novelzi Chapter 120: Breaking Through the Encirclement
Chapter 120: Breaking Through the Encirclement
Chapter 120: Breaking Through the Encirclement
Below a cliff on the other side of Misty Swamp was a stone platform concealed by pine trees.
On the platform were roughly a dozen surviving members of the Shadow Specter Sect, hiding carefully as they vigilantly watched the night sky.
The group held their breath as they caught sight of a familiar beast-hunting sailboat.
Just as it got close to them, it abruptly turned and accelerated in a different direction!
It seemed to have discovered something!
Those on the stone platform were surprised to see the sailboat leave. They then noticed three figures flying out from the sailboat, transforming into blood-red streaks of light and landing in a muddy area in the distance.
"Those are three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators!" Wu Yi exclaimed. "After Fei Zheng's death, more powerful members of the Blood Moon Sect were dispatched! Their figures radiate a blood-red light that can be seen from this distance, indicating that they're all in the Marrow Cleansing Realm!"
"Who could provoke three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators from the Blood Moon Sect?" Zhao Ling asked, looking puzzled.
Meng Qiulan shook her head. "Perhaps there's a powerful figure in Misty Swamp that we aren't aware of."
As of late, the beast-hunting sailboats from the Blood Moon Sect and the Cloud Sails from major clans frequently patrolled Misty Swamp, capturing Vicious Beasts and rogue cultivators alike.
However, this was their first time seeing the Blood Moon Sect simultaneously deploy three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators.
"You've forgotten about Hong Jian, '' Yang Yuansen grinned sinisterly. He took out a small embroidered flag, shook his head, and gleefully said, "That kid isn't even trying to be cautious. He actually alerted the Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboat. Many surviving members of the Blood Moon Sect saw him kill Fei Zheng on Musical Instrument Street. There's no way he's getting away this time."
"Hong Jian?" Wu Yi was startled. "He could indeed provoke three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators."
Bai Wei and Bai Zhi covered their mouths, gazing far into the distance where the three blood-red lights had fallen before glancing imploringly at Meng Qiulan.
"How do you know it's him?" Meng Qiulan asked sternly.
Yang Yuansen smugly held up the small embroidered flag to everyone. "This flag is connected to the Ghost Altar he took. I can sense his location with it."
The small embroidered flag faintly emitted waves of spiritual power and was inscribed with complex runes resembling ghostly images.
"There's something you two might not know, but since the Sect Leader has abandoned us, I'll tell you." Yang Yuansen pointed to the runes on the small flag then asked Zhao Ling and Meng Qiulan, "Do you know what these runes represent?"
The two frowned and shook their heads.
Zhao Ling's and Meng Qiulan's Ghost Altars had similar flags that bore the same runes but they did not know their specific meaning.
They activated the Ghost Altar each time by arranging the flags based on the Sect Leader's instructions.
"I paid a high price to ask an expert and learned that this rune represents the character 'hidden.' This rune isn't meant to hide us, but to conceal the Sect Leader's appearance," Yang Yuansen snorted. "I had doubts about the Sect Leader's identity. After learning the secret of this flag, I intentionally left it out when activating the Ghost Altar.
"He didn't notice. Sometimes he hides his appearance, sometimes he shows it. But after I removed this flag, I could see his appearance regardless."
Yang Yuansen paused and looked at Meng Qiulan and Zhao Ling.
"Sometimes the Sect Leader is too lazy to change his attire and simply hides his appearance, not knowing I can see him when he responds to my Ghost Altar. Sometimes, I see him wearing the robes of the Sinister Soul Temple!"
"The Sinister Soul Temple!" Wu Yi, Zhao Ling, and Meng Qiulan exclaimed in shock.
Zhao Ling and Meng Qiulan had seen Han Zhiyuan before and had suspected he was their Sect Leader. Now Yang Yuansen was essentially confirming their suspicions!
"Sometimes, the one responding to the Ghost Altar wasn't even the Sect Leader himself!" Yang Yuansen continued, dropping another bombshell. "The Sect Leader spends most of his time at the Sinister Soul Temple. When he's busy, he has others respond to us!"
"Everyone on the sailboat, stay where you are and obstruct him from there! This kid is strong. Those of you at the Meridian Opening Realm will only throw your lives away if you come down!" Ni Chen roared up toward the sailboat.
The Blood Moon Sect cultivators on deck visibly sighed in relief.
They remained on the sailboat, using its high speed to follow Pang Jian, shooting light blades and blood arrows from a distance.
Pang Jian could only dodge and press forward with all his might.
Under this onslaught, regardless of his agility or his familiarity with the area, he inevitably sustained injury after injury.
His body was riddled with wounds.
Thud!
A blood arrow pierced his shoulder.
Pang Jian pulled out the blood arrow, seeming to feel no pain as he dashed forward another seven or eight zhang.
When he finally reached the marsh where the Divine Spirit Pagoda was hidden, he breathed a silent sigh of relief.
He then noticed a Spirit Devil had disappeared.
Luo Hongyan had Spirit Devils guarding the Divine Spirit Pagoda so they could respond promptly if anything happened.
This place was close to the cave where Luo Hongyan was forging her body.
Pang Jian believed Luo Hongyan was aware of his situation through her Spirit Devils and would soon summon the Spirit Devils scattered throughout the swamp to assist him in the battle.
His pursuers had no chance against the combined power of his combat strength and Luo Hongyan's assistance.
The Blood Moon Sect members were doomed to die here.
"Eh!" Pang Jian gasped in astonishment.
After stopping, he noticed his wounds had stopped bleeding and were tingling strangely. Pure vitality-filled energy enveloped the wounds, healing them at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The little tree's gift!
In a short time, his injuries had partially healed to the point where they no longer affected his ability to fight in the upcoming battle.
"He's stopped!"
"Kid, why aren't you running anymore?"
"Is this the grave you've chosen for yourself?"
The Blood Moon Sect's Meridian Opening Realm cultivators shouted mockingly at Pang Jian from the sailboat.
"Yes, this is the grave I chose for you," Pang Jian replied, planting the Startling Slaughter Spear in the ground.
Taking out several blood-replenishing pills from his spatial pouch, he swallowed them, slowly adjusting his breathing as he waited for the three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators to reach him.
Zhao Ling's and Wu Yi's voices could suddenly be heard in the distance.
"Hold on, Hong Jian!"
"We're coming!"