manynovel 528. Thoughts of fleeing
528. Thoughts of fleeing
Xiao Yan truly didn't understand why the devouring ability in his right arm was acting so violently, but now was clearly not the time to dwell on it. With the situation so urgent, he had no time to investigate. He simply tried to suppress the devouring fluctuations while leaping several times, struggling to create distance between himself and Mu Gu, and venturing deeper into the mist.
All of this appeared to Mu Gu as evidence that Xiao Yan was afraid of him, and even though his whereabouts had been exposed, he was still preparing to retreat under the cover of the clouds.
"That little brat is indeed fast, but to be so pathetic before the fight even starts is a disgrace to Yao Chen!" Mu Gu's soul power surged, and he charged towards Xiao Yan, shouting, "Xiao Yan, you brat! Last time I was surrounded and attacked by the four of you, today we'll settle both our old and new scores!"
Xiao Yan's speed was not slow at all, but Mu Gu's released soul power was even faster! As his black robes billowed, strands of black chains emerged from the ground, like black venomous pythons strangling Xiao Yan. The ground where Xiao Yan stepped was shattered by the sweeping chains in the next instant, and amidst the flying dirt and stones, the chains, like maggots clinging to bones, relentlessly pursued Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was not unfamiliar with Mu Gu's moves; the Soul Palace members were particularly adept at this chain-like soul attack method. All the Soul Palace protectors were composed of souls, so they all used this skill. Mu Gu, being a Dou Zun (a higher level than a protector), used it with even greater skill and danger. The destructive power of this strange move against the soul should not be underestimated.
Mu Gu truly lived up to his reputation as a Venerable of the Soul Palace. Within a few breaths, the chains had begun to precisely seal off Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan snorted coldly upon seeing this. With his path blocked, Xiao Yan's soul power finally stirred, causing ripples to appear in the space itself due to the power he released.
"boom!"
The most direct clash of soul power sent all the chains blocking Xiao Yan's path flying. The three black chains in the very center even shattered in the direct collision. With a single blow, the blockade constructed by Mu Gu was destroyed once again. Xiao Yan stomped his foot and quickly changed direction, leaping away.
"As expected, this kid is not just a simple early-stage Spirit Realm cultivator." The old man Mu Gu was extremely shrewd; after just one clash, he sensed that Xiao Yan's strength was different from what he had expected.
"His soul has only been at the Spirit Realm for half a year, yet it's already so solid. This talent is in no way inferior to Yao Chen's back then. This boy must not be allowed to live!" Mu Gu's determination to kill Xiao Yan intensified once more. At the same time, he was incredibly grateful to that person. With Xiao Yan's strength, he probably could have escaped while he wasn't paying attention, but now, with the Void Devouring Flame's targeting, Xiao Yan simply had nowhere to run!
No matter how Xiao Yan tries to escape now, it's just a fearless struggle before his death!
A glint flashed in Elder Mu Gu's eyes. He flicked his sleeve again, and countless dark chains, creaking and grinding, surged towards Xiao Yan, sealing him off. The Soul Palace, established in the Central Plains, had long held the title of the strongest force in the open, its most important asset being a set of methods most effective against souls. Now, within the Misty Mountain, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was unusable, and Mu Gu was absolutely certain he held the upper hand!
Faced with the relentless pursuit of the chains, Xiao Yan simply kept changing direction and charging headlong into the fray. When he was trapped and unable to escape, his soul power would suddenly erupt, disrupting the rhythm of the chains. He would then continue to haphazardly try to break free from the encirclement of the black chains, clearly displaying a desperate attempt to escape, but unable to break free due to the relentless pursuit of Elder Mu Gu.
Outside the battle, Chen Xian and his two companions observed everything from a distance.
"Elders, have you spotted any opportunity?" Chen Xian asked, watching Xiao Yan being chased by Elder Mu Gu. The difference in merit between Elder Mu Gu killing Xiao Yan and Chen Xian killing Xiao Yan was vast.
In his original plan, Xiao Yan should have fought Mu Gu to the bitter end, ideally resulting in a draw, after which he would deliver the final blow. However, whether Xiao Yan was too weak or Mu Gu was too strong, Xiao Yan only had the strength to escape and showed no intention of retaliating whatsoever.
"No, this fight between the two is too dangerous; there won't be a good opportunity," one of the elders advised. Both of them were stronger than Chen Xian, so they could see things more clearly. Xiao Yan looked disheveled, but he was a genuine Spirit Realm soul; they had personally experienced its power.
The other person nodded in agreement. He was the strongest of the three, and for some reason, he always felt that there was something strange about this battle. But when asked to explain it, he couldn't put his finger on it. So at this moment, he just frowned, not daring to make a judgment easily.
Chen Xian said resentfully, "This kid is really useless; he's wasted my brilliant design!"
At this moment, Xiao Yan's heart was completely calm. Mu Gu sensed his strength, and he also felt the intensity of Mu Gu's soul power—mid-stage of the Spirit Realm!
Although separated by a thin line, the difference was significant. Mu Gu's control and application of soul power was equally formidable, and Xiao Yan knew that a direct confrontation would turn into a protracted battle. Xiao Yan didn't want that; his only thought was: to kill Mu Gu right here!
Mu Gu was one of only two people who aroused Yao Lao's murderous intent. Therefore, when Xiao Yan, as a disciple, first met Mu Gu, he intended to lead a group to kill him. However, the Spirit Clan intervened and ultimately rescued Mu Gu. Now, Mu Gu's presence here alone also fulfills Xiao Yan's wish.
Xiao Yan was no longer the greenhorn who had just arrived in Zhongzhou. Mu Gu was a five-star Dou Zun, but Xiao Yan also possessed the strength of a two-star Dou Zun. Although he couldn't use Dou Qi in the mountains, his soul realm had already reached the peak of the early stage of the Spirit Realm, so he might not necessarily be unable to win the battle.
Killing Mu Gu was good news for Yao Lao, and also a weakening of Ling Zhuo's forces. With that old fox Mu Gu gone, Junior Sister Yao Qingyu would be much safer. With so many benefits combined, Xiao Yan's killing intent was stronger than ever before. However, after learning the Hidden Shadow Needle technique, Xiao Yan was able to perfectly control his emotions—his desire to kill Mu Gu was extremely strong, but it would absolutely not affect his actions.
Xiao Yan now possesses a trump card capable of killing Mu Gu—the Heaven-Rank Soul Skill, Hidden Shadow Needle!
"Wait a little longer, be more patient," Xiao Yan kept reminding himself.