By sheer coincidence, Wang Jianqiang was positioned directly opposite Lin Xian'er.
The instant Lin Xian'er emerged from the spatial rift, her eyes locked onto him. There was no chance to avoid it.
In that frozen moment, the air seemed to solidify.
"Old bastard," she hissed coldly, "I was just about to hunt you down. Who would've thought you'd deliver yourself to me?"
As her words fell, a storm of spiritual power erupted from her body, sweeping out like a hurricane.
Wang Jianqiang's expression changed drastically.
With a thought, the Perfect Profound Radiance Seal shot above his head.
From the seal burst golden light, forming a shimmering barrier that enclosed him.
He pressed his palm forward.
On each of his five fingers, five-colored brilliance shimmered—the Minor Five Elements Sword Array condensed into a shield, becoming his second layer of defense.
Still unsatisfied, he summoned the Perfect Small Thousand Mountains Seal before him, anchoring it as a third layer of defense.
Then he donned the Perfect Water-Moon Robe, its power amplified by the Perfect Profound Water Ring, forming a fourth layer of protection.
Even after all this, he still felt far from safe. Without pause, he activated the Perfect Wind-Chasing Boots, bolting toward the edge of the plaza.
But just as he turned—
The storm slammed into him.
The Perfect Profound Radiance Seal was blown away instantly, its golden barrier shattered.
The Minor Five Elements Sword Array, once invincible, collapsed at once.
The towering Thousand Mountains Seal was tossed aside like a child's toy.
By then, Wang Jianqiang had barely fled ten or so zhang.
The storm surged after him.
The moonlight shield around his body dimmed in a single breath.
Crack!
The Profound Water Ring split in two.
The Water-Moon Robe was torn to shreds.
His body was hurled away like a ragdoll.
Dozens of zhang later, a flash of light beneath his feet revealed the Perfect Cloud-Water Cold Sword, halting his tumble just in time.
Wiping blood from his lips, Wang Jianqiang's eyes shone with shock.
That had been nothing more than a casual release of spiritual power—barely a real attack—yet it had torn through every defense he could muster.
This was supposed to be the early Foundation Establishment realm? Too absurd!
He instinctively called on his system to scan her.
Foundation Establishment—Mid-stage!
The revelation shook him.
Lin Xian'er had broken through yet again! No wonder her strength was so terrifying.
Against an early Foundation cultivator, he might still have had a slim chance of escape. Against mid-stage? Certain death.
He had to increase his strength.
Without hesitation, he poured every last cultivation point he had into the Sacred Body of Time.
"Ding. Sacred Body of Time upgraded. Current Life Marks: 480."
As the system's chime echoed, faint glowing patterns appeared across his flesh.
They intertwined, greatly enhancing his body's resilience. His strength surged to staggering heights.
Before he could savor the change, a sharp whistle split the water.
A colossal palm of spiritual power, ten zhang wide, descended upon him.
Even before it landed, its oppressive aura pressed down, making every movement agonizingly heavy.
And that was after the boost from his 480 Life Marks. Without them, that pressure alone would have crushed him flat.
Size Manipulation!
His form doubled instantly, his body density doubling with it.
The power of his 480 Life Marks doubled in turn—equivalent now to 960!
The suffocating pressure vanished like mist before the wind.
"Break!"
His fist shot out, unleashing the full force of 960 Life Marks.
Boom!
The palm shattered.
The backlash of force slammed into his body, but his reinforced physique absorbed it without harm.
Using that recoil, Wang Jianqiang propelled himself at incredible speed, surging out of the Azure Stone Plaza.
He darted against the cold currents of the pool, racing upward.
"How is this possible?!"
Behind him, Lin Xian'er froze in disbelief.
She was mid-Foundation Establishment! Even a casual palm should've been enough to make an early Foundation cultivator sweat blood.
Yet Wang Jianqiang—still at mere Qi Completion—had not only withstood it, but shattered her strike unscathed.
It was beyond absurd.
Were it not for her keen senses confirming his realm, she would have thought him a Foundation cultivator in disguise.
She snapped back quickly.
"Old bastard, you won't escape!"
With a cold snort, she shot out of the plaza in pursuit.
In the outside world, her cultivation would've let her close the distance in an instant.
But here in the frigid pool, the water resisted all who moved within it. The stronger one's cultivation, the greater the drag.
Their speeds drew closer.
Even so, in less than a quarter-hour she closed the gap.
"Go!"
This time, she did not underestimate him.
She unleashed her talisman treasure.
A jade-white sword condensed in her hand, slicing through the water toward him.
Sensing its edge, Wang Jianqiang's face tightened. He hurled out several Perfect artifacts, detonating them in succession.
The explosions slowed the jade sword, while the shockwaves propelled him forward, widening the distance once more.
Lin Xian'er's face darkened as she recalled her talisman.
The pool's corrosive water suppressed its power, making it barely stronger than her own spells.
Continuing to use it would only waste its charges.
Moments later, she caught up again.
"Bind!"
She thrust out her hand, weaving a net of countless hair-thin threads of spiritual power. They streaked toward him, wrapping from all sides.
Without looking back, Wang Jianqiang tossed out more Perfect artifacts below him.
Boom!Boom!Boom—
The violent blasts could not destroy the threads, but they stalled them long enough for him to slip free of their range.
"I'd like to see how many artifacts you can keep blowing up," Lin Xian'er sneered, giving chase once more.
In the blink of an eye, their deadly chase stretched on for an entire day.
They were nearly at the pool's exit, and she had yet to catch him.
By now, Lin Xian'er felt her certainty wavering.
If she wasn't mistaken, in this single day Wang Jianqiang had detonated nearly a hundred artifacts!
On top of that, he'd swallowed dozens of recovery pills.
How could a decrepit, dying old man carry so many high-grade treasures and medicines?!
Even the sect master's direct heir couldn't afford such extravagance!
Splash!
Suddenly, a sound of breaking water echoed above.
Lin Xian'er looked up.
Wang Jianqiang had broken free of the pool.
Yet instead of panicking, her lips curled into a cold smile.
Inside the pool, the stronger one's cultivation, the heavier the suppression.
But once outside—without the drag of the cold water—her mid-Foundation speed would close the gap in the blink of an eye.