bookbashuk Chapter 112 He Chases, He Flees
Chapter 112 He Chases, He Flees
Chapter 112 He Chases, He Flees
Li Qingyi did not take the opportunity to use the resentment crystal.
He wanted to use torture to extract a confession and force the truth about who was behind it all.
If the crystallized resentment is used, the assassin probably won't last more than a few breaths before turning into nourishment.
The soaring sword energy tore through the night sky and also startled Ling'er, who was meditating.
She leaped onto the roof in an instant, the morning breeze carrying the chill of early autumn, fluttering her clothes.
Looking down, one could see sword marks crisscrossing on the bluestone path below, with mud swirling around, and Li Qingyi was engaged in a fierce battle with a black-robed cultivator.
The black-robed cultivator was clearly of higher cultivation level, and his magical power surged like a tide, yet he was relentlessly suppressed by the astonishing sword energy.
The sharp, piercing sound of sword energy cutting through the air slicing through the thin morning mist forced the opponent to retreat step by step, revealing a sense of defeat.
Tian Sha was both shocked and furious.
He had barely appeared before he was caught off guard and thrown into a flurry of activity, before he could even see his opponent's face clearly.
Immediately afterwards, the sword light poured down like a storm, with tricky angles and ruthless precision.
This isn't a battle of wits; it's a life-or-death struggle!
However, his cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining was ultimately solid, and in the critical moment, he suddenly let out a low roar.
His inner power surged forth, forcefully breaking through the intertwined net of sword energy around him.
The gust of air shook the withered branches of an old tree by the roadside, causing them to snap off with a rustling sound.
He dared not linger in the fight, and using the force of the recoil, he quickly retreated, disappearing into the bottomless dark alleyway beside him in a flash.
Li Qingyi's divine sense locked onto Tian Sha, relentlessly pursuing him.
His cultivation level was ultimately a notch higher, and Tian Sha made several quick turns before temporarily disappearing into the intricate streets and alleys.
Li Qingyi was in hot pursuit.
In the previous exchange, he also held back, drawing his sword energy but not unleashing it, fearing that the aftershocks might destroy the densely populated residential area and harm innocent mortals.
If the two were to fight with all their might, the entire southern part of the city would likely be reduced to ruins.
But what puzzled him was that the assassin at the ninth level of Qi Refining also seemed to be holding back.
The opponent's force in breaking through the sword net was powerful, but it was clearly limited in scope, indicating that it was not a full-force attack.
When did these hyenas lurking in the shadows start caring about the lives of mortals?
As Tian Sha sped through the dark alley, all he wanted to do was curse.
His original plan was perfect:
Approach stealthily, test the waters with a swift and decisive strike, and regardless of success or failure, immediately flee without lingering.
Who would have thought that Li Qingyi seemed to have some kind of premonition?
Not only were they prepared, but they also pounced on us like mad dogs the moment they met.
When exactly was it exposed?
Tian Sha cursed inwardly, thinking that he should have been able to escape an ambush because he had been so secretive.
Could Tingyu Pavilion's intelligence network be that terrifying?
Tian Sha was moving very fast. He could feel the murderous intent emanating from the depths of the alley behind him, like a bone-deep infection.
The other party was like a very patient wolf, relentlessly pursuing him.
"If it weren't for the Lord's strict order that one must accumulate heavenly fortune before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and must not recklessly commit murder or incur karmic consequences—I can easily subdue a mere Qi Refining eighth level cultivator!"
Tian Sha couldn't help but spit.
He recalled the Lord's solemn admonition:
To draw upon the profound "qi of heaven and earth" to build a foundation for one's Dao, one's personal "destiny" is of paramount importance.
Slaughtering mortals will bring karmic burdens and weaken one's destiny, adding countless dangers to the path of foundation building.
That is why he was hesitant to unleash his full power in the city, fearing the consequences.
He still needs to build his foundation and taste the joy of being admired by thousands.
As the two traversed the city of Xuan Ce, the distance between Li Qingyi and Tian Sha grew ever greater.
In the end, Tian Sha completely disappeared from his divine sense.
"The ninth level of Qi Refining escaped too quickly."
Li Qingyi stopped in her tracks, and with a thought, used the fake human skin to transform into the appearance of a night watchman.
He began to wander around the city, but his divine sense was not shut down; he continued to search for Tian Sha relentlessly.
"Why doesn't he dare to make a move? A ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator should have nothing to fear from me."
Suddenly, Li Qingyi's divine sense caught Tian Sha's figure again.
The other party stood under the eaves of a house in an alley, changing his clothes and disguising himself.
A thought struck Li Qingyi, and a plan formed in her mind.
He used a fake human skin to transform into the appearance of a night watchman and began to imitate him, energetically banging gongs and drums. However, he did not use his acting skills to play the role.
Tian Sha had lost count of how many dark alleys he had passed through. When he confirmed that the killing intent behind him had disappeared, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as he was pondering a way to escape, a series of dragging footsteps, accompanied by a weak gong sound, approached from afar.
"Dry weather - be careful with fire" (7)
It was a night watchman, hunched over, carrying a dim yellow lantern, swaying as he walked past the alley entrance, seemingly having not slept all night, his expression dazed.
Tian Sha's eyes flickered slightly. He held his breath and focused intently until the night watchman slowly turned the street corner and the sound of the gong faded into the distance. Only then did he let out a soft sigh of relief.
It seems that Li Qingyi did not catch up to this street.
He quickly emerged from his hiding place, ran his fingers across his face, and his bones made a slight "crackling" sound, transforming his appearance into that of an ordinary, dark-skinned man.
At the same time, he tore off his tattered black night clothes, revealing a set of coarse cloth shorts that he had prepared beforehand.
He crumpled up his night clothes and stuffed them into the dog hole in the corner of the wall with practiced ease.
After finishing all this, he composed himself, dusted himself off, and prepared to blend into the bustling market that was about to awaken.
As soon as I stepped out of the alley and onto the main street, the sky was already beginning to lighten. Several breakfast stalls had set up steaming baskets, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.
Just then, a man staggered towards them from the opposite side; it was the night watchman from before.
He seemed utterly exhausted; his eyelids drooped, his steps were unsteady, and he crashed straight into Tian Sha.
Tian Sha subconsciously frowned and turned to the side, but he was a step too slow and was hit squarely on the shoulder by the other party.
"Ouch—" The night watchman stumbled, nearly dropping the broken gong from his hand. He looked up, revealing a tired and bewildered face, his eyes unfocused, and mumbled, "I'm sorry—sir, I didn't see the way clearly—"
Tian Sha supported his arm and touched it, finding the night watchman's arm thin and withered, indeed a mortal.
He suppressed his last shred of doubt and whispered, "Brother, be careful."
"Thank you, thank you, sir!" The night watchman steadied himself and bowed repeatedly.
Tian Sha said no more, released his grip, and turned to leave.
Just as he turned around, his back was slightly exposed.
A cold glint flashed in the watchman's lowered eyes.
Tian Sha's hair stood on end; it was an instinct honed through countless brushes with death.
Before he could even turn around, his protective magic surged forth, forming a pale blue magical barrier behind him.
boom!
The blazing sword energy slammed into the barrier almost as soon as it took shape! The barrier trembled violently, its light flickering, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across its surface.
The barrier held for less than a breath before shattering with a deafening roar.
But in that precious moment, Tian Sha had already completed his hand seal.
A more solid blue water curtain appeared out of thin air, barely blocking the sword energy.
"Insidious villain!" Tian Sha used the momentum to dash forward. When he turned around and cursed, he saw that the "night watchman" had already straightened his back and his eyes were like those of a hawk.
"There's no escape." Li Qingyi's voice was calm and unwavering. "Just accept your fate!"
He moved again, still dressed as a night watchman, but with even greater speed, initiating a second round of pursuit.
The few pedestrians and vendors on the street were terrified by this sudden turn of events.
The soy milk bowl was overturned on the ground, the steamer tilted to one side, and people scrambled to the sides, watching in horror as two blurry figures chased and fled into the distance in an instant.
During the chase, Li Qingyi's doubts deepened.
Despite having a higher cultivation level, this Heavenly Fiend only defended and never attacked. His occasional counterattacks were hesitant and timid, greatly reducing their power.
What is he worried about?
Li Qingyi couldn't understand it.
I just feel that Tian Sha is much more difficult to deal with than Ming Wen.
In the blink of an eye, the two had been chasing each other for half an hour.
Li Qingyi, relying on her superior spiritual sense and the unpredictable transformation of the fake human skin, harassed Tian Sha several times at close range, inflicting several wounds on him, but she was never able to completely kill him.
No, I can't act freely in the city, and his escape route is cunning; things will inevitably change in the long run.
Li Qingyi thought to herself:
We need to find a way to force him out!
Tian Sha once again hid in the backyard of an abandoned teahouse, huddled in the shadows between a dilapidated water vat and a wall.
"Damn it! How did Li Qingyi even find me?!"
He repeatedly examined himself, even using the secret methods taught by the Lord to check for any traces, magical imprints, or even the slightest dust or fragrance, but found nothing.
Looking at the sword marks left on his body, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
He was chased by Li Qingyi for half an hour. It was as if the other party could predict the future and always managed to strike him in unexpected corners and in unexpected identities.
There were beggars begging for food, drunk men, and most hateful of all, he once actually turned into a respectable woman!
"A cunning villain!"
He racked his brains but couldn't find any more vicious words.
Upon internal inspection, I found that I still had 80% of my magical power remaining, most of which was consumed in defense and escape.
There were many superficial and flesh injuries, but the underlying structure was not damaged.
He lightly ran his right hand across the sword wound on his chest, erasing the remaining sword energy, and his expression tightened.
"No, we can't keep wasting time with him like this! His disguise skills are so amazing that he doesn't reveal the slightest flaw before he makes a move."
With this shift in power, my defeat is inevitable!
Tian Sha stared at the distant city wall, his heart hardening.
"Leave the city! We must leave the city! Only in open areas can the difference in cultivation levels truly be revealed."
He must only be at the eighth level of Qi Refining, otherwise I wouldn't have only suffered these superficial injuries.
Once the decision was made, the urge to kill arose instantly.
Since we are constrained within the city, let's go outside the city and settle this once and for all.
Without further hesitation, he suddenly darted out from his hiding place, his body transforming into a streak of light. No longer concealing himself, he rode a gust of wind, rising several feet off the ground, and flew swiftly towards the outskirts of the city.
Suddenly, a sword aura shot into the sky, dispelling the morning mist.
Tian Sha was prepared. While in mid-air, he twisted his waist and swung his hand back, instantly forming a blue water shield below.
The sword energy pierced the water shield, creating violent ripples that quickly dissipated.
Tian Sha felt a sense of relief and was about to accelerate when his pupils suddenly contracted.
Ahead, along the path he planned to escape, more than a dozen thicker, snow-white sword energies rose from the ground like bamboo forests after rain.
It blocked all his forward directions.
He was terrified. His old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated. It was too late to change direction in mid-air.
In his haste, he could only push his protective spiritual light to its limit and forcefully crash it into the sword energy.
Tian Sha groaned, and several bursts of blood erupted from his body. The most severe sword wound cut from his left shoulder to his ribs, so deep that the bone was visible.
The excruciating pain caused his vision to go black, the escape light instantly dissipated, and his body involuntarily fell downwards.
Behind him, the chilling sword energy had transformed into a ferocious dragon, lunging forward.
On the brink of life and death, a flicker of heartache flashed in Tian Sha's eyes.
He bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and at the same time, he reached into his robes with his left hand and tore open a talisman that he had kept close to his body for a long time.
A blinding silver light erupted, enveloping his entire body.
The next moment, a silver light pierced the brightening sky and fled towards the outside of the city at a speed far exceeding that of a Qi Refining cultivator who could ride the wind.
Li Qingyi appeared at the alley entrance, her eyes cold as she watched the departing silver light.
"A teleportation talisman? You're quite willing to give that up."
",>