Chapter Twenty-Nine: Vanquishing the Formidable Foe

The four-winged angel was no stranger to the world’s wonders. His recent battles with the cultivators had shown him that these enemies wielded powers from realms beyond his own understanding—powers that transformed and manifested in countless strange ways, yet invariably proved effective. So, when he saw that spindle-shaped shield enveloping his foe and neutralizing his “spiritual bullet,” the four-winged angel felt only a flicker of surprise. Without hesitation, he thrust his weapon, imbued with all his strength, straight toward his adversary. At such close range, with such speed, the angel was certain he could skewer this minor character as easily as roasting meat on a spit.

But what happened next nearly made the four-winged angel’s jaw drop from the sky. His weapon came to an abrupt halt at the very edge of the spindle-shaped barrier—no matter how much force he poured into it, he could not move it an inch.

Oh, Supreme Commander, can you tell me what kind of power these people wield, that their defenses should be so formidable?

Boss Li was not as powerful as the four-winged angel. When the attack came, he had no time to react before he was struck. Fortunately, the shield triggered by the Bloodjade Ring was as solid as a mountain, and though cold sweat broke out on Boss Li’s brow, he remained unscathed.

Taking advantage of the angel’s momentary astonishment, Li Chengzhu’s flying sword shot upward at a slant, aiming directly for the angel’s nether regions.

Strike where it hurts most—the old adage goes, no matter how great your cultivation, your most vulnerable spot remains your weakness.

As a child, Boss Li had been thoroughly schooled in the rough-and-tumble of traditional Chinese martial arts, and he was fond of employing a few such tricks himself. His specialty was “Monkey Steals the Peach,” a rogue’s move that had earned him many victories in schoolyard brawls. Assuming the world to be as shameless as himself, Boss Li would preemptively fold a piece of stiff cardboard into a funnel to protect himself in such melees.

Now, this revised “Shadow Strike Sword” move flashed forth like thunder without sound, swift as the wind, embodying the same audacity that had once made him a terror of the playground.

The four-winged angel had no time to react and was struck squarely. Boss Li’s lips curled in a wicked grin, recalling the agony this move had inflicted on his former enemies. But the result was entirely unexpected—just as the flying sword was about to reach its target, it was blocked, a gleam of light flaring where sword tip met energy. So, others also possess protective auras.

Fury overtook the four-winged angel, who glared at Li Chengzhu with blazing eyes.

In the angelic realm, all angels below the rank of eight wings were genderless, devoid of any such anatomy. The little man before him had clearly used this move to humiliate him—how could the four-winged angel not be driven mad?

When his initial strike failed, Li Chengzhu saw the four-winged angel’s eyes go bloodshot, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, spiritual pressure surging to an unprecedented height. Boss Li was taken aback—was such an underhanded move really worth this much fuss?

A sudden urge to flee swept over him, but before he could act, the frenzied angel’s attacks rained down like a violent storm. Forced onto the defensive, Li Chengzhu retreated, parrying blows as he tried to put distance between them, but the angel clung to him like a leech—impossible to shake off.

After several exchanges, Li Chengzhu’s wrist ached from the force of the angel’s blows—this one was no weakling. Thankfully, the Bloodjade Ring’s shield was unscathed; without it, he’d have been chopped into pieces by now.

Seizing the instant the angel raised his weapon, Boss Li flung his flying sword straight at the angel’s face.

Even weapons could be thrown in a fight—this gave the angel pause, and he flashed a wicked grin. Clearly, the man was exhausted and planning to run. With a casual swipe, he knocked the flying sword aside and was about to renew his assault when, suddenly, his vision blurred—a furry little ball shot through his protective field and latched onto him.

The four-winged angel was appalled. His shield was intact, so how could anything have penetrated and reached his body?

Before he could react, a sharp pain stabbed his navel, and his protective aura shattered like glass. Not far away, Boss Li gripped his sword, hands slick with sweat, the Meteor Sword already drawn. When he saw a flash of light at the angel’s body, he understood at once, and—without a moment’s hesitation—remotely controlled the Meteor Sword to slice at the angel’s head.

With his shield broken and his mind in chaos, the four-winged angel had no time to respond before Boss Li’s celestial sword lopped off his head. Blood sprayed skyward like a fountain, and the body spun apart, tumbling from the sky in two pieces.

Boss Li’s eyes searched anxiously until he spotted the furry little ball. He scooped it up and cursed, “You little rascal!”

“Chirp chirp!” The small creature raised its head and called out to Li Chengzhu, as if showing off.

“Scared me half to death,” Boss Li grumbled, feigning sternness. “Next time, at least give me a warning before you run out.”

During the fight, Li Chengzhu had tucked the little creature into the Bloodjade Ring’s pet space to keep it safe. He hadn’t expected it to emerge in the heat of battle, let alone with the Glass Needle in its mouth.

“Quite the capable one, aren’t you?” After scolding it, Boss Li’s sternness melted into a blossoming smile.

He’d learned from Shadow long ago that the little creature was immune to barrier-type spells, but he hadn’t realized it could pierce the angels’ protective energy and reach their bodies directly. Worse, with the Glass Needle in its mouth, a few random jabs were enough to shatter any such shield. Then, if Boss Li’s celestial sword struck next—well, off to the Virgin Mother with you!

After returning the Glass Needle to the Bloodjade Ring, the little creature darted out again, swooping to the ground and sniffing vigorously at the four-winged angel’s corpse.

Li Chengzhu followed close behind, sword in hand. He didn’t know what the little thing was up to, but a father must always watch over his child.

As the creature inhaled and exhaled, a stream of transparent vital energy rose from the angel’s corpse, slowly taking human shape above it.

Once the figure solidified, Boss Li saw clearly that it was the angel’s very soul.

So the little one had this ability too—Li Chengzhu was astonished.

“Chirp chirp!” The small creature turned to call to Boss Li, then, without waiting for a reply, opened its tiny mouth and inhaled forcefully.

Boss Li’s eyes bulged, and he swallowed hard.

The angel’s soul was devoured by the little creature just like that.

Damn, Li Chengzhu regretted ever letting it consume Cui Xiaosa’s nascent soul; now the creature seemed addicted to pure energy.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Boss Li quickly stashed the little fellow back in the Bloodjade Ring and, feigning nonchalance, hurried off to search for his flying sword.