Chapter 143 - 122: An All-Out Battle

Chapter 143: Chapter 122: An All-Out Battle

In a forest outside the Moyun Sect, Zhao Zuo was stopped by two people.

His assailants wore the cyan Taoist Robes of Moyun Sect Outer Sect disciples. Black cloths masked their noses and mouths, revealing only their eyes, which were filled with killing intent.

The two had pursued him from the direction of the Moyun Sect, which confirmed Zhao Zuo’s suspicion: they possessed a Magical Artifact capable of tracking his general location.

He just didn’t know the limitations and range of such an artifact.

"So, you decided to make your move after all, choosing this terrible plan," Zhao Zuo said as he casually drew the Black Flame Saber—a weapon better suited for combat—from his Storage Bag. Simultaneously, he infused Mana into the several Talismans in his left hand, bringing them to a state of semi-activation.

If his enemies hadn’t acted, Zhao Zuo would have been completely helpless. With no clues to follow, the entire affair would have simply fizzled out.

The three of them stood about twenty meters apart—a distance that could be closed in an instant with a Flying Magical Artifact. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

"Enough talk. Die," one of them said, his voice low and raspy.

"Tch. You think the two of you are enough?" Zhao Zuo immediately activated a Divine Wind Talisman with his Mana. Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and bolted, covering more than ten meters in the instant it took for his two stunned opponents to react.

At the same time, Zhao Zuo pulled a Communication Jade from his Storage Bag to contact Shen Yunjiao.

"A complication has arisen. There are two of them, both in the late period of Qi Cultivation. I suggest we abort the plan," Zhao Zuo said rapidly, his left hand clutching a Vajra Talisman, ready for activation.

"It’s fine. I’ve had a recent breakthrough in my strength. I should be able to deal with them quickly."

Zhao Zuo’s expression remained unchanged, but inside, his heart twisted in anguish. ’I wonder how much of her lifespan that so-called Cultivation breakthrough consumed.’ But he quickly suppressed the emotion.

"Alright."

Weaving through the forest, Zhao Zuo used the ancient tree branches as springboards. He moved with incredible agility, like a spirit cat darting through the gaps in the foliage.

However, his two pursuers also had Dharma Methods and Talismans to boost their speed, so the gap between them was slowly closing. They occasionally flung icicles and fireballs, attempting to hinder Zhao Zuo’s movement.

Zhao Zuo weaved left and right to dodge. When an attack was unavoidable, he used a Vajra Talisman to defend himself. Of course, he wasn’t just taking a beating; he would occasionally throw a few Ice Talismans of his own to disrupt his pursuers’ movements.

Although Shen Yunjiao hadn’t shown herself, Zhao Zuo believed she was nearby, looking for an opportunity to strike.

For Zhao Zuo’s pair, this was an opportunity. A surprise attack represented a chance to inflict heavy damage on their enemies.

"I thought you would have called Liu Heng for protection. I never expected you to be this foolish," Lin Hao taunted loudly as he ran.

SWISH.

Zhao Zuo skidded to a halt.

In the nearby thicket, he spotted a hidden signal left by Shen Yunjiao—part of a plan they had devised back when they hunted Demon Beasts together.

His two pursuers stopped, confused as they watched Zhao Zuo come to an abrupt halt.

Suddenly, a dark figure burst out from the thicket, their long sword wreathed in a blood-red aura.

Her entire body was shrouded in a blood-colored phantom, and from her blade, one could faintly hear the roars of an Evil Beast. She moved like lightning, reaching the two men in the blink of an eye. Her long sword swept out, carrying with it a seemingly unstoppable Sharpness.

Lin Hao’s attention had been fixed on Zhao Zuo. Though he managed to take half a step back in time, he couldn’t completely evade the blade.

RRRIP! The Taoist Robe across Lin Hao’s chest was torn open, and blood immediately gushed from the wound.

Lin Hao and Fang Qingshan reacted with extreme speed, immediately swinging their own long swords to counter Shen Yunjiao. Their Sword Moves were starkly different; Lin Hao’s were grand and sweeping, as open and honorable as a gentleman’s, while Fang Qingshan’s were insidious, like a venomous snake striking out.

At the same time, Zhao Zuo spun around, pushed off with his legs, and charged at the wounded Lin Hao.

The two quickly clashed. From his opponent’s style, Zhao Zuo was finally able to confirm his identity. After all, he had seen Lin Hao practicing his Sword Moves in the courtyard on several occasions.

"Brother Lin Hao, I really didn’t expect it to be you." Zhao Zuo swung his saber fiercely. In his hands, the slender blade felt like a heavy battle-axe as he brought it crashing down again and again. As they fought, Zhao Zuo was also rapidly retreating, drawing Lin Hao away to split the four combatants into two separate battles.

’After all, if I get too close and activate the Soul-Shaking Bell, it could easily affect Shen Yunjiao.’

The force radiating from their clash sheared through the half-meter-tall wild grass around them. Fighting and retreating, they soon put nearly three hundred meters between themselves and the other pair.

CLANG.

Their weapons crashed together heavily. Zhao Zuo calmly took half a step back.

"She’s already moved on. Why are you doing this?" Zhao Zuo asked. He had considered the possibility of Lin Hao showing up, but he truly couldn’t fathom his motive for attacking.

"Because she is my sister, and I have a duty to avenge her," Lin Hao said bitterly. Beneath the black cloth, his eyes seethed with resentment and fury. The tip of the sword in his right hand pointed down at the ground.

"Sister? How utterly cliché," Zhao Zuo sighed.

It was a disappointing answer, but one Zhao Zuo had anticipated.

"Die! Just die!"

The two clashed once more. Lin Hao’s Sword Moves were profound; each one flowed naturally into the next, like a powerful war dance. Silvery trails of Sword Aura left afterimages in the air.

"I must avenge my sister," Lin Hao declared, taking a deep breath.

Zhao Zuo stared into Lin Hao’s bloodshot eyes, suddenly finding himself confused by the situation.

’Revenge?’