Chapter 311 - 284: Shadow Escape Technique

Chapter 311: Chapter 284: Shadow Escape Technique

When his eyes caught no sign of pursuit, he couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief, a smug look flashing across his face.

This Shadow Escape Technique, whether in terms of speed or Stealth, was one of the best in the Youxian Sea. Obtaining this technique back then had truly been a rare, fortunate encounter.

Recalling that past event, the middle-aged cultivator’s thoughts drifted back to an expedition to the Floating Islands many years ago.

At that time, he and a fellow clansman had discovered this Shadow Escape Secret Technique. However, the two had a serious disagreement about what to do with it.

The clansman had advocated for reporting the Secret Technique to the family to be shared, but he selfishly wanted to keep the precious inheritance for himself.

Back then, their fight over the Secret Technique created a rift between them, and their relationship rapidly deteriorated.

After one conflict, he caught his former companion off guard, launching a cruel sneak attack. A single sword strike to the throat was all it took to steal the Secret Technique and leave the other man’s body on a deserted island.

Recalling it now, although a trace of guilt and unease flickered within him, he had ultimately chosen to sacrifice his kinsman for his own personal gain and advancement.

He was terrified at first, afraid the clan would investigate.

But after he had mastered the Shadow Escape and cleaned up all traces at the scene, the investigators sent by the clan actually concluded that the clansman he’d killed had, in fact, been murdered by an outsider.

They even presented it in a well-reasoned manner, with convincing evidence pointing to a specific clan.

If he hadn’t killed the man with his own hands, even he would have believed the clan investigators.

In the end, the matter was dropped.

From that day on, the middle-aged cultivator understood something.

As long as he didn’t kill anyone within the clan’s territory, the trail would never lead back to him.

And so, he started this business of killing for hire.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t fallen under suspicion during that time.

But the power of his Shadow Escape had never let him down.

Even when investigated, nothing conclusive was ever found.

And this time, he believed, would be no different from all the others.

He would definitely escape with ease this time, too.

Even though he had just been on the verge of death, as long as he activated Shadow Escape and hid himself in the shadows, he would be temporarily immune to external attacks to a certain extent.

That was how he’d managed to escape from the jaws of the Spirit-Devouring Insect.

Just as the middle-aged cultivator was reveling in his momentary peace and smugness...

An intense, sharp pain suddenly erupted from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, like a dagger plunging into his soul.

It forced him out of his Shadow Escape state against his will.

A flash of pain and annoyance crossed his face as he gritted his teeth, enduring the agony that felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart.

’He knew in his heart that while the Shadow Escape Technique was outstanding...’

’...like any powerful force in the world, it had its limits. The use of this Secret Technique was completely dependent on his limited Power of Spiritual Sense for support.’

’The process of casting Shadow Escape consumed a massive amount of Magical Power.’

’It also required a constant infusion of the Power of Spiritual Sense to maintain the stability and duration of the Invisibility effect.’

’As a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator, the Power of Spiritual Sense he could mobilize was ultimately finite. At most, it could only sustain the Shadow Escape Technique for about half an hour.’

’Once that time limit was exceeded, his Power of Spiritual Sense would be depleted.’

’Not only would he be automatically forced out of the Shadow Escape, but he would also suffer a backlash that threw his Sea of Consciousness into turmoil, causing a splitting headache and unbearable pain. In severe cases, he could even fall directly into a coma.’

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance, taking a Spirit Pill that could rapidly restore Spiritual Power.

That was the only reason he hadn’t completely collapsed when his Power of Spiritual Sense ran out.

But the pain was still intense. He needed to pause and rest for a bit to readjust and recover the Power of Spiritual Sense in his Sea of Consciousness.

He found a secluded corner, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to focus. He silently circulated his Cultivation Technique, trying to calm the turmoil in his Sea of Consciousness so he could recover his Spiritual Power and continue his escape.

Although the middle-aged cultivator had temporarily calmed his mind and was preparing to meditate to recover his Divine Sense, the deep-seated unease in his heart had not dissipated.

He glanced back again, confirming that no one was chasing him, and couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

At that very moment, however, an intense sense of crisis washed over him like a tidal wave. The hair on his body stood on end, and the fear of facing death enveloped him completely.

"Ambush!"

The thought had barely flashed through his mind when he activated the Shadow Escape Technique again without hesitation. His body instantly merged with the surrounding shadows and vanished, attempting to dodge the impending fatal blow.

But reality did not unfold as he had expected.

He had just escaped into the shadows when the stinging pain in his Sea of Consciousness struck again, as fierce as a burning flame, forcibly yanking him out of his Shadow Escape.

In that instant, he felt as if an invisible hand had violently ripped him from the shadows.

A sudden, sharp sound broke the silence.

It was like cloth tearing, clearly audible in the quiet woods.

Then, a blood-soaked head rolled onto the ground, its eyes wide open. The headless body remained rigid for a moment before collapsing limply.

Until his very last moment, he never saw how his enemy attacked, nor did he even sense their presence.

’But my Shadow Escape Technique is peerless!’

’But I didn’t see any pursuers behind me!’

’How did I still end up dead?’

He was filled with deep confusion and bewilderment until the very last second of his life.

...

WHOOSH—!

A blazing True Flame instantly engulfed the middle-aged cultivator’s remains.

The once-mighty Foundation Establishment Cultivator was now a raging inferno.

In just a few short moments, his body, clothes, and any remaining flesh and blood were all reduced to ash, dissipating into the air, leaving behind only a few specks of dust as proof he had ever existed.

Nearby, Jiang Xu’s figure emerged as if from nothingness. He was tightly clutching the middle-aged cultivator’s Storage Bag, an expression of contemplation and regret on his face.

The middle-aged cultivator’s Shadow Escape Technique had truly exceeded his expectations.

Its lightning-fast escape speed and traceless Invisibility Ability made Jiang Xu marvel at the man’s profound skill.

If the man hadn’t stopped to meditate at the critical moment because his Power of Spiritual Sense was depleted, giving Jiang Xu the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack, he might not have been able to end the fight so easily.

Jiang Xu had struck decisively and ruthlessly, giving his opponent almost no chance to fight back or escape.

The moment the man stopped, Jiang Xu had swung the fatal blow without a second’s hesitation. The head rolled, and the short, intense chase was over.

When facing an enemy so skilled at escaping, any hesitation could have been a grave mistake, causing him to lose his chance to defeat the man.

Still, Jiang Xu felt a pang of regret.

The man possessed such a brilliant Escape Technique. If he hadn’t killed him in such a hurry, he might have had the chance to learn more about the technique’s secrets from him.

But now the man was dead. Unless there was a Magical Scripture about it in his Storage Bag, he had likely missed his chance to obtain such a Mysterious Art.

Despite his regret, Jiang Xu didn’t second-guess his decision.

He knew that in the Cultivation Realm, there was often no room for mercy or hesitation.

Even if he could turn back time, he would make the same choice.

Jiang Xu quickly left the area. Along the way, he channeled his Magical Power and Innate True Flame to begin refining the Storage Bag in his hand.

Although the Storage Bag bore the mark of the middle-aged cultivator, the mark was easily erased by Jiang Xu since its owner was now dead.

Jiang Xu’s Divine Sense probed the Storage Bag, first searching for that strange Escape Technique.

Soon, a look of joy appeared on his face.

The scripture for the Escape Technique had been placed by itself in one corner of the Storage Bag. It was very conspicuous, and Jiang Xu spotted it at a glance.

But in the next moment, Jiang Xu’s expression changed, his features growing grave.

He took something out of the Storage Bag.

It was a small piece of dead wood.

Dead peach wood.

Unlike ordinary peach wood, this piece caused the Seed of Cyan Wood inside Jiang Xu’s body to stir restlessly, as if it desperately wanted to devour it.

Just like the piece of dead wood Jiang Xu had gotten from Elder Liu.

’A coincidence?’

Jiang Xu gripped the dead wood, lost in thought.

’Why would this middle-aged cultivator have the same kind of dead wood as Elder Liu?’

’Is this type of wood common?’

Jiang Xu suddenly recalled that Elder Liu had said he got the piece of dead wood from an old man from the Abyss of Destiny.

’Then who gave this piece of dead wood to the middle-aged cultivator?’