Relying on external tools was one thing, but excessive dependence on them as a crutch was ultimately unwise.
"That old bastard…"
Cursing under his breath, Wang Yu was certain that Liu Jinxian and the other two wouldn't cover for him. It seemed his only option now was to flee.
Return to the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect?
While the sect had its rules, enforcement was lax. Disappearances within the sect were common; as long as there were no witnesses, the authorities largely turned a blind eye. If you died, you died, and your corpse would likely be repurposed as materials to nurture other disciples.
Wang Yu himself had killed more than ten people. The sect grounds offered him no sense of security.
Unless he moved into the Enforcement Hall itself. But that presented a new problem: if he went there, he'd have to procure spirit stones for that second-generation Foundation Establishment cultivator, Surnamed Zhuo. This went against his nature, and he simply didn't have the time for it.
The situation with True Disciple Su on Coldblood Peak was also a tangled mess. While he nominally operated under her banner, he had long been acting independently.
Placing his hopes on her would be tantamount to seeking his own death. At a critical moment, even Zhao Shang might stab him in the back.
The Reverse Spirit Blood Sect was a den of demons; returning was not an option.
Yet, he still had a need for Demonic Path secret arts. He couldn't truly defect from the sect. The esoteric knowledge accessible at the Qi Refining stage was too limited. Only after breaking through to Foundation Establishment and making another trip to the sect's Scripture Depository would he perhaps have a real chance.
Time was pressing. As he stealthily made his escape, his mind raced frantically for a solution.
Just as Steward Xu was about to deliver the final blows to subdue the Direbone Lion King, a spark of inspiration flashed in Wang Yu's mind.
The Reverse Spirit Blood Sect controlled four provinces, with Maple Province being the most remote. Not only was it close to the Endless Ice Plains, but it was also near the [Northern Sea of the Chaotic Ancient Ocean]. If he truly found himself with his back against the wall, plunging into the ocean might be a viable escape route.
On the other hand, the branch sect established in [Maple Province] was far from the central power. The highest cultivation level here was only the Golden Core stage, significantly weaker compared to the forces in the other three provinces.
Communication between the main and branch sects wasn't frequent either. Perhaps he could lie low in Maple Province's Prefectural City. Although he was an outer disciple, he possessed an Enforcement Hall token. In the eyes of the local branch sect, this might carry more weight than being an inner disciple.
Considering this, Wang Yu, while swiftly fleeing, pulled out the map Gu Zhengshun had given him. It only detailed the area within a thousand miles of Profound Bone Mountain, but by recalling his travel route and making some deductions,
he could roughly determine the location of "Maple Province Prefectural City." Without further hesitation, he channeled all his energy into speeding towards the east-southeast direction. Any large city he encountered along that bearing would likely be it.
As for the flight artifact, the Black Silk—it was fine for long-distance travel, but using it to flee for his life was out of the question. It wasn't even faster than his own running speed.
Soon, he had completely vanished from the Profound Bone Mountain area, his patrol duty utterly forgotten.
***
On the other side.
A panting Steward Xu had finally, after some effort, managed to slay the Direbone Lion King. A bone spike had completely pierced his left shoulder, and blood flowed freely from the wound.
It was clear he was no top-tier expert among his cultivation level.
Liu Jinxian, Si Tu Hong, and the others emerged from their temporary cave dwellings one after another, looking at the newcomer with surprise and uncertainty. Ultimately, Liu Jinxian stepped forward and asked:
"May I ask which senior from the sect you are, and what business you have with Junior Brother Wang Yu?"
Steward Xu, his eyes bloodshot, flashed to Liu Jinxian's front in an instant. His right hand shot out, completely restraining her, his large hand clamping directly around her neck as he demanded coldly:
"Speak! Where is Wang Yu?!"
*Madman.*
The scene made Si Tu Hong and Gu Zhengshun retreat several steps. This was truly insane. To dare treat Liu Jinxian like this… even if he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was asking for serious trouble.
Liu Jinxian's mouth gaped open as she struggled to breathe, raising a hand to point in the direction of Wang Yu's former temporary cave dwelling.
Steward Xu glanced over, his grip loosening slightly as he prepared to press for more details.
Then, the unexpected happened.
Liu Jinxian brought her knee up and twisted her elbow, breaking free from the large hand's restraint while simultaneously driving her elbow into Steward Xu's forearm. A small emerald snake slithered out from her sleeve, stealthily bit him, and quickly retreated.
A flying sword shot out from her storage pouch, carrying her swiftly backwards as she screamed in furious humiliation:
"Where did this madman come from, to be so audacious! My father will not let you get away with this!"
Steward Xu was stunned, looking down at the bite wound on his hand.
A viridian line was already spreading from the wound, tracing its path along his meridians. His expression changed dramatically: "Jade Serpent Venom Thread Gu! You…"
Before he could finish, Liu Jinxian, feeling her dignity had been utterly trampled, flew into a hysterical rage. Her deeply ingrained insecurities erupted completely.
She grabbed the small snake from her sleeve and crushed it in her hand.
In the next instant.
The aura of a Golden Core expert descended. The massive, ethereal form of an emerald serpent, at least a hundred meters long, coiled behind her. Its pupils were a bright yellow, filled with wrath.
"Who dares harm my beloved daughter?!"
*Oh no.*
Steward Xu's heart sank. He now fully understood Liu Jinxian's background. This method was similar to a Talisman Treasure.
Golden Core cultivators could use the power of their Natal Magic Treasure as a guide, consuming the treasure's origin source to create a [Talisman Treasure] capable of saving their offspring's life at a critical moment.
The third grade was the basic requirement for a Talisman Treasure, and the process was quite troublesome for the creating cultivator. Generally, they were only made when the cultivator was nearing the end of their lifespan and their descendants were facing a weak generation.
What Liu Jinxian had used was a Gu Path variant of a Talisman Treasure, equivalent to a full-power strike from a Golden Core cultivator.
How could Steward Xu not be terrified?
Witnessing this, Si Tu Hong clicked his tongue repeatedly, feeling relieved that he hadn't fought with Liu Jinxian back in the underground palace. Such a life-saving treasure, granted only by extreme favoritism, was something neither he nor Gu Zhengshun were qualified to possess.
"Die!"
The giant serpent soared, charging directly at Steward Xu. He panicked, retreating while simultaneously chopping down with his hand like a blade, severing his right arm—the one bitten by the snake—clean off at the shoulder.
This sub-gu, derived from a Golden Core Gu cultivator's Natal Gu, was even more terrifying than an ordinary Talisman Treasure. Facing a life-or-death threat, he could only resort to the emergency measure of amputating the arm to prevent the venom from reaching his heart.
At that moment, the giant serpent phantom struck, biting down as corrosive venom splattered everywhere.
Steward Xu could only summon his pill furnace to defend himself, while also deploying his True Essence to form a protective barrier around his body. A mirror also flew out from within him, adding a layer of golden light to his defenses.
The pill furnace was the first to suffer, directly corroded by the venom into a lump of scrap metal. The effect was strangely similar to the venom of the Rot-Spreader Wasps—no wonder Liu Jinxian had come to Profound Bone Mountain to capture them.
Next, the True Essence protective barrier shattered outright.
The third layer, the golden light from the mirror, was pierced directly by the giant serpent's fangs. The serpent's tail swung, and the emerald giant snake instantly coiled around him, trapping him.
A flash of green light.
"BOOM—!"
A terrifying explosion engulfed everything. Liu Jinxian watched the swirling dust and debris warily, guarding against any potential variables.
After about five breaths, a charred, mutilated figure, missing an arm and dripping with green fluid, shot into the distance, riding a cloud of black and gray ash.
"He's not dead?" Liu Jinxian frowned, glancing at Si Tu Hong and the other. "Let's go kill him together. We'll split the spoils."
Gu Zhengshun quickly shook his head. "I'm not going."
Si Tu Hong: "I'm not going either."
Liu Jinxian: "Useless trash, no wonder Wang Yu could keep you both suppressed!"
With that, she summoned the pavilion-style flying artifact she had arrived on and shot straight after the fleeing figure, revealing her truly ferocious nature!
**(End of Chapter)**