Chapter 259: Chasing a Cockroach

Chapter 259: Chasing a Cockroach

Hui charged ahead, riding Gu Tians sword. He glanced back. A dozen fourth-stage or lower cultivators chased him, though those below the fourth stage rapidly fell behind. In the distance, three beams of light quickly caught up with him. One moved more quickly than the other two, and in no time, he made out Gui Deluns disapproving but expressionless face.

Shit. What stage is he? Probably the seventh stage, at least. I cant fight that on even footing. How do I get away?

Hui took a deep breath. No. Its impossible to openly run like this. Hes done pretending this is a fair fight. Hell kill me as soon as he reaches me. Instead of focusing on running, I need to figure out a way to die convincingly to his opening blow.

He might still hold back some of his power subconsciously with his first blow. Thats my only hope. I die to that but what if he decides to dismember me, take my head, turn me to ash? Ive pissed him off, and in the first place, he attempted to exterminate the entire sect in body and soul. Its unlikely hell leave it at killing me. Hell probably go for a sure kill extermination instead.

How do I survive that? The only way to succeed is to not get hit with it.

Hui took a deep breath. Okay. Think. Think. I have Jin Xian. Fang Hua is probably sleeping, so I can only count on the jiangshi half of her. The lotus beast ran off somewhere, if she isnt stuck in the soul transferal formation like everyone else. I still have my own lotus clone, though. The red soul. The sea of blood qi. The treasures I took from Chen Wuyas realm but I dont know what any of them do, and its too late to figure it out now. Talismans

I left Mount Mu in the sect, dammit, but Hui glanced over his shoulder at Starbound Sects peaks, rapidly diminishing into the distance. Masters Unrivaled Under Heaven Peak, and the newly-adjusted barrier

Ah, holing up on Masters mountain is no good. Even if the barrier is strong enough to keep out anyone weaker than Master, Id cause a stalemate where I wouldnt be able to do anything, and all All-Heavens Sect would lose in the bargain would be a single fifth-stage or late-game fourth-stage cultivator to keep watch over me. In that situation, where All-Heavens Sect could endlessly monitor me and put who-knows what kind of restrictions and barriers up around the mountain, Id be unable to revive anyone from Starbound Sect for hundreds of years, if ever.

The only way to succeed

Hui blinked as he remembered something. Gui Delun didnt deeply examine the sect because he thought I killed the entire sect with the soul transferal. He can be fooled. He isnt infallible!

Huis eyes flashed. Theres a way. A single route out of this situation. Theres no guarantee. If anything goes wrong, Im dead, and so is Starbound Sect.

But if I dont try, were all dead anyways!

Gui Delun rapidly closed in on Hui. Hui took a deep breath. He shed his skin and pasted it on Jin Xian as he drew her out of his storage ring. At the same time, he threw out a dozen illusion talismans, and drew all the talismans hed made of the strongest attack he had, the one Zhu Diyu, the reapers boss, Lord of the Underworld, had passed on to him. He lifted his feet, and the sword under his boots vanished, replaced a moment later by an illusion of a sword. Disregarding it, he flew on, while illusions of himself and Jin Xian both flew in all directions. Hui himself veered off to the left, while Jin Xian took his place and flew straight on.

The fourth-stage cultivators hesitated, but the beams of light that represented the higher-realm cultivators didnt. One of them charged after Jin Xian, one of them reached the place Hui had split and stopped, and Gui Delun, the fastest of all, swooped after Hui.

Hui grit his teeth. He layered barrier talismans over his body and swapped to his crystal form, preparing for the blow. His hands flurried with motion, still busy. I have to survive. I only have to survive. Thats my only goal!

Do rabbits leap over the Dragon Gate, too? Shu Mang muttered to Chao Changguang.

Hes mixing up his metaphors again, Chao Changguang muttered back.

In any case, mind your tongues. All-Heavens Sect isnt mine yet, Gui Delun said.

Of course, of course, Shu Mang said, smiling ingratiatingly.

Gui Delun tucked his hands behind him and gazed to the horizon. Weve let these lesser sects run wild for too long. Its time to bring them to heel. Remind them who their better is. And when it comes to sending a message we might as well start with the strongest of the lesser sects. Now that weve sent a clear message about Starbound Sect who will dare to challenge All-Heavens Sect?

And of course, that goes double for any other faction that dares to challenge you, Chao Changguang said, smirking.

Naturally. Isnt it convenient we had a demonic sect to punish? Gui Delun said. He smiled, just for a moment.

A shiver ran down Chao Changguangs spine, and she froze. Shit, that expression

Beside her, Shu Mang smiled back, oblivious. Shall we return to the sect?

Gui Deluns face returned to its usual neutral expression. Flicking his sleeve, he flew off.

Hours passed. Days. Weeks. Rain poured down, collecting on the earth in puddles.

A green bud pushed through the soft earth. More time passed. Weeks turned into months. Summer came, hot and sweltering, and with it, the summer rains. The bud grew, and finally blossomed. A lotus grew in the middle of the field. It wilted. A single seed fell out of its pod and struck the ground.

The seed trembled. At last, the pod cracked open, and a tiny green hand reached out.

Hui took a deep breath, shoving his way out of the seed pod. Losing contact with all my life qi was more of a blow than I thought it would be. But at least it worked!

He beamed. I survived!