267 The Land of Deep Slumber (2/2)
”My god, this is… this is…”
The Foundation Establishment realm cultivators from the Galactic Dusk Sect fell back in unison, but Wang Baole paid them little attention. As he muttered the scripture, he dashed forward in a sudden burst of speed and arrived before the retreating Zhou Fei. With murder in his eyes and a rage that he had been suppressing all along, he slashed towards him!
The sudden sweep of the blade almost drove Zhou Fei's spirits out from his body in terror. He did his best to counter it but to no avail. As the blade fell, amidst a loud thunder, Zhou Fei spat out a mouthful of blood and let out an agonizing cry. His body fell, like a kite cut from its string, to the ground. His chest was a bloodied mess. Even though the actual injury wasn't visible, it was clear that he had been wounded severely.
Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He stared at Zhou Fei, who was on the verge of passing out. The latter had fallen near where the other Foundation Establishment realm cultivators stood. That couldn't have been a coincidence. He chose not to follow through with a killing blow and instead, turned and fled into the forest.
”Stop him. He's trying to find the Mystic Trace Fog. What frightened you earlier was the aura from the Dharmic Armament…” Zhou Fei struggled to speak. He spat out another mouthful of blood and passed out.
The others treated his words with equal doubt and belief. However, there was something he said that they clearly believed, and that was… the reason for Wang Baole's fleeing. It was something they hadn't expected. However, it held a hint of truth and possibility to it. Their eyes flashed as Wang Baole raced further away. The earlier terrifying spirit energy wasn't enough to deter them from continuing their pursuit.
Instantly, seven to eight sixth-grade Numinous Treasures as well as a dozen spells erupted from the cultivators' hands, heading straight for Wang Baole.
The color drained from Wang Baole's face. He wanted to put on a strong front that would continue to strike fear in his pursuers' hearts. The mind was willing, but the flesh was weak. He could only spare a sweep of his right hand as he fled. He put all he had behind the attack, but his weakening cultivation and the severity of his injuries made it impossible for him to stop the full onslaught. Two Numinous Treasure-grade flying swords pierced clean through his left arm and shoulder!
Wang Baole staggered from the blow. Inside his helmet, blood started flowing heavily from his lips. He continued escaping hurriedly, and the thought of casting the Dharmic Armament aside to lure the group away even flashed across his mind.
Doing so, however, wouldn't change the situation drastically. With the Dharmic Armament in his hands, he would be pursued relentlessly by the crowd. Without it, the situation wouldn't change. It might even have adverse consequences.
His weakened state was immediately exposed. The Foundation Establishment realm cultivators pursuing him had excited glimmers in their eyes. They dashed forward in a burst of sudden speed, in fierce pursuit. The fire in their eyes burned brightly. It was the chance they had been waiting for!
A cacophony of noises exploded within the forest. Wang Baole fought as he retreated. Spell after spell, and Numinous Treasure after Numinous Treasure, flew at him from all directions. A few Foundation Establishment realm cultivators skilled at sudden, swift attacks drew near and ambushed him from time to time.
If the eight to nine Foundation Establishment realm cultivators had combined their efforts and made a unified attack, they would have instantly killed the rapidly weakening Wang Baole. Unfortunately, they were all lusting after the Dharmic Armament for their own and guarding against one another. They were also wary against any sudden counterattacks from Wang Baole right before he died. Each of them had their own ideas and schemes and hence held back. They continued to engage in a long-drawn battle with Wang Baole to wear him down.
Wang Baole's condition worsened. Amidst another explosion and the cleave of Wang Baole's saber, a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator had his hand chopped off, and blood splattered everywhere. At the same time, Wang Baole's stomach was pierced through by a flying sword that had sneaked up on him!
It pierced through the existing raw wound on his stomach, making even the devouring seed stutter in its churning. Wang Baole shuddered, and blood spilled from his mouth. He could no longer suppress the full extent of his injuries, and they erupted. His cultivation drained away like the sudden rushing away of flood waters.
His eyes reddened as a deadly calm took over him. He was like a silent lone wolf, charging straight into one of his foes and slamming him right in his forehead. The latter was knocked aside while Wang Baole fell back hastily as well, panting. His hands shook, and black spots danced in his vision. The violent aura exuding from Wang Baole grew more intense.
He continued to flee from the group of cultivators' pursuit, unknowingly approaching the deeper regions of the dark side of the moon, the most restricted zone of all restricted zones—the center of where the mysterious ancient corpse, the Night Immortal King slept!
The roots intertwined on the ground like a thick blanket and were crimson in color. With a single glance, one would be able to recognize the place as the restricted zone highlighted in the materials distributed by all of the political forces. That was because anyone who entered that place would be faced with inevitable death!
The Foundation Establishment realm cultivators who had been pursuing Wang Baole, upon realizing where they had been led, were shocked. A few of them stopped in their tracks, their breathing stilled.
”He's not looking for the Mystic Trace Fog. He's trying to lure us to the land of the slumbering Night Immortal King!”