Chapter 262: Escape

Volume 3: A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

Volume 3

After a brief wait, the blood cloud remained a misty, indistinct mass. No discernible sound or movement could be detected within; any lesser spirits daring to approach its densest parts were instantly shredded.

At this point, Wang Chan could no longer sit still. He formed a hand seal, and the skeletal heads floating on the blood cloud's surface opened their maws. Dozens of thick, black beams of light simultaneously erupted, shooting directly from all directions towards Han Li's original position.

A faint tremor was accompanied by a soft 'bang'.

Faint white light flickered within the mist. Amidst the fierce clash of black and white light, a white barrier vaguely appeared, causing the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master to pause. He immediately recalled the pure white scale shield Han Li had initially summoned.

Wang Chan frowned, hesitated for a moment, then muttered to himself:

"For the sake of acquiring so many exquisite magical artifacts, I'll sacrifice some essence blood! Lest this brat uses some trick to escape."

Having said this, Wang Chan suddenly extended his right index finger to his mouth and lightly bit it, then squeezed out a drop of incredibly thick fresh blood from the wound, gently dripping it into the blood cloud beneath him. He then plunged both hands deep into the blood cloud, concentrating on activating his cultivation technique.

As Wang Chan slowly chanted the incantation, the crimson blood cloud that had enveloped Han Li gradually began to spin. It accelerated rapidly, compressing towards the center, while the blood devils automatically dissolved and vanished.

As the blood cloud's rotation sped up, the greenish-red mist was swiftly drawn in and absorbed, revealing a colossal white barrier at the center. This barrier was shaped like an inverted bowl, with a white scale shield at its core.

At the center beneath this light barrier, Han Li held a peculiar-looking, hilted dagger in one hand, radiating an astonishing yellow glow. In his other hand, he clutched a stack of glittering talismans, poised to attack. Two spherical orbs, one green and one red, floated beside him, still emitting dense greenish-red mist. Wang Chan observed all of this with perfect clarity.

"You..." The Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master, seeing this situation, sneered a few times, about to mock him further.

He had barely uttered a single word when Han Li, from below, suddenly raised his hand. The small knife flickered, transforming into a dazzling yellow beam several *zhang* long, shooting directly towards Wang Chan. Simultaneously, the stack of talismans in his other hand was flung out, conjuring over a dozen blazing fire dragons that materialized mid-air and attacked in unison.

"Brat, magical artifacts can't break my Blood Spirit, unless..."

Wang Chan nonchalantly commanded the skulls to emerge and spray black mist again. But as he smugly uttered the word "unless," he abruptly recalled something. His expression instantly changed dramatically, and he shot upwards like a startled crane, fleeing the blood cloud.

Simultaneously, the yellow beam struck several times with thudding sounds, shattering multiple blocking skulls. It then, along with the fire dragons, breached the blood cloud, surging forth from Wang Chan's former meditation spot. Immediately after, a white light streaked out from the breach, rapidly fleeing. The yellow beam then turned and pursued it closely.

"Talisman Treasure!" Wang Chan cried out, a mix of shock and fury in his voice.

He had been momentarily negligent. He hadn't realized Han Li's previous use of the mist was simply a ploy to buy time to activate the Talisman Treasure. Otherwise, even if his opponent possessed one, he would never have given him the chance to activate it. However, a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage rarely possesses such an item, which explains his oversight.

However, even with an opponent possessing a Talisman Treasure, as the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master, he had no reason to fear. He himself carried two Talisman Treasures, one of which was a remarkably rare item with a special attribute. Naturally, he wouldn't allow Han Li to simply escape.

Enraged, Wang Chan leaped back into the blood cloud, causing it to swirl up around him once more. He then activated his Blood Escape technique, pursuing Han Li with the speed of a meteor.

After the duration of an incense stick, Han Li stood on his Divine Wind Boat, coldly observing the blood cloud as it once again drew near. With a sudden wave of his hand, the yellow beam that had been closely trailing him executed a surprise 'back-stab' maneuver, darting back to directly target the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master, who was concealed within the blood cloud.

However, the already prepared Wang Chan flung an object from his hand. A gleaming golden skull expanded against the wind, and its massive maw literally bit down on the yellow beam, preventing it from advancing even an inch.

Han Li was startled and desperately tried to recall it, but the yellow beam, after merely bouncing a few times within the golden skull's maw, remained utterly powerless.

Wang Chan sneered, and the blood cloud around him surged once more, chilling Han Li's heart as he anticipated being trapped again. But just then, the recently surging blood cloud abruptly subsided. Wang Chan, still performing his hand seals, visibly paled. Not only did his escape speed slow down, but his entire form became faintly shrouded in a greenish-black hue.

Han Li, who had been intently observing his opponent, froze in surprise at this sight.

Then, he saw his opponent let out a long howl of terror, abandoning even the golden skull that was locked in a stalemate with Han Li. The Young Master, still enveloped in the blood cloud, shot backward like lightning, tracing his steps. This left Han Li stunned, halted in place, and utterly bewildered.

Hesitantly, he transformed the golden skull and the yellow beam into two talismans, effortlessly collecting them. He then watched the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master's retreating figure vanish into the distance, unsure of what to do.

He certainly didn't have the courage to pursue.

However, listening to his opponent's rapidly fading shriek, Han Li immediately realized something. He swiftly altered the Divine Wind Boat's course and vanished into the horizon.

A short while later, Han Li, having just escaped the perilous situation, was filled with deep regret after some careful consideration!

He finally understood why his opponent had retreated instead of pursuing him. The Young Master had been poisoned, and by the exceedingly potent Ink Dragon venom at that.

This was entirely due to his opponent's audacity in drawing large quantities of the poisonous mist — released by the 'Azureflame Miasma' — into his blood cloud.

During their refinement, these mists had, at his instruction, been imbued with the residual venom from the Ink Dragon's core. Now, as the blood cloud—laden with this same potent mist—pursued Han Li, the Young Master must have inadvertently re-inhaled these toxins while circulating his cultivation energy. How could he *not* panic and retreat upon being poisoned?

The more Han Li pondered, the more he was filled with profound regret. To return now would be sheer madness! He had let a prime opportunity to slay a formidable enemy and acquire more of his treasures slip through his fingers. This truly left Han Li feeling dejected!

However, why had his opponent fled without even retrieving such a formidable Talisman Treasure as the golden skull? Han Li remained somewhat bewildered.

Unknown to Han Li, the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master, equally cautious and quick to flee at the first sign of trouble, was now fuming with rage! Beside him stood the two Core Formation stage cultivators, the Li brothers, exchanging bewildered glances.

It turned out that Wang Chan, after frantically fleeing for a short distance, encountered the two Ghost Spirit Sect elders. They had already rounded up the cultivators from the other seven sects and, concerned about the Young Master's safety, had pursued him out of caution.

Upon seeing the poisoned Wang Chan, they naturally used their profound spiritual power to swiftly expel the toxins from his body.

The Young Master, his initial poisoning now mitigated, vaguely surmised the cause of his affliction. However, he misinterpreted Han Li's unwitting actions as a deliberate trap. Wang Chan, who had never suffered such a significant setback, instantly developed a deep-seated hatred for Han Li, subtly recognizing him as a formidable rival.

Driven by these dual resentments, Wang Chan, unwilling to give up despite his weakened state, returned to his original direction and furiously pursued Han Li for hundreds of *li* with the two elders. Yet, their chase proved fruitless, and the vexation in his heart remained, like a persistent fishbone, perpetually lodged within him.

As for the golden skull Talisman Treasure, which he had been forced to abandon because it was preoccupied with seizing Han Li's own Talisman Treasure and couldn't be instantly recalled, Wang Chan wasn't particularly bothered. After all, it had been used multiple times and was likely a depleted, nearly useless item. Even if Han Li acquired it, it would probably only be usable once or twice, serving no significant purpose.

What truly enraged him, however, was the report he received immediately upon returning to their ambush site—a small mountain peak. A Ghost Spirit Guard informed him that a group from the Joyous Union Sect, one of the Six Devilish Sects, had launched a surprise attack.

Though there were no casualties, two female cultivators they had subdued were snatched away. The leader of the attacking group, a figure of 'exceptional' beauty, was none other than Tian Buque, the second son of the Joyous Union Sect Master—a notorious junior known for his ruthless methods, whose reputation was arguably on par with Wang Chan's own.

Upon hearing this dire news, Wang Chan's gaze merely darkened on the surface, but internally, he felt as if he could vomit blood. Han Li and Tian Buque were now unequivocally marked for death on his personal kill list.

"Go, notify Old Ancestor Yan to begin immediate evacuation!" After a significant pause, Wang Chan finally exhaled slowly and spoke with icy resolve.

Meanwhile, Han Li dared not delay, swiftly fleeing towards Huangfeng Valley. However, midway, he encountered a joint contingent of cultivators from Bladeforge Isle and Masked Moon Sect. To his surprise, he was promptly conscripted by the leading late Foundation Establishment cultivator.