Chapter 90: This deep gratitude, I brought it upon myself

Feeling someone behind him, Yunhe immediately formed hand seals and cast the "Earth Escape Technique".

Just.

"Can't escape?!"

This was still Yunhe's first time encountering a failure to cast the Earth Escape Technique; even though this black mist could weaken magical power, it shouldn't make the technique impossible to use.

He quickly came to his senses.

"It's the effect of the Forbidden Formation!"

Setting up a formation requires various nodes; in most cases, the nodes are formation flags, such as his "Wu Earth Boulder Formation," which relies on formation flags and a formation disk.

But for a grand formation like the Zou Family's, which protects the entire ancient city, its protected range is so vast that relying solely on formation flags cannot meet the demand, so many formation nodes must be placed outside the city.

At the same time, to maintain the function of these formation nodes, most formation masters will use underground spiritual veins as the energy supply.

And the effect of the "Forbidden Formation" is to cut off the magical and spiritual power supply and connection between the nodes and the spiritual veins, thereby achieving the effect of breaking the formation.

At this moment, the ground beneath Zou City and outside it is almost entirely covered by the "Forbidden Formation," making it difficult for any spell to take effect upon contact with the formation, which is why the Earth Escape Technique cannot be cast.

"Just run out of the mist and it'll be fine."

Thinking this, Yunhe immediately changed direction.

Indeed, after he shifted his position, the person behind him stopped pursuing.

He likely was another cultivator fleeing the Zou Family, and his appearance behind Yunhe was purely coincidental.

Afterwards.

Yunhe then encountered two more situations where he was about to come into contact with other cultivators, but he skillfully avoided them each time by relying on his stronger divine sense.

Until.

A cultivator who moved nimbly and unhindered through the black mist suddenly appeared on his path forward.

The thick black mist, extremely low visibility, a Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in a black tight outfit and wielding two sickles appeared silently.

While the black mist was a hindrance to Yunhe and these sect cultivators, it became an aid for this person.

He moved freely, using the black mist to conceal his figure, relying on surprise attacks.

However, when he locked onto Yunhe and launched a sneak attack, Yunhe still detected the change in the surging mist.

Ding! Ding! Ding!!

Yunhe immediately sacrificed the Red Sheath Fan, shooting out three or four red feathers, barely blocking the sickle aimed at his neck.

In the black mist, the power of the Red Sheath Fan was greatly reduced.

"A subordinate of the Blood Ritual?"

Yunhe's heart sank.

Although he didn't know the identity of the Blood Ritual, their wanton preparation to slaughter sect cultivators already showed this person's identity was not simple.

Such a person would obviously not bring only a few subordinates.

Intercepting all sect cultivators could not be done merely by the black mist.

Moreover, the opposing black-clothed early-stage Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator seemed somewhat surprised, not expecting Yunhe to actually block his sneak attack.

One must know that, with the aid of the black mist and proficient assassination skills, even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator might not necessarily react in time.

This person had previously already assassinated a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Guiyuan Sect.

After failing in one strike, this person did not linger in battle, but once again vanished into the black mist.

"Can't stop, otherwise there's always a chance of being surrounded; if attacked by three or four people, it would really be troublesome."

Yunhe, holding the Red Sheath Fan, had his thoughts flash like lightning.

His foot movements did not pause due to being intercepted.

His gaze swept over the Red Sheath Fan; its originally brilliant red feathers were now tinged with a faint layer of black energy.

Yunhe couldn't help but frown.

It had been corroded.

"This person probably hasn't noticed my divine sense; this is an opportunity."

With that thought, Yunhe placed his hand on his waist.

He drew but did not release, exposing a weakness.

As expected.

Seeing that Yunhe had no intention of stopping his steps, that person hid in the black mist, observed for a moment, and then launched another fierce sneak attack.

"Here it comes!"

He sensed the change in the black mist.

"Behind!"

Yunhe's footsteps suddenly stalled, he turned over, his palm turned slightly, and he slapped out the Golden Origin Body-Protection Talisman; his body was instantly enveloped in a golden light, and at the same time an illusory image of a pangolin appeared.

Metal Scale Armor Technique!

With the two protections in place, Yunhe immediately ignored the incoming sickle, and under the cultivator's somewhat surprised gaze, he shook the Red Sheath Fan, sending out twelve feathers.

At the same time, he opened his mouth, gave a low shout, and shot out a warm water ball.

In a series of fluid motions, he deployed talismans, spells, magical artifacts, and divine abilities, all without interference, complementing each other.

Ding!!

The sharp sickle chopped apart the pangolin illusion, but was blocked by the golden light of the Golden Origin Body-Protection Talisman.

And the weakened feathers of the Red Sheath Fan were also swept away by the cultivator's other sickle.

But the Three Yang Heavy Water, under his astonished gaze, easily shattered his body-shielding technique.

"Heavy Yang Water?!"

This person cried out in surprise.

The scorching yang energy contained in the Three Yang Heavy Water naturally restrains its spells.

However, merely having refined the Three Yang Heavy Water once, it's obviously unrealistic to instantly kill this person who has early Foundation Establishment cultivation.

But Yunhe unleashed the Gold Yuan Body-Protecting Talisman, and the hand that cast the Metal Scale Armor Technique did not stop there.

At the same moment the Three Yang Heavy Water shattered his defense, he formed hand seals again.

Water Escape Technique!

Splash—

His body instantly turned into a mass of water.

Escaping by water!

The Three Yang Heavy Water is also water!

In an instant, he closed in to stand before that person.

The opponent's middle gate was wide open!

Yunhe unhesitatingly threw out another talisman.

Golden Light Spell Talisman!

A muffled, strained voice issued from the Golden Light Spell Talisman.

Ah!!

Accompanied by a sharp cry of pain, that person's body exploded into powder with a bang under the attack of the Golden Light Spell Talisman.

Yunhe's expression did not change at all.

He then grabbed two sickles and the fallen storage bag, turned and ran again.

At the edge of the black mist, it seemed right before his eyes.

But perhaps because the early Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator's dying scream, Yunhe had run only a few steps when he noticed the mist behind him surging again.

'Is he chasing me? So fast?'

'No, when that person appeared earlier, although the mist also changed, it wasn't as obvious as this time; it's another cultivator!'

His heart steadied a little.

But when Yunhe prepared to change direction to avoid being caught up, a sound came from behind him.

'Fellow Daoist ahead, I am Zou Zhongping of the Zou family! Your divine powers are great; may we join forces to repel the enemy?'

Zou Zhongping?

Yunhe frowned.

Who would stop to help someone at a time like this?

Moreover, the Zou family are the primary targets of the Blood Ritual, even more so than these sect cultivators.

The principle of eradicating weeds to the root is understood even better by the Blood Ritual than by them.

Perhaps the one chasing Zou Zhongping right now is a mid Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator!

Yunhe had no hesitation whatsoever and immediately changed direction again.

But what he didn't expect was that, perhaps because they were too close, or perhaps because Zou Zhongping's strength was not weak, he could still sense Yunhe's change of direction and continued to pursue him.

At the same time he shouted:

'Fellow Daoist, as long as you are willing to act, I, Zou, will surely reward you handsomely!'

'Thanks, old man!'

Yunhe couldn't help but curse in his heart.

He changed direction once more.

But Zou Zhongping seemed to have marked him; no matter how Yunhe changed direction, he followed like a little bug.

Furthermore, Zou Zhongping finally stopped hiding his purpose.

He wanted to drag Yunhe into trouble!

No, rather, he wanted to use Yunhe to draw attention, thereby gaining a slim chance for himself.

Redirecting disaster eastward!

Because the one chasing him was actually a late Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator!

'Damn it, old man!'

Yunhe's heart burned with anger; he saw he was about to escape, yet he never expected to be stuck by this thing.

It would be strange if his mood were good.

What left Yunhe most helpless was that, unable to use Earth Escape Technique or drive a flying boat, he actually couldn't outrun his opponent.

He was gradually being caught up by Zou Zhongping.

When Yunhe's divine sense finally 'saw' Zou Zhongping, he understood the reason.

On his leg were two upper-grade first-stage Vertical Earth Gold Light Talismans, and since he himself counted as half a body cultivator, his speed was not slow.

But Zou Zhongping's leg actually bore a middle-grade second-stage Earth Travel Talisman!

No wonder even the late Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator behind him couldn't catch up in a short time.

Of course, Zou Zhongping's condition was not good; apparently after a previous fight with the demonic cultivator behind him, realizing he couldn't win, he thought of using Yunhe as a shield.

When Yunhe saw Zou Zhongping, Zou Zhongping naturally saw him as well and even recognized him.

His expression was ferocious, his eyes bloodshot, yet he said:

'Yunhe Fellow Daoist, we can't escape in time; better to join forces? Perhaps there is still a sliver of hope.'

'Huh—'

Upon hearing this, Yunhe let out a long sigh.

He expressionlessly slowed his steps to a stop.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhongping instantly rejoiced, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

"Daoist Friend Yunhe, I, Zhou, will surely repay you greatly!"

He said as much with his mouth, but his steps showed no intention of stopping.

He didn't even bother pretending, heading straight past Yunhe to have him block the pursuit.

But the instant Zhou Zhongping moved past, Yunhe acted.

He lightly flicked his storage bag.

A bracelet gleaming with water light silently appeared, smashing fiercely toward Zhou Zhongping.

Under his shocked gaze, the magical barrier surrounding him shattered instantly, and the bracelet struck him squarely.

Pfft—

Struck down, Zhou Zhong's expression turned horrified; he clearly hadn't expected Yunhe to ignore the demonic cultivators chasing from behind and attack him directly, and even less expected this assault to be so fierce that his Flame Light Shield couldn't block it!

"A top‑grade water‑attribute Spiritual Artifact?! Daoist Friend Yunhe, a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

Using the water flow from the Xuanwu Bracelet, Yunhe formed the hand seal for the Water Escape Technique and flashed to his side.

Looking down at him, his eyes showed no emotional fluctuation, only icy chill.

"This 'great thanks,' I'll take it myself."

Yunhe said softly.

"No, I am, I am from the Zhou family."

Before he could finish, his eyes widened suddenly as several feathers pierced his chest.

Yunhe skillfully removed his storage bag.

as well as a storage jade bracelet similar to a storage bag that he kept hidden in his bosom.

Zhou family?

Is there still a Zhou family?

"Huh?"

A lazy voice came from behind him.

His movement was blocked again by the flying Xuanwu Bracelet.

"I didn't expect you, Daoist Friend, to be so decisive; I must admit I'm impressed."

The figure of the pursuing demonic cultivator appeared.

On his shoulder he bore a great banner, his hands hanging loosely, his expression leisurely, but his eyes held a hint of malice.

"You merely destroyed the predetermined living soul of my Hundred Ghost Banner, which displeases me greatly."

Seeing this person, Yunhe's heart tightened.

He did not respond.

He tapped the ground with his toe and shot forward.

'Flee!'

(End of Chapter)