Chapter 1248: Chapter 432: Lu Ping’an Battles Patriarch Sima!_4 His eyes brimming with murderous intent, he looked at Ling Zixiao and took out two Talismans from his Storage Ring. Upon activation of the two Talismans, one of them formed a layer of dazzling golden light, enveloping his entire body in protection. The other Talisman transformed into a gigantic fireball, a full ten feet in diameter, and charged towards the Talisman Formation. These were Third-Rank Talismans he had spent a great deal of money to procure for self-defense. He hoped to use the Talismans to break the Talisman Formation and thus slay Ling Zixiao. As long as Ling Zixiao was dead, he was confident he could deal with Lu Ping’an. "Third-Rank Talismans." Ling Zixiao had already anticipated that a False Core Patriarch like Sima Tong would have plenty of tricks up his sleeve, so he immediately cast a Talisman towards the Talisman Formation. This Talisman was extraordinary, clearly exuding the aura of a Third-Rank Talisman. "Boom boom boom——" As the Wind and Fire Sky-Covering Formation absorbed this Third-Rank Talisman, it instantly turned into rolling thunder, extinguishing the fireball and then streaking towards Patriarch Sima. Patriarch Sima’s face turned pale with shock at this display of power as he exclaimed, "Third-Rank Talismans!" You must know, within the entire Jiang Country Cultivation Realm, the number of Third-Rank Talisman Masters was countable on one hand. His few Third-Rank Talismans were acquired at great cost. And now before him, Ling Zixiao too possessed Third-Rank Talismans. "Rumble!" The Divine Thunder Talisman broke through the fireball and bombarded Patriarch Sima, who quickly urged his bowl-shaped Spiritual Artifact to its limit, yet the resplendent golden sheen of his body dimmed significantly. "Boom boom boom——" Seeing this, Lu Ping’an continued to advance and attack with overwhelming ferocity. "Whoosh——" Ling Zixiao formed a Gesture Incantation with both hands, integrating another Third-Rank Talisman into the Talisman Formation, causing Patriarch Sima to shudder in terror. "Ling Zixiao, is your Bi Lake Mountain truly intent on committing such an act of annihilation!?" Patriarch Sima immediately yelled out loud. At this moment, he was afraid. If Ling Zixiao had several more Third-Rank Talismans, he might well meet his end here today. "An act of annihilation? Your Sima Family has repeatedly provoked my Bi Lake Mountain and intercepted the Lu Family Caravan. If we do not kill you today, where does the dignity of our Bi Lake Mountain stand!?" Ling Zixiao’s hair was pinned up high, her brows fierce, radiating an inviolable and proud demeanor. "If you kill me, it will be a fight to the death with the Sima Family!" Patriarch Sima continued to shout, trying to deter her with the threat of his Family. The Sima Family not only had two False Core experts, but they also had significant ties within the Qingyun Sect. "Fight to the death? Today you bullied the weak with your strength, and later, I will personally go to your Profound Martial Ridge with my Lord to seek an explanation." "I’d like to see if your Profound Martial Ridge can withstand the onslaught of my Lord’s Mountain Shaking Formation and the Thousand-Talisman Great Formation!" "It’s also not a secret that my Lord has been promoted to a Third-Rank Talisman Master, and I am curious just how many of his Third-Rank Talismans your turtle shell can withstand!" Ling Zixiao stood with dignity, her voice calm yet indifferent, exuding a lofty and authoritative grandeur that seemed to scornfully look down upon the world, possessing the power to grant life or deliver death. "Third-Rank Talisman Master!" "What, Lu Changsheng has been promoted to a Third-Rank Talisman Master?!" Patriarch Sima and Sima Tai, hidden inside the Bronze Bell, both had a drastic change in complexion and were startled. Although a Third-Rank Talisman Master was not the same as a Nascent Soul Immortal. Even Nascent Soul Immortals would give some respect to a Third-Rank Talisman Master. After all, they too needed Third-Rank Talismans in their daily lives. Even if not for themselves, they might seek several of these for their descendants to carry for protection. Moreover, Lu Changsheng was no ordinary Talisman Master. He had inheritance in the Talisman Path and was adept at Talisman Formation techniques. If he was willing to spend a large number of Third-Rank Talismans to set up a formation, False Core Immortals would be no match for him. "No wonder this woman has so many Talismans, including Third-Rank ones. So it turns out Lu Changsheng has ascended to a Third-Rank Talisman Master!" Patriarch Sima was filled with regret. If he had known this information earlier, he would never have come here so rashly. At this point, he felt like he was stuck in a difficult situation. After all, if Lu Changsheng was truly a Third-Rank Talisman Master, a clash between the two families could very well have an unpredictable outcome. "This matter is our Profound Martial Ridge’s fault, I implore Lady Lu to show mercy." "Regarding today’s affair, my Sima Family is willing to offer compensation!" Patriarch Sima, while wielding the Leveling Ruler to fend off Lu Ping’an’s assault and looking at the two Third-Rank Talismans on the Talisman Formation, spoke with a somewhat hoarse voice. He knew that he had lost. To continue fighting would mean only to self-destruct his False Core in a desperate struggle. Better to concede defeat early before getting seriously injured, and offer compensation. Moreover, he realized that since Ling Zixiao had not activated that Third-Rank Talisman immediately, it indicated she had no intention of killing him outright. Bi Lake Mountain also did not want to utterly fall out with his family and end up in a full-scale fight. If the two families were to fully engage, it would only benefit other families who would watch with glee as both suffered serious damage.