“Clang!”
Just before the Black Xuan Iron Staff could strike, the spirit beast skeleton’s thick, long foreclaw bone slammed heavily against it, producing a piercing clash of metal.
Lin Xiao’s Black Xuan Iron Staff was knocked flying.
His brows creased slightly.
This spirit beast skeleton was clearly very strong. Even when he drove the staff with high-level sixth-grade spiritual force, he could not shatter its claw in the slightest.
On the contrary, the opponent’s strength was enough to send the staff reeling.
It was obvious that the combat power of this spirit beast skeleton was at least above the sixth level of Martial Emperor.
Fortunately, the staff had not been flung too far, so the force was not yet at an overwhelming level.
Lin Xiao urged the Black Xuan Iron Staff forward again and began exchanging blows with the spirit beast skeleton, producing a continuous series of clangs and chimes.
Then he released a mass of spiritual energy containing three types of power. Like a tri-coloured dragon, it charged ferociously towards the spirit beast skeleton.
As though sensing the terror of that spiritual energy, the spirit beast skeleton actually began to dodge.
It seemed to harbour an instinctive fear of thunder, devouring, and burning energies.
However, the tri-coloured dragon could also turn. After looping several times, it finally slammed into the spirit beast skeleton.
“Chhh! Chhh!”
Black smoke billowed out. Struck by incineration, devouring, and lightning from the spiritual energy, thick plumes of black smoke rose from the spirit beast skeleton.
Every bone in its body was burnt down to half its original size.
Nevertheless, the spirit beast skeleton could still move. Trailing black smoke, it flew back towards the valley from which it had emerged.
Lin Xiao activated the Void Heaven Phoenix Wings, shot forward, retrieved the Black Xuan Iron Staff, and closely followed behind.
Moments later, the spirit beast skeleton crashed into a valley.
Bang! Upon hitting the ground, the enormous frame instantly shattered, collapsing into a pile of broken bones. The skeleton was no longer whole and showed no further movement.
Lin Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this spirit beast skeleton was not too strong. A single use of spiritual energy had dealt with it easily.
Clip-clop! Clip-clop! At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly rang out.
The noise was far sharper and faster than ordinary hoofbeats.
Lin Xiao quickly turned to look. One after another, humanoid skeletons clutching long spears sat astride horse-shaped skeletons, charging rapidly from the mouth of a valley ahead, kicking up clouds of dust.
There were around three hundred in total.
They looked like a proper cavalry unit. The humanoid skeleton at the very front was the most robust.
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
When they reached a spot not far within the valley, the warhorses beneath the cavalry skeletons stamped their hind legs against the ground, leapt into the air, then galloped fiercely through the void straight towards Lin Xiao.
The long spears in the riders’ hands fluttered, radiating intense battle intent.
Lin Xiao was stunned.
These humanoid skeletons all possessed complete frames, yet they surely had no consciousness and no imprints.
Even so, an entire cavalry unit was actively attacking.
What was the reason for this?
Could it be that, in life, these people had been so powerful?
Or perhaps, having been cavalry while alive, after death their skeletons retained habitual behaviour, chasing and attacking anyone they saw because the bones remembered their old instincts?
Or was some force guiding them?
“Chhh! Chhh!”
Questions were questions, but Lin Xiao did not neglect his counterattack. With a surge of spiritual force, three hundred swords formed from spiritual energy condensed in front of him and shot towards the oncoming cavalry.
To his surprise, the riders reacted extremely quickly. They swung their rust-covered spears and smashed the spiritual-energy swords apart.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The spiritual-energy swords exploded into powerful shockwaves. A few skeleton riders and mounts were forced back.
Yet only a minority were affected. The cavalry formation maintained its order and continued the charge. The few that had been repelled swiftly rejoined the ranks.
Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback. These cavalry skeletons were indeed no weaklings. Even his spiritual-energy swords could not destroy a single one, only forcing a small number back.
Boom! At that moment, a peal of thunder roared. Lin Xiao unleashed pure lightning energy. A lightning dragon burst from between his brows and thundered towards the three hundred charging skeleton cavalry.
Lightning counters evil. Lin Xiao wanted to see whether pure lightning energy would be even more effective against these sinister creatures.
The instant the lightning dragon appeared, the cavalry skeletons, whether from instinctive fear or heightened battle spirit, swung their spears. Waves of power erupted.
Streams of pale, sinister spear light shot out, converging into a river of spear radiance that crashed against the lightning dragon.
“Boom!”
A tremendous explosion sounded. Violent shockwaves burst forth. Lin Xiao’s lightning dragon shattered segment by segment.
Yet the eerie river of spear light did not fully dissipate. It continued surging towards Lin Xiao.
He was greatly shocked.
Unlike the skeletons he had encountered earlier, which could only attack mechanically in close combat, these skeletons could actually project power?
And such formidable power at that?
This was utterly incomprehensible.
Could it be that, after countless years, with their flesh long decayed and only bones remaining, a trace of their original strength still lingered within?
Or was something in this region truly granting them power and directing them?
Lin Xiao could not figure it out. Being able to project power made them almost identical to the combat skeletons he refined himself.
The only difference was that when he created combat skeletons, he imprinted attack patterns similar to martial techniques.
These skeletons, however, seemed to fight according to the instincts they had possessed in life.
“Chhh!”
Feeling the lingering might of the combined attack from three hundred cavalry skeletons, Lin Xiao hurriedly raised both palms and activated the Impregnable Haoran Defence martial skill. Vast Haoran power flowed between his palms, forming a golden energy barrier that enveloped his entire body.
Scales condensed across the surface of the golden barrier, rendering the defence impregnable and wrapping him tightly.
“Boom! Chhh!”
The river of spear light slammed into the golden barrier, producing fierce explosive sounds. With Lin Xiao’s current half-step Martial Emperor prime essence, equivalent to seventh-level Martial Emperor combat strength, the Impregnable Haoran he unleashed was extraordinarily tough. It blocked the spear radiance that had already been weakened by the lightning energy.
Nevertheless, the power of the spear light was immense. Even though he defended successfully, Lin Xiao’s body was still sent flying far backwards.
The golden barrier shuddered violently but held firm, protecting him from the residual force.
Lin Xiao was shocked once more. The combined might of three hundred cavalry was actually this strong.
“Swish!”
In that instant, Lin Xiao threw out the Purple Corpse Puppet, ordering it to veer sideways and attack the cavalry formation.
At the same time, he shot forward himself, stepping once more onto the Void Heaven Phoenix Wings that had been knocked away. He formed ten spiritual-energy humanoids that scattered in all directions to assault the skeleton troop and draw attention.
He took out the Nether Heaven Demonic Pillar and directly unleashed the fifth level of the Nether Heaven Demonic Art. Billowing black vapour erupted as the matchless black pillar smashed forward.
At this moment, Lin Xiao wanted to see whether these mindless skeleton cavalry could cope with the multiple attacks he had split off.
And because the offensive power of this skeleton troop was so formidable, an idea had also begun to form in his mind.
