Chapter 985: Chapter 953: Bandit Cultivators of the Valley

The two individuals were a man and a woman, appearing to be in their twenties or thirties, dressed in uniform robes, seemingly sect disciples or members of a cultivation clan.

Judging by the magical power fluctuations of the flying ship they were controlling, it was at the tier four spiritual artifact level.

With a faint sweep of his divine sense, Lu Ping discerned their cultivation, which was at the early-stage Golden Core, having seemingly broken through not long ago.

The female cultivator among them, her cultivation was still unstable, clearly having condensed her Golden Core only in the past two months.

Cultivators have techniques to preserve their youthful appearance, so the actual age of the two must not be as young as they appear.

As Lu Ping glanced at them, the two also looked over, noting Lu Ping’s movements on his side.

Seeing Lu Ping flying smoothly, seemingly leisurely unaffected by the onslaught of wind blades.

The female cultivator in the blue robe couldn’t help but show some surprise, saying enviously, "What an impressive flying ship."

The other cultivator also glanced at the Divine Light Ship.

Due to the considerable distance separating them, as Lu Ping had long left them behind, the two hadn’t yet carefully sensed the strength of the Divine Light Ship or Lu Ping’s cultivation realm.

In the next moment, they only saw Lu Ping transform into light and swiftly depart.

Subconsciously assuming Lu Ping’s ease in dealing with the sweep of wind blades relied entirely on the assistance of the flying ship.

Not paying much attention to the two, Lu Ping swiftly crossed the entire canyon in just half a day.

Generally speaking, Golden Core cultivators and those below the Golden Core Stage would often choose to recover their magical power nearby, due to the depletion in resisting the assault of the Celestial Ghost Storm.

Lu Ping had no intention of lingering, his magical power still abundant as he prepared to fly farther.

Suddenly, not far ahead, several figures appeared.

"Hehe, quite impressive, my friend. To have crossed the Celestial Secret Mountain Range so steadily and reached here."

Among them, a man dressed in a black robe with an ugly appearance took the lead, blocking Lu Ping’s path.

Behind him, four cultivators moved together, each controlling a flying artifact such as a flying sword or flying shuttle, creating a surrounding stance to encircle Lu Ping.

"Hahaha, daring to traverse the Celestial Secret Mountain Range alone, my friend, you must have quite some treasures on you."

Among the four, a middle-aged beautiful woman spoke, her eyes with a hint of mockery as she sized up Lu Ping.

"So young, probably a disciple from some clan out for experience."

"I would say likely so."

"Right, perhaps one like those rash youths earlier who couldn’t withstand a few moves before begging for mercy."

The other three spoke in turn, their tone full of amusement, seemingly treating Lu Ping as an inexperienced youngling.

With cultivation far superior to these five, Lu Ping restrained his aura and was only using the autonomous cruising feature of the flying ship. Thus, the five could not sense Lu Ping’s cultivation level.

Merely judging from his age, they concluded he must be weaker than them.

How is it in Central Yunzhou, Lu Ping still encounters bandit cultivators.

Hiding in this place, engaging in murder and treasure looting, they surely have some gall.

Faced with the five’s actions, Lu Ping narrowed his gaze and slowly clasped his hands behind him, casually glancing at them.

From their cultivation, the ugly man was at ninth-layer Crystallization.

The middle-aged beautiful woman was at sixth-layer Crystallization.

Among the others, one was at eighth-layer Foundation Establishment, and two at second-layer Crystallization.

This team combat power, as long as they don’t encounter a Golden Core cultivator, they indeed have reason to be proud.

However...

Golden Core cultivators they cannot contend with, and Nascent Soul True Monarchs even more so.

Seeing Lu Ping’s calm and fearless demeanor, the middle-aged beautiful woman’s brows furrowed, her tone somewhat acerbic.

"Kid, today dying at the hands of us, the Celestial Nether Five Wanderers, you wouldn’t be unjust."

As soon as she finished speaking, she activated the flying needle spiritual artifact in her hand, suddenly attacking Lu Ping.

Almost invisible to the naked eye, the flying needle spiritual artifact was only the size of a silver needle, its speed so swift that in just the blink of an eye, it reached Lu Ping.

With Lu Ping’s formidable strength, such a threat from a Crystallization Stage cultivator was beneath him.

As the middle-aged beautiful woman prepared to act, he had already sensed the presence of the flying needle.

At present, in response to such flying needle attacks, there was no evasion; it wasn’t because of slow reflexes but simply unnecessary.

In a hurried glance, seeing Lu Ping not dodge, assuming he was scared silly, with such ease to kill, the middle-aged beauty’s lips curled in a cold smile.

This one was even easier to kill than those three family clan cultivators before!

At this instant, Lu Ping became the focal point of attention.

The five thought the flying needle would pierce through Lu Ping’s head, ending his life on the spot, but the next moment, the scene that made their eyes widen unfolded.

Ding!

As the flying needle neared Lu Ping, within only a finger’s distance, it was abruptly rebuffed by the Nascent Soul Body-Protecting Light Curtain, dimming as it fell.

This protective light curtain was automatic, so even if Lu Ping were sleeping now, further attacks would still be warded off and dissolved.

"What?"

Seeing her attack ineffective, even her artifact encountering a dreadful counterforce, its might drastically fading, seemingly about to explode, the middle-aged beautiful woman was shocked.

The other four, witnessing this scene, were similarly taken aback, narrowing their eyes in disbelief.

"What trickery is this!"

The ugly man was the first to react, his face ominous, not wanting to leave Lu Ping time to respond, hurriedly activated the magical sword in his hand, fiercely slashing at Lu Ping.

Whoosh!

This sword strike bore even greater might, bursting forth with powerful and sharp sword qi, the sword light brilliant and dazzling, illuminating the realm.

This was the cultivator’s signature sword technique, fully unleashed able to cleave through even tier three top-grade spiritual artifacts!

Under such dominant sword power, even the other four narrowed their eyes, feeling this sword to be unbeatable.

With the intention to use this Heaven-Opening Sword, to break through the protective light curtain surrounding Lu Ping with one slash.

However, this time, Lu Ping did not remain entirely immobile.

Rather, he casually raised his hand, intertwining his fingers as he frontally met, pinching the incoming magical sword straight between his fingers.

No, precisely speaking, pinched between his two fingers!

"Wh...what!!!"

The middle-aged beautiful woman’s gasp sounded first, witnessing this astonishing scene, her eyes full of incredulity.

The other four were equally stupefied, standing dumbfounded, utterly dazed as if witnessing an utterly surreal scenario.

That... that was a tier four top-grade magical sword!

With ninth-layer Crystallization power driving it, once slashed, even a Golden Core cultivator couldn’t casually, with mere flesh, catch it with mere fingers!

Yet, this unbelievable scene unfolded right before their eyes, sans any possible deceit.

What shocked them even further was Lu Ping’s subsequent action.