Chapter 75: Boar-Face
Chapter 75: Boar-Face
Beneath the night sky, two mages in loose robes walked leisurely side by side.
One had the face of a boar, the other a snake. The Boar-Face Mage was tall and broad-shouldered, clearly the one who had once collided with Li Yi. The Snake-Face Mage was short and thin, with eyes that were mostly white and held a sinister cunning.
“So clever…” The Snake-Face Mage nodded, whispering softly. “I heard you say he’s very strong? Within the gravity Domain of the Leixu’s remains, he moves much more freely!”
“A trifling bit of cleverness,” the Boar-Face Mage snorted coldly. His hand unconsciously moved to his arm, which still throbbed with pain. “What waves can a mere Half-Step Mage stir up? Right, you said you can sense the Dragon’s Aura energy. Is that true?”
“Why would I lie to you?” the Snake-Face Mage’s tone was gloomy and casual. “Let’s complete the task first, then search for the Dragon’s Aura energy! When I refine it, you’ll guard me. After it’s done, the reward I’ll pay will surely satisfy you.”
“Fine. But the reward must be ample enough! Dragon’s Aura energy? Such things that don’t live up to their name, I don’t even care for…” As he said this, the Boar-Face Mage turned his head. With his back to his companion, a slight flicker passed through his eyes.
“I’d be a fool to believe you!” the Snake-Face Mage sneered inwardly.
Both harbored their own schemes, but for now, their goals aligned.
“My tracking mark is warning me. He’s very close now!” said the Boar-Face Mage, his eyes gleaming with a dark light as he used the Focus Mind technique to survey their surroundings.
“Indeed, very close!”
A clear, cold voice accompanied a sharp snap that rang out simultaneously.
With the snap, black ripples tore through the air. They coiled like sinister serpents, containing a thunderous roar that erupted forth!
Their sound resembled the wails of vengeful spirits, the roar of a mighty lion, mingled with rolling thunder. The Psychic Blast and the sonic attack fused together, bursting forth with earth-shaking force!
Now, within this snap, besides the wails of spirits and the thunderous strike, the essence of the Divine Intent Lion’s Roar had been added. Its effect vaguely carried the flavor of a secret art.
“Pathetic trick!”
“Begone!”
These two mages were indeed battle-hardened. Though their words differed, their actions were surprisingly synchronized.
With almost no hesitation, sharp glints flashed in their eyes. Light erupted around their bodies, and thunder crackled in the Void!
Psychic Blast!
Rolling booms exploded in the Void, as if countless invisible thunderclaps shattered, tearing the black ripples to shreds.
At that moment, beneath a large tree, a strong figure materialized.
The figure landed sharply, one foot stomping the ground as if making the earth rumble. Both mages jolted simultaneously, feeling a slight stagnation in their Mana.
This technique derived from Mammoth Shakes the Mountain. Li Yi had once used it against a Blood-chattering Imp. It wasn’t a proper combat skill, so its effect was limited.
However, Li Yi only needed to seize that moment’s pause. That was enough!
As the two mages seized up for an instant, he stepped out as if treading on ripples. A footstep left a trail of dark light. His movements were light, strange, and elusive. Light flickered under his feet like ethereal, illusory mist, shifting unpredictably.
Between lifting and placing his feet, Li Yi felt he had become the wind—dancing with it, going where it went, leaving no trace.
He sighed inwardly. The Wind-Walking Boots and the Thousandfold Strategy truly were a match made in heaven!
At close range, the two mages opposite were shocked to find Li Yi resembled a wisp of blue smoke, appearing and disappearing, flickering in and out. When they tried to cast spells, they actually couldn’t lock onto him.
“He does have some skill after all, no wonder…”
The Snake-Face Mage was secretly alarmed. His wide sleeves billowed, and countless iron-colored vines filled the sky, blotting out the sun, sweeping across the world!
It was, unmistakably, Iron-leaf Corpse-eating Grass.
It was clear the Snake-Face Mage was adept in combat. Iron-leaf Corpse-eating Grass was much lower-tier than Bitterspring Prisoner Vines. Yet, manipulated through “Animate Rope,” they were fierce, vicious, woven into a net that left no opening.
“Interesting…” Li Yi floated and stepped continuously. Morning light shimmered in his eyes, turning into a jade-gold color. Seizing an opening like a fish slipping through a net, he passed through the web of vines!
“This person’s perception is actually so sharp?” The Snake-Face Mage’s vigilance soared. But that figure, moving with the swiftness of a hare and a falcon, was already right before him.
The Stone Fist Gauntlets glowed. Earth elements gathered. His fist took on a deep, dark hue, like ironstone, emitting a solid, heavy, and indestructible power.
Fist of Bedrock!
A heavy punch shot out fiercely!
The Snake-Face Mage’s pupils contracted, a chill seizing his heart. But the figure suddenly retreated, performing several nearly flickering, bizarre movements, rapidly pulling back.
A large black net landed on the ground in front of the Snake-Face Mage.
It turned out the Boar-Face Mage, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, had used a Level 1 spell—”Shadow Net”—to force Li Yi back.
“This kid’s methods are somewhat strange. We must be careful…” The Snake-Face Mage broke out in a cold sweat, his voice even sounding hoarse.
He couldn’t help but feel a chill. Had that punch landed solidly, he would have at least been seriously wounded.
Slowly exhaling a breath, Li Yi inwardly cursed his luck. That sneak attack, catching them off guard, had been the best opportunity to succeed.
But he had to retreat. If caught by the Shadow Net, even if he severely injured the Snake-Face Mage, the ensuing strikes would easily finish him off.
Sending two hunters? The person behind this really valued him…
“You two… don’t tell me you have eighty-year-old mothers at home and crying children to feed?” He gave a faint smile, teasingly asking.
“Why do you ask?” The Snake-Face Mage was momentarily puzzled, his voice cold.
“If not,” Li Yi’s lips curled into a cold smile, hidden beneath his mask, “then my guilt when I kill you will be much less.”
“Guilt? No need!” The Snake-Face Mage raised a hand and tossed out a head with eyes wide open in death. “Look, this is someone we killed along the way! At the time, he knelt before us, saying he had a sister with a heart condition and a blind old mother who depended on him… tsk tsk, we only found ten White Crystals on his body. We actually lost out on that deal.”
“Cruel and ruthless. I’m impressed!” Li Yi raised a thumb, tilting his head. “Since that’s the case, I’ll… be off now!”
His tone and body both shifted simultaneously. Wind swirled under his feet as his figure shot up and he fled in disarray.
“Damn it!”
The two mages glanced at each other. Casting the Wind Stride Spell, swirling winds enveloped their bodies. They rode the wind, giving chase.
This was troublesome!
The Snake-Face Mage cursed inwardly. The reason he had tossed that head was to provoke Li Yi’s righteous anger, to make him confront them head-on.
If this turned into a chase, the two of them might be at a disadvantage!
Sure enough, just as the Snake-Face Mage feared.
He had to admit, the person before him was definitely the most troublesome prey he had ever encountered.
Not only was his speed slightly faster, but his spiritual perception was frighteningly sharp, making one doubt if he was truly just a Half-Step Mage?
Whenever their spells locked onto him, his figure would instantly become hazy. Using that bizarre footwork, he would shake off the spell’s lock.
But without a spell lock, at such a distance, it was very hard for their spells to be effective.
Slippery as an eel! The Snake-Face Mage grew agitated, his breath gradually becoming uneven.
Despite the chase, the distance didn’t close. Instead, it grew wider.
The Wind Stride Spell, though aided by flowing winds, still required them to move their own legs and demanded physical stamina.
The first to fall behind was the short Snake-Face Mage. Soon after, the Boar-Face Mage’s breathing also became ragged.
“Can’t you just die obediently?”
The Boar-Face Mage finally lost patience. With an angry roar, a patch of golden markings appeared on his chest. Magical light blazed in his palm as several enormous snowballs, carrying terrifying wind howls and biting cold, plummeted to the ground like meteors.
Level 1 Spell – Frost-Condensed Snowball!
Li Yi’s steps halted. Snow surged and splashed everywhere. A huge wall of snow appeared before him, blocking his path.
“Frost-Condensed Snowball? Its power is too… Could it be something on him?”
Li Yi was inwardly shocked, thoughts flashing. He twisted his body again, sprinting straight toward the Boar-Face Mage.
The chase had already created distance between the two mages. While they were separated, he had to take out one of them as quickly as possible!
“Seeking death!”
Anger flared in the Boar-Face Mage’s eyes. This little mage actually thought he could defeat him alone? Insolence!
Taking large strides, his Magic Gestures steady, the golden markings on his chest lit up again. Four or five enormous ice daggers hovered in the air before him!
Level 1 Spell – Dagger of Frost!
With a roar, the five Daggers of Frost tore through the night, carrying frosty chill and sharp keening, stabbing straight forward.
From the opposite side, several wind blades rushed toward his face.
“Air Servants? What effect can such low-tier summoned creatures have?” The Boar-Face Mage sneered. With a wave of his hand, a circle of Aura Armor materialized around him, blocking the wind blades.
Ice shattered in mid-air. A figure burst forth from the snow!