Chapter 256: Swift Pursuit
Yan Yin finished speaking and immediately mounted the Jade Feather Dragon, flying off toward the direction where Bing Zhongxing had fled.
Liu Dongzhu, Chen Xuanmo, Wan Ruicheng, and several other Second Heaven cultivators each brought a few junior brothers and junior sisters, flying out in pursuit.
Those who fled earlier had scattered in all directions, so now wanting to corner them was not that easy.
Su Yan naturally would not lag behind. His figure landed on the Blood Bone Centipede King, transforming into a long rainbow as he searched eastward.
The Mountain Guard disciples directly swept through the remaining Lishan County City. At this time, Lishan County City had lost a large number of martial artists guarding it and was fundamentally unable to resist.
Su Yan pursued outward, the Blood Bone Centipede King’s speed extremely fast. In no time, it had already left Lishan County City behind.
“Quite good at hiding.”
He had already chased out a hundred li, but the Blood Bone Centipede King had lost that person’s aura and tracks.
The Blood Bone Centipede King hovered in mid-air. Su Yan raised his eyes and looked around. At this time, they were already in the deep mountain old forest.
Towering forest trees obstructed the view, making it impossible to see any human tracks.
Although not comparable to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, such desolate mountains were similarly good places to hide one’s figure.
Although he could not see anyone, Su Yan was certain that a Dan Qiao Realm martial artist was hiding here.
“Will you come out on your own, or shall I make a move?”
Su Yan’s voice enveloped the entire desolate mountains, clear and sharp like a knife.
The desolate mountains were deathly silent, with no one responding.
‘The Beast King Sect’s dog nose is truly sensitive.’
At this time in the desolate mountains, Zhou Zhaowen’s face was pale, his true essence constantly circulating in his body as he tried to recover his injuries as much as possible.
Although he had used the great formation to escape, how could such an evasion technique not come at a cost? Now he was suffering true essence backlash, his strength reduced to seven or eight out of ten.
His gaze was sinister as he thought to himself: ‘Another hundred li outward, and I can escape Lishan County. This kid is troublesome, but he came alone arrogantly—kill him first.’
He naturally knew Su Yan was formidable. In the great formation, with only First Heaven cultivation, he slaughtered peers like butchering dogs.
Such a heavenly prodigy was an absolute top figure even within the Beast King Sect.
Zhou Zhaowen’s pupils dilated. He saw Su Yan wave his hand, releasing rolling red mist-like swarms of insects that spread out over the entire desolate mountains.
With the insect swarm searching the mountains, no matter how great his ability, he could not avoid leaving any trace.
His heart hardened—he refused to believe that with his Dan Qiao Realm Third Heaven ability, he could not take down this little brat in one clash.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he took out a pill and swallowed it.
The pill entered his throat and immediately turned into surging medicinal potency filling his entire body. His true essence swelled like a balloon, his aura quickly restoring to Dan Qiao Realm Third Heaven level.
Third-order mid-grade Blood Return Pill, stimulating bloodline to forcibly recover injuries.
He threw out three spirit sealing talismans, which intertwined and transformed into a Three-headed Evil Bird, charging straight at Su Yan.
This strike was earth-shattering and came especially suddenly.
Zhou Zhaowen followed closely behind, his ink-black needle-like long sword whistling toward Su Yan’s brow.
The Three-headed Evil Bird screeched to wound the soul, visible black halos enveloping Su Yan and the insect swarm in front of him.
Zhou Zhaowen’s sword move thrust forward at this moment, extremely perilous.
‘Even a Starry Sky Martial Artist absolutely could not…’
Clang!
The spirit sword Ink Thorn struck as if hitting a steel plate, emitting a crisp sound.
Zhou Zhaowen looked sharply. Su Yan punched out, his pitch-black ‘fist armor’ precisely blocking the sword tip.
The Three-headed Evil Bird still wanted to attack Su Yan, but in the next moment, the Blood Bone Centipede King bit down directly, tearing a huge gash in its spirit sealing constructed body.
Su Yan’s gaze showed a hint of solemnity. Zhou Zhaowen’s true intent immediately manifested, turning into a Black Vulture that pounced straight at Su Yan.
A Third Heaven martial artist had already condensed true essence, qi and blood, and divine soul golden core—their power was tremendously strong.
The true intent manifested instantly as a hundred-meter beast, its sharp beak attack enough to shatter gold and crack stone.
Su Yan’s figure retreated, not clashing directly with it.
“Don’t think of escaping. Arrogantly seeking death—today is your death day.”
Zhou Zhaowen spoke coldly with fierce eyes. Su Yan had forced him, making him a mortal enemy.
Su Yan’s lips curved up: “Who said I was escaping?”
He waved his hand, and Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, Dragon-Eating Worm, Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust, Rock Demon Ant Queen all appeared before him, along with a Rhinoceros Tiger glaring menacingly.
Zhou Zhaowen’s face turned completely ashen, his teeth nearly grinding to pieces.
Fully six third-order calamity beasts, with overwhelming aura—their bloodlines absolutely top among same-rank feral beasts.
In such a situation, how to fight?
Zhou Zhaowen turned to flee, but in this state, how could he possibly have a chance to escape?
The Dragon-Eating Worm roared, its form changing into a Blood Flood Dragon that soared through the clouds, directly blocking Zhou Zhaowen’s path. Zhou Zhaowen’s true intent Black Vulture fought fiercely, its hundred-meter wingspan blotting out the sky.
However, the Blood Flood Dragon transformed from the Dragon-Eating Worm had indestructible scales. Even in combat, it possessed immense strength, tearing the Black Vulture true intent limb from limb.
Zhou Zhaowen wielded Ink Thorn to strike, wanting to slay the dragon and escape.
He had just moved when his divine soul golden core trembled violently, as if struck by a heavy hammer.
His figure staggered, plummeting from mid-air.
In such a sorry state, it was the Rock Demon Ant Queen who had acted, using powerful mental attack to directly assault his divine soul.
At this point, no further orders from Su Yan were needed. The Rhinoceros Tiger shot out divine light, piercing Zhou Zhaowen’s body.
Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust—every one of them—third-order calamity beasts’ power bombarded Zhou Zhaowen’s body, battering him until he was covered in wounds.
In just a few exchanges, Dan Qiao Realm Third Heaven Zhou Zhaowen struggled desperately, but under the fierce insects’ siege battle, he appeared extremely strained and was finally struck in a vital spot, thoroughly slain.
Fiend Bee extracted his three golden cores. With a wave of Su Yan’s Myriad Insect Prison Suppressing Tower, he collected the most important items from this Dan Qiao Realm martial artist.
“Crack.”
The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth had already begun devouring the opponent’s spirit tool Ink Thorn. The more it fought, the more weapons it accumulated, its strength growing ever stronger.
From Zhou Zhaowen’s body, Su Yan took the storage ring.
His spirit probed inside. With a scan, over a hundred cubic meters contained third-order origin stones piled like a small mountain, along with quite a few medicinal herbs.
“After several plunders, it all ended up in these few guys’ hands.”
Martial artists cultivate, whether establishing sects or families—the ultimate disputes are all for these cultivation resources.
Those four Dharma Aspect True Persons had other schemes, conspiring together not only to demand more resources but mainly to scheme against the Beast King Sect’s head seat.
While these Dan Qiao Realm martial artists were simpler—they were just after resources.
Only sufficient cultivation resources could support them going further.
But now, it all benefited Su Yan.
Su Yan collected the items, grabbed Zhou Zhaowen’s corpse, and returned to Lishan County City.
Everyone returned one after another. Yan Yin had also taken Bing Zhongxing’s head. Of the remaining seven or eight who fled, only two or three had yet to be found.
“That Zhou Zhaowen is not young, but same cultivation as you, right?”
Liu Dongzhu looked toward Wan Ruicheng beside her and said softly.
Wan Ruicheng smiled bitterly: “A Third Heaven martial artist—if desperate, I’m afraid I couldn’t take them down easily.”
Defeating the opponent was easy.
But comparing trump cards was a dangerous matter.
No one wanted to truly fight to the death. In a deathmatch, winning without cost was nearly impossible.
“Monster.”
Even the taciturn Chen Xuanmo could not help but say one more word.
Su Yan’s strength indeed exceeded norms.
Those discussing Su Yan were not just them. In fact, when learning of Su Yan’s battle record, even Yuan Yi, with his innate martial body, extinguished thoughts of competing with him.
Everyone had just broken through, but now Su Yan could already siege battle Third Heaven martial artists.
Even if relying on fierce insects’ power, weren’t the fierce insects nurtured by him?
Amid everyone’s discussion, Su Yan was extremely calm.
From the moment he exposed his methods, Su Yan had the capital to not hide.
【Fourth-order Insect Master: 1301/100000】
【Core Opening Realm First Heaven 1/400(Great Accomplishment）】
【Traits: Insect Bone Armor Body, Insect Consciousness Seed, Bloodline Gift】
【Insect Realm Space: 100000 cubic meters】
……
【Subduing Tiger Mingwang Body 244/400(Great Accomplishment）】
【Blood Bone Centipede King: 14/100（Nascent Stage）】
【Flame Armored Scorpion: 3/4 Metamorphosis Stage】
【Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust: 0/4 Metamorphosis Stage】
【Shadow Horn Spider:343/400（Mature Stage）】
【Troop Devouring Ghost Moth:22/400(Mature Stage）】
【Rock Demon Ant Queen:2/200（Growth Stage）】
【Dragon-Eating Worm:42/100（Nascent Stage）】
“Excluding Subduing Tiger Mingwang Body, whether Star Constellation Profound Beast Skill or Five Poisons Body Forging Scripture, all reached Transformation Realm level. Physical body and true essence cultivation sped up a bit, but pills are somewhat insufficient.”
Su Yan gazed at his current state. The cultivation manuals, martial skills, and techniques he cultivated were extremely varied: true essence cultivation via Star Constellation Profound Beast Skill, physical body cultivation via Five Poisons Body Forging Scripture, Heavenly Python Dharma Body, and others.
He had always been in combat, never short on pills, so his cultivation progress was naturally not slow.
In the Myriad Insect Prison Suppressing Tower, there were still several golden cores and four Dan Qiao Realm martial artists continuously being refined, their strands of pure true essence all used by him for physical body cultivation.
With such resources, Su Yan’s progress was naturally as it should be.
However, he was not very satisfied, a peculiar glint hidden in his eyes.
Having witnessed Dharma Aspect Realm moves, even mastering Dharma Aspect Realm power for a time himself.
He knew his current power was still insufficient, so he must grow stronger faster.
“Flame Armored Scorpion only needs one Fierce Fire Purple Scorpion to metamorphose—need to find a way to get one.”
“Also need to refine another batch of Seed Aperture Pills.”
Previously, he had traded away Seed Aperture Pills, and the two he kept were used up. Now, twenty star apertures were opened in his body. Though each contained true essence inferior to true essence golden core, together they surpassed it.
As his physical body continuously improved, the limit for opening star apertures was also rising.
So demand in this aspect was increasing.
Besides star apertures, the pills Su Yan needed were not just Seed Aperture Pills. With so many fierce insects, the pills needed to sustain them naturally increased as well.
Su Yan calculated overall and shook his head: “Gained origin stones barely two million. If all true essence swapped for pills, probably not much left.”
……
Hundred Peaks Barrier, Cold Spring Peak
“Senior Brother Qing, Lishan County has been retaken by your sect. It won’t be long before the Qing Family’s estate is restored. Congratulations, Senior Brother Qing.”
At the grand banquet, the man in the main seat cupped his hands toward the person opposite, offering congratulations.
Qing Yunheng across from him smiled and nodded: “Those Three Flames Divine Palace villains could never match our sect. Thanks to Fellow Daoist Sang’s auspicious words. When the Qing Family rebuilds, we will surely invite Fellow Daoist to the ceremony.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Sang Jingzhi smiled, finally having latched onto the Beast King Sect’s thigh.
This Qing Yunheng’s cultivation in the Beast King Sect was unremarkable, merely Second Heaven. But after all, he was from Azure Dragon Peak, and his brother Qing Yunke was even a third-order spirit sealer—associating with them brought many benefits.
Qing Yunheng exchanged cups with several Dan Qiao Realm cultivators present, welcoming them with smiles, showing none of the arrogance from that day at the Beast King Sect.
Although the Withered Wood Sect where Sang Jingzhi belonged was not like the Sword One Sect, it also had two Dharma Aspects in charge, one of whom had currently set up a dojo at these few mountain positions.
Such a sect was certainly worth the Qing Family befriending—and must be befriended.
Amidst cups and toasts, the Dan Qiao Realm cultivators from several sects opened up.
The Cloud Roaming Sect’s Dan Qiao Realm elder kept saying: “Three Flames Divine Palace and Hundred Caves Witch Sect people have been fighting over that large mine for over a month. Daily battles, truly annoying. Who knows how long this garrison will last.”
They were all small sects, garrisoned for resources.
Now outside Hundred Peaks Barrier, battles raged—not a sneak attack today, then Hundred Peaks Barrier sects killing Demonic Sect tomorrow.
The former Hundred Thousand Great Mountains was a treasure land of resources, but now resources and crises coexisted, like a beast farm.
That one third-order high-grade large mine had been fought over for months, with Dan Qiao Realm moves more than once.
Yet no one could fully take it, causing endless incidents.
Sang Jingzhi shook his head: “Not just the large mine—any place with some resources, they don’t plan to let go this time.”
Months of fighting, even occasional clashes, were utterly exhausting.
“Everyone need not worry. With Hundred Peaks Barrier here, how could they breach it?”
Qing Yunheng said with a smile.
“Correct. We Hundred Peaks Barrier linked as one, mobilizing formation array power—even from afar, we can aid each other. No need to worry overly.”
Everyone continued the banquet, dispersing only after late into the night.
Don’t think just because they were all Dan Qiao Realm with strong physiques that ordinary fine wine could not intoxicate them.
This time, however, it was Qing Yunheng’s wine that left the three or four present dizzy and dazed.
Qing Yunheng swallowed a pill, and with its medicinal potency dispersing, the alcohol intent vanished instantly.
He glanced at Sang Jingzhi and sneered coldly: “Hundred Peaks Barrier.”
He left the main hall directly, heading straight to his lodging room.
Just as he entered, a voice sounded in the room: “How did it go?”
Qing Yunheng replied: “Everything smooth. Withered Wood Sect short on manpower, thanks to my aid—now is the perfect time to breach Hundred Peaks Barrier.”
In the room, a green-robed elder looked up at Qing Yunheng and grinned: “Second Brother, Li Jiongcang and the others have been lured away from the mountain. The Dharma Aspect True Persons guarding Hundred Peaks Barrier are already insufficient. Tonight I’ll contact Three Flames Divine Palace people to break the city and head north into Lingnan Prefecture.”
Qing Yunheng nodded emphatically: “Yun Qian, be extremely careful. Though resources for breaking through Dharma Aspect Realm are important, life is fundamental.”
Qing Yunqian smiled: “With three Dharma Aspect True Persons making the move, I’ll naturally be safe. Second Brother, wait for my news—inside and outside coordination to break the formation array.”
