Chapter 67 - Arc 6: Pinglan County Wang Family | Chapter 67: Escape
Translator: Lynn
There will be changes to the giant ape names:
Third rank giant ape: King Kong Giant Ape -> Vajra Giant Ape
Fourth rank giant ape: Mythical Black Giant Ape -> Xuangang Giant Ape
While in the midst of his escape, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but wryly smile to himself.
“It never rains but it pours,” he thought. Just when he thought he had dealt with the younger generation, the older ones came right after. It was truly unbearable.
Now, Xu Ziqing considered himself somewhat knowledgeable. From a distance, he sensed the aura of the Xuangang Giant Ape, realizing it was comparable to that of a Foundation-Building monk. Judging from that, it must be a fourth-tier monster.
The fact that a majestic fourth-tier monster was chasing after him, a mere eighth-level Qi-refining cultivator, was truly overwhelming.
The wounds on his shoulders and ribs, which barely stopped bleeding, had reopened due to his recent actions. Though the pain persisted, Xu Ziqing couldn’t afford to lose his composure. He could only blame himself for misjudging people, which led him into such a perilous situation.
With this in mind, he hastened the circulation of spiritual power within his body, enhancing his speed in the escape technique.
Run, run, run!
The word “escape” echoed in Xu Ziqing’s mind. Fortunately, he was in the Shanyan Ridge, where countless giant trees, vines, and grasses provided an ideal environment for his Wood Escape Technique to take effect.
However, he knew all too well that the Xuangang Giant Ape had locked onto his trail and was relentlessly pursuing him in his direction.
If he were caught… Judging by his current condition, he stood no chance against the Xuangang Giant Ape.
He must find a safe place to heal his injuries first!
With a firm resolution, Xu Ziqing realized that most of the spiritual power within his body had already been depleted. After employing the evasion technique, he was on the verge of exhaustion, causing him to involuntarily slow down.
While he slowed, the Xuangang Giant Ape, full of vigor, closed the distance even further.
Regrettably…
Swallowing the blood lodged in his throat, Xu Ziqing made a desperate decision. With a thought, he grasped two spirit beads in each hand.
At this moment, survival necessitated a fight. He had to test whether the Xuangang Giant Ape would give up or if he could outpace it!
Fight!
Xu Ziqing divided his focus, with one half maintaining the Wood Escape Technique while the other half rapidly circulated the “WTen Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique.” He absorbed the spiritual power from the spirit beads, circulating it madly through his meridians, nourishing his depleted dantian.
In this state, his energy became highly concentrated, and his mind turned remarkably clear.
Pain and exhaustion faded away, leaving behind only a profound calmness and a resolute determination to escape death’s clutches.
Xu Ziqing was usually a slow-paced person, but today, he worked with unprecedented urgency and determination. He had no time to consider anything else; all he knew was that he had to use the trees in the ridge to escape as quickly and as far as possible.
The spirit beads in his hands emitted a continuous stream of spiritual power, resembling four thin rivers pouring into his palms. However, under such intense absorption, all four spirit beads turned to powder after approximately half an hour.
Undeterred, Xu Ziqing continued his escape, summoning four more spirit beads into his palm.
Before long, those four spirit beads were also depleted, only to be replaced by another set of four… This process repeated itself. He could feel the spirit beads in his storage ring diminishing, and apart from spirit beads, he had an abundance of spiritual herbs that could replenish his spiritual power.
Unfortunately, in the current situation, he couldn’t find a moment to pause and consume the spirit herbs.
As the chase and escape continued, a whole day swiftly passed.
Xu Ziqing still didn’t dare to halt, and the Xuangang Giant Ape adamantly refused to let him go.
Night had fallen.
Xuangang Giant Apes, unlike ordinary people, cannot see in the dark. However, monks possess a distinct advantage in this regard. Ever since they stepped into the realm of immortality, night and day held no difference for them.
Due to the darkness, Xu Ziqing had a slight upper hand over the Xuangang Giant Ape.
Although the Xuangang Giant Ape couldn’t see, its sense of smell was excellent. It could still detect the scent of blood in the air, not far ahead, emanating from the immortal cultivator’s body.
The Xuangang Giant Ape hadn’t anticipated that the cultivator would manage to elude it for so long. If it allowed him to continue fleeing, it would undoubtedly lose him. With a resounding roar, it kicked its feet and soared into the sky!
If there were enough light, one would notice that as the Xuangang Giant Ape ascended, a cloud of black wind formed beneath its feet. This black wind was one of the unique abilities possessed by fourth-tier or higher monsters, functioning similarly to a monk’s wind control technique.
But now that it was in the air, the Xuangang Giant Ape was determined to make a swift decision.
Without hesitation, the Xuangang Giant Ape opened its mouth and expelled a bowl-sized ball of air. The air mass resembled a massive bomb, hurtling toward Xu Ziqing’s hiding spot!
At that moment, Xu Ziqing felt a gust of wind brush against the back of his head, carrying something incredibly dangerous. Swiftly, he turned and narrowly evaded the projectile!
The airball missed him by less than a foot, its tremendous force disturbing Xu Ziqing’s consciousness. The impact was so powerful that it even blasted the ground, sending him flying out from behind a giant tree!
This move was incomparable to Chonghua’s fledgling supernatural powers. It was one of the Xuangang Giant Ape’s unique abilities, a devastating technique passed down through the ages, deeply rooted in their bloodline—a manifestation of the power of Gengjin.
As Xu Ziqing felt his body become weightless, he was immediately exposed in front of the Xuangang Giant Ape.
The Xuangang Giant Ape unleashed more air balls, causing Xu Ziqing to tremble. Swiftly, he flipped through the air and vanished into another giant tree in the blink of an eye, once again concealing his presence. Enraged, the Xuangang Giant Ape seized the giant tree, wrenching it forcefully!
“Boom!”
A deafening sound reverberated.
Unlike the Xuangang Giant Ape’s fury, Xu Ziqing felt a tinge of unease at this moment.
He now had only eight spirit beads remaining. If he exhausted them, even with the cover of darkness, the Xuangang Giant Ape could effortlessly capture him. In that event, death would be his only fate.
What should he do?
Xu Ziqing felt an intense thirst in his throat, his dantian craving spiritual power, indirectly affecting his physical state. If this continued, he might not be able to hold on much longer.
Within his dantian, the formula continued its rapid operation.
The spiritual power from the spirit beads hadn’t had time to stabilize; it was being directly channeled through the dantian and meridians, transforming into the power of Wood.
Such reckless behavior not only damaged his meridians but also subjected the acupuncture points within them to tremendous strain.
In an impulsive and uncontrolled manner, Xu Ziqing, who only had six partially opened meridians remaining, suddenly unlocked one meridian amidst the chaotic collision of spiritual power!
Immediately following, the acupuncture point on another meridian began to crumble… The surge of spiritual power continued, eventually breaking away that meridian as well! He had reached the ninth stage of Qi Refinement!
With his cultivation breakthrough, a myriad of auras enveloped Xu Ziqing. The energy from heaven and earth flooded into him at a rapid pace, pouring into his dantian and repairing the previously damaged meridians.
Under the influence of the Ethereal Wood Qi, the wounds on his body rapidly healed, nearly closing up in no time!
Under normal circumstances, Xu Ziqing would have been overjoyed in such a serene setting.
But this was not the time.
In the midst of his life-or-death escape, he had undergone cultivation breakthroughs, inadvertently exposing himself to the Xuangang Giant Ape once again!
Xu Ziqing smiled wryly in his heart. He cared little about solidifying his newfound realm, forcefully abandoning this excellent opportunity to heal his injuries. Instead, he focused on concealing his aura while his wounds remained unhealed.
As expected, right after Xu Ziqing escaped, the spot where he had been previously standing was struck by the air mass, transforming into scorched earth… The only silver lining was that the wood escape technique he employed at the eighth and ninth levels of Qi Refinement was quite distinct.
Xu Ziqing was now faster, his dantian still brimming with spiritual power. He stowed away the remaining spirit beads and utilized the cover of the dark night to flee in various directions.
Gradually, the Xuangang Giant Ape was left behind, the distance between them increasing.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Xu Ziqing suddenly remembered that the Xuangang Giant Ape, despite its inability to see, could potentially locate him due to the scent of blood on his body.
Having been severely wounded earlier, his blue shirt had been completely stained with blood…
With this realization, he paused momentarily, swiftly removing the garment.
Not daring to linger any longer, he immediately changed his course and continued his journey.
Before long, Xu Ziqing noticed that the malevolent aura and oppressive presence of the Xuangang Giant Ape were growing more distant. He was elated, thinking he had succeeded!
However, he didn’t anticipate that this was actually a misconception.
The bloody scent on Xu Ziqing’s body was not as concealed as he had imagined under the influence of the wood aura. The true reason the Xuangang Giant Ape pursued him was the blood essence of the iron giant ape cub that Nian Hongzhi had deliberately smeared on him when he killed the blood leopard. The Xuangang Giant Ape used the blood connection to track him relentlessly.
Though he breathed a sigh of relief, Xu Ziqing remained cautious and refused to halt. He continued his escape for another hour before stumbling upon a cave, hastily seeking refuge within.
Inside the cave, Xu Ziqing imposed a restraint on himself, weakly leaning against the stone wall.
Having endured attacks, severe injuries, blood loss, the desperate struggle to maintain his willpower, and the relentless pursuit, Xu Ziqing was now utterly exhausted.
Furthermore, Chonghua had become separated from him in the chaos of their escape.
His immediate focus was on recovering as swiftly as possible, locating Chonghua, and leaving Shanyanling behind.
Xu Ziqing couldn’t even guess when Xuangang Giant Ape would find him.
Rubbing his temples vigorously, Xu Ziqing slumped down the stone wall and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Before he could settle, a white phantom suddenly materialized before him.
It was Yun Lie, his friend whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Under normal circumstances, Xu Ziqing would have been overjoyed to see Yun Lie. But now, he felt a sense of shame.
He had been so gullible that he nearly lost his life, enduring such embarrassment… He couldn’t bring himself to meet Yun Lie’s gaze, not wanting Yun Lie to be disappointed in him.
However, Yun Lie spoke up.
“Xu Ziqing.” His voice was icy, using Xu Ziqing’s first name for the first time.
Startled, Xu Ziqing raised his head.
Yun Lie remained still, his eyes devoid of any emotions, no blame or displeasure.
Straightening himself, Xu Ziqing felt a tinge of relief, and he murmured, finding his voice.
“Brother Yun, I’m ashamed.”
Yun Lie closed his eyes, flicked his sleeves, and took a seat.
Observing Yun Lie’s actions, Xu Ziqing felt a slight sense of comfort. He mustered the courage to speak his mind.
“Brother Yun, I never expected that there would be such shameless individuals in this world. People who would annihilate everything based on a fleeting connection, an unfounded assumption, resorting to despicable and deceitful acts. How little must they value life?”
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