Damn it!
There's no way to dodge this!
As several figures searched toward his hiding place again, Feng Ling's heart sank.
After splitting from Elder Lingchen and the others, Feng Ling fled while searching for places to hide.
As a top-tier Assassin, he had found quite a few excellent spots over the past few days.
Feng Ling had erased every trace of himself along the way, but the blood on his body reeked too strongly. No matter how well he hid, his pursuers still detected him.
Whenever his pursuers noticed something suspicious, they would turn back and search again, as if they had a dog's nose. They had kept tailing Feng Ling in a pursuit and assassination for three days and three nights!
It was now past the midpoint of the hour of the Tiger, right at the transition between night and day. Before long, a new day would arrive.
By then, without the cover of darkness, Feng Ling's situation would grow even more dangerous.
Judging from his flight over the past two days, daytime was even harder to endure than night!
"Old fossil! You can't escape. I know you're in this patch of grass—hurry up and get out here, and save us the trouble..."
"That's right, I've already spotted you! Come out now, or I'll have to make a move, and then those old bones of yours won't escape a bit of suffering!"
Four Evil Spirit Masters stood outside a dense, inconspicuous patch of weeds and sneered threats at it. Even after a cup of tea, no sound came from within.
They had considered unleashing a barrage of attacks, but the Third Elder had ordered them to "capture him alive." Frustrated, they could only scatter poison around the suspicious area.
Even so, they did not dare use Deadly Poison. They scattered only common goods such as "soul-confusing powder."
How could such inferior Poison Powder possibly trouble Feng Ling, the God of Assassination?
In his previous life, Feng Ling himself had been ruthless when it came to using poison!
"Big brother! Did we guess wrong? What if that old geezer isn't here?"
"Mm, Second Brother's right. We should hurry and search elsewhere. We've been chasing him for days already—let's not let the old geezer slip away at the last moment!"
"Alright, let's search up ahead!"
Doubtful and resentful, the four Black-Clad Men turned and hurried down a nearby path.
Hmph! Trying to play mind games with me?
Feng Ling scoffed coldly inside, remaining right where he was, watching quietly for changes while secretly recovering his strength.
He had already suppressed his injuries, and several of his wounds had long since scabbed over.
Two or three Fourth-Revolution Evil Spirit Masters would not concern him, but the Fifth Rank gave Feng Ling the greatest headache.
"Damn it! Impossible—how could that old geezer vanish into thin air?"
Sure enough, about a quarter of an hour later, the four grim-faced figures returned to the patch of weeds, cursing as they came.
"Hmph! We've searched every other place clean. It's got to be here—I refuse to believe he's not in there! Brothers, get ready..."
The Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master gave them a look. The other three understood at once, placed their hands at their waists, and struck together.
"Boom!!"
"Shhhk..." Powder exploded outward, and a figure moving at astonishing speed shot out from the grass, flashing past the four men's sides!
"Quick, after him..."
"This trick still works best!"
The group shouted in unison, faces full of excitement as they shifted and gave chase. This method of scattering poison was crude, but it had worked for them time and time again!
As it turned out, the laws of nature would not bend for anyone, no matter how dire the stakes!
When the horizon showed the first hint of fish-belly white,
a dazzling ray of golden light shot down onto the earth, and the darkness receded like a retreating tide.
Somewhere in the vast expanse of heaven and earth, in broad daylight.
Four vicious Black-Clad Men crossed mountains and rivers, passed over five ranges and six ridges, and pursued a white-haired elder without letting up!
A kind-hearted junior Ghost Spirit Master passed by and stepped forward to defend Feng Ling.
Instead, the vicious Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master broke both of his arms on the spot!
If his companions had not arrived in time to stop the attackers, and if they had not feared Feng Ling's escape, that kind-hearted big brother would likely have become a Departed Soul!
This proved the old saying:
Don't go looking for trouble when it's none of your business—in this chaotic world, being a good person doesn't guarantee a long life!
"Old fossil, where do you think you're going!" The moment Feng Ling came down off a mountain, the four pursuers surrounded him, and the atmosphere instantly turned oppressive.
"This old man is tired of running. I'm not going anywhere..." Feng Ling supported his lower back and slowly crouched down.
A flicker of pleasure crossed the four exhausted faces, but their eyes held vicious glints.
They had clearly formed killing intent!
Feng Ling saw it all, but remained silent as he crouched. He gathered his strength and calmly studied each man's position, looking for the best breakthrough point.
Feng Ling was not the only one who had suffered through the pursuit. These men had crossed mountain after mountain without food, water, or sleep, leaving them ragged and filled with pent-up resentment.
As for Xu Laosan's ridiculous order, the frustrated group had tossed it to the back of their minds long ago.
At worst, they could tell everyone after returning that "Ling Weiyun" had jumped off a cliff and that his fate was unknown!
"So then, you're willing to come back with us? As long as you don't resist, we guarantee you'll get a quick, painless death once we're back!"
"That's right, get up and come toward me. We'll tie you up and escort you back!"
The Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master behind Feng Ling exchanged a secret glance with the others. The two Fourth-Revolution Evil Spirit Masters in front of Feng Ling understood at once and pulled out a sturdy, thick rope. The remaining man cleared a path.
At a glance, they seemed to be preparing to escort him back, exactly as they had claimed.
A faint rustle of paper came from behind him. Feng Ling rose, played along, and took two steps forward.
Then he spun around and attacked the Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master from the side as the man sneered and scattered poison.
"Ah!" A shrill scream rang out. Feng Ling's brutal punch sent the Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master flying, while the other three still wore the gloating expressions they had shown when Feng Ling stepped forward.
"Bastard, what do you think you're doing? Old fossil, how dare you!" The Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master had barely landed when a fist loomed before his eyes. Terrified, he flung out a large handful of Poison Powder, betting that Feng Ling would avoid it for the moment!
Unfortunately, he had miscalculated!
To everyone's astonishment,
To everyone's astonishment, a single fist smashed his perfectly good head into pulp! Taking advantage of his opponent's carelessness, Feng Ling pressed his advantage and killed the arrogant fool in one strike!
A Fifth-Stage Ghost Spirit Body collected!
"Thud—!" Under the horrified gazes of the three remaining Fourth-Revolution Evil Spirit Masters, a headless corpse, blood spraying everywhere, dropped to the ground with a thud, the sound of impact striking at their trembling nerves.
"Cough!" Feng Ling spat out a mouthful of blood; the sudden burst of force had reopened his old injuries.
Feng Ling knew this display of strength would not fool them for long. Time was running out, so he used the Ghost Shadow Traceless Step again and fled!
What's more, the Poison Powder scattered by the dying Fifth-Stage Ghost Spirit Master had struck Feng Ling!
His entire face was already numb, and his mind was growing dizzy. If he didn't get away soon, sooner or later he'd meet his end here!
"Damn it! After him—quick! That old fossil is at the end of his rope, and the life-sealing powder has struck him. He can't last much longer!"
"Damn it all! Once we catch him, I'll skin him alive and rip out every tendon! Only that will vent this rage in my heart!"
Fury blazing, the three men roared and gave chase, not even sparing a glance at the corpse as they left. Such was the coldness of human nature, laid bare!
In truth, after Feng Ling gravely wounded that Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master, the remaining Fourth-Revolution Evil Spirit Masters posed little threat to him.
At that moment, he could easily have escaped without a scratch.
But Feng Ling did not. He seized the opportunity to slay that Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master because the man had harmed the kind-hearted person who had defended him earlier!
Feng Ling had seen it while fleeing. He said nothing harsh aloud, but remembered it and placed that Fifth-Revolution Evil Spirit Master at the top of his current kill list!
..
After several hours of fleeing,
Disoriented as he wove through towering mountains and steep ridges, Feng Ling had no idea where he was.
Between two massive mountains that pierced the sky, a waterfall a thousand zhang tall crashed down with a thunderous roar that shook the soul.
Water Patterns rippled across a broad river that came into view. It was clear to the bottom, more than ten zhang wide, and of unknown depth.
After taking in large amounts of soul-confusing powder and life-sealing powder, Feng Ling began to lose strength and gasp for breath.
Battle cries and chaotic footsteps drew closer behind him, while his consciousness grew hazier.
"Splash!"
"Splash!" Feng Ling could not hold on any longer. He stumbled and fell face-first onto the smooth sand of the shallows. He struggled several times but could not rise, as if the shore itself exerted a powerful pull.
"Moo—!"
A clear, resonant lowing rang out and echoed through the quiet valley for a long while.
A portly, immortal-looking old Taoist Priest rode through the air on the ox's back. His chest was bare, his body leaned slightly backward, his right hand waved a Horsetail Whisk, and his left gripped the Green Ox's horn.
Dazed on the ground, Feng Ling could faintly make out the old Taoist's kind, benevolent face. A black-and-white Taiji diagram swirled across the man's back, radiating a golden glow like a dazzling sun!
"Esteemed elder! Who are you?" Staring at the unfathomable old Taoist standing near Feng Ling, the three Evil Spirit Masters warily came to a halt.
"Kindly, elder, do not interfere with our business!"
"Hmph! Old fossil, I'd advise you not to poke your nose where it doesn't belong."
The three Evil Spirit Masters spoke in different tones, but each was cunning and treacherous.
They were skilled at adopting different facades to conceal their vicious, bloodthirsty natures!
"Meeting is itself a matter of fate. Please, be on your way..."
Old Daoist Qingniu smiled at the three Evil Spirit Masters like a benevolent elder admonishing his juniors.
"Don't think a few words will brush us off. Let's see what you're made of, you mysterious old fool!"
The three Evil Spirit Masters attacked at once, rushing toward the figure on the ox's back while preparing the Deadly Poison wrapped around their bodies!
As the figure drew closer without resisting, vicious grins spread across the three Evil Spirit Masters' faces.
When they were still three meters away, they hurled great fistfuls of Deadly Poison at him!
Had it struck home, there would have been no escaping a death by poison...
"Moo—!" A bellow full of emotion rang out from the wild ox, as two great gusts of air burst forth from its flaring nostrils.
The wind swept away all the Poison Powder, and the three Evil Spirit Masters flew backward, shock filling their faces!
"Hiss, run! That old Taoist is dangerous!"
Hundreds of meters away, the three Evil Spirit Masters landed, regained their balance, and fled along the path they had taken, unable to shake their fear.
The thick ox tail swayed and wound around the unconscious Feng Ling layer by layer. As the ox's hooves moved, the ox and its two passengers vanished into the rising mist...
Every time one breaks free of the shell, it is a rebirth...
Amid the chaos and troubles of this world, may the Sage offer each of you a Pure Land of the Soul.