Chapter 670: Drawing out the life force

While flying, Li Fan would occasionally feel spiritual sense sweeping over him from below. However, seeing that Li Fan was just passing by, it was quickly withdrawn.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Li Fan arrived outside the mountain range Shuofeng had indicated. Winding like a colossal dragon, the mountain range had sixteen towering peaks. Even through the protective formation, one could seemingly feel the dense spiritual energy permeating the mountain range.

Almost the moment Li Fan arrived, a female cultivator in a light yellow long dress flew out from one of the peaks and appeared before him.

"You must be the Young Master's guest. Please come this way."

The female cultivator's demeanor was very respectful as she led Li Fan through the protective formation and into the mountain range. Li Fan glanced at the female cultivator leading the way, surprised to find that she, like him, was at the Mid-Nascent Soul stage. Yet here, she seemed to be merely a servant. However, Li Fan did not feel embarrassed; instead, he remained composed and began to inquire about the place from the female cultivator. The yellow-robed female cultivator showed no neglect due to Li Fan's strength; she explained everything she could in detail.

This mountain range was named Shuofeng Mountain. Indeed, it was purchased by Immortal Venerable Feixue and named after Shuofeng, then given to him as a gift after he successfully established his foundation that year. Although named a mountain, it was actually a meticulously crafted cave-dwelling. The sixteen peaks formed a powerful formation that not only gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but were also forged from wondrous objects imbued with the laws of nature. Being within them, one would be subtly influenced by the dense power of these laws, leading to daily advancements in cultivation, even without deliberate practice.

Although this cave-dwelling was extraordinary, after Shuofeng broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, Immortal Venerable Feixue gifted him a villa within Tianquan City. Consequently, Shuofeng Mountain gradually fell into disuse. He would only occasionally visit for leisure.

Before long, Li Fan saw Shuofeng, clad in green, standing on the highest central peak. With his hands clasped behind his back and a calm expression, he stood in the center. Around him, a total of six late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were launching attacks. They were not using their Heavenly Abode power, only simple spells.

Witnessing this scene, Li Fan's gaze narrowed slightly. Strictly speaking, these Nascent Soul cultivators were by no means weak. They employed five-element spells, divine weapons, flying swords, and even black arrow divine abilities that could traverse space and launch surprise attacks from various bizarre directions. But facing these attacks, Shuofeng neither dodged nor evaded. He didn't even blink. White light danced, and his miraculous Heavenly Sword instantly blocked all attacks, bouncing them back.

"Boom! Boom!"

Explosions continuously resounded. The six Nascent Soul cultivators lasted only about a dozen breaths before they were all wounded by their own attacks and defeated. Shuofeng showed no mercy. These few were severely wounded; one even had his body directly destroyed and only reformed it after his Heavenly Abode power circulated for a while.

"Too weak. Send in another batch," Shuofeng said, his tone somewhat cold and a hint of impatience on his face.

The six Nascent Soul cultivators all wore bitter expressions but dared not speak, merely cupping their hands before withdrawing together.

"Hahahaha, Brother Shuo, what a grand display of power!" Li Fan suddenly burst into laughter, applauding repeatedly and showing no subservience despite the other's imposing aura.

"You flatter me, Brother Li!" A slight smile appeared on Shuofeng's cold face.

The six departing Nascent Soul cultivators quietly glanced at Li Fan. Not daring to linger, they merely speculated about Li Fan's identity in their minds.

"Long time no see, Brother Shuo! Your strength has indeed improved further. However, I am no weaker than you!"

"I challenge you!"

Without much preamble, Li Fan's expression instantly turned cold as he stretched out his right hand and pointed it at Shuofeng from a distance.

*Whoosh...*

A gust of wind passed by, but Shuofeng, who had been waiting in full readiness, waited for a long time and saw no unusual occurrences around him. His smile gradually faded, and Shuofeng's eyes grew slightly cold. "Brother Li, are you making fun of me?"

Li Fan's expression remained unchanged as he smiled faintly. "I just comprehended this divine ability, and it's my first time using it, so a small mistake is normal."

"But it's fine, it should work this time."

"Be careful!"

Li Fan's tone instantly turned incredibly cold. He withdrew his right finger and lightly pointed again.

"Thread Extraction!"

The air remained light and calm, as if nothing had happened. Only Li Fan's emotionless voice echoed over the peak.

Shuofeng was about to speak, but then sensed something and his expression changed drastically. Strands of thread were stripped away from the green long robe he was wearing. The green threads drifted in the air, as if dissolving in water, and disappeared in an instant. Shuofeng was about to make a move, but involuntarily let out a muffled groan. Instantly, a bloody mark appeared on his body, as if a sharp blade had cut through his skin, revealing the flesh beneath. And before Shuofeng, a red thread appeared in the air.

"Sss..."

"Sss..."

Eerie sounds continued to ring out. Each time it sounded, another blood-red thread appeared in the air, and another bloody mark appeared on Shuofeng's body. In just a blink of an eye, Shuofeng was covered in wounds and dripping with blood. And in Shuofeng's heart, waves of chill arose.

Being very clear about his own condition, he discovered that he had not just suffered minor flesh wounds. Instead, the very composition of his body was being extracted into thin air and disappearing! It was as if... a small figure entirely woven from needle and thread was having the threads within it slowly pulled out! Moreover, from beginning to end, his own wondrous Foundation Establishment sword had not mounted any defensive counterattack!

"No wonder it's called 'Thread Extraction'!" Shuofeng couldn't help but think. "If this continues..." In Shuofeng's mind, a terrifying image flashed: his body shrinking as the threads were continuously drawn out, becoming smaller and smaller, until he was like a worn-out rag doll, falling weakly to the ground, crying out while awaiting his fate of destruction. A shiver of dread ran through him.

But even with his thoughts racing, he temporarily couldn't find a way to counter this Thread Extraction divine ability. And Li Fan remained suspended in the air, continuously pointing, keeping Shuofeng locked down. He showed no intention of stopping!

"This guy will really kill me!" Shuofeng was startled, looking at Li Fan's incredibly profound eyes.

"I surrender! I surrender!" Driven by the instinct for survival, Shuofeng cried out repeatedly.

Hearing Shuofeng's voice, Li Fan finally withdrew his right finger. "Pffft!" In an instant, it was as if countless connecting threads snapped. Layers of blood mist erupted from Shuofeng's body.

"Young Master!" the yellow-robed female cultivator shrieked in alarm, her face turning pale with fright.

"I'm fine!" Shuofeng waved his hand, stopping the female cultivator who was about to step forward to check on him.

"Thank you for the match!" Li Fan said calmly, cupping his hands.

Shuofeng looked at Li Fan with a complex expression in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist truly possesses a powerful divine ability!"