Chapter 118

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, three hours had gone by. The cultivator who had entered the woods still showed no signs of leaving. Zhang Nuo sat inside the tree hollow, not daring to even breathe loudly, constantly alert to the movements outside.

After another moment, Zhang Nuo suddenly felt another wave of Spirit Power fluctuations. This was a completely different Spirit Power fluctuation from that of the cultivator who had entered the area earlier. Upon sensing this wave of Spirit Power, Zhang Nuo's heart became uneasy; it was a trembling that originated from the depths of his soul.

His expression turned somewhat grim, and Zhang Nuo became even more cautious. This feeling only occurred when encountering a cultivator at the Golden Core stage. Due to the disparity in cultivation, Foundation Establishment stage cultivators would always have this feeling when approaching a Golden Core cultivator.

"Could the person who arrived be a Golden Core cultivator?"

Zhang Nuo said to himself, while simultaneously restraining his aura as much as possible! Not long after, from the distant horizon, a cultivator arrived directly above the woods where Zhang Nuo was located, riding a Flying Magic Tool. He looked down into the woods and slowly descended toward them.

At this time, the cultivator who had entered the woods first also discovered this person and hurriedly ran toward the spot where the other was landing.

"Nangong Senior Brother! You've finally come!"

Judging by the voice, it seemed that the person who ran over was a woman. Zhang Nuo's brows furrowed tightly; this woman's voice was very familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he was suddenly somewhat horrified.

It turned out that the first cultivator to enter the woods was actually Ding Fu, the purple-clad young woman from the Beixuan Sect with whom he had just exchanged blows a few days ago! And the Nangong Senior Brother she addressed was perhaps the very person she had wanted to invite back then!

"What is the matter that has you so anxious!"

A man's voice rang out. Judging by the sound, this man should be around fifty years old, but the waves of pressure carried within his voice were not to be underestimated.

The Spirit Power fluctuation Zhang Nuo had just sensed, which felt like that of a Golden Core cultivator, was emitted by this person. Now that the distance was closer, Zhang Nuo could conclude that this Nangong Senior Brother of the Beixuan Sect was not a true Golden Core cultivator; his cultivation had merely reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Perfection, and the Spiritual Pressure he emitted was somewhat similar.

However, since he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Perfection, it was equivalent to having one foot stepped into the Golden Core stage, so his strength naturally could not be underestimated.

"I found the hideout of Zhuge Qing of the Nanxuan Sect a few days ago. Judging by her appearance, she should be quite heavily injured!"

Ding Fu stood respectfully before the middle-aged man, saying with a hint of triumph on her face. The middle-aged man before her wore a plain robe, his hair pulled up into a high bun on top of his head, but his eyes were like lightning, as if two bright lamps had been lit in the darkness.

This person was the number one Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Beixuan Sect, Nangong Ao. His Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Perfection realm was enough to stand out from the crowd among the Four Great Sects in the Tianjiang Plain!

However, when Nangong Ao heard the name Zhuge Qing, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and his eyes, which were already as bright as lamps, became even more sinister.

"You have exchanged blows with her?"

"Yes! But unfortunately, she was hiding in a mountain cave. We didn't know at the time, and the first disciple to enter the cave was killed by her. Later, I wanted to use a Sound Transmission Talisman to find you, Senior Brother..."

In one breath, Ding Fu recounted the incident of meeting Zhuge Qing. Nangong Ao listened carefully, and only at the end did he give a cold laugh.

"Since when does the Nanxuan Sect have such a troublesome cultivator! Someone who can kill an existence of the same rank in an instant?"

"I am not sure either. That green-robed cultivator appeared suddenly!"

The green-robed cultivator the two were talking about was none other than Zhang Nuo. Before entering the Trial Ground, they had a clear idea of the cultivators within each major sect, but they had never heard of Zhang Nuo.

"To be able to stay by Zhuge Qing's side, his cultivation certainly won't be weak. If I encounter this person in the future, I will kill him first! A character like this will surely be a scourge if left until later!"

After pondering slightly, Nangong Ao said coldly.

"That is natural. If Zhuge Qing were not present, I alone could kill that green-robed cultivator!"

Relying on the Green Gourd Magic Treasure in her hand, the purple-clad young woman was not at all afraid of a one-on-one fight with Zhang Nuo!

"It is better to be more cautious. That person's cultivation is not high, but his methods are peculiar; I have never heard of him within the Four Great Sects! Later, I will tell all the Beixuan Sect disciples in the Trial Ground to surround and kill him with full force if they encounter him!"

Fearing that the purple-clad young woman might be careless, Nangong Ao reminded her.

Hearing this, a chill rose from the deepest part of Zhang Nuo's heart. He did not expect that he had actually become a target for certain death by the Beixuan Sect. It seemed that in the future, when encountering people from the Beixuan Sect, he must kill them thoroughly and not let them know his whereabouts! Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Pricking up his ears, Zhang Nuo continued to listen to their conversation.

"Nangong Senior Brother, let us rush to the mountain cave where Zhuge Qing was before! As long as you are there, you will definitely be able to kill her. Once we leave the Trial Ground, won't the Sect Master record a great merit for you?"

As if intentionally trying to curry favor with Nangong Ao, the purple-clad young woman offered all the credit to him.

"Are you foolish enough to stay in the same place and wait for death after being discovered?"

Glancing at Ding Fu with contempt, Nangong Ao looked at her with disdain. Sticking out her tongue, the purple-clad young woman stopped making a sound.

"I suspect she will flee immediately. We should go around and inquire to see if anyone has seen which direction Zhuge Qing fled. Hearing you say she is heavily injured, she shouldn't have escaped too quickly. Perhaps I still have a chance to catch up!"

After thinking carefully for a long time, Nangong Ao finally spoke.

"Nangong Senior Brother is right!"

Ding Fu hurriedly agreed. The two chatted about some other things before departing separately on their Magic Treasures. Only half an hour after the two had flown away did Zhang Nuo let out a long sigh of relief.

It seemed that Zhuge Qing was still one step ahead in her planning. If he had really listened to her back then and fled the cave, he might have already fallen into danger by now. Since he could be sure that Zhuge Qing was fine, he could go search for the treasures in the Dark Swamp with more peace of mind.

However, Zhang Nuo kept Nangong Ao's terrifying cultivation deeply in his heart. No wonder Zhuge Qing's heart had trembled when she heard that name. Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Perfection! A cultivator who had one foot stepped into the Golden Core stage was much more formidable than one who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

In an instant, Zhang Nuo made up his mind. If he ever encountered Nangong Ao alone in the future, no matter what, he would flee at the first opportunity! Although he was confident in his own cultivation, Zhang Nuo was not confident enough to easily kill a cultivator of this caliber.

After resting in the tree hollow for two hours, Zhang Nuo flashed out of it! He looked toward the direction of the Dark Swamp, his Divine Sense stirred slightly, and a Flying Sword flew out from the Sword Box on his back. In the blink of an eye, the man and the sword disappeared into the sky toward the swamp.

(Wishing all fellow Daoists! A Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)