist enveloped him, bracing for the impending strike.

In the blink of an eye, a deluge of needle-like rain, akin to streaks of lightning, eerily penetrated the scythe's defense. Bursts of light collided with the black mist, exploding upon impact...

The black-robed man bore the full brunt of the old Taoist's assault. A powerful energy surged from within the black mist, bursting forth in all directions, and the luminous rain dissipated, coalescing into a stream of light that returned to the old Taoist's hand.

Slowly, the black-robed man bowed his head, inspecting the tattered remains of his robe, now riddled with evident sword wounds from which blood steadily dripped. Clearly, he had sustained these injuries during the previous encounter with the sword array.

"Good, very good indeed. You certainly possess some skill, but you were too complacent. To think you could still achieve this much, even while gravely wounded..." The black mist crept over his wounds, visibly healing them at an astonishing rate. A chilling aura of murderous intent began to seep from the black robe.

"Since that's the case, you shall meet your end today!"

With the chilling and grating voice lingering in the air, the old Taoist's brow furrowed slightly. His gaze hardened as he watched the wound on his body heal itself. He could sense a dangerous presence coalescing, ominously emanating from the black-robed man.

The dark mist thickened, enveloping his form. With a forceful gesture, he discarded his black robe with a sweep of his right hand, revealing the dense black energy beneath. A flash of dark light shimmered, and the energy flowed over his body like a viscous liquid. All but his fiery red eyes were concealed, giving the impression of a suit of black armor. His right hand transformed into a claw, summoning the Black Sickle into his grasp. With a spin and a wide sweep, even the fabric of the surrounding space seemed to quiver.