Chapter 208 - 155: Pursued in Turn

Chapter 208: Chapter 155: Pursued in Turn

After wandering around outside for a while, Zhao Zuo was about to return to his second safe house when the Communication Jade in his Storage Bag began to vibrate faintly. A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.

"I’m being followed. I think I’ve been exposed," Shen Yunjiao said. "What should I do?"

’He can change his aura at will, but Shen Yunjiao doesn’t want to. That’s a vulnerability...’ he thought. ’Since the enemy has a way to track auras, it’s only natural that she was exposed.’

Zhao Zuo panicked. He was nervous and, for a moment, didn’t know how to handle this sudden development.

He gently shook his head, using the Sutra of Calming the Mind to forcibly stabilize his thoughts.

’My training is still insufficient.’

"Maybe I should just escape back to Moyun Sect territory on my own. It’s just that I probably won’t be able to take part in the rest of the plan," Shen Yunjiao said, voicing her thoughts when Zhao Zuo didn’t immediately reply.

"Let’s meet at the city gate. If the enemy isn’t strong, we’ll fight them with everything we’ve got. If they are, we’ll cover each other’s retreat. I’m guessing their target is Chen Xiaorong, so they probably won’t chase us deep into the Yunlan Mountain Range," Zhao Zuo said seriously, gripping the Communication Jade as he began running toward the gate.

"The safest option is still for me to run on my own. After all, my Cultivation is higher than yours," Shen Yunjiao replied quickly, offering a completely different solution.

"Just listen to me this time." Zhao Zuo didn’t continue the debate, instead quickly beginning to assign tasks for the plan ahead.

"When we meet up, don’t acknowledge me. Once you’re a hundred meters from the city gate, pick a weaker tracker and take them out instantly. Then, retreat toward the Yunlan Mountain Range."

’Just passively fleeing is a terrible strategy,’ he thought. ’Dealing a heavy blow to the enemy during our retreat is the only way to make them give up the chase. We might even be able to turn this around and kill them all.’

"Okay," Shen Yunjiao replied.

"You be careful."

He had originally planned to launch a surprise attack in a few days on the Demon Cultivators’ nightly gathering spot, hoping to inflict as much damage as possible on those around Red Rock City. Now, the Demon Path had taken the initiative and started tracking them. Although it was an unexpected turn of events, it also presented him with a great opportunity.

’Inside the city, it’s not just the dozen or so Blood Demon Dao Cultivators gathered together; there are also Soul Path and Bone Path Demon Cultivators hiding in the shadows. It looks calm on the surface, but it’s actually a deathtrap. Getting out now might not be a bad thing after all.’

’It’s more like an extra layer of insurance for our safety.’

"There are about four people following me, all at the Late Period of Qi Cultivation. I haven’t detected anyone at Qi Cultivation Perfection."

Zhao Zuo froze for a moment. That number didn’t match what he’d seen at the first safe house. But he also knew that Blood Demon Dao Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment realm shouldn’t be able to block Shen Yunjiao’s ability to perceive Spirit with her eyes. In other words, another group had gone somewhere else.

"They’re probably looking for me," Zhao Zuo replied.

"Probably."

"But they won’t find me." Zhao Zuo injected a bit of Mana into his Breath-Concealing Ring, lowering his Cultivation fluctuations by another level. Now, he was just a Loose Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. He also used the Hundred-Change Mask to alter his external aura, making his Mana appear unstable and his Qi Blood chaotic.

"You do have that amazing mask, after all." Sometimes, Shen Yunjiao even wondered if the face she knew so well was Zhao Zuo’s real one.

"If you want one, I could sell you a mask for eight thousand Spirit Stones," Zhao Zuo said. ’The price is more than fair,’ he thought. ’After all, I still have to spend time grinding for experience, so I’d only be making two thousand Spirit Stones for my trouble.’

"Alright. If we make it back alive, you’d better give me a discount," Shen Yunjiao said lightly. The two of them chatted for a few more moments, relaxing their minds in preparation for the coming battle.

At the gate of Red Rock City, Shen Yunjiao used her sleeve to hide the fact that she was using her Communication Jade. She walked out of the city with a relaxed air, a faint, easy smile on her face.

About twenty meters behind her, a middle-aged man in a coarse cloth tunic quietly lowered his head and activated a Communication Jade in his palm.

"The target has left Red Rock City. I suspect the two of them have decided to retreat separately."

A few seconds later, a deep, hoarse voice came through the Communication Jade.

"Good. I haven’t found any trace of the second target, so I’ll rendezvous with you four now. Remember to maintain a distance of about a hundred meters. Even if she spots you, don’t rashly close the distance. I’ve fought her before; her strength is comparable to someone at Qi Cultivation Perfection."

"Understood." The middle-aged man exchanged a look with his teammate and immediately began relaying his boss’s orders in a low voice, completely unaware that a short distance behind him, a Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer was quietly observing him.

"I’ve found the four people you mentioned. They’re leaving the city now," Zhao Zuo whispered to Shen Yunjiao, relaying the intel. At the same time, he took his Sky-Breaking Saber and the Soul-Shaking Bell into his hands.

He then fell into step behind them, maintaining a distance of about ten meters. At this time of day, many people were leaving Red Rock City to make a living in the Yunlan Mountain Range, so Zhao Zuo’s presence didn’t seem out of place.

"Okay. Once they’re another hundred meters out, I’ll turn and launch a surprise attack."

「Time ticked by.」

A short distance away, Shen Yunjiao abruptly spun around. A dense, bloody light enveloped her body as her pupils turned pure crimson. Her entire being began to exude a wild, destructive aura. Even her black hair turned to blood-red, inch by inch, as the nails on her fingers rapidly sharpened.

"Taotie Transformation."

She completely fused with the Taotie True Blood in her body, gaining terrifying physical strength, unparalleled explosive force, and Devouring Power.