Yu Lie's heart was filled with shock and suspicion, but his hands moved swiftly without hesitation.
Immediately, he pulled out another talisman from his sleeve.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three sharp metallic sounds rang out, and three golden lights appeared around Yu Lie, swirling and cutting through the air with a hiss.
This talisman was the Flying Dagger Talisman he had taken from the body of the Wooden Path Boy after killing him.
It was of excellent quality and was now one of the few offensive talismans Yu Lie had in his possession.
What made it special was that while its power wasn't as strong as the golden greatsword talisman the Wooden Path Boy had used, it was much faster and more agile, far surpassing the speed of the Divine Fire Crow talisman Yu Lie currently had.
As soon as the three golden daggers appeared, the chilling aura around Miao Mu, who had been charging at him with a fierce shout, suddenly intensified.
She quickly stopped in her tracks and leaped backward, putting distance between herself and Yu Lie once more.
The three golden daggers whirled and slashed through the air but missed their target.
Miao Mu's voice, filled with both anger and confusion, rang out: "The Life-Stealing Three Daggers Talisman? How do you have that scoundrel Wooden Path Boy's talisman?"
Yu Lie stood firm in the center of the clearing.
Seeing that he was temporarily safe, he hurriedly pulled out another talisman from his sleeve and activated it on himself.
Hum! A golden light enveloped Yu Lie's body, faintly taking the shape of a bell.
This sight made Miao Mu's expression even more uncertain: "The Golden Bell Talisman? So it's true! That scoundrel Wooden Path Boy spent a fortune to buy this set of talismans!"
Whether in Greenwood Town or Blackwater Town, the number of high-ranking Dao Children was limited, especially those who had achieved their status within the last twelve years.
As a result, most high-ranking Dao Children in the two towns knew each other to some extent.
Wooden Path Boy was a seasoned figure in Greenwood Town, with a considerable reputation, so Miao Mu was quite familiar with his methods.
In an instant, Miao Mu stood still in front of Yu Lie, her face showing a troubled expression.
She no longer made a move to attack.
She was now filled with worry and caution:
"This kid has Wooden Path Boy's Flying Dagger Talisman and Golden Bell Talisman. There's no way that scoundrel would have given them to him willingly! Who would give away such lethal and life-saving talismans?"
Dao Children were unable to cultivate spells, so they couldn't create talismans themselves.
They had to spend a fortune to buy them, and even then, it wasn't guaranteed they could get their hands on them.
For example, when Yu Lie had managed to ask Daoist Guo to purchase talismans for him, he had only obtained a series of auxiliary talismans.
He hadn't been able to buy any suitable offensive or defensive talismans, yet he had been overjoyed with what he got.
Therefore, for high-ranking Dao Children, powerful offensive and defensive talismans were rare treasures and would never be given away lightly.
Especially since Miao Mu was closely observing Yu Lie and didn't see any trace of a Greenwood Town Dao Child on him.
With this realization, Miao Mu's face tightened: "This guy is from another town. That scoundrel Wooden Path Boy really was killed!"
She stared at Yu Lie, her eyes filled with even more wariness: "I wonder if this guy still has Wooden Path Boy's seventh-grade Golden Blade Talisman? And what method did he use to kill Wooden Path Boy…"
Various thoughts raced through Miao Mu's mind.
Suddenly, she stood still, the ferocity on her face fading, replaced by a coquettish smile as she said with a giggle:
"Big brother, since we've met by fate, why must we fight to the death at first sight? Why not put aside our differences and get to know each other?"
Yu Lie looked at this high-ranking Dao Child who had gone from hostile to friendly in an instant.
His heart relaxed, and he immediately wanted to smile back at her and part ways peacefully.
But he suppressed the urge to retreat and instead sneered coldly:
"We have indeed met by fate, but it's a fate of enmity. Have you forgotten? It was you who ambushed me just now."
Hearing Yu Lie's sarcasm, Miao Mu's eye twitched involuntarily.
Anger surged in her heart: "You little bastard! How dare you act so arrogantly in front of me!"
She glared coldly at Yu Lie, her fingers twitching as she considered taking the risk to kill him.
But Yu Lie wasn't just standing there foolishly while talking to Miao Mu.
He didn't waste the time the Flying Dagger Talisman was active.
With swift movements, he pulled out a cylindrical object as thick as a human leg from his sleeve.
The object was bronze in color, with whiskers and a tail, carved in the shape of a dragon.
It was none other than Yu Lie's "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water."
Yu Lie planted the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" on the ground and stroked the dragon's head with his hand, squinting at Miao Mu with a look of eager anticipation.
Firearms had a drawback: they weren't as flexible or convenient to use as talismans, and their power was limited.
They were often discarded once one reached the Dao Disciple level.
Dao Disciples used gunpowder as cinnabar or talisman ink to create talismans or refine it into fire pills or thunder pills for quick and easy use.
But Yu Lie had already taken out the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water," and with the Flying Dagger Talismans still swirling around him, he had plenty of time to activate it!
When Miao Mu saw Yu Lie take out the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water," she wasn't ignorant.
She naturally recognized this classic firearm.
She also subconsciously glanced at the Black Snake Fish King that had been burned to death in the fire pit.
The anger on her face instantly froze.
Miao Mu forced another coquettish smile:
"Big brother, why did you take out such a big thing without saying a word? You scared me."
Hearing Miao Mu's words, Yu Lie realized he had completely intimidated her.
However, he didn't laugh triumphantly.
Instead, he stared at her intently, his eyes filled with suspicion:
"Is this woman injured?!"
Although the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" was powerful enough to kill a high-ranking Dao Child and even severely injure a Dao Disciple, almost on par with a seventh-grade talisman, that was all it could do.
Back when Yu Lie had gone out to hunt the wolf demon, he had been able to buy a seventh-grade Qi House Paper Man Talisman with all his savings.
The Wooden Path Boy he had killed had also pulled out a seventh-grade Golden Blade Talisman to restrain She Shuangbai and escape with his life.
Therefore, any Dao Child with a brain, especially those participating in the grand military exercises, would prepare life-saving measures as a last resort.
The more powerful the talisman, the better.
For high-ranking Dao Children, a seventh-grade talisman was the best trump card, equivalent to a strike from a Dao Official.
Those with more wealth would also prepare one or more seventh-grade defensive talismans to withstand a Dao Official's attack.
As Yu Lie looked at Miao Mu, who was wary of him, he began to suspect that she had either used up her trump card or was severely injured…
Yu Lie's eyes grew even more eager.
Speaking of which, because the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" was difficult to prepare and expensive, he only had three in total.
He hadn't even tested the finished product yet and didn't know how powerful it truly was!
Miao Mu, standing opposite him, saw the cold look in Yu Lie's eyes and was certain that the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" he had taken out was no fake!
She cursed inwardly: "You little bastard!"
Miao Mu immediately flickered and retreated, heading toward the exit of the canyon.
Yu Lie hadn't guessed wrong!
This Miao Mu had indeed used up her trump card, which was why she was so wary of him.
Moreover, she was severely injured, her condition no better than Wooden Path Boy's had been!
Because she hadn't escaped from a high-ranking Dao Child in Blackwater Town but from a Dao Disciple.
The reason Miao Mu had encountered Yu Lie in this remote canyon was that she had been hiding nearby to recuperate from her injuries.
She had heard the commotion of Yu Lie fishing and cautiously came out to investigate.
Upon discovering that Yu Lie had caught the Black Snake Fish King, she became greedy and, suppressing her injuries, ambushed him.
Seeing his enemy's actions, Yu Lie was overjoyed and realized his guess was correct!
His movements were swift as he rhythmically tapped the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" and removed a small flag-like dragon whisker from it.
Yu Lie took a few steps back, watching Miao Mu as she jumped and fled.
He laughed heartily:
"Fellow Daoist, let me show you just how powerful this big thing of mine is!"
As he spoke, the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" began to emit smoke, engulfing the bronze tube like a cloud.
A high-pitched screech echoed through the canyon, startling Miao Mu, who instinctively turned to look.
Roar!
Amidst the thick smoke, a black-red dragon with fiery eyes and whiskers, fully ablaze, emerged from the smoke.
Its head was as large as a millstone, and its claws were the size of a human head.
Yu Lie felt the intense heat rolling in front of him.
He held the small flag and waved it wildly, as if in a frenzy.
The fiery-eyed, fiery-whiskered dragon continued to emerge from the smoke, circling Yu Lie and following the rapid movements of the small flag in his hand.
The rocks and pebbles on the ground cracked and melted like candles, forming molten pools.
Yu Lie's surroundings were a sea of red.
Although firearms weren't as fast as fire talismans or fire pills, they weren't slow either.
In just a few moments, Miao Mu saw the fiery-eyed, fiery-whiskered dragon fully emerge from the smoke.
It coiled up, as large as a house.
As the screeching grew louder, the dragon's black-red color faded, becoming increasingly crimson, as if it had come to life.
Miao Mu's eyes filled with horror.
She didn't need to feel it herself to know that the temperature of this gunpowder dragon was still rising.
The heat from this massive creature was something she definitely couldn't withstand!
Miao Mu cursed inwardly: "Damn it!"
The power of Yu Lie's "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" had truly frightened her to the point where she didn't even dare to test it.
Her heart filled with dread, and she gritted her teeth, pulling out the last life-saving talisman from her sleeve.
But this talisman wasn't for defense—it was an offensive one.
A blood-stained, jagged-mouthed man-eating flower appeared in mid-air, glowing with a bloody light.
It was as large as an elephant, clearly a seventh-grade talisman transformed into a spell!
Miao Mu turned her head, her face twisted with ferocity as she screamed at Yu Lie: "Eat him!"
The blood-light man-eating flower obeyed her command, swaying its grotesquely large bud as it pounced toward Yu Lie's location.
Seeing that Miao Mu had also pulled out a seventh-grade talisman, Yu Lie frowned slightly, thinking to himself: "It seems this woman hasn't used up all her trump cards yet!"
But since they were already engaged in combat, Yu Lie naturally couldn't back down.
Moreover, he was confident in the gunpowder firearms he had refined and didn't believe they would lose to her seventh-grade talisman!
Yu Lie waved the small flag gently, directing it toward Miao Mu.
Roar! Crack! Crack! Crack!
A wall of fire in the shape of a dragon and a man-eating flower made of blood light collided fiercely.
The dragon coiled around the man-eating flower, trying to burn it to death, while the flower swung its massive head and bit down on the dragon's head.
Flames roared, and demonic energy surged as the two intertwined and writhed.
At this moment, Miao Mu didn't take the opportunity to retreat.
Instead, she changed direction.
With a ferocious grin, she charged at Yu Lie:
"Want to kill me? Then I'll crush your skull first!"
Hearing this, Yu Lie stood still, smiling without any intention of retreating.
He pointed at Miao Mu with his other hand and shouted: "Go!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three golden daggers spun in the same direction, forming a triangular formation as they shot toward Miao Mu.
No matter how fast or elusive Miao Mu's movements were, she couldn't dodge the three daggers.
But what made Yu Lie's pupils contract was that she didn't even try to dodge.
Instead, she charged straight at him, enduring the daggers.
Miao Mu merely tilted her head, avoiding the dagger aimed at her skull.
After being struck by two daggers, she continued her charge, undeterred.
She had realized that Yu Lie was a formidable opponent and understood that to win, she had to act quickly.
With one Flying Dagger Talisman, her tough physique and the inner armor she wore allowed her to withstand the attack without dying.
But if Yu Lie pulled out a second "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water" or a seventh-grade talisman, she would be dead!
The speed of a high-ranking Dao Child was astonishing.
In just a few steps, Miao Mu was within three to five paces of Yu Lie.
The blood vessels in her eyes were clearly visible to Yu Lie.
But the next moment, just as Miao Mu was about to claw at Yu Lie, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she had to twist her body to the side.
Miao Mu frantically fell to the ground, face first, then rolled away like a donkey.
Because, roar!
The screeching and flames had already attacked from behind her.
A thick, fiery body coiled around Yu Lie, forming a wall of fire within three steps of him, protecting him securely.
Miao Mu turned her head in horror, only to see a slightly dim but still terrifying dragon head, following Yu Lie's raised hand, coldly staring at her.
As for the seventh-grade man-eating flower talisman she had released earlier, its spiritual light had dissipated, and its massive head had shattered into pieces.
"Firearms?"
Miao Mu cursed inwardly: "How can firearms be this powerful? This guy's 'Fire Dragon Emerges from Water' isn't just comparable to a seventh-grade talisman—it's probably on par with a lower-grade seventh-grade talisman!"
Yu Lie stood amidst the flames, gently lowering the small flag in his hand, and said with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist, it's time for you to go."
Roar!
The dimmed dragon lunged at Miao Mu, roaring like thunder.
Miao Mu's face turned deathly pale.
Seeing that she couldn't retreat in time, she didn't despair.
Instead, she let out a bitter laugh and extended her right hand, clawing fiercely at the oncoming dragon.
A sinister female voice rang out: "You want me to die?"
Yu Lie watched coldly, unmoved.
With a snap, he broke the small flag in his hand.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed.
The dragon didn't burn Miao Mu with its flames, giving her a chance to breathe.
Instead, it exploded on impact.
Blazing flames spread in all directions, and a shockwave rolled through the area, sending sand and stones flying.
A fiery crater immediately appeared by the riverbank, with steam rising and the sound of sizzling.
Fragments of clothing swirled around the crater, turning to ash.
But what made Yu Lie narrow his eyes was that the crater only contained a severed arm, not a charred corpse.
He instinctively thought: "Was she blown to pieces?"
But soon, a writhing body by the river caught his attention.
Miao Mu had actually survived a direct hit from the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water"!
Although she wasn't dead, she was close to it.
Both of Miao Mu's legs were broken, her clothes completely burned away.
Blood oozed from her entire body, revealing her tendons and bones, which glistened with a crystalline sheen.
Her blood was a pale green, coating her fair skin, giving her a somewhat tragic beauty.
Miao Mu, bleeding from all nine orifices, used her one remaining arm to support herself as she struggled to crawl to the river.
She turned her head, giving Yu Lie a bitter smile, and spat out blood, trying to utter a few last words:
"Today…"
But Yu Lie didn't say a word.
His body flickered, and he immediately charged at her, causing her bitter smile to freeze.
She desperately pushed herself forward and leaped into the Black River.
Several rocks fell with her.
As she fell, Miao Mu only had time to scream:
"I'll remember you!!!"
Splash!
She instantly disappeared into the water, swallowed by the raging Black River, her fate unknown.
Yu Lie stood by the riverbank, frowning deeply, and muttered to himself:
"Indeed, those who achieve high-ranking Dao Child status at a young age are not to be trifled with!"
Dao Children generally couldn't maintain their youthful appearance.
In Yu Lie's eyes, even if Miao Mu looked young, she couldn't be older than twenty.
Moreover, her blood wasn't the color of lead or mercury but a pure pale green, indicating that she was another genius comparable to She Shuangbai.
She was definitely not an unknown figure in Greenwood Town!
As Yu Lie examined the bloodstains Miao Mu had left on the riverbank, he also suspected that besides trying to capture him first, she had planned to jump into the Black River to escape.
But thinking of the five words she had shouted—"I'll remember you"—Yu Lie raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
He stood by the Black River, touching his face, and sighed softly: "You remember me, but can you find me?"
Leaving aside the fact that they weren't from the same town and the question of whether she could survive after jumping into the river, Yu Lie had been wearing a face mask and a bamboo hat since leaving the mountain stronghold, even covering his eyes.
During the entire battle, he hadn't removed them.
Therefore, even if Miao Mu survived, she wouldn't remember Yu Lie's face.
She would only remember that someone skilled in using gunpowder had crippled her with the "Fire Dragon Emerges from Water"!
And gunpowder, being a convenient and useful tool, was actually used by many Dao Children in the three towns by the Black River, especially those in the middle and lower ranks.
In Blackwater Town alone, there were hundreds of Dao Children whose work involved gunpowder materials, particularly those in