873 Just What Did It Say? (1/2)
Swoosh!
A shadow swept through the forest. With a lightning bolt under his feet, Xu Que moved like a silent and stealthy ghost. His icy gaze gleamed coldly as he charged toward a predetermined direction.
He had noticed from the start that they were being followed by a Heavenly Human; ever since they had stepped foot into the forest, he could sense its presence. Although the stalker had concealed himself and moved invisibly, he could not escape the detection of Xi Que's overwhelming Soul Strength.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, Xu Que landed soundlessly on an ancient tree. Xu Que could see a figure hiding behind the ancient tree's trunk and appearing to sneak forward.
Xu Que laughed. ”Yo, bro! Well, well, aren't you impatient. Didn't we agree that the battle would commence tomorrow? So why are you sneaking up on us already?”
”Ehn?”
The figure below was startled. Without lifting his head, the stalker flung out a magic art abruptly, its eerie blue flame tornadoed toward Xu Que like a poisonous snake!
Boom!
The flame hit the ancient tree and immediately reduced it to a pile of ashes. Xu Que bounced deftly off the void and landed on the ground with ease. He blocked the way of the Heavenly Human and looked at him with a smile. ”Ho,ho, isn't this Tian Zhan?”
It was none other than the Heavenly Human powerhouse who had been the first to appear previously – Tian Zhan!
When Xu Que left with Jiang Hongyan, Tian Zhan could not wipe Jiang Hongyan's peerless beauty from his mind. In the end, he gave in to his urges and followed them into the forest. He had never expected to be discovered so quickly, after concealing his aura and carefully following them at a distance.
However, Tian Zhan heaved a sigh of relief when he realized that Xu Que was the one who had found him. He calmed down instantly and couldn't help but form a mocking smile. ”You have surprisingly decent detection skills, to have discovered my location. However, it's a pity that you dared to face me alone. I don't know if I should call you clever or stupid!” Tian Zhan shook his head as he commented coldly.
A cultivator at the fourth level of the Form Synthesis Stage dared to challenge him – a Crossing Calamity cultivator – alone? How was this any different from walking into his own grave? Did he genuinely believe that he would follow the rules and only make a move tomorrow?
Tian Zhan's mocking smile deepened at these thoughts.
Alas, Xu Que was also smiling. In fact, his smile was brighter than Tian Zhan's. Coupled with that thieving look on his face, Xu Que looked insufferably atrocious!
”He, he! The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. You assumed that you were following us, but I was the one who led you here!”
Pfft. ”Foolish human, so what if you led me here? I'm afraid that you're still clueless about your plight, as you seem not to know who the oriole is!” Tian Zhan sneered.
To Tian Zhan, he was the oriole, the final victor, as he was the one with a higher cultivation stage.
”Who's the oriole? Good question! Judging from your wings, you are the only one worthy of the title of the oriole!” Xu Que's eyes narrowed as he laughed.
Tian Zhan was surprised for a second but then shook his head. He asked in a ridiculing tone, ”If I'm the oriole, what are you then? The cicada or the mantis?”
”Me? I'm neither!” Xu Que shook his head and lifted his arm.
Thud!
He clasped his fingers into a fist and shook the void with a muffled thud. Strands of powerful True Core Strength began to flow out, and a stream of dominating Taoist Connotation began to surround his fist.
Tian Zhan frowned slightly, seemingly noticing that Xu Que's strength might be more extraordinary than he had thought.
However, he didn't pay it much mind. After all, he was one of the highest cultivators at the Crossing Calamity Stage. When faced with a Form Synthesis cultivator who was one whole stage beneath him, he had nothing to be concerned about, no matter how extraordinary this opponent of his was!
That's the normal line of thought. The higher the cultivation stage, the more the cultivators realize the massive gap of prowess between each small level. Moreover, Xu Que was an entire level weaker than him!
”Why? Don't tell me that you want to be an Oriole too?” Tian Zhan snorted as rare interest filled his eyes. As if he was playing with a prey that was doomed to die by his hands, he ignored Xu Que's fist.
At Tian Zhan's words, Xu Que smiled and replied, ”I don't want to be an Oriole! As my name says, the Exploding Heavens Faction's – Birdie Terminator!”
Swoosh!
Once he had finished, Xu Que's figure blurred as he lightly pushed his weight off the ground and charged toward Tian Zhan like an arrow leaving its bow.