bookbashuk Chapter 69 Counterattack
Chapter 69 Counterattack
He remained expressionless, not even turning his head, as if he were completely unaware, but secretly he had already quietly activated the spiritual power connection of the Cloud-Stepping Boots to a standby state.
At the same time, the speed of the Qingye Boat was slightly increased, and the flight path began to become erratic, sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes turning with the help of the mountain terrain, trying to use the complex terrain and the darkness of night to get rid of the pursuers.
However, the three points of fluctuation behind him were like maggots clinging to his bones. No matter how he changed direction and accelerated, they always hung there, seemingly close yet distant. In fact, the distance and position between them subtly formed a simple pincer formation.
The three pursuers kept driving him towards a desolate mountainous area in the southeast.
This gave Zhao Fan a sense of familiarity, just like how Zhu Hao and Zhang Tie had gradually forced him into Fallen Spirit Mountain.
"We can't just keep running away."
Zhao Fan's eyes turned cold. The Azure Leaf Boat was powered by spirit stones, which, although more durable than consuming one's own spiritual energy, could not withstand prolonged extreme pursuit.
The enemy outnumbers them, and if they run out of spirit stones or make a mistake, they will surely die. Moreover, if there is an ambush ahead, they will definitely be in danger.
His mind raced, and after a quick calculation, his gaze swept across the area below.
Ahead lay an even more rugged, dark, desolate wilderness, sparse in spiritual energy and filled with jagged rocks—the perfect place for murder and robbery. The other party's intention in driving him here was all too clear.
Just as he was flying over a pocket-shaped mountain pass, hesitating whether to risk climbing higher and forcing his way through from above, a sudden change occurred!
In the previously silent and dark forest below, several points of light suddenly lit up without warning!
From the left, right, and front, at least five or six attacks of different attributes, sharp and deadly, tore through the night, blocking all of Zhao Fan's paths.
Zhao Fan's scalp tingled instantly, and his soul seemed to tremble! At this moment, any conventional dodge was too late; the attacks came from multiple angles, almost completely blocking all escape routes!
"roar!"
In this desperate situation, Zhao Fan let out a low roar, no longer holding back.
His spiritual energy surged wildly into the green leaf boat beneath his feet, causing the pale blue protective aura of the boat to swell to its maximum. At the same time, he activated the Golden Spirit Shield with all his might, and a solid layer of pale golden light instantly protected his entire body.
The blue light of his Cloud-Stepping Boots flashed, and he maneuvered the flying boat into a near-twisting, sharp dive, attempting to force his way through the gap between the two ghostly fire rays below!
A violent explosion rang out as a crimson fireball the size of a washbasin and several sharp wind blades slammed into the protective aura and golden spirit shield of the Azure Leaf Boat. The shield fluctuated violently, its light fading and emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain.
A chilling icicle grazed the ship's side, raising a cloud of frost.
However, another will-o'-the-wisp that was originally aimed at his retreating path collided head-on with him because of his diving trajectory!
"Sizzle..."
A sickening corrosive sound rang out, and the ghastly green will-o'-the-wisp struck the bow of the Green Leaf Boat.
After being hit repeatedly, the entire airship, like a bird with broken wings, completely lost control, emitting billowing black smoke and dissipating eerie green poisonous gas, spinning and plummeting diagonally towards the jagged mountain valley below!
"Boom!"
The violent impact echoed through the valley, and splinters of wood and stones, mixed with dust, shot into the sky.
Zhao Fan activated the Netherworld Mirror and the Cloud-Stepping Boots simultaneously, managing to escape before the flying boat completely crashed. However, the several spells he had just encountered still caused him considerable damage.
He endured the dizziness and excruciating pain that felt like his whole body was falling apart, and with the momentum of his fall, he rolled several times in a clumsy manner to dissipate some of the force, barely managing to hide in the shadow of a narrow crevice formed by a pile of waist-high boulders.
Without hesitation, he tore open a pre-prepared concealment talisman, completely isolating his own aura.
After doing all this, he immediately curled up like a dead thing, suppressing all his spiritual energy fluctuations, breathing, and heartbeat to the lowest level, leaving only his eyes, with a look of lingering fear, staring intently at the outside world through the crack in the stone.
The night wind howled, stirring up smoke and the crackling sound of burning wreckage.
Ten figures appeared silently from behind the surrounding mountains, forests, and rocks, like ghosts, quickly forming an impenetrable encirclement and sealing off the ravaged area.
Zhao Fan couldn't hear them talking, only the faint sound of clothes rustling in the wind and the cold friction of weapons being drawn from their sheaths.
Zhao Fan's heart sank to the bottom, feeling icy cold. He suppressed his pain, his gaze quickly sweeping across the scene, instantly assessing the situation.
The leader stood on a high rock, dressed in gray, with a stern face. A pair of short halberds at his waist were dull and lifeless. He simply stood there quietly, his gaze sweeping across the entire area like icicles.
His spiritual energy was contained but not released, yet it gave Zhao Fan a heavy aura that far surpassed Su San's, and even exceeded that of the burly man from before.
Two people stood on either side of the man in gray.
To the left was a one-eyed, burly man with a face full of scars. He carried a large, door-sized, ghost-headed dagger. The fierce light in his eyes was almost tangible, and his aura was wild and violent. It was clear that his cultivation level was no less than Su San's.
To the right was a pale-faced, shifty-eyed, sinister middle-aged scholar, who was toying with a pair of bright blue spikes in his hand.
Several people spread out in a fan shape around the three people, quickly surrounding the scene.
"Fifth brother, search for the spirit."
The gray-clad leader's voice rang out calmly, not loud, but clearly echoing throughout the silent mountain valley, carrying an undeniable chill.
"Yes!" A thin cultivator following the sinister scholar quickly took out a compass-shaped magic artifact with turbid eyes embedded in it and infused it with spiritual power.
The compass needle trembled wildly, and the eyes gleamed with a ghostly light. Although the direction was somewhat blurry and shaky due to interference from the Mysterious Mirror and the Concealing Talisman, the general direction was clearly pointing to the rocky area where Zhao Fan was hiding!
"Surround and blockade him, don't let him escape."
Mr. Bai gave the order in a low, rapid voice, his tone icy.
The three groups immediately moved out of the way. The front group was led by a burly man with a scar, followed by two others, one carrying an iron hook and the other a large shield.
Both of them were at the fifth level of Qi Refining. The three of them formed a triangular formation and steadily approached the pile of rocks.
The left and right flank groups also silently moved to the sides to occupy high ground, quickly forming a tight encirclement.
Seeing this, Zhao Fan knew he couldn't wait any longer. Once surrounded and locked down, he would be doomed!
A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Fan's eyes, and his gaze instantly locked onto the fifth brother, who was intently staring at the Qi-seeking disc about fifteen or sixteen feet to his side and behind.
This thing must have detected my location. If I don't get rid of it, I'll have nowhere to hide. I have to strike first and create chaos!
The moment the group of three stepped into the ten-zhang range, Zhao Fan moved!
With unprecedented determination, the remaining spiritual power within his body was poured into the Cloud-Stepping Boots, and his figure burst forth from the crevice in the rock!
He almost transformed into a pale blue afterimage that skimmed along the ground, lunging at the fifth brother from the side and behind with an almost bizarre angle and speed!