Chapter 151: Escape Through Water

Relying on his Black Fiend Copper Body, Jiang Xincheng sped away from Wu Ruirui’s Splitting Void Palms, occasionally spitting blood. The power of Wu Ruirui’s attack was evident.

Wu Ruirui, only recently an early-stage Cloud Condensation Realm Great Yuan Warrior, was clearly stronger than Jiang Xincheng. This showed the gap between a Cloud Condensation Realm Primordial Warrior and a Bone Training Realm Primordial Warrior.

Behind Wu Ruirui, a large group of Autumn Moon Manor guards charged madly, numbering at least dozens. Among them, even a late-stage Cloud Condensation Realm Great Yuan Warrior moved with wind-like speed, pursuing Jiang Xincheng.

If caught by this late-stage Great Yuan Warrior, Jiang Xincheng knew he wouldn’t survive, Black Fiend Copper Body or not. So he ran faster, enduring multiple Splitting Void Palms to use their impact for speed, heading toward the mountain lake a hundred meters away.

This vast lake, several soccer fields in size, lay behind Autumn Moon Manor. Crystal clear water reflected the surrounding peaks, creating breathtaking scenery. Its presence was a major reason the manor stood here.

Before infiltrating Autumn Moon Manor, Jiang Xincheng had studied its terrain and planned escape routes. The mountain lake was a key part of his survival strategy.

“Boom!”

A Bone Tempering Late Stage Primordial Warrior on the manor’s wall fired a rocket launcher at the ground ahead, trying to block Jiang Xincheng.

The guards stared in shock as Jiang Xincheng didn’t dodge. He charged straight toward the impact. The shell exploded beside him, scorching him black and shredding most of his clothes.

Unexpectedly, the massive blast seemed to cause him little harm. Instead, its force propelled him faster, gaining several more meters toward the lake.

Meanwhile, Wu Ruirui, chasing him, flinched away from the explosion as if fearing damage to her beauty. Her speed slowed sharply. Though she avoided the blast, the gap between her and Jiang Xincheng widened greatly. The power of her Splitting Void Palm diminished significantly.

“Boom! Keep firing! Don’t let him reach the lake!” Zheng Zhong’s furious roar echoed behind them. “Wu Ruirui! What are you scared of? Chase that masked thief! If he escapes, we’re all doomed!”

“Boom!”

…

Following Zheng Zhong’s order, over a dozen shells rained down ahead of Jiang Xincheng. Huge craters pockmarked the ground. Several hit the lakeshore, spraying rock fragments and throwing water waves everywhere, disrupting everything nearby. Jiang Xincheng staggered, his pace interrupted.

Sensing Wu Ruirui and the late-stage Great Yuan Warrior closing in, he gritted his teeth and plunged recklessly forward through the barrage.

“BOOM!”

Just then, a shell exploded directly before him. The blast hurled him violently backward, tossing him toward Wu Ruirui and farther from the lake. Jiang Xincheng’s heart sank. As he tried to regain control, Wu Ruirui unleashed another Splitting Void Palm.

This strike felt immensely stronger, far surpassing the previous ones. She channeled her full strength, clearly aiming to kill him instantly.

His expression changed. His Black Fiend Copper Body surged to its limit. A soft chime sounded within him. Bronze-black light blazed brilliantly from his core. In that very instant, his Black Fiend Copper Body shattered past its earlier mastery boundaries, achieving perfection. The light deepened, and his defenses multiplied dramatically.

Wu Ruirui’s lethal palm strike landed. But its effect? Just like before – he spat blood. Yet now, he harnessed even more force from it. Propelled like a fired stone, he shot past her splash, soared high above the water still churning from the rockets, and plunged deep into the center of the mountain lake.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

Shell after shell struck the lake’s surface, geysers erupting high. Zheng Zhong cursed through the cacophony: “Wu Ruirui! What are you doing? We finally blasted him onto shore! You knocked him right back into the water! Fail today, and face the consequences!”

“I…” Wu Ruirui stared blankly at her palms. She wanted to say she had intended to kill him. She poured everything into that strike. Given his level earlier, her blow should have either slain him or left him shattered and helpless on the ground.

How could she have anticipated Jiang Xincheng breaking through mid-fight? Perfected Black Fiend Copper Body… A Bone Training Middle Stage… shielding with his back… taking her full early-stage Cloud Condensation Realm strike… and escaping with nothing but a small injury!

Watching Jiang Xincheng vanish into the mountain lake’s depths, and recalling Zheng Zhong’s ruthless methods, cold fear gripped Wu Ruirui. Teeth gritted in resolution, she leaped in after Jiang Xincheng.

Her soaked pink bedsheet instantly ballooned around her, entangling her movements underwater. With another fierce grit of teeth, she ripped the sheet free, letting it drift on the surface. Unclothed now, she surged downward after her target. Her swimming skills were decent, and bolstered by her Cloud Condensation Realm Primordial Force? Audacity carried her forward, fearless of the prey she hunted.

Seeing Wu Ruirui plunge nude into the water, Zheng Zhong frowned. He then barked at the surrounding Primordial Warriors: “Anyone who can swim—get in there NOW! Unless we catch that thief, we are ALL ruined! He’s just Bone Training Realm! Most of you match or surpass him! MOVE!”

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Dozens of Primordial Warriors hit the water. Yet… the late-stage Cloud Condensation Realm fighter remained ashore, watching silently.

“Sakuragi Dange! Why aren’t you in?” Zheng Zhong glared at the mustached man.

Sakuragi Dange gave him a sidelong glance, replying in strangely accented Shenxia common tongue: “I cannot swim!”

“Useless!” Zheng Zhong snorted coldly, scanning the frantic lakeside. “Why aren’t Luo Rui and Yilisha here? Surely one of them swims?”

Sakuragi Dange answered flatly: “They fear this is enemy trick—luring tigers from the mountain. They guard the main house. They called Lord Ikeda though. He hunts nearby mountains. His arrival should be swift.”

“Lord Ikeda!” Zheng Zhong blinked, then burst out laughing. “Hah! Excellent! Forgot that card. If Lord Ikeda graces us, that rat truly has no escape. We wait.”

As the faint echo of Shenxia faded, turbulent whirlpools erupted violently across the lake surface precisely where Wu Ruirui had vanished. Warriors near the disturbance screamed as they were dragged helplessly, churning through the chaotic water.