Chapter 323: Burn it Down

Chapter 323: Burn it Down

Fire raged through the forest. Hui raced ahead of it, zig-zagging through the forest. The flames burned up the rot energy, clearing the air, but also scorched the trees. With the remnant inheritance inside him, Hui felt their pain, their wordless cries, theirsmug satisfaction? He paused and looked over his shoulder at the smug tree behind him, then shrugged. I guess some trees do use fire to help them breed and expand.

There was no time to help the trees, or stop Han Qin. Hui pressed on, toward the depths of the forest. Its the Forest of Death. Dont get attached, Hui. I dont know how long the whatever will block Han Qins true self from coming through, but if it ever stops, Im dead meat. Its probably the demonic cultivators rot energy or something, right?

Well, whatever it is, I need to get as far away from Han Qin as I can before it wears out, if only to buy a little more time for the other clones to figure out how hes tracking us and eliminate it!

He glanced at his right hand, then scratched it nervously. Hopefully its not that mysterious Heaven mark, if this me even has it. I cant see it, and cutting off my hand doesnt remove it. Its seared into my being by a power beyond my ability to fight and likely beyond my comprehension, at that.

The node buzzed. The rogue cultivators voice sounded. I found a bit of odd qi in Ying Lins robes and destroyed it. Nothing on Zhubi. Im sending her on to the searchers.

Hui nodded. So he did put a tracker on Ying Lin. Since he didnt go after her, I can assume he only did it as a way of tracking me down. Maybe he could even sense whether I was dear through the tracker. I cant be sure. One way or another, its destroyed now.

Thanks, Elder Brother! Hui replied.

He surged ahead, darting to the left to reach the vegetation spirit. The spirit had manifested in a large tree, ancient and thick, heavy with leaves. Hui put his hand on the tree, offering to absorb the spirit into himself. You can survive the fire by escaping into my body. Ill find another body for you afterward.

The spirit hesitated, but only for a moment. It replied in the negative in the next moment. This is my life-spot. I wont leave. If it is time for me to die, then here I die.

Hui pressed his lips together. It would have been nice to pick up a vegetation spirit, but well, if it doesnt want to come, it doesnt want to come. He raced by it, leading Han Qin away from the vegetation spirits tree.

Past the spirit, the forest grew dead and cold. Leafless gray trees stretched skeletal branches to the moon. Hui burst by, shattering paper-dry branches in his passing. He sucked a breath and sped up, releasing some of his suppressed cultivation to move faster. When Han Qins fire hits these trees not good!

There you are! Quit your scurrying, rat! Han Qin shouted. A fireball burst inches behind Hui.

Hui threw an ice talisman over the fire even as it blossomed. Ice domed over the flames and suppressed them, quickly melting. The fire died, but in that time, Han Qin shot another three fireballs. The dead forest began to blaze with heat and flame.

Hui twisted his nose, frustrated. Is it better thebe a plant right now, and weak to fire but able to heal quickly, or flesh, and less weak to fire, but unable to quickly heal? Not to mention the rot energy and the spirit beast dammit, I dont know. Ill stay plant for now!

Overhead, the sky darkened. A great net spread over the sky, separating him and Han Qin. Han Qin fired another ball of flame, and the net lit up, brilliantly burning.

A high-pitched shriek rattled from deep in the dead forest. Limbs rattled and clicked. A shadow loomed in the dark, easily seventy meters tall and a hundred long. Eight eyes glittered with evil intelligence. Mandibles dripped acid, hissing against the fallen leaves and trees. Stomping through the forest, a giant spider launched itself into the sky and lunged at Han Qin.

The spirit beast! Hui grinned and backed away a few steps to watch it and Han Qin fight.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

You coward! Refusing to fight for yourself? Han Qin mocked. The spider sliced at him with razor-sharp feet, and he had no option but to trade blows with the beast.

Respectfully, Senior Id rather not, Hui replied, bowing.

The spider whirled around and shot a stream of sticky silk at Han Qin. He threw his hand forward. A stream of fire slammed into the silk. Still wet, the silk didnt light up as easily as the dry silk.

Han Qin fell back, scowling. You rely on a beast? How shameful.

I rely on beasts, Elder Sisters, jiangshi, corpses Theres no shame in it! As long as one wins, what else matters? Hui retorted, tucking his hands behind him.

Shameless!

Hui nodded. You understand, Senior.

Zhi Ahn dropped her, annoyed. What poison?

Lu Lintei fell limply toward the ground. A hairs breadth before she struck earth, her body came to a halt. She lifted herself back upright and landed on her feet, then brushed down her robes. Zhi Ahn, treating a lady so roughly, tsk tsk.

Ding Qinwen spat a mouthful of blood. His face turned pale, and his hands trembled. Ill be fine, Zhi Ahn. Look after Lu Lintei

Hui patted down his robes, concerned. I dont have anything to deal with high level poisons. I think I have some old pills, but but they should only work on third or fourth stage poisons. Sixth stage poisons

Come to think of it, will life qi work? Or what if I have to play dead from poison? Im totally unprepared! This small cultivator needs to develop more methods to play dead! The more I see the world, the more I realize how pathetic my comprehension of playing dead truly is.

Youre both insane, Zhi Ahn complained under his breath. He reached into his robes and pulled out a pill bottle, quickly shoving a small purplish pill into Ding Qinwens mouth.

Ding Qinwen swallowed. Color instantly began to flow back to his face, and he no longer trembled or spat blood. He stood on his own, away from Zhi Ahn, and though he stood weakly, he held himself upright.

Ah, of course. Naturally, they have pills. They came prepared to deal with the spider, after all. Hui nodded to himself.

Zhi Ahn turned to Hui. He hesitated, then stepped forward. Youre from the caravan?

Hui nodded. I saw Seniors head into the forest and wondered what you were up to. Good thing I followed!

How did you get so far into the forest, without high-level cultivation? Zhi Ahn asked.

Ding Qinwen turned. His eyes narrowed at Hui.

Hui laughed nervously and put his hands up, backing away. Damn my soft heart! I should have left them tied up in the web.

Lu Lintei sighed heavily. Zhi Ahn, how rude. Before thanking him, you turn and immediately question our benefactor?

Thats right! Zhi Ahn, we havent thanked him at all, but you rudely question him instead? Ding Qinwen said, nodding along.

Zhi Ahn scowled at his elders. You realize hes suspicious, right? In fact, hes disguising his aura and his strength, just like a certain Xiao

Zhi Ahn! Dont be so paranoid. Paranoia leads to lots of unnecessary work! What if youre wrong, and youre being rude to this stranger for no reason? Lu Lintei argued.

Elder Sister, you cant ignore the possibility Zhi Ahn started.

Lu Lintei cut him off. Worse what if youre right? Think of all the extra work wed have to do!

In the distance, the fire raged closer. The spider cried out, a hideous, horrible sound. Han Qin screamed back, furious.

Hui glanced around, then bowed at the trio and backed toward the direction of intensifying rot energy. Excuse me, Seniors, but this small cultivator er, er, this cultivator needs to hurry off. Please, I have no need of co comp

Wait. Isnt this an opportunity to get fifth-stage items and spells? Huis eyes suddenly lit up. He shut his mouth and gave a humble little cough. That is, a little compensation would go a long way.

Lu Lintei nodded, gesturing at Hui. Exactly! Zhi Ahn, compensate this man for assisting us, right this moment!

Zhi Ahn scowled. Elder Sister, you cant be serious.