Chapter 211 - 156: Forest Escape

Chapter 211: Chapter 156: Forest Escape

An explosion echoed in the distance, the sound of an activated Talisman. Zhao Zuo glanced back... He mentally calculated the distance and realized his pursuers had sped up.

At this rate, they would definitely be caught.

"That group is probably tracking your aura," Zhao Zuo said.

"That’s right." Shen Yunjiao had clearly figured this out as well. After all, back in Red Rock City, she had been followed, but Zhao Zuo hadn’t been discovered.

If they wanted to break the current impasse, they needed to change Shen Yunjiao’s aura. And Zhao Zuo happened to have a Magical Artifact that could alter auras.

"I have an idea." Zhao Zuo immediately took the Hundred-Change Mask from his face and handed it to Shen Yunjiao.

"Use your Mana for the Refinement, then alter your aura."

Zhao Zuo had forgotten how long it had been since he had revealed his true aura, even when he was inside the Moyun Sect.

The aura he displayed externally was also the result of deliberate adjustment. Only now, with the Hundred-Change Mask removed, did he completely reveal his true self.

His aura was steady, like an unmovable mountain peak. It also carried a hint of sharpness, mixed with a tranquility like a gentle breeze.

Shen Yunjiao took the Hundred-Change Mask, feeling its cool, smooth texture, like human skin, against her fingertips. She didn’t hesitate and began the Refinement process with her Mana.

After about five seconds, Zhao Zuo felt his connection to the Hundred-Change Mask being severed.

It wasn’t so much severed as it was devoured.

Through this, he directly experienced the domineering nature of the Taotie Secret Technique.

Shen Yunjiao placed the fully refined Hundred-Change Mask on her face, quietly sensing the Magical Artifact’s effects.

This mask could not only freely adjust one’s aura, but also alter one’s height within a certain range.

This kind of effect was considered top-tier even among Upper Grade Magical Artifacts, making her wish all the more that she had a mask with such effects herself.

In her eyes, Zhao Zuo seemed to be shrouded in mystery. His success rate in Artifact Refining, his rapidly increasing Cultivation, and these amazing Magical Artifacts—none of it was something an ordinary Loose Cultivator could possess.

"This Magical Artifact’s effects are quite miraculous," Shen Yunjiao remarked with a sigh.

Of course, she didn’t rashly change her aura. Instead, she asked Zhao Zuo a question.

"Should we get away as fast as possible, or should we launch a counter-ambush?" Now that the enemy had lost the ability to track them, the tables had turned. The decision to attack was now theirs to make.

"The enemy’s strength is unknown. Let’s focus on escaping first. After fighting for days on end, it’s time to rest and recover."

Zhao Zuo replied after a moment of thought. The recent travel and the battle at the city gate had consumed a lot of their stamina. Both of them were now tired and no longer in condition for a major battle.

Besides, the main goal of this trip was to ensure Chen Xiaorong’s survival as much as possible. Killing as many Demon Cultivators as they could was just one of the means to achieve that goal. The real tough battle would come after the Foundation Establishment duel.

"Let’s retreat then." Shen Yunjiao nodded... The two of them then randomly changed direction, their figures quickly blending into the sea of jade-green forest.

The endless forest offered countless hiding places. After losing their lock on Shen Yunjiao’s aura, the Demon Cultivators were naturally like chickens with their heads cut off, scrambling around aimlessly.

Mo Bolan suddenly stopped Su Ying. He stared at the Magical Artifact in his hand with a look of disbelief.

"The wisp of aura locked by the Magical Artifact has vanished."

"What?" Su Ying stopped in his tracks, turning his head to look at the Magical Artifact in Mo Bolan’s hand. Sure enough, the firmly locked red dot of light had disappeared without a trace.

The Magical Artifact’s effect had been blocked.

"Can you lock onto it again?" Su Ying asked, his eyes slightly red and his right hand clenched into a tight fist, unwilling to accept it. He had spent Spirit Stones to hire Mo Bolan to find the two of them and had even lost several of his underlings, but now it had all come to this.

"No. The Divine Thought of a Foundation Establishment Stage expert can block the Magical Artifact’s senses."

Mo Bolan subconsciously took half a step back. Their cooperative relationship ended at this moment. From now on, he had to be wary of Su Ying turning on him.

"Is that so... In other words, they might have been met by a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse, but the probability is low." Su Ying’s right fist unclenched as he spoke calmly.

Then, he added,

"Since we failed to track the target, the promised bonus is canceled."

"As it should be." Mo Bolan didn’t want to provoke Su Ying any further on this matter. Su Ying had already paid a painful price to pursue those two. At this moment, he appeared calm, but he was on the verge of losing control.

"Then our agreement is hereby terminated." After speaking, Su Ying left without another word.

He had indeed considered attacking Mo Bolan, but in the end, he suppressed his killing intent. After all... the sect mission in a few days was the most important thing. He was also worried Mo Bolan might have some trump cards that would lead to mutual destruction.

’Damn it... But, I’ll probably run into them again...’

Su Ying thought to himself. ’Those two attacked Demon Path Cultivators, so they are most likely disciples of the Moyun Sect. Appearing in Red Rock City... their purpose is self-evident.’

Mo Bolan also picked a direction and left immediately.

More than ten kilometers away, Zhao Zuo took out a Cleaning Talisman to remove any lingering scents from his body. At the same time, using the Breath-Concealing Ring... he adjusted his Cultivation to the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation.

Beside him, Shen Yunjiao changed her external aura again. She performed hand seals... and used the Earthquake Technique to create an underground cave. To avoid being trapped and picked off, Zhao Zuo set up many warning traps in the surroundings.

Shen Yunjiao also added to his traps. Even if several late-period Qi Cultivation cultivators came, these traps would be enough to serve as a warning and an obstacle.

By then, the two of them would have time to retreat.

The situation was unclear; they couldn’t be too careful.

Inside the cave, the two held their breath and concentrated their spirits, controlling the flow of Mana in their bodies as much as possible to blend more closely with nature, all while carefully listening for any movement on the surface.

Time passed bit by bit.

Zhao Zuo breathed a sigh of relief and took out some dry rations to eat. Of course, he didn’t let his guard down.

After about half an hour, there were no strange noises, and none of the traps set around the cave had been triggered.

The two exchanged a look, and Zhao Zuo spoke.

"It should be fine now. Let’s cultivate."

He then took out a Spirit Revitalizing Pill and swallowed it, absorbing the pill’s medicinal power through seated meditation to recover his depleted Mana.

Shen Yunjiao took a corpse out of her Storage Bag. The thick smell of blood spread out. She placed her right hand on its wound... and began to absorb its Flesh and Blood Spiritual Power.

Her Cultivation began to rise steadily. After this period of nourishment, she was already approaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. She could probably begin secluded cultivation to break through once she returned to the Moyun Sect.

This was the terrifying cultivation speed of the Taotie Secret Technique...

After his Mana recovered, Zhao Zuo thought for a moment, took out a Vajra Pill, swallowed it, and continued practicing his Body Refining Technique.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power outside was too violent, making it unsuitable for absorption to increase one’s Cultivation. To strengthen himself, practicing the Body Refining Technique... was his only option.

「In the blink of an eye... three days passed.」

The two cultivated for three whole days, and their strength improved significantly. Shen Yunjiao was now much closer to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation... and could even go into seclusion to break through at any time.

Zhao Zuo, on the other hand, had spent these three days and nights without rest, consuming all the Vajra Pills he carried. His own strength had once again increased tremendously.

Now, his physical strength had reached 27,000 jin. If he used his techniques to exert his full power, he could even exceed 30,000 jin.

Tomorrow was the day of the arranged battle between Chen Xiaorong and the Demon Path’s Foundation Establishment expert. Therefore, the two left their secluded cave, intending to find a suitable position to watch the fight.

"The day is finally here," Zhao Zuo said softly. He might die in the coming storm, but he felt no fear.

On the way here, he had already steeled his resolve countless times, so he would not waver now.

"Tomorrow, if we face a life-or-death situation, you can leave to save yourself. I won’t blame you," Zhao Zuo said to Shen Yunjiao, his tone more serious than ever before.

"I was planning on using tomorrow to gather enough Flesh and Blood Spiritual Power to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation..." Shen Yunjiao replied with a smile.

.........

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