Chapter 143: Imperial Resources

At the instant the first breath passed.

Da Yu had already fled hundreds of meters with Si Linghua.

When the second breath passed.

The two had already vanished from Qiong Qi's sight.

Qiong Qi yawned; even after three breaths, it was not in a hurry, as if killing them was just talk, not a real intent.

But at the moment the fourth breath arrived.

"I'll give you an extra breath; don't blame me for not giving a chance."

Boom!

Qiong Qi's wings suddenly unfurled, stirring a surge of Frenzy.

The surrounding trees were uprooted like straw, the broken wood and snow whirling wildly in the air.

It rose into the air, its scarlet eyes scanning the endless forest below.

A faint glow flickered in its double pupils, instantly locking onto the two figures sprinting through the dense woods—Da Yu carrying Si Linghua, each step leaving deep prints in the snow.

"You're running quite fast," Qiong Qi grinned, its massive maw revealing a mocking smile:

"Unfortunately... your strength is too weak."

With a beat of its wings, its form became a crimson afterimage.

Where it passed, the treetops were cleanly sliced as if by a sharp blade.

Amid the howling gale, the distance between it and the silhouettes shrank at a staggering speed!

"Wen Ming, stop worrying about me; run on your own."

Si Linghua struggled, trying to climb down from Da Yu's back.

If he stayed, Da Yu without him might not be pursued once Qiong Qi was sated; perhaps Da Yu could run farther, lasting until he returned to the tribe.

But now Da Yu carries him, already slowing his speed... dying one is better than two!

"Cut the nonsense," Da Yu muttered while running, his low voice reaching Si Linghua's ears:

"You were willing to stay for me just now; now I'm willing to carry you!"

"What do you think I am?"

"We'll survive!"

He said so, and his speed surged another notch.

Now he was sacrificing his own body, frantically draining all potential for speed!

Si Linghua couldn't wield Witchcraft either, only gritting teeth, praying Qiong Qi would slow down...

Swoosh!

An invisible Wind Blade tore the air, emitting a sharp, piercing screech.

Da Yu's hair stood on end; a premonition of death made him instinctively roll sideways. The Wind Blade brushed his cloak, and the trees hundreds of meters ahead were instantly cleaved at the waist, crashing down with a thunderous boom that shook the ground.

Without hesitation, he dropped prone, mimicking a Ferocious Tiger's gait with hands and feet, and kept fleeing!

From high above, a hint of admiration flashed in Qiong Qi's eyes: "Not bad, not bad!"

Its voice rolled like muffled thunder: "Your father at this age is no match for you!"

Though it praised with its mouth, the next moment its claw flicked lightly.

Several scarlet claw marks materialized out of thin air, warping the space they touched.

They made Da Yu feel his back seared by fire; the shadow of death had never been so clear!

"Run! Don't look back!" he shouted, lifting Si Linghua off his back and hurling her far away with all his might!

Boom!

The scarlet claw marks fell like divine punishment, the ground cracking open instantly; a terrifying shockwave spread in a ring, lifting the frozen earth within a hundred zhang like fragile shells.

Shards of stone and mud were hurled skyward, forming a dust storm that blotted out the sky.

Da Yu's figure was completely engulfed by the cataclysmic blast.

Where the shockwave passed, towering ancient trees were uprooted, then torn into fragments midair; deep earth rocks were exposed, their surfaces riddled with spiderweb cracks as if gnawed by a beast's fangs!

Si Linghua's figure rose high, shielded by a surge of 'Qi'; even a fall from the sky would cause no harm!

But that protection didn't extend to Qiong Qi!

"What a deep brotherly bond... you can't escape either!" Qiong Qi raised its claw again, about to strike Si Linghua dead at that moment.

Bang—!!!

Amid the swirling smoke, a figure shot upward like an arrow released from a bow.

It was Da Yu, his body stained with blood!

His right fist radiated a dazzling light; where the fist swept, the air emitted an overloaded, explosive roar.

Qiong Qi's smile hadn't faded when its claw collided with Da Yu's fist with a thunderous impact.

Boom!

Amid the deafening blast, Qiong Qi was horrified to find its claw forced back hard.

The overwhelming force surged along its forelimb, finally slamming solidly onto its tiger-like face.

Crack!

The crisp sound of bones cracking rang clearly.

Qiong Qi's massive body flailed like a kite with its line cut, only managing to steady itself at the instant it was about to crash to the ground.

The gale raised by its wings swept all the snow within a hundred zhang clean away.

"You..." Qiong Qi looked at its broken claw, the mockery gone from its tiger face, replaced by deep surprise:

"How did you do it?"

Da Yu spat out, panting heavily, his black hair had somehow turned a bit white.

Da Yu did not answer Qiong Qi's question, but instead said:

"Retreat! Even if I die, you won't be able to bear it!"

"Hahaha." Seeing this, Qiong Qi already had some speculation in mind; it felt no awkwardness or shame at not being hurt by Da Yu, and instead burst into laughter.

After the laughter ended.

Qiong Qi looked at the figure that was tall among humans but could be called extremely short in front of it, and said lightly:

"Dare to strike a strong one......... Do you know who the last fellow I saw was?"

Da Yu said nothing, merely staring at it intently.

It paid Da Yu no heed, simply speaking to itself: "It is Yao Zhonghua, your emperor."

"Gun's son, you surprised me today."

"Very surprising."

"Surprising to meet someone with imperial blood at this time!"

"I'm also curious; if Yao Zhonghua were to hand the throne to a… son of someone who died elsewhere, what would happen? It would be interesting."

"Although I really want to eat you, your conduct makes my appetite surge, but… never mind, farewell."

Having said that.

Qiong Qi flapped its wings, flew toward the high sky, passed through the clouds and vanished, unknown where it went.

It came suddenly, and left suddenly.

Only Da Yu, who had experienced its terror, could no longer support the seemingly strong but actually exhausted body.

After exhaling the last forced breath, Da Yu collapsed heavily onto the ground.

Just before slipping into unconsciousness, Da Yu heard the words:

"Wen Ming, hold on, I'll take you home."