Chapter 154: Duped Once Again
Chapter 154: Duped Once Again
After leaving the city, Tang Jinbiao didn’t track randomly. Instead, he meticulously examined every trace within the dense forest, leaving nothing overlooked.
“Virtually everyone in the Divine Wind Academy is a cultivator. Whether leaving or entering the city, they must fly. The only ones choosing to weave through the trees would be Body Refiners!”
Tang Jinbiao leaped onto a tree, carefully scanning his surroundings, refusing to miss any suspicious clues.
“And those cultivators with stealthy movements!”
His eyes lit up. Not far away, he saw some tree branches broken on the ground and jumped down.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
After discovering the clue, Tang Jinbiao gave chase once more.
….
Fifteen minutes later, Tang Jinbiao had pursued for more than ten miles.
“Something’s wrong, this doesn’t feel right!”
Suddenly, Tang Jinbiao halted, his brow deeply furrowed as if he’d detected a problem.
“That person apparently knew I was trailing him! He deliberately left clues for me to follow!”
Tang Jinbiao took a few steps forward and gently plucked a light blue strand of silk thread hanging on a thicket.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Yet just as Tang Jinbiao grew suspicious, a black figure suddenly darted away into the distance not far from him.
“Hmph, let’s see what tricks you can pull!”
Seeing the figure vanish before his eyes again, a cold smirk touched Tang Jinbiao’s lips.
He refused to believe that a Body Refining Third Tier cultivator like him wasn’t up to the task of handling one at the Mid Foundation Building Stage!
Swoosh!
With this thought, Tang Jinbiao pursued without hesitation.
….
Half an hour later, roughly thirty miles from the Divine Wind Academy, Tang Jinbiao crouched on the ground, a strip of light blue cloth in his hand, his brow knitting with concern.
“Something’s off. The whole journey felt far too smooth!”
Holding the cloth strip, an uneasy sense of being watched washed over Tang Jinbiao.
As he thought this, his eyes narrowed slightly. When they narrowed, faint trails of rippling spiritual energy suddenly became visible before him.
“What? I’ve been set up!”
Spotting the drifting trails of spiritual energy, Tang Jinbiao immediately snapped his head up, eyes scanning the surroundings.
He saw the space within several dozen meters around him was enveloped by this energy. It unmistakably radiated the fluctuations of a small formation. Just as he suspected, along the formation’s boundary, seven or eight points pulsed with especially dense concentrations of spiritual energy – these were the formation cores.
Swoosh!
But the instant he realized things were wrong, a sudden chill shot down his spine – something was hurtling toward him from behind fast.
“Not good!”
Tang Jinbiao’s expression changed dramatically. Instead of choosing to resist, he immediately dodged sideways.
Buzz!
He had not realized it before, but now, under the tension of movement, he immediately discovered that his body felt as though mired in viscous sludge, utterly unable to exert any strength.
Swish, swish, swish!
At that moment, Tang Jinbiao saw the Spiritual Energy in the air seemingly come to life, transforming into numerous tentacles that bound him tightly.
“What?”
In the blink of an eye, Tang Jinbiao found his body constrained by these tentacles. His pupils contracted violently, and his face revealed horror. Simultaneously, he clearly saw the object hurtling towards him.
It was a crimson Flying Sword, blazing like a ball of fire. It carried a momentum that could incinerate the heavens and extinguish the earth, seemingly intent on consuming Tang Jinbiao whole.
“Ugh, ah!”
Instantly, a life-or-death crisis surged within Tang Jinbiao’s mind, and he couldn’t help but roar wildly.
Snap, snap!
As Tang Jinbiao raged, his arms instantly expanded as if pumped full of air. Simultaneously, the green tentacles binding him snapped apart.
Boom!
With the swelling of Tang Jinbiao’s arms, the powerful aura unique to the Body Refining Third Tier also erupted, surging outward in all directions.
“Ugh, ah!”
Within the blink of an eye, Tang Jinbiao was free again. A faint, paraffin-like layer of keratin manifested on the surface of his body.
Swish!
The blazing Flying Sword showed no reduction in speed, heading straight for Tang Jinbiao’s face.
“Hmph!”
Feeling his freedom restored, a cold smirk touched Tang Jinbiao’s lips. He snorted disdainfully. With a swift motion, he lunged towards the crimson Flying Sword, aiming to strike it head-on.
Squelch, squelch!
However, at the same time Tang Jinbiao moved, the tentacles he had shattered moments before stirred again, immediately seeking to ensnare him once more.
“What?”
Discovering that the previously scattered green tentacles were regathering and reforming, Tang Jinbiao’s eyelids twitched violently. He dared not hesitate any longer. Steeling his resolve, he clenched his fist and slammed it hard into the body of the Flying Sword.
Clang!
A crisp metallic ring sounded as Tang Jinbiao’s fist connected solidly with the crimson Flying Sword.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Struck by the blow, the Flying Sword emitted a mournful cry as it was sent flying sideways. Yet Tang Jinbiao fared little better. The moment his fist made contact, he felt a wave of heart-drilling scorching venom surge from the Flying Sword through his fist and up into his arm.
Sizzle!
That brief contact was enough. Tang Jinbiao’s fist was burned, a small patch of flesh charred and blistering instantly.
“What a vicious magical artifact!”
Tang Jinbiao glanced at his scorched fist, enduring the excruciating pain. He then turned his gaze towards a specific location within the Dense Forest.
Plop!
Yet the one manipulating the flying sword wasn’t unscathed either, finally revealing himself as he involuntarily sputtered a mouthful of blood.
Buzz buzz buzz!
The crimson flying sword that had flown aside let out a mournful hum before flying back to the Cultivator who had emerged.
“Body Refining Third Tier… truly formidable!”
The one who appeared was none other than Wei Wuya’s subordinate, known as Little Nine. He had clashed with Tang Jinbiao days before, but then he had merely been toying around without taking it seriously, resulting in his loss to Tang Jinbiao.
Little Nine gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, fixing Tang Jinbiao with a resentful glare. He hadn’t anticipated that despite all his scheming, he still failed to deliver a decisive blow.
He had known Tang Jinbiao was tailing him since leaving the city. He’d deliberately left clues, even luring him here, and set up a Formation in this very spot. Yet even so, he failed. This only proved an absolute gulf in their strength. Though Tang Jinbiao might have been somewhat feckless, his actual Cultivation Level stood undeniable. That was the gap!
Plop! Plop!
The green tentacles once again wrapped themselves around Tang Jinbiao.
“Hmph!”
With a cold snort, Tang Jinbiao exerted a little force, shattering the green tentacles back into wisps of Spiritual Energy that drifted in the air.
“A truly cunning plan!”
Tang Jinbiao gazed at Little Nine, a trace of hatred surfacing in his eyes as he spoke calmly.
“Hmph! What use is the best strategy when strength falls short?”
Little Nine snorted coldly, his resentment palpable. He had tried so hard, yet remained powerless. Especially knowing Tang Jinbiao possessed high Cultivation Level yet lacked the skill to match it – this sense of futility grew ever more intense.
“Hmph! Very well then, I won’t hold back!”
Even a clay figurine has some temper, let alone a living person like Tang Jinbiao! He snorted again, his formidable aura erupting once more as he charged towards Little Nine.
“Then come try it!”
Still defiant, Little Nine’s eyes hardened with vicious intent.
“Rise!”
Little Nine bellowed, once again channeling his power into the blazing flying sword. With a resounding BOOM, it transformed into a mass of roaring flames hurtling towards Tang Jinbiao.
Plop! Plop!
As Tang Jinbiao moved, the Formation reactivated. The vanished tentacles rapidly condensed anew, lunging to bind him.
Though incapable of restraining him, the tentacles undeniably impeded his movements.
Whoosh!
Having learned from the previous encounter, Tang Jinbiao now possessed a rough understanding of his body’s resilience. He chose not to strike directly. Instead, a surge of yellow Qi Energy erupted from his fist, blasting towards the flying sword.
“Hmph! Truly nothing but trash!”
Seeing Tang Jinbiao’s clumsy maneuver, Little Nine’s eyes gleamed with malice. He immediately adjusted the sword’s trajectory, attacking from a different angle.
“What?”
Tang Jinbiao had never encountered anyone who could alter a flying sword’s course mid-flight. Startled, he reacted swiftly, twisting around to counter the incoming blade.
“Heheh!”
Watching Tang Jinbiao turn away, a cold smirk touched Little Nine’s lips. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, another streak of crimson light shot toward Tang Jinbiao’s back.
Thump!
Sensing the sudden killing intent at his back, Tang Jinbiao’s heart lurched. He immediately abandoned the idea of attacking the Flying Sword before him. Instead, his body dropped low abruptly and he rolled wildly to the side.
Schlup! Schlup!
As Tang Jinbiao moved, the tentacles, like unyielding specters, coiled around his body once more. However, these tentacles had limited strength; they couldn’t truly restrain him, only slowing him momentarily before snapping apart.
“Damned!”
Even this brief delay was enough to ignite Tang Jinbiao’s fury.
Clang!
Clang!
“Aargh!”
Yet, Tang Jinbiao’s speed was still too slow. He had only rolled halfway when a piercing agony tore through his back, forcing a groan of pain from his lips.
Thuck! Thuck!
The pair of fiery-hued Flying Swords speared through Tang Jinbiao’s skin like venomous snakes, embedding themselves in his back. However, thanks to his Body Refining Third Tier physique, the blades only sank halfway in.
Buzzzz… Buzzzz…
Half-embedded, the two Flying Swords trembled violently against Tang Jinbiao’s back, straining futilely to drive deeper. His body proved too tough; the blades could pierce no further, emitting a frustrated, metallic whine.
“What? Impossible!”
Seeing his own proud Flying Swords fail against Tang Jinbiao, horror washed over Little Nine’s face.
“Grrrraaah!”
Tang Jinbiao pushed himself upright, face contorted with fury, and reached back to wrench the two blazing Flying Swords from his flesh.
“Bad! Flee!”
Realizing the situation was beyond his control, Little Nine reacted immediately. With a powerful kick off the ground, a glow shimmered around him and he soared backward, ready to vanish.
“Running? Not so easy!”
Seeing Little Nine attempt to flee ignited Tang Jinbiao’s anger completely. Ignoring the burning agony in his hands gripping the swords, he treated them as Throwing Daggers. With two sharp Whoosh! sounds, he hurled them at the retreating Little Nine.
Whoosh!
One sword whistled through the air, hitting nothing.
Thuck!
“Augh!”
But the other seemed to find its mark, striking Little Nine on some unidentifiable part of his body.
“Tang Jinbiao! Just you wait!”
Little Nine’s tremulous voice echoed from the distance, already fading as he escaped.
“Damned!”
Tang Jinbiao stared down at his hands, nearly charred black, while fiery stabs of pain pulsed from the two wounds on his back. A visage of pure malice twisted his features.
Truthfully, Tang Jinbiao had never harbored thoughts of making enemies; the very concept of hatred was foreign to him. But now, within him, a seed of hatred took root.
“Raaaah!”
Eyes ablaze with rage, Tang Jinbiao disregarded the restrictions of the Formation entirely, surging forward in pursuit of Little Nine’s fleeing figure…