820 A Murderous Aura! (2/2)

Wang Baole's heart rose to his throat, and the gears in his head started spinning furiously. He knew very well that he wasn't going to be able to escape as long as the thread remained bound to him. Sooner or later, his enemy was going to catch up to him. He had only two options before him.

He could continue to run, to try and gain more time until the two hours were up. The mission would end then, and his mask would teleport him to safety.

Or, he could… stand and fight to the death. If he won… Wang Baole had a feeling that the fight was going to help him break through his current cultivation realm. If he lost, though, then that would be the end for him!

He didn't spend much time on his decision. Ferocity and madness lit Wang Baole's eyes. He had gone for the second option without hesitation. With the first option, there was a great chance that he might not be able to outrun his enemy until the time was up. A fight would be inevitable if his enemy caught up with him.

He would rather not be forced to battle after exhausting himself from all that running… He would very much rather attack now and fight to his last breath!

Let's do this! A glint of mad violence entered Wang Baole's eyes. He stopped running, turned around, and dispelled the illusion he had cast over himself. The pig-headed mask appeared over his face as he raised his right hand and formed a hand seal. Then, he followed the instructions that the Flame Patriarch had told him and unleashed the curse resting inside the mask!

Time was needed to set the curse. Wang Baole didn't have the luxury of time, but he had enough to release the curse. Blood veins began to surface on the mask as he continued performing a series of hand seals. They grew in number, filling the entire mask and finally forming a blood-red flower over it!

It was a seven-petaled flower, and on each petal, a faint imprint of a human face could be seen. Together, they showed the full range of core human emotions—from joy to anger, then sorrow, followed by bliss. It was a disconcerting sight to behold. There were two dark holes on the mask where one's eyes should be, and Wang Baole's eyes shone brightly through the openings.

Wang Baole made sure that his curse was ready to be released, then lifted his left hand into the air, forming another hand seal. A black eye, summoned via the Demonic Eye Art, appeared behind him.

He wasn't done yet, as this wasn't enough. A thought popped into his head, and black flames erupted from his person and rose to the skies. The Dark Fire!

He was ready now. Wang Baole steadied his breathing and focused. His eyes were bright with a murderous glint. The curse that was going to weaken his enemy's cultivation was like divine power from the heavens. With it, he could move planets and shift stars!

The destructive power of his Demonic Eye Art held the strength of the earth. With it, he held power akin to a mighty, monstrous army!

The madness and violence coursing through Wang Baole's blood was proof of man's will. With it, he would drain the earth of its seas and flood the heavens!

A soundless explosion erupted around Wang Baole, the force of its aftershock lashing at him, sweeping clouds back and sending tremors through the earth. Somehow… he had unwittingly set up the stage for a deadly battle!

A mysterious atmosphere settled over the battlefield, one which Wang Baole seemed oblivious to. The late-stage Spirit Immortal realm elder who had been charging towards Wang Baole should have sensed it, but someone had interfered with his senses. He had been blocked off and couldn't sense the hidden danger ahead of him!

That someone was the Flame Patriarch, who was watching Wang Baole. He had seen Wang Baole make his choice. After all that he had seen from Wang Baole, the Flame Patriarch couldn't help the sense of growing approval he felt towards him, his eyes shining with praise.

”Even if we disregard any connections he has with the outer domain and with Chen Qing… that boldness of his alone is worthy of praise. That's why… I'll help you just this once. Let's see if you can make something of this chance. It'll be the start of many opportunities to come if you succeed this time.”