“Nine Veins Air Sword, Wind Sword!”
As Ling Xiao dashed forward, an air sword burst forth, infused with the power of the wind phenomenon, its speed surging.
*Rip!*
The bow of the peak Mortal Realm Fourth Layer warrior was sliced in half, and the air sword pressed on.
*Splurch!*
Caught off guard, the warrior was pierced through.
A mere piercing wound wouldn’t be fatal for a Mortal Realm warrior, as long as it avoided the heart or head.
But as the warrior smirked, a terrifying soul force slammed into his soul’s depths.
*Pfft!*
He spat blood, collapsing unconscious.
“Careful, this kid’s hiding his strength! Just hold him off, leave him to me!” Cold Face Warrior shouted while chasing.
Exquisite Fairy, having retrieved the storage ring, probed it with her soul force and raged, “That wretched kid took everything inside! Stop him, no matter the cost!”
Ling Xiao chuckled. If he escaped Exquisite Fairy and Cold Face Warrior, the others didn’t concern him.
At the stone chamber’s entrance, one peak Mortal Realm Fourth Layer warrior was out cold, the other still dazed. Ling Xiao shot past.
To that warrior, his speed seemed faster than an arrow.
“What are you gawking at? Chase him!” Cold Face Warrior roared, bursting out, with Exquisite Fairy close behind, desperately pursuing.
Hunting falcons all their lives, today they were blinded by one, infuriating them both.
They never imagined the kid they thought they had suppressed would suddenly become so formidable.
Though his strength was still below theirs, his speed was uncanny.
Camp warriors were rushing over, but none matched Ling Xiao’s pace.
Instead of fleeing immediately, Ling Xiao tampered with something at the cave entrance.
“Heh, Exquisite Fairy, you lot can stay in that cave for a bit, or I’m afraid you’ll catch me.”
He’d controlled the cave’s array earlier for this moment.
If those two kept chasing, escape might be tough, but trapping them inside changed everything.
“Die, kid!” Cold Face Warrior, mid-lunge, raised his sword, true essence surging wildly.
Wrapped in silvery true essence, the sword grew larger, radiating explosive force.
“Idiot, trap us? No chance!” Cold Face sneered, “With your early Mortal Realm Third Layer cultivation, you think you can pull that off?”
“Get back!” Facing Cold Face’s ferocious strike, Ling Xiao smirked, drawing his Ice Dragon Sword and thrusting.
“Snow Lotus Sword Art, Water Condensation!”
His smoothest move was still the Snow Lotus Sword Art. Though Water Condensation wasn’t as swift as Flying Snow, it excelled at hindering foes.
The Ice Dragon Sword seemed to turn transparent, the surrounding air nearly freezing.
Cold Face felt his charge slow abruptly.
Too late to think, he thrust his silver sword.
“Frost Condensation Sword!”
*Clang!*
The swords clashed at the narrow cave mouth, a piercing metallic ring echoing within.
Cold Face stared, stunned, expecting to send Ling Xiao flying.
Instead, he staggered back two steps, nearly crashing into Exquisite Fairy.
He’d only used half his strength, true.
But a Mortal Realm Fifth Layer warrior losing ground to an early Third Layer?
“Fool, I told you not to underestimate him! He’s cunning!” Exquisite Fairy, sensing trouble, darted past Cold Face, attacking Ling Xiao.
She didn’t know his plan but felt an ominous premonition.
“Heh, had your fun? Goodbye!” *Boom!*
As Ling Xiao spoke, Exquisite Fairy’s palm strike missed him, hitting the cave mouth’s array.
She could see Ling Xiao outside but couldn’t pass through.
They could only watch his figure vanish swiftly.
“Fairy, what now?” Cold Face was stunned.
He hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to outsmart them from the start, even rigging the cave’s array.
Camp warriors finally arrived.
Through the array, those inside and outside could talk, but none could cross.
“What are you staring at? Chase that Ling kid! Use every means to kill him, quick! He mustn’t escape!” Exquisite Fairy trembled with rage.
She’d been so cautious, yet Ling Xiao had played her.
She couldn’t swallow this insult.
*Pfft!*
Fury and frustration made her spit blood, “Go, tear that kid to pieces!”
“Yes, Fairy!” The warriors outside, seeing her vomit blood, dared not delay, speeding after Ling Xiao’s trail.
Cold Face, wiping blood from his lips, slammed a fist into the cave wall, roaring, “Little beast! If I catch him, he’ll face the cruelest tortures!”
Exquisite Fairy glared outside coldly, a flicker of unease in her anger.
She recalled Ling Xiao’s earlier words.
No, why fear that kid? He’s talented and cunning, but in a month or two, he can’t grow that strong.
Once out, killing him would suffice.
What’s to fear?
As for escaping, she wasn’t worried. It might be tricky, but a thunderbolt bomb could blast the cave open.
“Cold Face, use the thunderbolt bomb!”
…
“Heh, you idiots think you can catch me? Dream on!”
After leaving the cave, Ling Xiao used his Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul to map the terrain, then relied on Cloud Dragon Divine Walk’s speed to shake off his pursuers.
Perched on a massive tree, he could see black smoke from an explosion in the distance.
Exquisite Fairy and Cold Face had used a thunderbolt bomb to blast the cave open.
The smoke likely came from the cave’s collapse.
