Chapter 748: Trap

Watching Song Xing's fleeing silhouette, Yan Buji drew a deep breath and gave chase.

After pursuing for a while, Yan Buji suddenly sensed something was off.

Yan Buji's expression was as dark as water, his eyes flashing with a chilling light, his form moving like a specter through the dense woods and wastelands of southern Luohuang Zhou. He gripped the blood‑stained Sea‑Kun Hammer, each step radiating boundless murderous intent.

Though a hint of doubt lingered, the fierce killing intent had already drowned those thoughts. He knew Yun Hua's severe wound was merely a carefully set bait, and Song Xing's sudden appearance was far from a simple coincidence. Yet for a ruthless man like Yan Buji, none of that mattered. What mattered was that anyone daring to defy his authority would receive their due punishment.

The forest towered with interlaced branches, forming a natural barrier, but Yan Buji ignored it, relying on his superb skill and keen instinct to dart through the trees at speed.

Finally, Yan Buji burst out of the forest into a vast, boundless wasteland. Howling gale swept across, raising clouds of yellow sand. He squinted, staring at the ragged fleeing figure not far ahead, a slight curl at his mouth revealing a cruel smile:

"Song Xing, today is your day of death!" With that, he quickened his pace, racing toward Song Xing like a flash of lightning.

Song Xing's specter‑like form darted swiftly through the dense woods. His movements were light and agile, as if he had merged with the forest. Each motion was silent, yet so fast that his exact position was hard to pin down.

From time to time Song Xing glanced back, his peripheral vision catching Yan Buji's relentless pursuit. A faint smirk curled his mouth, a mocking grin that conveyed disdain and provocation, as if ridiculing Yan Buji's overconfidence.

Strangely, Song Xing did not seem eager to escape Yan Buji's chase. On the contrary, he appeared to be deliberately guiding Yan Buji toward a specific direction. This behavior only reinforced Yan Buji's conviction.

Nevertheless, Yan Buji did not halt his stride. He clutched the Sea‑Kun Hammer tightly, its heavy head gleaming with a cold light. He knew that at any opening he would swing the massive hammer without hesitation, delivering a fatal blow to Song Xing. At that moment he fixed his full attention on Song Xing's every move, daring not a hint of slack.

In that instant, Song Xing froze as if struck by a binding spell, abruptly halting in the middle of the endless, desolate plain. He slowly turned, his gaze blazing as he stared at Yan Buji a short distance behind. The panic that had marred his face now gave way to a barely perceptible cold smile, as if mocking his opponent's overreach.

Song Xing lifted his chin slightly and, with a tone full of sarcasm and contempt, said, "Yan Buji, Yan Buji, do you naively think that your petty tricks can take my life? Or are you so arrogant that you believe you have the whole situation firmly in your grasp? Hmph! How utterly laughable!"

Yan Buji replied coldly, "Enough idle talk; today you will surely die."

Song Xing burst into a hearty laugh, raised his hand and swept it, instantly summoning countless formation lights that enveloped both of them. Yan Buji frowned, realizing he was trapped within a meticulously arranged killing formation. Spiritual energy surged within, death intent bristling everywhere, clearly prepared specifically to counter him.

"Did you think I'd come unprepared to lure you in?" Song Xing said proudly, "This Nine Nether Killing Formation was crafted especially for you; even if you possess heaven‑piercing power, you won't escape today!"

Yan Buji let out a cold snort, swung the Sea‑Kun Hammer fiercely, the massive hammer shadow charging toward the formation's edge, only to be rebounded by the formation. A slight heaviness settled in his heart; he recognized the formation's seriousness, yet he remained unflustered, becoming even calmer.

Yan Buji looked around, carefully observing the formation's operating pattern, searching for a flaw.

Seeing Yan Buji laboriously attempting to break the formation, Song Xing's mouth curled into a contemptuous grin, taunting, "Hmph! Don't waste your effort; this formation isn't so easily breached. It's a peerless array we spent massive manpower, resources, and wealth on, enduring countless hardships to complete! With your meager cultivation, even a hundredfold increase wouldn't let you break it quickly." He paused, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes, then continued:

"Moreover, let me tell you, this is only the beginning. Ahead you'll face more unexpected dangers and challenges. Hehe, how's that? Feeling a bit desperate? Just like before, you're nothing but a stray dog on the roadside!" After speaking, Song Xing crossed his arms, watching his opponent leisurely as if he could already envision his defeat's pitiful state.

Before the words finished, distant footsteps echoed and Yun Hua's figure emerged slowly. His complexion was pallid, clearly still grievously wounded, yet his eyes glinted with icy light. Standing outside the formation, he stared coldly at Yan Buji and said, "Yan Buji, today is your day of death."

Yan Buji's gaze swept over Yun Hua and Song Xing, and he sneered, "Just the two of you, think you can take my life?"

Yun Hua said lightly, "We may be insufficient, but with this formation and the Heart‑Devouring Gu inside you, how much chance of victory do you think you have?"

Yan Buji heard this and felt a chill in his heart. He indeed sensed an odd force stirring within, evidently the Gu poison secretly implanted during his earlier clash with Song Xing. He snorted coldly, forcibly suppressing the internal movement, and said, "Such petty Gu poison thinks it can affect me?"

Yun Hua shook his head, "You're overly arrogant. This Heart‑Devouring Gu is an ancient rare toxin; once it activates, it will corrode your heart meridians, causing your spiritual energy to collapse in excruciating pain. The more you wield your power, the faster the poison erupts. I want to see how long you can endure."

Yan Buji said no more, knowing further words were useless; breaking the formation swiftly was the best course. He inhaled deeply, his internal spiritual energy roared wildly, and the massive hammer in his hand erupted with dazzling light. He swung abruptly toward the formation's core, attempting to shatter it with force.

The formation quaked violently but did not collapse. Seeing this, Song Xing and Yun Hua acted together, injecting spiritual energy into the array to reinforce its power.

Yan Buji felt the pressure multiply, the Gu poison within beginning to flare, sending waves of excruciating pain through his heart meridians!