Chapter 278 – sh of Top yers


    Lin Jichen moved in close, not rushing to release any skills. Instead, he took the initiative and thrust his sword towards Xing Sen''s heart.


    Xing Sen was taken aback but also delighted.


    After all, if he could take a normal attack in exchange for hitting Lin Jichen with a skill, it would be a profitable trade.


    So, Xing Sen didn''t hesitate to ept this ''blood trade.''


    As Lin Jichen''s sword pierced his heart, Xing Sen''s two axes were already descending, aiming straight for Lin Jichen''s head, also delivering a critical hit.


    If his skill hit a weak point, the damage exchange would be significant.


    Xing Sen didn''t expect Lin Jichen to be so reckless, seemingly not taking him seriously at all, which made him quite happy.


    As the saying goes, "Pridees before a fall." He thought he might have a chance to defeat Lin Jichen.


    But just half a second before the axes fell, Lin Jichen''s figure suddenly disappeared.


    "Phantom Step!"


    Lin Jichen used his movement technique the moment his sword hit Xing Sen.


    The timing had to be extremely precise.


    If he moved too quickly, he might miss the hit entirely. If he moved too slowly, he would still get hit by Xing Sen''s skill.


    This opportunity was hard to grasp, but it allowed him tond an extra normal attack on his opponent.


    But for Lin Jichen, a master of such maneuvers, it seemed routine—basic operations!


    In high-level duels, details often determine the oue, and every normal attack could be the key to victory.


    Xing Sen was shocked by Lin Jichen''s maneuver, but even more by the damage he couldn''tprehend!


    The sword strike to his heart left a bright red mark.


    <em>[Critical Hit! -2200!]</em>


    Though the damage didn''t seem too high, Xing Sen knew better than anyone that his defense was top-tier among Golden Core Realm cultivators.


    His innate talent increased his defense, and he had invested a lot in defense attributes and luxurious equipment.


    While other Golden Core Realm yers had defenses barely reaching 300, his defense was already at 420!


    With over 400 defense, he was on par with many Golden Core Realm body cultivators known for their high defense and health.


    When he dueled other Golden Core yers, few could break his defense.


    He thought Lin Jichen could at most chip away at his health, given that Lin Jichen was only at the mid-stage of Crystal Formation and couldn''t possibly match his attributes.


    But the damage numbers made him question reality.


    How could a Crystal Realm yer have over 500 strength? Damn!


    As he was stunned, Lin Jichen attacked again,nding several more sword strikes!


    Although Xing Sen quickly guarded his weak points, the damage numbers still baffled him.


    <em>[-1870!]</em>


    <em>[-1890!]</em>


    <em>[-1950!]</em>


    <em>Damn! Damn! Damn!</em>


    <em>This was impossible!</em>


    <em>Why were Lin Jichen''s normal attacks almost as strong as critical hits?</em>


    Xing Sen''s mind was full of questions, and he quickly guessed that Lin Jichen must have learned some powerful sword technique.


    Otherwise, this normal attack damage was simply unscientific.


    Seeing his health bar drop by nearly ten thousand, Xing Sen couldn''t afford to be distracted anymore. With a serious expression, he activated a spirit skill!


    "Mountain Crumble Axe!"


    The axes in Xing Sen''s hands turned from gold to red, like hellish axes forged in magma.


    Holding an axe in each hand, his aura surged as he swung them down!


    In the void, two massive axe shadows appeared, falling from the sky with thunderous force, shaking the earth!


    <em>Boom!</em>


    Before the giant axes even hit the ground, the area within dozens of meters cracked like a shattered mirror, the surface spreading with countless fissures like a spider web.


    As the axesnded, the ground five meters deep seemed to explode like buried dynamite, shattering into pieces.


    Countless mulberry trees were cut down, and leaves flew everywhere in the explosive wind, creating a spectacr scene.


    Fortunately, others knew the battle between these two experts would be intense and had wisely retreated to the other side to avoid being caught in the crossfire.


    Lin Jichen, being at the center, was hit squarely by the spirit skill.


    <em>[-5200!]</em>


    <em>[Bleeding: 100% chance to trigger, losing 5% of current health over 30 seconds.]</em>


    <em>[Crippled: Immune!]</em>


    <em>[Armor Break: Immune!]</em>


    Two deep cross-shaped wounds appeared on Lin Jichen''s back, blood gushing out.


    Lin Jichen had anticipated this damage.


    His defense was never high, as he never invested in ''defense'' attributes.


    Xing Sen wasn''t an ordinary Golden Core cultivator; he was stronger than many Inner Temple NPC Golden Core disciples.


    He had broken through from the Heavenly Dao level and had a powerful innate talent called <em>[Heart of the Axe King].</em>


    This talent ranked within the top fifty on the talent ranking list.


    Lin Jichen could guess that this spirit skill was undoubtedly of the Mysterious Grade and required at least the Crystal Realm to learn.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t have dealt so much damage.@@novelbin@@


    Each skill''s damage varied based on the realm requirements.


    For example, Lin Jichen''s de Storm and Rebirth Buddha Seal, though both Mysterious Grade, only dealt around two thousand damage.


    These skills could be learned at the Foundation Establishment Realm, so their damage wasn''t high.


    This was why Lin Jichen wanted to find new skills, as his old ones couldn''t keep up with his current realm.


    Xing Sen was frustrated. His signature move had only triggered one of its three effects.


    The other two werepletely immune.


    Lin Jichen''s immunity came from the [Dark Cloud Secret Scroll], which granted immunity to Crippled and Armor Break. Xing Sen had hit the jackpot.


    Unwilling to give up, Xing Sen swung his axes again, choosing to use another spirit skill after tasting sess!


    "Assault Storm!"


    Xing Sen''s hands burst with immense energy, and he charged at Lin Jichen like a lightning bolt.


    The axes seemed to whip up a hurricane, with axe lights swirling and air currents shooting like arrows!


    Lin Jichen remained calm, watching Xing Sen charge with the power of a second spirit skill, standing still without panic.


    Seeing Lin Jichen not dodging, Xing Sen was even more delighted, thinking he could gain another big advantage.


    <em>Thud!</em>


    Xing Sen crashed into Lin Jichen, the axe''s spirit power shing through him, but it passed through like air.


    Looking again, Lin Jichen''s figure twisted in the air and then disappeared like a bubble.


    <em>Damn! Tricked!</em>


    Xing Sen realized toote, as a white frost sword qi shed from behind!


    Direct hit on Xing Sen!


    <em>[Frost Moon sh! -1850!]</em>


    <em>[Slowed: 10% chance to trigger,sts 10 seconds!]</em>


    <em>[Frozen: 10% chance to trigger,sts 3 seconds!]</em>


    Xing Sen was speechless. How did a 10% chance trigger? And Zhang Chang had just been frozen too.


    <em>Twice, 10%, both triggered? What kind of luck was this?</em>


    Despite hisints, Xing Sen was frozen.


    He didn''t expect that after being frozen, Lin Jichen''s smoothbo would follow...