Swish!
Jiang Yi ran without stopping in the wilderness. He was very clear that the moment he left the Divine Boat, he would constantly be in danger. Whether he could survive or not depended on how fast he could run and how good his luck was.
From his encounter with Luo Qingyan at her courtyard until now, it seemed like everything had happened according to her plan. Jiang Yi felt that this extremely beautiful lady’s scheming abilities were too terrifying; everything big and small was within her control. Hence, Jiang Yi had gotten off the Divine Boat half a day earlier and planned to shake off Luo Qingyan’s control, however temporarily. This way, his chances of survival would be higher.
Luo Qingyan had thought about everything; Luo Ting must definitely be on his way and heading towards this trap. Jiang Yi’s altering of the plan could buy him half a day’s worth of time. It was not considered a lot of time, however, as Luo Ting and company were very fast and would catch up very quickly; and Jiang Yi could not outrun them. Nevertheless, at least he could put a few hundred thousand kilometers more of distance between him and them.
“Let’s try the Art of Concealment!”
After running for five hundred kilometers, the Divine Boat was long out of sight. Jiang Yi also did not detect the duo spying on him on the Divine Boat disembarking. However, he was still not at ease. He decided to try out the Art of Concealment to investigate if anyone was pursuing him.
Buzz!
Jiang Yi activated the Art of Concealment, and following that, his body actually steadily became transparent and finally disappeared beneath a huge rock. Jiang Yi sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and entered the State of the Union of Heaven and Man to investigate.
“So mystical!”
Under the State of the Union of Heaven and Man, Jiang Yi could fuse with the surrounding heaven and earth and sense the things and creatures around him. He realized that his body had actually disappeared without a trace. If it wasn’t for him trying to detect himself and could sense his own presence, he would not have realized that a man sat under this rock.
Jiang Yi keenly sensed the vicinity for fifteen whole minutes. After confirming that no one was chasing after him, Jiang Yi opened his eyes and stopped his concealment. He then acted according to the plan and changed back into his own appearance before dashing towards Demon Fire Mountain.
Before disembarking the Divine Boat, Jiang Yi had looked at the map and knew that from his current location, it was still more than a day’s journey to the Demon Fire Mountain. Of course, if he used the China Root Elixir that Luo Qingyan had given him, that could shorten the amount of time needed immensely. However, Jiang Yi did not dare to use it. Any temporary enhancing elixirs would definitely have side effects. If the side effects took place when he encountered the pursuing forces, Jiang Yi would be done for.
Jiang Yi used all his might to run as fast as he could. On the way, he also tried to find the red primrose spirit herb that his mission task had required. Without the red primrose—even if he completed Luo Qingyan’s task for him, he would not be able to get that ten thousand battle merits.
“Eh?”
After running for more than two hours—while there ought to be many red primroses along the way, Jiang Yi could not even find one. Jiang Yi analyzed the situation and realized that many places had signs of recent foraging. He finally understood: Luo Qingyan indeed had everything under her control. She had destroyed or picked all the red primroses nearby. If Jiang Yi wanted to complete his mission, he had to head to the Demon Fire Mountain.
“Nice job!”
Jiang Yi was secretly impressed. This lady was extremely scheming and intelligent; nothing escaped her, and she had everything under control. Jiang Yi did not think about anything else anymore and continued to run forward. After half a day passed, Jiang Yi realized something strange. In that half a day—after traveling at least one million kilometers, he had not only not encountered any Chaos Beasts but had also not even seen any other human being or wild beast.
“There are people around!”
Jiang Yi’s eyes shifted, and he had a bold conjecture. Luo Qingyan had probably arranged for men nearby to ensure that he successfully made it to the Demon Fire Mountain. If not and if he was to be killed by some Chaos Beast on the way, all the planning would have been for naught.
“Very good…”
Jiang Yi grinned a little. This game was becoming more and more fun. As it was a matter of life and death, ardor and zeal were coursing through Jiang Yi’s blood. He closed his eyes, entered the State of the Union of Heaven and Man, and continued his crazed running.
Two hours, four hours… six hours!
Boom!
After another six hours, a huge explosive sound came from behind Jiang Yi. Although it was quite a distance away, that explosion was still extremely jarring and clear. Undoubtedly, formidable martial artists were engaging in battle. Jiang Yi’s eyes shifted as he, more or less, understood some things.
Swish!
Jiang Yi resolutely took out the China Root Elixir and consumed it. This elixir dissolved upon entering Jiang Yi’s mouth as a hot current spread from within him throughout his entire body. At this moment, Jiang Yi felt as if he had an unlimited amount of energy. All his muscles and bones seemed to become very strong. This feeling was amazing. It seemed as if one punch from him could smash a Chaos Beast to death.
Buzz!
From afar, formless turbulence spread forward and swept over Jiang Yi’s body. A sudden gust of cold wind awakened Jiang Yi as he glanced behind him. From away, four black dots had appeared over the horizon and were flying towards him at an extremely fast pace.
“The pursuing forces have finally arrived.”
Jiang Yi’s eyes glistened. His conjecture just now had been accurate. No matter what the explosion just now had been, it was obviously intended to remind him that those hunting him had arrived and for him to use the China Root Elixir to run.
“Go!”
Jiang Yi’s legs turned as his body leaped forward like a cannon. This leap actually made him soar into the high skies and land like a cannonball; this one step had already traveled ten thousand feet.
Boom!
Jiang Yi landed heavily as his body continued to shoot forward. He was like an ancient human beast galloping towards the Demon Fire Mountain.
“Eh?”
From afar, the four God Generals closing in on Jiang Yi were suddenly stunned. How did Jiang Yi’s speed increase by so much so quickly and had become that of a peak-stage God General’s? He had pulled the distance between them wide and was about to be out of sight.
“He is indeed the target. He must have gotten some China Root Elixirs. If not, he would not be galloping but flying. Look at how he is controlling his energy; it must be his first time using the China Root Elixir!”
“Indeed, send a message to the young clan head. Ask him and the rest to circle around this place. After using the China Root Elixir, he would be very weak right after. Once the China Root Elixir wears off, he will definitely die.”
The four God Generals discussed as one of them retrieved a dragon-shaped jade transmission token and the other three quickly fanned out to trap Jiang Yi. The four had used their divine senses to scan Jiang Yi just now. Jiang Yi had not used the Rootless Water and had changed back into his original appearance. This was according to Luo Qingyan’s plan, for Luo Ting’s men to confirm that he was in the vicinity.
…
“We have found that bastard!”
Millions of kilometers away on a Divine Boat, there was a young man similar in appearance to Luo Huan but had a mole above his left brow and was wearing a golden robe. His jade pendant lit up, and his eyes revealed a sliver of excitement. His hand waved as he shouted, “All to fly forth and kill this man. Ask everyone to encircle him from all directions. After catching up with him, do not kill him. I want to bring him back and slowly torture him to death outside the tribe, to wash away the humiliation that our Battle God Pavilion Luo Clan had suffered.”
Twenty men were seated inside the Divine Boat; they were all wearing golden armor. However, their backs did not have the divine dragon symbol of the Battle God Pavilion; there was only a brown dagger insignia on their left breastplates. Nineteen of them were God Generals while the remaining one was a God King. All of them bowed as they received Luo Ting’s orders and shouted, “Yes, young clan head!”
Buzz!
The Divine Boat flashed as its speed increased and speedily headed towards the direction Jiang Yi was in.
Before long, in a few-million-kilometer radius, another seventy to eighty men wearing battle armor similar to those on the Divine Boat also had their jade talismans lit up. They all immediately emanated deadly killing intent as they changed their direction and headed towards where Jiang Yi was to encircle him.
The hunt had begun!
