My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

BAM.

A spray of ice shards flew everywhere, and the ice sheet was marred by a series of deep pits where the two had stepped. After his first strike missed, Xue Liang immediately began a deadly pursuit of Zhao Zuo. His footwork was profound and his movements were nimble, his Swordsmanship exquisite and untraceable—a combat instinct honed through countless battles to the death.

Light flicks, horizontal cuts, vertical slashes, and straight thrusts—each and every move, coordinated with his footwork, was incredibly deadly. He stuck to Zhao Zuo like glue, giving him no room to breathe.

No pre-battle banter, no probing attacks—only the struggle between life and death.

Zhao Zuo casually slapped a few Vajra Talismans onto himself, raising a golden barrier that temporarily blocked Xue Liang’s dense, rain-like assault. Countless sword shadows, slashing and stabbing, fell relentlessly. The sturdy golden barrier began to tremble, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Zuo stabbed his Hidden Blade Giant Sword, sheath and all, into the ice. He quickly gripped the hilt with both hands. Pulled by two opposing forces, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword slid smoothly from its sheath.

CRACK, CRACK.

At that very same moment, the golden barrier shattered. A silver sword shadow was already aimed at Zhao Zuo’s throat. It was hard to believe this was the skill and power of a ninety-year-old Cultivator.

Zhao Zuo hastily exerted his strength, swinging the Hidden Blade Giant Sword in a horizontal slash. The power technique he used was One Slash, which had practically become instinct, unleashing a colossal force that erupted within a small area.

The force of their collision destroyed the surrounding ice, and shattered ice shards rose like a pillar of white vapor. Zhao Zuo knew that no matter how terrifying Xue Liang’s combat prowess appeared, he could not defy the inevitable rule of declining Qi Blood!

In this battle, Xue Liang sought a swift victory because he could not afford a protracted fight.

Zhao Zuo pressed his advantage. The Hidden Blade Giant Sword’s slash abruptly changed into an upward flick, sending Xue Liang flying. The latter stumbled back about ten meters, each step he took carving a deep pit into the ice and sending spiderweb-like cracks spreading in all directions.

Across from him, Xue Liang stared intently at Zhao Zuo, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. It was clear that in their most direct and violent clash... he had come out slightly worse.

The once-unstoppable God of War from the army, who had commanded the winds and clouds, was finally old and frail. He no longer possessed the arm strength of his prime.

Xue Liang didn’t pause. He advanced, three talisman papers already ignited in his hand.

In the next second, Xue Liang’s speed surged, so fast that he left a trail of afterimages. One moment he was over ten meters away, and the next... his silver longsword was slashing at Zhao Zuo’s face.

Faced with this terrifying speed, Zhao Zuo immediately dodged to the side, creating half a body’s length of distance to perilously evade the deadly slash.

This must be a High Level One Tier Divine Wind Talisman, the equivalent of an enhanced Light Body Talisman. A powerful current of air now enveloped Xue Liang, swirling with ice powder to form a pale blue barrier—a characteristic of the Divine Wind Talisman.

Before Zhao Zuo could react, a strange thought struck him. ’Xue Liang activated three Talismans. Besides the Divine Wind Talisman... what are the other two?’

His heart leaped as an intense sense of crisis washed over him. Zhao Zuo felt a disturbance in the ice beneath his feet and immediately retreated. At the same time, countless ice spikes shot up from the surface, like dozens of razor-sharp swords aimed at his vital points.

A terrifyingly cold aura spread out, even beginning to slow Zhao Zuo’s movements.

A High Level One Tier Talisman—the Ice Talisman!

This Talisman used Talisman Power to manipulate the Power of Ice. It could form a shield before its user or create deadly ice spikes under an enemy’s feet. Although its effects were potent, each one cost a hefty price of forty Spirit Stones.

In other words, in just ten-odd seconds of battle, Xue Liang had already spent nearly a hundred Spirit Stones!

’Alchemists really are filthy rich.’

Zhao Zuo complained internally, but his actions didn’t slow for even a fraction of a second. He pushed off with his legs, continuing to retreat and dodge. ’The Ice Talisman is powerful... but it only has enough for one attack!’

To his astonishment, the ice spikes suddenly branched out, like an ice tree sprouting limbs. The change occurred in a split second, and Zhao Zuo no longer had time to retreat. The terrifying cold seemed to freeze the very blood in his veins.

Xue Liang had activated two Ice Talismans and used his formidable soul to make them work in tandem.

HUUU...

Zhao Zuo held his breath and concentrated his spirit. The dormant Qi Blood within him suddenly awakened. Bulging veins and blue tendons surfaced on his skin, looking utterly ferocious, and his heartbeat quickened, pumping blood to every corner of his body.

In a single breath, Zhao Zuo’s Qi Blood erupted, faintly forming an illusory flame of blood that cloaked him like armor, warding off the spreading chill.

"Realm of Overflowing Blade."

In that instant, his physical strength shattered its limits. A terrifying power was born in his legs, channeled through his waist, and finally converged in the arms gripping the Hidden Blade Giant Sword. His bones creaked and popped under the strain. This was an explosive burst of power bought by compressing his own body—his strongest strike ever.

Simultaneously, the Sky-Breaking Saber at his waist shot out.

Zhao Zuo swung his sword with ease. The Hidden Blade Giant Sword displayed a horrifying sharpness, neatly cleaving through the ice spikes as if a scythe mowing grass. The cut surfaces were perfectly smooth.

He took a step forward against the spreading ice spikes, his Giant Sword carving a perfect arc. It was a flawless combination of power and skill. The chaotic energy was forcibly constrained and condensed into an invisible Sword Gang, sweeping away entire patches of ice.

Without a hint of hesitation, Zhao Zuo continued to press forward.

Meanwhile, in a blind spot Xue Liang hadn’t noticed, the Sky-Breaking Saber was plummeting like a shooting star, aimed straight at his forehead. Although Zhao Zuo supplemented his training with Body Refining, he had never forgotten that his greatest strength... was actually his endless supply of Magical Artifacts.

Dealing with the ice spikes was just a feint to draw his attention.

Xue Liang threw out several more Ice Talismans, attempting to annihilate his foe.

But soon, he realized his defensive trump card had activated on its own. A silver barrier enveloped him, and he finally noticed the inconspicuous Magical Artifact above his head.

CRACK! BAM!

The silver barrier exploded. Though the Sky-Breaking Saber’s power was diminished, its trajectory was unchanged. At the critical moment, Xue Liang swung his own silver longsword at the Sky-Breaking Saber. A bolt of silver light clashed with the Saber.

At the juncture of life and death, Xue Liang forcibly squeezed out the last of his Qi Blood. At the same time, his eyes took on a faint, blood-red sheen, making him look incredibly sinister.

TING.

The Sky-Breaking Saber was sent flying, landing on the ice nearby.

By this time, Zhao Zuo had shattered all the ice spikes in his path and appeared before Xue Liang. The latter immediately raised his sword to attack, his movements still incredibly swift.

Fine lines of black and white light clashed against each other, and an invisible gale tore at everything around them.

During the exchange, Zhao Zuo had already begun pouring Mana into a hidden clasp at his waist. After about a fifth of his Mana was depleted, the Soul-Shaking Bell suddenly burst with Golden Light. A deep, resonant toll spread out, like a sudden clap of thunder.

An invisible ripple emanated from it—an attack that directly targeted the soul.

Xue Liang, in the middle of a swing, suddenly froze. The light vanished from his eyes.

In battle, a moment’s lapse is all it takes to decide life and death.

SWISH!

......